Trade Locally Issue 82

Local Business Classified

Airport Transfers

Staffs Travel

SOT 07949129609 54

Alarms, Aerials, Sat,CCTV& Security Cam-Tec Blythe Bridge 01782 396619 36

Deks Aerials Blythe Bridge 01782 396511 13

Homeguard Intruder Alarms SOT 01782 397589 13

Attractions & Events

Trentham Gardens Trentham 01782 646646

World of Wedgwood Barlaston 01782 282986

Blythe Bridge Historical Society Blythe Bridge 34 & 35

Building Trades & Allied Services

Allsop Construction Ltd Tean 01538 724773 47

Bliss Bathrooms SOT 01782 626108 14 DTLH SOT 07837987023 24

DJZ - Drives, Fencing,Building Blythe Bridge 01782 393848 14

Dan Heat - Plumbing & Heating

SOT 01782 398833 24

Hartley Skip Hire Cheadle 01538 753640 23

Jones & Shuffs Longton 01782 599567 20 & 21

LF Home Improvements SOT 01782 692370 37

Magg Group Home Services Penkridge 01785 711088 15

Meir Heath Digger Hire Meir Heath 07368282063 23

Pegasus Property Meir Park 07970790747 16

Prime Groundworks Ltd Tean 07867277811 40

Russells Derbyshire 01335 330399 43

RWB Installations SOT 07787 447807 46

S.W. Clarke - Electrician Blythe Bridge 07725415934 26

Sam Lovatt Fulford 01782 394958 38

Unifix Staffordshire 07444884527 22

Car Sales & Servicing

DC Vehicle Repairs Weston Coyney 01782 476785 58

Smart Auto Fix SOT 07973313057 57

Care Services Home Care Assist SOT 01782 405096 52

Carpets & Soft Furnishings

Ian Sunderland Carpets & Flooring SOT 07932 668745 10

Cemetery`s & Memorial Gardens

Garden of Remembrance

Longton 01782 326083 53

Charities

Katherine House Hospice Donna Louise 01782 654440

Douglas Macmillan Hospice Blurton 01782 344300 29

Chimney Sweeps Swept Away SOT 07368231054 9

Cleaning Services

Stainbusters Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 07961 488893 11

Curtains & Blinds

Chantelle Blinds Longton 01782 599529 14

Hillarys - Stoke SOT 07949024406 13

Domestic Appliances/ Repairs

Merv Bennett - Domestic Appliance Service Blythe Bridge: 01782 394887 45

Paul Morton Forsbrook 07970541642 26

Digger Hire

Meir Heath Digger Hire Meir Heath: 07368282063 23

Drives/Patios/Paving

PM driveways Ltd SOT 01782 478354 9

Prime Groundworks Ltd Tean 07867277811 40

Local Business Classified

Electrical Goods & Services

Hylands Stone, 01785 812019 HylandsLongton, 01782 342609 60

Estate Agents

Keys Estate Agents Blythe Bridge 01782 399911 17

Food & Drink

Denstone Hall Denstone 01889 590050

Funeral Directors

Harry Dawson Longton 01782 313428 52

Garage Doors

Press & Pass - Garage Doors Stone 08000219719 57

Gardening

Ashwood Timber Products Longton 01782 599180 41

C & D Tree Services SOT 07970241085 42

Clee Brothers & Son SOT 01782 970805 48

DB Garden Services SOT 07597589469 46

Lee`s Tree Service SOT 07578182660 36

Mount Nurseries Spot Gate 01889 505627 3

Dan Heat

SOT 01782 398833 24

Milward Heating SOT 07799046839 9

S.Gas Services Blythe Bridge 01782 396297 27

Health and fitness

Total Footcare Blythe Bridge 01782 398910 55

Lawnmower Services

Shingler Mowers SOT 01782 393412 47

Leaflet Distribution

Leaflets Ltd - Blythe Bridge 01782 392355 59

Nursing Homes

Westcroft Nursing Home SOT 01782 287121 51

Painters & Decorators

Paul Woolridge SOT 01782 331733 28

Pest Control

David Johnson Pest Control SOT 07831458266 45

EPS Pest Control SOT 07368231054

Pets & Accessories

Pawsome Holidays Blythe Bridge 07970 712682 46

Plumbing & Heating Dan Heat SOT 01782 398833 7

Hotting Up Ltd SOT 07739961896 16

Milward Heating SOT 07799046839 14

Plumbing Plus SOT 07749883998 49

S. Gas Plumbing

Blythe Bridge 01782 396297 27

Stoke Plumbers –SOT 01782 606682 45

W.T Hagan & Son Hilderstone 07513 975664 28

Pubs and Resturants

Raddle Inn Hollington 01889 507278 7

Roofing

Advanced Roofing Services SOT 01782 624603 40

Homeseal Roofing SOT 01782 692860 28

LF Home Improvements SOT 01782 692370 37 Unifix Staffordshire 07444884527 22

Sales And Marketing

Leaflets Ltd Blythe Bridge 01782 392355 59

Schools St Augustine`s Catholic Academy Meir 01782 319504 8

Solicitors

Bowcock &Pursaill SOT 01782 200000 38

Windows & Conservatories

Bespoke UPVC SOT 07496183393 25

City Window Services Ltd SOT 01782 256255 19

Window Wizard Window & Door Repairs SOT 01782 768982 39

www.tradelocally.co.uk

ST AUGUSTINE’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY

At St Augustine’s Catholic Academy our children, parents and staff form our unique school family. We offer a small, warm, nurturing and caring environment where everyone is known and loved. Children feel safe and secure at St Augustine’s and as a result behaviour at school is exemplary. Our dedicated, friendly staff are eager to involve you at every opportunity. At St Augustine's we seek to develop successful partnerships with parents and recognise that this is in the best interests of our pupils.

We currently have availability in our fantastic

foundation stage unit, starting with our two year old provision ‘Mini Saints’ moving to our Nursery and Reception classes. This encompasses the two to five year old age range.

If you require a Foundation Stage, KS1 or KS2 place for your child, please contact the school for an application form and to arrange a school visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our school. (01782) 319504 office@staca.org.uk www.staugustinescatholicacademy.org

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

DOORBELLS

A doorbell may seem like a basic device, barely worthy of mention, but, in this age of online shopping and multiple deliveries in a day, it is more useful than ever. In recent years, the technology has advanced beyond all recognition while remaining surprisingly affordable.

The simple doorbell hasn’t changed since the seventies, an external button wired to a ringer device that may be battery powered or connected to the mains. The wire carries a current to illuminate the button; press the button and the bell rings. Oddly enough, this is perfectly adequate for most people’s needs.

The next step up is a wireless doorbell. The button connects to your router which, in turn, connects to the ringer. There is no need for any wiring and you can put the ringer anywhere in the home that is in range of the router – handy with the growing popularity of garden offices. More sophisticated devices have a speaker and microphone in both the

button and the ringer so you can speak to your caller. Some have a motion sensor, so they act as a security measure too.

Most sophisticated of all is the smart doorbell. This has a camera, microphone and speaker in the button and connects via the router to your mobile phone. You can see and speak to your caller from anywhere in the world, decide if you want to answer the door and warn off unwelcome visitors. Half of the hardware is already in your phone so you can buy a smart system for a couple of hundred pounds. This may seem like overkill, but they are so cheap that it’s hard to resist.

All types of doorbell can be installed by anyone with some basic DIY skills and the patience to understand the technology. If you possess neither of these things, a professional installer or even a handyman can do the job for you. Beware, though; the cost of their labour may well exceed the cost of the doorbell.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS WALL INSULATION

With today’s sky-high energy prices, effective home insulation is more important than ever to keep our homes warm and our heating bills down. Well over 80% of UK homes now have double glazing, but progress in insulating walls has been less impressive – around 50% now have either cavity or solid wall insulation. Until the 1980s there was no legal requirement to install wall or loft insulation in new homes so, if your home is older than that, there is a good chance it won’t be properly insulated. However, installing wall insulation isn’t as expensive or disruptive as you might think.

Cavity wall insulation is placed between the outer wall (usually brick or stone) and the inner wall (usually blockwork). It can be retrofitted by pumping insulating material into the cavity. This is fairly cheap and won’t alter the appearance of your property, but it can cause problems with damp and leave areas of the walls without insulation. Also, older properties tend not to have a gap between the inner and outer walls.

WORDSEARCH

It is also possible to insulate the outside of the walls. There are a couple of solutions available. One is insulative render that is applied in the same way as normal render, although it is thicker and may not be as attractive. The other is to attach sheets of insulation to the walls and then cover them with some kind of cladding, such as timber or aluminium. Due to both aesthetic and planning constraints, this type of insulation is not very popular.

Probably the best solution is to install internal insulation. Sheets of rigid foam insulation are screwed to the existing wall and then plasterboard is glued over them before being skimmed. Although it can reduce the dimensions of the room, it is only fitted to the outside walls and the total thickness is just 35mm, so the effect is minimal. The cost is very reasonable too, and it is no more disruptive than having a wall replastered, but the effect on your heating bills is dramatic – a simple solution to a longstanding problem.

OPINION

FESTIVE TIPS FOR A BLEAK WINTER

Normally, when I write one of my light-hearted Christmas missives, I tend to address the kind of first world problems we all face – how to avoid inviting Uncle “wandering hands” Henry to your Christmas party; whether your neighbours will blank you if you buy a frozen turkey; that kind of thing. This year though, the world has become a much darker place. Suddenly, it’s not just a question of whether your daughter will be content with an iPhone 13 or if you’re going stump up for the new 14, it’s a choice between putting Turkey and all the trimmings on the table or firing up the central heating so everyone’s fingers aren’t so numb they can’t open the presents.

Don’t panic; help is at hand. In this “heat or eat” conundrum, I will first tackle the warmth side of the equation. I think we can all defer to that paragon of common sense, Edwina Curry, for some practical advice, particularly when it comes to anything egg related. She suggests putting some silver foil behind your radiators to reflect the heat back into the room. Wise words, particularly if you actually turn the heating on afterwards. You can put a festive spin on this too by using Christmas wrapping paper instead of silver foil. I have a top tip of my own as well. The problem with radiators is that they only heat the part of the room closest to them. So, take that desk fan you bought during the heatwave last summer, point it at the radiator and switch it on. The warm air gets circulated around the room instead of loitering by the walls. I have no idea if this really works, but why not.

Also, stop those icy blasts from coming under the door with a novelty draught excluder, perhaps in the shape of Colin the Caterpillar or something similar. You can offset the cost by giving it as a gift on the day, ideally to a wealthy relative who doesn’t have to worry about their heating bills. They are bound to “accidentally” leave it behind and you can carry on using it.

Now that we’ve got the heating sorted out, let’s look at the Christmas dinner. The prices that some shops charge for a fresh free-range turkey are frankly obscene. You can buy a frozen one from Aldi for a quarter of the price and no one will think any the worse of you for it under the

circumstances, but I have an even better idea. Does anyone remember the wonderful Bernard Matthews Turkey Roast, perfect for a few not very hungry people. This perennial Sunday treat contains genuine pieces of turkey, along with some other stuff, and while the great man may no longer be with us, his legacy lives on and is available from Morrisons and other selected retailers.

We all love a drop of festive fizz at the start of our meal, but where does it say that grapes need to be involved in the proceedings. Why not buy two litres of Strongbow and decant it into an empty Prosecco bottle. It may not be quite as alcoholic as the real thing, but you can afford to top everyone up as often as they like. We all hear about the spiralling cost of spaghetti but what they don’t mention is the price of sausages and potatoes has actually fallen slightly. Pile the plates high with those lovely roasties and pigs in blankets; everybody loves them. Finally, how often have you got to the end of the main course and found there are no takers for the Christmas pudding and expensive liqueur flavoured cream because everyone is just too full. Here’s a simple solution, wait until the day after Boxing Day and nip down to the supermarket; you can buy a leftover Christmas pud for less than half price and it will still taste just as good.

Whatever happens, have a warm and well-fed Christmas this year.

NSPC RECRUITMENT

Would you like the chance to get involved with a local organisation that promotes the rights and concerns of older folk in North Staffordshire?

Do you feel that your views are properly taken into account when decisions are made by local and national organisations?

Would you welcome the opportunity to comment on the services provided by those including the NHS, local councils, care homes, transport agencies, state pensions and entitlements?

If so please come along to one of the monthly public meetings of the NORTH STAFFS

PENSIONERS’ CONVENTION to see how we can make sure your voice is heard in these troubled times.

Currently we are supporting those trying to protect the helpful staff at Stoke and Stafford railway

stations and to prevent the closure of the ticket offices.

We believe that robotic train services without ticket office staff and guards on our trains is a very backward step. Working with others we believe together everyone achieves more.

If you are interested in joining for an annual fee of a fiver and to receive our regular newsletters or further information about how you can help us please contact:

styles, Ceroc is easy to learn, with different classes aimed towards a range of different ability levels – from nervous first timers to dance floor masters. There is no complicated footwork to worry about, and by the end of your first class you will be able to dance a routine of three moves.

Whether you turn up alone, with a partner or in a group, you will get the opportunity to dance with lots of other dancers on the night.

Ceroc teachers are not only friendly, approachable and passionately dedicated to helping you to learn to dance, they also specialise in people with two left feet! Alongside them, you’ll also meet Taxi Dancers, accomplished volunteers who provide friendly help and assistance to beginners.

Ceroc DJs play a range of music to suit all tastes, from 50’s Swing, 60’s Motown, 70’s Disco and 80’s Rock through to current chart favourites, so there will always be music you enjoy. They are also open to requests so let them know your favourite track.

So, if you fancy having a go, there’s no need to book, just turn up at one of Ceroc Addiction’s venues across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands, where you will receive a very warm welcome.

For more information, call 07983 703166, email dance@cerocaddiction.com, find Ceroc Addiction on facebook or visit the national Ceroc website www.ceroc.com.

WHAT’S ON LOCAL DANCE FITNESS

CLASSES.

New members welcome at our local dance and fitness classes. Monday 7pm to 8pm Dance Fitness – St Frances Church, Meir Heath Tuesday 10.30am to 11.30am Zumba – Blythe Bridge Village Hall Tuesday 6.30pm to 7.30pm Zumba – St Frances Church, Meir Heath Thursday 10.30am to 11.30am Zumba – Blythe Bridge Methodist Church For further details of any classes call Jo on 07713308667

The North Pole Express at Foxfield

Foxfield Railway Station, Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST11 9BG Tel: 01782 394210

Santa & his friends return to Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire for 2022! We're so excited to announce the new North Pole Express at Foxfield – everything you love about seeing Santa on a steam train with friendly character to meet, treats & entertainment and of course meeting the man in red himself.

The North Pole Express runs on every Saturday and Sunday from the last weekend in November through to Christmas Eve and is a favourite for all ages. The train is decorated to bring festive cheer and each child gets a gift from Santa plus there's plenty of entertainment along.

Christmas at Trentham

December 2nd to 1st January 2023

Returning for 2022, the Christmas at Trentham illuminated trail is designed to sprinkle a little Christmas magic, accentuate the flora and fauna and see the stunning historic landscape in a world of light and colour.

Centrally located just off junction 15 of the M6, Trentham is the perfect backdrop for a fun filled family Christmas, a romantic treat, or simply a place to come together to make unforgettable memories. Celebrate an enchanting winter wonderland and enjoy festive food and drink along the route.

For more details go to: Trentham.co.uk

SHUGBOROUGH HALL –

Create new family traditions this winter

A spectacular, illuminated trail, full of wonder and intrigue, to delight and enthral your senses.

As darkness descends, join Luminate, here at Shugborough estate on an enchanting journey, as we weave a captivating light trail through the stunning, historic grounds of Shugborough Estate. Immerse yourself in our mesmerising mile long trail, with stunning lighting elements and fabulous light play, all set to ambient music.

Luminate Shugborough will run nightly from Friday 25th November 2022 until Sunday 1st January 2023 (closed Christmas Day). Tickets must be pre-booked online in advance.

For more details go to: nationaltrust.org.uk

ON

Christmas Market & Annual Light Switch on at Amerton Farm

27th November 2022 10am - 6pm Amerton Farm, Stowe By Chartley, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0LA

��Kick off your Christmas festivities here with us at Amerton Farm for our FREE Christmas Market on the Courtyard as well as our Annual Christmas Light Switch on Event!��

We have plenty going on for you to get yourselves in the Christmas spirit… – Festive Market

– Light switch on – Festive Food treats

– Creative Faces Face Painting– Planet Doughnut

– Lord & Cart Bar with Mulled Cider – Craft stalls – Music

– Mystery Guest and Santa to switch the lights on. Approx 4.45pm

– FREE event to start our Magical Christmas experience at the Farm. More Information www.amertonfarm.co.ukwww.facebook.com/amertonfarm

Brownies - 12th St Francis Brownie Unit

Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 7.45pm Contact: Karen Bowers on 393057

Tiddlers - St Francis

Our Tiddlers group at St Francis, it’s a Parent & Toddler group for children under four and is held on Tuesdays 9.30 am to 11.00am during term time. Contact: Sue Goodwin email: sgoodwin8@hotmail.co.uk Mobile: 07960210631

THE

MAN WHO NEARLY BROUGHT DOWN BRITAINAUGUST 1842 (PART 31)

Some wiseman or woman once said ‘Whenever the many, stop fearing the few! …. that becomes the time for revolution and anarchy.’

Throughout the first half of the 19th century, no saying could have proven truer across Britain. Having seen the success of the French equivalent and the destruction of the ruling aristocracy that followed, many of the political elite both Liberal and Tory, feared a repeat could happen on the streets in any town across the land.

With a population expanding at an almost exponential rate, the whole structure of society was changing.

The agricultural foundation on which Britain had survived for centuries, could no longer cope to feed all of the people, all of the time. Even after an associated transformation of the landscape, by enclosing much of the countryside and common land to improve efficiency, this in itself had produced a dramatic ‘knock on’ impact. Many families were driven from the land to seek work in the rapidly expanding industries of cotton, silk and wool mills in the north. Many more sought employment to burrow underground. The extracted coal provided the power that drove the steam engines, that in turn propelled the machinery, which led to increased production of goods such as pottery making Britain the envy of the world. The dramatic increase in numbers of factories however that sprang up not only provided employment for those people who had been displaced …. but also in consequence, led to

overcrowding and many social issues such as disease, famine and poverty.

Each element therefore became a totally interdependent part of the new system and thus to remove one component would potentially bring the whole edifice come crashing down like dominoes.

The local pottery industry of north Staffordshire was but one example of an industry that gave birth to a series of new towns, that grew from a parochial rural backwater into an urban sprawl, stretching some twelve miles in less than a century. Dependent totally on the miners and potters who existed like a symbiotic entity to engender the wealth and labour for the few, the many however hid a growing anger, and became a hotbed of despondency primed for insurrection when their daily toil became insufficient to feed a family.

June 1842.

William Sparrow chose to walk the short distance to Church Street in Longton rather than ride, for he needed to compose his thoughts about what to say to the Bank manager Charles Harvey Snr. The distance from his colliery at Millfield Gate* was but a short fifteen minutes down Hogs Lane, so his plea for an extension to his existing loan had to be a good one. Mr Harvey was not known for his largesse and the options he would present would be stark and limited that was for sure. (* Hog’s Lane / Weston Coyney Road)

William Sparrow was a native of Bilston, where he already owned several iron blast-furnaces in south Staffordshire. He was a

geological enthusiast, an engineer of sorts and now a mine owner employing over 300 colliers. With further rich coal seams to explore on the land he now owned, his problems stemmed from being capital poor and being undercut by cheaper Welsh coal, even though the cost of transport to the Potteries added to its price. He was simply struggling to compete, even with a thriving pottery industry on his doorstep demanding huge amounts on a weekly basis. First, he needed money to invest!

Mr John Harvey, Charles’ son showed Mr Sparrow into the oak Office where the huge frame of the elderly gentleman sat enthroned behind a massive desk. For the next ten minutes William outlined the key issues and how he saw them. The face of the stern grey head sat stonefaced and silent throughout, yet constantly fingered a buff manila file with figures of an account. The retort to his plea was short and to the point…with an outcome of ‘No, cut your overheads and production costs, otherwise you are finished Mr Sparrow!’

July 1842

With no money forthcoming, his decision to cut costs had to be initially from the wages to his miners, who were paid by the butty system through a foreman. Paid by the hourly rate of 3 shillings 7 pence over a 10�� hour shift, plus bonus for additional output, the wages were meagre and the miners were already demanding a cut in hours to eight with an increase in their remuneration to 4 shillings. When Mr Sparrow did not pay the bonus

during the weeks that followed the meeting at the bank, the collision of wills became imminent. Although it was not illegal, Mr Sparrow had failed to provide the required and necessary two weeks’ notice as demanded by law to remove the payment. The case was immediately brought before the magistrates in Longton with the young Mr John Harvey sitting on the bench. Needless to say, the miners won, giving William Sparrow no option but to pay up.

With fewer and fewer options at his disposal and the limited funds dwindling by the day, Mr Sparrow compounded his mistake yet again, only this time there was a reduction of all wages to 3 shillings per hour.

The men had simply had enough and walked out of the colliery …. and did the unheard of, by going on strike.

August 1842

William Sparrow of course was not the only mine owner across North Staffordshire who was suffering by the consequence of cheap imported coal being brought by ship to Liverpool and thence down the Trent & Mersey canal to the Potteries. But he had lit the ‘touch paper’ that caused a domino effect throughout the area. Mine after mine followed on strike, causing the colliers to blockade the canal and thus deprive the pot bank bottle ovens to be starved of fuel. Within days the entire district was at a total standstill. A mob which also included many women and children came through Forsbrook on their way to Cheadle to bring out the colliers still working and at one pit threw the engine man down the well of the steam house. Demanding food with threats to break windows and damage

property, the group were bought off before any serious destruction was caused.

With every shop closed, food ran short within days and the entire six towns and surrounds awaited like a powder keg to explode. Similar events had spawned further ’walkouts’ across the northern Midlands, in the cotton mills of Stalybridge, close to Manchester, eastward into the Leicestershire coalfield and even encroached into the iron workings of Shropshire and the Black Country.

Little did anyone realise the consequence of Charles Harvey’s decision to refuse Mr Sparrow a loan would put England onto the brink of revolution.

What followed over the weekend of the 13th to 15th August was further incited by meetings held in Longton Fenton and Hanley being called nothing short of sedition and treason. (Staffordshire Advertiser, 27th Aug 1842)

Agitators, calling themselves Chartists ultimately led a mob of several thousand strong to Burslem, whereby they were joined by a similar number from Leek who caused a ‘riotous assembly’. The total destruction of property and robbery resulted, causing ‘The Riot Act’ to be read. The 2nd Dragoon Guards and local militia occupied the market place who confronted the crowd and instructed them to disperse. Volleys of stones were thrown at the soldiers who blocked their entry into the town before the troops fired on the mob. Josiah Heapy age 19, a shoemaker from Leek immediately fell dead, killed with a shot to the head and several others crumpled wounded. The troop charged causing further and numerous injuries with the slashing of sabres

before the multitude scattered and dispersed in all directions. Whilst this was happening other mobs ran riot through Shelton, Stoke, Fenton and finally Longton, before they too were stopped by the militia, prior to reaching Trentham. A trail of burning and devastation lay in their wake.

With a huge influx of troops from across the Midlands, the disturbances were finally quelled by the following Wednesday and the hunt for the ringleaders commenced.

Six hundred and forty-one prisoners were brought to Stafford gaol, and by the first two weeks in October 214 men and women were sent for trial.

One hundred and forty-six were given sentences ranging from ten days to two years imprisonment, fifty-four were transported, varying in term from seven years to life.

Mr Charles Harvey resided at the time in Meer Lane not far from the present Blythe Bridge Railway Station. He later built an even larger residence called Blythe House, the site of which is currently occupied by the Community Hub Centre and Blythe High School.

GARDENING

THE MULTITASKING GARDEN

You don’t need me to remind you that we are in the midst of an economic catastrophe with the cost of living escalating every day and normal people like you (obviously I’m presuming here!) and me wondering just how bad it is going to get. It’s likely to be a long hard winter and things are only going to get worse as we have to choose between tweaking the thermostat or eating a decent meal – and that’s without the worry of being cut down by the dreaded lurgy, which is apparently still alive and kicking. But, just like when the pandemic first struck and wreaked havoc with our lives, it will be having access to a garden, allotment or park that proves to be the real godsend – a green vaccine for the mind, body and soul.

I know on the face of it that it sounds a little underwhelming, but simply having your own sanctuary where you can physically and mentally unwind through either some serious hardcore gardening or just relaxing in the fresh air is, quite literally, just what the doctor ordered. I’ve always used the garden as a healing and levelling tool –even before these recessionary times I would head straight outside if I needed some ‘head space,’ so I’m pleased to see that the medical profession is now taking these health benefits seriously. In fact, you can now be prescribed gardening sessions by the NHS – but if you’re already addicted as I am to a daily dose of the green stuff, then you will realise that it is probably the only drug that it is impossible to OD on!

The other blindingly obvious benefit to having your own plot, however small, is that you can always make it work for you. Regardless of whether you simply want to grow things you can eat or would prefer a combination of edibles and flowers, that you can either cut for the house or enjoy in the borders, a properly designed garden should be able to do all these things and more.

Every garden owner has their own priorities – mine was always to grow as wide a variety of plants as possible. The notion of actually eating them came low down on my list. When we moved into our new house 18 months ago there was no talk of leaner times ahead, so Helen and I developed the garden purely as a relaxing space with plenty of sitting areas, a pond and lots of beds with flowers

of many kinds. It was all quite beautiful really, so I was dragging my heels when it was suggested that we should make room for a few veggies to supplement the pathetic offerings available in the shops with which to satiate Helen’s vegetarian cravings.

A few weeks later and we now have our very own natty raised vegetable beds, replete with a smorgasbord of kale, lettuces, carrots, chillies, tomatoes, land cress, garlic and onions, and I have to admit that the beds look great alongside our herbaceous borders (see photo taken yesterday). I must admit there is something really satisfying about growing your own food, especially when it satisfies the current ‘dig for victory’ movement which the (now sacked) Chancellor seems to have inadvertently started.

We may be in this economic gloom for some time now, so try not to forget the possibilities of your garden to help mend broken spirits, revitalise bodies and supplement our daily rations – I can’t believe I’m even joking about rationing, but that’s what it might come to… Gulp! Whatever you do though, remember to have a professional assessment of your plot as a fresh pair of experienced eyes may just reveal a whole raft of possibilities that could both save you some cash and make it a far more relaxing place to simply do nothing in!

The rat has plagued mankind for thousands of yearsliterally plagued him.The rat flea was reportedly responsible for the spread of the Black Death.

There are two species of rat in Great Britain,”Rattus Norvegicus” which ic commonly known as the brown rat and “Rattus Rattus “which has the common name of the black rat or ship rat.

The main species people will come into contact with is the brown rat,this is larger and more robust in build.

It normally starts to enter gardens and outbuildings in

late Autumn and through the winter months.Although if food is available can appear at any season of the year.

Rats can spread many diseases due to the areas they can frequent,sewers just being

costly ranging from gnawed electrical cables to damage to water pipes,woodwork and plastics.

Female brown rats can become sexually mature in around three months and can produce from 3-12 litters of between six and eight young per year.

This means that with the right conditions rat numbers can quickly multiply.

For any advice or help in dealing with rat infestations,please contact

Dave at Border Pest Solutions 07831 458266

borderpestsolutions@gmail.com

SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE

CONTENT CREATION TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS

One of the most difficult aspects of marketing a small business is reaching your target audience. Advertising is vital and often goes a long way, but in today’s climate it’s harder than ever to persuade people to part with their hardearned cash. So how can you help the people who need your products or services to find you?

If you look at any big brand’s website in 2022, you’ll find that they are packed with content, be it blog posts or think pieces. Coca-Cola, for instance, has a beautifully written timeline showcasing the history of their brand, along with a well-produced video. Obviously, we don’t all have Coca-Cola’s marketing budget (if only!) but there are plenty of ways

that you can get your message across without spending a huge amount, be it through the magic of social media, a monthly or weekly blog, or print editorials.

You’re probably asking why you’d put your time and labour into something which isn’t automatically profitable. However, while content creation might not instantly produce a wave of customers, over time it will build your brand, show that you’re a legitimate business, and help you to answer customers’ potential queries. High quality content shows customers why they need you, while also demonstrating your industry expertise. It’s essential that anything you put out is genuinely entertaining and

well-written – you want your target audience to enjoy reading what you put out into the world.

If you don’t want to do it yourself, there are plenty of content writers around who can do it for you!

Perhaps the best thing about content creation for small businesses is that it allows you to sell your brand to people without them feeling pressured into buying anything. Ideally, it will answer your customers’ questions: for example, a clothes shop might write a blog about this season’s trends, with links to their own ecommerce site. With the right content, your perfect clients should come to you.

Q UEEN ELIZABETH II – A TRIBUTE

A STEADY PAIR OF HANDS

A couple of years ago, a video was suggested to me on YouTube, titled ‘What Happens When the Queen Dies.’ It explained what we could expect when the Queen passed away, and it has at the time of writing clocked up over 12 million views. For 9 out of 10 people around the world, Queen Elizabeth II was the only British monarch they had ever known – there are very few people around with any experience as to how we ought to respond to this event. Indeed, the reaction has been mixed - while many, especially amongst the older generations, went into mourning at the news of the Queen’s death, and national institutions followed long-established protocols, a quick scroll through TikTok (primarily the refuge of under-25s) tells a different, far less respectful story. Criticism of the monarchy is common in the 21st century –gone is the age of reverence into which the Queen was born – and yet her status went far beyond the establishment. As an individual, she was liked and respected by republicans and royalists alike. Queen Elizabeth II became the monarch in 1952, following the sudden death of her father, George VI. Seventy years later, hers is still the face on our banknotes. She was the second-longest reigning monarch of all time, but she was not born into the direct line of succession. It was only with the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, that it became apparent that she would one day be queen. Her coronation in 1953 ushered in the age of the television as the primary source of information in the home; most of us will have heard of her death through a notification on our smartphones. Throughout the decades, she remained a steadying force, seemingly unchanging, even in times of great national turmoil. While she may not have been an obvious force for change, her stability should not be underestimated as a central motif within the national consciousness. Perhaps her strongest asset was her political neutrality. It must have taken an enormous amount of self-restraint at times, especially when she disagreed fundamentally with government policy. In many ways, her greatest act was not to act at all, through decolonisation, war, recession, and the pandemic. She knew, better than anyone, the long-term benefits of keeping calm and carrying on.

When you think about it, it seems utterly

improbable that the monarchy continued through to the end of her reign at all. With the decline of the Christian faith in the UK, the diminishing importance of social class and the continued presence of a democratically elected government, it’s somewhat bizarre that we continue to have an unelected head of state, selected by right of birth. But there was never any serious campaign to depose the Queen and few public figures have ever spoken out against her. As several people have commented in recent weeks, the major problem for republicans was that she was incredibly good at her job. Unlike almost every other figure in public life, she never seemed to do anything terribly scandalous; even her ‘annus horribilis’ in 1992 failed to bring to light any major transgressions on her part. The shift in the public attitude towards her after the death of Princess Diana was a storm she managed to weather. How many other 25-year-olds would have been capable of, or prepared to sacrifice their personal freedom to step into a role that must often have been terribly dull? Perhaps 25 was older in 1952, but her commitment was remarkable. Even if one disapproves of the monarchy as an institution, it is difficult not to feel a certain degree of admiration for this woman who took on the burden of a job she never asked for, often alone, and never complained or shirked her responsibility. If Elizabeth II is remembered for any one thing, it will be as the nation’s steadiest pair of hands.

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Garden of Remembrance

Spring Garden Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. ST3 2QN

Spring Garden Road, Longton,

E: gardenofremembrance@hotmail.co.uk Telephone Number: 01782 326083 www.gardenofremembranceltd

The Garden of Remembrance Limited is a Unique Independently owned cemetery, established in 2005. We pride ourselves in delivering the best possible service, and our core policies are of paramount importance to us. The cemetery sits on the edge of the potteries in Staffordshire and is set in a very quiet and tranquil location, enabling you to visit your loved ones in peace.

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A UNIQUE

TRAVEL

HOW HOLIDAYS MAKE MEMORIES

I stare at my overwhelming to do list, aware that I’ve been too ambitious and will probably only complete one of the tasks on it. I glance over at a half-eaten slice of toast that my 3-year-old daughter has discarded under the sofa. I really hope that wasn’t yesterday’s toast or, even worse, last week’s! When did my life become such utter chaos?

My computer pings and I distract myself by taking a quick peep at my emails. It’s an offer for a holiday in Mexico, one of those last-minute deals, the type of emails I used to forward to friends with a brief message: “Do you fancy this? Shall we book? Do you have any annual leave left? Let’s do this for my birthday.”

Then I start to think, could I make a solo trip? Where will I go? Will my co-parent agree? Can I rope Nanny into the plan to help with childcare? Or maybe just take a weekend break – dad can manage that ok. Then the mum guilt kicks in with her whining voice: “I will miss too much. It will unsettle the kids. It’s just not fair on the kids. Great idea for all of five minutes but, as I get back to my to do list, I can’t shake off the idea of doing some travelling.

I head to my bedroom and dig out some old photo albums I have stashed in my wardrobe. (I know photo albums are becoming a dying trend, but the memories contained in those bulging books…) I open the first page and there’s a picture of me aged 21 on a solo trip, volunteering and travelling in Ghana – if that’s not a sign, then I don’t know what is.

I laugh, thinking of the adventure I had on that 3-month trip, exploring the different regions, meeting loads of people from different backgrounds and receiving some hard life lessons. Flicking the pages, I spot pictures of me exploring the night life of Zakynthos in Greece, my first adult holiday! Frankly, it was a disaster, but we laughed and drank way too much and had to call our parents for more money. I wish I could say we immersed ourselves in the culture and the Greek language, but that would be a lie! I met some great people though and laughed nonstop.

I glance at my phone and realise I have been looking at old photos for almost 30 minutes, but I can’t stop. I look at one last album and wipe a tear away as I drink in the memories of fun times with my grandparents on the Caribbean Island of Grenada, the spice island as it’s known because of its spices,

white sandy beaches and organic chocolate - oh the memories! I enjoyed many trips to visit them when I was young and single, living their best years in retirement on an island that has always owned their hearts! There was never a dull moment, sitting on the veranda with a cup of tea (a custom they inherited from living in the UK for so long) or sipping on a cold beer or rum punch as I got older. I made some of my most important life decisions whilst sat on Grande Anse Beach or on my grandparents’ veranda.

Although I waste a whole two hours looking at old pictures and reminiscing on how small my waist once was, it has reminded me that life is all about travelling and making amazing memories, not just about acquiring material things.

I have so many good memories from my holidays and hopefully many more still to make, both on family trips and solo ones. Christmas is coming, but as soon as it’s over, I’ll be on the holiday booking sites, looking to make my next batch of memories.

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