Local Life - St Helens - May 2018
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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Edition <strong>May</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
Rainford rocks<br />
Pages 22 - 23<br />
The Billinge Split<br />
Pages 40 - 42<br />
Burscough Walk<br />
Pages 59 - 62<br />
<strong>Local</strong> News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Garden Diary Food Home Services<br />
locallife247.co.uk
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3
4<br />
Something about<br />
<strong>May</strong><br />
I’ve come to the realisation I’m at my happiest<br />
around water. I don’t know whether it’s the<br />
ripple in a reservoir, the clapping of waves, or the<br />
fresh breeze that gives me a new lease of life, but<br />
I know that when I’m by water this is where I’m the<br />
most calm.<br />
My happiest memory is when I was on holiday in<br />
Spain, on a pedalo on a lake surrounded by rolling<br />
mountains, and that was a moment in time where<br />
I felt anything was possible. And whenever I need a<br />
little boost at home, I get outside and enjoy the vast<br />
green spaces our local area has to offer.<br />
And I think <strong>May</strong> is a great month to get out and<br />
enjoy ourselves. There are lots of activities to enjoy:<br />
including this year’s ‘Beating the Bounds’ on Sunday,<br />
<strong>May</strong> 13, which falls in line with <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>’ 150th<br />
anniversary celebrations. Organiser <strong>St</strong>e Lingard<br />
revived the Anglo-Saxon tradition with a 42.5 mile<br />
walk, starting/finishing at Haydock Park. Could you<br />
handle walking the boundary of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>?<br />
Or if you’re looking ahead, why not attend Picnic<br />
in The Park on Saturday, June 2. This family music<br />
festival in Rainford Village will be a great kick-off to<br />
summer. John Coghlan’s Quo, Shane Nolan, Ultra<br />
90’s, Black & Gold, Black Cat Bone, Days Above and<br />
Girl Talk will all be in attendance to get you rocking.<br />
My head is very much getting geared up for the<br />
encroaching summer months, and I’m sure many<br />
of you are hoping for a warm and sunny British<br />
summer too. A girl can dream.<br />
See you next time!<br />
Niamh Ollerton, Deputy Editor
5<br />
In this issue<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
turns 10<br />
Regulars<br />
32 Class From The Past<br />
36 Puzzle Corner<br />
55 Events2Go<br />
59 Jack’s Tracks<br />
63 Garden Diary<br />
66 Test Drive<br />
16<br />
Rainford<br />
Festival<br />
Sections<br />
6 <strong>Local</strong> News<br />
30 Education<br />
44 Health<br />
48 Travel<br />
63 Gardening<br />
69 Home Services<br />
22<br />
The Billinge<br />
split...<br />
40<br />
10 items<br />
no kitchen should<br />
be without<br />
52<br />
Jack’s Tracks visits<br />
Burscough<br />
Next issue - June <strong>2018</strong><br />
Advertising deadline - Tuesday, 22 <strong>May</strong><br />
Published - Thursday, 01 June<br />
Publisher: Chris<br />
Sales: Clare<br />
Editorial: Niamh<br />
Design: Peter<br />
Distribution: Sally<br />
Accounts: Sam<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 11,000 private homes and<br />
businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Garswood, Moss Bank,<br />
Haresfinch, Carr Mill and selected areas of Haydock.<br />
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homes and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Sutton,<br />
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59<br />
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consent of <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd.<br />
locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia events2go
6<br />
Celebrating young artists<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> youngsters have showcased<br />
their artistic talent in a Youth Open<br />
Art competition.<br />
Hundreds of young people have taken part in this<br />
year’s Youth Open Art competition, with the winners<br />
honoured at a recent World of Glass presentation.<br />
The annual competition is open to anyone aged 16<br />
or under, who lives or studies in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>.<br />
There are categories available for nursery-aged<br />
children right through to Year 11, as well as specific<br />
awards for those who chose digital and graphic<br />
design pieces.<br />
Judges from <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council and the World of<br />
Glass praised the quality of the 557 submissions.<br />
Winners received glass awards hand-made at the<br />
World of Glass, where a public exhibition of 244<br />
selected submissions will feature until Friday, <strong>May</strong> 4.<br />
This year’s competition helped to celebrate the
7<br />
borough’s 150th anniversary by offering entrants<br />
the chance to win a one-off special award, under<br />
the theme “Out of the Earth Came Light.”<br />
The award went to Louise Tickle from De La Salle<br />
School, whose composition was thought to<br />
encapsulate the borough’s landmarks, heritage and<br />
ethos.<br />
Residents can still view the collection at the World<br />
of Glass until Friday, <strong>May</strong> 4.<br />
In July, those aged 16 or over can try their artistic<br />
talents in the Open Art Competition.<br />
Artists can enter their works in late June/early July<br />
for judging, and the works will be exhibited from<br />
July-September. head to www.sthelens.gov.uk/<br />
openart or call The World of Glass on 01744 22766.<br />
Tell Us Your <strong>St</strong>ory!<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is always on<br />
the look out for news<br />
stories from the local<br />
communities we serve.<br />
Are you raising money<br />
for charity? Are you a<br />
member of a community<br />
group with something<br />
to shout about? <strong>May</strong>be<br />
you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a<br />
claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be<br />
appearing in the next edition!<br />
Simply contact us on sthelensnews@locallife247.<br />
co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.<br />
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8<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 150<br />
In its 150th anniversary year, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong> is celebrating the milestone<br />
with a bustling year-long cultural<br />
programme.<br />
There are numerous events throughout the year,<br />
including an International Food and Drink Festival,<br />
and a heritage weekend <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> day.<br />
Other activities will build on established events<br />
such as Westfield <strong>St</strong>reet Music Festival and Summer<br />
<strong>St</strong>reets.<br />
The programme of artistic events is led by the Heart<br />
of Glass and cultural partners <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 150.<br />
Cllr Gill Neal, cabinet member with responsibility<br />
for arts and culture, said: “These celebrations are all<br />
about the borough’s heritage and innovation, and<br />
as such it is right that everyone can get involved.<br />
“These celebrations not only look back at our<br />
illustrious past but to our future and showcase the<br />
talents of our young people.<br />
“This programme of events promises to have<br />
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9<br />
something for everyone – and it would be great<br />
if local people got behind this, got involved and<br />
made <strong>2018</strong> a year to remember.”<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Day on Saturday, June 30, will feature a<br />
citizen’s parade. Find out what makes the borough<br />
tick by acknowledging the characters, the wisdom<br />
and the idiosyncratic individuals and communities<br />
in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>.<br />
For more info on <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 150, please visit www.<br />
sthelens150.co.uk<br />
To see what else is happening in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, visit our<br />
E2G section on pages 55-58.<br />
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• Regional valuations centres around the north-west<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Valuation Days<br />
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A new community garden on Tracks<br />
Lane, Billinge, has been dedicated to<br />
Ellen Higginbottom.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> volunteers with the help of Wigan Council<br />
have created a community garden in memory of<br />
Ellen Higginbottom who was murdered in Orrell<br />
Water Park last year.<br />
After her death, the garden area became a focal<br />
point for floral tributes to the popular Winstanley<br />
College student.<br />
Corin Lomax, a local volunteer involved in the<br />
garden project from the beginning, said: “It was<br />
the obvious spot to leave floral tributes to Ellen,<br />
so transforming the entire area into a memorial<br />
garden inspired by her was a natural progression.”<br />
Councillor Kevin Anderson, cabinet member for<br />
environment at Wigan Council said: “The whole<br />
town was rocked by the news of Ellen’s passing<br />
last year and despite the extremely difficult<br />
circumstances, it’s humbling to see the community<br />
pull together in this way.<br />
“We’re honoured to support such an important<br />
cause and be a part of a project to commemorate<br />
Ellen.<br />
“The garden will be very peaceful and I’m sure<br />
members of the public will enjoy spending time<br />
here.”<br />
A bench complete with memorial plaque and a<br />
box hedge has been installed by volunteers from<br />
Wigan Council’s greenspaces team, and Moss Bank<br />
Nurseries in Leigh donated bedding plants which<br />
will be replenished by Moss Bank as the seasons’<br />
progress.<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong>
11<br />
The locals who have volunteered to<br />
maintain the site hope visitors will use Ellen’s<br />
garden as a place of quiet reflection and<br />
contemplation.<br />
Louise Tipping, principal at Winstanley<br />
College said: “This is a lovely tribute by the<br />
community to Ellen which we will treasure.<br />
“Ellen loved nature and people and so a<br />
garden inspired by her is a fitting tribute to a<br />
much missed student, friend and daughter.”<br />
Organisers and volunteers also hope the<br />
garden will eventually become eligible to<br />
enter the Wigan in Bloom competition.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> artist, Vikky Crompton, is planning to make<br />
big mosaic stepping stones with any interested<br />
members of the community for Ellen’s Garden. If<br />
you’d like to get involved with making the mosaics<br />
or helping with the ongoing maintenance of Ellen’s<br />
Garden please contact Joe Taylor on 01942 700060<br />
or email joe41@blueyonder.co.uk
12<br />
Rainford Tennis Club has<br />
a brand new Head Coach<br />
ready to train hopeful<br />
sportspeople.<br />
Eduardo De Sousa has followed<br />
suit of fellow Portuguese coaches<br />
to the UK, but while José Mourinho<br />
manages Man U and Carlos Carvalhal<br />
struggles with Swansea, Eduardo has<br />
landed the Head Coach position at<br />
Rainford Tennis Club.<br />
He is a former professional tennis<br />
player, once ranked as the number<br />
eight player in Portugal, and has over<br />
30 years’ experience coaching players<br />
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Children aged 5-11 can try the mini Tennis sessions<br />
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Club Chairman, Ron Hamilton said: “We are<br />
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“Eduardo has brought his enthusiasm and vast<br />
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To view a full timetable, visit the Club’s website at<br />
www.RainfordTennisClub.co.uk
13
14<br />
Fore charity<br />
Houghwood golfers recently raised<br />
vital funds for local charities in an all<br />
day challenge.<br />
20 avid golfers took on four rounds of golf in a day<br />
in the first of its kind at Houghwood to raise money<br />
for Willowbrook Hospice and the local branch of the<br />
MS Charity.<br />
The men set off for their first round at 4.20am,<br />
and only finished their final round at 9.45pm. But<br />
they didn’t use their buggies and walked for the<br />
duration.<br />
But they were not alone in their efforts; partners,<br />
wives and families were also in attendance, driving<br />
the buggies to carry the clubs.<br />
Past Captain Marian Rigby said: “The atmosphere<br />
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was amazing because they had done it. They were<br />
filled with such adrenaline.<br />
“It was a massive feat, and they went beyond their<br />
expectations. And when they came in they just<br />
about collapsed.<br />
“They were outside all that time without stopping<br />
apart from comfort breaks.”<br />
The golfers, led by Spencer Anglesea who organised<br />
the event, were all sponsored individually and<br />
raised £6,500 for the charities.<br />
An obvious success, the local golfing lads will be<br />
taking on the challenge once more in June this year.<br />
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15<br />
Beating the Bounds<br />
The <strong>2018</strong> Beating the Bounds event will also<br />
celebrate the 150th anniversary of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> residents <strong>St</strong>e Lingard has organised the challenging<br />
42.5 mile walk around the whole of the Borough boundary.<br />
It starts and finishes at Haydock Park, and follows the Borough<br />
Boundary (as near as public rights of way and road safety<br />
permit) anti-clockwise, around Billinge (including Billinge<br />
Lump), Rainford, Eccleston, Rainhill, Bold, Parr, Earlestown,<br />
Newton-le-Willows and Haydock.<br />
But for such a gruelling task, the schedule isn’t kind with a<br />
4.15am meet at Haydock Park before starting at 4.30am.<br />
Contenders will be beating the pavement until<br />
about 8.15pm when the walk is set to finish at<br />
Haydock Park (via Lowton entrance).<br />
Many, many years ago there was a custom known<br />
as ‘Beating the Bounds’. Come springtime, a motley<br />
assortment of local officials, children and people<br />
alike would walk the boundaries of their parish.<br />
The purpose of the event was to teach participants<br />
– especially young ones – the boundaries of their<br />
parish. The ceremony also served a social purpose,<br />
helping bring the local community together in a<br />
convivial experience.<br />
<strong>St</strong>e revived the tradition on Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 21, 2017.<br />
<strong>St</strong>e said: “We had a thoroughly enjoyable day and<br />
raised almost £2,000 for <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Mind.<br />
“The day was such as success that there was no<br />
doubt about doing it again.”<br />
Looking to target<br />
new customers<br />
in <strong>2018</strong>?<br />
This year, he will be raising funds for <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
Mind, the local mental health charity, once<br />
more. If you’d like to donate please visit https://<br />
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/<strong>St</strong>eLingard<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Mind aims to promote and preserve good<br />
mental health and to assist those experiencing<br />
mental distress to regain their full potential, and<br />
play an active part in community life.<br />
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16<br />
Founded in a back bedroom on Sandy Lane<br />
Turning 10<br />
in Orrell, <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> now produces five<br />
magazines a month (<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, Wigan, Chorley,<br />
West Lancs and Leigh & District) from our offices<br />
at Hewitt Business Park on<br />
Winstanley Road. We also<br />
deliver over 750,000 leaflets<br />
a year too.<br />
We’re proud of the fact that<br />
many of our customers stay<br />
with us, year after year, so<br />
here’s what our advertisers<br />
have to say about <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> covers areas that we just can’t reach with<br />
any other publication. We know when it has been<br />
delivered as our phone never stops ringing. It’s always<br />
our first choice for advertising.<br />
Sharon Lee – Expressions of Beauty, Billinge<br />
Our adverts always look good in the magazine and<br />
the content is well balanced with interesting articles<br />
and not too many adverts. I find the staff at <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
very pleasant to deal with and I always get a quick<br />
response to my emails. We will definitely continue to<br />
advertise with <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
Sarah O’Donoghue - Marketing Manager, Carmel<br />
College<br />
I’m pleased to say that every customer we have<br />
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Elaine Rimmer – Platinum Advertising & Design Ltd<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is 10 years old this month!<br />
It’s a great little mag; I’ve been advertising with you<br />
since you started the magazine and I don’t advertise<br />
anywhere else. As you know I’m always busy, often too<br />
busy to come and pay you for my adverts!<br />
Jimmy Murphy – Garswood Gates<br />
Just to say thank you for helping to grow our business<br />
over the years, I know the day of the month that the<br />
magazine goes out by the rise in telephone enquiries<br />
that day, we really appreciate the quality of enquiry<br />
that your publication brings in.<br />
<strong>St</strong>eve Hadikin. Aabron Landscaping.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has been a great platform for the College to<br />
reach people. It has always been a quality publication,<br />
with great features. We know that it is picked up and<br />
read.”<br />
Lisa Cooke, Head of Marketing, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> College<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has proved to be a great way to showcase<br />
my new shop in Rainford. I have increased my<br />
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Ali Tyrer, ellemora
17<br />
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Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Services<br />
I’ve been advertising in <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> since 2009 and the<br />
magazine never fails to bring me new customers<br />
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<strong>Life</strong> and the magazine has helped me establish my<br />
business in quality housing areas like Rainford and<br />
Rainhill.<br />
Shaun Fairhurst – Garswood Decorating Services<br />
I have advertised in <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> for over 8 years now<br />
and it has consistently been my main source of new<br />
business. It is a fantastic, quality magazine which,<br />
as well as supporting local businesses, gives its<br />
readers an interesting and informative read. I would<br />
thoroughly recommend it.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> provides my company with a very effective<br />
form of advertising and I would certainly recommend<br />
the magazine to any business looking to expand.<br />
Matthew Rigby – Property Maintenance<br />
If you’d like to promote your company in <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
magazine or use our leaflet distribution service,<br />
call Clare or Chris on 01744 649722 or pop into our<br />
offices at Unit 8 - Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley<br />
Road, Orrell WN5 7ZB.<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
Angie Barker Garden Design<br />
Around 80/90% of our work comes from <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and<br />
it’s all local work, we don’t have to waste hours sitting<br />
in traffic each day. As of today (10th April), we’re<br />
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<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is.<br />
Colin Wilson – Wilson Bros. Building and Roofing<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is the best local print advertising media<br />
around, without a doubt, and it’s the only publication<br />
we advertise in. We also use the leaflet distribution<br />
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Ian Johnson – GreenThumb Billinge<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> magazine always works for me and brings<br />
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18<br />
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WA11 8JY
19<br />
New leadership<br />
The new leader of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council<br />
has asked councillors to “work<br />
together” moving forward.<br />
Cllr Derek Long was appointed the new council<br />
leader following Barrie Grunewald’s resignation due<br />
to allegations of a WhasApp data breach involving<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> councillors.<br />
The new leader represents the West Park ward, starts<br />
the position with immediate effect after receiving a<br />
unanimous vote at the full council meeting in the<br />
town hall chamber.<br />
The Labour councillor was previously cabinet<br />
member for Liverpool City Region engagement.<br />
In his first speech as leader, Cllr Long said: “I do not<br />
underestimate the importance of the task in front<br />
of us. I hope we can all work together in the spirit it<br />
takes to take <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> forwards.<br />
“When I open cabinet meetings I always make<br />
reference to the fact that we are stewards of 150<br />
years of unbroken accountability looking after<br />
the people of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> and I’m sure we’re all<br />
committed to making sure that goes forward in the<br />
future as well.”
20<br />
Booted up<br />
The eight annual <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 10k was a<br />
roaring success once more.<br />
Over 1,600 runners took to the streets of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
streets on Sunday, April 15 to take on the annual<br />
GPW Recruitment <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 10k.<br />
Many runners do their bit for a myriad of causes,<br />
to help raise funds and awareness to organisations<br />
and charities close to their heart.<br />
Linzi Prescott ran in memory of her husband <strong>St</strong>eve<br />
Prescott MBE, who set up the event eight years ago<br />
in Birchley <strong>St</strong>reet car park.<br />
Even after his death in 2013, <strong>St</strong>eve’s family and<br />
the <strong>St</strong>eve Prescott Foundation ensured the event<br />
would continue to be held each year, and is now a<br />
staple of the <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> calendar.<br />
Linzi was joined by their 16-year-old son Taylor this<br />
year too. She said: “It’s quite a special event for me<br />
because eight years ago when <strong>St</strong>even thought this<br />
up, it was the only thing he came up with that I<br />
thought I could take on.<br />
“From Christmas you can see people running in the<br />
street and it always reminds me of <strong>St</strong>eve. It really is<br />
his legacy.”<br />
<strong>St</strong>eve’s wish to give the people of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> and<br />
Rugby League community a vehicle to get fit and<br />
healthy has certainly been fulfilled.
21
22<br />
Rainford is all set to rock again<br />
this summer with the return<br />
of the Picnic in the Park Music<br />
Festival on Saturday 2 June.<br />
This year it promises to be bigger and<br />
better says organiser Phil Thomas,<br />
who, just over twelve months ago,<br />
together with his wife Tara, inspired<br />
the collaboration between four of<br />
the village’s sporting and youth<br />
organisations to raise much-needed<br />
funds.<br />
Rainford rocks<br />
Phil takes up the story, “Our family is<br />
actively involved in Rainford Rangers Football, the<br />
Tennis club, the Cricket Club and the Boys Brigade<br />
and Girls Association and we could see at first hand<br />
the brilliant opportunities they were providing<br />
for youngsters as well as the big costs involved<br />
in running them.” said Phil. “As the manager for<br />
Rainford Rangers U-15’s, I was forever raising<br />
money for the club and I knew the other clubs were<br />
constantly having to raise funds too”.<br />
This year’s headline act is John Coghlan’s Quo<br />
with the Quo’s drummer and his band getting<br />
ready to rock Rainford all over the World. Back<br />
by public demand is the Shane Nolan Band after<br />
their tremendous success at the Festival last year.<br />
A non-stop procession of acts throughout the day<br />
with music, songs and dancing to suit all tastes,<br />
includes Ultra 90’s, Black and Gold, Black Cat Bone,<br />
Days Above and the newly formed Girl Talk, a group<br />
of Liverpool girls who sing rap and dance. As well<br />
as music there are lots of other sideshows and<br />
community stalls to keep the family entertained on<br />
a relaxed fun-filled day.<br />
Last year’s inaugural festival was a spectacular<br />
success and the four community groups shared a<br />
total profit of £6,000.<br />
Ron Hamilton, Chairman of the Tennis Club,<br />
explained that last year’s proceeds have been<br />
used to refurbish and redecorate their clubhouse.<br />
“Without the event last year, little or none of this<br />
would have happened. The acts last year were great,<br />
everyone enjoyed themselves and we look forward<br />
to a fantastic festival again this year” he said.<br />
Ian Harrison, Secretary of Rainford Cricket Club<br />
described the benefits brought to the club by the<br />
festival, “The proceeds have been used to undertake<br />
repairs to and the repainting of the sight-screens<br />
and we’re also refurbishing the home and away<br />
dressing rooms at the club”.<br />
Already ticket sales for the festival have topped<br />
last year’s actual attendance, and organisers are<br />
hoping to attract a capacity crowd of 1,800. If you<br />
haven’t yet bought your tickets, please visit www.<br />
rainfordfestival.co.uk or call in at PT Kitchens, 12<br />
Ormskirk Road in Rainford.<br />
If you run a local business and you’d like to<br />
advertise at next year’s Festival, please visit www.<br />
rainfordfestival.co.uk to register an enquiry. The<br />
banners are one of the main sources of income for<br />
the Rainford Festival and are positioned round the<br />
perimeter of the Festival site for an entire year.
23
24<br />
The gang together<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> 64th annual Gangshow is<br />
coming to <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Theatre Royal<br />
very soon.<br />
From Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 2, to Friday, <strong>May</strong> 4, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
members from the Scout & Guide organisations,<br />
from aged 6 upwards will be performing their<br />
annual variety show.<br />
Jennifer Tickle said: “Members take part with<br />
singing, dancing, and performances in our family<br />
show that’s suitable for everyone!<br />
“It’s a very good show. This is our 54th show at the<br />
Theatre Royal, and our 64th show in total. It’s one<br />
of the gentleman’s 60th show. He’s 68 and joined <strong>St</strong><br />
Thomas’ Cubs aged 8!<br />
“We do the show to promote our Scout and Guides<br />
organisations. You should see some of them at the<br />
beginning of the year, they’re so timid and the<br />
confidence they’ve now gained is wonderful.”<br />
For tickets and info, please contact Jennifer on<br />
07742 383176. Tickets are £8 and one in every 10<br />
is free!<br />
For more local events take a look at pages 55-58.
25<br />
Prevention is key<br />
During Diabetes Prevention Week<br />
from April 16-22, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> residents<br />
were urged to reduce their risk of<br />
type 2 diabetes.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> residents were prompted to make some<br />
lifestyle changes by healthier eating and being<br />
more active to reduce their risk of getting type 2<br />
diabetes.<br />
Over 17,000 people in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> are at risk of<br />
developing type 2 diabetes, which can lead to other<br />
serious conditions including strokes, heart disease,<br />
limb amputation and early death.<br />
The Diabetes Prevention Programme is for people<br />
who are pre-diabetic, and helps them make small<br />
changes to their lifestyle which will in turn reduce<br />
their risk. One of the first groups have seen great<br />
results, with reduced blood sugar levels, weight loss<br />
and increased awareness of how to make lifestyle<br />
changes.<br />
One participant said: “I was wary at first to sit in a<br />
group but felt comfortable from day one. Casper<br />
(the facilitator) was polite, helpful and cheerful and<br />
taught me many ways of eating healthy.”<br />
Another added: “My experience on this programme<br />
has made a big difference to my life and I have<br />
learnt a lot.”<br />
Find out if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes at<br />
diabetes.org.uk/risk.<br />
For advice from the Healthy Living Team visit www.<br />
healthysthelens.co.uk or call 0300 300 0103.
26<br />
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27<br />
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28<br />
100 years<br />
The 14th Annual Prescot Festival of Music & the<br />
Arts is right around the corner, with a special<br />
performance planned.<br />
More than 100 singers are expected to join the Robert said: “Six thousand soldiers were stationed<br />
Prescot Festival Chorus to commemorate the at Prescot before leaving to fight in the Great War,<br />
centenary of the end of World War One this June. and many of the town’s sons gave their lives.<br />
The ‘Come & Sing’ choir will perform Gabriel Fauré’s “It is only right that a century later we remember<br />
stirring Requiem under conductor James Luxton, of them in this way.<br />
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday, June “All soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers are invited<br />
16.<br />
to join us for this special occasion.<br />
Festival director Dr Robert Howard’s short work “We regularly attract a hundred or more choristers<br />
Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine and Ave verum for the yearly ‘Come & Sing,’ and you’re welcome<br />
corpus will also be featured.<br />
whatever your ability or experience.”<br />
In the second half of the programme, Haydock Male More details about the festival from Friday, June 15<br />
Voice Choir will continue its varied programme with to Sunday, June 24 in Prescot are online at www.<br />
wartime songs too.<br />
prescotfestival.co.uk<br />
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29<br />
Planning Matters<br />
Billinge<br />
188 Main <strong>St</strong>reet: Proposed new replacement<br />
refrigeration plant and cage storage compound to<br />
alterations to form new entrances, and the removal<br />
of front dwarf wall to form shared driveway (ref:<br />
P/<strong>2018</strong>/0268/FUL).<br />
rear elevation (ref: P/<strong>2018</strong>/0259/FUL).<br />
Rainford Orthodontic Practice, 13 Church<br />
Haydock<br />
Road: Creation of a first floor to extend existing<br />
orthodontic practice to a two storey building with<br />
121 Penny Lane: Change of use from vacant land to<br />
pitched roof (ref: P/<strong>2018</strong>/0188/FUL).<br />
private garden (ref: P/<strong>2018</strong>/0286/FUL).<br />
Rainford<br />
94 Church Road: Conversion of existing dwelling<br />
Rainford CofE Primary School, Cross Pit Lane:<br />
Creation of new school entrance (ref: P/<strong>2018</strong>/0151/<br />
FP3).<br />
into 2no self-contained dwellings with external<br />
For more information on these plans, visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk<br />
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30
31
32<br />
Raising the bar<br />
More parents and guardians of<br />
primary school children are given<br />
their first choice according to the<br />
latest statistics.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council released data which showed<br />
a steady increase in the number of parents and<br />
guardians securing their first preference primary<br />
school for their child ahead of the <strong>2018</strong> academic<br />
year.<br />
This year, 92.74 per cent of applicants were given<br />
their first choice primary school compared to 88.99<br />
per cent the previous year, which means an increase<br />
of 3.75 per cent.<br />
Overall, 98.24 per cent of applicants were given one<br />
of their preferred schools.<br />
Commenting on the news, Jo Davies, Senior<br />
Assistant Director for Schools’ Services said: “Every<br />
year we work exceptionally hard to ensure that<br />
parents and guardians are allocated one of their<br />
preferred school places primary schools –and I’m<br />
delighted to see that this is the case for September<br />
<strong>2018</strong>.<br />
“If any parent or guardian has any questions about<br />
their application, or if their child will be 4 years old<br />
before 1 September, <strong>2018</strong>, and have not yet applied<br />
- I would ask them to contact the School Admissions<br />
Team on 01744 671035/1029.”<br />
Class from the past<br />
This month’s Class from the Past is of English<br />
Martyrs’ School in Haydock. The photo is from the<br />
late 1950s, so those pictured will be in their 60s<br />
now. <strong>May</strong>be you can spot a familar face?<br />
Do you have an old class photo you’d like to share?<br />
Email sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk
33<br />
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34<br />
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36<br />
Puzzle Corner<br />
WORD SEARCH - <strong>Local</strong> History<br />
Find the hidden words in the word search grid<br />
S C H U R C H E R C<br />
T C A R V I N G E H<br />
U B N S S F B A M N<br />
V E C W T G T R A S<br />
M T I R O L T D I G<br />
O T E R N R E N N N<br />
S B N C E B G V S D<br />
A R T E F A C T P W<br />
I O S M N C E L P A<br />
C N E E U O A O T L<br />
T Z T R U I N S H K<br />
W E A P O N W A N S<br />
G Y D S A B B E Y M<br />
WALK<br />
CASTLE<br />
CHURCH<br />
ARTEFACT<br />
DIG<br />
CARVING<br />
BRONZE<br />
REMAINS<br />
ABBEY<br />
MOSAIC<br />
STONE<br />
COIN<br />
WEAPON<br />
ANCIENT<br />
RUINS<br />
WORD MIX UP - <strong>Local</strong> History<br />
Unscramble the letters to make a word<br />
LEACHAGOORY<br />
NYDW<br />
SUDOKU<br />
NUMBER<br />
BLOCK<br />
The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right.<br />
The numbers in each column add up to the totals<br />
along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the<br />
totals to the right.<br />
3 1<br />
2 9 5<br />
4 2 9<br />
9 1 2<br />
8 7<br />
3 6<br />
6 8<br />
9 5<br />
0 5<br />
9<br />
9 2<br />
3 5<br />
24 10 12 19<br />
7 3 4<br />
18<br />
8<br />
28<br />
15<br />
14<br />
14<br />
REACHVI<br />
YETTOPR<br />
LOANG NASOX<br />
TABLEFIDLET<br />
NORMA<br />
ROBOHC<br />
WIGGLE WORDS<br />
CLUE: Brings Good Luck<br />
Trace a path through<br />
all the letters to find<br />
the word or phrase<br />
that fits the clue.<br />
F O A F<br />
R U E E<br />
E R L D<br />
V O L C<br />
All the puzzle solutions are on page 62 of this magazine
37
38<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
Spring into Action<br />
Spring is a time for new beginnings. Everywhere you look the<br />
garden buds are opening, new shoots are pushing through<br />
and plentiful supplies of cheery flowers are bursting forth.<br />
This freshness is echoed throughout Warbreck Garden Centre as<br />
it continues its transformation into one of the most inspirational<br />
centres for both the avid gardener and interior lifestyle shopper.<br />
Warbreck Garden Centre is a family run business, located in Lathom<br />
near Ormskirk. Not surprisingly, it’s really growing on people!<br />
With stunning new giftware products, ranging from beautiful<br />
jewellery to classic hand bags, gorgeous children’s gifts including<br />
Jellycat to Rufus Rabbit and tasteful home interior brands such as<br />
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to name just a few.<br />
This year’s garden furniture range showcases one of the widest<br />
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Warbreck is a garden centre for gardeners, with a huge<br />
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Warbreck Garden Centre, Lyelake Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 6JW<br />
Tel: 01695 722 960 www.warbreckhomeandgarden.com
39<br />
Once you’ve meandered around the newly<br />
developed plant area and gift shop, why not take<br />
some time out to visit The Plantation Restaurant in<br />
its country colonial setting. Discover a delightful<br />
selection of delicious homemade meals, using<br />
the freshest of locally sourced ingredients. This<br />
is a great food venue, from breakfast through to<br />
afternoon tea.<br />
Garden centre owner, Richard Allison says, “We<br />
pride ourselves on offering a great range of<br />
quality gardening, lifestyle and giftware products<br />
supported by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable<br />
team. Our experienced buyers are continuously<br />
sourcing exciting new products to inspire our<br />
customers.”<br />
The future really does look bright for Warbreck.<br />
The whole team should be proud of what they<br />
have achieved, their energy and flair are making<br />
this an exceptional destination. The garden centre<br />
is conveniently situated near Ormskirk, less than a<br />
20 minute drive from Southport, Formby, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />
Wigan and Maghull, close to junction 3 of M58.<br />
Warbreck Garden Centre<br />
WarbreckGC<br />
warbreckgardencentre
40<br />
The Billinge<br />
split...<br />
With <strong>Local</strong> Elections imminent, David Sudworth<br />
discovers the story behind Billinge’s split<br />
It’s possibly one of the most bizarre Parliamentary speeches ever<br />
committed to Hansard.<br />
But just before 9pm on July 6, 1972, MP Gordon Oakes stood up in<br />
the House of Commons and gave his reasoning as to why part of<br />
Billinge was soon to join Rainford and Haydock in the new county<br />
of Merseyside.<br />
“They are all Lancashire towns, based on<br />
heavy industry, glass making, formerly<br />
on coal mining. The people there speak<br />
with a clear and distinct Lancashire
41<br />
accent. The people there, for example, watch Rugby<br />
League, not Liverpool or Everton. The people in<br />
those areas eat tripe and onions, not Scouse.”<br />
Oakes’ speech may have seemed, in the context of<br />
local government reorganisation, a bit bizarre. But<br />
in fact, he was arguing that although there was<br />
nothing wrong with those places joining together,<br />
he did have grave reservations about them<br />
becoming part of a greater Merseyside area.<br />
He explained: “They talk differently, work at different<br />
occupations. The problem is of urban renewal. That<br />
type of problem is totally different from the problems<br />
of Huyton, Kirkby, Halewood and Whiston, which are<br />
new, expanding towns, where they have basically<br />
“Totally different to the<br />
problems of Huyton”<br />
light industry and support Liverpool or Everton with<br />
equal vociferousness, while poor little Huyton can<br />
hardly get a team going at all. Sport is important in<br />
the constitution of an area, just as important as the<br />
problems of youth facilities, schools, social services,<br />
and things of that kind.”<br />
Within two years, the deed had been done. Part of<br />
Billinge, along with Rainford, Haydock, Crank, Moss<br />
Bank, Kings Moss and other areas, had become part<br />
of a new <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> borough within the County of<br />
Merseyside.<br />
Despite it being 44 years<br />
since the changes, they<br />
still rankle, especially<br />
in Billinge where some<br />
feel the village was<br />
unnecessarily divided.<br />
Many of those blame<br />
Edward Heath’s<br />
Government, who<br />
were in power at the<br />
time. However, a<br />
dig into the archives<br />
reveals that in fact Billinge’s administrative divorce<br />
from Wigan predated the local government changes<br />
of 1974 by over 100 years.<br />
Billinge as a whole was part of the Deanery of<br />
Wigan up until February 2, 1837, when the Wigan<br />
Poor Law Union came into force. The law divided<br />
Billinge into two different townships; Chapel End<br />
and Higher End. By the end of that century, Billinge<br />
Urban District Council had been formed. In 1927, it<br />
joined Winstanley township to become Billinge &<br />
Winstanley Urban District Council.<br />
It’s important to stress though that, at this point,<br />
they were not ‘part’ of Wigan - Billinge & Winstanley<br />
UDC was an authority in its own right.<br />
Fast-forward to 1974 and townships up and down<br />
the country were allocated into different ‘new’ areas.<br />
Some of the original suggestions survived; some<br />
fell by the wayside (there was talk at one point of<br />
Ashton being part of <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>).<br />
Billinge & Winstanley Council’s final meeting in 1974<br />
However, scanning the<br />
newspaper coverage at<br />
the time, there’s very little<br />
in the way of any concerns<br />
about loss of civic<br />
identity. Indeed, local MP<br />
Michael McGuire said in a<br />
Parliamentary debate that<br />
he’d had no complaints<br />
about the situation from<br />
constituents.
42<br />
Most of the concerns centred around<br />
more basic matters; namely pounds and<br />
pence.<br />
“Rate Shock - 61p in the £ for New Metro”<br />
cried one local newspaper, reporting on<br />
the housing rates being set.<br />
<strong>Local</strong>s in the Merseyside part of Billinge<br />
were equally unimpressed. One said: “I<br />
have got a free bus pass but can only use<br />
it to go to <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> or Liverpool, but not<br />
Wigan or Orrell. I can go to Southport, but<br />
only if it is via <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>. Why could they not have<br />
joined the whole of Billinge to Wigan? To me, this is<br />
just another case of planning with no consideration<br />
for human beings.”<br />
“<strong>Local</strong> politics? They are<br />
a joke... ”<br />
<strong>Life</strong> wasn’t plain sailing for those who worked for the<br />
new councils either. Almost 8,000 workers were paid<br />
the wrong amounts in the first few weeks. Although<br />
one cleaner at Wigan Metro wasn’t too fussed - her<br />
normal wage of £2.50 shot up to £25!<br />
And even those areas which, on the face of it,<br />
weren’t massively effected, weren’t happy.<br />
At the final meeting of Orrell Urban District Council,<br />
councillors slammed the Metro as being ‘arrogant’<br />
for wanting to tear down their Council Chamber and<br />
turn it into offices.<br />
Orrell Urban District Council’s final sitting<br />
Councillor John Fitzpatrick stormed: “<strong>Local</strong> politics?<br />
They are a joke if this is the way they are going to<br />
carry out their business.”<br />
However, Wigan’s first ever <strong>May</strong>or, Cllr Bob Lyons,<br />
sought to soothe divisions: “I appreciate the fears of<br />
many people that there will be a feeling of isolation<br />
and loss of contact. I would like to assure people<br />
that I and all my colleagues will be available for<br />
interview and advice. I know the new members will<br />
serve to the best of their ability.”<br />
44 years on and it’s fair to say that, while the financial<br />
grumbles still rumble on, the sense of civic loss has<br />
grown. But perhaps it is unfair to push the blame<br />
onto those who made the 1974 decision.<br />
Since then, any new local government reorganisation<br />
plans have been mostly about making areas bigger,<br />
rather than going back to the pre-1974 model.<br />
Moreover, regardless of what area of Billinge you<br />
live, both parishes are ultimately controlled by the<br />
same ruling party (Labour) in their<br />
respective town halls.<br />
As for (since deceased) MP Gordon<br />
Oakes’ pronouncements; pigs’<br />
innards are no longer consumed in<br />
the same quantities as it was in the<br />
early 1970s; accents have grown<br />
more fluid along with occupations,<br />
but football is still not as popular as<br />
rugby.<br />
Billinge just before it became part of Merseyside<br />
Just goes to show that MPs<br />
talking tripe isn’t a wholly new<br />
phenomenon...
43<br />
Memorial service<br />
A memorial service was held at Saints’<br />
stadium towards the end of March for<br />
those affected by suicide.<br />
Saints RLFC chaplain Paul Johnson led the service,<br />
hosted by Listening Ear’s AMPARO service for the<br />
130 attendees remembering their loved ones.<br />
Attendees shared their personal stories, a<br />
memorial wall displayed photos of lost loved<br />
ones and a gospel singer sang poignant songs to<br />
commemorate their lives.<br />
The <strong>May</strong>or and <strong>May</strong>oress of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, SOBS<br />
(Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide), <strong>St</strong>ate of Mind<br />
(a charity that promotes positive mental health for<br />
sportsmen and women), Suicide Bereavement UK<br />
and the Healthy Living Team were all in attendance.<br />
Speakers including Danny Sculthorpe and Ian Smith<br />
from the world of rugby league, and Anne Cunliffe<br />
from the SOBS service also shared their stories of<br />
how suicide has affected them.<br />
Anne said: “It has been a long journey for me and<br />
my family since the loss of my son Andrew 17 years<br />
ago.<br />
“I hope that by sharing my own experiences and<br />
some of the happy memories I have of Andrew,<br />
I have helped others to in time remember the life<br />
that their loved ones lived and the happier times.”<br />
Please contact Nattalie Kennedy on 01744 671056 if<br />
you left your photograph(s) on the wall.<br />
If you have been affected by suicide the following<br />
services are available: AMPARO: www.listening-ear.<br />
co.uk/amparo and SOBS: https://uksobs.org/<br />
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44<br />
Health & Fitness<br />
Make <strong>May</strong> purple<br />
In England, one in six people will have a stroke<br />
in their lifetime. And in the UK, strokes occurs<br />
approximately 152,000 times a year – that’s one<br />
every 3 minutes 27 seconds. First-time incidence<br />
of stroke occurs almost 17 million times a year<br />
worldwide; one every two seconds. It is estimated<br />
around 30% of people who have a stroke will go on<br />
to experience another.<br />
<strong>St</strong>rokes are a leading cause of death and disability<br />
in the UK, with around 32,000 stroke-related deaths<br />
in England each year.<br />
Most people who have strokes are over 65, but<br />
By Niamh Ollerton<br />
one in four strokes happen in younger people.<br />
That’s nearly 40,000 people a year including several<br />
hundred children.<br />
There’s no denying that a stroke can be fatal, but<br />
it’s worth noting there are over 1.2 million stroke<br />
survivors in the UK.<br />
Deaths related to strokes have declined by 49%<br />
in the past 15 years, and this is down to better<br />
prevention, earlier treatment and more advanced<br />
treatment.<br />
It’s important to act quickly as you could save your<br />
own or someone else’s life, or help limit the longterm<br />
effects of strokes, by learning to think and Act<br />
F.A.S.T.<br />
What is a stroke?<br />
A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the<br />
blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. Without<br />
blood your brain cells can be damaged or die. This<br />
damage can have different effects, depending on<br />
where it happens in your brain.<br />
A stroke can affect the way your body works as well<br />
as how you think, feel and communicate.<br />
What causes a stroke?<br />
As we age, our arteries become harder and narrower<br />
and are more likely to become blocked. But, some<br />
medical conditions and lifestyle factors can speed<br />
up this process and increase your risk.<br />
Different types of stroke<br />
Most strokes are caused by a blockage cutting off<br />
the blood supply to the brain. This is an ischaemic<br />
stroke.<br />
Photos courtesy of the <strong>St</strong>roke Association
45
46<br />
But they can also be caused by a bleeding in or<br />
around the brain. This is a haemorrhagic stroke.<br />
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is also known<br />
as a mini-stroke. It’s the same as a stroke, except<br />
symptoms only last for a short amount of time, as<br />
the blockage stopping the blood getting to your<br />
brain is temporary.<br />
Can you recover from a stroke?<br />
For some people the effects may be relatively minor<br />
and not last long, but others may be left with serious<br />
health problems that make them dependent on<br />
other people.<br />
Know the signs of a stroke<br />
F.A.S.T. or Face-Arms-Speech-Time is easy to<br />
remember and will help you to recognise if you or<br />
someone else is having a stroke.<br />
Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they<br />
smile?<br />
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Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them<br />
there?<br />
Speech – is their speech slurred?<br />
Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these<br />
signs of a stroke.<br />
Other symptoms that can be due to a stroke also<br />
include:<br />
Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or<br />
both eyes;<br />
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your<br />
body (including your leg);<br />
Sudden memory loss or confusion;<br />
Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall,<br />
especially with any of the other symptoms.<br />
Why act F.A.S.T?<br />
If you notice any sign of stroke, call 999. The faster<br />
you act, the better the chance of recovery.<br />
Purple <strong>May</strong><br />
And to raise awareness for this worthwhile cause,<br />
it’s time to Make <strong>May</strong> Purple – Go Purple for Pounds<br />
during the <strong>St</strong>roke Association’s annual awareness<br />
month.<br />
Friends, families and communities are invited to<br />
show their support for people who have been<br />
affected by a stroke.<br />
The <strong>St</strong>roke Association helps stroke survivors regain<br />
their independence, but they need our help. All you<br />
need to do is wear purple and every penny raised<br />
will help provide support for stroke survivors.<br />
Wear purple to work, school or outside in your<br />
community – wherever you are, the association<br />
hopes you’ll turn all your activities purple during<br />
<strong>May</strong>. Every purple event you take part in will really<br />
make a difference to stroke survivors.<br />
Go purple at work<br />
Get everyone to dress in purple for the day and<br />
even host a purple bake sale.<br />
At school<br />
Get the whole school to dress in purple for the day,
47<br />
or turn your sports day into a purple extravaganza.<br />
There could even be purple activities for parents<br />
too!<br />
At home<br />
Invite your friends round for a purple dinner and<br />
have purple food and drink. Get everyone to wear<br />
purple and play purple games. The possibilities are<br />
endless.<br />
Tony Rudd, National Clinical Director for <strong>St</strong>roke with<br />
NHS England and stroke physician at Guy’s and <strong>St</strong><br />
Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Thanks to<br />
improved NHS care, stroke survival is now at record<br />
high levels.<br />
“Urgent treatment for strokes is essential, so friends<br />
and family can play a key part in making sure their<br />
loved ones receive care as quickly as possible.”<br />
Juliet Bouverie, CEO of the <strong>St</strong>roke Association, said:<br />
“As the UK’s leading stroke charity, we have said<br />
time and again that stroke devastates lives in an<br />
instant.<br />
“Almost two thirds of stroke survivors leave hospital<br />
with a disability, but it doesn’t have to be this way.<br />
“The faster you seek and receive emergency<br />
specialist treatment for stroke, the better your<br />
chances of making a good recovery. Knowing the<br />
signs of stroke and being able to Act FAST could<br />
save a life – your life.”<br />
If you’d like to find out more about the <strong>St</strong>roke<br />
Association and get involved, please visit https://<br />
www.stroke.org.uk/<br />
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48<br />
Travel<br />
All Quiet on the<br />
Western Front<br />
If I should die, think only this of me:<br />
That there’s some corner of a foreign field<br />
That is forever England.<br />
This excerpt from Rupert Brooke’s poem, The month’s travel feature we take a look at a few main<br />
Soldier, springs to mind whilst driving through sites and attractions in Belgium and France.<br />
the pretty Belgian countryside. It’s a peaceful rural<br />
backdrop with neatly uniform fields full of crops<br />
and it’s hard to imagine it as it was a century ago;<br />
a desolate landscape of mud, burnt-out trees and<br />
barbed wire, with shattered men crouching in<br />
trenches with the roar of heavy artillery overhead.<br />
As the 100th year anniversary of the end of the<br />
Great War comes to pass, visiting the battlefields<br />
During the Great War, Ypres occupied a strategic<br />
position standing directly in the path of Germany’s<br />
plans to invade France from the north. One in three<br />
of British deaths on the Western Front happened in<br />
the Ypres area and during the course of the war the<br />
town was all but obliterated by artillery fire.<br />
Ypres today is known as the city of peace and<br />
war graves cover the landscape around the area,<br />
of the period remains a fascinating and moving including the Tyne Cot Commonwealth war<br />
experience. These visits brings history alive for an<br />
increasing number of visitors of all ages, and in this<br />
cemetery which houses the graves of 11,954 soldiers,<br />
but the most popular site for visitors is the Menin
49<br />
Gate Memorial to the Missing. The<br />
memorial is dedicated to the 54,395<br />
Commonwealth soldiers who died<br />
in the Ypres Salient but whose<br />
bodies have never been identified<br />
or found. Every night at 8pm since<br />
1927, except when the Germans<br />
occupied the area in World War 2,<br />
buglers sound the ‘Last Post’.<br />
Just two miles east of Ypres is<br />
Sanctuary Wood, home of the<br />
Flanders Field Museum, and one<br />
of the most popular destinations<br />
for the battlefield visitor. The museum manages<br />
to blend wartime artefacts with multimedia<br />
presentations to create a first-person view of life<br />
in the bleakest of conditions, whilst the trenches<br />
behind the museum give a very good feel for what<br />
it must have been like to experience the mud and<br />
misery of the trenches.<br />
No visit to the battlefields would be complete<br />
without a visit to The Somme, to see the area where<br />
the infamous Battle of the Somme began on a<br />
summer’s day in July and ended in a snowstorm 4½<br />
months later.<br />
The excellent Historical Museum of the Great War,<br />
which is housed within a medieval castle in Peronne,<br />
provides visitors with not only a vision of what life<br />
Battlefields Tours<br />
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Terms & Conditions apply – Holidays subject to availability.<br />
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50<br />
was like for the soldiers at the front but also that<br />
of the civilians of the town, which was occupied<br />
by enemy troops for two separate periods during<br />
the Great War. This absorbing museum follows the<br />
chronology of the war and uses carefully selected<br />
artefacts to illustrate military, cultural and social life.<br />
There aren’t many places in the Somme area where<br />
the ground has been undisturbed since the end of<br />
the Great War, and that’s why the Newfoundland<br />
Memorial Park is a popular choice for battlefield<br />
visitors. Shell-holes and the trenches of both sides<br />
can still be clearly seen and even walked along.<br />
The Newfoundland Regiment suffered appalling<br />
losses here in July 1916 and after the War ended,<br />
Newfoundland purchased the land, and the area is<br />
now a Canadian National Historic Site.<br />
One of the most impressive sites to visit is the<br />
Wellington Quarry in Arras, which tells the story<br />
leading up to the battle of Arras on April 9th, 1917.<br />
After a series of losses in Arras, the decision was<br />
taken to tunnel under Arras in the chalk quarries<br />
that were originally dug out centuries before, in<br />
order to hide 24,000 troops near the German front<br />
lines in readiness for a new attack.<br />
This work, mainly undertaken by Maori miners, took<br />
a whole six months and a chapel, power station,<br />
light railway, communications room, a hospital and<br />
a well were all created in the pale, flickering electric<br />
light and visitors can experience an unforgettable<br />
underground tour illustrating the horrors and<br />
futility of war.<br />
There are number of tour operators who offer<br />
Battlefield coach tours including Leger Holidays,<br />
who are the UK’s leading provider of escorted<br />
tours. You can pick up a Leger Holidays brochure at<br />
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51<br />
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9am till 5pm<br />
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Wigan: Unit 7, Link 25 Business Park, Wigan WN4 0DA<br />
Telephone: 01942 720 045 / Email: barry@titanflooring.co.uk<br />
www.titanflooring.co.uk
52<br />
Food & Drink<br />
10 items no kitchen should<br />
be without<br />
So you’ve spent good money on creating<br />
the perfect space in which to create the<br />
perfect meal. The problems is, no matter how much<br />
you’ve forked out on that oven, those cabinets and<br />
cupboards, a good workman or woman is only as<br />
good as the tools at their disposal. Not that we<br />
would ever advocate blaming your kit when things<br />
go wrong, of course.<br />
Having a variety of quality equipment at your<br />
disposal in the kitchen will open up countless<br />
possibilities in terms of what you can cook.<br />
Imagine inviting friends over for penne and porcini<br />
mushrooms, and then revealing you made the pasta<br />
yourself. Or frying up some sirloins, complete with<br />
griddle marks. Few things are more satisfying than<br />
serving properly made dishes, so here’s a checklist<br />
of essentials you should always have to hand before<br />
you start showing off any culinary expertise.<br />
Ladle<br />
In layman’s terms, this is really just a large spoon<br />
with a bent handle and deep serving cup. Ideal<br />
for soups, obviously, it’s difficult to perfect a<br />
Vietnamese noodle pho without one of these.<br />
Chef’s knife and sharpening block<br />
Ideally you should be looking for an 8-10” blade<br />
with a thick bolster to act as a finger guard, and<br />
the knife itself should sit comfortably in your hand.<br />
A sharpening block is essential too, otherwise<br />
preparing meat will be rather troublesome after a<br />
few months.
53<br />
Grater and microplane<br />
Most of us have a grater somewhere in the home,<br />
but we recommend looking for one that also allows<br />
you to microplane- you’ll need that for zesting<br />
lemons, grating Parmesan, herbs and spices, which<br />
is important in more complex dishes.<br />
This is the best possible way to fry meat and fish<br />
with aesthetically pleasing griddle marks. Look for<br />
the heaviest you can, which is usually a good sign<br />
of quality, and one where the metal runs into the<br />
wooden handle.<br />
Paring knife<br />
You won’t be able to make fine cuts - for example<br />
coring tomatoes, other fruits and vegetables -<br />
without one of these. One word of advice; if the<br />
blade doesn’t extend into the handle put it back on<br />
the shelf and look for another.<br />
Cerated bread knife<br />
Let’s face it, your weekday morning toast is fine<br />
from a loaf of pre-cut bread, but if you’re sitting<br />
down to a hearty winter stew and want a crusty<br />
baguette you’ll need a suitable knife to carve it up.<br />
Can opener<br />
Look for a bulky plastic can opener that has a twist<br />
knob on top, rather than the more old school allmetal<br />
version.<br />
Wire mesh colander<br />
If you’re cooking pasta then this is a key purchase,<br />
even if that pasta is shop bought. Try to find one<br />
with a foot at the bottom, thus meaning your<br />
spaghetti won’t be left sitting in a puddle of water.<br />
Pasta maker<br />
There are almost as many pasta makers on the<br />
market as there are types of pasta, and so it can get a<br />
little confusing. Our preference would be to choose<br />
on that offers between three and five settings for<br />
various pasta shapes - any more and chances are it<br />
will be a jack of all trades, master of none.<br />
Wok<br />
Although no longer the exotic pan it once was,<br />
woks are probably the best investment you can<br />
make for the kitchen. Ideal for stir fry dishes and<br />
other oriental meals, there’s also nothing to stop<br />
you using this for a plethora of other offerings.<br />
Griddle pan<br />
Last, but definitely not least, is the griddle plan.
54<br />
Baked Camembert<br />
Enjoy one of the best-known French cheeses in a delicious way, bursting with<br />
flavour and coated in breadcrumbs. Make sure the cheese is not too ripe and<br />
freeze before cooking to ensure the centre melts when baking. Serves 4<br />
Ingredients<br />
4 individual Camemberts<br />
or one large Camembert<br />
cut into approx 80g/3oz<br />
wedges, frozen for 1 hour<br />
25g plain flour<br />
1 egg beaten with 1tbsp<br />
water<br />
25g breadcrumbs<br />
50ml sunflower oil<br />
Raspberry coulis or<br />
cranberry sauce to<br />
garnish<br />
Method<br />
1. Preheat oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6<br />
2. Remove the Camembert from the freezer and carefully cut the white skin<br />
from the top, while leaving the bottom and sides in tact. Coat well on all sides<br />
with the flour.<br />
3. Dip the coated Camembert in the egg mix and coat with breadcrumbs,<br />
then repeat both steps. Pat well to help the crumbs stick, then place in the<br />
fridge for 30 minutes.<br />
4. Heat the oil over a medium heat. Remove the cheeses from the fridge and<br />
fry lightly on each side until light golden brown - approximately 1-2 minutes.<br />
Make sure the cheese does not begin to melt. Remove and drain excess oil on<br />
paper towels.<br />
5. Place the lightly-browned cheeses on a lined baking tray and bake in the<br />
oven for 5-10 minutes or until the top is slightly puffed.
55<br />
Upload your event for FREE at<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk/events<br />
Follow us on Facebook<br />
events2go<br />
Classic Car Show<br />
Sunday, April 29, 10.30am-3pm<br />
If you’re mad on classic cars, this event is said<br />
to be one of the Mansion House’s more popular<br />
events. The Bistro will also be open for snacks and<br />
refreshments.<br />
The Mansion House <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, Victoria Park, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 2UE. Tel: 01744 752644<br />
Diabetes UK<br />
Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 2, 7.30pm<br />
This <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> & District Group of Diabetes UK<br />
meeting will feature Jan Cardwell, a Diabetes Nurse<br />
Consultant from the Specialist Diabetes Unit in <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong> Hospital who will talk about ‘The importance<br />
of Diabetes Patient Education.’ For more details call<br />
C Bowmaker on 0151 480 0821.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> United Reformed Church, King <strong>St</strong>reet,<br />
WA10 2JZ<br />
Health Walk<br />
Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 2, 1.30pm start<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Ranger Service invites you to their 4<br />
miles long health walk at Mesnes Park. For more<br />
information, contact Mesnes Park Ranger on 01925<br />
229021.<br />
Meet at the Visitor Centre, Park Road, Newton-le-<br />
Willows, WA12 9TA<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Gangshow<br />
Wed, <strong>May</strong> 2 - <strong>May</strong> 4, 7.15pm<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Gangshow presents its ‘We’ve Been<br />
Making Memories’ variety show for the whole family<br />
to enjoy. Featuring Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies<br />
and more! Tickets are £8 (1 in every 10 free) from<br />
Jennifer Tickle on 07742 383176.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Theatre Royal, Corporation <strong>St</strong>, Saint<br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1LQ. Tel: 01744 756000<br />
Memorial Service<br />
Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 5, 2pm<br />
A Celebration of the Cowleians who fought and<br />
died in World War 1. In this centenary year, join<br />
together to remember the brave men who lived the<br />
Cowley motto “Not for himself but for all.”<br />
Cowley International College, Hard Lane, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 6LB. Tel: 01744 678030<br />
Beer & Gin Festival<br />
Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 5, 12pm-11.30pm<br />
Everyone’s welcome at this brilliant annual beer<br />
& gin event. It’s £3 entry, and there’ll be live<br />
entertainment and food and snacks.<br />
The Mansion House <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, Victoria Park, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 2UE. Tel: 01744 752644
56<br />
Family Fun Day<br />
Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 5, 12pm-4pm<br />
The HoneyRose Foundation will be hosting a jampacked<br />
afternoon of family fun. Bring your friends<br />
and family for entertainment, activities and a chance<br />
to buy some awesome items! The Foundation grants<br />
special wishes to people suffering from cancer and<br />
life threatening illness.<br />
Haresfinch Rugby and Community Club,<br />
Haresfinch Road, WA11 9NS. Tel: 01744 609020<br />
Classic Car Show<br />
Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 6, 11am-4pm<br />
The North West Casual Classic Show, a gathering<br />
of cars from the last 70 years or so on display.<br />
Cherished cars, old and new! Free heritage bus<br />
rides, model railways and light refreshments.<br />
Tickets: Adults £4.25, Over 60s £3.25, two adults<br />
together £8, children aged 5-17 are £2.50.<br />
The Old Bus Depot, 51 Hall <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10<br />
1DU. Tel: 01744 451681<br />
<strong>Local</strong> Family Festival Day<br />
Monday, <strong>May</strong> 7, 10am-5pm (gates open 9am)<br />
Enjoy a day of bikes, cars, drifting and karting.<br />
Various activities will be available for both children<br />
and adults with local stalls and refreshments. £5<br />
entrance fee for 16+ and under 16s go free.<br />
Three Sisters Circuit, Three Sisters Road, Ashtonin-Makerfield,<br />
WN4 8DD. Tel: 01942 719030<br />
Health Walk<br />
Tuesday, <strong>May</strong> 8, 1.30pm start<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Ranger Service welcomes you to their 4.5<br />
mile lone health walk at Sankey Valley. For more<br />
information, contact the Sankey Valley Ranger on<br />
01744 677772.<br />
Meet at the Visitor Centre on Blackbrook Road, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA11 9AB<br />
WIBN <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
Spoiler Alert<br />
Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 9, 8pm-10pm<br />
Is life that bad or have we good reason to complain?<br />
In short, are we spoiled? Watch as Ed Byrne takes<br />
this question, turns it upside down and shakes it<br />
until the funny falls out. Go on, spoil yourself. Tickets<br />
are £26.90 available from www1.ticketmaster.co.uk/<br />
event/1F0053048EF918B4<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Theatre Royal, Corporation <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1LQ. Tel: 01744 756000<br />
Event Networking Expo<br />
Tues, <strong>May</strong> 8; Tues, June 12; Tues, July 10, 12pm-<br />
2.15pm<br />
The Women in Business Network is an International<br />
networking organisation that supports all business<br />
women. Every woman can give a 60 second pitch,<br />
and there are spotlight sessions each month.<br />
Regular guest speakers too.<br />
Gerard Arms, Dentons Green Lane, Saint <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />
WA10 6SD. Tel: 01744 28894<br />
Thursday, <strong>May</strong> 10, 2pm-8pm<br />
Do you organise events? Are you an events supplier?<br />
Bring as many people as you like to the free event.<br />
Visit https://ticketpole.co.uk/product/st-helensevent-expo/<br />
to get your free ticket or purchase an<br />
exhibitor space at £40.<br />
The Clock Face Pub and Restaurant, 408 Clock<br />
Face Rd, Clock Face, WA9 4QS. Tel: 01744 602306<br />
Quiz Night<br />
Friday, <strong>May</strong> 11, 7.30pm<br />
Rainford United Reform Church presents a Friday<br />
night quiz night for the whole family to enjoy!<br />
Rainford United Reform Church hall, Higher Lane,<br />
Rainford, WA11 8AL. Tel: 01744 883677
57<br />
Beating the Bounds <strong>2018</strong><br />
Sun, <strong>May</strong> 13, 4.30am-8.15pm<br />
This year’s Beating the Bounds will be part of <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong>’ 150th anniversary celebrations. Take part<br />
in the challenging 42.5 mile walk. <strong>St</strong>arts/finishes<br />
at Haydock Park, and goes anti-clockwise, around<br />
Billinge, Rainford, Eccleston, Rainhill, Bold, Parr,<br />
Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows and Haydock.<br />
Haydock Park, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0HQ<br />
Gin & Whisky Evening<br />
Monday, <strong>May</strong> 14, 7.30pm<br />
Rainford Heritage Society is hosting a Gin &<br />
Whisky evening. Tickets are £10 and there will be a<br />
large choice of gins and whiskeys to taste as well<br />
as nibbles. Everyone is welcome. Buy tickets in<br />
advance from Ray Waring on 01744 885547, or pay<br />
on arrival.<br />
Junction Pub, 102 News Lane, Rainford, WA11<br />
7JU. Tel: 01744 882868<br />
Phil Thompson Golf Classic<br />
Thursday, <strong>May</strong> 17, 9am-9pm<br />
Nugent Patron and LFC legend Phil Thompson<br />
hosts our annual Golf Classic to raise funds to help<br />
support adults living with dementia. It’s £395 per<br />
team of four. Email Marie.Reynolds@nugentcare.<br />
org or call the Fundraising Team on 0151 261 2000<br />
to book.<br />
Houghwood Golf, Billinge Hill, Crank Road, WA11<br />
8RL. Tel: 01744 894754<br />
Plant sale<br />
Saturday, <strong>May</strong> 19, 9.30am-2.30pm/3pm<br />
Sell bedding plants and baskets at the plant fair.<br />
Free entry.<br />
<strong>St</strong> Paul’s Church, 75 Chain Lane, Saint <strong>Helens</strong><br />
WA11 9QF. Tel: 01744 453181
58<br />
Church in the Square<br />
Sunday, <strong>May</strong> 20, 11am-3pm<br />
This event gets all churches to gather together<br />
on Pentecost Sunday. The cross denominational<br />
celebration service at 11am, is followed by a free<br />
lunch and an afternoon programme of activities for<br />
all ages. Find out more at www.churchinthesquare.<br />
co.uk/ or contact info@churchinthesquare.co.uk<br />
Church Square, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1AF<br />
Health Walk<br />
Tuesday, <strong>May</strong> 22, 1.30pm start<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Ranger Service welcomes you to their<br />
4 mile long health walk at Bankes Park. For more<br />
information, contact Sankey Valley Rangers on<br />
01744 677772.<br />
Meet at Bankes Park car park on Main <strong>St</strong>reet,<br />
Billinge, WN5 7HR<br />
<strong>May</strong> Half Term Karting<br />
Monday, <strong>May</strong> 28 until Friday, June 1<br />
Family Arrive ‘n’ Drive karting sessions for ages<br />
8+, Junior Arrive ‘n’ Drive karting sessions for ages<br />
8-15 years and Sisley Kart School sessions for<br />
ages 8-15 years. Prices start from £25. Visit www.<br />
threesisterscircuit.co.uk or contact the sales team to<br />
find out more.<br />
Three Sisters Circuit, Three Sisters Road, Ashtonin-Makerfield,<br />
WN4 8DD. Tel: 01942 719030<br />
Picnic in The Park<br />
Saturday, June 2, 12pm-10pm<br />
A family music festival in the heart of Rainford<br />
Village. John Coghlan’s Quo, Shane Nolan, Ultra 90’s,<br />
Black & Gold, Black Cat Bone, Days Above and Girl<br />
Talk will all be in attendance. Tickets are £20 - visit<br />
www.rainfordfestival.co.uk<br />
Jubilee Recreation Playing Fields, Church Road,<br />
Rainford, WA11 8HE<br />
Big Band Night<br />
Saturday, June 2, 8pm<br />
The Easy <strong>St</strong>reet Big Band will be performing in aid<br />
of Willowbrook Hospice. There’ll also be a prize<br />
raffle and tea & coffee available. Tickets are £10<br />
from Willowbrook – The Living Well (Borough Road,<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, tel 01744 453798), and Frank on 01744<br />
345073.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town Hall, Victoria Square, Saint <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />
WA10 1HP. Tel: 01744 676789<br />
Westfield <strong>St</strong> Music Festival<br />
Sunday, June 3, 11am-6pm<br />
The fifth Westfield <strong>St</strong> Music Festival coincides with<br />
the 150th Anniversary of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>. There’ll be live<br />
music in all the pubs and bars and kids are welcome<br />
too. There will be lots going on outside with unusual<br />
acts taking place during the day.<br />
Westfield <strong>St</strong>reet Music Festival, Westfield <strong>St</strong>reet,<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1QF<br />
Summer Fair<br />
June 9, 11.30am-2pm<br />
Typical church summer fair, cake, plants, toys, stalls,<br />
light lunches. All manner of things. Free entry. Fun<br />
for all the family.<br />
<strong>St</strong> Paul’s Church, 75 Chain Lane, Saint <strong>Helens</strong><br />
WA11 9QF. Tel: 01744 453181<br />
14th Annual Prescot Festival<br />
Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 24<br />
Prescot Festival - Knowsley Cultural Organisation<br />
of the Year & Prescot Community Group of the<br />
Year 2017/<strong>2018</strong>. 10 days of arts, music, heritage,<br />
entertainment and culture in the historic Lancashire<br />
town. Visit www.prescotfestival.co.uk to find out<br />
more.<br />
Prescot
59<br />
According to www.lancashire.gov.uk, 71%<br />
of the North West’s fruit and vegetables are<br />
grown in the West Lancashire area and it is those flat<br />
fertile fields that we visit today on our latest Jack’s<br />
Tracks, which clocked in at just over 6 miles long.<br />
Most unusually for a village, Burscough has not one,<br />
but two railway stations, and it is from the Burscough<br />
Bridge station that the walk starts.<br />
Go north of the station on the A59 and turn left into<br />
Red Cat Lane. Within 75 yards turn left into the road<br />
leading to the old station house. There, on the right,<br />
lies the pathway that eventually leads to Martin<br />
Mere; this is the path you need.<br />
The path soon opens up and runs alongside the<br />
railway line for a further 600 yards until you arrive at<br />
Crabtree Lane. Turn right and within a minute or so<br />
you’ll see a yellow girder set in the ground next to<br />
a track. Turn left down the track which soon opens<br />
up into a field; stay on the right hand boundary of<br />
the field.<br />
Burscough<br />
Bridge<br />
by Chris Pearce
60<br />
Once you reach the fence which encloses Monk’s<br />
Farm, bear left and then follow the fence round a<br />
right hand bend until you reach a fingerpost. Take<br />
a 90 degree left turn towards Martin Mere and walk<br />
the 750 yards across the big open fields to Marsh<br />
Moss Lane. Cross the single track lane and go<br />
through the fence directly opposite.<br />
Follow the path to another fingerpost, in front of<br />
the metal fence enclosing the Martin Mere estate<br />
and turn left though the gate with a ‘Caution Deep<br />
Water’ sign on it. It’s very noticeable that the noise<br />
Martin Mere<br />
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust<br />
Brandreth<br />
Farm<br />
Tarlscough Lane<br />
Marsh Moss Lane<br />
Red Cat Lane<br />
Martin Lane<br />
New Lane<br />
The Farm<br />
Burscough<br />
Moss Nook<br />
Merscar Lane<br />
Gorst Lane<br />
Martin Lane<br />
Crabtree Lane<br />
Burscough<br />
Bridge<br />
Orrell Lane<br />
Leeds & Liverpool Canal<br />
<strong>St</strong>art / Finish<br />
School L<br />
Burscough<br />
Wharf<br />
Burscough<br />
B5241<br />
Higgins Lane<br />
A59<br />
Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that<br />
the walk is accurate, neither 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 other cause.
61<br />
of chirps, tweets and the honking of the seemingly<br />
kamikaze Canada Geese increases, as you make<br />
your way round the tall reeds beds surrounding the<br />
wetlands.<br />
Those with the foresight to have brought<br />
binoculars may want to linger in the bird hides, but<br />
with a thirsty dog in tow I push on round the reed<br />
ane<br />
A59<br />
beds until I come to a track. Cross the track to the<br />
secondary pathway opposite and go through the<br />
gate; bear right and cross the stream and then take<br />
an immediate right down a slight gradient.<br />
Follow that path past the ponds and then once<br />
you’ve rounded a right hand bend you’ll arrive<br />
at another fingerpost. Take a 90 degree left turn<br />
towards a derelict barn, and take another left turn<br />
towards the railway. Cross the rails with great care<br />
and as soon as you’re across, turn left on a path that<br />
runs parallel to the railway line.<br />
Take a 90 degree right hand turn at the fingerpost<br />
towards ‘The Farm Tea Shop’, and then when you’ve<br />
swerved round a fir copse and walked round a field<br />
you’ll come to Martin Lane. Turn left and within 75<br />
yards you’ll come to the aforementioned tea shop.<br />
Carry on Martin Lane in the same direction, through<br />
the junction with Merscar Lane. Just before the<br />
crossing over the canal, follow the path on the right<br />
which leads to the towpath, then turn left under the<br />
For those with the OS Maps<br />
app on your desktop, mobile or<br />
tablet, this walk is named:<br />
JT Burscough Bridge
62<br />
Puzzle Solutions<br />
S C H U R C H E R C<br />
T C A R V I N G E H<br />
U B N S S F B A M N<br />
V E C W T G T R A S<br />
M T I R O L T D I G<br />
canal bridge towards Burscough. Follow the canal<br />
for almost two miles past two swing bridges (31-<br />
New Lane and 32-Crabtree Lane) until you exit the<br />
canal at bridge 32a – Burscough Bridge.<br />
You are right by Burscough Wharf and the village<br />
centre. Turn left and go through the centre for 325<br />
yards until you get to the finish point of Burscough<br />
Bridge rail station.<br />
O T E R N R E N N N<br />
S B N C E B G V S D<br />
18<br />
A R T E F A C T P W<br />
I O S M N C E L P A<br />
C N E E U O A O T L<br />
T Z T R U I N S H K<br />
W E A P O N W A N S<br />
G Y D S A B B E Y M<br />
WIGGLE WORDS: FOUR LEAFED CLOVER<br />
2 1 0 5<br />
9 4 7 8<br />
9 2 3 1<br />
4 3 2 5<br />
24 10 12 19<br />
8<br />
28<br />
15<br />
14<br />
14<br />
WORD MIX UP: ARCHAEOLOGY, WYND, ARCHIVE, POTTERY, ANGLO SAXON, BATTLEFIELD, ROMAN, BROOCH
63<br />
Small really can be<br />
beautiful<br />
by Angie Barker<br />
So many of us have small gardens these<br />
days but any outside space is a wonderful<br />
addition to a home which is why we should make<br />
the most of every inch of space and make our<br />
gardens attractive, as well as practical, outdoor<br />
rooms.<br />
Small gardens need extra consideration however<br />
and here are a few pointers when thinking about<br />
the design of a small space:<br />
Decide what style you are going for and stick to that<br />
theme. So a contemporary garden, choose plants<br />
which will complete the look – Phormiums and<br />
Bamboos for example and go with straight lines. A<br />
courtyard garden should use Buxus sempervirens<br />
(Box) hedges and topiary. A more traditional style<br />
can use sweeping curves and circles.<br />
Don’t try to cram too much into a small space – less<br />
is more!<br />
Plants need to earn their keep so choose specimens<br />
which have long seasons of interest and a good<br />
balance of evergreens. Also limit your colour palette<br />
because too many colours in a small garden will<br />
make the borders appear cluttered<br />
If your garden is shady make the bold decision to<br />
remove the lawn as it will always struggle. There is<br />
a fantastic range of paving products available now<br />
and small cobble setts really suit a small space<br />
You should incorporate a focal point - a large pot<br />
(unplanted) can do the trick perfectly. Similarly a<br />
bird bath, sun dial or sculpture<br />
Use the walls and fences to grow climbers which<br />
will green up the space and make it feel larger<br />
There are lots of clever storage solutions available<br />
these days like benches with hinged seats and<br />
screening ideas to hide away those dreaded<br />
wheelie bins.<br />
And one of the best things about a small garden is<br />
that you can get close up and personal with your<br />
plants and really look at their beautiful detail. One<br />
of the best for <strong>May</strong> must be Dicentra spectabilis<br />
(Lamprocapnos spectabilis is the new name) or<br />
Bleeding Heart. There is a white form called ‘Alba’<br />
which is simply stunning.<br />
Award Winner<br />
I’m always telling Hubby that the best things come in<br />
small packages – he is not very tall at 5 feet 8 inches<br />
– but what there is of him is perfectly designed !<br />
Angie is a qualified<br />
award-winning garden<br />
designer who will<br />
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and the ideal plants.<br />
Call Angie now for your free consultation!<br />
Angie Barker Dip GD<br />
(Inst GD) BA (Hons)<br />
Garden Design For All Seasons<br />
Tel: 01942 522 405<br />
Mob: 07857 008 383<br />
Award Winner<br />
www.angiebarker.co.uk
64<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Digger<br />
& Dumper Hire<br />
Ideal for digging holes; trenches;<br />
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stump removal and many more uses.<br />
• High Lift Skip Loader available to work with digger<br />
• Compactors/Wackers for hire<br />
T: 01744 380466 / 07947 425288<br />
• Garden Walls • Patios • Fencing<br />
• Driveways • Garden Maintenance<br />
Fully Insured<br />
Call Michael now for a free quote<br />
01695 363859 or 07977 534387<br />
a1brickworkandgardens.co.uk<br />
Garden need a little<br />
LTC?<br />
• Tree Surgery<br />
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• Landscaping & Design<br />
• Garden Clearances<br />
• Logs For Sale<br />
Wood chipping & stump grinder services<br />
Call Lloyd today for a free estimate<br />
01942 367170 / 07900 738637<br />
AABRON<br />
LANDSCAPING<br />
SERVICES<br />
• 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 />
01744 606 080 / 07780 801 341<br />
51 Sandringham Drive, WA9 3TQ<br />
www.aabronlandscaping.co.uk<br />
Cricket <strong>St</strong>, Wigan, WN6 7TP<br />
www.ltcgroup.co.uk<br />
Want to promote your company in<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Call Clare: 01744 649 722<br />
locallife247.co.uk<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
SMN<br />
Tree and Landscape Management<br />
West Lancashire District Council approved contractor<br />
Day: 07970 521 692 Eve: 01942 214 121<br />
www.smntrees.co.uk steve@smntrees.co.uk
65<br />
garden maintenance<br />
weed control to lawn &<br />
driveways<br />
hedge cutting<br />
garden tidy ups<br />
Garden Services & Lawncare<br />
fertilising & moss control<br />
turfing & landscaping<br />
tree surgery<br />
one off jobs or regular<br />
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day: 07929 366769 eve: 01744 302793<br />
Garden Make-Overs<br />
Before<br />
After<br />
•Landscaping<br />
•Driveways<br />
•Decking<br />
•Design<br />
Call for free estimate<br />
Colin 07958 302 166<br />
Brian 07760 160 988<br />
Wilson Brothers<br />
01695 633173<br />
Wilson Brothers<br />
www.wilson-bros.co.uk<br />
Transform your garden in <strong>2018</strong>!<br />
We’ll design & create a modern<br />
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paving & decking<br />
lighting & features<br />
Our wide range of artificial grass<br />
are all guaranteed for 10 years<br />
For the perfect lawn all year round!<br />
10 YEAR<br />
GUARANTEE<br />
Call Andy today for more details<br />
01744 882 244 ~ 07941 602 539<br />
Check out our projects on www.turfcouk.co.uk<br />
Want a beautiful<br />
garden without all<br />
the hard work?<br />
At GreenHills we don’t just treat your lawns, we<br />
offer a complete service all year round.<br />
• APPLICATION OF LAWN TREATMENTS<br />
• GARDEN MAINTENANCE / ONE OFF TIDY UPS<br />
• JETWASHING DRIVEWAYS & PATIOS<br />
• HEDGES & SHRUBS MAINTAINED<br />
• WEED SPRAYING OF PATHS & DRIVEWAYS<br />
• BILLINGE BASED<br />
Paving Driveways Turfing<br />
Planting<br />
Decking<br />
Creative solutions for all garden sizes & budgets<br />
07850 940 429 or 01942 512 635<br />
www.orrellpaving.co.uk<br />
Professional Lawn Treatment<br />
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~ Est. 2001 ~<br />
01744 893 477 or 07950 651 956<br />
GreenhillsLC@gmail.com
66<br />
Test Drive<br />
DS 7<br />
Crossback<br />
by Tim Barnes-Clay<br />
Tim Barnes-Clay, is back from<br />
his latest car launch. This<br />
time he was invited to Windsor<br />
to sample the all-new DS 7<br />
Crossback.<br />
At first sight, the DS 7 Crossback<br />
shows off conservative, rather<br />
than cool, characteristics. Yes, yes,<br />
I know beauty is in the eye of the<br />
beholder. But this is my opinion,<br />
and someone needs to have one.
67<br />
On the move, body lean<br />
is kept to a minimum,<br />
even though the steering<br />
is spongy and dead -<br />
and it isn’t perked up by<br />
changing the DS into its<br />
Sport mode.<br />
Don’t let me rain on the<br />
DS7 Crossback’s parade<br />
too much, though. The<br />
French motor is best kept<br />
in its Comfort setting, so<br />
that you can make the<br />
most of its respectable<br />
ride quality. This car<br />
isn’t all about the zero<br />
to 62mph sprint, it’s far<br />
happier as a laid-back cruiser. But it can still pull<br />
okay, with the 2.0-litre diesel model doing the<br />
0-62mph in just under 10 seconds.<br />
The DS marque is launching the Crossback with four<br />
different trim levels, and the Performance Line DS 7,<br />
as driven here, is likely to be the model to please<br />
the masses. This car gets 19-inch alloys, a gloss<br />
black grille, and LED lights. In the cabin, leather<br />
and Alcantara abound, while a 12-inch touchscreen<br />
infotainment screen hogs the limelight. Playing<br />
second fiddle to the big display is a large analogue<br />
clock, perched above the ignition button.<br />
The infotainment system itself is intuitive and<br />
responsive and is supported by a bunch of touch<br />
sensitive switches for the cabin controls. But more<br />
remarkable in this car segment is the adding of<br />
an infrared night vision camera that projects a<br />
Mobile car valeting<br />
Tel: 07803 053 715<br />
e: cjvalet@yahoo.co.uk<br />
www.cjvaleting.net<br />
Treat your car<br />
to the professional touch<br />
PCP or lease coming to an end?<br />
Call me now and save £000’s<br />
SCuffS/SCratCheS mended<br />
minor dentS repaired<br />
alloy wheel repairS<br />
no Vat Charged<br />
we’ll beat any quote!<br />
Call Chris on<br />
01942 215 111 or 07969 357 751<br />
www.cosmeticar.co.uk
68<br />
vivid picture onto the driver’s display. It picks<br />
out pedestrians and animals ahead of you, and,<br />
as I found out driving around Berkshire’s unlit<br />
backroads, it works! The only drawback is that the<br />
clever driver aid is an option costing £1600.<br />
Room in the cabin is good for five-up and it’s a<br />
very comfortable car fore and aft. Indeed, the<br />
DS 7 Crossback’s flat floor means that a rear seat<br />
occupant sitting in the middle will still have<br />
space. What’s more, the car’s boot is generously<br />
proportioned with 555 litres of cargo capacity.<br />
The all-new DS’ weak point is its price-tag. At over<br />
£30,000, other more established premium brands<br />
may seem more attractive. The BMW X3 and Volvo<br />
XC40 are examples of the stiff competition the up-<br />
Fast Facts<br />
• 0-62 mph: 9.9 secs<br />
• Combined mpg: 57.6<br />
• Engine layout: 1997cc four-cylinder turbo diesel<br />
• Max. power (PS): 180<br />
• CO2: 128 g/km<br />
• Price: £36,335<br />
to-the-minute French machine is up against.<br />
<strong>St</strong>ill, being different is quite appealing, so it’ll be<br />
interesting to see what <strong>2018</strong> holds for the DS 7<br />
Crossback. Watch this space!<br />
Want to drive your sales?<br />
Advertising packages start from £35 + VAT a month.<br />
For more information call 01744 649 722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong>
69<br />
Mr Soot<br />
CHIMNEY SWEEP<br />
Woodburners Open fires <strong>St</strong>oves<br />
mr-soot.com<br />
07724 311 992<br />
Over 40 Lancashire<br />
walks<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
FREE to download at<br />
locallife247.co.uk<br />
Our engineers will rePAir yOur;<br />
• wAshers/Dryers<br />
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A friendly, efficient and reliable service<br />
Our mobile repair service works Mon-Sat<br />
CAll us tODAy On 01942 833 908<br />
Unit 5, Caroline <strong>St</strong>reet, Wigan WN3 4EL<br />
www.aspull-domestics.co.uk<br />
Mark Mitchell<br />
<strong>St</strong>ained Glass & Leaded Lights<br />
• Traditional Leaded Lights & <strong>St</strong>ained Glass<br />
• Manufactured & Repaired<br />
• New Commissions<br />
• On-Site Repairs<br />
• 25 Years Experience<br />
Unit 15, Chalon Way Industrial Estate, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 1AU<br />
Tel: 0151 426 2814 Mob: 07711 841735<br />
www.markmitchellstainedglass.co.uk
70<br />
CALL PAUL<br />
LOCKSMITHS<br />
ESTABLISHED 2000<br />
• UPVC & WOODEN DOOR SPECIALIST<br />
• 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 />
GARAGE DOOR<br />
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All GARAGE DOORS REPAIRED :<br />
Springs, Cables, Locks, Rollers etc.<br />
Doors of all ages repaired<br />
01744 894939 / 07891 330214<br />
www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk<br />
<strong>St</strong>rawberry Cottage, Pimbo Road, <strong>St</strong>.<strong>Helens</strong> WN8 9QL<br />
A Registered Insured NCFE Certified Company<br />
Call Paul for a<br />
Fast, Reliable, Professional Service<br />
TELEPHONE<br />
01744 526 589<br />
MOBILE<br />
07932 718 362<br />
WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK<br />
Specialists in boiler installations, repair & maintenance<br />
All work fully warranted<br />
Email ops@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Book a boiler health check for £65<br />
& get a carbon monoxide<br />
alarm (RRP £29) FREE!<br />
Call the team on<br />
01744 892437<br />
Brand New Bathrooms<br />
Boiler + Central Heating<br />
Installs, Servicing + Repairs<br />
Extended warranties available<br />
24 Hour Call-out<br />
Domestic + Commercial<br />
Freephone 0300 3030121<br />
Dave 07769 942218 / Matt 07969 183809<br />
21 Naburn Drive, Orrell, WN5 8SB<br />
Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk<br />
www.orrellheating.co.uk<br />
FINANCE<br />
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506515
Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,<br />
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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 />
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 />
A5209<br />
<strong>St</strong>andish<br />
Shevington<br />
B5250<br />
Open:<br />
J27<br />
A49<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 />
71<br />
Providing professional carpet &<br />
upholstery cleaning since 1993<br />
Carpets Upholstery Curtains<br />
Leather Oriental Rugs Hard Floors<br />
For more information call:<br />
01925 411 449<br />
Visit our website and check out the testimonials.<br />
www.alliancechemdry.co.uk<br />
T: 01942 409401<br />
M: 07881 816839<br />
- Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning<br />
- Specialist Leather Cleaning<br />
- Fully insured and trained member of NCCA<br />
- FREE no obligation pre-inspection and quote<br />
www.carrolls-carpetandupholstery.co.uk<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 />
normally £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 />
.and motorcycles too<br />
FREE<br />
Car Health Check<br />
for all 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 />
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Slash your electricity and<br />
water heating bi l<br />
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X<br />
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impact on the environment<br />
Call us now<br />
0843 224 9555<br />
07595 420237<br />
UPVC CLEANING<br />
• Windows, Fascias, Gutters etc.<br />
CONSERVATORIES<br />
• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)<br />
• Glass roofs / Orangeries<br />
JETWASHING<br />
• Driveways & Patios etc.<br />
ROOF CLEANING<br />
• Moss Removal<br />
(No Jet washing/No mess)<br />
• NEW Soft Wash Cleaning<br />
SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF<br />
ALL CLEANING PACKAGES<br />
Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.<br />
01744 470 051 or 07834 241 642<br />
www.justcleanpropertycare.co.uk<br />
Ovenclean will transform your oven and<br />
put the sparkle back into your kitchen!<br />
• Ovens<br />
• Grills<br />
• Extractors<br />
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as seen<br />
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Call today to book your oven clean<br />
0800 840 7127 or<br />
07724 694337<br />
www.ovenclean.com
72<br />
Matthew Rigby<br />
Property Services<br />
Damp Control Specialists<br />
We provide an honest, accurate<br />
assessment of your damp<br />
problems using state of the art<br />
diagnostic equipment.<br />
Call us to assess your property<br />
and we will provide you with a<br />
comprehensive damp report.<br />
Contact Matthew on<br />
07840 096 233<br />
Reliable, friendly, local service<br />
01744 602931 or 07756 274503<br />
7 Albany Avenue, Eccleston Park, L34 2QN<br />
STICKEM AND GROUT<br />
Tiling by Phil Thompson<br />
• Wall and Floor Installations<br />
• Kitchens, Bathrooms and conversions<br />
• Repairs and Re Grouting<br />
• Clean and Reliable Service<br />
Household small works services also available<br />
T: 07757 097119 E: THOMPSONSTILING2017@GMAIL.COM<br />
Boost your Business in <strong>2018</strong><br />
Advertising packages start from £35 + VAT a month.<br />
For more information call 01744 649 722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
A.J.Davies Est.1991<br />
Painter & Decorator<br />
Paper Hanging a Speciality<br />
Friendly & Very Reliable Service<br />
Both Domestic & Commercial<br />
Trading for over 26 years<br />
Call Adam on 01744 755 005<br />
e-mail ajdaviesdecorator@hotmail.co.uk<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
Transform your home<br />
with a brand new driveway<br />
73<br />
Resin Driveways<br />
Made in Lancashire<br />
Established over 25 years<br />
Tarmac Driveways<br />
J.P.Surfacing<br />
42, Seymour Road,<br />
Astley Bridge,<br />
Bolton, BL1 8PT<br />
01204 590 499<br />
jp-surfacing.co.uk
74<br />
Our Focus Is<br />
Quality & Price<br />
LOCAL FAMILY<br />
FIRM<br />
All aspects<br />
of Building &<br />
Roofing UPVC<br />
Rooflines<br />
References Available<br />
From a Loose<br />
Slate to a<br />
Complete<br />
Construction<br />
Extensions &<br />
Alterations Specialists<br />
Call us on... 01744 600074<br />
Mobile: 07867 592460<br />
13 Hawes Ave, Carr Mill, WA11 7EA<br />
• WILSON BROS •<br />
Est. 1985<br />
Roofing & Roofline Specialists<br />
• All aspects of maintenance & repair<br />
• Fascia & soffit installation<br />
• Guttering and felting services<br />
Call us now for a free estimate<br />
01695 633173<br />
Colin: 07958 302 166<br />
Brian: 07760 160 988<br />
www.wilson-bros.co.uk<br />
M H Roofing<br />
Established over 15 years<br />
Friendly advice and competitive rates<br />
No job too small<br />
• High Performance Felt Flat Roof Systems<br />
• <strong>St</strong>orm Damage and Insurance Work<br />
• Slating and Tiling full roofs<br />
• Poiniting and Guttering • Fascia Boards<br />
Call 01744 884117<br />
or 07702 693225<br />
www.mhroofingltd.co.uk<br />
Fully Insured & Insurance<br />
Backed Guarantees<br />
Facias, soffits, cladding,<br />
dry verge and gutters - call us now<br />
for all your roofline requirements!<br />
We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters.<br />
Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!<br />
01942 735 515 / 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183<br />
www.orrellroofline.co.uk
75<br />
Come and visit the largest<br />
showroom in the North West<br />
®<br />
Quality installations of windows,<br />
doors, fascias, soffits and gutters<br />
First for quality • First for service • First for reliability<br />
No contractors • No salesmen<br />
Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business<br />
Rockdoor<br />
Approved<br />
Installer Reg No<br />
02767596<br />
SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS<br />
Established 16 years<br />
Call us for a Free Quote<br />
Office Number: 01942 871 777<br />
Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria <strong>St</strong>reet, Leigh, WN7 5SE<br />
warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk