Local Life - Wigan - November 2021

LocalLife Wigan Edition

November 2021

WIN a Lancashire Day hamper!

Pages 76-77

Jack’s Tracks visits

Clitheroe Pages 73-75

Panto Special Pages 20-21

Sculpture Trail Page 46-47

Christmas Markets Pages 51-54

Bonfire Guide Page 62-64

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | walks | competitions | home & garden SERVICES

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Y

ou’ll probably notice a definite Lancashire bias about this month’s Local Life. To celebrate Lancashire Day on November 27th, we’ve included a remarkable sculpture trail from the village of Barley, in the shadow of Pendle Hill. We have a super Jack’s Tracks from Clitheroe, the hub of the Ribble Valley, and we are also giving a lucky reader the chance to win a hamper stuffed with Lancashire produce.

Forty-seven years after Wigan was dragged out of the county, many of us still doff our flat caps to Lancashire.

In my view, Wigan has the best of many worlds; the metropolises of Manchester and Liverpool are wonderful places to visit and easily reachable too, but a quick trip up the M6 brings Lancashire in all its glory.

I saw a Yorkshire tourist board poster recently, that had been cheekily doctored by their Lancashire counterparts.

With a scenic countryside view as a backdrop, the text read: Lancashire. It’s like Yorkshire, only nicer.

Happy Lancashire Day!

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Keep in touch with the LocalLife Team!

LocalLife

Telephone: 01695 627 999 info@locallife247.co.uk

locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

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This month’s highlights 51. Six of the Best Christmas Markets

Contents 28. Health Six tips for a healthy winter.

36. Education Tutoring - what to consider.

40. Tech Brand new retro.

58. Home Snuggle up and get cosy!

20. Panto - it’s Back!

46. Pendle Sculptures

60. Food Christmas Mincemeat Slice recipe.

70. Puzzle Pages Try these brainteasers for size!

78. Motoring Eco-friendly advancements.

82. Home & Garden Services Find the best local traders for you.

73. Jack’s Tracks to Clitheroe

62. Bonfire Guide

76. Hamper Comp

Next Issue - December

Advertising deadline - 17th November Published -1st December

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01695 627 999 www.locallife247.co.uk

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Theatre Resumes

Artisan Markets

Lines are being diligently rehearsed, sets are being carefully built and costumes are being stitched. It’s almost curtain up time at Wigan Little Theatre and the stage is set for a bumper new season at the popular theatre.

Dean Wood Golf Club are hosting a couple of weekend Artisan Markets in late November at their Lafford Lane base in Upholland.

2021 marked Wigan Little Theatre’s 75th anniversary at their Crompton Street home, and the COVID-19 recess forced the theatre to close its doors for most of the year, but theatregoers are set to return for the Dick Whittington pantomime, which runs from 2nd-18th December.

A full programme has been announced for 2022, starting with the John Godber comedy, Teechers, which runs from 26th January to 5th February.

This is followed by the Agatha Christie drama, Towards Zero, which runs from 9th March to 19th March.

You can book tickets for Wigan Little Theatre at www. wiganlittletheatre.co.uk. You can also call into the Box Office on Crompton Street between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, Monday and Tuesday before and during each production, or you can call 01942 242561 during the same period to reserve tickets.

Their Christmas Artisan Markets will take place from 11am-4.30pm on the weekend of Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November and also on the following weekend of Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November.

The markets will be held on the car park adjacent to Lafford Lane, and the clubhouse will be open for food and drinks during the markets. Santa will be visiting at 2pm on both Sunday afternoons.

Stalls will be selling Christmas gifts of all kinds including handmade pottery, glass art, soaps, skincare, handmade gemstones, scents and candles, bathbombs and seasonal décor.

For those looking to stock up on food, there will be Christmas fruit cakes, cupcakes, brownies and sweets.

There is a small number of stall spaces still available, please contact annemolys58@hotmail.co.uk for more information.

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Bispham Christmas

Green Homes Grant

Bispham Methodist Church, based on the corner of Crank Road and Upholland Road in Billinge, is inviting the local community to visit an all-day Christmas Fair on Saturday 4th December from 10.30am to 4.30pm. A fun-packed day is planned. You can pick up some Christmas gifts from artisan stalls, there will be activities for children and there will be street food available, and a Festive Café open all day.

The Greater Manchester Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme is still open for applications following an extension to December. The grant allows homeowners who earn less than £30,000 and whose home is energy inefficient to apply for grants of up to £10,000.

Other traditional events planned at Bispham this Christmas include a Christmas Family Service with toy donations to a local charity on 12th December at 10.30am, followed by a craft corner for the children. The Carol Service will be on Sunday 19th December at 6pm with traditional mince pies afterwards. For more details, check out the website www.bisphammethodistchurch. org nearer Christmas.

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There will be a Modern Nativity performance, Father Christmas will be calling in twice throughout the day and the Trinity Girls Brass Band will perform between 2pm and 3pm. The event comes to a climax with the Christmas Tree switch on at 4.00pm.

The grant can be used for low carbon heating measures such as air source heat pumps as well as different types of insulation. The local authority scheme is delivered in partnership with E.ON which will source all installers to carry out the work. The scheme is also open to residential landlords to apply for grants of up to £5,000.

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Santa’s Zooming In Wigan Rotary Club have announced that Santa will be out and about again from the 1st December, both on the streets of Wigan and appearing online from Santa’s HQ in the North Pole.

Following last year’s successful launch of their Santa zoom sessions, children will once again be able to Zoom with Santa this Christmas. Full details of the sessions will be available the Wigan Rotary Club’s website and Facebook page from Monday 22nd November, and you’ll be able to book your slot there too.

Santa will also be touring the streets of Wigan in December and will make the occasional guest appearance at the Tesco Extra at Central Park, Wigan.

Full details of the routes he will cover and the days at Tesco’s Central Park will be on the club’s website and Facebook page towards the end of November All the profit from these events will be used to provide support for local community and voluntary groups, and to aid organisations involved in humanitarian work overseas.

If you fancy volunteering to be one of Santa’s Little Helpers

for 2/3 hours during December to help the club with these events, then please either email wiganrotary1924@ virginmedia.com or ring 07813 471000. The Rotary would welcome any form of help from individuals and businesses.

Christmas Fair Volunteers from the Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood will be hosting a Christmas Fair at Parbold Village Hall on Saturday, November 20.

The fair will take place between 11am-3pm and will be a great way to get yourself into the festive spirit and help to raise much needed funds for the cats, hedgehogs and ponies that will be living at the shelter this winter.

There will be plenty of stalls for you to browse around, delicious festive treats to keep your energy up, not to mention a Teddy Tombola. So why not get your Christmas shopping off to a flying start and bring the family for a day out?

For more information about the fair or Woodlands Animal Sanctuary please go online at www. woodlandsanimalsanctuary.org.uk or call 01704 823293.

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10

Funding Opens The third round of funding for Wigan Council’s Community Recovery Fund is now open. The fund gives community organisations who require support due to being affected or disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic a chance to apply for up to £2,000 in funding. The fund will support projects that aim to promote community spirit and bringing communities back together.

Community Farm, Ashton Deaf Club, Friends of Three Sisters, Brighter Better Orrell and many more.

After the first two rounds of funding, this initiative has supported an impressive 178 projects totalling a funding amount of over £84,000. Successful applicants include Ashton Bears, Ashton Park JFC, Garswood Hall Bowling, Highfield Grange FC, Hawkley Hall Residents Association, Cherrybrook FC, The Storehouse Project, Greenslate

However, the Deal for Communities Team at Wigan Council have advised groups to contact them before submitting an application, just to ensure that it meets the funding criteria. Their email address is thedealforcommunities@ wigan.gov.uk.

Applications for the latest round of funding for the Community Recovery Fund closes on Sunday 14th November. You can apply for the funding now by visiting this web address; https://communityrecoveryfund. wigan.gov.uk/

YMCA ORRELL & CRICKET CLUB ‘Proud to be part of Local Life’

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The gorgeous Love It Gallery in Billinge has an excellent range of original gifts to suit all budgets, made by British designer/makers. From Christmas cards, wrapping, advent calendars and decorations, right through to gifts sets, accessories, jewellery, ceramics, and soft furnishings, Love It Gallery has got something for everyone this Christmas.

There’s a huge range of inspirational glass art at the Love It Gallery, which is also the home of Morpheus Glass. From seasonal decorations to clocks, bowls, mirrors, vases, wall panels and more, it’s a great place to find presents for all the family.

Comfort and style abound in the Bag & Bean coffee shop, a perfect pit stop when you’re all shopped out.

Excellent coffee, gorgeous cakes and tasty light lunches are served indoors and outdoors in a safe, warm and undercover environment.

Love It Gallery, Winstanley Road, Billinge WN5 7XG Open: 9.30am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday Telephone: 01695 622

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Wrap Up Wigan Residents are being urged by The Brick to clear their wardrobes of any unwanted coats and any other unwanted winter clothing to help the homeless stay warm this winter. The Wrap Up Wigan campaign has been launched by The Brick, which supports people facing homelessness and poverty in Wigan and Leigh.

In particular, The Brick is looking for people to donate new or good quality coats (adults and children’s sizes), winter clothing, shoes, toiletries, hats, gloves, scarves, socks and underwear.

If you have any suitable donations, then please drop them off at their shops at 160 Gidlow Lane in Wigan or 13 Railway Street in Leigh or you can drop them at The Brick Works at 4 Hodson Street, Wigan.

If you would like to access a winter coat or other clothing, then please call The Brick on 01942 236953 or email enquiries@thebrick.org.uk.

Boogie Bingo

bingo event on Saturday November 6. Boogie Bingo, organised by Lisa McAllister from the Professionals of Wigan networking group, will take place at the DW Stadium from 7pm till late in a bid to raise much needed funds for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

You can look forward to an exciting combination of fun, a live show, a raffle and a serious game of bingo!

Tickets cost £25 per person, and this includes light bite refreshments on the night.

For more information or to book your tickets go online to www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/20737

Festive Ashton All roads lead to Ashton-in-Makerfield on Sunday 5th December when the market square on Garswood Street plays host to Ashton Christmas Markets. You can enjoy family fun with festive stalls and music.

One of the many attractions on offer is the chance to visit Santa in a magical winter wonderland. The event runs from 1-6pm and the light switch on will take place later in the afternoon.

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Club Re-Opens

Quiz

Wigan Women’s Friendship Club re-opened recently after being closed for eighteen months due to COVID-19.

The Club celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and a Founder Member of the club, Joyce Holmes, gave a talk at the meeting about its inception.

First and Last

The club is on the lookout for new members to shape the next forty years. Meetings are held every Thursday at Penson Street Community Centre on Penson Street in Swinley, except on the first Thursday of the month which is set aside for the occasional outing. The doors open from 1.30pm with notices at 1.45pm followed by a talk or activity, and there’s also time for tea and a chat.

1. What was the surname of the Vietnam War veteran who was the main character in 1982 film First Blood?

If you are interested in joining the club, please contact Margaret Rowe on 01942 247403 or Christine Abbott on 07929 381171, or just come along to the meeting.

2. The Last Frontier is the official nickname of which US state?

Start Well

3. The 2017 Christmas special of Doctor Who saw actor David Bradley play “the First Doctor”.

Which other actor originally played this role when the TV show was first broadcast?

4. The Last Night of the Proms normally takes place on the second Saturday in which month?

5. Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters To The First Pets was a children’s book written in 1998 by which famous woman?

6. Published in 1956, The Last Battle was the seventh and final novel in a series set in which fictional land?

7. The 2018 film First Man starred Ryan Gosling as which real life person?

8. In which European city would you find Leonardo Da Vinci’s mural painting “The Last Supper”?

9. Name the last football team to win the old First Division before the creation of the Premier League for the 1992-93 season?

10. The TV comedy show The Last Leg was originally broadcast during which event of 2012, with each episode looking back at the day’s events from this?

Quiz solutions can be found on page 88 of this magazine

The Start Well Centre in Ince still have places on a wide range of their activity sessions – perfect to keep your little one stimulated and entertained.

On offer are a wide range of children’s sessions and community events ranging from Bookstart Corner at Mesnes Park Bowling Green on a Thursday between 11.15-12pm to the Well Baby Clinics at Ince Start Well Family Centre every Thursday between 9.30am-12pm.

Bookings are available to registered families living in Wigan. For a full timetable of events or to book a slot, please call the centre on 01942 767503 and choose option 2.

Halloween Party There will be some spooky goings on down at the Wigan Armed Forces HQ this Saturday, October 30 in the shape of a family Halloween party!

The party will take place at the HQ on School Lane from 1pm-5pm. There will be a disco, games, food and crafts for all the family to enjoy. And to help you really get into the Halloween spirit there will be a prize for whoever wins the best fancy-dress competition.

Tickets are £3.50 per person, or a family ticket costs £15 and can be purchased from HQ reception. For more information, please call 01942 821 293.

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Radio Re-Do The Old Courts in Wigan want to hear from you about their plans to host and support up to 24 new digital radio stations for Wigan and St Helens.

listened to platform into our area and manage it in a way that encourages more local people to create and listen to locally-led content.

Wigan and St Helens Community Media CIC is a new, not-for-profit Community Interest Company led by The Old Courts and backed by local and community radio services.

“Making digital radio more accessible for all is important and doing it in a way where all profits are reinvested into the local area means that broadcasters and listeners Wigan and St Helens will benefit long-term.”

The group are proposing to operate the Wigan SmallScale (SSDAB) multiplex for community benefit - to support the development of local and community radio in our area, and therefore increase the amount of volunteering, skills, and social impact opportunities available for people in Wigan and St Helens.

The approach to supporting local has already been met with praise from people and organisations who already run internet-only stations and want to expand onto DAB, or who are keen to start something new in their local area.

For many years, it has been difficult for community and grassroots groups to get onto radio because of the high cost and scarce availability of FM frequencies. Small-Scale DAB represents a more affordable opportunity to reach a high percentage of people across Wigan and St Helens.

Jess Rotherham, Head of Development at The Old Courts, told Local Life, “We are proposing to bring the UK’s most

In their proposal, the group outline what Small-Scale DAB is, the communities that stand to benefit and how they propose to establish the service. Comments and feedback are invited to support the application for a licence to Ofcom.

For more information or to leave your comments please go online to www.theoldcourts.com and search for broadcasting under the projects tab.

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Read Easy

Blackhearts in Town

Did you know that around 16,500 people in Wigan struggle with everyday life due to their poor reading abilities?

The Blackheart Orchestra come to Wigan this Saturday (30th October) to perform at Wigan Baptist Church in Scarisbrick Street in Swinley.

Read Easy UK is a registered charity that supports volunteers to set up Read Easy groups in their own communities. These groups provide free, confidential, one-to-one support for adults and coaching can be face to face or remote.

Fresh from their critically acclaimed album Mesmeranto entering the official rock charts at number 18 , the awardwinning electronic prog-folk pioneers consists of vocalist Chrissy Mostyn and multi-instrumentalist Rick Pilkington.

The Blackheart Orchestra are two voices and thirteen instruments that create a unique musical experience.

The charity is now working towards establishing a Read Easy group in Wigan and are looking for a range of volunteers, from individual reading coaches to someone to lead the Wigan team.

You can visit the charity’s website at www.readeasy.org. uk for more information, and to hear from volunteers and readers the difference this work makes to their respective lives.

Full training is given to all. There is a huge range of resources to support volunteers and there is a Regional Adviser on hand to support volunteers and groups.

For more information contact Karen Wood, the Regional Adviser 07763 442 924 or email karen@readeasy.org.uk.

The doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £13.20 and are available from www.seetickets.com.

Beat Stress Mindfulness classes are now available in Wigan. If you’re struggling with stress and anxiety in your life, then the advice from Mindfully Mend is don’t suffer in silence and instead pop along to one of their sessions. The sessions are run at Ashton Library every Thursday from 5.306.30pm, and at Shevington Library from 10.30-11.30am also on Thursday. Sessions are priced at £5 per hour.

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Panto

k! c a b It’s

By Nicola Gray

Last year, COVID-19 played the part of biggest panto villain ever and the Christmas pantomime season was decimated last year as a result. Booooooooo!

Well, its behind you (cue laughter) and Local Life have put together a guide to this year’s most exciting panto experiences in Wigan and beyond.

Wigan Little TheatrE

St Helens Theatre Royal

Dick Whittington

Goldilocks & the Three Bears

Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan, WN1 3SL 01942 242561 www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk The tale of Dick Whittington features singing, dancing, comedy sketches and, as usual, there will be a crazy dame to add to the fun.

• Dates: Thursday December 2 to Saturday December 18 • Ticket Information: Standard tickets from £10 other tickets £12. Online bookings subject to a 7.8% fee per ticket.

The Old Courts

Cinderella The Old Courts, Gerrard Winstanley House, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA 0343 208 6015 www.theoldcourts.com Get ready to cheer Buttons, the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella and Prince Charming, but do remember to boo every time you see the Ugly Sisters up to their evil ways.

• Dates: Thursday December 9 to Thursday December 23.

• Ticket Information: Adult tickets - £17.50 and child tickets - £13.00

St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1LQ 01744 756000 www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com Goldilocks and the Three Bears come to town this Christmas with a mix of unbelievable circus tricks, madcap comedy capers and a smash-hit selection of chart hits to sing and dance along to.

• Dates: Friday December 10 to Sunday January 9 • Ticket Information: Tickets from £16. Online bookings subject to a 50p fee per ticket.

Octagon Theatre

Peter Pan Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB 01204 520661 www.octagonbolton.co.uk This swashbuckling rendition of Peter Pan takes you to Neverland and join Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys for an awfully big adventure.

• Dates: Friday November 26 to Sunday January 9 • Ticket Information: Adult tickets from £15.00 and under 16s tickets from £15.00

21 Albert Halls Bolton

Manchester Opera House

Beauty & the Beast

Aladdin

Bolton Albert Halls Theatre, Victoria Square, Bolton, BL1 1RU 0343 208 0500 www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk The Albert Halls spellbinding festive family pantomime this year is Beauty and the Beast, featuring spectacular scenery, glittering costumes, amazing special effects and plenty of audience participation!

• Dates: Saturday November 27 to Friday December 31 • Ticket Information: Adult tickets - £20.00, senior citizen tickets - £16.00, under 16s tickets - £16.00

The Atkinson Southport

Cinderella The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB 01704 533333 www.theatkinson.co.uk This spellbinding panto pits Cinderella against her wicked Stepmother and the jealous stepsisters; will Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother come to the rescue?

• Dates: Friday December 10 to Sunday January 2 • Ticket Information: Adult tickets from £18, concessions from £16 & family tickets from £59

Grand Theatre Blackpool

Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs 33 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 1HT 01253 290190 www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk In true rags-to-riches style, Snow White manages, with the help of her madcap friend Muddles, to meet a handsome Prince and make her dreams come true.

• Dates: Friday December 3 to Sunday January 2 • Ticket Information: Adult tickets from £20.50 and under 18s tickets from £18.50

3 Quay St, Manchester, M3 3HP 0161 828 1700 www.atgtickets.com Aladdin will feature a lamp-load of comedy, jaw-dropping special effects, sensational song and dance and plenty of boos and hisses the whole family will enjoy.

• Dates: Saturday December 11 to Sunday January 2 • Ticket Information: Tickets available form £13.00 per person. Online bookings subject to a booking fee of £3.65 per ticket.

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Feel Good Friday

join them for their weekly bump and buggy walks.

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre has set up a new initiative launched specifically for carers.

The walk is free and is ideal for soon to be parents and anyone with children. It’s a great way to get out into the fresh air, meet people and stay active.

One Friday every month, Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre in Hindley will be hosting their feel-good Friday sessions, working to boost the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers.

The group meets every Friday between 10.30-11.30am at Haigh Woodland Park, outside the golf shop, or every Tuesday between 10-11am at the Three Sisters Recreation Area near Ashton, meeting at the Hamlet café.

Feel-good Friday is a concept which fuses many things; each month the group will be offering a mixture of selfcare and wellness activities such as relaxation therapies, mindfulness, exercise and healthy lifestyle practices that will give a much-needed boost to young and adult carers across the borough.

Everyone is welcome, and you could even stay for a drink afterwards. For more information, please call 01942 488481 or email wellbeing@bewellwigan.org.

The next session will take place on Friday, November 5 at the centre on Frederick Street in Hindley. For more information or to book your slot, please call 01942 705959.

The Bookcycle Christmas Fayre returns this year on Saturday 4th December and runs between 12-4pm.

Bump & Buggy Walks Calling all new parents, grandparents and furry friends – Be Well from Wigan Council would like to invite you to

Bookcycle Fair There are a variety of stalls to shop at, refreshments will be available and there will be other activities happening on the day.

Bookcycle is based at the former library on Orrell Road in Orrell. For further details please call 01942 665646.

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Bee Network The GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) has launched their vision for an integrated Greater Manchester wide transport system, and they want to hear your views on their plans.

The Bee Network aims to transform how people travel in Greater Manchester by joining together travel by bus, rail, trams, cycling and walking. The target date is 2024, with rail incorporated by 2030.

The organisation wants to design and deliver public transport as one system with local control and accountability, using the emblem of the Bee, to represent the promise of a high-quality, inclusive transport experience.

The Bee Network would be accessible, affordable and easy to use, with a daily fare cap and single multi-modal ticket, supporting seamless end-to-end journeys.

Manchester and residents are invited to drop in for a chat about the integrated transport plans. The bus will be visiting Wigan on Wednesday 3rd November and will be parked up at Queen’s Hall on Market Street from 10am to 4pm.

Fright Night 10k There’s a Saturday Night with a difference taking place at Haigh Woodland Park this Saturday (30th October).

Wigan Council and Fylde Coast Runners have joined forces to launch a brand-new series of night runs, and this is the inaugural event.

The event is suitable for all abilities of runner or fast walkers and is held on a mix of trails and pathways within Haigh Hall, starting and finishing by the hall.

GMCA want to hear your views on this and you can complete a survey online by Friday 12th November at https://www.gmconsult.org/strategy-team/destinationbee-network-conversation/

Entry is £25.00 per person which includes a glow in the dark finishers medal, a commemorative fright night technical t-shirt and digital event photographs! The minimum age is 15 and over. Event strictly limited to 500 participants and entries are only accepted via web in advance of the event. Registration opens at 4pm on the day and the event starts at 6.30pm.

The Bee Network bus is currently touring Greater

To sign up, visit www.fyldecoastrunners.com.

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Six Tips for a

Healthy Winter The shorter, darker, colder, wetter days of winter can leave even the fittest and chirpiest of us feeling mentally and physically run-down. To keep you feeling better through the winter: 1. Reduce your infection risk Colds and flu are rife at this time of year, and while being cold cannot give you a cold (only a virus can do that) it can stress your body and lower your immunity. Take extra care with hygiene and take antibacterial hand gel with you when you go out. Sadly, not everyone who touches shop door handles and uses public transport practises good hygiene.

If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, or are in an atrisk group for whom the vaccine’s recommended, make sure you get it early, before flu season gets underway.

Ignore those who claim the vaccine gives you flu; it can’t, as it contains no live viruses. People who get flu after the vaccine may have a rarer flu strain not covered by the vaccine or may have already had a flu virus before their vaccination became fully active (10-14 days after vaccination).

2. Keep exercising Exercise can boost your immune system, release endorphins that make you feel better and warm you up, too. If you’re normally an outdoor exerciser, cold, wet weather might put you off. If it doesn’t, bundle up and stay safe by avoiding exercising when its icy and wearing bright, reflective clothes if you’re out in the dark.

If the winter weather does put you off, consider indoor alternatives: swimming, indoor climbing, exercise classes, short-term passes for a local gym, a new exercise DVD or even some home gym equipment like an exercise bike or weights.

The NHS has some great free exercise routines. Check out www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise and click on ‘fitness guides’ for a range of ten-minute workouts and exercises, or www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio for online exercise videos. The range covers yoga, Pilates, strength exercises, aerobic workouts and more, so there’s something for everyone.

3. Get enough daylight, fresh air and vitamin D supplements!

Tempting as it might be, hibernating indoors isn’t great for your health. Your body uses sunlight to regulate your body clock and create vitamin D, an essential vitamin for building strong teeth, muscle and bone. However, while daylight helps, between October and early March in the UK there’s not enough of it for you to make sufficient vitamin D, even if you regularly spend time outdoors; nor can you make up the deficit by eating vitamin D-rich foods like oily fish (e.g. salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel), red meat, liver, egg yolks and fortified foods like fat spreads and breakfast cereals. So while getting some winter sun and eating vitamin D-rich foods can help, the NHS recommends that everyone should top-up with a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

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4. Stay warm Being too cold puts stress on your body. When the temperature drops below 8°C, some people are at increased risk of mental or physical illness, especially if they’re over 65, disabled, pregnant, have young children (under school age), have a mental health condition or have a long-term health condition. Low temperatures increase vulnerability to heart attacks, stroke, flu, pneumonia, hypothermia, falls and injuries, and can worsen mental health conditions like depression and dementia.

It also increases the symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease, a relatively common condition that interrupts blood supply to the extremities, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, stiffness and pins and needles. It most commonly affects the fingers, and you may notice them go white or even blue and then turn red as blood flow returns.

Keep your home heated to at least 18°C and use hot water bottles, heat packs or electric blankets if you need them. Try a hot bath rather than a shower, have hot drinks and eat for warmth (hot cereals, soups and stews are good options). Pre-warm clothes on a radiator or in your airing cupboard, and once you’re outdoors try to breathe

through your nose, as this warms air before it reaches your lungs. Wear layers, warm gloves and a hat. If you have Raynaud’s Disease, use hand dryers for a warmth top-up while you’re out, wear an extra pair of gloves and socks, and avoid heavy carrier bags that restrict blood flow to your fingers.

5. Eat healthy comfort food Comfort food doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Stews and soups are great winter foods, but watch your fat and salt intake and include plenty of vegetables. Homemade soups are easily made with a cheap, simple blender, and cooked fruit with low-fat custard makes a great winter pudding. The NHS website has some healthy, warming recipes for dishes like fish pie, lemon chicken and vegetable soup. Just visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well and click on recipes.

6. Look after your mental health Stay active, warm and sociable: exercise, time spent outdoors and the company of others can all help stave off winter blues. However, if you think you may have fullblown SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), see your GP for help. Don’t suffer in silence.

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Presents for every age, taste and budget, all at Ellamora in Rainford.

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13 14 15 16 1. Joma Jewellery bracelet in cracker £17.99 2. Katie Loxton chunky grey scarf £29.99 3. Leffy Elf £23.00 & Leffy’s Xmas book £10.00 4. L’Occitane Hand Cream Trio £21.00 5. Powder Mens Socks (3 prs) £29.95 6. Marmalade Of London reed diffuser £22 7. L’Occitane Verbena gift set £35 8. Katie Loxton Chunky Scarf £29.99 & Hat £17.99 9. Powder ladies socks £8.50 10. Katie Loxton reed diffuser/candle set £19.99 11. Sabbot fleece lined hats from £29.99 12. Jellycat large Teddy Snowman £37.50 13. L’Occitane Cherry Blossom gift set £35.00 14. Jellycat Nutcracker £26 15. L’Occitane Verbena Christmas Ornament £12 16. Marmalade Of London Glass Candle £22

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1

Tutoring What to Consider

After-school tutoring can be an invaluable part of a child’s education.

A tutor can offer support in areas that your child might struggle with, such as maths or English, or help your child to further improve in subjects that they already excel at. Tutoring is also available in subjects that your child’s school might not offer, e.g. Mandarin and philosophy.

You can appoint a tutor at any time in your child’s education, but tutoring can be particularly valuable in the run-up to exams, such as GCSEs or the 11-plus. As well as helping with subject-specific knowledge, tutoring can be useful if your child suffers from exam-related anxiety or if they’re not used to sitting tests.

The one-to-one basis of tutoring means your child can learn at their own speed, rather than being led by the wider needs of the class. It also allows extra time for questions or diving deeper into a subject.

good rapport with your child. Not only is your child likely to learn more, they’ll also be happier and will put more effort into their learning. A good tutor should help to increase your child’s confidence in a subject and, ideally, boost their enjoyment for learning.

Before committing to a tutor, you’ll want to check references, qualifications and ID.

Finding the right tutor Ask your child’s school if they have any recommendations, and put the word out in your friendship circle that you’re looking for a tutor.

You may also want to register with sites such as www. firsttutors.com, which helps to connect private tutors with parents. Some of these sites check the IDs and references of the tutors they promote, which gives you additional peace of mind.

The cost of tutoring

Tutors usually come to your home, although some operate out of an education centre. Many also offer video tutoring, which is helpful if you’re searching for a tutor in a less common subject.

A tutor’s hourly rate will depend on a number of factors, including their experience, location and what subject your child needs help with. In most cases, you’ll pay between £20 and £40 an hour for an experienced tutor. If your child is at primary school, a tutoring session will generally last for no more than an hour. An A-level tutoring session might be as long as 2.5 hours.

Choosing a tutor

Safety

After-school tutoring can feel like a punishment. Few children want to add more studying to their weekly timetable. So look for a tutor who will be able to build a

Tutors don’t have to be DBS checked, but it’s wise to choose one who has been. A parent or guardian should also be present during every tutoring session.

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Could you be one of tomorrow’s outstanding teachers?

Join us at our open evenings

Individuals who are passionate about working with young children.

Monday 1st November 2021 4-5:30pm Monday 22nd November 2021 4-5:30pm Monday 6th December 2021 4-5:30pm Monday 17th January 2022 4-5:30pm Monday 7th February 2022 4-5:30pm Monday 14th March 2022 4-5:30pm Monday 25th April 2022 4-5:30pm

Individuals who have the potential to be outstanding teachers

Please email enquiries@wcpsd.uk to register your interest.

Accredited Study days will be at Liverpool Hope University leading to a PGCE and QTS in primary teaching.

For more information and updates please visit www.wcpsd.uk and www.saintpatricks.wigan.sch.uk To search the course please visit the ‘get into teaching’ website https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ and search using the following provider and course codes.

Provider code 2A4 Primary course code (Age 5-11) 2XT7 EYFS course code (Age 3-7) AP55

Are you looking for a school place for September 2022?

Roby Mill is a small, village school where each and every child is valued and can develop to reach their full potential. We have small class sizes and a high adult to child ratio enabling personalized learning in a caring and supportive environment.

With a wide catchment area, our children travel from near and far to attend our school and with places available for Reception 2022 and other year groups, come and visit to secure your place.

We offer both breakfast club and a wide variety of after school clubs.

Book your place for our open week: Monday 8th November between 2-6pm Tuesday 9th November between 2-6pm Thursday 11th November between 2-6pm Book your place by going online at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/roby-mill-open-weektickets-169661539231

Call NOW for an appointment. Our school is always open.

Roby Mill C.E. Primary School School Lane, Roby Mill, Up Holland, WN8 0QR

Telephone: 01695 622536 Email: bursar@robymill.lancs.sch.uk • www.robymill.lancs.sch.uk

The small school with the BIG heart

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Have you considered the School Direct route to becoming a Primary or Secondary school teacher?

North West Learning Partnership School Direct is an

• Placement schools are across the North West

established School Direct Provider. Our link with North

including St Helens, Wigan, Liverpool, Bolton, Halton

West Three Maths Hub means we are able to provide

and Knowsley and some areas of Manchester.

outstanding training at the forefront of developments

Placements are allocated in your local area.

in Mathematics education. Our affiliation to NWLP means trainee teachers receive outstanding training from us, our placement schools and LJMU who achieved Outstanding in Primary and Good in Secondary during

• Highly effective school-based tutors. All of a senior level with a wealth of experience or are Specialist Leaders in their field of expertise

their recent Ofsted inspection.

• Personal support structures in place

The one year in-school training for graduates is provided

We are committed to the ongoing development of

by serving Head Teachers, Senior Leaders, specialised Lead Practitioners and other specialists in their field

all trainees for a further 2 years after completing the course. Trainees have access, free of charge, to training

in close partnership with Liverpool John Moores

with the North West Learning Partnership.

University. Most of your time in training will be spent

We offer a range of Primary and Secondary courses with

in your “home school” which is your main placement school from September 22. Training with us also means

PGCE, (including Masters credits), and QTS:

that you will benefit from: • High employment rates and support in securing employment.

• Only Good to Outstanding schools are used for placements

Primary 5-11 years DF23 Primary 3 – 7 years A450 Primary with Mathematics SD KJ Primary with Physical Education B741 Primary Salaried 3BFS Secondary Mathematics JL80 Secondary Modern Languages SD 90 Secondary Biology W082 Secondary Chemistry A830 Secondary Physics W322 Secondary English Y290 Secondary Geography V479 Secondary History X871

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For further information on these courses see our website http://www.northwestlearningpartnership.co.uk/ or contact the NWLP School Direct Strategic Lead Kathy Carman Kathy.carman@three-saints.org.uk For information on available funding see https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ Applications should be made using the provider code 13N and the course code provided above at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training Follow us on twitter @nwlp_sd

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Brand New Retro We love our digital devices, our smart bulbs and our personal digital assistants. But sometimes we wish our various gadgets and gizmos had a bit more personality. In the future, few of us are likely to look back on our Amazon Echos with the nostalgia we have for the Sony Walkman, and digital timekeeping is never going to be as exciting as watching something pop out of a cuckoo clock.

So we’re delighted to see some firms embracing modern technology with a distinctly retro twist.

Roberts is a great example of that. The £229 Revival iStream 3 looks like a proper old-school AM radio, complete with faux-leather covering and a distinctive golden grille. It’s beautiful and wonderfully old-fashioned, but it’s packed with the latest digital radio tech: it can play DAB radio and stream from the likes of Spotify and TIDAL. It even works with Alexa.

Vinyl has been making a comeback for some years now and there are some very retro-looking turntables available, but it might be sensible to stick with something less tacky, such as the Sony PSLX310BT Bluetooth Turntable. This £194 turntable has proper hi-fi heritage, looks like it was made in 1970 and streams wirelessly to compatible audio systems and smart speakers.

Philips Hue Filament light bulb Old-fashioned lighting meets modern LED technology. Like the rest of the Hue range these bulbs are controllable via phone, tablet or smart speaker if you have a Hue Bridge. £20, meethue.com

GPO 746 retro phone Phones like this are widely available and tick all the boxes: curly cords, just the right amount of finger resistance and, of course, a range of eye-popping colours. £40, Amazon.co.uk Roberts Revival iStream 3 It looks like it should only play you the shipping forecast but Roberts’ digital radio can stream from Spotify and play tunes from TIDAL. £229, Roberts.com

Cassette tapes are back too, and you can pick up Bluetooth tape players for as little as £24. Some include USB drives you can copy your music onto; others simply connect to your Bluetooth headphones.

RED5 Retro mini arcade machine We hate to break it to you, but the arcade cabinets this little console looks like are over 50 years old. It comes pre-installed with over 200 arcade games.

If you would like a rotary phone, Amazon’s virtual shelves include classic rotary models such as the GPO 746, which is a homage to the enormous phones of the pre-digital era. Expect to pay around £40.

If you miss the warm glow of filament bulbs, technology can help: Philips’ Hue smart bulb range now includes long-life, low-energy LED filaments that look ancient. And as for the cuckoo clock mentioned earlier? John Lewis currently sells a ‘Tweeting’ cuckoo clock for £74. Don’t worry, the tweeting refers to its sound: it doesn’t post things to your Twitter account.

Classic devices given a high-tech reboot

£20, Argos.co.uk

Sony PS-LX310BT Bluetooth Turntable Classic looks meet cutting-edge technology in this very clever turntable for vinyl records old or new. £194, sony.co.uk

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Say Ta Ta to Old Tat If you’re thinking of selling your home in the New Year, you’ll be interested to know that there’s a simple way to add thousands of pounds to the price you achieve – and that’s to get rid of your clutter. By being a little bit ruthless with yourself, and those you live with, you really can achieve a quicker and more lucrative sale.

Don’t dilly-dally and put this job off until after Christmas, start upstairs with the bedrooms and bathrooms now, and once you have seen the twelfth night of Christmas is in your rear-view mirror, have another big push and prepare your downstairs living space for prospective buyers in 2022.

Here are five ways to say ta ta to your old tat.

If you haven’t used an item for the past 12 months, then consider selling it online. That way it’s out of the way and you’ll earn some extra cash – win/win.

Make a start

Take before and after photos

The first step is often the hardest, especially if you have a strong emotional attachment to the property.

Make things easier by focusing on a single cupboard or box – and building up from there. Move on to other boxes, cupboards or shelves in the same room before progressing onto other rooms in the property.

Before you start decluttering the first room, take a quick snap of it in all its crowded glory. Once you’ve finished that room, take an ‘after shot’. You’ll be surprised at how much more spacious the room looks and this will provide some useful motivation to crack on with your decluttering mission until you’ve done every room in the house.

Be honest

Reward yourself

You don’t have to bin everything, but you do have to be honest. Will a buyer be impressed by your fishing rod collection, or your stash of Queen Mum memorabilia?

Probably not. Buyers are looking for a property they can put their stamp on and might be turned off by your ‘special interests’. Put your beloved items into storage.

It can be stressful – and even emotional – getting rid of things that you’ve had for a long time. When you finish decluttering a room, reward yourself with a nice meal out, a walk with a friend or trip to the cinema.

When did you last use it?

It’s amazing how many items we never use but keep ‘just in case’. Exercise equipment, camping gear, and sewing machines top the ‘I swear I’ll use it one day’ list.

For more information on how to add value to your house before selling it, please contact us.

Alan Batt Estate Agents, 78 Market St, Wigan WN1 1HX 01942 233999 www.alanbatt.co.uk

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within the Wigan property market for over 40 years.

Alan Batt

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at

www.alanbatt.co.uk

Give me 40 minutes of your time And I will give you 40 years of my experience

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Tell Us Your Story!

Specialists in:

• Family Law • Personal Injury • Wills & Probate Call us today to arrange a free 30 minute consultation

Rachel Jane Taylor Solicitor & Director

RJT Solicitors 44 High Street, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0HF

Donna Gamble Solicitor

01257 228027 / 01942 409154 www.rjtsolicitors.co.uk

Local Life is always on the look out for news stories from the local communities we serve. Are you raising money for charity? Are you a member of a community group with something to shout about?

Maybe you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing in the next edition!

Simply contact us on editorial@locallife247.co.uk or call us on 01695 627999

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1st Flag for Flight The Green Flag Award celebrates its 25th anniversary this year as the international quality mark for parks and other open spaces.

After 18 months that have seen green spaces become lockdown lifelines, playing a vital role for people across the country as places to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that a record number have achieved the Green Flag Award standard is testament to the hard work and dedication of those tasked with looking after these national assets.

A total of 2,127 parks and green spaces nationwide have collected a coveted Green Flag Award for 2021,

including Mesnes Park in Wigan town centre, Jubilee Park in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Alexandra Park in Newtown, Pennington Hall Park in Leigh, which are all looked after

by Wigan Council, and Beacon Park in Upholland, which is looked after by West Lancashire Council.

Wigan has gained an additional Green Flag Award this year, in the form of the ‘Wigan Flight’, a series of locks on the Leeds Liverpool Canal stretching from the town centre up to Top Lock in Aspull.

This stretch is under the control of the Canal & River Trust, a charity entrusted with the care of 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales.

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Pendle Sculpture

l i a r T Contained within Aitken Wood and on the opposite slope to Pendle Hill, this family tourist attraction brings together art, nature, and the history of the Pendle area.

There are fifteen unique and intriguing sculptures located on the wooded trail along with ten plaques symbolising the ten witches of Pendle. The sculpture trail was inspired

by Pendle’s infamous association with witchcraft, culminating in the trial of the Pendle Witches at Lancaster Castle in August 1612.

This association reached a peak in March of that year when Alizon Device supposedly cast a curse on a travelling pedlar for refusing her some pins, and the pedlar later became lame. Alizon was the granddaughter of Elizabeth Southern, known as Old Demdike, who had practiced witchcraft for over 50 years in the village of Newchurch-in-Pendle.

Though Lancashire at the time was regarded as a wild and lawless society with strong affiliations for the Catholic church, witches were an accepted part of village life, where they acted as village healers who practised magic and dealt in herbs and medicines.

The local Justice of the Peace got involved in the case of the lame pedlar and, when he became aware of the familial relationship between Alize and Elizabeth, the

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investigation quickly ratcheted up, fuelled by religious persecution, into a show trial against the use of witchcraft.

Ten people from the Pendle area, along with ten others from across Lancashire, were sent to Lancaster Castle to await trial. Two local families were at the centre of the Pendle case, and both were headed by elderly widows; Elizabeth Southern and Anne Whittle. By the time the trial began in August 1612, Elizabeth had died amidst awful conditions at the castle.

The nineteen remaining prisoners stood trial – nine from Pendle, eight from Samlesbury, one from Padiham and one from St Helens. The prisoners were not allowed to have defence counsel to plead for them, nor could they call any witnesses to speak on their behalf. The chief prosecution witness against the Pendle prisoners was nine-year-old Jennet Device, the younger sister of Alizon and the granddaughter of Elizabeth Southern.

At the end of the three-day trial, all the Samlesbury defendants were acquitted, whilst the ‘Padiham Witch’, Margaret Pearson, was sentenced to be pilloried on four consecutive market days in Padiham, Clitheroe, Whalley and Lancaster, and then serve one year in prison.

All nine defendants from the Pendle area, along with Isobel Robey from St Helens, were sentenced to death and were subsequently hanged on the moors above the town.

The nearest parking to the Pendle Sculpture Trail is about a mile away in the main car park in Barley.

It’s a fairly easy walk to the wood, but the start of the trial is a short, fairly steep climb.

For more information about the Pendle Sculpture Trail in Barley, you can visit www.visitpendle.com and download a trail map.

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Stairways to Heaven As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

For many people, the staircase is the first thing your visitors see when they enter your home, but sadly, it’s one of the last home improvements lined up when people improve their homes.

A staircase is a staircase, do I hear you say? Well, I can guarantee you that if you take a trip to a brandnew staircase showroom just opened minutes away from Robin Park, you’ll soon change your mind!

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This family firm, run by the Wilson family – Shane, Janice and their son Chad – spent their time in lockdown productively, lining up a deal for the building, which used to be the home of Douglas Printers, and now it’s been totally transformed to

a staircase wonderland with a large selection of stylish staircases to suit modern and traditional homes.

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What will your legacy be?

Gifts in wills are such an important part of our voluntary income.

Any gift no matter the size will help our team at Wigan and Leigh Hospice continue providing our specialist care for local patients and their families when they need us most.

Just 1% of your estate left to the Hospice could make a big difference, and means that 99% remains for those closest to you and your family.

Not everyone is in a position to make a major gift during their lifetime, but many can in the form of a gift in their will at no cost to you now. It will make a world of difference to those people we care for.

Our Care Some people come to us for end of life care, others for help in managing their symptoms. Some enjoy complementary therapies, attend outpatient clinics or spend time with our counsellors. In over 60 care settings, including nursing and residential homes, we are providing education and training.

Every year our teams care for over 1,000 people from our towns who are living with a progressive illness including cancer, neurological and respiratory illnesses. We also provide care for those people closest to our patients.

Cecelia “I know the Hospice needs donations and I wish I could do more right now but I can’t. Doing this is my little way of

knowing I’ll be helping even when I’m no longer there.”

Cecelia Goubert has pledged to leave a gift in her will to the hospice as thanks for supporting her when her beloved husband Arthur died in 2015.

Cecelia said: “Someone from the hospice mentioned counselling and I just poured my heart out to Lucy and we did hours of counselling. I thought the people supporting me most after Arthur’s death would be my family but instead it was the Hospice. I want to support the Hospice because the Hospice was my family – it was there for me – from my counsellor to the people behind reception and I can’t ever forget that.

“What’s available at the hospice is so valuable; it’s so incredible this place that makes you feel as though you are at home.

“Through cups of tea, laughing and chatting the hospice gave me strength.”

Did you Know? All you need to leave a gift in your will to the hospice is our charity number - 513400.

You can find out more by contacting Sophie at the hospice on 01942 525566, by emailing wills@wlh.org.uk or see our website at www.wlh.org.uk Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Kildare Street, Hindley, WN2 3HZ | 01942 525566 | www.wlh.org.uk

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Six of the best

CHRISTMAS mARkETS It’s time to wrap up warm and head off to a Christmas Market to experience a festive array of sights, smells and sounds. Nothing gets us in a seasonal mood more than a visit to the Christmas Markets, partaking in a glass or two of Glühwein or mulled wine, whilst attempting to decimate your present list with a bit of Christmas shopping.

Here’s our recommendations for your annual Christmas Market trip – all tried and tested destinations plus a surprise debut to the world of Christmas Markets from the entertainment centre of the North West - Blackpool!

manchester The original and biggest Christmas market in the country, Manchester Christmas Markets is the place to go. Arriving in the city in 1999, the market has grown every year since, now attracting more than nine million visitors each year to the heart of the buzzing city centre.

Its 300 beautifully festooned stalls and chalets offer a dazzling array of hand-crafted Yuletide gifts along with a mouth-watering range of international food and drinks. Follow the market trail as it winds through the city centre, with stall holders tempting you with gifts, crafts, jewellery, toys and much more.

And don’t forget the food! Manchester’s Christmas Markets are known for traditional bratwurst, but visitors can also try Hungarian goulash, Spanish paella or a good old-fashioned hog roast.

The Manchester Christmas Markets run from Friday 12th November to Wednesday 22nd December.

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CHESTER Chester’s Christmas Market, situated outside the handsome Town Hall in the heart of the city centre, has a range of over 70 stalls selling Christmas gifts, arts and crafts goodies, fudge, local spirits, and stocking fillers.

Chester’s food and drink scene really comes alive at this magical time of the year and the market is no exception with a small selection of stands selling food ranging from hot dogs to hog roasts.

The Chester Christmas Market runs from Thursday November 18th to Wednesday December 22nd

SKIPTON For a small market town in North Yorkshire, Skipton punches well above its weight when it comes to their eight day Christmas Market.

The stalls will be packed full of hand-made gifts including Christmas decorations, wooden furniture for the home and beauty products like bath bombs and hand-made soap. There will also be plenty of food and drink products from local artisans including baked goods, Belgian chocolate, craft beer and chilli sauces.

The market stalls can be found throughout the town centre and live entertainment helps to spread the Christmas cheer. At 4pm each day, the market closes and there is a procession up the high street to the church grounds where a traditional carol is sung to mark the end of a magical day at a Christmas market.

The Skipton Christmas Market runs from Sunday 5th December to Sunday 12th December

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BIRMINGHAM Birmingham’s popular Frankfurt Christmas Market returns to New Street and Victoria Square to bring some festive cheer back to the city centre, with stalls selling a tempting array of food and drink, traditional toys, ornaments and gifts.

visit www.iceskatebirmingham.co.uk.

In nearby Centenary Square, the big wheel and ice rink will return and run until 9th January, between 10am and 10pm. To book tickets to these attractions

The Birmingham Christmas Market runs from Thursday 4th November to Thursday 23rd December

Don’t miss a chance to visit Chris Moose, Birmingham’s singing Christmas moose, at the Christmas market who has become a festive attraction in his own right and a Twitter sensation @thechrismoose.

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YORK

BLACKPOOL

The hugely popular St Nicholas Fair returns to York this year. The charming alpine chalets will once again line the streets, with local businesses selling everything from handmade gifts to delicious treats. Soak up the atmosphere visiting the outlets along Parliament Street and in Sampson Square , many staffed by traders in Victorian costume

Making its debut on the Christmas Market list this year is Blackpool!

Many of York’s restaurants, shops and attractions will be beautifully decorated and will provide a wonderful winter experience. Don’t miss out on a visit to Shambles with its cobbled streets for a full festive atmosphere.

The York Christmas Market runs from Thursday 18th November to Thursday 23rd December.

The brand-new Winter Gardens Wonderland will host a Bavarian style Christmas Market within and outside the magnificent Grade II Listed Winter Gardens, linking the town centre to the Festival Village.

The Festival Village will feature an Ice Rink, a Magical Forest, Festive Light projections and more, whilst the world-famous Illuminations have extended their season and will stay switched on right through to the New Year.

Blackpool Christmas Market runs from Thursday 9th December to Monday 3rd January.

Details on these events were correct at the time of going to press – these events are subject to change or cancellation, should Covid restrictions come back into effect.

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Festive Coach Trips for all!

Lake District & Holker Hall Winter Market Sat Nov 6 ~ Adult £24 Child £10

Harrogate & Harewood House at Christmas Sat Nov 20 ~ Adult £34 Child £20

Trafford Centre & RHS Bridgewater ‘Glow’ Thu Dec 2 – Adult £26 Child £15

Manchester Christmas Markets & East Lancs Railway Santa Special

Birmingham Christmas Market & Flagship Primark store

Sat Dec 4 ~ Adult £44 Child £25

Sun Nov 21 ~ Adult £25 Child £15

Sun Dec 5 ~ Adult £19 Child £10

Ulverston Dickenson Festival

Altrincham & Festive Lunch

Sun Nov 28 ~ Adult £23 Child £15

Tue Dec 7 ~ Adult £34

Skipton Christmas Market

York Christmas Market

Buxton & Chatsworth House

Thu Dec 2 ~ Adult £23 Child £15 & Sun Dec 11 ~ Adult £25 Child £15

Wed Dec 8 ~ Adults £48 Child £35

Lincoln Christmas Market

Sun Dec 12 ~ Adult £34 Child £20

Panto Time in Southport

Sat Dec 4 ~ Adult £28 Child £18

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Snuggle Up Pull on your PJs and make a mug of hot chocolate: it’s time to get cosy. And for that extra-inviting touch, just add a few irresistible items made from sumptuous fake fur.

Lift your interior with a brightly coloured, snuggly cushion.

Burnt orange faux-fur cushion cover, £26, audenza.com.

Sink into a sumptuous faux sheepskin bean bag and you’ll never want to get up again. icon® Yeanling faux-sheepskin bean bag, £99.99, beanbagbazaar.co.uk.

Who needs glass baubles when you can add fluffy ones?

Faux-fur hanging bauble, £2, habitat.co.uk.

Affordable and ethical, this fauxsheepskin rug will also be cosy on your toes.

Faux-fur rug, £34.99, homesense.com.

A graphic pattern makes this cushion as eye-catching as it is tactile.

Madison faux-fur cushion in rust, £10, bmstores.co.uk.

To appreciate the tactile quality of fake fur, the bedroom is a great place to start.

Faux-fur throw, £20; fur-trim cushions, £8; bedding set, from £20; all bmstores.co.uk.

The gorgeously shaggy pile of these faux-fur Mongolian cushions will add texture, trend and a pop of colour to your room.

Mongolian faux-fur cushions, £14 each, juliancharles.co.uk.

Using faux fur in your home • Faux fur adds a sense of luxury and opulence without concerns about animal cruelty. Add it to any space that is lacking in texture for an instant feeling of cosiness and richness.

• Fake fur in interiors can take various forms, from small rugs to inviting throws, cushion covers to bean bags – and even entire stools or chairs. A little tends to go a long way, however. Just a couple of furry accents is probably the ideal number, though at Christmas you may want to go a little more over the top and add in some fluffy baubles, stockings or even a furry tree ‘skirt’.

• If realism is an important consideration, look for longer hair and a variety of tones within the fur.

Natural shades are, obviously, the ones to choose, bearing in mind that creams and ivories look more lifelike than bright white. Faux furs also come in a wide range of interesting artificial colours and, in winter, brighter, jewel-like tones can add welcome notes of warmth.

• To make sure your faux-fur rugs, cushions, throws and other items last as long as possible, always follow the instructions on the care label. Usually, you’ll be able to put them in the machine on a cold, low-spin, delicates cycle, with mild detergent, then press excess water out and air dry to ensure they remain the right shape. You can detangle and tease the pile back into fluffy softness, either before or after washing, by using a wide-tooth comb or brush.

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60

Christmas

Mincemeat Slice This delicious festive slice Method can be served warm as a 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles very fine breadcrumbs (alternatively pulse in pud with custard, thick a food processor until fine breadcrumbs). cream or brandy butter or simply cool completely and 2. Remove 100g of the breadcrumb mixture and cover and chill in the fridge.

Stir 25g of the sugar into the remaining mixture, then stir in the egg and serve instead of mince pies. water and mix to a firm dough (adding a little more water if needed).

Knead lightly then wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.

Makes 12-14 slices Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes, plus chilling and cooling

Ingredients 225g plain flour 165g unsalted butter, chilled and diced 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tbsp cold water 75g caster sugar 300g good quality mincemeat 50g ground almonds 2 tbsp flaked almonds

3. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm square tart tin. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Line the pastry case with baking paper and baking beans and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the lining paper and beans and bake for a further 5-7 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4.

4. Spread the mincemeat in the pastry case. Mix the rest of the sugar and the ground almonds into the reserved pastry crumb mixture and scatter over the mincemeat to cover completely.

5. Return the tin to the oven and bake for a further 25-30 minutes or until the crumble topping is pale golden. Scatter over the flaked almonds and leave to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into 12-14 thin slices.

TIP: Add some finely chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts to the crumble topping for an extra nutty flavour.

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62

Bonfire Guide Everyone, apart from owners of nervous pets, loves a community Bonfire Night! Piling on all those layers, listening to the ‘oohs’ and the ‘aahs’ from young and old that accompany the fireworks, the smell and the warmth of the fire, indulging in seasonal foodstuffs like black peas and treacle toffee and the sheer fact that everyone is there to have a good time. Here’s a guide to a few of those community bonfire nights happening in the local area.

Orrell’s Community Family Bonfire and Firework spectacular takes place on Friday 5th November.

Gates open at 5pm, the bonfire is lit at 6pm and the fireworks start at 7pm. Run by the local YMCA and the cricket club, this long-established event is hugely popular. On site there’s a Children’s Fun House, hot food and sweets, and the adults can enjoy a tipple or two from the bar. Entrance is £6 per adult, and £2 for children when with parents.

The top ticketed event in Wigan is held at Haigh Hall, an event which promises a fantastic night of fireworks and fun for all the family, featuring more family entertainment than before. Included in the line-up is an award-winning magic and LED Puppet Show, a high energy light spinning show along with live music from Banjaxed and from Joe Astley.

Climax of the night is the colourful musical firework finale from National Firework Champions – SM ART Pyro. The Kitchen Courtyard will be open and there will also be street food available. Tickets are £11.37 (Adults) and £9.21 (Children 4-15) including booking fees. You can secure yours at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/175411329007

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63 Aspull RU’s Bonfire Night also takes place on Friday 5th November. The club on Woodshaw Park will be hosting their bonfire party from 6pm, with the firework display starting at 7.30pm. The bar will be open, food will be served from the BBQ throughout the night, and there will be sweets to keep the kids happy. Entry is £5 for adults, £2 for children or £10 for a family ticket.

Leigh Cricket Club plays host once again to the long running Fireworks Extravaganza, which is a ticket only event and takes place from 4pm on Friday 5th November. Those who attend can enjoy the fun fair and street food when the gates open at 4pm and children’s entertainer Louby Lou will appear from

5pm. The kids display starts at 7pm and the main event starts at 8pm. The after show party then starts and runs until 1am. Tcket prices range from £7.50 per adults and £5 for under 14’s plus additional booking fees. Tickets are now going fast at www.leighcc.org.

Garswood Sports and Social Club will be holding a Bonfire and Fireworks night at their Garswood Road site on November 5th. The gates open at 6.30pm and the hot drinks and food are available. Prices are £5 for adults, £3 for children and a family ticket is £12.

Tickets are now on sale at the club.

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64 Golborne Parkside Sports and Community Club are holding their Bonfire Night show on Friday 5th November at Rivington Ave, Golborne. The show starts at 6pm and choreographing the firework display will be the 2019 winners of the British Musical Championships. Advanced tickets are now on sale at £6 for adults, £4 for children and £15 for a family ticket (2+2). You can purchase your tickets from the club, via email at parkside.events@outlook.com or via the club’s Facebook page.

Friday 5th November starting at 6.30pm. This is a fun event for all the family with the bonfire lit at 7pm and the fireworks display at 7.30pm. This is a free event, however donations are welcome on the night for the Mayor’s charities. On the night there will be a range of food and drink stalls, along with a number of children’s rides. Free parking will be available from 5pm in Chorley town centre.

Chorley’s main Bonfire and Fireworks Night takes place at Astley Park near Chorley town centre on

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66

Can You Afford to Retire?

As a result of the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in new clients who have now decided against ‘putting off’ their retirement any longer and would like to know if they can now afford to retire.

Today, most people’s hopes and expectations for retirement are very different to those who were retiring in the past.

Retirees now have much grander plans, such as travelling the world, spending more time on hobbies or spoiling the grandchildren.

To enjoy all the things on their wish list, retirees need to have the income to afford them. For most people, the state pension isn’t enough to allow them to achieve their vision of a comfortable and active retirement. And, increasingly, income from other pensions is not enough either.

defined because you have/had a definite end date in which to save for. The latter challenge is much more difficult because people don’t know how long their retirement will last.

There are several specific risks that need to be considered when deciding how to generate an income from retirement savings, as noted below.

Risk One

Living longer than expected

Risk Two

Inflation: rising prices will eat into the value of savings

Risk Three Will the mix of investments be the right ones?

Risk Four

Withdrawal risk: taking too much, too soon

Risk Five

Long Term Care funding

The Retirement Challenge

How can we help?

Pensions have been hitting the headline in recent years, but the focus has generally been encouraging people to save and build a fund for retirement. Not enough attention has been given to an equally pressing issue that many approaching (or in) retirement face - making their pension savings last all the way through retirement.

Planning for retirement when considering all the above risks can be a daunting task. The future can be very difficult to predict, and that’s why people use Independent Financial Advisers. Whilst we do not have a crystal ball, we do have many years of experience of helping clients approaching/in retirement achieve their retirement dreams.

This is more of a concern now than it has ever been in the past with interest rates being so low and standard annuities offering poor value. It is highly likely that the state pension and other individual pension arrangements that pay a guaranteed income for life are less likely to account for all of a retiree’s income needs in the future.

In short, there is a good chance that individuals financial wellbeing in retirement could depend to a large extent on sources of income which are not guaranteed for life in the way that traditional pensions are.

If you are moving into retirement, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01257 423800.

The initial meeting will be at our expense and is without obligation.

What are the key risks to your income in retirement?

Building up a pot of money for retirement and making sure that money lasts them for the rest of their life are two very different challenges. The former challenge is easily

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Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

68

CMA Accountancy

MTD 4 ITSA No, this isn’t an inscription in a heart carved into a tree – it’s the latest project from HMRC and it could affect you. Read on for details…

We’ve covered Making Tax Digital (MTD) extensively in our Local Life articles. It’s been a big success story for HMRC, and following that success, HMRC are working towards the next step on their plan, MTD for Income Tax & SelfAssessment (MTD for ITSA).

So, what does MTD for ITSA actually involve? Individuals who are subject to income tax on the profits of their sole trader or property business will be required to keep their accounting records electronically (either using suitable software or on a spreadsheet) and file quarterly returns to HMRC with details of their income and expenditure together with any other information that HMRC specifies.

In a statement issued on 23rd September 2021, the Government confirmed that MTD for ITSA will be introduced from April 2024 onwards and will affect individuals who fall within the criteria and have gross income from these sources over £10,000.

MTD for ITSA is not optional if you fall within its scope – you cannot simply choose not to take part.

Currently it is unclear when you will be able to apply for the scheme but keep your eyes out to avoid stress as the deadline approaches. In the meantime, get yourself set up on a cloud-based accounting software as soon as you can. This will help you avoid the admin overload when the launch date comes, iron out the kinks and get to know how the software works in plenty of time before the start of MTD for ITSA!

By Kieran Fitzgerald MAAT Before migrating your bookkeeping on to the cloud, it is best to get up to date with your records and SelfAssessment Returns, and there is no time like the present!

The deadline for the Self-Assessment Return for the Year Ending 5th April 2021 is fast approaching. You need to ensure you have submitted your return online by 31st January 2022, or if you submit by paper, by the 31st October 2021.

Remember, a Self-Assessment Return isn’t purely for the self-employed, you may have a full-time employment elsewhere with a side hustle to earn some extra income on the side, or some rental income from a 2nd property. If you earn more than £1,000 from these sources then you fall within the criteria to submit a return, so get in touch as soon as possible if this applies to you!

You may have all of this in hand but allow us to take the burden from you and complete this on your behalf. We might be able to help you claim certain tax reliefs you have not previously considered and reduce your tax bill!

Our expert team of accountants are ready to help with all aspects of MTD for ITSA, your Self-Assessment Return and migrating over to a cloud-based software.

Check out our website at www.cma-accountancy.com for the latest and greatest tips, and you might want to sign up to our weekly newsletters whilst you’re there!

Kieran Fitzgerald – CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 01257 255521 info@cma-accountancy.com www.cma-accountancy.com

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70

Puzzle Pages CROSSWORD

down

2. Arab country which achieved independence

from the UK in 1971 (5)

3. Fruit resembling a small peach (7) 4. Largest and most southerly island in the

Marianas (4)

5. One who runs away from service in the armed

forces (8)

6. In snooker, to pocket the cue ball after hitting

another (2-3)

7. Siren of German legend (7) 12. The food of the gods (8) 14. Popular chilled beverage (4,3) 16. Goat-like antelope (7) 18. Throbs dully (5) 20. Watery discharge from the eyes or nose (5)

21. Support for sails (4)

across

1. Shade of blue tinged with green (4)

15. Greek mathematician (the ‘Father of Geometry’) who

4. Japanese movie monster (8)

8. George Lucas film of 1977 (4,4)

17. Port city in northern France (2,5)

wrote The Elements (6)

9. Vegetable known as lady’s fingers (4)

19. Military chaplain (5)

10. Spencer ___, actor who appeared in many films

22. Corrode, as with acid (4)

with Katharine Hepburn (5)

23. Flavoured with herbs and spices (8)

11. Highly-prized edible subterranean fungus (7)

24. Rotating part of an engine (8)

13. Person who is tricked or swindled (6)

25. Oil reservoir in an engine (4)

Wordwheel Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

target Excellent: 35 or more words Good: 28 words Fair: 21 words

e A p i

t u

t d

71

WORDSEARCH

Family ANCESTOR

KIN

SISTERS

AUNT

MARRIAGE

SON

BOND

MUM

SPOUSE

CHILDREN

NEPHEW

TWINS

CLAN

NIECE

UNCLE

COUSINS

PARENTS

WIFE

DAD

PROGENY

DAUGHTER

SIBLING

FATHER GENEALOGY HALF BROTHER HUSBAND

SUDOKU

word LADDER Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

BACK

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: discuss a matter without coming to the point.

Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.

B A T A

O U T E

E H T B

B U S H

FIRE

All the puzzle solutions can be found on page 88 of this magazine

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73

Clitheroe

by Chris Pearce Distance: 4.3 miles Difficulty: Easy This month Jack’s Tracks visits the market town of Clitheroe, the flagship hub of the Ribble Valley. This delightful 4.3mile walk constitutes countryside and the River Ribble, the thriving town centre and a walk up to the magnificent centrepiece of the town, Clitheroe Castle. For those who fancy coupling the walk with a bit of Christmas shopping and a few drinks, the starting point of the walk is right next to Clitheroe rail station. Please be aware though, that there are a couple of very steep stone stiles on the walk, so it may not be suitable for those walkers with larger dogs.

Leave the car park opposite the Royal Mail building on Chester Avenue (BB7 0BD), then turn right and bear right through the semi-pedestrianised area (Corbridge Court).

Once you reach the T-Junction, turn right again, then go past Albion House onto the single-track Back Commons Road.

Follow this track and turn right at Commons House. When you reach the dog-leg bend, you’ll need to take the stile on the right, and, immediately afterwards, another stile on the right. Walk along the right-hand perimeter of the field towards the stile in the corner. Don’t cross the stile though; instead turn left and follow the footpath around the same field.

At the corner of that field, cross another stile and head across the field diagonally towards a manor house (Waddow Hall) until you hear the rushing sound of water from the nearby weir. Go down the steps to the right and follow that footpath for 1/3 mile to the handsome Brungerley Bridge. Exit the path, turn left and cross over the bridge carefully.

74 Once over, cross the road and turn right down the footpath that’s signposted West Bradford (look for private fishing sign). Follow the path and once you have passed the slurry storage tank, take the left fork uphill. Go round the left-hand bend just afterwards, and then follow the well-defined path, ignoring the steel bar gate to the left.

The views open up at this point, all remarkably picturesque, until you see the eyesore of the cement works to the right. The trail then runs for over ½ a mile, through several fields and over a few rickety stiles, roughly following within 200/300 yards of the (mainly unseen) Ribble, but always within the same distance from the cement works.

You’ll end up at the corner of a field with two choices of stile about 40 yards apart. Choose the one on the right, and once you pass through a small wooden area, you carry on in the same direction to the river. Turn left and head along the river towards Bradford Bridge.

Turn right, cross over the bridge and take the footpath on the right, returning to the opposite bank of the river.

You’ll follow the path along the winding riverbank for almost a full mile until you go through a stile just before you enter Cross Hill Quarry nature reserve.

Immediately afterwards, take the left-hand path uphill to the otter statue and then turn right. Follow the path in the same direction

for ¼ mile – there are a number of paths that branch off the main Ribbe Way path but they all end up at the same place – Waddington Road.

Once you reach Waddington Road, turn left.

Follow this busy road towards the town centre for 1/3 mile. Once you’ve passed under the railway bridge, turn right into Railway View Road and then fork left into Railway View Avenue. Turn left at the junction with King Street and then turn right into Castle Street. There in the distance you’ll see Clitheroe Castle, perched proudly atop the town looking down on its shops and residents.

75 Once you reach the end of Castle Street, turn right into the entrance of Clitheroe Castle.

Bear left and take the winding footpath upwards to the castle, museum, and cafe. The museum is rated highly on Trip Advisor, and the views from the top of the castle over the Ribble Valley is nothing less than spectacular on a clear day.

Once you’ve finished at the castle go through the gate below, turn left and take the path to the left-hand side of the amphitheatre, which takes you out to Parson Lane. Turn left and, directly after the railway bridge, take the immediate right down Castle View.

For those with the OS Maps app on your desktop, mobile or tablet, this walk is named: JT-Clitheroe

Coplaw Hill

d Wa

B64 78

Castle View continues into a modern culde-sac; walk on through this road and onto a footpath and you’ll arrive at the Royal Mail building, with a clear view of the station on the right-hand side. Turn left and walk the few yards to the starting point on Chester Avenue.

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

Horrocksford

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Crosshill Quarry

ok Bro

Brungerley

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76 2

Win a

Lancashire Day Hamper!

To celebrate Lancashire Day on Saturday 27th November Local Life is bestowing one of our readers with a custombuilt luxury hamper, chockfull of goods produced in Lancashire.

Some of the contents are made by producers who are household names, such as Uncle Joe’s in Wigan and Bartons in St Helens, whilst others are less well known.

All the goodies have one thing in common though; they are produced within Lancashire’s historic county palatine, which includes the large cities of Manchester and Liverpool as well as the Furness and Cartmel peninsulas in the Lake District.

As you can see from the main image, the goods include cheeses, cakes, chocolate, jams and local honey, biscuits, seafood, pudding, sauces and pickles, crisps and, of course, Bury’s best black pudding. Lancastrians with a thirst can indulge in gin, beer or a glass of locally produced dandelion and burdock!

Lancashire Day is celebrated on the 27th November every year because 726 years ago in 1295, it was on this day that the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as ‘The Model Parliament’.

A proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on Lancashire Day and part of this proclamation quotes the following; Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the people’s pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

Even with much local opposition, on April Fool’s Day in 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, the southern part of the geographic county was transferred to the two newly established metropolitan counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester. On the same day, the county of Cumbria came into being and Warrington was incorporated into Cheshire.

To enter the competition to win this Lancashire hamper, simply visit our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and then answer the following question;

What is the colour of the rose of Lancashire?

The expiry date for this competition is midnight on Sunday 21st November 2021.

The winners will be personally contacted within three working days of the expiry date and the results will be posted on our Facebook account on Lancashire Day, Saturday 27th November. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Strictly one entry per household – multiple entries will be disqualified. Local Life 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition. The picture is for illustration purposes only and Local Life 247 Ltd reserve the right to substitute goods for goods of equal value if necessary.

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78

The car industry’s most eco-friendly advancements Climate change is a hot topic in the car industry and manufacturers are racing to bring electric cars and plugin hybrids to market to reduce tailpipe emissions.

But it’s not just the powertrain that’s been the focus. Many manufacturers have been working to make the whole car-building process more eco-friendly, whether it’s the materials used inside or the production process itself.

Here, we take a look at some of the ways cars are getting greener.

Mini Strip The Mini Strip is a one-off concept car built in collaboration with fashion designer Paul Smith. Based on the firm’s Electric Hatch, it prioritises sustainability above all else.

Features include a body that has not been painted, except for a film to protect it from corrosion, recycled Perspex for the panoramic roof, all but the necessary interior trim removed, and cork used throughout.

Though the Mini Strip will remain as a concept, the British firm says it can be used as a “catalyst for more sustainable use of resources in automotive design”.

Synthetic fuel Although electric vehicles are considered the future, there are some alternatives being worked on. One example is hydrogen cars, but a less talked-about alternative is synthetic fuel.

Also known as e-Fuels, they are essentially no different from the petrol and diesel that comes from crude oil, but they are instead produced from carbon dioxide and hydrogen using renewable energy.

Porsche and Siemens are two big companies working together on this technology. Although they admit that currently it is more efficient to use that renewable energy to charge an electric vehicle, e-Fuels are a sustainable way to fuel the millions of petrol and diesel vehicles currently on the world’s roads.

Volvo’s wool interiors Volvo has been one of the manufacturers most committed to electrifying its line-up, but it’s also focused on sustainability elsewhere. We’ve become used to seeing synthetic or ‘vegan’ leather alternatives from a variety of manufacturers, but Volvo offers a unique wool upholstery.

It’s a blend that’s 30 per cent wool and 70 per cent recycled polyester, available as a no cost extra on some of the firm’s vehicles.

Seaqual Yarn Volvo isn’t the only manufacturer experimenting with interesting eco materials. Last year, Fiat became the first manufacturer to use Seaqual yarn for its seat upholstery, with the Cupra Born’s bucket seats also using the material.

Seaqual is an initiative based in Italy that

79

focuses on fighting plastic pollution in the ocean. Its ‘Yarn’ product is made from 100 per cent recycled materials, with about 10 per cent coming from upcycled marine litter.

Eco-friendly production Pretty much every major car manufacturer has announced plans to electrify its range and set targets for carbon-neutral production at its factories. This is being achieved in various ways, such as powering factories with renewable energy.

Toyota builds more cars than anyone else globally, so improvements can have a major impact at its factories.

Measures include using water-based paints on cars, removing pollutants before they are released through smokestacks, cleaning wastewater on-site before it is released, and growing forests inside its factory sites.

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Last year, the Japanese company announced plans to build a “prototype city of the future” at the base of Mount Fuji. It will be fully connected and powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Bentley of the future Bentley is a luxury car firm, and it has made it its mission to make sure the cars it builds in the future are more sustainable. In 2019 it revealed the EXP 100 GT concept car, an autonomous electric vehicle.

Everything about its construction had sustainability in mind. For example, some of the furnishings used a dyeing process that strives to achieve zero discharge of chemicals into the environment, while others come from a material called Vegea, which uses the by-products of winemaking.

It also uses wood from naturally felled trees.

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81

Winter

Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets are a great way to create a miniature gardening space with your choice of colours. Once established they make even the gloomiest back yard look more cheerful, or the prettiest patio look even more gorgeous.

Plenty of plants make for a colourful basket and your local garden centre or nursery should have a good selection, including winter-flowering pansies (I am fond of the purple and yellow varieties) and heathers, Gaultheria with its waxy red berries, dianthus for late autumn into early winter and assorted miniature shrubs, including variegated Pieris, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ and variegated euonymus, to help give structure and colour.

The shrubs will look great in a container for a year or two, before being planted in the garden.

Although traditionally a summer planting feature, baskets work just as well for the winter months A thicker, almost felt-like liner provides insulation in cold weather as well as keeping the compost and plants in place. I suggest a 35cm (14”) diameter basket as it can take more plants and, because it is larger, resists cold better. You’ll also need compost.

Stand the basket in a large flowerpot before you start to prevent it rolling about. Once the liner is in place, remove the chain at one anchor point to stop it getting in the way.

The liner will protrude above the basket edge at this stage but this helps to keep the compost in place. Use good quality multi-purpose compost, firming it gently, and fill the basket about half full.

Mesh baskets allow for easy side planting. Cut holes in the liner then insert small plants such as pansies at regular intervals around the sides of the basket, inserting them from the outside inwards to reduce damage. Nestle the roots into the compost and make sure that the liner is back in position after the last plant is in place.

Add more compost to cover the roots of the side plantings and firm again gently. Next get the central plant in place and add three more upright plants such as miniature shrubs, equally spaced around the edges.

For extra colour, add more winter bedding plants around the very outermost edge of the basket. Pinch out any faded flowers and add more compost, carefully filling in any gaps before watering thoroughly.

Your hanging basket will soon fill out but stand it in a sheltered spot for a week or two to allow the roots to establish before hanging it in position, watering if necessary. Regular deadheading and removal of faded flowers plus a feed with a high potash fertiliser after about a month will keep it looking great, well into the spring.

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Boiler Installation Credit Cards accepted Boiler Servicing & Repairs Boiler Finance Available Landlords Gas Safety Reports Experienced, Reliable & Friendly Service

01942 221 996 07769 203 056 hartheatingwigan@gmail.com Winstanley-based

651511

Plumbing & Heating Specialist Complete Bathrooms

Bathroom Installation, Full Bathrooms & En-Suites Plumbing Services Wall & Floor Tiling Ceiling Panelling

01942 397173 07803 057940

John Bailey 01942 495785

Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk

Please call for a FREE Estimates

07703 448890 01942 208926

• Brand New Bathrooms • Boiler + Central Heating Installs, Servicing + Repairs • Extended warranties available FINANCE OPTIONS • 24 Hour Call-out AVAILABLE • Domestic + Commercial

or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238

Freephone:

0300 3030121

Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan

Dave: 07769 942218 Matt: 07969 183809

Design & Print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service.

• Bathrooms • Wet Rooms • Wall & Floor Tiling

Installation ~ Repairs ~ Service

New showroom opening soon at: 2a Gathurst Lane, Shevington WN6 8HA Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk www.orrellheating.co.uk

tive prices

Quality carpets

& flooring,

expertly

fitted at competi

rural Village NUrSErY

All staff paediatric & first aid QUALIFIED

(LVT) oPEN Luxury Vinyl Tiles Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM Carpets and Rugs g Laminate Floorin g Hard Wood Floorin

rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

£37.50 per day

LANgUAgE & SPortS LESSoNS for pre-schoolers

Large outdoor PLAY ArEA

term time : 8am till 5.30pmfor the Open Mon-Fri a booking system We operate saves you money ent holidays which entitlem 30 hours free We deliver day £29 for a full s available Flexible session from 2 years old We take children

3 months - 4 years

wjdflooring.co.uk

Road, Smithy, Church No.2 The Old 8HD Rainford WA11

01744 88 55

QUALITY CHILDCA

We cater for CHILDrEN

NEWLY rEFUrBISHED in 2019

.co.uk | bespoke@

www.bespoke-floors

Nursery Little Acorns TRUST! RE YOU CAN

woodland a beautiful to gain situated in Nursery is for your child Little Acorns vibrant place nces. a safe and onal experie setting. It is ful educati in the forest lots of wonder being down outdoors & well-being on the great health and We are big for your child’s which is good

All Saints’ Primary

14

of WJD Retail is the trading name Number 1248484 Bespoke Flooring Ltd – Company & Online Solutions

Central Heating Systems Boilers & Gas Appliances General Plumbing Gas Safety Certificates

506515

Quality Tiler required for these pages

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

School | Finch

47 01257 2526 sery.com -daynur

www.littleacorns Call Sarah on 01744

886166 for more information

or admin@cranknursery.net www.cranknursery.co.uk

Call Andy for a free quote on

For more information

Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

01942 564 226 07397 391 935

Call 01695 627 999

acampbellheatingandgas 597379

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

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Want a new boiler with ZERO upfront cost?

We’ve got you covered for all aspects of plumbing and heating

Boilers

Gas

Heating

Pay monthly with servicing and warranty included.

Call us now to find out how!

01942 575730 07565 060530

Plumbing Drainage

166 Gidlow Lane • Wigan • WN6 7EA

www.blueflameltd.co.uk craig@blueflameltd.co.uk

626792

Family run business with 20+ years experience.

Check out our reviews:

Installation • Maintenance • Repairs

Showroom now open at 19 Preston Road, Standish WN6 0HP

All plumbing services including services & repairs

• Bathrooms/Wet Rooms designed and fitted

• Specialists in Disability Installations & Conversions

• Emergency Call outs welcome

BOILER SERVICING

FROM

£60

No Obligation Quotes – Call Mark on

01257 473026 07515 894281

527090

www.gphwigan.co.uk

A Genuine Family Run Business With Friendly & Courteous Staff SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES

• Annual Boiler Servicing • Landlord & Home Owner Gas Safety Checks Accredited Installer & Service Partner

• Mechanical Power Flushing • Thermostatic Valves Radiators Fitted • All-in-One Air Conditioning & Heating Units for Home & Work

Telephone: 01942 504 429 TEL: 01257 421 660 MOB: 07515 505 501

www.fgwelch.co.uk

WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS! Registration No.

88604

92

AGBathrooms.net Quality bathrooms at reasonable prices

Great Value Bathrooms!

Complete bathroom installations from design to completion.

07816 394 292 Check out our work on

www.AGBathrooms.net

Walk-In Shower

AJC Full Bathrooms & En-Suites Showers, Trays & Cubicles Relocation of Bathroom Suites

For free quotes, call Adrian on

Convert your bath to a

WALK IN SHOWERS Typical price

£2200

25 years bathroom experience

Fully guaranteed One day installation No mess - no fuss Easy to clean & maintain

Call Chris now for a free quotation

Call Anthony on

C L Bathrooms

01942 749085 or 07801 295483 www.clbathrooms.co.uk

07919 876 825 Workshop address: Bulldog Tools Ind. Est. Darlington Street East, Wigan WN1 3BT Microshop address: Hardshaw Centre, Church Street, St. Helens WA10 1EB

We also fit full bathrooms!

Aerial & Sky Services RX-12 Digital TV Aerials

• Business Telephone Systems • Voip & Structured Cabling • Residential Extensions • Faults & Gen Enq

£75 supplied & fitted

• TV Aerials Installed • TV Wall Mounting • Telephone Lines • Setup Service

Aerial Multi-room System at £45 per room

TV Wall Mounting Service Level 5 in Signal Path & Fault Diagnostics

Domestic & Commercial work welcomed

Ring Paul on

Tel: 01942 441221

Askus@LJTelecomServices.co.uk www.LJTelecomServices.com

01942 514 532 07709 490 095

30+ years experience

01942 257804 07966 488585

TT20778

Call anytime for a quote or email: andy@aerialandskyservices.co.uk

www.aerialandskyservices.co.uk

93

Jon Wright Electrical Ltd a Installation & Maintenance a Inspection & Testing a Nest Pro Installer a CCTV & Alarms

Tel: 07738 117712 Orrell based

W.Hurst & Son Ltd ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR

All types of Domestic & Commercial work undertaken

www.whurstandson.co.uk

• All types of electrical work • 35+ years experience • No job too small • Friendly and reliable

• Inspection & Tests • Repairs • Solar PV • Alarms Call now on: 07983 387448

Email: jonwrightelec@live.co.uk Certificate of excellence winner 2017, 2018 & 2019

For a free quote & advice call Jeff

01695 622 191 07850 622 191

A.J.S.

BAILEYS

ELECTRICAL

All electrical work undertaken JIB Approved Electrician All domestic electrical work 24/7 call out service Friendly, reliable & professional

Free quotations

• Friendly reliable service • Mains board upgrades • Extra sockets to full rewires • Cctv & Ajax wireless alarm

01942 215 769 07739 709 005

Call 07557 795 892

Call Steve on 07874 352501 or 01744 368055 www.billingeelctrical.co.uk

Design & Print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service.

Quality carpets

& flooring,

expertly fitted

tive prices

Emergency lock openings Lock changes No call-out charges 24-hour service 60 mins response

Call 01942 669505 www.uklocksandalarms.co.uk info@ianwalkerservices.co.uk

rural Village NUrSErY

rated by oFStED

Nursery Little Acorns TRUST! RE YOU CAN QUALITY CHILDCA

as oUtStANDINg All staff paediatric & first aid QUALIFIED

(LVT) oPEN Luxury Vinyl Tiles Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM Carpets and Rugs g Laminate Floorin g Hard Wood Floorin

FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

£37.50 per day

LANgUAgE & SPortS LESSoNS for pre-schoolers

Large outdoor PLAY ArEA

We cater for CHILDrEN

wjdflooring.co.uk

.co.uk | bespoke@

www.bespoke-floors

Road, Smithy, Church No.2 The Old 8HD Rainford WA11

01744 88 55

term time : 8am till 5.30pmfor the Open Mon-Fri a booking system We operate saves you money ent holidays which entitlem 30 hours free We deliver day £29 for a full s available Flexible session from 2 years old We take children

3 months - 4 years

NEWLY rEFUrBISHED in 2019

woodland a beautiful to gain situated in Nursery is for your child Little Acorns vibrant place nces. a safe and onal experie setting. It is ful educati in the forest lots of wonder being down outdoors & well-being on the great health and We are big for your child’s which is good

All Saints’ Primary

14

of WJD Retail is the trading name Number 1248484 Bespoke Flooring Ltd – Company & Online Solutions

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

School | Finch

47 01257 2526 sery.com

www.littleacorns Call Sarah on 01744

-daynur

886166 for more information

or admin@cranknursery.net www.cranknursery.co.uk

For more information

Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

J.Dillon

Electrical Services Ltd

at competi

Domestic and commercial work welcome Free security assessment provided

From full re-wires to outside lighting to socket replacements No job too small 24/7 emergency call-out with no call-out charges

Over 30 years’ experience

www.johnboughey-electrical.com Parbold/Wigan Areas

Alarm installations, repairs & upgrades

All Electrical Installations, Maintenance & Repairs

www.locallife247.co.uk

Electrician ~ Standish • All types of electrical work • 30+ years experience • Friendly, fast and reliable • 24 hour call out service

Call: 01257 424918 or 07821 139826

www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk

94

JJ Driveways Imprinted Concrete Specialists

Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements!

Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters.

Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 www.orrellroofline.co.uk

Handy Andy

Your Property Maintenance Experts

All Building / Joinery jobs considered Plastering / Tiling Plumbing / Roofing Flatpack Assembly

Call Handy Andy on

01257 369 685 07899 752 225 tradesbyandy@gmail.com

Huge range of colours & patterns • Resin Driveways • Block Paving • Indian Stone • Flagging We can also revive your old drive!

Ask about our sealing service

Call Joe for a free quotation on

01942 621 959 07867 697 972

www.jjdriveways.co.uk • Handyman Services • Pest control • Waste removal For a free quote with no obligation,

01942 741 124 or 07450 614 219

call

www.twolions11ltd.co.uk £10 discount when you mention Local Life

Quality Fencer required for these pages Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

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GDR Driveways ALL ASPECTS OF PAVING & turfing

4 Block Paving Clean & Re-seal 4 Indian Stone service available 4 Flagging 4 Turfing 4 Artificial Grass Winstanley-based

www.gdrdriveways.com Call Gareth for a FREE quotation: 01942 217 113 or 07715 177 754

95 Quality Flooring Fitter required for these pages Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

• Home improvements • Loft conversions • Garage conversions & Extensions • Staircases • Windows & Doors

• Conservatory repairs • Locks, handles and hinges • Replacement glass • Windows and doors installed • Replacement conservatory roofs

01942 737 381 0776 315 1720 conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com www.fixmyconservatory.com

Quality Removals required for these pages Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

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• Timber cladding • Bespoke furniture • All aspects of joinery • Fabrication / steel work Contact:

07800 580532 01744 747787 www.funkytimber.co.uk Unit 17b, Wharton Street, St Helens, WA9 5AA

Specialists in Replacement Double Glazed Units Ring with sizes for a FREE estimate Open 7 days 8am - 8pm Established Local Family Company

01942 470 085 0800 328 8573 www.steamywindows.net

Prices include supply & fit

Call MARK now on

Superior craftmanship at competitive rates

6 Doors

For all aspects of renovations and maintenance -

no job too small!

For a free quote, call MT Joinery now.

01257 422317 or 07852 202867 www.mtjoiner y.co.uk

Quality Tiler required for these pages Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

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Des Pilling Plastering

from

• Plastering • Skimming • Artexing

Oak Door

Coving & Cornice work also welcomed

£370 from

Orrell based – Established 1986

All aspects of joinery

Call Des on 07787 513 235

Orrell based

£140

Call Mike for a free quote

www.lakelandplastering.co.uk

www.orrelljoinery.co.uk

www.despilling.org.uk

01942 590514 • 07988 260621

96

All aspects of roofing & roofline NEW ROOFS REPAIRS FASCIAS, SOFFITS & GUTTERS

Dormers and Garages

First Class Workmanship 4 All types of re-roofs 4 Strip & re-slate or re-tile 4 Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc.

4 Insurance work undertaken 4 Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering

W.Newman ROOFING & REPAIRS

B.A. Berry Building & Roofing Specialists • All building work undertaken.

• From a broken tile to a full re roof.

• Flat roofs renewed and repaired.

• Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs including Lintels.

Your local fully qualified tradesman

with 30 years experience Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist Guaranteed 50 years

Call for free quote

M: 07894 687 384

01695 627 212 MOBILE: 07774 943 706 52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND Established Over 30 Years

Quality Fencer required for these pages

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

K Stone Building Services

Extensions & Refurbishments Kitchens & Bathrooms Conservatories & Orangeries Windows & Doors Roofs & Fascia Boards Decking & Balustrading

• Roof Repairs • Flagging • Alterations • Driveways

25 years experience

01942 495412 07974 496676

BROS Est. 1985

Roofing & Roofline Specialists • All aspects of maintenance & repair • Fascia & soffit installation • Guttering and felting services

All types of building work undertaken • Brickwork • Pointing • Garden Walls • Patios

01695 622 704 07968 652 320 www.baberry.co.uk

• WILSON • 28 Years Experience

Call 01695 627 999

Call us now for a free, no obligation quote

Call us now for a free estimate

All aspects of building works No job too small Call Peter for a free quotation

Day: Eve:

07961 516 677 01942 745 428 Cambridge Road, Orrell

01695 633173 Colin: 07958 302 166 Brian: 07760 160 988 www.wilson-bros.co.uk

97 4 Extensions and House Refurbishment Works 4 New Build Houses 4 Groundworks, Drainage, External Paving and Landscaping 4 Internal Structural works to accommodate new bi-fold doors / open plan living etc 4 Full range of garden design and landscaping works including BBQ areas, garden offices, bars, games rooms etc 4 Full Range of Commercial Building including Interior Designs and Fit Outs Contact us for further details on 01257 447 427 or enquiries@helixgroup.uk Blackthorn House | Skull House Ln | Appley Bridge | Wigan | WN6 9DB www.helixgroup.uk

ALPINE LTD Roofing & Building Services

• Flat roof specialists • Damp proof specialists • Quality workmanship • Affordable pricing • Quick response to all repairs

OAP

DISCOUNTS

SERVING CHORLEY, W EST LANCASHIR E& WIGAN

Your local roofing company from repairs to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters.

FULLY INSURED

Tel: 01942 410989 Mob: 07730 351523 www.alpineroofingandbuildingltd.co.uk

WIGAN NORTH

LocalLife september 2019

WIN

13,249

tickets to Martin Mere

ABC1 homes

Public

Art Trail

Standish, Shevington, Appley Bridge,

mEmOriES OF CENTrAL

pArk pArbOLD EiGHT WALk

Parbold, Whitley, Newburgh, Beech Hill, Red Rock, Springfield, Standish Lower Ground, Wigan Lane LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiO NS | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES

Also available at; Tesco Extra (Wigan) and Sainsburys (Marus Bridge)

January 21

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march 2020

Forgotten Buildings:

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Spa Day for Two!

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiO NS | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES

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ST HELENS

Also available at; Tesco Extra (Wigan) and Sainsburys (Marus Bridge)

Ballooning

september 2018

in Autumn

ABC1 homes

Rainford, Billinge, Garswood, Moss Bank, Windle, Eccleston, Eccleston Park, Laffak, Haydock, Haresfinch, Carr Mill, Denton’s Green, Prescot Road, West Park

hEritagE opEn days WhEElton moor Walk a hEalthiEr hEart

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Cover photo © Ian Bonnell

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want to book advertising?

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Photograpthy

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Come and visit the largest showroom in the North West Quality installations of windows, doors, fascias, soffits and gutters First for quality First for service First for reliability No contractors No salesmen Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business

Transform your conservatory into a home office

NEW Generation Rockdoor now available

SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS Established since 1999

Call us for a Free Quote Office Number: 01942 871 777 Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs expertly fitted by accredited installers

Orangeries

©

Don’t just lock it, Rock it!

Conservatories

Manufacturers and installers since 2004

Contact us on 01744 891717 for a no obligation quote

28544

Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)

www.orrellwindows.co.uk