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Local Life - St Helens - October 2017

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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Edition <strong>October</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />

Elton’s<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />

memories<br />

Jack’s Tracks visits Sefton Park<br />

Test Drive - Volvo V90 R-Design<br />

<strong>Local</strong> News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Garden Diary Food Home Services<br />

locallife247.co.uk


2


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4<br />

Changing<br />

seasons<br />

The leaves are changing colour, the days are<br />

getting shorter, and the temperature is starting<br />

to cool. That can only mean we’re heading into<br />

autumn.<br />

This really is a lovely time of year, when the days are<br />

crisp, the sky is clear (I’m being wishful here), and the<br />

air is fresh.<br />

I recently relocated back to the North West and I<br />

had forgotten how beautiful our local landscape is,<br />

but a recent drive through the area reminded me.<br />

The wide-open green spaces and historic towns and<br />

villages, make this part of the world worthy of a big<br />

screen debut.<br />

Having lived in London for a few years, in the hustle<br />

and bustle of the Big Smoke, you really do notice a<br />

difference when you come home. I’m taking this<br />

opportunity to recharge my batteries, and enjoy the<br />

much more relaxed and friendly way of life that our<br />

area has to offer. And I hope all of you at home are<br />

making the most of it too.<br />

Over the next few months we’ll see more events<br />

catering to the family, from every child’s favourite<br />

day to dress up on Halloween, to the long-awaited<br />

Bonfire Night – an excuse for young and old to have a<br />

little extra sparkle in their life, or perhaps lose a tooth<br />

or two on a toffee apple.<br />

But personally, I’m looking forward to long walks in<br />

the countryside and warm, toasty evenings snuggled<br />

up at home with a piping hot drink. Or maybe a glass<br />

of red…or two.<br />

Niamh Ollerton, Deputy Editor


5<br />

In this issue<br />

Man of the<br />

match<br />

Regulars<br />

16 Planning<br />

28 Class From The Past<br />

43 Puzzle Corner<br />

44 Events2Go<br />

49 Jack’s Tracks<br />

53 Test Drive<br />

19<br />

Education<br />

special<br />

25<br />

Royal seal of<br />

approval<br />

38<br />

Jack’s Tracks visits<br />

Sefton Park<br />

49<br />

Test Drive<br />

Volvo V90<br />

R-Design<br />

53<br />

Sections<br />

6 <strong>Local</strong> News<br />

53 Motoring<br />

Publisher: Chris<br />

Sales: Clare<br />

Editorial: David, Niamh<br />

Design: Dylan, Peter<br />

Distribution: Sally<br />

Accounts: Sam<br />

56 Gardening<br />

58 Home Services<br />

Next issue - November <strong>2017</strong><br />

Advertising deadline - Tuesday, 24 <strong>October</strong><br />

Published - Friday, 3 November<br />

<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />

<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park,<br />

Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB<br />

Telephone: 01744 649 722<br />

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk<br />

sales@locallife247.co.uk<br />

sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk<br />

design@locallife247.co.uk<br />

sallyb@locallife247.co.uk<br />

accounts@locallife247.co.uk<br />

<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is published every month and distributed into<br />

the following areas on an alternate monthly basis.<br />

This issue is delivered to over 12,500 private homes<br />

and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Prescot, Eccleston<br />

Park, Windle, Prescot Road and parts of Nutgrove and<br />

Sutton Heath.<br />

The next issue is delivered to over 12,000 private<br />

homes and businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Garswood,<br />

Moss Bank, Haresfinch, Carr Mill and selected areas of<br />

Haydock.<br />

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither<br />

the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any<br />

party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or<br />

other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written<br />

consent of <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd.<br />

locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia events2go


6<br />

In Bloom winners<br />

Rainhill in Bloom’s ‘make a splash of<br />

colour’ <strong>2017</strong> competition has found<br />

its winner.<br />

Prescot Chiropody Clinic<br />

Judging took place on Sunday, July 23 and the<br />

winner was crowned on Tuesday, September 26,<br />

Efforts of other competitors were also praised.<br />

The Rose Bowl was presented by Cllr Tricia Long,<br />

chairman of the Parish Council.<br />

And the podium winners were; Anthony Galloway<br />

in first place for his front garden; followed by Mrs<br />

Bampton in second place, and taking the bronze<br />

were Pat and Ron Cockshot.<br />

Highly commended participants were Keith Melling,<br />

Ken Shaw, Barbara Haynes, John Furlong, and<br />

<strong>St</strong>ephen Smith.<br />

Containers and hanging baskets winners were Les<br />

Jackson in first place, Mike Manning in second, and<br />

Matt Gilsennan in third. And Sham Murthy and Kate<br />

Best were highly commended.<br />

The Victoria Hotel received the Judges’ Special<br />

Award.<br />

To find out more about Rainhill in Bloom, visit<br />

http://www.rainhill-civic-society.org.uk/html/<br />

newwelcome3.html


7<br />

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Order your ticket now by calling us on 01744 736170<br />

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8<br />

Campaign for Len<br />

Len (left) with fellow Lucem House volunteers<br />

A campaign has been launched in<br />

memory of a “beautiful soul” who was<br />

killed by a drunken thug.<br />

Len Saunders, 65, died after 17-year-old Luke Woods<br />

threw a single punch at him in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> town centre.<br />

Woods had asked Len if he had a cigarette just seconds<br />

before landing the fatal blow. Woods has now been<br />

locked up in a Young Offenders’ Institute for four years<br />

and four months after admitting manslaughter.<br />

Len was a passionate support of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> community<br />

cinema Lucem House. A campaign has now been<br />

launched to raise £25,000 to provide step-free access to<br />

the facility in memory of Len.<br />

Heba Soliman, Len’s nephew, has set up a Just Giving<br />

page, which says: “My uncle was passionate about<br />

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9<br />

Lucem House, and rather than focusing on the<br />

circumstances of his death, I would like to continue<br />

his legacy and celebrate his life. Therefore we ask,<br />

rather than sending us flowers etc, we seek the<br />

positives, take a leaf out of his book, and attempt<br />

to raise the funds to provide step free access to the<br />

cinema. Not only would this have made my uncle<br />

very happy but it would also mean that his death<br />

was not in vain.<br />

“Lucem House is a volunteer run cinema catering<br />

for independent and world cinema and supporting<br />

special interest film clubs to programme their own<br />

genres. After a successful pilot season in a local<br />

bar, the current premises, a former church building<br />

was offered by the YMCA . The challenge now is to<br />

provide access into, inside and around the building<br />

for wheelchair users. A combination of ramps and<br />

lifts will be necessary to meet the need.<br />

“Any donation is one step closer to making a<br />

difference to so many lives. Len is sorely missed<br />

by all whose lives he touched. A true loss to the<br />

community and my family, but please let his legacy<br />

continue and donate in his memory.”<br />

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/<br />

len-saunders


10<br />

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12<br />

Tell Us Your <strong>St</strong>ory!<br />

<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is always<br />

on the look out for<br />

news stories from the<br />

local communities<br />

we serve. Are you<br />

raising money for<br />

charity? Are you<br />

a member of a<br />

community group<br />

with something<br />

to shout about?<br />

Maybe you’ve got<br />

an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let<br />

us know and you could be appearing in the next<br />

edition!<br />

Simply contact us on sthelensnews@locallife247.<br />

co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.<br />

Smiles all round<br />

<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> readers have been celebrating again<br />

recently after scooping prizes in our magazine.<br />

The winners of our recent competrition to win<br />

tickets to Southport Flower Show were David<br />

Sandland of Bishopdale Drive, Rainhill (pictured<br />

above); Valerei Burke of Lawrence Road, Windle;<br />

Sue Alderton of Bartholomew Close, Rainhill; Janet<br />

Warburton of Telford Crescent, Leigh; Dilys Talbot<br />

of Highfield Avenue, Atherton; Catharine Keefe<br />

of <strong>St</strong>onebridge Mews, Astley; Kirstyn Jeffries of<br />

Greenways, <strong>St</strong>andish; David Spilsbury of Boars<br />

Head Avenue, <strong>St</strong>andish; Tracey Jackson of Margaret<br />

Avenue, <strong>St</strong>andish Lower Ground; Norma Lee of<br />

Larkfield, Eccleston; Christine<br />

Waring of Crawford Avenue,<br />

Chorley; Dorothy Rigby<br />

Westhead Road, Croston; Elaine<br />

Wilkinson of Redcliffe Gardens,<br />

Aughton; Vivienne Core of Carr<br />

Moss Lane, Halsall and Kathy<br />

Russell of Prescot Road, Aughton. And the latest<br />

winner of our reader survey M&S gift card was Linda<br />

Wilkinson, of Orchard View, Aughton (pictured<br />

right). To be in with a chance of winning a £25<br />

voucher, visit http://locallife247.co.uk/free-stuff/<br />

prize-draw/


13<br />

New facilities at school?<br />

Rainhill High School has unveiled<br />

plans to expand its classrooms and<br />

facilities.<br />

An application lodged with <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council calls<br />

for the demolition of the single storey extension on<br />

the sixth form block followed by the erection of a<br />

two storey teaching block.<br />

It will be located between Block 5 and the Sixth<br />

Form block and will feature seven general teaching<br />

classrooms, one activity studio, and a student<br />

reception at the front of the school.<br />

The schools says the development proposal will<br />

provide enough teaching space for existing pupils,<br />

to accommodate the shortfall. And the new activity<br />

studio ensures additional sporting provisions that<br />

the school is “lacking”.<br />

There’ll be improved control and safeguarding<br />

thanks to the new student entrance/reception,<br />

as well as connecting the Sixth Form Block with A<br />

Block-Block 5, allowing pupils to flow between the<br />

buildings on the ground and first floors.<br />

It is claimed both pedestrian and vehicle access<br />

will be unaffected by the extension, and due to<br />

the school grounds’ size, there is enough space to<br />

segregate builders from pupils during construction.<br />

Papers submitted in support of the application add:<br />

“The proposal has been designed to integrate with<br />

the surrounding context, while providing a focal<br />

point for the entrance to the school. The proposal<br />

will improve safeguarding while providing a<br />

new contemporary design that compliments the<br />

existing red brick buildings.”


14<br />

Appeal for Pilks volunteers<br />

A charity set up for ex-Pilkington<br />

workers says it is in urgent need of<br />

volunteers.<br />

JOIN OUR TEAM<br />

Beauty Therapist Required<br />

We are currently looking for an experienced<br />

beauty therapist to work within our established<br />

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Qualified to Level 2 or 3<br />

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The Successful candidate will be flexible,<br />

highly motivated , well organised and have<br />

a passion for SKIN CARE and be able to fit in<br />

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To Apply - Email CV to<br />

Beautybyhelenfrench@live.co.uk<br />

Applications close 31 <strong>October</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />

Telephone: 01744 736 170<br />

84 Kiln Lane, Eccleston, WA10 4RJ<br />

www.beautybyhelenfrench.co.uk<br />

The Pilkington Family Trust runs a day centre at<br />

Ruskin Respite Lodge, providing services to the<br />

elderly such as gardening , hairdressing services and<br />

day trips out.<br />

But some of those services are now at risk unless<br />

more people step forward to help.<br />

Dawn <strong>St</strong>ockley, the Trust day centre co-ordinator,<br />

said: “We have been running our day centre and<br />

day trips out with the help of volunteers , and we<br />

have done this for many years. Over the last year,<br />

we have had a decline in the volunteers helping<br />

due to different people’s circumstances, so we are<br />

now having to cancel mini buses that take day trips<br />

out, and we are having to cancel one of the buses<br />

bringing in guests attending our day centre.<br />

“Each of our volunteers are unique and their work<br />

makes the day centre such a happy place. Volunteers<br />

do an amazing job and they are really good to have<br />

a chat with , and they help and support us, in.<br />

“If you feel you would like to make a difference for<br />

our day centre guests, the Trust would love to hear<br />

from you.”<br />

Contact Dawn on 01744 20010 for an informal<br />

chat or if you prefer you can e mail her at<br />

dawnstockley@pilkingtonfamilytrust.com - full<br />

training is provided.


15


16<br />

Planning Matters<br />

Eccleston Park<br />

16 Forest Grove: Single storey rear extension (ref:<br />

P/<strong>2017</strong>/0743/HHFP).<br />

Rainhill<br />

Rocklands Chalets, Rocklands House, View Road:<br />

Demolition of existing single storey chalets and<br />

erection of one, 4 bedroom detached dwelling<br />

and four, 3 bedroom semi detached dwellings with<br />

driveways. (ref: P/<strong>2017</strong>/0637/FUL).<br />

Town Centre<br />

18 Ormskirk <strong>St</strong>reet: Part change of use of vacant<br />

retail unit to combined gin and coffee shop (ref:<br />

P/<strong>2017</strong>/0711/FUL).<br />

For more information on these plans, visit<br />

www.sthelens.gov.uk<br />

Hitting the right notes<br />

Church Square shoppers in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> helped raise<br />

over £120 while being entertained with sweet<br />

melodies by the Liverpool Harmony Group.<br />

The 14 singer large Prescot-based group<br />

entertained the shopping centre with a set to raise<br />

funds for Willowbrook Hospice.<br />

Liverpool Harmony Group wowed the crowds<br />

with a variety of classics in acapella style in their<br />

speciality four-part harmony, raising £123 for the<br />

cause in their hour-long recital.<br />

Church Square Shopping Centre manager <strong>St</strong>eve<br />

Brogan said: “It was a real treat and all for a good<br />

cause, they deserve every penny they raised.”<br />

Don Whittaker, Chairman of Liverpool Harmony<br />

Club, added: “We were absolutely delighted with<br />

the reception we received from the audience.<br />

“Church Square was also incredibly supportive in<br />

welcoming us in to the centre to perform.”<br />

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17<br />

New adoption agency<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> has teamed up with others to open one of<br />

the first regional adoption agencies in the country.<br />

Together for Adoption brings together the adoption<br />

services of five local authorities – Cheshire West and<br />

Chester, Halton, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, Warrington and Wigan.<br />

Current figures show there are around 30 children in<br />

the area covered by Together for Adoption waiting<br />

to be adopted and the service will be looking to<br />

find families for around 140 children a year.<br />

Visit www.togetherforadoption.co.uk or call 01942<br />

478272 to find out more about the new service,<br />

and hear from real adopters on their life-changing<br />

experiences.<br />

20 years of Willowbrook<br />

Willowbrook Hospice is inviting local people to join<br />

them for their anniversary dinner on Friday, <strong>October</strong><br />

27, at <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town Hall. The event, which is part<br />

of the hospice’s 20th anniversary of caring for<br />

people across <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> and Knowsley, features<br />

live entertainment and prizes in the silent auction<br />

and raffle. Nichola Saunders, head of fundraising<br />

at the hospice said: “Many people don’t realise<br />

that Willowbrook is a charity and that without<br />

the generous support of the local communities<br />

we wouldn’t be able to continue to provide our<br />

specialist care to our patients and their families.”<br />

Tickets for the Anniversary Dinner are £35 and can<br />

be purchased by calling 01744 453798 or emailing<br />

events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk<br />

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18<br />

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19<br />

Man of The Match<br />

David Sudworth talks to the man who was the face of Granada<br />

football for a generation of youngsters ...<br />

He’s the first one to admit it’s an unusual name.<br />

“Elton Welsby... do I like? I don’t know. You could argue that, if I’d have been<br />

called Paul Jones or whatever, I might not have had the career I did.”<br />

We’re sitting in the ex-sports presenter’s local pub. It’s been a while since Roger Elton<br />

Welsby, to give him his full name, appeared on our screens. But he’s still instantly<br />

recognisable as the well-known front man of some of Britain’s biggest sporting<br />

moments.<br />

What is perhaps little well-known is that Elton, now 66, was brought up in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>.<br />

The son of a Welsh mother, he was born in Lancaster and adopted at just six weeks<br />

old by Ruth and Len Welsby.<br />

“They both went to Cowley, and that’s where they met.”<br />

His memories of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> are few (the family moved away when he was six) but they<br />

are vivid.


20<br />

“I was part of a large family. We used to congregate<br />

at granny’s house. She lived with her daughter,<br />

Eileen, in an old pottery house at the top of Elton<br />

Head Road. In fact, I sometimes wonder where I<br />

was named after that road. I was never quite sure...<br />

never asked about it.”<br />

“I remember my first day at school at Bleak Hill. I<br />

kicked off big time - I was not a happy bunny,” he<br />

laughs.”<br />

Due to his father’s job as a bank manager, the family<br />

travelled around a lot.<br />

“We moved to Meols, in Wirral, and two years later<br />

we went to Macclesfield. After three very good years<br />

there, he was transferred to the bank’s Laurel Road<br />

branch, off Prescot Road, in Fairfield, Liverpool.<br />

“I called Bob Paisley ‘boss’<br />

and gave him cigars”<br />

“We actually lived above the bank. Can you imagine<br />

that happening now? Dad didn’t want me growing<br />

up there so we moved to Woolton.”<br />

Aged 17, Elton started work at Royal Insurance in<br />

Liverpool. Him and the company were not a match<br />

made in heaven: “I hated every single minute of it.<br />

My dad got me into it because it was a ‘respectable’<br />

job but I’m numerically dyslexic so failed the course<br />

dismally after 11 months.<br />

“A guy called<br />

Griffiths, who was<br />

the department<br />

head at the time,<br />

gave me downthe-banks<br />

about<br />

it. So I told him<br />

I was leaving, or<br />

words to that<br />

effect.”<br />

His next job saw Early on in Elton’s career<br />

him work as a porter at Broadgreen Hospital: “I<br />

absolutely loved it. We could have a laugh, even<br />

when we were carting dead bodies down to the<br />

mortuary. The Carry On team did films about<br />

doctors, but they should have done one about<br />

porters - they’d have had so much material to work<br />

with.”<br />

It was while working at Broadgreen that Elton’s<br />

interest in journalism began.<br />

“There was a canteen there and I picked up a copy<br />

of the Liverpool Weekly News, which I hadn’t seen<br />

before. It had about 10 pages of sport in it, so I<br />

wrote to the editor.<br />

“Three days later I got a reply inviting me in, and I<br />

got a job at the Widnes office. It was that simple. My<br />

early jobs including covering weddings, deaths and<br />

generally stuff journalists hate.”<br />

Up until this point, he was known as Roger Welsby,<br />

but that changed one day when a<br />

colleague, called Ken Welsby (no<br />

relation), asked him that the ‘E’ stood<br />

for in his name.<br />

“Ken was very posh, he used to drink<br />

pink gin, and when I told him it was<br />

Elton, he said:’That would be a hell of<br />

a pen name!’ so it just sort of stuck.”<br />

Liverpool’s ‘quiet genius’ Bob Paisley<br />

In 1974, after four years in local<br />

newspapers, Elton landed a job at<br />

Radio City, which allowed him to<br />

get the real inside track on Liverpool<br />

FC, who were at that time kings of<br />

Europe.


21<br />

“I used to go on the team bus - can you believe<br />

that?” he laughs.<br />

“It actually used to wait for me, if I was held up<br />

doing an interview. I never sat with the players;<br />

they’d encourage me to go and have a beer with<br />

them at the back but I declined because it was their<br />

time to unwind.<br />

“About an hour into the journey, Liverpool manager<br />

Bob Paisley, who would be in his slippers by this<br />

point, would trundle down to the front where I was<br />

sitting, behind the driver, and say: ‘So, what did you<br />

think?’<br />

“Bob liked a cigar and I always had one for him. I<br />

even called him ‘boss’. We’d have conversations and<br />

I always respected the fact that they were private. I<br />

might say something on air but wouldn’t attribute<br />

it to coming from Bob.”<br />

His ability to get the inside track also saw him<br />

involved in, by today’s standards, bizarre situations.<br />

“I’m a big Saints fan and this one year they were in<br />

the Lancs Cup Final against Wigan at Central Park.<br />

My son Chris was with me and we sat on the bench.<br />

“Our goal kicker was Shaun Day and he was really,<br />

really worried about the game. The coach, Billy<br />

Benyon, asked me to go and have a word with him.<br />

So I went up and said: ‘What’s up?’ and he told me<br />

that he was really nervous.<br />

“I basically said: ‘What the effing heck have you got<br />

to worry about? You’ve got one of the world’s best<br />

players, Mal Meninga, in your side.<br />

“That perked him up; we won and Sean kicked five<br />

goals and scored a try.”<br />

Interviewing Jimmy Greaves and Dennis Law<br />

Arsenal v Man Utd game. The difference was that on<br />

TV, you need to know when to shut up. From there, I<br />

moved into presenting.”<br />

Elton went on to front some of the biggest<br />

moments in sport, including the Hillsborough<br />

tragedy in 1989.<br />

“You need to know when<br />

to shut up on TV”<br />

“I was fronting the results service and information<br />

was coming in, but it was only drip-drip.<br />

“I just sat there as information was fed to me as we<br />

were on air. We had the amount of people dead at<br />

25, but as we know it climbed to 96. I looked at You<br />

Tube a few weeks ago and the footage is on there.”<br />

1989 also saw Elton present the live, end of season<br />

league title decider between Liverpool and Arsenal.<br />

But by far Elton’s biggest gig was when he was, in<br />

his words, pressganged by TV boss Paul Doherty<br />

into joining Granada.<br />

“It was 1978 and I didn’t go in front of a camera<br />

for six months. I was a researcher and that’s how I<br />

learned, as TV is completely different.”<br />

Doherty, who only died last year after a battle with<br />

cancer, is the man credited with bringing live sport<br />

into the nation’s living rooms for the first time.<br />

“I commentated on two games, including an<br />

Presenting ITV’s results service


22<br />

No-one gave Arsenal a hope. They had to win by two<br />

clear goals and they were playing away at Anfield.<br />

But in probably the most dramatic way possible,<br />

Arsenal - who were 1-0 up with just seconds to go<br />

- clinched a winner courtesy of midfielder Michael<br />

Thomas.<br />

“I remember two things about that. Firstly, ex<br />

Liverpool player Ian <strong>St</strong> John was sat with us, and<br />

when Thomas scored, he literally fell off his stool.<br />

“We also had Bobby Robson, who was England<br />

manager at the time, with us. When that second<br />

goal went in, all Bobby kept saying - almost in a<br />

daze - was: “Football will never cease to amaze me.”<br />

In the days before satellite TV, viewing figures were<br />

more concentrated. This meant Elton became a<br />

household name. However, just a few years later,<br />

the emergence of Sky Sports created a sea change -<br />

and Elton was suddenly no longer cock of the walk.<br />

By 2000, Elton had left Granada having had a run-in<br />

with a head of local programming: “She didn’t like<br />

me for some reason. I got called in and was told<br />

they weren’t renewing my contract.”<br />

After Granada, Elton had a spell at Century Radio<br />

and then at Everton FC TV - the team he’s supported<br />

since childhood.<br />

These days, he’s mostly occupied with looking after<br />

his two grandchildren; Dylan, who is five, and Oscar,<br />

who will be two soon.<br />

“I have Oscar two or three afternoons a week and<br />

the love I get is something I’ve never experienced.<br />

He’s besotted with his grandad Elton.”<br />

“Didn’t you used to be<br />

Elton Welsby?”<br />

Elton’s daughter lives close by while his son, Chris,<br />

is carrying on the family traditional as he works<br />

on a Qatar-based sports channel which hosts the<br />

Richard Keys and Andy Gray Show.<br />

Looking back at his own career, Elton says he<br />

couldn’t be more happy: “I got the main footballer<br />

presenter job at a time when there were so few<br />

channels. Look at Sky these days, how many<br />

presenters do they have? If they put on my<br />

gravestone: ‘The man who pioneered TV sports,’<br />

that would be something, wouldn’t it?<br />

“People still recognise me even all these years later.<br />

I get fellas coming up to me saying: ‘Didn’t you<br />

used to be Elton Welsby?’<br />

“I’m always pleased to inform them that I still am...”


23


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25<br />

Degrees of<br />

learning<br />

16 page<br />

education<br />

special


26<br />

The 16-year-old pinch<br />

The new academic year is often a time<br />

when people try to take a good, hard<br />

look at their finances.<br />

But for parents of teenagers, the amounts being<br />

shelled out on their offspring may come as a shock<br />

when the outgoings are added up in the cold light<br />

of day.<br />

Financial pressures may have also changed quite<br />

a bit since parents themselves were teens - with<br />

gadgets like mobile phones, tablets and laptops now<br />

part of the routine expenses for many households.<br />

Research from Aviva suggests parents typically<br />

spend more than £28,000 raising a teenager.<br />

Excluding household costs such as food and energy<br />

bills, parents typically put the average cost of raising<br />

a son or daughter from the age of 13 to 19 at £28,767.<br />

While parents say they spend just over £4,100 a year<br />

on raising a teenager on average, the average cost<br />

rises to £4,800 for a 16-year-old.<br />

Technology plays a major part in ramping up the<br />

cost, according to the findings. More than half (53%)<br />

of parents spend on technology for their teenagers,<br />

such as mobile phones and laptops, forking out £225<br />

per year on average.<br />

Even if your offspring are planning to fly the nest<br />

in <strong>2017</strong>, parents should not necessarily expect they<br />

can draw a line under their financial commitments<br />

to their children.<br />

Aviva also found another £15,406 is needed by<br />

parents on average to help each child between the<br />

ages of 20 and 25 years old - a time when many<br />

young people may “boomerang” back into the family<br />

home after leaving university.<br />

So how can parents create better relationships<br />

with teenagers where money is involved? Here are<br />

some tips from Louise Colley, customer propositions<br />

director at Aviva:<br />

- Talk to your teen about managing their<br />

finances and make sure they know the basics of<br />

budgeting, particularly<br />

at key milestones such as<br />

moving away from home<br />

for university or college.<br />

- Encourage them to put<br />

money aside each month<br />

and take responsibility<br />

for managing their own<br />

money.<br />

- Be open about the<br />

family’s<br />

finances,<br />

particularly as teens get<br />

older.<br />

- Plan ahead. If your<br />

teen is planning to go to<br />

university, make sure they<br />

understand how much<br />

money they will receive<br />

and how to make this last.


27


28<br />

Class from the past<br />

This month’s Class from the Past is from Nutgrove<br />

School. The photo was taken in 1928. Maybe<br />

Anne Turner<br />

MUSIC TEACHER<br />

GDMuS. CertEd. ALCM<br />

Voice/Piano<br />

Keyboard<br />

Theory<br />

Choral Direction<br />

Anne also works with choirs and<br />

community music groups<br />

For more information, contact Anne on:<br />

Tel: (0151) 426 6606<br />

Mobile: 07767 815916<br />

Email: j.anneturner@btinternet.com<br />

DBS Certified<br />

you can spot a familiar face, such as a parent or<br />

grandparent? Remember, if you have a photo you’d<br />

be willing to share, contact us today by emailing<br />

sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk<br />

School makes progress<br />

A Prescot primary has secured a ‘good’ rating from<br />

Oftsed. <strong>St</strong> Mary & <strong>St</strong> Paul’s CE, on Bryer Road, was<br />

told it puts its pupils’ needs at the centre of its work<br />

and supports them and their families well.<br />

In a letter to acting headteacher Paul Brooksbank,<br />

Ofsted inspector Mark Quinn said: “You have<br />

effectively addressed the areas for improvement<br />

that inspectors identified in the previous inspection<br />

report. Your checks on the quality of teaching and<br />

learning are now more thorough. You observe<br />

lessons, for example, and feed back strengths and<br />

weakness to teachers so that they can improve their<br />

practice. In most cases, the work that is provided by<br />

teachers for pupils is now a good match to their<br />

abilities.<br />

“The governing body now holds the school more<br />

effectively to account for its performance and no<br />

longer relies solely on reports from you.”


29


30<br />

30 years of Carmel<br />

Carmel College is celebrating its 30th<br />

year this autumn.<br />

The institution opened in September 1987 on the<br />

site of Mount Carmel Girls’ school following the<br />

reorganisation of the local high schools.<br />

Back then, there were around 400 students enrolled<br />

at the college. As well as offering A Levels and<br />

vocational courses, a small number of students<br />

with moderate learning difficulties followed a Skills<br />

for <strong>Life</strong> course in the college’s bespoke Foundation<br />

Learning department which was, and still is, an<br />

important part of the college.<br />

30 years later and, as well as offering over 50 courses<br />

including a wide range of A Levels, BTECs and<br />

Foundation courses, you can also study for a degree<br />

at Carmel and there are now almost 2000 students!<br />

As well as links with several universities, Carmel<br />

has international links too – with a school in France<br />

for 25 years and for the last 3 years with a school<br />

in China. Alongside their studies, students are<br />

encouraged to take part in a range of enrichment<br />

activities and the opportunity to learn Mandarin is<br />

one of many options available.<br />

To accommodate the increase in students over<br />

three decades, Carmel has continually expanded<br />

and improved its facilities and the original Mount<br />

Carmel buildings have been replaced. Most recently,<br />

three new buildings were added which house<br />

the arts, humanities,<br />

sciences as well as<br />

<strong>St</strong>udent Services at a<br />

cost of £23m.<br />

Principal Mike Hill<br />

said: “I feel extremely<br />

privileged to become<br />

only the third Principal<br />

to lead such a fantastic<br />

college.<br />

“From day one, Carmel<br />

College has delivered an outstanding sixth form<br />

education to thousands of students from across <strong>St</strong><br />

<strong>Helens</strong> and the wider region. We will continue to<br />

serve the community for hopefully another thirty<br />

years and enable even more young people to fulfil<br />

their dreams.”


31


32<br />

Results success<br />

Over 450 A level students joined their<br />

parents and teachers at Cronton Sixth<br />

Form to celebrate their results.<br />

Achieving an overall 99.4% A level pass rate and 81%<br />

high grades, once again the college is delighted to<br />

be sending record numbers of students off to a wide<br />

range of prestigious universities and employers.<br />

Over 25 A level subjects boasted an impressive<br />

100% pass rate and high grades have increased at<br />

the college for the sixth year running.<br />

Equally impressive<br />

is the college’s<br />

vocational<br />

pass<br />

rate of 100%<br />

with 92% of<br />

students achieving<br />

BTEC grades at<br />

Distinction*<br />

Distinction<br />

and<br />

level,<br />

and 48% achieving<br />

triple<br />

star<br />

distinction<br />

grades<br />

(equivalent to 3 A*<br />

grades at A level).<br />

These results and<br />

high grades build<br />

upon last year’s<br />

which placed the<br />

college as 3rd in<br />

the Country in<br />

the Department<br />

for Education<br />

performance table.<br />

Many students are<br />

now progressing<br />

on to some of<br />

the country’s top universities including York,<br />

Leeds, Bristol, Nottingham, Exeter, Liverpool and<br />

Manchester.<br />

Mary Murphy, college Principal said: “We are<br />

thrilled with the exceptional A level and vocational<br />

results our students have achieved again this year,<br />

especially the number who have achieved high<br />

grades. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate<br />

today with staff and proud teachers who have<br />

all worked so hard to achieve these spectacular<br />

results.”


33


34


35


36<br />

Former students Sophie Yorke and Ellie Jackson, who took part in the college’s MDV programme, went on to<br />

degrees in children’s nursing<br />

Doctors and the medics<br />

Winstanley College’s annual<br />

Medics, Dentists and Vets (MDV)<br />

day took place recently allowing<br />

aspiring healthcare professionals to<br />

experience what the future may hold<br />

for them.<br />

The event is organised as part of the college’s MDV<br />

programme<br />

supports<br />

which<br />

students<br />

in their applications<br />

to university.<br />

Five<br />

students,<br />

studying<br />

former<br />

now<br />

on<br />

medicine, dentistry<br />

or<br />

veterinary<br />

degrees, came in<br />

for a question and<br />

answer session with<br />

this year’s cohort of aspiring medics, along with, Dr<br />

Catherine Gallagher, who gave a talk on ethics.<br />

Liverpool University also hosted a practical<br />

workshop, demonstrating medical techniques and<br />

students were encouraged to ‘have a go’ at skills<br />

such as suturing a wound on imitation skin.<br />

There are over 100 former Winstanley students<br />

currently studying medical, dentistry or veterinary<br />

science and the strong alumni links are instrumental<br />

to the success of the MDV programme.<br />

Dave Woods, MDV co-ordinator, said: “We’ve had a<br />

great day to launch what is the start of a very busy<br />

application process. Last year an impressive 57 offers<br />

were made to students at universities all around<br />

the UK, and, looking at the calibre of applicants this<br />

year, we are looking to achieve similar again. A big<br />

thank you to all the external people such as former<br />

students, local doctors and universities, who help to<br />

make MDV day such a success.”


37


38<br />

Royal seal of approval<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Chamber welcomed the<br />

Queen’s Representative, Her Majesty’s<br />

Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside,<br />

Mark Blundell, and local dignitaries<br />

including The Mayor of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, as<br />

they were officially presented with<br />

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise.<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Chamber received the good news that<br />

they had been awarded the prestigious Award<br />

back in April, and on Friday The Queen’s Awards<br />

for Enterprise flag was flown high at the Chamber<br />

building on Salisbury <strong>St</strong>reet as the official<br />

presentation took place.<br />

Chamber staff and board members were in<br />

attendance for the presentation, as Mr Blundell<br />

read out the official notice on behalf of Her Majesty<br />

the Queen.<br />

The annual Queen’s Awards recognise British<br />

businesses that have excelled in exporting, social<br />

or environmental good works, or innovation. The<br />

Chamber was one of just six winners of the new<br />

Promoting Opportunity Award, introduced for the<br />

first time this year.<br />

Accepting the Award on behalf of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />

Chamber, chairman Graham Worsley, said: “We are<br />

delighted to have been awarded the Queen’s Award<br />

for Enterprise in recognition of the work we do to<br />

promote opportunity and support social mobility.<br />

The commitment of our staff is exemplary and the<br />

work we do makes a huge impact on people and<br />

businesses in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>. The Chamber is an asset<br />

to <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> and we are proud to have had this<br />

recognised at the highest level.”<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Chamber works to promote enterprise<br />

opportunities for the <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> community, through<br />

every part of the business, supporting people to<br />

achieve their maximum potential, whether it is<br />

supporting local entrepreneurs to start or grow<br />

businesses, providing people with valuable skills<br />

and qualifications, supporting young adults into<br />

their first job, or encouraging children to aim higher<br />

when they leave school.<br />

Visit www.sthelenschamber.com


39


40<br />

Diary Dates<br />

Location Event Date<br />

<strong>October</strong>: Merchant Taylors’ Open Morning 7th <strong>October</strong><br />

Lord Derby Academy Open Morning 7th <strong>October</strong><br />

Byrchall High School Open Evening 10th <strong>October</strong><br />

Cronton Sixth Form Open Evening 11th & 12th <strong>October</strong><br />

Merchant Taylors’ Sixth Form Open Evening 17th <strong>October</strong><br />

Carmel College Open Events 18th <strong>October</strong><br />

Winstanley College Open Evening 19th <strong>October</strong><br />

The Sutton Academy Open Evening 27th <strong>October</strong><br />

November: Cronton Sixth Form Open Evening 7th November<br />

Carmel College Open Events 9th & 18th November<br />

Winstanley College Open Evening 16th November


41


42<br />

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43<br />

Puzzle Corner<br />

WORD SEARCH<br />

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Y L P O N D A I E R<br />

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T C R W S K M S E W<br />

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WIGGLE WORDS<br />

Trace a path through all the<br />

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2<br />

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8<br />

1<br />

6<br />

5<br />

9<br />

8<br />

2<br />

9<br />

3<br />

4<br />

Y O T N<br />

O T S O<br />

U A H D<br />

R H O L<br />

1<br />

5<br />

Julie, Jane and Sam are going to a show that<br />

starts at 12:30. They are all married and each<br />

have a different surname and a different car.<br />

Can you work out the names of their husbands,<br />

the cars they drive and<br />

what time each of them<br />

left for the show?<br />

CLUES<br />

1. Julie, who is married to<br />

Dave was not the first<br />

to leave her house.<br />

2. Jane left her house 30<br />

minutes after Sam who<br />

does not own a Golf.<br />

3. The Mini belonging to<br />

Dave and his wife was<br />

driven off at 11:15am.<br />

4. Sam, whose husband has<br />

the same initial, left in a<br />

MLK.<br />

All the puzzle solutions are on page 60 of this magazine


44<br />

Upload your event for FREE at<br />

www.locallife247.co.uk/events<br />

Follow us on Facebook<br />

events2go<br />

MABL: <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> vs Trafford<br />

Tuesday, <strong>October</strong> 10, 8pm-10pm<br />

<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong> Basketball Club is based in Broadway<br />

Badminton Centre and offers basketball training<br />

sessions and games for all ages (11yrs+). See them<br />

in their second game of the MABL Premier Division<br />

league campaign against Trafford.<br />

Haydock High School, Clipsley Lane, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />

WA11 0JG<br />

Season’s Greetings<br />

Wednesday, <strong>October</strong> 12, to Friday, <strong>October</strong> 14<br />

Rainhill Garrick Society is performing Alan<br />

Ayckbourn’s 1980 play ‘Season’s Greetings’. A dark,<br />

though often farcical comedy, about the life of a<br />

dysfunctional family in an average English suburban<br />

house for four days from Christmas Eve. Tickets are<br />

available at Rainhill Village Hall, Rainhall Village Post<br />

Office or the ticket hotline 01744 813429.<br />

Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Court, Rainhill, L35 4LU<br />

Tales from the City<br />

Friday, <strong>October</strong> 14, to December 2018<br />

Tales from the city marks the 50th anniversary of<br />

the 1967 Sexual Offences Act with stories from<br />

Liverpool’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+)<br />

community over the past five decades, through<br />

objects, photography and oral history interviews.<br />

This event is free.<br />

Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool<br />

Waterfront, L3 1DG<br />

GDW <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Collection<br />

Saturday, <strong>October</strong> 14, 12pm<br />

During this year’s Guide Dogs Week you could help<br />

organisers change lives by Moving it for Money. <strong>St</strong><br />

<strong>Helens</strong> fundraising branch is holding a collection<br />

at Church <strong>St</strong>reet and you’re all invited to pound<br />

the pavement for a great cause. If you’d like to get<br />

involved please contact Tracey Digby on 07881<br />

269563 or tracey.digby@guidedogs.org.uk<br />

Church <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1AJ<br />

Late Summer Soul<br />

Friday, Oct 20, 7.30pm to Saturday, Oct 21, 1.30am<br />

Treat your ears to ‘LIVE’ ... Heatwave and Jaki<br />

Graham as they’re supported by some of the North<br />

West’s finest soul music DJ’s. There’s also special<br />

room rates available for overnight guests if you<br />

don’t want the party to stop. Tickets £25 each and<br />

can be purchased www.skiddle.com/whats-on/<br />

Mercure <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, Linkway W, WA10 1NG<br />

Sleeping Beauty<br />

Sat, Oct 21, 1pm & 5pm, to Sun, Oct 29, 1pm & 5pm<br />

The beautiful Princess Aurora, cursed by the evil<br />

fairy Carabose is destined to slumber for eternity<br />

unless the handsome prince breaks the spell. Will<br />

true loves first kiss save her? <strong>St</strong>andard tickets are<br />

between £13 and £15 and family tickets are £55 or<br />

Golden seats are between £15 and £17 and £63 for<br />

a family ticket.<br />

Theatre Royal, Corporation <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />

WA10 1LQ


45<br />

Afternoon Tea<br />

Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 22, 2pm-4pm<br />

Let the Rainhill Musical Theatre Company put on a<br />

show for you with their selection of cakes and finger<br />

sandwiches, and perhaps a singsong or two? For<br />

more information please call 07975 706395/ 07758<br />

635788. Tickets are £8 and all proceeds are in aid of<br />

Rainhill Musical Theatre Company.<br />

<strong>St</strong> Ann’s Millennium Centre, View Road, Rainhill,<br />

L35 0LE<br />

Catapluf’s Musical Journey<br />

Sunday, Oct 22, 2pm-4pm until Sunday, Nov 5<br />

Explore rhythms and sounds in Catapluf’s world,<br />

whose imagination can find music anywhere<br />

including pans, water, drums and the body.<br />

Catapluf’s Musical Journey features samba, jazz,<br />

and plenty of audience participation. The new work<br />

commissioned by the EFG London Jazz Festival is by<br />

multi-instumentalist Adriano Adewale (Brazil/UK)<br />

aimed at children aged 5-7. For more information<br />

or to book tickets call 01744 735 436 or email info@<br />

citadel.org.uk or visit the website at www.citadel.<br />

org.uk/event/cataplufs-musical-journey Tickets are<br />

£5 or £7.<br />

The Citadel Arts Centre, Waterloo <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong><br />

<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1PX<br />

Big Goldilocks<br />

Tuesday, <strong>October</strong> 24, 2pm-5pm<br />

Everything is in disguise and the story goes into<br />

the skies with this comical retelling of Goldilocks<br />

and the Three Bears by Booster Cushion Theatre.<br />

The classic story is retold through a massive 6ft tall<br />

book complete with pop ups and props coming out<br />

of the book! Free entry, but please register at www.<br />

eventbrite.co.uk<br />

Moss Bank Library, Bowness Avenue, Moss Bank<br />

Handa’s Suprise<br />

Thursday, <strong>October</strong> 26, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm<br />

Handa’s Surprise offers a theatrical experience for<br />

young children as you watch the story of Handa,<br />

a young girl taking fruits to her friend Akeyo. She<br />

encounters lots of cheeky animals who steal her<br />

fruit including a monkey, an ostrich, zebra, antelope<br />

and parrot. Will Akeyo get any in the end? Tickets<br />

are £3 or £8 for a family/group of four. Tickets can<br />

be purchased www.eventbrite.co.uk<br />

Chester Lane Library, Four Acre Lane, <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />

WA9 4DE. Contact ArtsService@sthelens.gov.uk<br />

or 01744 677081<br />

Blind Winetasting<br />

Friday, <strong>October</strong> 27, 7pm<br />

Enjoy an evening of wine tasting... be entertained<br />

with music and a quiz while enjoying a platter of<br />

cheese and pate. Tickets are £20 via Rainford Parish<br />

Council clerk’s office on 01744 884709.<br />

Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, Rainford.<br />

Willowbrook 20th<br />

Friday, <strong>October</strong> 27, 7pm<br />

Join Willowbrook Hospice us for a special evening<br />

as they celebrate 20 years of caring. Enjoy a<br />

three course meal and live entertainment.<br />

Tickets £35 via 01744 453798 or e-mail events@<br />

willowbrookhospice.org.uk<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town Hall, Victoria Square, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>.<br />

Grannylocks<br />

Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 29, 11:30am<br />

Join performance poet Joseph Coelho, as he unravels<br />

familiar fairytales to create fresh contemporary<br />

classics in an enchanting performance for young<br />

and old alike.<br />

The Citadel, Waterloo <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1PX.<br />

More details - 01744 735 436


46<br />

Meditation Afternoon<br />

Sunday, <strong>October</strong> 29, 12pm-4pm<br />

The afternoon retreat will see you guided through<br />

several meditation to restore, balance and relax. All<br />

you need is a blanket and an open mind. Tickets are<br />

£25 per person with a £10 deposit requirement to<br />

reserve your place, which can be sent via PayPal to<br />

PayPal.me/shiningsoul<br />

Harmony Counselling, 14 Vincent <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong><br />

<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1LF<br />

An Austentacious Murder<br />

Thursday, November 2, 7.30pm-10pm<br />

Jane Austen is said to be one of the most gifted<br />

writers of love and the human condition, and in<br />

an ode to her skill, tech developers have created<br />

the ‘Austen Algorithm’ find us our perfect partner.<br />

Moments before the Dating Mr Darcy app launches<br />

at Eccleston Library the creator is found dead. But<br />

who did it? Interrogate suspects and crack the<br />

codes all while enjoying Jane’s wit and wisdom in<br />

this Austen related murder mystery. Tickets are £3<br />

or £8 for a family/group of four.<br />

Eccleston Library, Broadway, <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 5PJ.<br />

More info ArtsService@sthelens.gov.uk<br />

The Big Pop Party<br />

Friday, November 10, 6.30pm-8.30pm<br />

Popular music fans look no further than this<br />

ultimate celebration of today’s pop music icons.<br />

Bop the night away to four tribute artists and their<br />

bands including the multi-award-winning official<br />

Olly Murs tribute Tristan Drew who’ll be headlining,<br />

the 1989 Taylor Swift tribute band, Sheeran – The<br />

Tribute and the UK’s number one Katy Perry tribute,<br />

Katy Saxon. Adult tickets are £15, Concessions are<br />

£15, children under 15 are £14 and a family ticket for<br />

two children and two adults is £56. Purchase tickets<br />

here https://sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Theatre Royal, Corporation <strong>St</strong>reet, Saint<br />

<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1LQ<br />

No Petticoats Here<br />

Friday, November 17, 5pm-7pm<br />

<strong>St</strong>ep back in time and hear the real-life stories of<br />

First World War women based on 15 months of<br />

research through original songs. Award winning<br />

singer, songwriter and musician Louise Jordan<br />

immortalises the inspirational tales of women<br />

who challenged expectation, working in a time<br />

of conflict, leaving a legacy. From the woman<br />

who stressed as a soldier on the Western Front to<br />

the women football players banned by the FA,<br />

including <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> own Lily Parr. Tickets are £3 or<br />

£8 for a family/group of four.<br />

Eccleston Library, Broadway, <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 5PJ.<br />

Contact ArtsService@sthelens.gov.uk<br />

Disney Christmas Party<br />

Saturday, December 2, 4pm-9pm<br />

Brigitte Photography <strong>St</strong>udio’s family Disney<br />

Christmas Party will have face painting, Disney<br />

character appearances, gifts, a photo with Santa<br />

(one A4 print), balloon modelling, face painting<br />

and glitter tattoos and so much more. Adult tickets<br />

are £15, child tickets are £5 and groups of up to 5<br />

people are £40.<br />

<strong>St</strong> Anne and Blessed Dominic’s RC Church, 40<br />

Monastery Road, WA9 3ZD<br />

Jimmy Carr<br />

Friday, December 7, 7pm and 10pm<br />

Jimmy Carr has dedicated his career to crafting<br />

the perfect jokes which have both shocked us and<br />

made our sides split, but all that material from his<br />

extraordinary career is being put to good use in his<br />

ultimate comedy show. The winner of the British<br />

Comedy Award for ‘Best Live <strong>St</strong>and-Up Tour’, and<br />

the nominee of the Perrier Award, this is the best of<br />

Jimmy Carr. Not suitable for under 16s. Tickets are<br />

£27.50 https://sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com<br />

<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Theatre Royal, Corporation <strong>St</strong>reet, Saint<br />

<strong>Helens</strong> WA10 1LQ


47


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49<br />

sponsored by<br />

Otterspool &<br />

Sefton Park<br />

by David Sudworth<br />

Think ‘Liverpool architecture’ and it immediately<br />

conjures up images of the Liver Buildings, Albert<br />

Dock et al.<br />

But for some of the city’s most stunning residential<br />

examples, you need to take a trip out to the Sefton<br />

Park area. Once upon a time, each part of the city was<br />

awash with resplendent Victorian homes. While many<br />

remain to this day, a large number have fallen into<br />

decay, particularly in the Toxteth and Kensington areas.<br />

Further south though, the buildings remain in good<br />

order - making this walk a real joy.<br />

We park up close to the south entrance of Sefton Park.<br />

Formerly part of Toxteth Deer Park, it was designed<br />

by Frenchman Edouard Andre and local landscape<br />

architect Lewis Hornblower. On May 20, 1872, the park<br />

was opened by Prince Arthur who dedicated in “for the<br />

health and enjoyment of the townspeople”.<br />

We head into the park, taking the path along the<br />

right hand side of the lake, and up through the<br />

middle until we come to the café.<br />

Just over the hedge, we see the park’s famous Palm<br />

House; a Grade II listed conservatory. Suffice to say, I<br />

could fill a good few pages talking about this alone. I<br />

won’t, other than to say it’s well worth a visit.<br />

From here we head south west taking the path to the<br />

Aigburth Drive entrance. Leaving the park, we cross<br />

the road and head down Livingston Drive North and<br />

on into Livingston Drive.


50<br />

It’s at this point you get to see the first glimpse of the<br />

lovely Victorian residential properties I was talking<br />

about earlier. The sheer size of them is breathtaking.<br />

And although many have been converted into flats, it<br />

does nothing to take away their towering grandeur.<br />

Once at the end of Livingstone Drive, we meet<br />

Aigburth Road (A561), where we turn left, passing<br />

Sefton Park Library, to cross the main road at the<br />

pedestrian crossing. Once across we go right and<br />

immediately left into <strong>St</strong> Michael’s Road, continuing<br />

down until you reach Melly Road on your right.<br />

Turn into Melly Road and then left into Southwood<br />

Road. Again, there’s more examples here of<br />

fine Victorian architecture, some with a slight<br />

Mediterranean twist. Going straight past the railway<br />

station follow the path through the woods, down<br />

to and across Riverside Drive, and into the Festival<br />

Gardens.<br />

It’s at this precise spot that the first sign of Liverpool’s<br />

regeneration got underway following the horrific<br />

Toxteth riots in 1981. Thought up by the then<br />

Environment Minister Michael Hesletine, the 1984<br />

International Garden Festival attracted 3.3 million<br />

over five months helped pave the way for the<br />

resurgence of a city which had been scarred for years<br />

by unemployment and poverty.<br />

The gardens have been done up again in recent<br />

years, and provide a pleasant pathway to the River<br />

Mersey. Once on the promenade, we veer left<br />

towards Otterspool. After about a three quarters of<br />

a mile (1.25 Kilometres) we take a path left, up onto<br />

the road and across into Otterspool Park. Here we<br />

head through the park, passing the pavilion, going<br />

under the railway bridge, and up to the gates at<br />

Jericho Lane. Here we cross Jericho Lane, going<br />

right to Aigburth Road, then left and down into the<br />

subway to the other side of this busy road. From the<br />

subway we go left, up the hill and back the south<br />

entrance of Sefton Park.<br />

Although we’ve kept this walk as simple as possible,<br />

much more can be made of both Sefton Park and<br />

the Liverpool Festival Gardens, and there’s lots of<br />

points of interest along with an abundance of places<br />

to eat and drink.<br />

The only thing which let this walk down for us was<br />

some of the graffiti which can be seen along the<br />

route, as it goes some parts of it had a feeling of<br />

being unloved. And that couldn’t be further from<br />

the truth, because many of the buildings and parks<br />

are in excellent condition. Maybe it’s the tradeoff<br />

for heading into a major city, but certainly one<br />

worth accepting.


51<br />

P<br />

Liverpool<br />

Lark Lane<br />

P<br />

Livingston Drive N<br />

Eros <strong>St</strong>atue<br />

P<br />

Cafe<br />

Postcode:<br />

L17 4JG<br />

Palm<br />

House<br />

William<br />

Rathbone<br />

<strong>St</strong>atue<br />

P<br />

P<br />

Aigburth Drive<br />

Priory<br />

Woods<br />

<strong>St</strong> Michael’s Road<br />

<strong>St</strong> Michael’s<br />

C<br />

E<br />

Sefton Park Library<br />

Aigburth Road (A561)<br />

P<br />

Sefton Park<br />

P<br />

Drive<br />

Mossley Hill<br />

Postcode:<br />

L17 0ET<br />

P<br />

Liverpool<br />

Festival<br />

Gardens<br />

P<br />

Riverside Drive<br />

Jericho Lane<br />

Otterspool Promenade<br />

Postcode:<br />

L17 5AL<br />

P<br />

P<br />

Otterspool<br />

Park<br />

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear while walking. While every care has been taken to ensure<br />

that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability<br />

to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.


52<br />

DIRECTIONS<br />

From the south entrance of Sefton Park, take the<br />

path along the right hand side of the lake and head<br />

up through the middle of the park until reaching the<br />

café. From here head south west to the Aigburth<br />

Drive entrance. Leave the park, cross the road and<br />

head down Livingstone Drive North and on into<br />

Livingstone Drive. On reaching Aigburth Road (A561),<br />

turn left and cross the main road at the pedestrian<br />

crossing. Once across go right and immediately<br />

left into <strong>St</strong> Michael’s Road, continuing down until<br />

reaching Melly Road on your right. Turn into Melly<br />

Road and then left into Southwood Road. Go straight<br />

past the railway station, through Priory Woods, then<br />

across Riverside Drive, and into the Festival Gardens.<br />

Go though the gardens to the promenade, going left<br />

to Otterspool. After about ¾ of a mile (1.25K) take the<br />

path up to the road and across into Otterspool Park.<br />

Head through the park, passing the graffiti covered<br />

pavilion, going under the railway bridge, and up<br />

to Jericho Lane. Cross Jericho Lane, going right to<br />

Aigburth Road, then left and down into the subway<br />

to the other side of this busy road. From the subway<br />

go left, up the hill and back to Sefton Park.<br />

Length of walk: 4.2 miles<br />

Difficulty: Easy<br />

Accessibility: The entire route is wheelchair and<br />

cycle friendly except for the entrance/exit of Priory<br />

Woods. Wheelchair users may struggle to negotiate<br />

the gates.<br />

PARK OPENING TIMES<br />

Sefton Park: 24 hours (Palm House: 10.30am - 5pm)<br />

Festival Park: 8.30am - 6pm<br />

Otterspool: 24 hours<br />

PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />

By Bus (Arriva)<br />

From Liverpool, Lime <strong>St</strong>reet <strong>St</strong>ation (<strong>St</strong>and GD)<br />

Route 82 to Lark Lane (<strong>St</strong>op E)<br />

Return to Liverpool, Lime <strong>St</strong>reet <strong>St</strong>ation<br />

Route 82 from <strong>St</strong> Michael’s Road (<strong>St</strong>op C)<br />

For more information visit www.arrivabus.co.uk<br />

By Train (Merseyrail)<br />

Merseyrail run services from Kirkby, Ormskirk and<br />

Southport that stop at <strong>St</strong> Michael’s<br />

For more information visit www.merseyrail.org


53<br />

Test Drive<br />

Volvo V90 R-Design<br />

by Tim Barnes-Clay<br />

V<br />

olvo estates have come a long way since their<br />

‘wardrobe on wheels’ image. We all knew they<br />

were safe and comfortable; they just weren’t sexy.<br />

That all changed some years ago, and the last V70<br />

looked great; perhaps even better than its saloon<br />

sibling, the S80. Then in 2016, the V90 and the booted<br />

S90 came along; two stunning cars with more than a<br />

hint of sporting appeal woven into the luxury, ride<br />

comfort and space that Volvos always offer.<br />

The models have been a success in the short time<br />

they’ve been out – but the V90 is the one that most<br />

people favour. As an estate car, it’s more practical,<br />

even though the Swedish car maker has made the<br />

load area slightly smaller than the previous V70’s.<br />

For those who like versatility and don’t want the<br />

‘conservative’ estate car image, Volvo has recently<br />

put its R-Design stamp on the V90. This means<br />

you can still drive an estate car, but one that looks<br />

hunkered down and stimulating. Yes, stimulating –<br />

who’d have thought a Volvo could have that effect?<br />

The R-Design flavour has always given Volvos that<br />

extra something – it’s made the cars spicier to look at<br />

and hotter in the way they handle. The V90 R-Design<br />

is a genuine looker – a great piece of artwork all<br />

round. Its kerbside appeal is boosted even further,<br />

thanks to its 15mm lowered ride height, silver door<br />

mirrors, gloss black grille and flashy 18-inch alloy<br />

wheels.<br />

The jazziness continues inside, with semi-electrically<br />

operated leather and nubuck sports seats. There are


54<br />

also metal-effect inlays, a vivid LED driver’s display,<br />

sports pedals, and illuminated tread plates.<br />

My test car was fitted with the D4 engine, hooked<br />

up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The D4 is<br />

a 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit delivering 190PS - a welljudged<br />

output for regular commuting. It’s quick<br />

enough for most palates, reaching 62mph in 8.5<br />

seconds, but it is prudent, too. If you see over 60mpg<br />

from this engine, I wouldn’t be taken aback.<br />

The V90 is refreshing compared with its rear-wheel<br />

drive German equals. It’s driven by its front wheels,<br />

and is nimbler to wield. The Volvo feels sprightlier,<br />

thanks to the weight of the pedals and steering<br />

- and while this is no small vehicle, it feels far from<br />

overwhelming, due to how acquiescent it is.<br />

Because of the R-Design’s lowered, firmer suspension<br />

set-up, the V90 R-Design will corner quickly without<br />

perceptible body lean. However, the drawback is that<br />

Fast Facts<br />

• 0-62 mph: 8.5 secs<br />

• Combined mpg: 62.8<br />

• Engine: 1969 cc 4-cylinder twin turbo diesel<br />

• Max. power (PS): 190<br />

• CO2: 119 g/km<br />

• Price: £38,205<br />

there’s no option to alter the suspension on the fly.<br />

Mind you, air suspension can be substituted when<br />

you buy the car new, although it will cost you £1,500<br />

for the privilege. On the regular non-R-Design V90s<br />

you’re offered a more cushioned ride. But if you’re<br />

determined to go for a sporty estate, and don’t mind<br />

a lower, firmer system, then the stock V90 R-Design is<br />

an excellent choice.


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e: cjvalet@yahoo.co.uk<br />

www.cjvaleting.net<br />

Treat your car<br />

to the professional touch


56<br />

Gardening<br />

Pumpkin<br />

Pumpkin is a fruit or, more technically, a<br />

winter squash, and is commonly used to<br />

make soups, bread and desserts - and of course for<br />

the ever-popular Halloween past time of pumpkin<br />

carving.<br />

Pumpkins take between 90 and 120 days to grow<br />

and each has around<br />

5,000 seeds that if<br />

stored can last up to<br />

6 years. High in iron,<br />

the seeds can be<br />

roasted to eat. The<br />

flowers that grow on<br />

pumpkin vines are<br />

also edible.<br />

Planted by seed,<br />

Pumpkins grow best<br />

directly sown into the<br />

ground in late spring, preferring rich, well-drained<br />

soil. They will need plenty of water and growing<br />

vines are very delicate. Harvest when ripe with a<br />

deep orange skin.<br />

JOBS FOR OCTOBER<br />

• Make sure that any pumpkins are getting plenty of<br />

sun now to finish them off for Halloween.<br />

• Scoop up any fallen leaves now and add these to<br />

your stock of leaf compost.<br />

• Bring inside any pots containing tender plants so<br />

that they don’t get killed off by impending frost. Cut<br />

off any dead leaves and flowers so they can’t rot.<br />

• Plant up your pots with spring bulbs if you haven’t<br />

done this already.<br />

• Prune your climbing roses.<br />

• Finish collecting seeds from the garden ready to<br />

sow next year.<br />

• Renovate old lawns with a new turf.<br />

HAVE A GO!<br />

Make your own black leaf mould compost.<br />

Create a new bin solely for collecting autumn<br />

leaves. The leaves will rot down to give you sweet<br />

smelling black leaf mould in a year or two.<br />

Nothing beats the multipurpose goodness this<br />

compost will give your garden. You can add a scoop<br />

to your compost bins when you add fresh material;<br />

put some into pots when you plant up plugs and<br />

seeds and add it directly to your beds.<br />

TOP TIP<br />

If you’re collecting seeds to use next year, make sure<br />

you completely dry them out before you store them<br />

otherwise they’ll rot. Collect sweet peas and other<br />

hardy annuals for another great display next year!


57<br />

Gardening<br />

AABRON<br />

LANDSCAPING<br />

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• Raised Beds • Artificial Grass<br />

• Lawns Re-Turfed • Driveways & Patios<br />

• Fencing, Flagging & Block Paving<br />

• Gardens Designed & Constructed<br />

Free fixed-price quotations provided<br />

All genuine like-for-like<br />

quotes beaten!<br />

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Sheds<br />

Log Cabins<br />

Workshops<br />

Wendy Houses<br />

Summer Houses<br />

Garden Offices<br />

Free delivery<br />

Free 100% pressure treated<br />

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DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER<br />

See our show sites at;<br />

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ALL ASPECTS OF TREE WORK UNDERTAKEN<br />

• Garden Walls • Patios • Fencing<br />

• Driveways • Garden Maintenance<br />

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Call Michael now for a free quote<br />

01695 363859 or 07977 534387<br />

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TELEPHONE:<br />

01695 623 909<br />

07903 290 878<br />

QUALIFIED & INSURED<br />

FREE ESTIMATES


58<br />

We don’t<br />

cut corners!<br />

we clean them<br />

UPVC CLEANING<br />

• Windows, Fascias, Gutters etc.<br />

CONSERVATORIES<br />

• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)<br />

• Glass roofs / Orangeries<br />

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• Manufactured & Repaired<br />

• New Commissions<br />

• On-Site Repairs<br />

• 25 Years Experience<br />

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Tel: 0151 426 2814 Mob: 07711 841735<br />

www.markmitchellstainedglass.co.uk


Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,<br />

Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors<br />

Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved<br />

forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and<br />

embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that<br />

cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working<br />

with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect<br />

every step of the way and on that you have my word! <strong>St</strong>uart Goulding<br />

Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...<br />

Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety<br />

Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced<br />

Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,<br />

Wrightington, WN6 9RS<br />

Dennis Goulding<br />

(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)<br />

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Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon<br />

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<strong>St</strong>andish<br />

Shevington<br />

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Open:<br />

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A49<br />

TwinLakesMotorEngin ers<br />

Wind Turbines<br />

Heat Pumps<br />

LED Lighting<br />

.and general<br />

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and we’ l provide you with a<br />

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own solar panels<br />

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Visit our showr om at<br />

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Cricket <strong>St</strong>reet Busine s Park<br />

o f Miry Lane,<br />

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or<br />

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Design & Print<br />

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For more information call<br />

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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />

Book a boiler health check for £65<br />

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Lashes<br />

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Sunbeds<br />

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T<br />

Y<br />

R<br />

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Book<br />

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Slash your electricity and<br />

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X<br />

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A<br />

U<br />

S<br />

T<br />

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impact on the environment<br />

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59<br />

CALL PAUL<br />

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• Emergency Door Opening<br />

• UPVC Door Lock Repairs<br />

• UPVC Door Lock Changes<br />

• UPVC Door Lock Upgrades<br />

• Wood Door Lock Changes<br />

• All Work Guaranteed<br />

A Registered Insured NCFE Certified Company<br />

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Fast, Reliable, Professional Service<br />

TELEPHONE<br />

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MOBILE<br />

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Want your business to grow?<br />

Advertising packages start from £35 + VAT a month.<br />

For more information call 01744 649 722<br />

<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong>


Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,<br />

Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors<br />

Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved<br />

forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and<br />

embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that<br />

cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working<br />

with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect<br />

every step of the way and on that you have my word! <strong>St</strong>uart Goulding<br />

Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...<br />

Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety<br />

Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced<br />

A5209<br />

B5250<br />

Open:<br />

Dennis Goulding<br />

J27<br />

Shevington<br />

A49<br />

<strong>St</strong>andish<br />

Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,<br />

Wrightington, WN6 9RS<br />

(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)<br />

Telephone: 01257 427 000<br />

Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon<br />

www.dglwindows.co.uk<br />

TwinLakesMotorEngin ers<br />

Wind Turbines<br />

Heat Pumps<br />

LED Lighting<br />

.and general<br />

Energy Savings<br />

and we’ l provide you with a<br />

detailed report showing the<br />

returns available from your<br />

own solar panels<br />

(10% typical return)<br />

Visit our showr om at<br />

Unit 4a,<br />

Cricket <strong>St</strong>r et Busine s Park<br />

o f Miry Lane,<br />

Wigan.<br />

WN6 7TP<br />

or<br />

Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk<br />

Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk<br />

60<br />

MARDEC<br />

Painters & Decorators<br />

Internal and external work<br />

Domestic or commercial<br />

jobs welcomed<br />

Free inspirational<br />

advice & quotes<br />

No job too small<br />

Established 1992<br />

01744 894 431<br />

07931 282 896<br />

Design & Print<br />

Flyers, postcards, brochures<br />

and distribution service.<br />

For more information call<br />

01744 649 722<br />

<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />

Gel<br />

Nails<br />

norma ly £20<br />

now £15<br />

Lashes<br />

Spray Tan<br />

Sunbeds<br />

Acrylic & Gel Nails<br />

Natalies @ <strong>St</strong>udio 84<br />

84 Rainford Road, Billinge WN5 7PG<br />

Telephone: 07814 619 400<br />

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10AM - 7PM, Saturday 10AM - 6PM<br />

Closed Thursday & Sunday<br />

Mo sy Lea Road<br />

T<br />

Y<br />

R<br />

E<br />

S<br />

Solar Thermal<br />

& Solar PV<br />

Book<br />

your FREE<br />

home survey<br />

CAR & VAN SERVICING<br />

FREE<br />

Car Health Check<br />

.and motorcycles too<br />

for a l residents of Croston and Bretherton<br />

Keep me until you need me!<br />

Book your FREE Car Health Check<br />

Ca l now on<br />

01772 603923<br />

REPAIR & WELDING<br />

Saving money is<br />

the clear benefit!<br />

Slash your electricity and<br />

water heating bi l<br />

Protect your household from<br />

future energy price rises<br />

Reduce your household’s<br />

E<br />

X<br />

H<br />

A<br />

U<br />

S<br />

T<br />

S<br />

impact on the environment<br />

Ca l us now<br />

0843 224 9555<br />

07595 420237<br />

TILE & GROUT CLEANING<br />

All hArd floors<br />

Kitchens - Entrance halls - living rooms<br />

Bathrooms - showers<br />

KARNDEAN & AMITICO<br />

stripped, Cleaned & sealed<br />

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limestone - Travertine - slate<br />

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sandstone<br />

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Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.<br />

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Puzzle Solutions<br />

F H F A B V H O S S<br />

Y L P O N D A I E R<br />

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WIGGLE WORDS: HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS<br />

7 8 3<br />

6 9 1<br />

4 5 2<br />

9 1 8<br />

5 2 6<br />

3 4 7<br />

8 3 4<br />

1 6 9<br />

2 7 5<br />

NAME<br />

JULIE<br />

JANE<br />

SAM<br />

2 1 5<br />

3 4 7<br />

6 9 8<br />

7 6 2<br />

8 3 4<br />

1 5 9<br />

5 7 1<br />

4 2 3<br />

9 8 6<br />

HUSBAND<br />

DAVE<br />

JAMES<br />

STUART<br />

VEHICLE<br />

MINI<br />

GOLF<br />

MLK<br />

6 9 4<br />

5 8 2<br />

3 7 1<br />

4 3 5<br />

9 1 7<br />

8 2 6<br />

2 6 9<br />

7 5 8<br />

1 4 3<br />

TIME<br />

11:15<br />

11:30<br />

11:00


Transform your home<br />

with a brand new driveway<br />

61<br />

Resin Driveways<br />

Made in Lancashire<br />

Established over 25 years<br />

Tarmac Driveways<br />

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62<br />

M H Roofing<br />

Established over 15 years<br />

Friendly advice and competitive rates<br />

No job too small<br />

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63

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