Local Life - St Helens - February 2019

LocalLife

St Helens Edition February 2019

Citadel Sadness

Pages 28 - 29

Branching Out

Pages 35 - 38

Runshaw Walk

Pages 49 - 51

Keeping your

home and

family safe

01744 607080

www.best-security.co.uk

See our

on page 32

4 Local Life

Having a clear out?

Are you looking for a

property clearance?

NWWC can clear your;

• House or Garden

• Garage or Shed

• Office, Warehouse or Shop

#wherenext

Walking through Liverpool Airport at the ludicrous

time of 4:45am a couple of days ago, en route

(indirectly) to a city break in Seville, I walked down a

corridor plastered with quality images from many of

the popular European locations that you can fly to

from the airport.

Themed #wherenext, the selection included

imagery from Barcelona, Amsterdam, Rome,

Venice, Madrid and many other European city break

destinations.

We’ve been lucky enough to live at a time when

cheap air travel has made for easy access to many

European cities, and, probably like you, we’ve

loved the opportunity to explore new places and

experience different cultures. For us, having the

occasional city break to look forward to helps to

manage the day to day stress of ordinary life.

How times change.

Affordable prices with a smart,

professional workforce

Call us today for a free quotation

Call us today to arrange

your clearance

Skipping back a generation, the caravan parks and

B&B’s of Blackpool were the staple holidays of the

North West’s population. Rhyl in North Wales was

the nearest my family ever got to foreign travel in

my formative years, though it still amazes me that a

family of eight could have ever fitted into that one

static caravan.

With Brexit seemingly looming large on the

horizon, I wonder whether this will inhibit the next

generation’s European travel experiences.

Will Europe still be accessible and enjoyable to all,

or will the so-called ‘Project Fear’ predictions come

true?

Not long now, and I guess we’ll find out..

The Meadows, Ruskin Drive, St Helens, WA10 6RP

01744 758 349 / 07557 764 940

Email: info@northwestwaste.co.uk

www.northwestwaste.co.uk

Other collection services include regular bin bag

collections within St Helens from just 50p per bag.

northwestwaste

See you next time,

Chris Pearce, Publisher

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

www.locallife247.co.uk 5

In this issue

Citadel Sadness

Regulars

42 Puzzle Corner

44 Events2Go

49 Jack’s Tracks

52 Test Drive

Sections

6 Local News

18 Food

46 Health

52 Motoring

54 Gardening

56 Home Services

Branching Out

Next issue - March 2019

Advertising deadline - Monday, 18 February

Published - Friday, 1 March

Making Waves

LocalLife

Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park,

Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

Telephone: 01744 649 722

Jack’s Tracks:

Runshaw Moor

My Gardening

Valentine

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sales@locallife247.co.uk

Editorial: Jess sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk

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design@locallife247.co.uk

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Accounts: Christina accounts@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life is published every month and distributed into

the following areas on an alternate monthly basis..

This issue is delivered to over 14,500 private homes

and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Sutton, Eccleston

Park, Windle, Grange Park, Nutgrove, New Bold and

Waterside Village

The next issue is delivered to over 11,000 private

homes and businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Garswood,

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

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party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or

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@locallifemedia

6 News & Features

Heyes Mount, Rainhill o/o £600,000

A magnificent five bed detached home, with far reaching

views, offers many highlights including the swimming

pool area, the well-kept gardens and the private location.

Norlands Lane, Rainhill £425,000

This spacious five bed detached bungalow with a large

rear garden, is set in a gated courtyard, and includes a

one bed annex with its own entrance.

Newmarket Gardens, St Helens £285,000

This four bedroom detached house, offered with no

chain, is situated on a corner plot with a double garage

and boasts a fantastic kitchen family room.

Taunton Avenue, Sutton Leach £145,000

This extended three semi-detached house is in a popular

location and is beautifully presented with an open plan

living room/family room and luxury kitchen.

Leach Lane, Sutton Leach £139,950

An extended three bed semi-detached property with

a large kitchen/family room with French doors to a

spacious rear garden. An ideal family home.

Forest Road, Sutton Manor £129,000

A beautifully presented three bed semi-detached

house, with second reception room, kitchen/diner and

conservatory.

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE HOME VALUATION

St Helens

01744 850 040

Rainhill

0151 426 9696

www.taylor-maxwell.co.uk

X Factor Auditions

The X Factor comes to St. Helens in March for a

round of preliminary auditions.

Don’t miss your chance to apply to the ITV singing

competition in 2019! Auditions take place at MD

Productions in Units 5-8 on Barrow Street (WA10

1RX) on Friday, March 15. Slots start at 4pm or

4:30pm for anyone in full-time education.

Call 07908 763496 to book your place today or just

turn up on the day!

Blank Canvas

New sessions in St. Helens are perfect for budding

performers in the area.

The sessions are open to everyone from age 5 up

to adults, no matter whether you’re a singer, dancer

or actor, and part of the Blank Canvas initiative.

This uses creativity as a tool to inspire, increase

confidence and make change in the community.

Sessions are free and take place at the Peter Street

Community Centre on Peter Street (WA10 2EQ)

every Wednesday from 6pm-7pm. For further

information, call 07908 763496.

Artist Callout

The World of Glass is once again seeking artists for

its latest exhibition.

‘Full Circle’ collects submissions from across the

North West, in any medium including digital

art, written words, sculptures, paintings or

photography. The only restriction is that the piece

must be circular in shape.

Submit a photograph of your work with a brief

description including the piece title, its dimensions,

the medium, plus display specifications via email

to curator@worldofglass.com. Artists can submit

a maximum of three pieces. The deadline for

submissions is Thursday, February 28.

For further information, call 01744 22766.

Artists Together

A new artists’ hub has launched in St. Helens.

The new initiative was set up to bring artists of

various disciplines together to discuss their work

and get inspired. Its aim is to guide conversations

about art in a supportive space, encouraging new

ways to network and share ideas.

Painters, sculptors, writers, actors, dancers and filmmakers

– along with any other medium you can

think of! – are invited to take part in the cultural

hub, which is supported by Heart of Glass.

For further information, email jessbowstead@

sthelens.gov.uk.

Art Exhibition

The World of Glass’s latest exhibition is available to

view until Friday, March 6.

‘Retrospective’ by Ulrich West features over 100

pieces of work from the artist, who specialises

layered pieces examining landscape evolution

through a combination of naturalistic and manmade

influences.

The exhibition is open from 10am-4pm every

day except Sunday in Gallery One. For further

information, call 01744 22766 or pop into the

museum.

St. Helens 10K

The St. Helens 10K returns this March.

Whether your aim for the New Year was to get fitter

or whether you just want to have a go, the famous

road race sets off from Langtree Park on Sunday,

March 10 at 9:30am. There’ll be plenty of spectators

and live musicians to cheer you along the race,

which helps raise money for causes like the Steve

Prescott Foundation.

Entry costs £22 and all finishers receive a medal

and a T-shirt. For more information, visit www.

sthelens10k.com

LEADING LOCAL SPECIALISTS

25 HARDSHAW STREET, ST HELENS, WA10 1RP

2 DERBY STREET, PRESCOT, L34 3LJ

THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE?

Everyone should make a Will and we can give advice and guidance as to the

most appropriate form of Will for you to cover your individual requirements

and to try to minimize, where possible, the impact of Inheritance Tax.

WILLS

TRUSTS

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ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES

INHERITANCE TAX PLANNING

LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Competition Winners

Pictured on our front cover this month are Julie

and Frank Mooney from Eccleston, who were the

winners of our December competition for a pair

of 2019 Saints Memberships. We asked readers the

question ‘Who was the BETFRED Super League top

try scorer in 2018?’ The answer was, of course Ben

Barba, and Julie’s name was randomly picked from

hundreds of readers who came up with the correct

answer.

The couple were elated when Local Life handed

over the memberships just a few days ahead of the

inaugural BETFRED Super League match of 2019

against Wigan Warriors. Thank you to all those who

entered the competition, and do keep your eyes

peeled for more competitions later this year in Local

Life.

Rainhill Plodders

If your long list of New Year’s resolutions included

‘Must Get Fit’, then you might be interested in

the Rainhill Plodders Ladies Running Group! The

group runs on Tuesday evenings from the Rainhill

Recreation Club on Victoria Terrace (behind the

Victoria pub), meeting at 6.50pm for a 7pm start.

The group’s aims are to cater for those who want

to enjoy a run, socialise and get fit, and all are

welcome.

Cracking the Code

If your young child shows aptitude in IT and you

think you may have a budding Bill Gates or Tim

Berners-Lee in your household, there’s a Computer

Coding class for primary school children being held

every month at Thatto Heath Library. Your child can

learn the basic steps to coding at the class, which

runs on the 1st Tuesday of the month between

3-45-4.45pm at the library on Thatto Heath road

opposite the rail station. For more details, call the

library on 01744 677842.

The Final

Countdown

A new book by St. Helens author Ken Bold explores

the history of Saints cup finals and their impact on

the town.

‘Saints: The Final Countdown’ features every one of

the 79 finals St. Helens R.L.F.C. have reached, from

the very first Challenge Cup final in 1897 through to

the present day. Through the turbulent times of the

early twentieth century to the soaring post-1950s

successes, the book sheds new light on St. Helens’

sporting heritage.

Ken Bold was brought up in Dentons Green and

Eccleston, and a lifelong Saints fan from attending

his first ever game in 1960 at Knowsley Road where

his dad worked as a turnstile operator. It wasn’t until

the 1996 Challenge Cup final against Bradford Bulls

that Ken experienced the most exciting game of his

life, when Saints came back from a 12-26 down to

win 40-32.

‘After Steve Prescott MBE’s death in 2013, his

Foundation has continued to raise substantial

amounts of money for The Christie Hopsital and Tryassist,

which provides support for people who have

suffered life changing injuries playing Rugby League,’

Ken explains.

‘I hope readers will enjoy reading accounts of every

one of the 79 finals,’ he adds. ‘For some they will jog

memories of matches they attended, for others they

will provide what I intend to be an interesting insight

into the long and proud history of St. Helens Rugby

League Club. Let’s hope there are many more final

appearances in the years to come!’

‘Saints: The Final Countdown’ is available for £15.99

from the Saints Superstore, Wardleworths bookshop

on Westfield Street, the World of Glass gift shop, A180

Darts or online from Amazon. You can also order it

direct from the author at kenbold@btinternet.com

‘Rugby league is all about

getting to finals and,

hopefully, winning them,’ Ken

says. ‘My first clear memory

regarding Saints is attending

the 1961 Challenge Cup final

at Wembley with my parents

and older brother. It was a very

hot day, Saints beat Wigan,

and it was definitely one of

my childhood highlights!’

Inspired by the adrenalinefilled

cup finals, Ken decided

on the topic for his debut

book, and arranged for

all profits from sales to be

donated to the Steve Prescott

Foundation.

Ken Bold with Linzi Prescott

i-Care opticians…

Providing a remarkable

service where the

patient is at the centre of

everything we do.

You’ve probably seen or walked

past i-Care Opticians but do you

really know about their service

and compassionate ways they

look after their patients?

i-Care Opticians offers an eye

test following the best practice

guidelines of the College of

Optometrists, the optometrist

is a fully qualified eye health

professional. Consultant

eye surgeon Dr Sen, from

the hospital eye clinic also

works alongside Consultant

Optometrist Mr Ali to look after

your eyes.

Dawn Bertley, a 28 year old

with a severe phobia of health

checks was recently referred to

i-Care Opticians by her family to

have a routine eye check. Dawn

explains all about her amazing

experience.

“The staff are fantastic and the

optician remarkable. He put me

at ease turning an experience

I would usually dread into a

happier one.” The opticians

manner and professionalism

was second to none. Everything

was explained to me in a way

I could understand and all my

questions answered.

An eye test not only checks

your vision, it can also detect

diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts

and raised blood pressure,

as well as other conditions

which can affect general and

optical health. i-Care Opticians

understands the importance of

your eye examination and the

fact it is a vital check of both the

health of your eyes and general

health.

i-Care Opticians have over thirty

years experience in caring for

the needs of people in St Helens

and the surrounding area. To

ensure they provide a first-class

service with guaranteed quality

they have their very own i-Care

lab which manufacture most

of their glasses based locally

in St Helens and overseen by

Consultant Optometrist Mr Ali.

“i-Care Opticians are currently

offering an exclusive 2 for 1

offer PLUS for a limited period

up to 50% OFF selected frames.

Including 2 pairs of Varifocals

from only £149.95, 2 pairs of

Bifocals from only £120.95 and

2 pairs of single vision from only

£75.95.

CALL TODAY on

01744 811 890

to make your appointment

or pop down to the store in

Thatto Heath to see their

amazing range of over 600

top quality and designer

frames.

128 Thatto Heath Road, St Helens WA9 5PE

On the row of shops next to Thatto Heath railway station

T: 01744 811 890

Opening Times: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm

St Helens Libraries Service

has welcomed the impact

of a new digital service

which has been used over

5,000 times in the space of

just three months.

BorrowBox is an online

book lending service

where residents, once

they have joined the

library service, can

borrow e-books to read

for free. Members are

BorrowBox Success

able to search the collection either from a desktop

pc, a tablet or their phone and download books

instantly. One of the unique features of BorrowBox

is that library users don’t have to worry about

incurring charges for a late return – as items will be

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34 Baldwin Street, WA10 2RL New Cross Street, WA10 1QN

automatically returned after a three-week period.

Since its launch in October 2018, Borrowbox has

contributed to a 59 per cent increase in the number

of library members accessing a wide range of fiction

and non-fiction titles, as well as audiobooks, which

are available to download via Android, Apple, Kindle

Fire or PC.

One local resident and Borrowbox user, Tilly Hoyle

from Newton-le-Willows said: “With BorrowBox you

are never without a book! - It’s a brilliant resource

and so easy to use once you’ve downloaded the app.

It couldn’t be simpler and you have your library at

your fingertips!”

St Helens Council’s portfolio holder for libraries,

Councillor Anthony Burns, said: “BorrowBox is a

fantastic addition to our library service offer as

its round the clock availability means it’s more

convenient for library members whose work patterns

mean it might be difficult for them to physically get

down to a library.

“It’s pleasing to hear that public reaction so far has

been positive, and I hope it encourages our techsavvy

generation to give it a go and develop a love

for reading.”

To join the library and start using Borrowbox, bring

one form of ID showing your name and address to

any St Helens library.

Learn a Language

Want to learn a new language

in 2019? It’s not as hard as

you think! With plenty of free

resources online and classes

to be found locally, you can

get hooked on language

learning this year.

New words? - You may not need to learn as many as

you think! In English just 300 words make up 65% of

all written material. You can buy or make decks of

flash cards of these words.

Cognates - These are words which are spelled

almost the same in English and which have the

same meaning. In French, lots of ‘ion’ words are

spelled the same even though they are pronounced

differently. In Spanish the same words end in ‘ción’

and in Italian ‘zione’. There are also words which are

similar enough to the English word that you will

recognise them immediately.

Interaction - You need to

hear and speak the language

consistently. Look up radio

stations, YouTube channels,

news websites, and blogs in

the language you want to

learn. Find a native speaker who would converse

with you for half an hour in exchange for coffee

and cake! There are groups dedicated to language

exchange on Facebook too. By forcing yourself to

converse you will improve very quickly.

Free Resources – The Duolingo app does just

what it says on the tin, with online flashcards and

interactive assistance. The BBC also has introductory

courses for around 40 different language.

By Tracey Anderson

18 Food

Lemongrass & Ginger Pork

Ingredients

100g pork escalope

1/2 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped

2cm-piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely

chopped

1/2 shallot, finely chopped

1-cal cooking spray

25g rice noodles

50g mixture of baby corn and sugar snap peas

50g broccoli florets

Zest and juice of half a lime

1/2tsp sesame oil

1tsp soy sauce

1/2 red chilli, sliced

Method

Put the pork escalope in a dish with the lemongrass,

ginger and shallot. Toss the meat to coat. If you have

time, place the dish in the fridge to allow the pork to

marinate for up to an hour. Spray a cold, non-stick

frying pan with one-calorie cooking spray and place

over a medium heat. Add the pork and fry it for three

to four minutes on one side. Turn over, adding more

spray to the pan, if needed. Continue to cook the pork

on the other side, until golden and cooked through in

the middle. Set aside to rest.

Bring a small pan of water to the boil. Add the noodles

and cook for five minutes, or following the instruction

on the pack. Add the baby corn and sugar snap pea

mixture, as well as the broccoli florets, then turn off

the heat and allow to cook in the hot water for one

to two minutes.

Drain the noodles and vegetables, toss well to mix,

then return them to the pan. Stir in the lime zest and

juice, sesame oil, soy sauce and chilli, then spoon onto

a plate. Slice the pork and arrange on top, then drizzle

round any of the rested juices.

Don’t compromise on taste,

enjoy quality meats

from your local butcher

Aberdeen Angus Beef

Renowned throughout Merseyside for our Scotch

Beef, We only sell the best quality Certified Aberdeen

Angus beef from Inverurie.

Free Range Chicken

We serve the same Juicy and moist Label Anglais

chickens that Gordon Ramsey serves in his

restaurants.

Free Range Pork

Supplied by Anna’s Happy Trotters, our succulent

pork earned acclaim from celebrity chefs Gerard

Baker and Rosemary Shrager.

Lamb

The luscious flavour of our lamb is attributed to being

grazed on the Yorkshire Moors, and we also serve

seasonal varieties.

Venison

This highest quality venison is supplied from the

Royal Estate at Balmoral.

Goat

Supplied from Cumbria, this delicacy is low in

cholesterol, high in iron and of similar calorific value

to chicken.

Sausages

Our award winning sausages are made on the

premises and flavours include specials flavours such

as black pepper, hog roast and even chippy curry.

On a diet/healthy eating kick?

Try our low fat, low carb

Chicken Pizza! Only £4.50!

No dough, simply a chicken fillet base

topped with savoury tomato sauce,

mozzarella, peppers, onions & tomatoes.

Free delivery!

to St Helens & Prescot areas

Minimum order £20

Opening Hours: 8am-5.30pm, Monday - Saturday

576, Warrington Road,

Rainhill,

L35 4LZ

0151 426 4604

www.hayestraditionalbutchers.co.uk

Tell Us Your Story!

Local Life is always

on the look out

for news stories

from the local

communities we

serve. Are you

raising money for

charity? Are you

a member of a

community group

with something

to shout about?

Maybe you’ve got

an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let

us know and you could be appearing in the next

edition!

Simply contact us on sthelensnews@locallife247.

co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.

Famous Faces

A local author has compiled a book on St. Helens’

most famous (and infamous) faces.

St. Helens: The Great & the Good (and a few of

the not so good!) is a journey through the town’s

heritage, profiling its most notorious characters

from pharmaceutical giants the Beechams family to

comedy legend Johnny Vegas. Along with images,

fun facts, and a foreword by Paul Sculthorpe MBE,

the book is a definite must-read for any Sintelleners

worth their salt.

Author Brian Leyland grew up in St. Helens,

attending St. Austin’s and St. Teresa’s primary

schools before moving on to West Park Grammar

School. St. Helens: The Great & the Good is his debut

publication.

The book is available online at Amazon and

Waterstones, or from the Saints Superstore at the

Totally Wicked Stadium. It costs £14.99.

the auction centre

The leading Auctioneers and Valuers

• Modern saleroom at Manor Park, Runcorn

• RICS and NAVA registered auctioneers and specialist consultants

• Probate and Insurance valuation reports undertaken

• Full house clearance service available

• Regional valuations centres around the north-west

St Helens Valuation Days

4th Wednesday of Every Month

St Thomas Church, Peter Street, WA10 2EB

9.30 – 12 noon

Check website for Details

Call 01744 881 477 for more information

Wigan Valuation Days

2nd Tuesday Of Every Month

Purposed Life Church, Turner Street, Wigan WN1 3SU

9.30 – 12 noon

Check website for Details

Call 01942 299 057 for more information

9 Berkeley Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, WA7 1TQ

Telephone: 01928 579796 Email: enquiries@theauctioncentre.co.uk

www.theauctioncentre.co.uk

Squash Sessions

A new squash session has started in St. Helens.

Part of the St. Helens Community Sport initiative,

these new squash sessions are aimed at complete

beginners who would like to improve their fitness

and learn a new sport. Just an hour of squash can

burn up to 800 calories, so it’s perfect for anyone

wanting to shed a few pounds!

Sessions take place on Thursdays from 5:30pm-

6:30pm at the Capitol Squash Club on Duke Street

(WA10 2JP) from Thursday, January 31 and cost £2

per session.

For more information, call Chris on 07739 630365 or

email chrismeadows@sthelens.gov.uk

Living Together

Rainhill Garrick Society’s latest play runs from

Thursday, February 14 to Saturday, February 16.

‘Living Together’ by Alan Ayckbourn is an exciting

family drama based on Ayckbourn’s Norman

Conquests trilogy. It depicts the events of one

weekend from the perspective of the living room, as

librarian Norman attempts to seduce the women of

the house with varying results.

The play takes place at 7:30pm each evening at

Rainhill Village Hall. Tickets are available from

Rainhill Post Office or by calling 01744 813429. For

more information, visit www.rainhillgarrick.co.uk

CloneFest 2019

St. Helens’ biggest tribute band festival is back.

Featuring bands like Kings of Lyon, The Fillers, The

Marley Experience and Not The Rolling Stones,

CloneFest brings an incredible music sensation to

Sherdley Park on Saturday, July 20th – but given that

tickets for last year’s show sold out fast, it might be a

good idea to get your hands on them early.

Tickets for the one-day fest start at £25 for an

earlybird, to £55 for VIP, and are available from

Ticketline, eventim or the Citadel on Waterloo Street.

For more information, head to www.clonefest.co.uk

Down the Rabbit Hole

The Alice Experience comes to St. George’s Hall in

Liverpool this February.

From Saturday, February 9 to Saturday, February

23, experience a trip down the rabbit hole in a

90-minute walk-through production of Wonderland.

Visitors follow the White Rabbit, have tea with the

Mad Hatter, meet the Cheshire Cat and more!

An Autism Friendly performance is available on

February 18 at 7pm, while a BSL signed performance

takes place on the same day at 7:30pm.

Shows take place every 30 minutes from 10am

to 7:30pm most days in February. Tickets range

from £6 to £12 and can be booked online at www.

ticketquarter.co.uk

Sheds

Log Cabins

Workshops

Wendy Houses

Summer Houses

Garden Offices

Free 100% pressure treated

Free erection Free delivery

Up to 48 months low cost finance available

See our show sites at;

Trebaron Garden Centre

Southworth Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0BS

Telephone: 01695 589 207

Rivendell Notcutts Garden Centre

Mill Lane, Widnes WA8 3UL

Telephone: 0151 423 2638

www.solidsheds.com

DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER

Network with Saints

If you have a business to promote in the St.

Helens area, you can take part in a FREE monthly

networking event at the Totally Wicked Stadium on

Thursday 14th February from 8.30am – and get a

FREE breakfast in the bargain!

The St. Helens RFC Player of the Month and

Networking Event, is sponsored by Stapleton Derby

Estate Agents and is held in the Stapleton Derby

Premier Lounge at the Totally Wicked Stadium

every month of the year.

The guest of honour at the February 14th event

is Morgan Knowles, one of the mainstays of the

Saints’ pack over the past two seasons. Morgan

will be followed by an invited guest presenter and

then there will be an opportunity to network and

improve your contact list with around 90 businesses

in the room.

You can book now to secure your FREE place at

February’s event by emailing Saints Sales Manager

at Gary.Wilton@saintsrlfc.com.

Attendance is free and you are welcome to attend

as often as you wish.

Up to

40% off

Some things just never change...

With over a 100 years combined experience, Bartons of Duke Street

continue to serve the people of St Helens and surrounding areas

with quality goods and services for their homes.

Call into our Duke Street stores today and browse around

our extensive range of;

Furniture & Beds Kitchens & Bathrooms Fires & Central Heating

64-80 Duke Street, St Helens, WA10 2JW 01744 22331 Bartons-furniture.co.uk Bartons-heating.co.uk

Email: admin@bartons-heating.co.uk

Do Your Bit for Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Society has launched a new

smartphone app to aid dementia research.

Led by University of Oxford, the GameChanger app

offers fun, free brain training games for anyone

aged 18+ without dementia. It aims to find out

more about how the brain works with the view of

developing new treatments.

Download the app from the App Store or Google

Play Store and help change the future of dementia.

Family History Meetings

The St Helens Family History Society has announced

their monthly meeting schedule for 2019. The first

two meetings are on Thursday 28th February and

Thursday 21st March, both at the Lucem House

Community Cinema + at 100 Corporation Street

in St Helens, starting at 6.45pm. The theme for the

first meeting is ‘The Deadly Flu’, hosted by Tony

Sweeney, and the March theme is ‘Skeletons in the

Cupboard’, which is hosted by Bill Taylor.

The group also runs a Workshop & Help session

every Tuesday from 3.45-6.45pm at Eccleston

Library. For more details email townshipsfhs@

googlemail.com

RNLI Volunteers

The St Helens and District RNLI is looking for

volunteers to help them with their store collections

at various times and places in the St Helens area.

Funds raised will go towards keeping the lifeboats

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operational in UK waters and therefore helping

to save lives. If you can spare an occasional hour

or two of your time, then please call Di Collins on

01744 735147.

Mummy & Me Fitness

If you’re unable to get back into shape after

having children and are struggling to balance and

childcare, then these Mummy & Me fitness sessions

could be ideal for you. The weekly 45 minute

sessions run at Peter Street Community Centre in

St Helens (WA10 2EQ) on Mondays from 10am and

at St Anne’s Millennium Centre (L35 0LE) on Fridays

from 11.15am.

It’s a great way for your child to socialise with other

children, and for you to meet up with other mums

in the same position. For more details visit Heart &

Sole Personal Training on Facebook or call Jamie-

Lee on 07413 688455.

Over 60

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LocalLife

New Year - New Kitchen or Bedroom?

Let’s start here...

What our customers say;

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Kitchens &

Bedrooms

Call in today and browse our showrooms or pick up some brochures

Expert advice from a friendly family business, established in 1990

99-101 Greenfield Road,

St Helens, WA10 6SH

Tel: 01744 24406

Opening Times

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 16:30

Saturday: 10:00 - 15:00

Sunday: by appointment

JC Kitchens

Experts say that a high quality, great looking kitchen/

kitchen-diner is most likely to increase the value

of a property. After all, kitchens are the new living

rooms, where family members socialise, cook, and

eat together. Like all home improvements though,

the design, the appliances, the finish and the fitting

needs to be quality to ensure that the investment

into your new kitchen pays off long term.

At JC Kitchens & Bedrooms, designing and fitting

bespoke new kitchens (and bedrooms) is a passion

and has been for almost 30 years. The company was

formed back in 1990 when Jean Cutler, a designer

at Beamans in St Helens, decided to form her own

kitchen company. Supported by her industrial

chemist husband Allan, they opened JC Kitchens at

Reginald’s in Reginald Road in Sutton.

JC Kitchens quickly established a reputation for

quality fits at reasonable prices, and the

company moved to larger premises in Windle

Street where, in 2003, daughter Jo-Anne and

her husband John took the reins.

In 2017 JC Kitchens & Bedrooms opened their new

double fronted dual aspect showroom over two

floors at 99-101 Greenfield Road, where potential

customers can browse a selection of kitchens and

bedrooms in comfort, with expert help on hand if

needed from Jo-Anne and John.

The company is as passionate today about delivering

quality kitchens and bedrooms as they were when

the company started in 1990. Call in today for a

browse, pick up a brochure and have a chat about

your new kitchen or bedroom.

JC Kitchens & Bedrooms

99-101 Greenfield Road, St Helens, WA10 6SH

01744 24406

Open Mon to Fri 9am - 4.30pm, Sat 10am - 3pm

Sundays by appointment only

The couple enhanced the quality reputation

of the company and also continued the

philanthropic ethic of Jean and Allan by

supporting a number of local junior and

senior rugby clubs, including Saints, where

they sponsor Paul Wellens.

Citadel Sadness

A St. Helens landmark is set to close.

The Citadel, which has been part of the town since

1861, is earmarked for closure this summer.

The arts centre first existed as the Theatre Royal

– not to be confused with the current venue on

Corporation Street – in 1856, but the wooden barnlike

building was deemed unsafe and replaced by

the current building on Waterloo Street. The new

building is actually based on the designs of the

Liver Theatre in Liverpool.

The theatre has gone through various owners since

it was first opened by Messrs Johnson and Francis.

Its first lessee was Charles Henry Du Val in 1872,

who first introduced pantomimes like Aladdin and

Sinbad the Sailor to the theatre, along with musical

acts like Vesta Tilley – a male impersonator who

went on to gain national acclaim.

Wallace Revill succeeded Du Val in 1884, and

renovated the theatre to include new pit seats,

external pointing, and interior painting. Dramatic

productions such as The Silver King – led by the

world famous Wilson Barret - came to the stage, and

the Citadel flourished. Revill, flushed with success,

went on to found a new Theatre Royal on its current

site on Corporation Street.

It was in 1889 when the Citadel building was sold

to the Salvation Army. No longer recognisable as a

theatre after significant refurbishment, the barracks

gained its new title of the Citadel under the rule of

Captain Wilshaw and his wife. It remained open for

this use for a further 80 years until the early 1980s,

when the building was put up for sale once more.

New owners the

Rainford Trust intended

to convert the disused

building into an arts

centre where young

people could congregate

to be creative. It was

reopened in 1988, quickly

becoming renowned for

its live music events and

for boasting so many

opportunities for local

youngsters. In 2000 the

building underwent a £1

million refurbishment

into the building it is

today.

In spite of massive

fundraising efforts,

financial constraints mean keeping the Citadel

building open isn’t economically viable. The

announcement of the impending closure was met

largely with disbelief and sadness from St. Helens

residents, as we bid a teary farewell to another

iconic town monument.

The Citadel charity will continue on after the

closure of its headquarters, working as an

agency organisation to

deliver quality theatre

performances for children

and families in the local

area. A crowdfunding

page has been set up

for the new charity at

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/

citadel

Salvation Army Interior

town which is now continuing with Heart of Glass,

Cultural Hubs and the new Citadel Agency.’

Local comedy legend Johnny Vegas has announced

he’ll play a farewell gig at the Citadel in June to

mark the loss of a creative institution in the town

centre - the place where he created his alias.

The Citadel is set to close its doors for the final time

on Sunday, June 30.

Chief Executive Fay Lamb

commented: ‘There are no

words to describe how it

will feel to close the doors

of the Citadel building

for the final time. Since

opening 30 years ago,

it has helped to foster a

real creative energy in the

The Packed Lunch

Problem

I decided to save money and eat more healthily in

2019, so I knew I’d have to start packing my own

lunches. It’s taken until now really get on board with

this idea because every time I contemplated the

effort of making a packed lunch every day I became

bogged down by what I perceived as problems –

here’s how I solved them.

It takes too much time to pack a lunch.

It’s such a faff...or is it?

I timed how long it took to walk to the deli or drive

to the garage, wait in the queue to be served and

get back to work. Then I timed how long it took

me to prepare a lunch the night before. Turns out

making your own lunch is way faster! Who knew?

I’m hungry again by mid-afternoon.

So pack more food! DUH! I make sure I had a sugarfree

protein bar, a banana, or a bag of nuts in reserve

in case I had a mid-afternoon dip. That way I don’t

head for the bakery or start mainlining chocolates

from the ever-present boxes around our office.

Formulaic lunches.

When I was at primary school my mum packed

me a ham sandwich, an apple, some carrot sticks

and a wagon wheel, pretty much every day. When

I started making my own lunches, I used the same

formula (minus the wagon wheel).

What did I enjoy eating? I like leftover casseroles

and risottos, so I made extra. I like open sandwiches,

Danish style, on Rye bread so I bought the

ingredients, and I arranged lunch swaps with a

friend, so she caters Thursday and I do Friday.

A little creative thinking keeps things interesting

and I haven’t missed nipping to the deli. In fact,

walking round the park instead is a much needed

breath of fresh air and gets the exercise in too!

By Tracey Anderson

Rainford Beer Fest

Rainford Parish Council is gearing up for its fourth

annual beer festival.

The festival runs across three days in February

– from Friday the 8th until Sunday the 10th at

Rainford Village Hall on Church Road in Rainford.

Enjoy local ale from local brewers with live music on

Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday’s session runs from 6pm-10pm, Saturday’s

from 12pm-10pm and Sunday’s from 12pm-4pm,

so there’s plenty of time to sample the ales on offer.

For more information, please email clerk@

rainfordparishcouncil.com or call 01744 884709.

Liverpool Beer Fest

Liverpool Beer Festival heads to the Crypt of the

Metropolitan Cathedral in February.

great location, with live entertainment from the

Brasswurst Bavarian Band on Friday and Saturday

evenings. Guests receive a commemorative glass

as part of the admission charge, and can exchange

cash for beer tokens to use at the event. CAMRA

members receive £3 of free tokens.

Tickets are £3-£10 and can be booked on Eventbrite.

Coffee Morning

If you would like to help raise funds for Clatterbridge,

pop along to a coffee morning being held at the

Park Road Café on Park Road in St Helens on Monday

11th February.

Tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches will be available

on the morning and there will also be raffle prizes

to be won. Entrance is free and the event runs from

10.30am-12.30pm.

From Thursday, February 21 to Saturday, February

23, enjoy real ales, craft beers and ciders in a

Protect your

Home & Family

The latest Crime Survey for England and Wales

makes depressing and frightening reading for

homeowners. This annual survey, taken from police

reporting, shows that both burglaries (+ 2% to

432,267 homes) and vehicle thefts (+ 7% to 457,970

vehicles) are on the up.

What’s even more disturbing is that this crime wave

is happening at a time when, according to respected

website www.fullfact.org, police numbers have

fallen by the equivalent of 20,000 full time officers

between 2010 and 2018 and are now at the lowest

level since the early 1980’s.

horrifying impact that crimes like this have on

homeowners and their families. The impact of

burglary doesn’t just involve the financial cost of

replacing stolen goods and repairing damage, it can

also have a significant impact on your emotional

health too, as well as your sense of feeling safe in

your own home.

But what is the first step in ensuring that you fit

a future-proof system that will keep your home

and your family safe from increasingly tech-savvy

thieves?

What the statistics don’t show though is the

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is

recognised as the UK’s leading certification body

for the security sector, and their gold standard

certification of NACOSS GOLD has been awarded to

just one single company in the entire St Helens area

– BEST Security in Rainford.

Established in 1984 by the current Managing

Director Paul Barnes, BEST Security are

experienced specialists in the design, installation

and maintenance of intruder alarms and CCTV

systems – a one stop shop for security of homes

and for business premises too. The company has a

customer base spanning an area within four Police

Constabularies across the North West (Merseyside,

Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester).

BEST can design a home or office security system

to fit your specific needs and offers a wide range

of hard wired and wire-free security solutions

including pet tolerant detection and the latest

SMART Alarm technology, where security alerts

and imagery are sent to your phone wherever you

are. All the equipment supplied conforms to the

current European standards where applicable.

Those on Facebook will know that there is a huge

variation in the quality of CCTV images, and it’s

because many CCTV systems aren’t fit for their

purpose. BEST Security offers a wide range of

high resolution CCTV equipment tailored to

meet individual and fitted and set up by qualified

engineers.

BEST Security’s competitively priced equipment

is expertly installed and maintained by qualified

engineers who are quick to provide technical

support. Even if you have an existing alarm

system, Best Security can offer a repair service and

maintenance contracts for you too.

The benefits of using BEST Security,

the only NACOSS GOLD company

based in St Helens, are numerous

as insurers normally offer lower

premiums to policyholders whose

property is protected by an NSI

approved company, but the major benefit is the

peace of mind that your home and family are

protected properly.

Call Best Security on 01744 607080 to arrange

a FREE security consultation for your home or

business.

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Keeping your home and family safe

• CCTV – Tailored high-quality CCTV solutions for your home

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• Alarms - Hard wired & wire-free systems security solutions

• Full installation, repairs & maintenance.

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TAKE THE FOUR WEEK CHALLENGE

St Helens and District Scouts are still going

strong after more than 100 years and are

now launching a new chapter of growth

and development.

Newly appointed District Commissioner, Chris

Valentine wants the organisation in St Helens to grow

and let more young people join in the fun.

Chris said, “As Scouts, we believe in preparing young

people with skills for life. Each week, over 1,000

young people across St Helens and Knowsley, already

enjoy fun and adventure while developing the skills

they need to succeed in life.

We would like to offer Scouting to even more of the

young people who are waiting to join us, but without

additional adult volunteers, our 19 Scout Groups are

unable to fulfil the demand.

To help us to grow, we are launching the ‘Four Week

Challenge’ which invites parents of existing Beavers,

Cubs or Scouts to volunteer for just four weeks to get

a taste of what it would be like to become a Leader,

to enjoy themselves and be amazed at the difference

they can make.”

Week 1 See what we get up to

Week 2 Start to help out

Week 3 Get a little more involved

Week 4 You’ll know if Scouting is for you

We have a wide range of flexible roles

either supporting our young people

directly or working behind the scenes.

Any help you give can shape young

people’s lives!

If you are interested, please email Chris at

– adultrecruitment@sthelensscouts.org.uk

Branching Out

by Jess Phillips

Tracing your ancestors through a family tree is a

great way to learn more about the generations

before you, and to discover more about yourself

in the process. Though it requires dedication and a

bit of hard graft, researching the people who came

before you can be an incredibly gratifying process.

And once you know how to get started, it can be a

lot of fun too.

When Local Life’s very own Design Manager, Peter

Bretherton, delved into his family tree, he found

a legacy which culminated in a stay at Rainhill

Hospital for one of his

ancestors – you really

never know quite what

you’ll find.

Peter didn’t know his

grandparents. He decided

he wanted to know more

about them – and the rest

of his family – when other

Peter Bretherton

relatives began their own

family history research, and became determined to

uncover more about his ancestors.

The earliest Brethertons Peter traced back lived

in Ulnes Walton in Chorley. John Bretherton was

born in 1793 and baptised in Leyland; in the 1851

census John was found to be a farmer of 61 acres

at Runshaw Moor, two miles east of Croston. Two

generations later, however, is where things began

to show a tragic side to the Bretherton family tree,

beginning with John Bretherton’s grandson James.

Through relatives’ accounts, census records and

physical documents – which are a great resource for

finding concrete information such as birthplaces,

home addresses and maiden names – Peter delved

deeper into his family tree.

James Bretherton was born in 1857 in Euxton,

Chorley, one of seven children. In his childhood,

James became friendly with Ann Robinson whose

father ran the Plough Inn – which is still in business

today - just across the road from Runshaw Farm

where James lived. The couple eventually married

in 1879 at Euxton Chapel and moved to Chorley

Lane – now Chorley Road in Standish – to begin a

family, raising six children together: John, James,

Elizabeth, Thomas, William and Alice.

Tragedy was lurking just around the corner. Ann

Robinson died in 1896 aged just 39 years old, and

James remarried another Ann – Ann Churchouse

from Aspull – just a few months later. The couple

had one child together before Ann too died of

pneumonia in 1902, and one week later James’

second eldest son died of the same disease at just 19

years old. However, it wasn’t until 1906 that young

Alice suffered a horrific accident which left her

disfigured and which traumatised her father for life.

‘..the last straw’

Alice was thirteen and helping out at the local vicar’s

home where his wife was in labour. ‘The midwife

sent Alice downstairs to bring something from the

mantelpiece,’ Peter explains. ‘Unfortunately she was

wearing an apron that caught fire as she reached up

to grasp it. She ran upstairs for help but the midwife

ordered her out of the room, so Alice ran outside

the house, where no doubt her clothes burned all

the more readily.’

Alice spent the next twelve months in hospital, not

expected to survive. She managed to defy the odds,

but her father James was never the same again. ‘It

must have been the last straw,’ Peter theorises,

‘having lost his first wife in 1896, his second

wife and nineteen year old son in 1902 and then

some four years later, his daughter maimed and

disfigured for life.’

James’ eldest daughter Lizzy was awakened one

night to suspicious noises below her bedroom, and

crept downstairs to discover her father preparing

to set fire to their home. On another occasion,

she found him out in the garden with a loaded

gun; Lizzy wrestled the weapon from him and

attempted to destroy it with an axe. The gun went

off, but thankfully nobody was injured. James was

eventually admitted to Rainhill Hospital where he

died in 1911.

Meanwhile, Alice went to live with a wealthy uncle

near Southport, who left her a small legacy. When

Lizzy’s husband Francis

went off to war, the then

24 year old Alice moved

in with her sister in Haigh,

taking a job at the local

Post Office. Francis never

returned home from war,

and Lizzy died in 1928,

leaving Alice to care for

her children.

Alice passed away

in March 1976 in the

hospital where she

had endured countless

operations to treat the

burns she suffered some

seventy years prior.

Through a combination

of sources, Peter was able

to trace all the way from

1793 to the present day.

‘..discovering relatives we

didn’t even know about’

It’s important to double check sources, especially

from other published family trees, warns Karen

Unsworth, a St. Helens resident who got involved in

her own family history research after being inspired

by findmypast.com. There can be inaccuracies,

which is why it’s also important to check your own

information is correct before making it public.

It’s a good idea to file the information away privately

to double-check later to avoid misleading anyone

who uses your family tree as a way into their own.

Karen discovered embroidered postcards sent by

her great grandfather, who fought in the Great War

in France. Henry Roughsedge was born in St. Helens

in 1893, and enlisted in the South Lancs Regiment

before he became a sergeant in the Machine Gun

Corps. Her family’s military heritage led Karen to

visit Étaples Military Cemetery in Boulogne after

discovering that her husband Ian’s great uncle Samuel

Hope was also killed in the First World War, and part

of the same regiment as her great grandfather.

Because the Machine Gun Corps was disbanded

in 1922, the only records available for viewing

are medal cards and grave records. Karen’s greatgrandfather’s

records were lost.

Karen currently has a whopping 1420 people on her

family tree, and 1060 on her husband’s.

Joining a family history research society can also

help you along your journey into the past. Not only

will you gain access to new resources and a veritable

font of knowledge from experienced researchers,

but you’ll meet new people who are also interested

in learning more about their family trees – and who

knows, maybe a distant relative!

In St. Helens, the St. Helens Townships Family

History Society hosts regular meetings at Lucem

House Community Cinema on Corporation Street,

which take places at 7pm on the third Thursday of

the month. Regular help desks are also available

to get you started on your family history research

journey; these take place at Eccleston Community

Library on Tuesdays at 3:45pm. Please check with

the library to ensure that workshops are going

ahead. Further information can be found at www.

sthelenstownshipsfhs.org.uk

Étaples Military Cemetery

Interested in researching your

own family tree?

Read our top tips to get started.

s The first step in beginning your family history

search is to gather as much information as you

can. Whether this is vague facts from your own

recollections or first-hand accounts from close

family members, write it all down.

s It’s a good idea to start an organisation system –

labelled folders, physical or electronic, are great

for locating information quickly, while photo

albums organised by theme or date can link you

to specific periods in your family history. Find a

method that works best for you, but remember to

collect any and all information you find – however

insignificant it first appears.

s Physical documents tend to be the key to

uncovering more about your ancestors – and you

never know what might be lurking in the loft or

at a relative’s house. Archives also hold census

records or military service documents which can

be incredibly useful when conducting in-depth

research – head over to www.gov.co.uk/get-copymilitary-service-records

for more information.

s Local sources are perfect if you know where your

ancestors originated. St Helens Local History and

Archives Library hold a vast array of documents

and a wealth of information to kick-start your

research. Based out of Gamble Building in

Victoria Square (WA10 1DY), you can contact the

archives by calling 01744 676 952. For records in

the Liverpool area, visit https://liverpool.gov.uk/

libraries/archives-family-history

s Local museums like the World of Glass can also

be a great method of getting inspired if you

hit a block. They’ll usually go into detail about

local industry, and might even mention a few

surprising surnames...

s Another great local resource is the Lancashire

BMD Project. This website compiles birth, death

and marriage records from across the county in an

accessible search tool, with accounts dating back

to 1837 - the year civil registration started.

s Lancashire Parish Clerks provides baptism,

marriage and burial records compiled from a

huge variety of sources including parish registers,

churchwardens accounts, land tax records and

business directories.

s Never underestimate the microfiche. Usually

squirrelled away at the back of a musty library

room, microfiche readers allow users to search

through local historical newspapers, which can be

a key tool in finding specific events or incidents.

Although this can be a laborious process,

microfilm records are labelled by date, so it works

best if you have a starting point in mind.

s If browsing the archives for census records and

trawling through microfilm seems like a daunting

process, don’t be put off just yet – there are a lot of

useful websites that can help you get started. Sites

such as Ancestry.com charge you a membership

fee but boast huge record collections and a family

tree tool. Start by adding some family members

to the electronic tree, and find new leads through

the site’s suggestions. Meanwhile, free sites such

as Find A Grave and Billion Graves help locate

tombstones across the world, while allowing you

to add personal history information to each grave.

It’s worth looking around at various genealogy

websites to find which is most suited to your

research.

s Another useful website is the National Library of

Scotland (www.nls.uk/digital-resources), where

you can search by area for historical maps. It’s

great for envisioning where ancestors would have

roamed and for finding old addresses for areas

that have undergone name changes or where

new roads have been built.

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It’s just not being used to its full potential.

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you can only stand up in one place and with

an opening that has to come into my bedroom

because there is no landing area. I didn’t think

it could be done, but they have and I now have

a home for the suitcases, Christmas tree and

decorations and any number of other items I

don’t really need.

I am really pleased with the outcome, with the

very fair cost and I would have no hesitation in

recommending them.

Margaret

Puzzle Corner

SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH - Real Bread Week

Find the hidden words in the word search grid

SOURDOUGH

PITA

DAMPER

SODA

PRETZEL

CIABATTA

BANANA

RYE

NAAN

TIGER

BROWN

BAGEL

ROLL

BANNOCK

LOAF

WORD MIX UP - Real Bread Week

Unscramble the letters to make a word

TOOTAP

THWIE

NUMBER

BLOCK

3 1

1 6

6 5

0 4

11 9 10 21

The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right.

The numbers in each column add up to the totals

along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the

totals to the right.

GATTEOC OLFA

MADPAUP

TESTOIT ACEK

KIPCLUMPNEER

CAFCAICO

ORBNEARDC

WIGGLE WORDS

CLUE: Flower power

anthem

Trace a path through

all the letters to find

the word or phrase

that fits the clue.

L L A E

Y O O V

N U L S

E E D I

All the puzzle solutions are on page 62 of this magazine

44 Leisure

Upload your event for FREE at

www.locallife247.co.uk/events

Motown Experience

Saturday, February 2, 7:30pm

A evening of live Motown music from The Glad It’s

Night, along with a disco and hot supper. Tickets

£10 for guests or £8 for members, including entry

to Play Your Cards right, available from the club.

St. Mary’s Club, Trent Road, Billinge, WN5 7QT

Snakes & Ladders

Sunday, February 3, 6:30pm

Roger Jones’s Christian musical ‘Snakes and Ladders’

is a journey through Bible stories following the ups

and downs of God’s people throughout history.

St Nicholas Church, Windy Arbor Rd, Whiston, L35 0LU

Time to Talk Day

Thursday, February 7, 10am-4pm

Learn about the organisations that provide support

for people with mental health issues in the borough,

plus hear talks from personal experiences of mental

health. For more info, email andy@mhfa999.co.uk

Totally Wicked Stadium, McManus Drive, St.

Helens, WA9 3AL

Glass Painting

Thursday, Feb 7 & Thursday, Feb 14, 10:30am

Join in a relaxed morning creating your own stained

glass effect on a 7x5 framed picture. Tickets cost £6

for Oddfellows members or £7 for guests, booked

by emailing julie.webster@oddfellows.co.uk.

The World of Glass, Chalon Way East, St. Helens,

WA10 1BX

The Little Mix Experience

Friday, February 8, 6pm-9pm

Four hugely talented girls pay tribute to one of the

UK’s finest girl bands. With breath-taking dance

moves, replica costumes and pitch perfect vocals,

enjoy Little Mix’s biggest hits including DNA, Black

Magic, Love Me Like You and more. Tickets £14.50.

Theatre Royal, Corporation St, St Helens, WA10 1LQ

Queens of Rock

Friday, February 8, 7:30pm-11pm

The world’s greatest tribute show dedicated to

female rock legends and powerhouse vocals of the

last 40 years. Tickets £15.

The Citadel, Waterloo Street, St. Helens, WA10 1PX

Clay Hearts Workshop

Sunday, February 10, 7:30pm-8:30pm

Get creative to make a clay heart in time for

Valentine’s Day! No experience needed. Workshop

costs £12.50 each, bookable from Positive Life

Workshops CIC on Facebook.

Mill Street Barracks, Mill St, St Helens, WA10 2BB

Valentine’s Cupcake Workshop

Monday, February 11, 6pm-9pm

Make 6 romantic cupcake toppers out of sugar

paste, with expert guidance on hand. £30 per

person including all equipment and materials – visit

the Little Cottage Cakery’s Facebook page to book.

Rainford Guide Hut, Church Rd, Rainford, WA11

8HD

Living Together Performance

Thursday, Feb 14 – Saturday, Feb 16, 7:30pm

The Rainhill Garrick Society present Alan

Ayckbourn’s play ‘Living Together’, a Victorian comic

tale of family drama, romance and incompetence.

Tickets available from Rainhill Post Office or the

Village Hall – call 01744 813429 for details.

Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Court, Rainhill, L35 4LU

Murder Mystery Night

Friday, February 15, 7:30pm

Wealthy heiress Georgina Smythe’s will is read –

but who will benefit most from her death? £35 per

person including a 3-course meal and a drink –

head to www.inglenook-farm.co.uk to book.

Inglenook Farm, Moss Nook Ln, Rainford, WA11 8AE

Mayor’s Charity Ball

Saturday, February 16, 7pm

Dress up in your best party frocks in aid of the Steve

Prescott Foundation and St. Helens Diabetes Centre.

Tickets £40 from www.eventbrite.co.uk includes 3

course meal, live entertainment and DJ Terryokee

Totally Wicked Stadium, St. Helens, WA9 1JJ

Tea Dance

Friday, February 22, 2pm-4pm

Watch some great dancing – or join in! – alongside

some delicious cakes. Tickets £2 each.

Newton Community Centre, Park Road South,

Newton-le-Willows, WA12 8EX

Afternoon Tea

Wednesday, February 27, 1pm-3pm

Enjoy an afternoon with friends feasting on tea,

coffee, sandwiches and cakes to raise money for

Willowbrook Hospice. Tickets £7.50, available from

The Living Well or on 01744 453798.

Evening with Royston Vasey

Friday, March 1

The man behind Roy Chubby Brown presents a

candid night of comedy in support of the Daniel

Fox Foundation. Tickets cost £26 – for more details

or to book, call 01744 813822. Over 18s only.

Sidac Club, Wheatsheaf Ave, Sutton Leach, WA9 4PJ

Positive WellBeing Event

Sunday, March 10, 11am-6pm

Experience countless beauty, wellbeing and holistic

therapy treatments at this positive wellbeing event.

Children’s entertainment available while adults

enjoy beauty therapies, crafts and healing. For more

information, contact Kelly on 07909 228102.

St Helen Hotel, Linkway West, St Helens WA10 1NG

Comedy Night

Saturday, March 9, doors at 7:15pm

Hilarious stand-up from Ste Porter, Peter McCole,

Tanya Lee Davis and Dave Twentyman, plus curry or

hotpot supper. Tickets £18, all proceeds go to local

sports clubs.

Windle Labour Club, Dentons Green Lane, St.

Helens, WA10 2QF

Blue Planet II – Live

Tuesday 26th March, 7.30pm

A fantastical journey from icy polar seas to

pulsating coral reefs, from the luminous deep sea to

enormous kelp forests: immerse yourself with Blue

Planet II – Live In Concert on a giant screen at the

M&S Bank Arena (formerly Echo Arena). The show

is hosted by BBC presenter Anita Rani with live

accompaniment by the City of Prague Orchestra.

This is a stunning orchestral concert experience not

to be missed.

M&S Bank Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool L3 4FP

The Living Well, Borough Rd, St Helens, WA10 3RN

46 Health & Fitness

Making Waves

Swimming is often overlooked as a workout in favour

of cardio-heavy routines. But it can be just as good -

if not better - than hitting the gym. Here’s how.

It’s a full body workout. Swimming is a great mixture

of cardio and strength, improves endurance and

works out all the muscle groups.

It can help improve mental health. The motion of

moving through water is very meditational, and

requires a level of focus which can help reduce stress

levels. It also boosts your mood through the release

of serotonin.

It’s sweat-free. The water constantly cools your body

down and reduces the uncomfortable feeling that

hits after a gym session.

You’re unlikely to injure yourself - swimming is nonweight-bearing,

so the risk of injury is very small.

It has long-term benefits. Swimming has been found

to lower blood pressure, reduce joint pain, improve

lung capacity and heart function, and increase bone

strength.

Swimming is for everyone. Whether you’re old or

young, super fit or getting there, almost anyone can

swim - that’s why it’s used so often in physiotherapy.

Contrary to popular belief, swimming is actually a

great calorie burner, and burns more calories than

running!

By Tracey Anderson

Tinnitus Treatment

Around 1 in 5 British adults suffer from persistent

buzzing, ringing or humming in their ears. Tinnitus is

particularly prevalent in the elderly, affecting around

24%, but the condition can strike any age, whether

temporarily or permanently. With Tinnitus Awareness

week taking place from February 4th - 10th, there’s

no better time to look into treatments for managing

tinnitus or think about getting checked out.

There’s no one unifying cause of tinnitus. Whether

caused by loud music or long-term noise exposure,

general hearing loss, or as a symptom of an

underlying condition, getting a conclusive diagnosis

can be difficult. But there are things you can do to

improve quality of life with tinnitus.

Speak to your GP. Sometimes tinnitus is caused by

something as innocuous as earwax – removing this

can decrease the symptoms and lessen the noise.

Underlying vascular conditions such as high blood

pressure or an aneurysm can cause pulsatile tinnitus,

which can be treated through medication or surgery.

Avoiding loud noises, caffeine and nicotine means

lessening the stressors associated with tinnitus.

Stress management is key to managing the

condition – if the sound in your ears is making you

stressed, try covering it with soft music, the sound of

a fan whirring, or some white noise.

White noise isn’t limited to a flat hum. White noise

machines can simulate an immersive habitat, such

as falling rain or ocean waves, and aims to drown

out background sounds. Listening to white noise

can also promote a good sleep schedule and relieve

stress. A white noise machine might be a worthy

investment if you suffer from tinnitus, as it can help

drown out the inner-ear sounds.

If you suffer from constant tinnitus, support groups

are out there to meet other people going through a

similar experience.

Delicious Detox

We typically think of January as a month of detoxing,

but it often just doesn’t work out that way. Tasty

treats left over from the festive period are hardest to

resist once the January blues have set in – so why not

make February your cleanse month instead?

The British Heart Foundation’s Dechox scheme is a

perfect place to start. Ditch chocolate for an entire

month to get your heart feeling healthier – and get

sponsored to do it. Staying out of the chocolate

digestives for twenty-eight days can help raise

money for research into cardiovascular conditions.

There are plenty of ways to make the month go

smoothly. Getting your mind out of the biscuit tin

can be as simple as doing something to distract

yourself – taking a walk in the fresh air, reading a

book, or meeting up with friends.

The BHF recommend eating something bitter to

overwhelm the sweet cravings. Try a glass of lemon

water or cranberry juice – works every time.

If you simply can’t resist your stomach’s cries for

sweetness, eat a piece of fruit! If you usually take a

chocolate bar to work or school, why not swap it out

for a small fruit salad?

Some people also recommend magnesium

supplements. Dark chocolate especially contains

a tonne of this, so try magnesium chloride water

or head to a health food shop to pick up some

magnesium tablets.

The British Heart Foundation suggests swapping

chocolate out for other snacks if you’re feeling

particularly peckish throughout the day. Fruit

crumbles, carrot cake or strawberry scones are

cocoa-free recipes that are still bursting with flavour.

For plenty of recipe inspiration and fundraising

advice, head to www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/

fundraise/dechox

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Runshaw Moor

by Jess Phillips

It’s fair to say that most of us prefer walks under a blue

sky and dappled sunshine peeking through a leafy

canopy, but in winter, it simply isn’t always possible.

Still, there’s something atmospheric about hiking on

an overcast day, and with an air temperature of about

2 degrees, our walk on Runshaw Moor turned out to

capture this perfectly - and made us appreciate our

pub stop even more.

We begin at Worden Park (PR25 1DJ), a Leyland

icon which was home to Worden Hall until 1941

when it was destroyed in a fire. Conservation work

is still ongoing to the old conservatory, but all that

remains of the hall itself are the outbuildings and

the walled kitchen garden, the remaining historic

buildings house an Arts and Crafts Centre - worth a

visit at the end of the walk.

Leaving the car park we head straight for The

Avenue and follow this west going out of the park

and into Shaw Brook Road. About 200 metres after

leaving the park you come to a bend in the road

where you’ll find a public footpath off to your left.

Take this path and keep to the right of the field.

Going into the next field, continue along the right

hand side until you come to the path and little

footbridge (well, a thick plank) on your right. Cross

over this - carefully! - and then keep to the left

until you reach the end of the hedgerow. From

here continue straight across the field to the stile

opposite. After crossing, continue to follow the

right-hand side of the field over another stile. From

here go straight across and along the hedgerow,

over another stile and onto Altcar Lane. Take a right

and then a left - this leads you onto what looks like

a long, private driveway, but don’t worry, you’ll find

a public footpath to the immediate left of the gates

at the far end.

This path brings you onto a farm track - head right

along and continue for about 40 metres to the

public footpath on your left. Climb over the stile

and head along the left side of the field.

Once you enter the next field, head diagonally

across to the opposite corner and then straight

across the next field to the far end. You’ll pick up a

farm track that leads you past the side of the farm

and out onto Runshaw Lane.

Head left at Runshaw Lane, passing the Plough Inn

- or, if like us you’re hankering for a mid-walk snack

and some warmth, take advantage of the friendly

hospitality and stop off for a hearty pub lunch.

Continue along Runshaw Lane until you reach Tithe

Barn Lane on your left. Follow this to its end, going

over the stile at the gates to Altcar Farm and then

straight on and over the next stile into the field.

Keep to the right and head into the next field, then

just follow the valley. It’s worth a look back at the

farmhouse to view the fancy gable wall of the

farm house and barn. It was supposedly built like

that to look pretty from Worden Hall. After you’ve

Shaw Brook Road

The Avenue

Worden

Hall

Worden Park

Postcode

PR25 1DJ

Worden Lane

Leyland Lane

Shaw Brook

Mud

Altcar Lane

Altcar

Farm

Tithe Barn Lane

Runshaw Hall Lane

Mud

Runshaw

Moor

Runshaw Lane

Hollin’s Brook

Flag Lane

Plough

Inn

crossed the ditch into the last field, watch out for

the footbridge on the left which takes you back

into Worden Park. This looked beautifully autumnal

despite the winter weather during our walk, with

fallen leaves surrounding the rushing stream.

Length of walk: 4 miles

Difficulty: Easy.

Accessibility: Muddy in places with stiles to

negotiate; some of which are a little wobbly. Some

fields may contain livestock; if so please keep dogs

on a lead.

Back in the park, turn left and make your way

towards the hall. There’s a good opportunity to rest

your legs in the courtyard cafe, explore the Walled

Garden, or try your luck navigating the hedge maze.

Worden Park is also home to the Leyland Society of

Model Engineers, who will let you have a ride on

their miniature trains if the weather’s clement.

Don’t forget to look out for the Cedar of Lebanon at

the back of the courtyard - the tree was planted in

1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and

grows at a very strange angle indeed!

For more information about Worden Park, please

visit www.southribble.gov.uk/wordenpark.

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and

footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been

taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the

publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and

hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or

damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from

negligence, accident or other cause.

52 Motoring

Aston Martin

Vantage

by Tim Barnes-Clay

The new Aston Martin Vantage is the stuff of

dreams for those who love luxury sports cars. As

a lad, I never thought I’d get to sit in an Aston, let

alone end up being invited to test-drive one.

But life sometimes has a way of working out if you’re

prepared to put the graft in. I’m not necessarily

talking about me; it’s Aston Martin who should be

patting its own back. The company has worked like

a dog to get the new Vantage right – and it’s paid

off.

Why? Well, let’s begin with the looks. It’s awesome

from the rear, with detailed lights and a rising rear

spoiler. It’s a little less lively at the front, although

the Vantage’s shark-nose is aggressively appealing.

What really works, though, are the perfect

proportions. The two-seater is sinuous – almost

hunter-like in the way it appears poised to pounce

on unsuspecting prey.

Under the metal, the up-to-date Vantage is like its

sibling, the elegant DB11. Both models house the

Mercedes-Benz-sourced 4.0-litre V8 lump. Mind

you; the twin-turbo assisted engine has been

tuned so that it feels like it’s always belonged in

Aston Martins. Stomp your foot on the accelerator

and the car will shoot you from zero to 62mph in

3.6 seconds. It will then propel you to 195mph - if

you’re in a place you can do that without losing

your licence, or your life.

Open the Aston up, and you’re greeted with

low-slung sports seats, but they’re easy to get

comfortable in. Behind the wheel, the Vantage is

cosseting, and the overall cabin is far less clinical

than a Porsche 911’s. It’s traditional, yet it’s still

thrilling. What’s more, the Benz-derived switchgear

is nicely incorporated, and the controls are intuitive

to use.

As you might expect, the sports car isn’t meant to

be the most practical vehicle – there’s not even a

glovebox. And, as hinted at earlier, this is a motor

without back seats, but you can just about get some

golf clubs under the tailgate.

Practicality aside, the new Vantage is as close to

perfect as you can get. Pushing the Aston Martinbadged

starter button brings the car to life with

a roar. It’s a fulfilling sound, particularly with the

four-pipe sports exhaust attached. Driving off in

Sport (the most relaxed of the three settings) and

letting the eight-speed automatic gearbox do its

thing, discloses a smooth change that’s matched to

a remarkably biddable ride.

Spool through Sport+ and Track settings, and the

powertrain, damping and steering progressively

alter the new Vantage’s temperament to make it

angrier, wilder and noisier. Whichever mode you

opt for, fun is always on the menu.

On British tarmac, the Aston delivers confidenceinducing

handling with immediate reactions - and

the brakes do a top job of erasing pace. I drove the

Vantage around the meandering highways and

byways of the Cotswolds, and it excelled.

This state-of-the-art Aston Martin Vantage is the

first to be spawned under the automaker’s fresh

leadership line-up – and you can tell. Yes, a 911 will

give you better practicality, but the rival Porsche

won’t quite give you the feeling you get from

driving a legendary British model.

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54 Gardening

My Gardening

Valentine

In the run-up to Valentine’s Day someone always

asks me what they should buy for the gardener

in their life. It’s a tricky question to answer. Many

people think we must like cut flowers, but actually

I’m not keen and most gardeners I know aren’t either.

We tend to prefer our plants living and breathing

in their natural environment. Infact, unless you

know a bit about gardening, and the tastes of your

own particular gardener you’re probably best-off

avoiding plants too, because there are so many

variables. Will it suit the soil? Is it too invasive? Will it

poison the gardener’s dog…or children…eek?

It’s a thorny issue (pardon the pun) so here is my

go-to gift list guaranteed to make you the Valentine

hero of your gardening amour.

Don’t buy a sweatshirt which declares ‘headgardener.

They are naff, and most gardeners prefer

old, comfy clothes which do the job better. However,

if you present your gardener with a tough tunic or

gardening apron, which is thorn-proof, and which

has lots of deep pockets to house secateurs and

trowels, they will love you forever.

Then there are wellies. Who knew wellies could be

romantic? But gardening folk drool over wellies

the way Supermodels drool over Jimmy Choos.

And there’s so much wellie-choice now. We all

prefer something with a thick sole but there are

bright and colourful wellies and traditional ones.

For the ultimate in warmth and breathability I can

recommend a proper Gore-Tex pair...sheer luxury.

Mine remain the favourite Valentine gift my husband

ever bought me.

rose will also earn you Valentine brownie points.

Watering cans are heavy when full. I find 3-4 litres is

about the right size.

A bunch of long-stemmed red roses will set you

back at least £40 and they might last a few days.

For a similar price you can buy the gardener in your

life Felco secateurs (with Valentine red handles) and

they’ll last forever. I know which I’d prefer.

Garden trugs are so practical. Most gardeners I know

would be delighted to receive one. The trug is a great

gift but even better when filled with a few gardening

goodies such as packets of seed, water retaining

granules, plant food etc. You could add some hand

tools too, such as a trowel and a fork. Make sure they

are stainless steel and have long handles.

And insulated mug or a good flask will always warm

the heart of your Valentine because hot drinks don’t

remain hot for long outside, even on a warm day.

Finally, don’t forget gardening vouchers. Often

us gardeners spot the perfect plant or gardening

accessory when we’re strapped for cash, so vouchers

are a perfect gift to save for a rainy day...and

gardeners love rainy days, Valentine’s or not.

By Rachael Leverton

A proper long-necked watering can, with a brass

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• UPVC & WOODEN DOOR SPECIALIST

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• UPVC Door Lock Repairs

• UPVC Door Lock Changes

• UPVC Door Lock Upgrades

• Wood Door Lock Changes

• All Work Guaranteed

A Registered Insured NCFE Certified Company

Call Paul for a

Fast, Reliable, Professional Service

TELEPHONE

01744 526 589

MOBILE

07932 718 362

WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK

SKF

Rendering Ltd

01744 602931 or 07756 274503

7 Albany Avenue, Eccleston Park, L34 2QN

Call Steve for friendly

advice and a free quote

01744 636 584

07986 528 547

We’ll transform the look of your home with

our machine-applied coloured renders.

One Coat Through Coloured Renders, Acrylic

Renders & EWi Renders (Insulated). 48 colours.

Approved applicators for:

My New Year’s

resolutions…

Spend less time stuck in traffic,

travelling to and from jobs

Reduce fuel bills by doing more

local work

With the extra cash I earn &

save - go on more holidays

Devote more time to my

family and friends

St Helens people want to use local trades people, so you

know it makes sense to promote your company in Local Life.

LocalLife

Call 01744 649 722 and speak to Chris for details.

locallife247.co.uk

Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories,

Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold Doors

Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved

forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and

embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that

cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working

with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect

every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding

Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...

Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Same Day Service, Safety

Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced

Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road,

Wrightington, WN6 9RS

Dennis Goulding

(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)

Telephone: 01257 427 000

Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon

www.dglwindows.co.uk

A5209

Standish

Shevington

B5250

Open:

J27

A49

TwinLakesMotorEngin ers

Wind Turbines

Heat Pumps

LED Lighting

.and general

Energy Savings

and we’ l provide you with a

detailed report showing the

returns available from your

own solar panels

(10% typical return)

Visit our showr om at

Unit 4a,

Cricket Str et Busine s Park

o f Miry Lane,

Wigan.

WN6 7TP

Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk

Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk

St Helens’ premier

domestic

cleaning service

Cleaning in the

St Helens area

for 10+ years

We only use reliable, vetted staff

• £10.75 per hour - minimum 2 hrs

• Same cleaner each visit

• All domestic duties provided

Call or email Joanne 01744 649091

joanne@acleanbreak.co.uk / www.acleanbreak.co.uk

UPVC CLEANING

• Windows, Fascias, Gutters etc.

CONSERVATORIES

• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)

POWER WASHING

• Driveways & Patios etc.

ROOF CLEANING

• Moss Removal & Bio-Treatment

• Softwashing / Low Pressure

SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF

ALL CLEANING PACKAGES

Call Clint for a free no obligation quote.

01744 470 051 or 07834 241 642

www.justcleanpropertycare.co.uk

Design & Print

Flyers, postcards, brochures

and distribution service.

For more information call

01744 649 722

LocalLife

Gel

Nails

norma ly £20

now £15

Lashes

Spray Tan

Sunbeds

Acrylic & Gel Nails

Natalies @ Studio 84

84 Rainford Road, Bi linge WN5 7PG

Telephone: 07814 619 400

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10AM - 7PM, Saturday 10AM - 6PM

Closed Thursday & Sunday

T: 01942 409401

M: 07881 816839

- Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

- Specialist Leather Cleaning

- Fully insured and trained member of NCCA

- FREE no obligation pre-inspection and quote

www.carrolls-carpetandupholstery.co.uk

Mo sy Lea Road

Solar Thermal

& Solar PV

Book

your FREE

home survey

CAR & VAN SERVICING

...and motorcycles too

FREE

Car Health Check

for all residents of Croston and Bretherton

Keep me until you need me!

Book your FREE Car Health Check

Ca l now on

01772 603923

REPAIR & WELDING

Saving money is

the clear benefit!

Slash your electricity and

water heating bi l

Protect your household from

future energy price rises

Reduce your household’s

impact on the environment

Call us now

0843 224 9555

07595 420237

Providing professional carpet &

upholstery cleaning since 1993

Carpets Upholstery Curtains

Leather Oriental Rugs Hard Floors

For more information call:

01925 411 449

Visit our website and check out the testimonials.

www.alliancechemdry.co.uk

Specialists in boiler installations, repair & maintenance

All work fully warranted

Book a boiler health check for £65

& get a carbon monoxide

alarm (RRP £29) FREE!

All aspects of Gas Heating & Plumbing

• Boilers

• Bathrooms

• Servicing

11672

Installations, Upgrades & Maintenance

Established 30+ years ~ emergency call outs

Call Paul for advice and a free quote

07929 428 496

42-44 Rainford Road, Billinge

Heating & Plumbing Services

• Boiler Installations & Repairs

• Servicing & Maintenance

• Gas Safety Certificates

• We’re on call 365 days a year – our

service & maintenance plans start

from just 41p per day!

152642

64-80 Duke Street, St Helens, WA10 2JW

01744 22331

Bartons-heating.co.uk

Email ops@hotmail.co.uk

Call-Outs

welcome

24/7

BIG

HHEATING

Call the team on

01744 892437

ATB Plumbing & Heating

Boiler Installs, Repairs & Services

Fire & Cooker Installations

Bathrooms Fitted

System Flushes

Landlords Certifications

624630

LPG

Call Alec on

07730 735 174

rainford-boiler-tech.co.uk

Commercial

& Domestic

Gas Engineers

202783

Gas Appliances repaired & serviced

Homes, schools, churches, offices & factories

Call on 07778 80 40 60

www.bigHheating.co.uk

Want your business to grow?

Advertising packages start from £35 + VAT a month.

For more information call 01744 649 722

LocalLife

TwinLakesMotorEngin ers

Ask us about our wide range of hearing aids

Do you have

Failed Double

Glazing Units?

Don’t pay £££’s to replace the frame,

we’ll replace the glass panes.

We also replace; Window locks,

Door locks, Hinges & Handles.

...and we do conservatory repairs.

Call us now for a free quotation on

01744 810 000

www.northwestwindowrepairs.co.uk

Haydock

Decorators

• High Quality Decorating Over 20 years experience

• Neat & Tidy Workmanship Haydock Decorators

For a free quote & friendly advice contact Paul on 07596 956 030

Design & Print

Flyers, postcards, brochures

and distribution service.

For more information call

01744 649 722

LocalLife

CAR & VAN SERVICING

for all residents of Croston and Bretherton

Book your FREE Car Health Check

Call now on

01772 603923

REPAIR & WELDING

Rainford Electrical

Electrical Installations & Repairs Est.1975

All aspects of domestic work undertaken

Lights, Sockets, Fuseboards etc

Electric Oven & Shower Repairs

P.A.T. Testing & Inspection

Small jobs a speciality

Call Alan Leigh on

01744 883883 or 07884 496434

FREE

Car Health Check

...and motorcycles too

Keep me until you need me!

We provide regular garden

maintenance such as mowing

and trimming, and we also

perform extra services such as

patio and gutter cleaning.

All electrical work

undertaken from full

re-wires to alarms/CCTV.

www.hjselectricalservices.co.uk

Motoring 61

MultiSkilled Handyman

Roofing & Roofline- repairs and replacement

Decorating, Building, Gates supplied & fitted

Plastering, Gardening

For all your home improvements - No job too small

PlC MAINTENANCE

07847 394040 ~ 01744 606938

Matthew Rigby

Property Services

Damp Control Specialists

We provide an honest, accurate

assessment of your damp

problems using state of the art

diagnostic equipment.

Call us to assess your property

and we will provide you with a

comprehensive damp report.

Contact Matthew on

07840 096 233

Reliable, friendly, local service

Need help looking after your garden?

Call Jake today for a free quote

07377 543 110

JPA Garden Maintenance

offers a friendly and

professional service at

competitive prices.

ENROL NOW

with “WIGAN’S BIGGEST

MUSIC TUITION PROVIDER”

MUSIC

MEDIA

GAMING

• FREE Hearing Tests

• Earwax Removal

• Hearing Aids & Repairs

• FREE 1 Week Hearing Aid Trial

Drop in or contact Darren on:

01942 215 391

www.wiganhearing.co.uk

8-10 Gathurst Road, Orre l, WN5 8QH

“REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE”

10% off

Presen

Put your

hearing

first with

this voucher for 10% OFF your next

hearing test or earwax removal.

Rural Village

NURSERY

OPEN

Mon-Fri

8AM-6PM

FUNDED

Rated by We cater for

PLACES

OFSTED CHILDREN

Available for

3 months

2/3/4

OUTSTANDING - 4 years

year olds

£35.50

per day

Large

outdoor

PLAY AREA

Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or visit www.cranknursery.co.uk

No job too small.

No call out charge

– guaranteed.

30 years experience.

Call Steve on

07809 427 508

POP IN

for a chat

TwinLakesMotorEngin ers

Ask us about our wide range of hearing aids

M H Roofing

Established over 15 years

Friendly advice and competitive rates

No job too small

• High Performance Felt Flat Roof Systems

• Storm Damage and Insurance Work

• Slating and Tiling full roofs

• Poiniting and Guttering • Fascia Boards

Call 01744 884117

or 07702 693225

www.mhroofingltd.co.uk

Design & Print

Flyers, postcards, brochures

and distribution service.

For more information call

01744 649 722

LocalLife

CAR & VAN SERVICING

FREE

Car Health Check

Fully Insured & Insurance

Backed Guarantees

3 Maggots Nook Road, Rainford

...and motorcycles too

for all residents of Croston and Bretherton

Keep me until you need me!

Book your FREE Car Health Check

Call now on

01772 603923

REPAIR & WELDING

Need help looking after your garden?

We provide regular garden

maintenance such as mowing

and trimming, and we also

perform extra services such as

patio and gutter cleaning.

Call Jake today for a free quote

07377 543 110

JPA Garden Maintenance

offers a friendly and

professional service at

competitive prices.

ENROL NOW

with “WIGAN’S BIGGEST

MUSIC TUITION PROVIDER”

MUSIC

MEDIA

GAMING

• FREE Hearing Tests

• Earwax Removal

• Hearing Aids & Repairs

• FREE 1 Week Hearing Aid Trial

Drop in or contact Darren on:

01942 215 391

www.wiganhearing.co.uk

8-10 Gathurst Road, Orre l, WN5 8QH

“REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE”

10% off

Presen

Put your

hearing

first with

this voucher for 10% OFF your next

hearing test or earwax removal.

Rural Village

NURSERY

OPEN

Mon-Fri

8AM-6PM

FUNDED

Rated by We cater for

PLACES

OFSTED CHILDREN

Available for

3 months

2/3/4

OUTSTANDING - 4 years

year olds

£35.50

per day

Large

outdoor

PLAY AREA

POP IN

for a chat

Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or visit www.cranknursery.co.uk

Puzzle Solutions

WIGGLE WORDS:

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

3 1 0 3

1 0 6 9

5 6 4 5

2 2 0 4

11 9 10 21

WORD MIX UP: POTATO, WHITE, COTTAGE LOAF, PAPADUM, STOTTIE CAKE, PUMPERNICKEL, FOCACCIA, CORNBREAD

Transform your home

with a brand new driveway

Resin

Driveways

20%

DISCOUNT

Depending on the size of area.

Offer valid 21/01/19 - 29/03/19.

Tarmac

Driveways

Made in Lancashire

Established over 25 years

42, Seymour Road,

Astley Bridge,

Bolton, BL1 8PT

01204 590 499

J.P.SurfacingLtd

www.jp-surfacing.co.uk

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value

Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs

expertly fitted by accredited installers

Orangeries

Don’t just lock it,

Rock it!

Conservatories

Manufacturers and installers since 2004

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

www.orrellwindows.co.uk

28544

Local Life - St Helens - February 2019

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