Newcastle Life Issue 11

ISSUE 11

‘TIS THE SEASON...

Life

Your guide to what’s on this Christmas

WIN

A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE TREASURE ISLAND

CONTENTS

ISSUE 11

Photography Corner .................................28 Local Search..............................................32

Editor’s letter ..............................................6

Home Improvements................................34

Miss Prom Staffordshire.............................8

Gardening .................................................38

Newcastle Lunch Club ..............................10

Scout Circus Camp....................................42

Cancer Research UK .................................14

Charity Dance Aerobathon .......................43

Foodfest.....................................................16

Support For Mums ...................................44

Recipe ........................................................18

Foodbank ..................................................46

Stage Directions........................................20

Quiz Corner ...............................................47

Stargazing in Newcastle ............................21

Legal matters ............................................48

What’s On .................................................22

Motoring ...................................................49

Making lasting connections A

Laura Campbell Contents Editor laura@timesandecho.co.uk Sophie Cotton Tracey Redfern Design & Production Thomas Brian Advertising Manager tom@timesandecho.co.uk Mobile: 07855 242693

Jane Walters Advertising Sales jane@timesandecho.co.uk Times, Echo & Life Publications 18 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BD Tel: 01538 752214 www.timesechoandlife.co.uk life@timesandecho.co.uk

warm welcome to issue 11 of Newcastle Life magazine - the last edition of 2017! Once again the team here have been out and about capturing all the exciting goings on in the town.

We have really enjoyed rediscovering the wonderful amount of support, friendship and connections that exist in all parts of our community and you can read more about it inside this issue.

We start with a very special celebration - 50 years of meetings at Newcastle under Lyme lunch club. Through this remarkable group, Newcastle residents have been able to meet like-minded people, share stories and make lasting friendships for five decades.

Meanwhile Keele University students have made a different kind of connection, one which has seen them give something back to the local community - they have donated a phenomenal three tonnes of food to those in need in Newcastle.

Plus, after experiencing loneliness first hand, one local mum has set out to support others in the same situation by setting up local mum meet ups to provide valued and lasting friendships. We talk to her about her struggles and her determination to turn her past into something positive.

We also look at news from the local scouts, find out what Newcastle Camera Club have been snapping recently and we have a picture special on the ever popular FoodFest.

And finally, you could have the opportunity to connect with the universe far beyond Newcastle - literally - by taking a trip to the local stargazing observatory! Certainly something different for a Tuesday night.

So all in all, there’s plenty to enjoy in Newcastle and plenty of your own new connections to make as we move into 2018.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!

Thank you to all of you you have been in touch so far.

Remember, Newcastle Life is YOUR magazine and we want to hear from you! Perhaps you have a story to tell or a photo to share; maybe you’d like to promote your event or your talent; or you may have exciting snippets of local history to interest our readers! Simply get in touch by emailing laura@timesandecho.co.uk

Laura

Cover photo by Ivan Rwatschew

Did you know that you can read Newcastle Life online?

A member of Newcastle Camera Club

Visit www.timesechoandlife.co.uk

ivanjr001@hotmail.com 6 Newcastle Life Issue 11

Find us on Facebook search for Newcastle Life Magazine

MISS PROM STAFFORDSHIRE

Second prize for community champion F

undraising ambitions have paid off for Clayton schoolgirl Ashleigh Blundred, who was recently awarded the runners up prize in the Miss Prom Staffordshire awards 2017.

Earlier this year the youngster, who lives with her Mum, Dad, older sister and brothers in Clayton, was delighted to learn that she has been named as a finalist in the Miss Prom Staffordshire competition.

She then embarked on an epic fundraising mission, which saw her complete the 5k Douglas Macmillan Fun Run, take part in local fun days and organise a 24 hour auction.

Unlike traditional beauty pageants, Miss Prom Staffordshire is all about raising money for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

Fundraising for the Dougie Mac is the top priority, and by taking part in local events, finalists are encouraged to become more confident in their own abilities and given the chance to grow into strong, community minded role models for younger girls.

Ashleigh came second out of 700 girls, and took home the crown for Miss Publicity.

She commented: “Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last 6 months. I will still carry on raising money for the Dougie Mac and many other charities and also I wish to help out in the community.�

8 Newcastle Life Issue 11

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NEWCASTLE LUNCH CLUB

Celebrations all rou

Denise Jagger, Dorothy Naylor, Peggy Taylor and Edin Robinson 10 Newcastle Life Issue 11

NEWCASTLE LUNCH CLUB

50 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP, CONVERSATION AND FOOD

ewcastle under Lyme Golf Club has celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special celebratory lunch.

The Lunch Club, which meets at Newcastle under Lyme Golf Club on the first Wednesday of the month, celebrated their milestone occasion on October 4th 2017.

Sue Dimmock spoke to the group about her life in the china industry via her poetry.

The club has 50 members and meeting between October to May inclusive for a lunch followed by a speaker, from 12 until 3pm.

If you would like to join this friendly group, please contact the Secretary, Paula 01782 711438.

Lunches are £17 each for members and £20 for guests (Christmas £20 members and £25 for guests).

N

Sue Dimmock and Pauline Haynes

ound for lunch club Shirley Rathbone and Gwen Oldfield

››

Celeste Holtam

Janet Warren-Arms, Brenda Matthias, Denise Jagger and Elaine Clark

Glenn Oeppen Newcastle Life Issue 11 11

NEWCASTLE LUNCH CLUB

›› Geoff Oldfield, John Miller and Phil Allcock

Diane Hall and Paula Miller

Toddy Lewis

Angela Alcock and Sue Alcock

Speakers for 2017 to 2018

December 6th: In House Christmas Party January 3rd: Penny Wheat - Jewellery Design February 7th: Ian Lawley - Wedgwood and Women 12 Newcastle Life Issue 11

Peggy Martin and Sandra Allcock

Shirley Rathbone and Diane Hall

Dulcie Kennerley and Shirley Rathbone

Denise Jagger, Acting Chair with Lady Captain Sylvia Hulse

Judy Carder, Eileen Moorhouse and Margaret Moorhouse

Liz Teeton

Rekha Patel and Jan Griffiths

Sue Dimmock and Jean Gibson

Glenis Glover

Shirley Thomas

Jackie Dadd

Judy Carder

Pam Garner

March 7th: Judy and Graham White - Garden April 4th: Lisette Lovett - Casanova seduction and suicide May 2nd: Carol Davies - Prison Governor

Charity celebrates dedicated volunteers A CANCER RESEARCH UK

special celebration has been held to mark a 25 year milestone reached by six charity shop volunteers.

A letter from a lady-inwaiting to HM The Queen was read out at a presentation lunch held to honour the dedication and loyalty of the six women who have worked voluntarily for Cancer Research UK for a quarter of a century.

Five of the women – Patricia Scholes, Patricia Colclough, Joan Watson, Dorothy Durber and Glenis Lawton – work at the Merrial Street charity shop, while Audrey Hancock volunteers at the shop in Ironmarket.

All six attended the celebration at The Borough Arms, where they were treated to lunch and presented with bouquets, chocolates, a letter of thanks from the charity, a certificate of appreciation and a 25 year service badge.

Shop manager at Merrial Street, Christine Mancell, was one of the main organisers of

14 Newcastle Life Issue 11

the event. She said: “They are very special ladies who have been here since 1992. There have been a lot of changes over the years and they have stayed loyal to the cause of Cancer Research UK. “Their loyalty and dedication makes them fantastic role models and we wanted to reward them for what they have done for the charity and show everybody that we appreciate the work they do. The shops are nothing without our volunteers.

“They were actually

pleasantly surprised with the lengths we had gone to to say thank you and it was an emotional day for all of us.

“We always go to the Borough Arms for celebrations and Christmas, so we were delighted to return there for this. The food was fantastic and the staff helped us to make sure the presentations were a surprise and it all ran smoothly.

“There are so many roles for volunteers and we hope these fantastic women inspire more people to come and join our close-knit team.”

Newcastle Life Issue 11 15

FOODIE FUN IN

FOODFEST

FOODFEST 2017 A HUGE SUCCESS

rowds descended on Newcastle town centre recently to enjoy a weekend of food, fun and farm animals, when the ever popular FoodFest returned for its 2017 event.

Highlighting issues of Food Waste, Poverty and Sustainability, the Ironmarket based festival has grown more and more successful since its creation.

This year, the festival organisers received funding from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme.

The festival saw a great new collection of artists and musicians wow the crowds, as well as food markets, stalls and a huge variety of exciting events and activities for all the family.

C

16 Newcastle Life Issue 11

IN NEWCASTLE

FOODFEST

Newcastle Life Issue 11 17

RECIPE

STICKING WITH TRADITION THIS CHRISTMAS TIME...

Guaranteed to spice up any drab winter evening is our easy recipe for a batch of seasonal spiced mulled wine. The aroma of this delicious festive tipple is sure to get any bar-humbug in the Christmas spirit this December. Do be alcohol aware this yuletide though and remember not to drink and drive!

Spiced mulled wine

Ingredients: 1 cup water 1 cup brown sugar 2 cups pineapple juice 1 cup orange juice 6 whole cloves 3 whole allspice berries 2 cinnamon stick ½ teaspoon salt 4 cups red wine 2 oranges 8 cinnamon sticks, garnish

Method: 1. In a large saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and orange juice.

2. Season with cloves, allspice, two cinnamon sticks and salt.

3. Cut the rind of two oranges into strips and stir into the mixture.

Serves: 8 time: Preparation m 0 inutes Less than 3 e: Less Cooking tim utes than 10 min

18 Newcastle Life Issue 11

4. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.

5. Pour in the wine. Heat to just boiling and remove from heat.

6. Serve hot, garnished with a cinnamon stick.

NEWCASTLE LIFE ISSUE 10

9 ISSUE

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f ears o 300 y ry g House to is h rian Meetin Unita rsary Annive

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TOWN THE BA MARKS BRITAINTTLE OF 77th

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TO • Ticke HANCES WIN• A set ofts fotourseIsae Tadoking Steps at The Ne

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Times, Echo & Life Publications, 18 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BD Tel: 01538 752214 www.timesechoandlife.co.uk www.facebook.com/newcastle.life Editorial: laura@timesandecho.co.uk Advertising: tom@timesandecho.co.uk

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Stone Road, Baldwins Gate, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 5ED Newcastle Life Issue 11 19

Stage Directions

by Richard Lane

NEW VIC HOISTS SAILS FOR TREASURE ISLAND

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE THIS FANTASTIC SHOW e have teamed up with the awardwinning New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, to give away a Family Ticket to see Treasure Island.

Adapted and directed by New Vic Artistic Director, Theresa Heskins, Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure story will be given the trademark New Vic treatment and follows on from last year’s award-winning production of The Snow Queen (UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People). Treasure Island will be brought to life by a fantastic cast of actor-musicians at the theatrein-the-round and takes to the stage from Saturday 18 November 2017 until Saturday 27 January 2018, 1750, Sleepy Cove. Tired of the quiet life, Gem dreams of adventure and excitement. When a mysterious stranger comes to stay at The Admiral Benbow Inn, she believes her luck is about to change.

And so begins an epic journey. A journey filled with pirates and possibilities; buried treasure and blue horizons; seafarers and scallywags. And in the middle of it all, a goodhearted cook called Long John Silver – but is he

W

friend or foe?

As Gem helps search for treasure on faraway shores, meeting larger than life characters along the way, she discovers there’s far more to a life of adventure than she ever imagined.

Supported by Newcastle-underLyme based KMF Group, the production will feature high physicality, live-on-stage original music, spectacular set and costumes and larger-than-life characters, and invites audiences aboard the famed ship The Hispaniola for the festive season.

Tickets for Treasure Island are on sale now, priced from £15.00 to £24.00 (concessions and family tickets available) and can be booked online at newvictheatre.org.uk or by calling Box Office on 01782 717962. (A transaction fee of £1.00 per ticket applies when booking online).

To win a family ticket for four people answer the following question:

Which of these is Long John Silver’s parrot?

A) Captain Hook

B) Captain Birdeye

C) Captain Flint

(CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER)

Name................................................. Address.................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................. Daytime phone no.........................................................

Please send your entry to Newcastle Life Magazine, 18 Tape St, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST10 1BD. To be received by Tuesday 28th November 2017.

The prize can be used for any performance of Treasure Island excluding from Friday 15 to Saturday 30 December.

The production runs at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, from Saturday 18 November 2017 to Saturday 27 January 2018. The prize is a Family of Four Ticket – the group must include one child and one adult Tickets are non-transferable and are subject to availability

20 Newcastle Life Issue 11

STARGAZING IN NEWCASTLE

LOOK to the

ou may be surprised to learn that we are closer to the stars than you think. On a hilltop above Newcastle, deep within the Keele University campus, lies a stargazers dream a fully functioning observatory. And, it’s open to the public for free.

Keele Observatory was founded in 1962 and hosts a 31cm aperture refractor dating back to 1874, as well as a 61cm aperture research reflecting telescope.

Visitors are welcome during the public openings on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Weather permitting, you will be offered amazing views through the telescopes of celestial objects such as the Moon, planets and star clusters on Tuesday evenings.

On Saturday afternoons you will also be able to observe the Sun using special equipment.

Astronomers are at hand to explain and answer questions. If the weather does not cooperate the team are on hand to show you around and have a chat.

Children and adults are welcome; there is disabled access to the public areas of the observatory including toilet facilities. Parking at the site on request, additional parking available nearby.

And now is the perfect time for stargazing, with the darker evenings drawing in.

Y

STARS

Do you have a passion for customer service and want to get those tills ringing to raise valuable funds for your local Hospice?

Join our team of volunteers in our Newcastle, Silverdale, Chesterton or Westlands Shops Interested? Then pop in and talk to us at the above shops or contact us on the details below.

volunteernow@dmhospice.org.uk | 01782 344332 | www.dmhospice.org.uk

volunteernow@dmhospice.org.uk | 01782 3

For more information visit volunteernow@dmhospice.org.uk volunteernow@dmhospice.org.uk | 01782 344332 | www.dmhospice.org.uk www.keele.ac.uk/observatory/or call www.dmhospice.org.uk volunteernow@dmhospice.org.uk | 01782 344332 | www.dmhospice.org.uk 01782 734340. Keele Observatory is open 01782 344332 to the public every Tuesday 8-10pm and every Saturday 1-3pm Newcastle Life Issue 11 21

What’s on

NOV/DEC

e If you’d like to se ed your event featur n on the What’s O to page, remember email laura@ .uk timesandecho.co

on take lights switch Christmas Switch on will ts gh Li as m st ri t, Ch ke ’s ar ar m ye on This r in Ir d of Novembe plenty of place at the en There will be . m 7p d an ns tio ac tr between 10am d at ormances an family! activities, perf day for all the le ho w e th ith a local w am throughout 10 start from for presents The event will op re you can sh he w t ke ar m creative yourself.

Santa M d get your face or a treat for akaton w the funfair an at orkshop de ri The Bram a e av H e reindeer from pton Muse p 11am. Meet th um will be special ev painted from ow or worksho holding a ent this N sh very ovember fo catch a magic d elves runn an m 0a .3 11 r any santa ing a grott s or o this fest ft Real There will from 12pm! ive season ere will be a 35 b e a . d ed icated Mak workshop l as all this th of dressed el ts w lo , As ar ye for aton turning this re ee tr essential si Santa and his help e, HitMix as ir m m st ad Chri ers, teach gn sinesses to bu l ca lo ing om g visitors’ gr s and symbols to m fr in windows ake your ing and sing otto exper ience mag how, live danc ds oa This is a p R y. io la ad sp R ical! ork di s and a firew communic erfect chance to lear

by Wayne performance ate in bas n how to a performance be ill w e ic Makato er th Santa/Elf Talent ot G At 5pm ’s n, £30 per in , email Nao list from Brita na mi.makat Fi for more in e d, th ar on dw on@gmai Woo formation ing to switch l.com . 10am an . ho will be help Tuesday m w 6p 16 at 20 d ks 12 or .30pm , 14th No ghts and firew vember Christmas Li ber , 18th Novem ay rd tu Sa

Table top sale Taking place between 12-3 pm at St Marks church hall, Basford Par k Road, Basford, there will be many var ied stalls and refreshments availab le.

Saturday 11th Nove mber

Shopping Day ch Christmas Cancer Resear ng Day in aid of pi op a nearby Sh All are invited to e between UK. Taking plac Cancer Research ld by Mr and he g in be , the day is 10am and 6pm be plenty of ll her and there wi Mrs Jamie Gouc opping done sh e tiv fes ur n get yo stalls so you ca early! .01 and the t raised £8,680 Last year’s even r total this ila sim a e to achiev organisers hope rthy cause. year for this wo ded, breakfast drinks are inclu d an od fo Hot and the bar y da e roughout th will be served th . ckets are just £5 wcastle, at will be open. Ti e outside of Ne ac pl s ke ta t en St21 The ev all sh cle , Baden Hall, Ec The Club House 6LG r 15th Novembe Wednesday,

22 Newcastle Life Issue 11

Christmas Fayre Taking place between 1-3 pm at St. Marks church,Basford, there will be many stalls, games and refreshment s just in time for Christmas Saturday 18th No vember

ion to Art Exhibit arm welcome up extend a w ace at pl s ke ta ch Orme Art Gro hi t exhibition, w ar d el al tfi nu hi an W r , thei ntre Community Ce . Entrance pm -4 The Whitfield am 11 s, ST5 2JQ t, es original ar Ave, Westland for sale includ k or r w fo d e an is free just in tim beautiful gifts jewellery and available! so al es pi ce in Christmas. M November 25th - 26th Sat & Sun,

ts Christmas craf t enjoy a crafts aws closer,why no As Christmas dr morning? odist Church Newcastle Meth Taking place at and 12 noon, between 9:30am on Merrial Street mptious ru sc , fts cra emade there will be hom th a Raffle. wi ng rac stalls alo cakes and bric'n'b lling Tea, se fe ca tle lit a There will also be umpets, Tea olate, Squash, Cr Coffee, Hot Choc Oatcakes. cakes, Toast and e funding and ised will go to th ra ds ee oc All pr Community e m astle under Ly running of Newc iding ov pr p ou gr ity mun Orchestra, a com ople of pe e th for tainment community enter e. ym -L Newcastle-under November Saturday 25th

ild the Into the w Thursday of and fourth Hem Every second head across to nearby life will not ild hy W w e ir th sh on m here Stafford w , ildren ds ch r oo fo w Heath sed activities ba re een tu w na ars old. Bet be hosting ths and 5 ye ve on ha m ill 6 w n n ee re betw your child pm 0 :0 ay pl 12 d 10:30am t mucky an d. to explore, ge tiful woodlan rk at the chance au be is th in y pa tl r ca en d nd edgwoo indepe World of W begin with ill w e Meet at the ur nt re your adve dance is free 10.30am whe dland. Atten oo w e th to below and a a walk in l, please see ia nt se es is uded for all but booking k will be incl in dr a d an snack e children. formation se s Fore more in itie iv ct ta w /s ok.com and term er www.facebo b m ut Nove Througho time

Newcastle Life Issue 11 23

Christmas wreath making Staffordshire Wildlife will be putting on a festive afternoon at We stport Lake, where you can learn how to make a professional standard Christmas wr eath using local materials. ÂŁ20 per per son, the session takes place between 2pm and 4pm. To complete the afternoon there will be festive music and seasonal ref reshments. Booking essential.

Sunday, 26th Nove mber Wildlife talk ichael Jones and 9pm, Dr M Between 7:30pm , 'Bringing led tit en lk special ta of Carl will be giving a rk wo e tural world- Th the North order to the na by ld he g in be is event Maer at Linnaeus'. The t us Tr e The Wildlif West division of Village Hall. ecember Friday, 1st D

24 Newcastle Life Issue 11

Small Busin ess Saturday Support your local small bu sinesses in an around Newca d stle Town Ce ntre. There w events and ac ill be tivities around the town and out for specia look l offers.

Saturday, 2nd Decem ber

Public le cture If you hav e an intere st want to fi nd out mo in modern medicin e and re, Keele U holding a niversity w free publi ill be c le entitled C ell & Gene cture in December Therapy: Medicines 21st Centu . Aimed at ry GC students in terested in SE and A Level a career in well as mem science as bers of th e find out m ore, the le public with a desire cture will to between 5 take p .30 Theatre, K -8.30pm in the Wes lace eele Univer tminster sity and w talk from ill include a surgeon a who has u therapy to sed cell & succes gene The lecture sfully treat over 60 0 patients is free and refreshmen . includes ts.

Wednesd ay 6th D ecember

opping r Late night sh en until 8pm fo llage will be op Vi t af Cr mber. ce De Slaters in s ay sd ping on Thur Christmas shop theme, with ecial Christmas sp a be ll wi e Ther pers op sh e th fer to all mince pies on of ember ec D st 21 d 7th, 14th an

arade Join Btern P . le Lan starts at 4pm t s a c New the rade r a p fo s ’s r e be a g This ye nteers of all a de which will a lu e. r o a tr v p n n ce Arts tern the tow ular lan spectac s way around ber it m making y, 9th Dece a d i r F

Festive window display Newcastle under Lyme Business Impr ovement District will be running their popular window dressing competition again this year.

They will be offering three cash prizes between £200 and £75 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place!

If you want to take part you must conta ct amy.williams@nulbid.co.uk to ensure your window is judged.

The judging will take place on Monday 11th December and the winners being anno unced shortly after that.

Monday, 11th December

Newcastle un der Lyme C hoir Christm Concert as A spectacula r performance provided to th people of New e castle under Lyme and surrounding areas just in time for Chri The evening stmas. will be filled with music an laughter with d the tradition of Christmas accompanied music, with solos by the members themselves. Th ere will also be available incl refreshments uding the fest ive mince pied warm non-al and coholic mulle d wine. Ticket £5 per person s are , book by goin g to www.nulco.c o.uk. 7.30pm - 9.30pm, New Methodist Ch castle urch Wednesday, 13th Decem ber

life talk Christmas wild e Talk will ristmas Wildlif Ch of The 12 Beasts at m Westport een 1:30pm - 3p take place betw a twist on the is lk ta ntre. This Lake Visitor Ce turing an as Carol, but fea popular Christm story. There’s e th ll te to animals eclectic mix of iz too all put qu e lif ristmas wild known as the even a great Ch Hollis, otherwise vid Da by er th toge Lad! Black Country th December Thursday, 14

Forensics workshop Forensic Science at Ke ele University will be giving an exclusive talk and demonstration to the Friends of Keele on Forensic Science at Keele University. Tic kets: £5 for Members; £10 for Gu ests. Light refreshments provided.

For further detail contact 01782 733587 1.30pm- 2pm start, Lennard-Jones Build ing, Keele University.

Wednesday, 17th Ja nuary Newcastle Life Issue 11 25

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNER

Above left: The colours of life in Himachal, North India.

Above right: The sarangi player from Rajasthan, West India.

Opposite: Travelling down together on the Kerala backwaters, South India.

CAPTURETHE COLOURS OF LIFE hen the Chairman of Newcastle Camera Club Dr Rajeev Singha moved to the UK from India back in 1993, he brought with him his fascination with photography and over 20 years later he is still discovering the beauty of the world around him through the lens.

He spoke to Newcastle Life magazine about

W

28 Newcastle Life Issue 11

his creative work. “I moved to the UK from India in 1993 and we have lived in Newcastle since 1996. With my first digital camera, I learned to develop the image just as I had visualised the scene. This ability to control and develop images on the computer reinvigorated my interest and I have now been a keen photographer for nearly twenty years.

››

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNER

Newcastle Life Issue 11 29

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNER

30 Newcastle Life Issue 11

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNER

Top left: A winter crane fly, side lit with flash, photographed on the conservatory window.

Bottom left: An inchworm (geometer moth caterpillar) on a Gladioli leaf.

Above: Paper wasp trapped by a false widow spider in window of the garden shed.

“I joined the Newcastle Camera Club seven years ago and learned many new aspects about digital photography from the more experienced members and invited speakers. The regular competitions provide opportunities to get your images critiqued by invited photographers and judges. They will spend time explaining the strengths and weakness of individual photographs and suggest ways to improve the image. It is a great way to improve your photography.

“I have always enjoyed taking candid photographs of people, trying to capture their emotions and thoughts. In the first photograph of the couple rowing a traditional dugout, the reflection adds a sense of movement to the image but also conveys the tranquillity typical of the backwaters of Kerala, India.

“With his eyes closed and his gentle smile, the sarangi player shares the pleasure evoked in

listening to his music, while the elderly woman’s contemplative expression and calloused hands tells the story of life’s many labours.

“More recently I have become interested in photographing nature and have started taking macro images. There is an amazing diversity of insects in gardens, and the three photographs here are all taken in my own garden in Newcastle.

It does take a little patience but you will find a wide variety of creatures once you start looking.

An SLR-style camera with a macro lens is useful, however, many compact cameras will also focus quite close and allow you to take similar images.

“I presently chair the Newcastle Camera Club, and I would like to invite anyone with interest in photography to join us. We meet at the Clayton Sports Centre on Mondays at 7.30pm. More information about the club and the current term’s programme is available on our website www.newcastlecameraclub.org.”

Newcastle Life Issue 11 31

››

NEWCASTLE MAN APPEALS FOR HELP LOCAL SEARCH

And launches a search to bring back his father n a bid to bring his father’s body back home from India to Newcastle for a Christian burial, a local man has launched an appeal to track down the family members of his war time friend.

Newcastle man Philip Holmes is asking for help to locate Mr J Swain (pictured), or, more likely, one of his descendants, in a bid to find his father’s grave and return his body home to the town.

Mr Swain served in WW11 for the Kings Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) in Manipur/Burma in May 1944 and was a friend of Philip’s late father, Ewart Holmes.

Despite a team of researchers searching for information, Philip has yet to recover his father’s body. He told Newcastle Life magazine: “The aim

I

32 Newcastle Life Issue 11

is to bring my father’s body home and to give him a christian burial at a local cemetery.

“I have an address, which Mr Swain gave to my father but that’s all we have to go on and I cannot find that address today. It was "Hartsmere", Dartmouth Avenue, Westlands, Newcastle under Lyme. Perhaps it is now just a number or has been demolished?

“I would be keen to know what happened to him as he and my father appeared to be good friends before and whilst onboard their troopship heading for India” Philip is appealing to Newcastle residents to see if anyone knew Mr Swain, or his descendents.

Please email linda.n.phil@gmail.com or laura@timesandecho.co.uk

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They open and retrack in seconds at the push of a button. A stylish and practical addition to any home.

Call for your free quotation FREEPHONE 0800 020 9482 or visit our website www.staffordshirecarports.co.uk Newcastle Life Issue 11 33

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Spruce up your home

hristmas is just around the corner, and while the season is still distinctly autumnal, there is no mistaking the signs that winter is on the way.

The first ground frost has left a chill in the air and for most of us, the heating is definitely back on.

It might seem a bit drastic to look at undertaking major improvements in the house and garden just for Christmas, but in reality, the winter months are when we spend more time than ever in our homes.

Cold, wet weather, seasonal festivities and darker nights all combine to make retreating indoors much more enticing.

However, if your home is a little less than welcoming, now is the time to tackle any projects before the winter really hits.

Try to be objective when identifying potential improvements.

Look carefully at your home and outside space. Have you been checking on exterior hard-

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34 Newcastle Life Issue 11

standing areas for damage caused by weather, weeds and use? Or does the driveway need resurfacing? What about the patio, decking and pathways?

If any of these areas are likely to become hazardous in the winter, getting some expert advice now might save trouble later on.

What about fencing on your property? If the fences or walls are looking worn or unstable you might be able to manage through until the spring, but if you have children, dogs or even close neighbours to think about, your garden needs to be secure.

Likewise storage areas such as garages and sheds might be ready for some pre-winter maintenance and some attention should also be paid to guttering, fascias, windows and doors ahead of the winter weather.

Indoors, as the heating goes on, condensation season sets in, with the combination of doubleglazing and heating often preventing heat from escaping and resulting in condensation

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

me for feStive SeaSon gathering, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens, where the damp atmosphere can result in mould forming.

Various mould-inhibiting paints are available on the market to help tackle the problem, but severe cases should be dealt with by professionals.

Heating is obviously an important factor throughout winter, so ensuring your heating system is running at optimum levels is important - as is getting any heating projects underway such as having a new stove fitted.

Spending the winter months in comfort is something we take for granted these days, but it doesn’t happen all by itself.

Think carefully about how you use the space in your home. A cream carpet may have seemed ideal, but with children and pets would a hardwood floor be better?

Are there any changes that need to be made to the fireplace? The furniture?

And take a look upstairs too. It’s easy to buy new

duvet covers, but have you checked the tog rating on your quilt? Will it be warm enough for winter and do you need to think about a new mattress or bed frame for a truly cosy nights’ sleep while the weather rages outside?

It might seem a lot of hassle, but some expert advice to get these jobs tackled now can set you up for a long, cosy winter, a panic-free Christmas and plenty of time to snuggle in front of the fire with your loved ones.

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS

check your gaS ap before the cold w omeowners are being urged to get their boilers and other gas appliances checked out before winter, as the autumn weather takes its expected dip in temperature.

Engineers for local gas network, Cadent, have said they're expecting hundreds more call-outs in coming months.

Gas companies are gearing up for an annual upturn in reports of suspected gas leaks.

Last winter, calls peaked in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, with 477 suspected gas escapes in November, compared with 309 calls in August this year.

Dan Edwards, who manages Cadent’s

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36 Newcastle Life Issue 11

national call handling centre, said: “If people smell gas, or have another gas safety issue, such as suspecting carbon monoxide, we’ll despatch an engineer to make sure everything is safe.

“However, it’s not the engineer's job to fix a faulty appliance, they will simply make it safe, and that can mean switching off the supply.

“That’s why we strongly advise people to get their appliances checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

“We know many people will be turning on their central heating around now, so it’s a perfect time to arrange that.”

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GARDENING

PUTTING THE PERENNIAL GA

oday I have been marvelling at the brilliant show of colour from our cone flowers (Rudbeckia) and as winter approaches and colour fades it’s time to think about what to cut back and what to leave standing in the perennial garden. Those cone flowers will be left until spring as the seed heads will continue to look interesting and also feed the finches over winter.

I get lots of people asking about winter "pruning" of different perennials. It’s not something many books cover. Most leafy perennial plants become dormant over winter and both novice and experienced gardeners are often worried about when and how much to cut back.

The short answer is that you can cut down most herbaceous plants as soon as the leaves die off in late autumn to just above the point where new, living growth remains – often at ground level - but getting to know your plants can help you squeeze more enjoyment from them through the winter months.

The following methods work well for us but most important is getting to know your garden and its own micro climate. Keep records of what is damaged over winter and what pruning and protection methods work for you.

The first consideration is: does it need the extra protection given by the old growth? If you have a particularly cold, frost prone garden or are growing tender perennials it is sometimes worth leaving the top growth on until late winter as this provides a

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little protection to the crown (the part where new shoots and leaves appear from) of the plant. The old shoots trap some warmer air around the plant. This has helped me keep some fairly exotic plants, like the pitcher sage (lepechinia) from Hawaii, through the winter in Cheshire.

If you do leave old stems and leaves on over winter, take care to choose a period of frost-free weather in spring when you do cut them back – cutting them back is like taking away their coats all of a sudden – they need time to acclimatise.

Will strong winds be a problem? In windy areas it is worth shortening the stems to avoid too much wind rock which will disturb the roots. So, for example tall heleniums, helianthus all get cut down to a few inches above the soil once the leaves have died.

Will the stems add interest over winter? Don’t be too hasty to cut everything back: some perennials have wonderfully architectural bones in winter: sea hollies, bergamot, bubble mint and many others have attractive flower stems and seed heads that last through the winter. I simply remove any dead leaves in early winter and then tidy up the stems in early spring. In all cases don’t prune the new, fresh plantlets at the base of the stems.

Ornamental grasses always give a good show through the winter. For those that keep green leaves the best treatment is to merely comb out dead leaves and cut out old flower stems in early spring. For ones where the leaves go brown, cut

GARDENING

GARDEN TO BED FOR WINTER back quite hard before new growth starts in spring.

I cut tall ones down to 1ft / 30cm high and shorter ones to about 6in / 15cm.

Will it help wildlife? Another reason to leave old stems in place until March is to provide a home for ladybirds – plants with hollow stems are ideal hibernating places for them. Also seed heads are a welcome winter food for birds and small mammals.

Will it self-seed? Some perennials are shortlived so leaving seed heads on helps ensure the next generation of plants. On the other hand, some plants are best cut back to avoid inferior self-seeds examples include cone flower (Echinacea), Granny’s Bonnet (Aquilegia), Foxgloves, and yarrow (Achillea).

Some perennials seed to excess and removing the seed heads stops them from sprouting like mustard and cress all over the garden in the spring.

On the other hand, I leave the stems and heads on Verbena to encourage self-seeding of this slightly tender, short-lived flower.

Does it need tidying? With ground hugging or mound forming plants, remove dead or damaged leaves and flower stems in early winter– cutting them back at this time saves damaging fresh leaves in spring. Trailing plants are also best cut back at this time. Some plants will keep leaf over winter but this will become damaged and ugly by the spring so it’s best to cut these back hard (provided they’re hardy). I do this with the evergreen day lilies, whereas Heucheras look good through winter and are best tidied in spring.

Once you’ve cut back plants some benefit from a bit of insulation over winter. Shallow rooted plants like Phlox and Heleniums can be mulched with old compost, bark or leaves but watch out for slugs in spring.

There is no reason why the perennial garden needs to be bare and barren in winter. There’s plenty to interest the gardener and wildlife if you avoid the urge to cut back too early!

Martin Blow

Janet & I run Special Perennials, our website www.specialperennials.com is full of colour photos and growing tips. We sell by mail order and at Plant Hunters’ Fairs only throughout the season. Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2018: we will be at the Plant Hunters’ Fair at Alderford Lake, Whitchurch SY13 3JR on Sunday 18th March, free entry to plant fair; The wonderful Dorothy Clive Garden, TF9 4EU on Easter Sunday/Monday 1st/2nd April fair & gardens £4 (less than half standard price); at Consall Hall Gardens, Wetley Rocks ST9 0AG on Sunday 15th April, gardens and fair entry £3, and at Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall ST21 6NF on Saturday 28th April garden and fair £1.

We are happy to bring orders to plant fairs for you to collect.

Newcastle Life Issue 11 39

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Newcastle Life Issue 11 41

All the fun of the fair SCOUT CIRCUS CAMP

Circus theme for 2017 Scout camp

or the first time in a decade Scouts, Cubs and Beavers from all over the Newcastle District area gathered at Kibblestone this summer for a camping adventure with a twist.

550 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Leaders and members of the Adult Support Unit attended the Circus themed camp recently.

With tents already pitched, campers arrived to the sound of circus music and the sight of circus games before being treated to a firework display to kick off the weekend in style.

On the Saturday professional circus instructors ran lessons in juggling, diablos, plate spinning, tightrope walking and stilt walking.

These were supplemented with other activities

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including face painting, bouncy castles, axe throwing, crate stacking, assault courses and leaps of faith.

One of the highlights of the weekend was a parade, led by Porthill Drum Corp, which involved the whole camp who marched over to the campfire.

1st Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle St. Andrews Porthill Scout Group Leader Nick Wood told Newcastle Life magazine: “This was truly a District Campfire with every group present doing ‘a turn’ – great to see their material both old and new.

“A firework display took place after the campfire and then the Beavers were off for a session of Magic, Punch and Judy and Balloon Modelling. At the same time a live band (Stepping Lane) brought the day’s events to an end by performing two ‘sets’ for everyone else over in the ‘Big Top.’ “Sunday morning saw a short ‘Camp’s Own’ service followed by a challenge to see how small an area we could get everyone on camp into and it appears you can get in excess of 500 people into a 5 x 10 metre ‘box’!

“The sun had shone brightly throughout the weekend but all too soon it was time for the camp to come to an end and after some presentations and thanks, everyone departed. It was strange to look down the meadow and see it empty, it was as if we had never been there. Well, at least until the next time!

“Our thanks to everyone involved in making the event the undoubted success it was.”

CHARITY DANCE AEROBATHON

DANCE DANCE DANCE Get your dancing shoes on for charity

fter the huge success of previous Dance Aerobathons, the Jill Clewes Academy is all set to raise thousands of pounds for charity once again this November.

Participants have bravely signed up for

A

five hours of Dance Aerobics in a bid to generate much needed funds for ‘The Alison Hughes Fund’ in aid of Cancer Research UK. The Alison Hughes Fund has so far raised over £165,000.

The danceathon will be taking place at Bradwell Community Education Centre, Saturday 11th November, 3pm - 9pm.

Telephone: 01782 631895 for more information.

Newcastle Life Issue 11 43

SUPPORT FOR MUMS

MUM MEET-UP COM

Local mum offers friendship and support

nowing all too well the challenges which come hand in hand with being a mum, Wolstanton resident Jessica Stead has reached out to others in her situation in a bid to banish loneliness and offer support.

In association with a social app for mums called Mush, Jessica, along with her friend Gema Goldstone, arranged two special events recently to help encourage fellow mothers to get out and about and meet each other.

Jessica, who lives with her husband Mark and

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their two sons Oscar, two and Benjamin, seven months, told Newcastle Life magazine: “After I had Oscar I went to a group run by the health visitors where I met two of my now best friends.

“But after I had Benjamin this group no longer existed and I struggled to find other mums with babies Benjamins age.

“When my friends were at work or on holiday I found I ended up staying home alone all day, and that's when I downloaded Mush and started to meet up with mums nearby.

“Gema and I both recognise how scary it can be to take that first big step to go to places where you don't know anyone, so we wanted to arrange an event where everyone was in the same boat and could then hopefully make a few new

SUPPORT FOR MUMS

MBATS LONELINESS friends.”

Mush is an online app designed by mums, for mums, with the aim of putting women in contact with other women locally.It uses GPS and shared interests to link people with possible mates. With 75,000 members, this free app engineers the sort of sanity-saving connection that mothers like Jessica and Gema have found and it has thousands of members across the globe.

When searching for friends, you can see their photos, as well as their children’s ages and their interests.

Jessica’s first gathering was held at Cheeky Monkeys at the Brampton and the second at Kiddie Times Messy Play Group.

Jessica continued: “Both host venues were so

lovely and really keen to help us in bringing together mums and hopefully help them feel less lonely.

“At the event at the Brampton we held a free raffle where everyone went home with a prize. All prizes were donated and we received so much support from; The little brown mouse company, MikaB teething jewellery, Smyths Toys superstores and Stoke City and we would like to say thank you to them for that.”

She has since held another big meet up in October and plans to carry on organising meet ups and play dates in the future.

You can find out more about Mush by going to https://letsmush.com/

Newcastle Life Issue 11 45

FOODBANK

FOOD BANK BENEFITS FROM STUDENT CHARITY

he generosity of local Keele University students has seen three tonnes of food donated to Newcastle-Staffs Foodbank recently.

Newcastle’s local foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s network working to tackle food poverty and hunger in the UK. Foodbanks provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food and support to people in poverty or those in need.

The food that Keele students donated equates to an estimated 7,000 meals for members of the local community, and has trebled last year's total of around one tonne of donated food.

The donation was part of the University’s Keele Green Move Out 2017 scheme, where students moving out of campus Halls of Residence donate food and household items.

Huw Evans, Environmental Manager at Keele University, said: “This year’s Green Move Out scheme was a great success, and we are delighted that our students have helped vulnerable people in our local community.

“This year Keele worked with our Local food bank and Tesco who together donated 300 empty crates that we delivered to our student halls. Our students then filled these crates over the summer totalling three tonnes of food, helping to provide meals for people in crisis” “All of this could only have been achieved by

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the fantastic work of the University’s Accommodation team and portering staff who helped with the storage, collection and delivery of the items.

It’s great to see everyone working together for a good cause.”

Students also donated a range of unwanted items, from crockery to ironing boards, which were sold on to incoming students raising over £400 for Think:Green, a student-led service that provides a platform to work on sustainable and environmental ideas.

The University also works with other local charities throughout the year to donate surplus furniture and other items. One of these is the British Heart Foundation (BHF) who have donation points on campus for clothes and other items. Over the last few years Keele students have donated over £20,000 pounds worth of items to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Mr Evans added: “At Keele, we want to see as little thrown in the bin as possible, so we will always try to find a way for things to be reused and recycled, whether by donating to a charity, school or finding a sustainable way to recycle it.

We want to reduce waste and make a social impact too.”

QUIZ CORNER

Let’s get quizzical COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

General Knowledge Quiz 1. In computer file-names, what do the letters PDF stand for?

2. What was the first name of the television private investigator Magnum?

3. The action of which 1952 western took place in virtually real time, starting at 10:40 in the morning and ending at five past midday?

5. Which coffee shop franchise shares its name with a character in Herman Melville's novel 'Moby Dick'?

6. Where on the human body would you find the philtrum?

7. Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh are three but who is the fourth 'X Factor' judge this year?

8. Which 'Downton Abbey' actress played Laura Nielson in the 2017 BBC miniseries 'Liar'?

9. Rebecca Rabbit and Suzy Sheep are characters in which children's televison series?

10. Which footballer was handed a two-year ban for drink-driving after being stopped by police in Wilmslow in September?

A 'Christmas' quiz for the festive season 1. In 'A Christmas Carol', what is the first ghost to appear called?

2. What is the little boy's name who builds a snowman that comes to life in the animated version of 'The Snowman'?

3. Which actress who starred as Carrie in the film of the same name in 1976 was born on Christmas Day 1949?

4. In which 1990 Christmas film did Macaulay Culkin first play the character Kevin McAllister?

5. The song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' comes from which 1944 film?

6. What sauce is commonly eaten with Turkey at Christmas?

7. Who did Tom Cruise get married to on Christmas Eve 1990?

8. According to 'The Christmas Song' what kind of nuts should you be roasting on an open fire?

9. 'Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said' are lyrics from which Christmas song?

10. In the popular Christmas pantomime who is the son of Widow Twanky?

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Portable Document Format; 2. Thomas; 3. High Noon; 4. It was on the moon; 5.

Starbucks; 6. Above your lip; 7. Nicole Scherzinger; 8. Joanne Froggatt; 9. Peppa Pig; 10. Wayne Rooney.

Christmas Link Answers: 1. Jacob Marley; 2. James; 3. Sissy Spacek; 4. Home Alone; 5. Meet Me In St. Louis; 6.

Cranberry; 7. Nicole Kidman; 8. Chestnuts; 9. Mary's Boy Child; 10. Aladdin.

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele (Question writer and Quizmaster) from Cheddleton email: pnsteele@aol.com

4. What was unique about Alan Shepard's golf shot on February 6th 1971?

Newcastle Life Issue 11 47

LEGAL MATTERS

2017: The year that illustrates the complex and forever changing face of family law

n March 2017, a divorce case hit the national headlines because the courts refused to grant a divorce to a wife because the husband’s behaviour was not deemed ‘unreasonable’ enough to grant a divorce petition. This decision has left a wife trapped in a loveless marriage with the husband and wife’s financial and personal affairs tied. There are currently five accepted reasons for divorce; adultery, unreasonable behaviour, two years separation if the other party consents to the divorce, two years desertion or five years separation and this does not require the other party’s consent.

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No Fault Divorce The wife, who has been refused the divorce, may have to wait five years before she can divorce her current husband without his consent. Five years before she can truly move on with her life! This is a scenario that doesn’t fit with the views of modern day society which is why 2017 has seen various family law lobby groups such as Resolution, increase their campaign for the introduction of ‘No Fault Divorce’ a concept English Law has yet to grasp.

www.family-law-and-divorce.co.uk

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The Sharing Principle is now not applicable to all The traditional starting point for a court when separating a couple’s finances is a 50:50 split. The 50:50 split is then altered depending on the needs of each party to the divorce. However, in a recent Landmark Ruling it seems that double income couples with no children may no longer have to share assets equally when divorcing. In this case Lord Justice McFarlane ruled that the couple’s marriage had been relatively short and that the usual principle of sharing assets did not apply. In what other circumstances will the ‘usual’ principle not apply?

In a separate case involving a childless couple who were married for only two years the judge made a £4.2 million financial award to the wife based on ‘her’ needs. In this case the husband brought the wealth to the marriage but the judge deemed the settlement figure to be in-line with the wife’s needs. These two cases illustrate that when deciding what Orders to make, the Court has a very wide discretion. They need this freedom because the facts of each divorce and financial settlement case are always different and not always comparable.

Family Law is Forever Changing Daniel Rushton, Head of Family Law at Grindeys comments, “There is a worrying trend for divorcing couples to avoid divorce solicitors and to opt for a DIY Divorce for fear of expensive legal fees. The DIY Divorce may seem like the cheaper alternative but that isn’t necessarily the case because the DIY option may not result in a full, fair and final divorce and financial settlement. These high-profile cases in 2017 clearly demonstrate that the rules and precedents within modern family law are forever changing and are often very complex.” Daniel continues, “A rule and application of law applied to the circumstances of one divorcing couple may be entirely inappropriate for another couple, even where the circumstances are broadly the same.

It’s the detail of the circumstances that need to be considered which is why it is always advisable to seek legal advice from a solicitor that specialises in family law. The decision to use a lawyer could be the difference between financial certainty or financial ruin!”

PEDESTRIANS IN THE DARK

MOTORING

TIPS FROM IAM ROADSMART’S HEAD OF DRIVING AND RIDING STANDARDS, RICHARD GLADMAN

• Keep an eye on your speed, remember you are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian driving at 35 as you are if driving at 30mph. Be especially aware near schools, the only predictable thing about children is how unpredictable they can be.

Remember 20 in these areas really is plenty.

• Children can be harder to see and may run out between parked vehicles, remember to ‘LOOK OUT’ (over, under and through vehicles).

• Some pedestrians give a tell-tale sign of what they are about to do – look out for people looking over their shoulder, they might be looking to cross the road. If you have a generous space in front of you and vehicles behind you they may well run across rather than wait for all the traffic to come past. You also need to watch for mobile phone ‘zombies’, if you see someone concentrating on their phone they are not concentrating on the traffic, be ready for them to just step out.

• When passing stationary vehicles keep at least a door’s width whenever possible, not just for the

car door that might open into your path; also for someone or something coming out into your path from between the vehicles.

• Be considerate where you park, parking too close to a junction can obstruct someone’s view and make it harder to see, also be aware of not obstructing pavements and dropped kerbs.

• When it’s raining and blowing a gale pedestrians are more likely to dash about and road safety often falls lower on their list of priorities than trying to keep dry.

• With the clocks just gone back it can take children on bikes a bit of time to get used to the fact they need lights and can often get caught out being out without lights – make sure your children are aware of the need for lights on their bikes.

Richard said: “In a perfect world pedestrians would all be on the pavement and would never have to cross a road, in a near perfect one a pedestrian on a road would be wearing flashing high viz and your car would be shouting about their presence – in our real world it is up to us to share the road space, be aware and help where we can.

An effort to be courteous will go a long way to making someone’s day and will help keep us all safe.”

Newcastle Life Issue 11 49

MOTORING

tried and tested: uk’s best and worst vans for passing their mots he Fiat Doblo is the best van for passing the first-three-year MoT test, according to Government figures obtained by Honest John Vans.

The site revealed that the Turkish-built panel van is the best by far when it comes to breezing through the first MoT, with 84% of vans registered in 2013 passing in 2016. In second place (and pick of the pick-ups) is the Ford Ranger with 81% passing first MoT at threeyears, while the Toyota Hi-Lux is third with an average pass rate of 80%.

But Britain’s best-selling van, the Ford Transit, is the UK’s worst for passing the first MoT, with just 64% of vans registered in 2013 passing in 2016. Pass rates for the Citroen Dispatch, Vauxhall Movano and Citroen Relay are also disappointing.

The van website analysed millions of MoT records from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), as HonestJohn.co.uk published the MoT Files for the first time in three years, following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request and a protracted fight with the DVSA to make the data public.

Success in this long-running battle means that, for the first time in years, van owners, operators and small businesses have detailed access to the latest MoT records and reasons for failure. It has been published in full at vans.honestjohn. co.uk/mot-results On average, almost 30% of vans will fail the first MoT, with lighting, brakes and tyres among the most-common failure points, which will cause worry for motorists as the Government pushes ahead with its consultation to extend the annual roadworthiness test for vans from three to four years.

Daniel Powell Managing Editor of HonestJohn.co.uk said: “On the face of it, MoT pass rates for vans are much lower than that of cars. However, it’s important to note that an average van will cover almost twice as many miles as a car over the first three years of its life.

“Obviously, the Government’s proposal to extend the first MoT from three to four years will cause concern. Especially when you consider that almost 30% of all vans will fail the first MoT on brakes, lighting and tyres.”

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Top five causes of failure during a van’s first MoT 1) Lighting -39,000 failures 2) Driver's view of the road – 14,000 failures 3) Brakes – 12,000 failures 4) Tyres – 9000 failures 5) Suspension – 7000 failures

Top five vans for passing the first MoT 1) Fiat Doblo – 84% 2) Ford Ranger - 81% 3) Toyota Hilux – 80% 4) Isuzu D-Max - 80% 5) Nissan Navara - 79%

Bottom five vans for passing the first MoT 1) Ford Transit - 64% pass rate 2) Citroen Dispatch - 66% pass rate 3) Vauxhall Movano - 67% pass rate 4) Citroen Relay - 67% pass rate 5) Nissan NV200 - 68% pass rate

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1.2 Easy

AIR CON, CD, 5 DOORS, LOW INSURANCE

2013 reg £4,995 12 available, all low mileage £89 deposit £89 per month x 36 £19 per week

1.2 Easy 3dr

2013 reg £4,999 6 available, all low mileage £99 deposit £99 per month x 36 £22 per week

ICONIC, MOST BEAUTIFUL SMALL CAR, CD, REMOTE LOCKING

0% APR INTEREST FREE

CD, AIR CON, ALLOYS LOW INSURANCE

AIR CON, CD, ALLOYS, SPACIOUS FAMILY CAR

CHOICE OF COLOURS

1.2 Pop

2013 reg £5,425 8 available, all low mileage £89 deposit £89 per month x 36 £19 per week

2014 reg £7,995 8 available, all low mileage £995 deposit £117 per month x 36 £26 per week

Finance example: 2013 Fiat 500 1.2 Pop or Lounge

Sale Price A.S.A. £5,515 PER MONTH £89

Deposit £89 PER WEEK £19

Interest Rate 0% APR Period 3 years

1.4

Balance £5,426 *Guaranteed optional minimum future value £2,221

No Finance Charge £0 Mileage per year 5,000

MARSONS HAVE BEEN SELLING & SERVICING FOR OVER 60 YEARS. WE ARE YOUR TRUSTED FAMILY FIRM TO DEAL WITH!

Marsons Minimum Allowance

£2,000

for your old car with or without an MOT against our used cars, when its worth more we will give you more!!

Administration doc fee of £295 must be paid

Visit www.bsmarson.co.uk to view over 200 more cars!!!