Local Life - Wigan - January 2021

LocalLife 

Wigan Edition 

Jack’s Tracks visits 

Rabbit Rocks 

Pages 51-53 

Jan/Feb 2021 

Through the Lens with Frank Orrell 

Pages 14-17 

Old Courts - The Show Goes On 

Pages 20-23 

Views needed for Orrell Survey 

Pages 28-29 

Home Style - Down to Earth 

Pages 38-39 

Veganuary Re-Visited 

Pages 48-50 

Best SUVs for under £30k 

Pages 60-61 

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALKS | COMPETITIONS | HOME & GARDEN SERVICES

2 

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2020 was the year when our feelings and emotions 

ebbed and flowed depending on the news cycle 

of the day. As I write this on Day 10 of Lockdown 

3.0, the two dominant emotions today are relief and hope 

– the relief that the vaccines are showing us a way out of 

this and the hope that we’ll soon be able to resume our 

normal daily lives. 

When the virus threat eases, many will be determined 

to make up for lost time by planning sunshine holidays 

whilst others will take pleasure from doing the simple 

things that we all took for granted, such as watching live 

sport at the DW, going down the pub or to the cinema. 

As you can see from this issue, Wigan has much to look 

forward to post-COVID. 

The very real progress made by The Old Courts in 

transforming the Royal Court theatre on King Street will 

push the Wigan arts scene to heights not scaled for many 

years. How many readers can remember having four 

working theatres within a mile of Wigan town centre, not 

that many I’d wager! 

The future looks bright for the Wigan Pier area and, 

whilst the work on the regeneration of the Galleries site 

isn’t slated to start until 2022, the exciting and radical 

proposals put forward could potentially light up the way 

to revitalise the entire town centre area. 

Lots of exciting times to look forward to, so keep your 

chin up, get the jab when you’re asked to and we’ll enjoy 

those times together… 

Keep in touch with the 

LocalLife Team! 


Telephone: 01695 627 999 

info@locallife247.co.uk 

Chris Pearce, Publisher 

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk 

locallifemagazine247@locallifemedia 

Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB 

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication 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. No part of 

this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

5 

This month’s highlights 

14. Through the Lens with Frank Orrell 

Contents 

20. The Show Goes On 

28. Orrell Survey 

18. Books 

New discoveries! 

32. Home Interiors 

Update your lighting. 

44. Puzzle Pages 

Try these brainteasers for size. 

50. Recipes 

Vegan banana and custard pots. 

54. Pets 

Dog dieting. 

55. Health 

Beat the January blues. 

60. Motoring 

The best new SUVs under £30,000. 

51. Jack’s Tracks visits Rabbit Rocks 

65. Home & Garden Services 

Find the best local traders for you. 

38. Down To Earth 

48. Veganuary Re-Visited 

Want to 

promote your 

business in 

LocalLife? 

Next Issue - March 2021 

Advertising deadline - 24th February 

Published - 10th March 

01695 627 999 

www.locallife247.co.uk

hEritagE opEn days 

WhEElton moor Walk 

a hEalthiEr hEart 

september 2018 

Cover photo © Ian Bonnell Photograpthy 

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALkS | COmpETiTiONS | HOmE & GArDEN SErViCES 

6 

Standish Coronavirus Help 

The new national lockdown from early January means that 

many vulnerable members of the Standish community 

will need help once again. 

At the start of the first lockdown back in March 2020, 

Standish Voice and local ward Councillors came together 

to help vulnerable and elderly people affected by the 

lockdown restrictions and the same team are up and 

running and ready to help again. 

The Standish Voice organisation, along with Councillors 

Adam Marsh, Debbie Parkinson and Ray Whittingham 

established Standish Coronavirus Help early in 2020, 

and this much needed lifeline is still available to support 

people through a network of volunteers. 

The group is mindful of the fact that some of the elderly 

and vulnerable people in Standish may not be able to 

rely on family, friends or neighbours to help, if they have 

returned to self-isolation. 

Services include helping with shopping, delivering 

medicine or simply supporting them by having a 

conversation, on the phone or by email. This also extends 

to people who 

have been 

advised to 

shield again 

due to medical 

conditions. 

This initiative is 

not designed 

to replace help 

that family, 

friends and neighbours can give, but to ensure isolated 

older people are not forgotten. The group can also alert 

the authorities to people in need of specialised help. 

If you need help or know of anyone that would benefit 

from the service, please email their name and address to 

a.marsh@wigan.gov.uk, debbie.parkinson1@wigan.gov. 

uk or raymond.whittingham@wigan.gov.uk. 

If you have not got access to the internet or an email 

account, a 24-hour helpline is available for urgent 

requests, and you can contact the team on 01257 228488. 


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The winner of Local Life’s 

December competition was 

Carole Astin of Gathurst Road in 

Shevington. Carole nominated 

one of her neighbours, Vicky 

Little, to receive the prize, which 

was a luxury Christmas hamper. 

When asked why she had 

nominated Vicky, Carole said 

“She’s done a tremendous 

amount of work in the local 

community this year, helping 

out at the village food bank 

Hamper Winner 

7 

and holding music events at the 

bottom of the garden”. 

Vicky, along with husband David 

and children James and Rebecca, 

hosted musical performances 

at key moments in 2020, such 

as the Clap for Carers nights, 

the VE Day celebrations and on 

Christmas Eve. 

Thank you to all those readers 

who participated in the 

competition. 

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8 

Santa Zooms In 

For the first time in many years, 

the Wigan Rotary Club’s annual 

Santa Floats were unable to run at 

Christmas and the Rotarians acted 

quickly to provide online solutions 

to ensure that local children 

were not disappointed. The club 

secured several Zoom slots with 

Father Christmas himself, and the 

bookings to meet him rolled in throughout December. 

Wigan Rotary President Rosemary Charles said “I would 

like to thank all the parents, grandparents, children and 

friends who met Santa via Zoom each day. Thanks to 

their generosity, Wigan Rotary 

Club will continue support for 

local, national and international 

charities to which we are 

committed.” 

Rosemary added “We had lots 

of amazing feedback from the 

sessions with Santa and would like 

to thank those who participated”. 

If you would like more information about the club, please 

visit www.ribi.org, contact them directly on 07813 471000 

or email wiganrotary1924@virginmedia.com.

9 

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Robust infection prevention 

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Services include 24-hour support, 

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Belong also operates an award-winning home 

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11 

Counselling Help 

A team of Wigan counsellors are raising funds to various topics, in the hope that this will bring people 

provide much needed therapeutic activities to the local together in an inspiring way. 

community. 

The benefits from these sessions include the provision of 

Empathy North West is a non-profit organisation based life skills, increased mental wellbeing and to re-introduce 

in Wigan, that offers therapeutic sessions for individuals, social environments back to people who have been 

couples, families, and children. 

isolated due to Covid restrictions. 

The team are dedicated to the mental welfare of residents The activities will take place on Saturdays at Empathy’s 

and are currently providing counselling therapy through base on Library Street, always providing a Covid 

referrals and self-referrals. 

safe environment. However, as a non-profit making 

Because of the current pandemic, the group now wants to 

organisation the group need to raise funds to purchase 

go one step further to help by expanding on the wealth 

equipment for the activities. 

of knowledge of their counsellors and offering various They have set up a Crowdfunder account and to date 

activities that will help people through these tough times have raised £422 of their £500 target. If you would like 

and beyond. 

to discover more about Empathy North West, visit the 

The sessions will be known as Wigan Community Saturdays 

website at www.empathynorthwestcic.com, and if you 

and would involve various activities - everything from 

would like to donate towards Community Saturdays, 

creative art therapy and first aid training, to a brew and 

please visit 

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12 

Iconic Ashton Store Closes 

An iconic equestrian store in 

Ashton has closed its doors 

for the last time. 

Robinsons Country Leisure 

started life as Robinson 

Saddlers, located next to 

what is now Wigan North- 

Western station. The store 

moved to its current site on 

Wigan Road in Ashton in the 

early 1980’s and in 2013 sold 

a stake in the company to Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct. 

Plans have been submitted to the Council to convert the 

two-storey retail store into three separate units; a garage, 

complete with MOT testing station, a warehouse and a 

third unit. A planning decision is due in late February. 

The company’s long history started in 1867, when 

James Robinson opened a small saddlery next to the 

station on Wallgate. In 1970 James’ grandson, Jim sold 

the company to Jim Bentham, a local riding instructor, 

and in 1982 the company 

moved to the Wigan Road 

site in Ashton, rebranding 

as Robinsons Country 

Leisure. In September 2002, 

a fire destroyed the shop 

and it was rebuilt in 2003 

as a 20,000 square foot 

equestrian superstore and 

café, Subsequent Robinsons 

Country Leisure stores were 

opened in Cannock, Basingstoke and Cardiff, as the 

company became the UK’s biggest equestrian retailer. 

The growth was fuelled by the launch of the company’s 

innovative equestrian mail order operation in 1987 which 

was eventually re-located to the South Lancs Industrial 

Estate in Bryn. 

It is understood that Robinsons Country Leisure will 

continue operating as an online retailer from www. 

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13 

Smoke & Fire 

For those people looking forward to the time when going 

out and eating well is allowed again, there’s something 

completely different coming to the north west this 

summer to tickle your taste buds. 

The Smoke and Fire Festival, a BBQ and outdoor cooking 

festival, was launched to great acclaim in 2017, attracting 

crowds of over 18,000. This year the Festival is going on 

the road, and one of the four UK venues is Victoria Park 

in Southport. 

Each festival will showcase top BBQ and outdoor cooking 

heroes, competitions, fabulous pop-up restaurants, 

two live music stages, award-winning street food, BBQ 

and outdoor cooking equipment demonstrations, kids 

entertainment, and a mini real ale and cider festival. 

The Smoke & Fire Festival North takes place at Victoria 

Park, Southport from 18th to 21st June. Tickets are 

available from www.smokeandfirefestival.com. 

Walking Offer 

Did you know that you can download over 70 walks 

FREE from Local Life’s website? Many of these walks are 

easily reached from Wigan and the surrounding area. 

Just go to our website and click on ‘Free Stuff’ and then 

on ‘Download Jack’s Tracks’ and you can pick and choose 

unlimted routes to download absolutely free of charge. 

Quite a few of these Jack’s Tracks walks also appear on the 

excellent OS Maps apps created by Ordnance Survey. You 

just download the OS Maps apps from Apple or Google 

Play and you can search for walking, cycling and running 

routes. 

You can get instant access to all OS Leisure maps and 

even try an aerial fly-through of your planned route. It 

really is a must-have for any keen walker. 

The app normally costs £28.99 per year, but until mid- 

February you can get a single month’s access to OS Maps 

app for just £3.99. To access the offer, visit https://shop. 

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You can find this month’s Jack’s Tracks – Rabbit Rocks 

Loop – on pages 51-53 of this magazine. 

Happy walking! 

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14 

Life 

through the lens 

by Nicola Gray 

Andy Warhol famously stated, the best 

thing about a picture is that it never 

changes, even when the people in it do. 

To capture and preserve a moment in 

history surely leaves you with many great 

memories of your own, so I caught up 

with Wigan lensman Frank Orrell, to ask 

him just that. 

Frank has taken thousands of pictures 

of Wigan, the people who live here and 

local events, spanning a career of more 

than 40 years with the Wigan Observer. 

Frank started life at 84, Shevington Lane 

on 21st of January 1949 born to his Irish 

Mum, Foila, and Dad, Jim. Frank added, 

“I have a sister, Kathleen and a half sister, Ann. Ann’s mum 

died giving birth to her and my 

mum died of tuberculosis 

in 1954, my paternal 

Grandma, Annie, 

helped to bring us up while my dad was 

working as a joiner.” 

Frank travelled about a bit in his 

younger years and spent some time in 

Ireland, “My Granddad, Thomas, had 

been killed in action on the Somme in 

the last months of the First World War. 

When mum was ill, Kathleen and I were 

taken to live in Corrinshigo, in Northern 

Ireland with our maternal grandparents. 

We were there for about a year.” 

When talking about some of his earliest 

memories, many of them centre around 

the happy times he spent in Ireland, but 

Shevington was always home, Frank 

added, “I remember coming home to a then very rural 

Shevington with few houses and hardly any traffic. Old 

Lane was just across from where I lived and as a child it 

was a bit scary, it was a mysterious and 

dark tree lined track.” 

Wigan Casino demolition, 1983

15 

Bickershaw Festival, 1972 

“I also remember that we didn’t have a 

television in those days but the Hilton family, 

who lived opposite us at Coach House Farm, 

did and would let me and my sisters watch 

Children’s Hour. I would spend most of the time 

asking who were the goodies and who were 

the baddies as the Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid and 

Range Rider rode across the screen.” 

Frank attended St. Marie’s Catholic Primary School on 

Almond Brook Road in Standish and was taught by the 

nuns there. He says, “After passing my 11 plus I went to 

Blessed John Rigby Grammar School on Gathurst Road, 

which was run by the Christian Brothers order. I’m afraid 

to say I wasn’t as happy here as I was at primary school, 

the so-called Christian Brothers could be quite cruel and 

sadistic.” 

On leaving grammar school, Frank had big aspirations of 

becoming a professional footballer, but football’s loss has 

been photography’s gain. He tells me, “Funnily enough 

I was never that interested in photography but my dad 

was a fairly keen amateur and because I’d no idea what 

I wanted to do after leaving school he suggested writing 

to the local papers to see if there was a vacancy for a 

photographer. They wrote back saying that there were no 

positions available at the time but would keep my name 

on file.” 

Frank’s first job was a far cry from the craft he eventually 

made into his long-term career, “My first job was at 

Bradley’s menswear shop in Market Street, when I was 

sixteen. I went along to enquire about a job and the 

manager, appropriately named Mr. Wigan, was happy 

to take me on. Duties included sweeping the step in 

the morning, lighting the coal fire, and dusting the shirt 

boxes. I was never much good at selling socks, underpants 

and cardigans and after two years of measuring bellies 

and inside legs, I got a letter from the Post and Chronicle 

newspaper on Leyland Mill Lane, inviting me for an 

interview for a photographic printer.” 

Frank underwent four years of training, including printing 

pictures in the darkroom and occasionally going out 

with photographers on assignments, he added, “I was 

promoted to photographer and given my first camera, 

which was a Yashica twin lens reflex. I grew to absolutely 

love the job and I have covered everything from news and 

sport to leisure events.” 

Some of Frank’s proudest moments have come from 

his time behind the camera but his proudest moment 

came as a Dad, he tells me, “I won several newspaper 

photography awards but my proudest moments concern 

being able to get two spare photographer passes for 

my sons, Danny and Mike, for the 1992 rugby league 

Challenge Cup Final between Wigan and Castleford at 

Wembley. This was during Wigan’s eight-year dominance 

of Challenge Cup wins in a row from 1988 to 1995, the

16 

Golborne Miners, 1979 

lads were able to sit with me on the pitch looking after my 

photographic gear as I took the pictures. Just to cap the 

day Wigan won 28-12.” 

Frank has a deep affection for his hometown, and he 

has probably seen more of the place and people than 

most. When asked about Wigan he said, “It’s always been 

a friendly place and I think it’s quite attractive contrary 

to what people outside of the area may think. I love 

going for walks around Mesnes Park, Haigh Hall and in 

Elnup Wood in Shevington. Wigan has also been a great 

source of characters, stories, and pictures, happy and sad, 

throughout my career.” 

And stories are what Frank has in abundance, and I can’t 

help but laugh as he regales me with the story about the 

time he was at the wrong end of Bernard Manning’s wit! 

“You could say that I had the dubious honour of being 

insulted by Mr. Manning. He was appearing at Poolstock 

Cricket Club in 1973 and I needed audience reaction 

pictures as Manning told his jokes on stage. I wasn’t in a 

good position at the side of the room to see their faces, so 

Orrell v Gloucester 

I started to creep along in front of the stage to get a better 

angle. I was snapping away happily with my back to the 

stage when suddenly Manning stopped his act, leant over 

and asked me what I was doing.” 

Frank tried to brush him off by telling him he was taking 

photographs, but spying the opportunity for a bit, 

Manning wouldn’t leave it alone. “‘What of?’ he asked 

me, so in true Wigan style I responded, ‘the audience not 

laughing at your jokes’, then I started to creep away, but 

he carried on. ‘You cheeky little toe rag. Bloody hell look 

at the state of him, look at the size of his nose, he could 

smoke a cigar under a shower’. Of course, the audience 

were in stitches and I didn’t hang around too long.” 

Another incident that stuck in Frank’s mind was the time 

he went to take a picture of a charity cheque presentation 

at St. Mary’s Primary School in Lower Ince. Frank 

continued, “Nearly the whole school were in the assembly 

hall and I wanted to get as many of the pupils as I could 

on the photograph, but it was difficult from ground level 

so I dragged up a large vaulting box. I climbed on with 

camera and flashgun in hand and 

proceeded to snap away. Even from 

that height I wasn’t quite far enough 

back so I stepped backwards without 

realising that the box was sideways 

on, I tumbled over the back of the box 

and disappeared. The whole school 

were in uproar at my antics but luckily, 

I wasn’t hurt, and my photographic 

equipment survived. Just to add insult 

to injury as I was leaving a little lad 

said to me, ‘That was funny Mister, can 

you come back at Christmas?’”

17 

When I ask about his most 

memorable image, I know it’s almost 

an impossible question to answer, 

but in true Frank style he says, “If I’m 

allowed to pick two or three images 

just to reflect the agony and ecstasy 

of life my most memorable images 

are a picture I took of redundant 

workers facing a bleak future in 1975, 

after it was announced that Empress 

cotton mill in Higher Ince, was to 

close. I pictured them looking forlorn 

between the huge empty cotton 

reels pondering their future. 

“Another sad one was a picture that I took of the first 

miners going back to work just three days after the 

underground explosion that killed ten of their colleagues 

at Golborne Colliery in March 1979. A happier image was 

in the long hot summer of 1976 when Ince children made 

the most of the North West Water Authority testing a new 

water main to have some cool splashing fun.” 

Empress Mill Closure, 1975 

Frank took early retirement from his press photographer 

job in 2009 and started working on his self-published 

books. “I have nine books of photographs from my 42 

years on the Wigan papers and am presently working 

on another book of photographs mainly from the 1960s. 

During lockdown I have been busy scanning negatives 

and photographs at home. It will probably be late this 

year before I can get it published.” 

Summer, Ince, 1976 

@frankorrellphotography

18 

New Discoveries 

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to reading. We tend to choose genres that we 

know we’ll enjoy. But it can be good to try something new once in a while… 

Quite 

Claudia Winkleman 

Can’t stand books by celebrity 

authors? Try Quite. Reading it is a 

bit like putting the world to rights 

with your best mate over a glass of 

wine (or three). You’ll find out about 

everything from Claudia’s views 

on relationships and parenting to 

her thoughts on naps (essential) and brightly coloured 

clothes (to be avoided at all costs). 

The Girl Who Drank 

the Moon 

Kelly Barnhill 

Still turning your nose up at reading 

children’s fiction as an adult? You’re 

seriously missing out. Start with The 

Girl Who Drank the Moon. A baby is 

left in the woods as a sacrifice to a 

witch. But rather than kill her, the witch raises the child 

as her own. Meanwhile, the mother is left to go mad in 

the tower, where the real threat lies. Storytelling at its 

best. 

Humans 

Brandon Stanton 

Never bought a ‘coffee table book’ 

before? Humans won’t disappoint. 

It’s a difficult book to describe in a 

way that does it justice. Let’s just 

say that it’ll give you a glimpse 

of people’s lives across the globe. 

You’ll hear from people with differing viewpoints, 

discussing everything from the worst and best moments 

of their lives to everyday concerns. You’ll be uplifted, 

saddened and inspired and end up feeling just a little bit 

more connected to the rest of humanity. 

Reality and Other 

Stories 

John Lanchester 

If you haven’t read any ghost stories 

since your teenage years, Reality 

and Other Stories is a good place to 

start. From traditional ghost stories 

to Black Mirror-esque tales, each 

story is deliciously creepy and focuses on an aspect of 

modern life, from a twisted reality show to a possessed 

selfie stick. As you’d expect, some stories are stronger 

than others, but overall, it’s a decent collection to keep 

you occupied through these long winter nights. 

The Night Bus Hero 

Onjali Q. Raúf 

Ever read a book with an unlikable 

protagonist? Ten-year-old Hector 

is a bully. He can generally be 

found causing trouble or picking 

on someone smaller. But when he 

mistakenly accuses an innocent 

man of a crime, Hector has to 

decide whether to continue on his path or become the 

hero for once. Strictly speaking, this is another children’s 

book, but it’s likely to be enjoyed by anyone aged ten up. 

A Single Thread 

Tracy Chevalier 

As a genre, historical fiction is 

incredibly varied, covering as it does 

every period in the last few thousand 

years. A Single Thread focuses on the 

period between the two world wars. 

At thirty-eight, unmarried Violet is a 

‘surplus woman’, with no real place in society. However, 

she also has what many married women at the time did 

not – freedom. When she starts embroidering kneelers 

for Winchester Cathedral, Violet finds a way to both 

connect with the world and make her mark on it.

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20 

The 

Show Goes On 

By Nicola Gray 

2020 was a catastrophic year for the hospitality and 

entertainment industry and 2021 hasn’t started in a positive 

way. When your business model centres around drawing 

crowds time and time again, what is the plan when that is 

snatched away from you? I caught up with Becky Davenport 

and David Jenkins from the Old Courts in Wigan to see how 

COVID has impacted the venue financially, what the team 

have been up to during lockdown and what is in store for 

the future. 

“Back in March 2020 we made the difficult decision 

to close our doors due to the impending Coronavirus 

pandemic just prior to enforced lockdown, Managing 

Director, David tells me. “This decision was enormous as 

we fund over 80% of our community activity through 

revenue earned via the sale of event tickets, food and 

beverages and private hire of our spaces.” 

Sadly, by closing the doors to the Old Courts this has 

meant a loss of income in the region of £3m for this 

financial year. This really was a devasting blow for the 

team, who have worked tirelessly to raise the profile of 

the Old Courts whilst inspiring the community and giving 

a home to a hot bed of local artistic talent. David added, 

“Fast forward a difficult, busy and emotional 7 months 

and with our full staff team in tow, we’re delighted to have 

received £1,254,856 in emergency funding to cover costs 

up to April 2021, whilst continuing to support artists and 

our community.” 

David continued, “This money will help to safeguard 

our staff, our buildings and the projects we are involved 

in, all of which play a vital role in how we benefit our 

community.” We genuinely feel that we’ve learned greatly 

from this forced process but whichever way we look at 

it, closing our income-generating operations has been 

nothing short of the hardest thing we have ever faced. We 

can’t thank the funders enough for this incredible lifeline 

at a time when we needed it most.” 

In response to the national lockdown the Directors didn’t 

want to lose sight of their commitment to the arts, so 

with funding from the Greater Manchester Combined 

Authority, they launched their brand-new online 

performance platform ‘The Old Courts Live’. Since May 

this has allowed the Old Courts to continue to support 

artists with paid work whilst offering much needed 

connection and entertainment to lockdown audiences, 

some of whom were isolated at home. Artistic Director, 

Jonny Davenport tells me, “Aside from a boost to the 

mental health of the audience and performers, we have 

paid over 400 freelance artists at a time when their work 

was virtually non-existent. To date, these online events 

have been viewed over 70,000 times.” 

And the innovation didn’t stop there, 2020 also saw the 

team complete a self-published book of creative writing 

and imagery submitted by 109 local contributors, named 

The Language of Lockdown. As well as running the 

main arm of the organisation, The Old Courts teamed 

up with Wigan Council and Fur Clemt to offer their help 

to coordinate volunteers delivering meals across the 

borough. 

Director Becky Davenport adds, “We also set up a phone 

line meaning that residents could contact us if they 

needed any help or even just needed a friendly chat. The 

response has been phenomenal and the feedback we 

have received from handling the phone calls is so heartwarming 

and proves what a necessary service this is, even 

without Covid isolation. 

Directors Jonny Davenport, Michelle Mayor, Becky Davenport and David 

Jenkins - Photo credit Ant Robling

21 

“We’ve had chats with people about theatre, music, family, 

holidays, war, politics and Wigan, you name it, we chatted 

about it. I remember when we were in strict lockdown and 

we had a gentleman call us up with concerns for his mother. 

He didn’t live local and the lady didn’t have family in the area 

at all so one of our volunteers, Dan, went round to check up 

on her. Luckily, she’d just forgotten to put her phone back 

on the charger, so the battery had run out. The lady’s son 

was so relieved and the lady herself was so grateful that 

we’d taken the time to go and see if she was ok.” 

Becky continued, “Thanks to the support of the National 

Lottery Community Fund and the Co-op Foundation 

we’ve been able to commit to running our services longer. 

Anyone who’d like to volunteer to help with phone calls 

or anyone who’d like to receive a phone call can ring 

01942 912300.” 

2021 The Old Court Updates 

In addition to protecting what The Old Courts stands for 

and everything the team have worked hard to create 

over recent years, they are going into 2021 with renewed 

vigour and will be planning the next steps for their reopening. 

The team have given us a bit of insight as to 

what the next year holds in store for The Old Courts and 

their other projects. 

Royal Court Theatre 

Over the last couple of years, the team have been busy 

inside The Royal Court Theatre on King Street. They 

have carried out urgent repairs to the roof and have 

been busy stripping out the old night club remnants 

and paraphernalia whilst returning the historic building 

to the theatre it once was. Becky adds, “Aside from the 

schedule of works carried out, the focus has been around 

fundraising for The Royal Court Theatre to realise our 

ambitions for the site. It’s been a lot of work to say the least, 

but we’re delighted to report that we now have enough 

funds to complete the job so that The Royal Court Theatre 

can open once more, something we passionately feel that 

Wigan deserves. In addition to the existing building, we 

have plans in place for a contemporary, complimentary 

addition to the rear of the site in which we hope to house 

a café and Northern Soul museum.” 

Wigan Pier 

Due to Covid-19 work at Wigan Pier had slowed down as 

workers were forced to stay home. However, once they 

were able to safely restart work, activity was resumed 

with partners Step Places, Wigan Council and Canals 

Rivers Trust. 

Progress on the external space was there for all to see 

with new roofing, repaired and replaced brickwork, 

new windows and new cladding. More recently with the 

installation of the board walks and glass balustrade along 

the canal, the iconic site has begun to take shape. 

The vision involves transforming the renowned Wigan 

Pier into canal-side walkways, a food hall, events venue 

and cultural education spaces. The food 

hall will include spaces for retailers, 

a gin distillery and a micro-brewery 

with the adjacent former Orwell public 

house converted into an events venue 

suitable for exhibitions, festivals, 

conferences and private parties and 

weddings. 

Photo credit Mark Sixsmith 8 

Becky added, “We are currently working 

with designers Dawnvale to finalise 

plans for the internal works ahead 

of work commencing. Considering 

functionality, ambience, heritage and 

now social distancing, we are designing 

a space which we hope will do justice 

to the reputation that Wigan Pier has.”

22 

Once we have completed the planning and research, we 

require to safely re-open, we will run a series of small test 

events in the first quarter of 2021 and we intend to be as 

fully open as the world allows at the beginning of April 

2021. 

Collaborative Touring Network 

The Old Courts 

Becky tells me, “We are now entering into a research and 

planning stage which will involve our staff team working 

with local artists, stakeholders, the voluntary sector and 

the community to establish what is needed and how we 

can work together going forward to emerge from 2020 

stronger than before. 

In September, The Old Courts successfully won a bid 

for £799,000 from Arts Council England to run the 

7th, 8th and 9th years of a national project called the 

Collaborative Touring Network. The CTN is a partnership 

between 8 towns and cities that have over the past 6 

years toured amazing shows and performances into 

areas of historical low engagement. This has seen shows 

feature in swimming pools, boxing rings, car park roofs 

and many other unusual spaces. Becky says, “Never has 

there been such a need for the pioneering network and 

with the project underway, we hope that we can lead the 

way to restarting touring work at some point in 2021.” 

Language of Lockdown 

We always say that The Old Courts is YOUR Arts Centre and 

right now in a time of uncertainty we mean it more than 

ever. We want to give the people of Wigan what they want 

which is why we’re working closely with the community 

to ensure voices are heard and everyone’s ideas influence 

our strategy.” 

The team are well into the process of creating 14 high 

specification studio spaces for creative businesses 

to occupy as well as a recording studio which, once 

furnished, will be available for commercial hires and 

internal use. Becky adds, “Last but by no means least is 

The Grand Vault, our main music venue at The Old Courts. 

We have formed a small design team who are working 

on a quirky internal concept with some key local creative 

figures. The purpose of the space will remain the same, 

but it will be given a new and exciting lease of life ready 

for re-opening. 

COVID-19 Community Help 

If you would like to volunteer to help or if you or someone you know just wants to chat then 

please call 01942 912300 or go online at www.theoldcourts.com/help 

The Old Courts | Gerrard Winstanley House | Crawford Street | Wigan | WN1 1NA 

01942 834747 

info@theoldcourts.com 

www.theoldcourts.com

23 

The Language of Lockdown was 

commissioned by The Old Court Arts Centre 

containing stories, drawings, sketches, 

paintings, photographs, poetry and creative 

writing based on the emotions, thoughts 

and experiences from the people of Wigan, 

Leigh, Greater Manchester and beyond 

during the Covid-19 lockdown period. 

Jonny said, “We wanted something that 

would live on beyond these unprecedented 

times, something to look back on as a 

reminder of both how difficult things were 

in that moment and how, as a community, 

people managed to overcome and perhaps 

learn from our experiences. We want to 

provide hope to others demonstrating they were not 

alone in how we have been feeling, despite being in such 

an isolating period.” 

The work captured the good, the bad, the ugly, the 

boredom, the feelings of children missing school, the 

desperate need for a haircut and a hug. The book is 

available to buy on Amazon for £15.99, all proceeds will 

be used to support the work of The Old Courts. 

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26 

Swing and a Miss? 

When I pen these pieces at this time of year, I traditionally 

reflect on what has happened in the Wigan housing market 

over the past twelve months and try and give readers an 

idea on what to expect in the New Year. 

There is an old saying that goes, ‘Predicting the future is 

easy - getting it right is the hard part’ and as we welcome 

in the start of another year, we’re greeted with an 

avalanche of Nostradamus-wannabes trying to predict 

how house prices will perform in 2021. 

The interesting part comes when one looks back on past 

predictions to see who was on target and who missed 

the mark by a country mile. Here’s two property-related 

predictions that didn’t quite hit the mark. 

For the first, roll the calendar back to when Covid-19 hit early 

in 2020 and, despite a buoyant housing market still riding 

the ‘Boris Bounce’, major financial economists and property 

market commenters were predicting a property crash. The 

more positive amongst them were predicting a 5% drop 

in house prices by the end of 2020, but the forecasts from 

most ‘experts’ ranged between a 10% to 15% drop. 

And for the second, let’s wind back the calendar even 

further - all the way back to 23rd June 2016 – that’s 

right, the Brexit vote. It was the considered opinion of 

Her Majesty’s Treasury, headed up by Chancellor George 

Osborne, that national house prices would drop by 18% 

if the country voted to leave the EU. Multiple ‘property 

experts’ voiced similar concerns. 

The table below illustrates how those predictions have 

played out in the past 4½ years. 

House Type 

House Value 

2016 

Predicted Value 

post-Brexit Result 

Average Value 

Today 

The table shows that Wigan homeowners who own 

detached homes would have seen an increase in their 

property’s value equivalent to £99.23 a week. This is 

calculated from the price they would have paid in the 

summer of 2016 and the price they would sell for today. 

On this basis, owners of semidetached homes would have 

seen an increase in value equivalent to £70.77 per week, 

owners of terraced homes/town houses of £36.15 per 

week and apartment owners of £63.85 per week. 

So why has the Wigan property market not matched 

the property pundits twice in the last five years or so? 

For most of us, getting on the property ladder is about 

having somewhere to live rather than an investment, and 

any increase in value is a secondary benefit. 

Whilst panicked property predictions by ‘experts’ looking 

for a quick headline won’t materially affect homeowners, 

what they do is to frighten away those young people 

who are about to step onto the housing ladder and that’s 

regrettable because getting on the property ladder is, 

for everyone who is on there for the long term, a great 

investment. 

So, what of 2021? It’s true that the country will have high 

unemployment, yet at the same time, we have ultra-low 

interest rates and for the last 20 years, on average we 

have only built 150,000 households per year, but we need 

300,000 homes per year to keep up with immigration, 

people living longer and changes in the way households 

are made up. 

And what does my crystal ball say? Rightmove are 

Uplift in Value in 

Last 4.5 Years 

Wigan Detached £250,100 £205,100 £275,900 £25,800 11.3% 

Wigan Semi £137,700 £112,900 £156,100 £18,400 12.4% 

Wigan Terraced / 

Town House 

£97,200 £79,700 £106,600 £9,400 10.7% 

Wigan Apartments £99,000 £81,200 £115,600 £16,600 15.8% 

% Increase since 

Brexit Vote 

predicting a rise of 

4% in house prices in 

2021, but the Halifax 

are predicting a drop 

of 5%, so I’m going to 

sit on the fence and say 

it will be something in 

between! 

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has 

worked within the Wigan property market for over 30 years. 

Alan Batt 

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at 

www.alanbatt.co.uk

Let’s Celebrate 

2021 

Together 

Wigan Office • 78 Market Street, Wigan WN1 1HX • 01942 233 999 

www.alanbatt.co.uk

28 

Tell us 

Your Views 

A message from Orrell RUFC, Brighter Better Orrell and Councillor Michael Winstanley 

A few months ago, Wigan Warriors moved their training 

base from Edge Hall Road to Robin Park as part of a deal 

with Wigan Council. Since then, there has been much 

speculation about the future of the Edge Hall Road site. 

Different options have been mentioned on how to 

make use of the site, including Orrell Rugby Union Club 

returning to their former home, the possibility of it 

being used by the local community, or using the land for 

housing development. The land being sold for housing is 

something that may happen, but many local people feel 

that this would be the worst possible outcome. 

Over the last six months Orrell RUFC have been in 

discussions with Wigan Warriors about various options for 

use of the site and have been given first refusal to come 

up with a proposal. 

It has been suggested that Edge Hall Road could become 

a true community hub with the site being leased to the 

local community. This would include the pitch being used 

by Orrell RUFC and other local sporting teams, whilst 

the Club House could be turned into a much-needed 

meeting place for community groups and associations to 

use for various activities. 

With this in mind, Orrell RUFC and Brighter Better Orrell 

have joined together to examine how much interest 

there would be in such a proposal. They have established 

a small working group with key people from both groups 

and support being provided by Cllr Michael Winstanley. 

They would like to hear your views about these proposals. 

A survey has been created and they would very much 

like to hear from you. The more people that respond will 

show how much support there is in the local community 

for such a scheme. 

You can complete the survey until Friday 19th February 

here; https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7ZL6WKC 

Commenting on this proposal Gill Eyre, Chair of Brighter 

Better Orrell, said “With all the amazing work, already 

being done, by all the volunteers in Orrell, not just the 

BBO but Friends of Orrell Station, Ellen’s garden, the 

Water Park, Holgate Park, this is a golden opportunity to 

enhance our beautiful community further. We all need to 

get behind this for the benefit of the whole community, 

the possibilities are endless, but we need the people of 

Orrell to drive it forward.” 

Tony Havlin, Chair of Orrell RUFC and Orrell & Winstanley 

Community Sports Club said “We are delighted to be 

working with BBO on a proposed community project

29 

that could see Edge Hall Road (the former home of 

Orrell RUFC) returned to the community as a community 

hub. Recent events have raised the awareness of the 

importance of sport and community and this facility 

would bring the two together at a time when it is much 

needed and wanted”. 

Tony added “We believe the idea will complement our own 

vision of a community sports hub (as Orrell & Winstanley 

Community Sports Club) at the heart of the community 

used by all ages, offering a range of participation sports, 

health and wellbeing activities; all of which will be a great 

addition to the locality – making it a much better, brighter 

Orrell!” 

Councillor Winstanley commented “This is a real 

opportunity to build a long-term facility that can be at the 

heart of the local community which will help to provide 

a real asset for improving health and getting people fit 

and also providing much needed facilities and activities 

for the young people of Orrell and Billinge”. 

Once all the responses have been received then these will 

be analysed and incorporated into the business case that 

will be presented to the Wigan Warriors. 

This project can only succeed with the backing of the 

local community. If you want this project to succeed, 

then please complete the survey at https://www. 

surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7ZL6WKC and encourage your 

family and friends to do the same. 

If you do not have access to the internet, then please 

make your views known to the working group by writing 

to Councillor Winstanley at 111 Bolton Road, Ashton-in- 

Makerfield, Wigan. WN4 8AD. 

Thank you 

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30 

Glenys to the Rescue 

Her deep affection for animals 

inspired Billinger Glenys Rhead 

to plan a project that would raise 

£1,000 to help a dog rescue centre 

through the Covid-19 pandemic. 

73-year-old Glenys, from Tracks 

Lane in Billinge, is a retired NHS 

worker who is well known locally 

for her creations of a diverse range 

of craft products. During the 

2020 lockdowns, Glenys created a 

range of washable cotton face masks, both for adults and 

children, mainly adorned with images of dogs. 

She then sold the masks from 

a display table outside her 

home and in November, Glenys 

presented the RSPCA at Ormskirk 

with a cheque for £1,000. 

Glenys said, “I was originally aiming 

to raise £100, but I never thought I 

would sell so many masks. It’s kept 

me very busy indeed throughout 

2020, but I would like to thank 

everyone who bought them and 

helped me raise £1,000 for the RSPA.” 

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32 

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All electrical work in the home in the UK must 

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for anything other than the most minor works use an 

electrician who is registered as a ‘competent person’. 

Lights fitted in bathrooms and outdoors must be 

specially rated, usually to at least IP44, but check with 

your supplier and/or electrician before installing. 

Plan lighting as early as possible 

A good time to upgrade lighting is when redecorating, 

especially if replastering. Consider adding wall lights 

above the living room seating in the living room for 

greater flexibility or mounted either side of a bed to free 

up bedside table space. Other options are a row of lights 

over the dining table, a picture light above a painting or 

photograph, or spotlights above your home-office desk. 

Light in layers 

‘Layer’ lighting from several different sources and 

directions for both practicality and aesthetics. 

Professionals think of four types of lighting: general, task, 

accent and atmosphere, and you can mix several types 

in each room using a combination of ceiling lights and 

pendants, wall washers, floor or table lamps, and special 

shelf or picture lights. Use floor and table lamps for better 

illumination at mid and higher levels around the room. 

Get the best bulbs 

Choose modern LED energy-saving bulbs – although 

expensive initially, they are cheap to run and should 

last for years. For a warm, welcoming light, look for 

bulbs marked around 2,700K. For brightness, consider 

lumens (lm) rather than wattage – use around 470lm 

as the equivalent to a 40w bulb, or around 800lm for a 

60w bulb. Note that dimmer switches make all lighting 

schemes more versatile but it can be trickier to dim LEDs, 

so consult your electrician if you’re unsure. 

The latest in lighting 

Lighting technology is moving fast. LED lighting allows for 

very small, slim fittings in places that were not previously 

possible. Strip lights can be placed around the home to 

create interesting effects, while the energy efficiency of 

LED means that cordless, battery-powered lights can be 

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wake you up, turn on as you walk into a room or change 

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34 

Residents of Appley Bridge are hoping to welcome a new 

housing development to the village - for hedgehogs to 

move into! 

Appley Bridge Community Association are raising money 

to build a hedgehog village to rehome previously injured 

hedgehogs. 

Located in the Meadows, near to the canal, members of 

the Community Association, who are working alongside 

Chorley Hedgehog Rescue Centre, think this is the perfect 

home for our spikey friends. 

Kate Rossington from the Appley Bridge Community 

Association said, “We are hoping with your help to build 

homes to keep them safe from predators during their 

hibernation period. This will also hopefully encourage the 

mother and her hoglets to feel safe there in the warmer 

months.” 

The hedgehog village will also provide feeding stations, 

which will encourage the hogs to remain in their 

designated area. 

Kate added, “We need to plant some more hedgehog 

Homes for Hedgehogs 

friendly trees such as 

firs which we don’t 

have in The Meadows 

currently, 

buying 

mature trees is much 

more expensive than 

growing them from 

scratch but we want 

to be up and running 

in the next few months so we can start helping sooner 

rather than later.” 

The team have a goal to raise £600 to pay for supplies and 

have currently raised £252. Kate continued, “Hedgehogs 

are declining and are near extinction, so every penny 

counts and is much appreciated to save these lovely 

creatures.” 

If you would like to make a donation you can go online 

at www.gf.me/u/Zbg9wi or if you would like to volunteer 

to help the Community Association please send them a 

message on Facebook. 

Could you be one of tomorrow’s 

outstanding teachers? 

image: Gibe, Wikipedia 

Join us at our virtual open evenings 

using Microsoft Teams. 

Monday 1st March 2021 

Monday 19th April 2021 

5-5:30pm 

5-5:30pm 

Individuals who have 

the potential to be 

outstanding teachers 

Individuals who are 

passionate about working 

with young children. 

Please email enquiries@wcpsd.uk to 

request to join a virtual open evening. 

Accredited 

Study days will be at Liverpool Hope University leading to a PGCE and QTS in primary teaching. 

For more information and updates please visit www.wcpsd.uk and www.saintpatricks.wigan.sch.uk 

To search the course please visit the ‘get into teaching’ website https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ 

and search using the following provider and course codes. 

Provider code 2A4 Primary course code (Age 5-11) 2XT7 EYFS course code (Age 3-7) AP55

35

36 

New Future for Galleries 

Wigan Council announced last month 

that Galleries25 has been appointed as 

the Strategic Development Partner for 

the £130 million redevelopment of the 

Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan. 

The proposed scheme will see the 

existing 440,000 sq. ft shopping centre 

transformed to provide: 

• A multi-media centre comprising: six 

screen cinema, music and E-sports 

venue, 10 lane bowling alley, indoor 

mini golf, food and beverage units 

• New market hall, including a 

contemporary foodhall, co-working 

space and small offices 

• Evening entertainment space 

• A landscaped public realm square for annual outdoor • A re-animated Makinson Arcade 

events 

• As part of the scheme, the markets will be relocated to 

• 464 residential units and a new hotel 

a more central position. 

Train to teach with 

LEARNINGFUTURESPARTNERSHIP 

Join our 

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teacher training 

programme and make a 

difference to the lives 

and futures of 

the pupils 

you teach. 

We are a teaching 

alliance of the following 

schools and college: 

Byrchall High School 

Hawkey Hall High School 

Fred Longworth High School 

Tyldesley Primary School 

Winstanley college 

Are you interested in training to teach 

primary, secondary or sixth form students? 

WoULd yoU LIkE To SPEAk To oUR ExPERTS To FINd oUT IF A TEAcHING cAREER IS FoR yoU? 

Learning Futures Partnership are delivering an exciting teacher training programme that awards a PGCE with Masters credits. 

Please contact Learning Futures Partnership on 01942 204640 

or email enquiries@learningfuturespartnership.net 

to register your interest and arrange to speak to our ITT co-ordinator. 

www.learningfuturespartnership.net

37 

Galleries25 is a joint venture partnership between 

Cityheart and Beijing Construction Engineering Group 

International (BCEGI). Cityheart, a North West based 

property development and investment company, has a 

15-year track record of successfully delivering significant 

projects across the country, working almost exclusively 

with the public sector. UK based BCEGI will lead the 

construction programme for the new scheme. 

Following consultation with residents, retailers, traders 

and visitors, the proposals have been designed to 

transform Wigan town centre into a vibrant, attractive 

and accessible place. Currently the centre is dominated 

by retail units, but under these plans there will be a much 

wider and diverse offer, including improved hospitality, 

leisure, and residential opportunities. 

The Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux, 

said: “These proposals very much reflect the feedback we 

got from residents about the importance of vibrant town 

centres during the Big Listening Project in 2018 and the 

more recent consultation held earlier this year”. 

“Now more than ever it’s vital we do everything we can 

to create exciting and welcoming town centres to help 

support our local businesses and jobs. These plans do just 

that and I certainly can’t wait to see them materialise.” 

60 Second 

Mortgage 

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Call us on 

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Alexander Ross Mortgages is a trading style of WE Financial Services Limited 

which is an appointed representative of LJ Financial Planning Limited which 

is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 

The redevelopment will create 475 construction jobs and 

a further 190 jobs when the scheme opens. Galleries25 

has committed to recruiting local people to the jobs, 

including 25 apprentices annually, providing work 

experience and education visits and to supporting the 

local supply chain through a spend of £52m. 

The new scheme offers the hope that the redevelopment 

of the Galleries site can revitalise the wider town centre 

economy by attracting residents back into the town 

centre. 

Back in November 2013 the then owners of the site, Vale 

Retail, announced a £60m plan to redevelop and expand 

The Galleries, which failed to materialise. 

In March 2018 the Council bought the site, which includes 

Makinson Arcade, Marketgate, the indoor market hall and 

the former Morrison’s site, for an undisclosed sum from its 

former private sector owners due to concerns about the 

viability of The Galleries and the negative impact it was 

having on the remainder of the town centre area. 

Wigan Council will work with Cityheart and BCEGI to agree 

the final details of the development with construction 

expected to start in early 2022 with an anticipated 

completion date of 2025. 

Beautifully furnished 

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38 

This living room, designed in Dulux’s ‘Earth palette’, 

demonstrates how to use Brave Ground with other colours. 

THIS WARM AND GROUNDING NEUTRAL 

SHADE IS SAID TO HELP CREATE A NURTURING 

REFUGE FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES 

Down 

to Earth 

• Use this earthy colour as a base, and combine 

with touches of other shades such as rust, 

chocolate and ochre for a rich, warm and 

welcoming vibe. This palette would be lovely in a 

living room, but could also help create a relaxing 

bedroom, a sanctuary bathroom, a cosy kitchen or 

a productive home office. 

• If you prefer something less neutral, Brave 

Ground can be contrasted with dashes of bolder, 

brighter tones. It works well with watery greens 

and blues, mustard, orange and acid yellow, and 

even shocking pink. 

• Natural materials are perfect for combining with 

Brave Ground: wood floors, jute rugs, sheepskins, 

raffia lampshades and comforting wool throws. 

Add plenty of house plants and even some 

pampas grass for that on-trend, ‘hygge’ look. 

This metal pendant light is a great combination of a neutral 

palette and clean lines. 

Montreux pendant light by Its About RoMi, £269.95, Lime Lace. 

• The tone of this colour will change subtly 

throughout the day as the light hits it, and will 

appear quite deep at night. It is always worth 

painting a large sheet of neutral-coloured card 

using a sample pot, attaching it to the different 

walls of your room and observing how it looks 

from morning until night. 

Alpaca wool is durable, luxurious 

and silky, celebrated for its warmth 

and hypoallergenic qualities. 

Alpaca throw in natural diamond 

herringbone, £159.95, Annabel 

James.

Made of porcelain 

with a realistic, woodeffect 

design, these 

parquet-style tiles have 

a naturalistic matt finish, 

and can be used on a wall 

or floor. 

Woven sand wood-effect 

tiles, £39.95 per square 

metre, Walls and Floors. 

Give your home a soft style 

with prints in tranquil and 

muted colours. 

Beige abstract poster, 

£12.95, Desenio. 

Brave Ground, Dulux’s 

colour of the year 2021. 

39

40 

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41 

Alarms & CCTV 

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1 x RF GHE Bell box, 1 x decoy GHE Bell box, 

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42 

New Year 

Resolutions! 

Firstly, here’s to a happy and healthy 2021 to all Local Life 

readers. Let’s hope that 2020 quickly becomes a distant 

memory as the vaccine roll-out gathers momentum and life 

starts to get back to some form of normality. 

I’m writing this piece well before Christmas but I think it’s 

likely that the usual resolutions don’t stack up too well in 

2021. Cutting back on visiting restaurants and the pub 

after spending so long away from them isn’t that practical 

and pledging to spend more time in the gym is all very 

well, providing it’s actually open. 

Let’s face it, we’re all desperate to get out and live a little 

so many of our usual resolutions will fall by the wayside 

very quickly, if they haven’t already done so. 

One resolution that shouldn’t drop off your radar though 

is the resolve to have an investment/pension health 

check, which could bring many financial benefits. With 

the uncertainty around the pandemic abating, and 

the US election behind us, and Brexit appearing to be 

approaching the chequered flag, we at Prosper believe 

that there could well be some very interesting investment 

opportunities in 2021. 

Why do we always see increased enquiries in January 

from Local Life readers? 

Perhaps it is all the time off over Christmas or the 

completion of tax returns, but whatever the trigger, 

reviewing and revamping your portfolio now could make 

a significant difference to your ultimate value over the 

longer term. Apart from weeding out the poor performing 

funds and checking you’re still on track financially, you 

might find your finances could be arranged more taxefficiently. 

I was recently talking to a new client who was having a 

moan about the amount of paperwork he was receiving 

from all his different investments. He didn’t have a clue 

what his valuations were and didn’t know how well his 

investments had been performing. I asked him what his 

“ideal” would feel and look like. 

He wanted to; 

• Retake full control of his investments rather than 

getting swamped with paperwork and information 

• Have ‘peace of mind’ knowing that an expert was also 

keeping an eye on his investments 

• Invest in a wide choice of leading companies without 

being tied into a single company/fund 

• Just deal with ‘one firm’ for all of his different 

investments rather than having to speak to different 

companies for his various funds 

It probably does not come as a great surprise to learn that 

we have the solution to all these issues and much, much 

more. Our Wealth Management Service delivers on all the 

points above. 

We are following COVID-19 guidelines in our offices and we 

can also offer zoom and telephone meetings for clients that 

would prefer. Alternatively visit our website www.prosperifa.co.uk 

or email us to request a brochure. 

If you invest in the stock market the value of your investments 

can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full 

amount invested. 

David Barton 

APFS Cert CII (MP) 

Chief Executive Officer 

If you would like more 

information, please feel free to 

get in touch on 01257 423800. 

The cost of the initial consultation is met by us and 

you are under no obligation to take things further. 

Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

43

44 

Puzzle Pages 

CROSSWORD 

ACROSS 

1. Tube which conveys air in and out 

of the lungs (7) 

5. Mike ___, former heavyweight 

champion boxer (5) 

8. Person skilled in telling anecdotes (9) 

9. Public transport vehicle (3) 

10. Residence of a clergyman (5) 

DOWN 

1. Make a rhythmic sound with the fingers (5) 

2. Continuous portion of a circle (3) 

3. People engaged in the pursuit of wild animals 

or game (7) 

4. Ideal of a democratic and prosperous society, 

regarded as the aim of US citizens (8,5) 

5. Main part of the human body (5) 

6. Underwater warship (9) 

7. Fund of money put by as a reserve (4,3) 

11. Acute spasmodic nerve pain (9) 

13. Itinerant Australian labourer (7) 

14. Make less subtle or refined (7) 

16. Chemically-tipped strip of wood used to light 

a fire (5) 

18. ___ firma, solid ground (5) 

21. Common type of rodent (3) 

12. Prehistoric metalworking 

19. Type of Russian fighter 

period (4,3) 

aircraft (3) 

13. Penetrating examination of one’s 20. Financial officer (9) 

own beliefs and motives (4-9) 

22. Welsh town to the east of 

15. Struck with fear or apprehension (7) Swansea (5) 

17. Representative who buys or 

23. Small or minor detail (7) 

sells for another person (5) 

WORDWHEEL 

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten 

minutes to find as many words as possible, none of 

which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. 

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must 

contain the central letter and letters can only be used 

once in every word. There is at least one word that uses 

all of the letters in the wheel. 

TARGET 

EXCELLENT: 28 or more words 

GOOD: 22 words 

FAIR: 17 words

45 

WORDSEARCH 

WINTER WORD SEARCH 

BLIZZARD 

BOOTS 

COLD 

FIREPLACE 

FOG 

FREEZE 

FROST 

GLOVES 

HAIL 

ICICLES 

MITTENS 

PARKA 

SCARF 

SKATES 

SKIING 

SLED 

SLEET 

SLIPPERY 

SNOWFLAKE 

SOCKS 

SOUP 

STEW 

TOBOGGAN 

VACATION 

WIND 

SUDOKU 

WIGGLE WORDS 

CLUE: when a more 

precise number is not 

available 

Trace a path through all 

the letters to find the 

word or phrase that fits 

the clue. 

A P L B 

R E L A 

K T A M 

E S T I 

NUMBER BLOCK 

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. 

3 

7 8 

1 6 

4 4 

15 17 18 

18 

8 

12 

23 

14 

19 

18 

All the puzzle solutions can be found 

on page 62 of this magazine

46 

Xero the Hero 

by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy 

If there is one piece of software that can transform how effectively and efficiently you run your company, 

it’s Xero. We have been using this product since 2010 and, as Gold Partners with Xero, CMA Accountancy 

are experts at helping companies work flexibly and keep track of their businesses. 

The sheer flexibility and ease of use of this software 

came into its own during pandemic-stricken 2020, as it 

helped so many of our clients to see what was happening 

to their businesses in real time and helped them plan 

cashflow forecasts, re-focus business plans and provide 

information to support loan and grant applications. All 

information on XERO can be accessed anytime, anywhere 

and on any mobile device or PC. 

The beauty of Xero is not just the software itself but the 

multitude of 3rd party Apps that integrate seamlessly 

with the software to ensure that the whole business 

accounting process is as efficient as possible. 

Whatever business sector you are in, whether this is 

hospitality, construction, IT, e-commerce or a startup 

business, there will be an App that links to Xero to 

make your life easier. This summary below shows a small 

selection of Apps that link up to Xero to help you manage 

your business 

Credit Control – Assists with debt tracking and cash 

management 

Chaser 

Automates invoice chasing 

Fluidly 

Manages cashflow 

Satago 

Provides credit risk tools 

Receipt Capture – Reduces data entry and saves time 

preparing your accounts. 

Receipt Bank Scan bills and receipts via your 

mobile phone 

AutoEntry Scans bank statements and sales 

invoices 

E-Commerce – Take control of your store or on-line 

store 

Shopify 

Vend 

Seamlessly connect your store to 

Xero for real time sales information 

Provides excellent point of sale 

analysis 

Job Tracking – Great for trades people to keep control 

of job scheduling and billing 

ServiceM8 

Tradify 

Manages and field service 

business 

Complete job management for 

trades and contractors 

These are just a small selection of Apps available, please 

contact us to find out more about these and the hundreds 

of other available Apps. 

And let’s not forget Making Tax Digital. Pandemic or no 

pandemic, MTD will figure highly on the agenda with 

HMRC in 2021 and it is important that you start to plan for 

these changes as soon as possible. As well as setting up 

Xero and converting your data from another product, we 

can advise you on which is the best App to use and help 

you integrate this with Xero. 

If you have any questions regarding Xero, Making Tax 

Digital, Apps or switching to an online accounting system 

please do get in touch. 

Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy 

39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 

01257 255521 info@handsonaccounting.co.uk 

www.handsonaccounting.co.uk 

Try XERO FREE for 6 months! 

Offer available for all new clients. Expiry date 14/02/2021 

QuoteLocalLife50%

47 

Do you need 

help and 

guidance with; 

Company Accounts? 

Auto Enrolment? 

Self Assessment? 

Cloud-based Software? 

Payroll Services? 

Making Tax Digital? 

AE 

SA deadline 

VAT 

Benefits 

SA 

FREE 

INITIAL 

CONSULTATION 

Call CMA Accountancy today 

www.cma-accountancy.com 

info@cma-accountancy.com 

Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

48 

How to take part in 

Veganuary 

this year 

Founded in 2014, Veganuary is a New Year initiative to 

encourage people across the world to try veganism in 

January. Here, we look at the reasons to take part and how 

to survive a month – or more – without meat and dairy. 

Veganism has ballooned in recent years. A record 400,000 

people signed up to the Veganuary movement in 2020, 

and it’s estimated that the UK alone is now home to 

nearly two million vegans. Exposing documentaries like 

‘What the Health’, ‘Cowspiracy’ and David Attenborough’s 

‘A Life on Our Planet’ have helped drive the trend, all of 

which shed light on the benefits of a vegan diet for our 

health and for the planet. 

What is veganism? 

A vegan diet is one that excludes all animal products, 

including meat, dairy, eggs and even honey in favour of 

plants and plant-based products. Many ‘lifestyle vegans’ 

will also avoid buying leather, fur, wool and anything 

that’s been tested on animals. In short, a vegan lifestyle 

is one that tries, as much as possible, to exist without 

exploiting animals. 

Why should you try it? 

The benefits of adopting a more plant-based diet are 

numerous. David Attenborough said himself that our 

planet simply cannot sustain seven billion meat eaters, and 

scientists have claimed that eating large amounts of meat 

and dairy is linked to a number of health conditions too. 

What many people don’t know is that, when done 

correctly, it’s actually possible to get all the nutrients you 

need from a totally plant-based diet, no matter your age 

or lifestyle. Giving up meat and dairy can also help you 

lose weight and introduce you to more fruits, vegetables, 

seeds and grains that you wouldn’t normally incorporate 

into your weekly shop. 

Veganism may not be for everyone, but just trying it for a 

month will significantly reduce your carbon footprint and 

may encourage you to eat less meat and dairy in the future. 

The big question: how? 

Adopting a vegan diet is actually a lot easier than you 

think! Supermarkets, cafes and restaurants have been 

filling their shelves and kitchens with tasty meat 

and dairy substitutes over the last couple of years, 

meaning finding something you like is easier than 

ever. Book shops and the internet are packed full of 

easy, tasty recipes for you to try, and if you sign up 

to Veganuary you’ll receive weekly tips and recipe 

ideas to keep you on track.

49 

Seitan, Quorn and tofu are fantastic substitutes for meat 

and can be used to create plant-based versions of your 

favourite dishes, from spaghetti bolognese to chicken 

tikka masala (be aware that Quorn does sometimes use 

egg in its products). They’re all easy to cook, packed with 

healthy plant proteins and have a very convincing meatlike 

texture. 

What about milk? Thankfully, the dairy section in 

supermarkets is now filled with a huge array of plantbased 

milks, including soy, oat, almond and coconut, all 

with a milky texture and their own unique flavour. There 

are huge varieties of vegan cheeses too, from coconutbased 

cheddars to softer cheeses made from cashew 

nuts. Although they won’t taste exactly like the real deal, 

they’re close enough – and delicious in their own right! 

Love your Greek-style yoghurt? Plant-based powerhouse 

Oatly even do a vegan version of that too. 

Eating out is also easier than ever. Every Veganuary, more 

and more restaurants and fast-food chains are adding 

extra vegan options to their menus, with the famous 

Greggs ‘sausage roll’ going viral in 2019. Now, even 

Dominoes, KFC and Pizza Hut offer vegan versions of their 

most popular meals; sacrificing meat and dairy doesn’t 

mean you have to sacrifice junk food! 

What about your health? 

Contrary to popular belief, you can get all the nutrients 

your body needs from eating a varied and balanced 

vegan diet. The only vitamin that’s difficult to find is 

Vitamin B-12, but thankfully many cereals, soy milks – and 

even Marmite – are fortified with this essential vitamin. 

Eat your five-a-day, pack lots of protein-rich beans and 

pulses into your diet, and get your calcium and iron from 

green, leafy vegetables and wholemeal bread. If you find 

it difficult to cram everything in, supplements are also an 

option and the Veganuary website has plenty of health 

and nutrition tips for going vegan the right way. 

Is veganism more expensive? 

There is a common misconception that adopting a vegan 

diet is more expensive, but this isn’t necessarily true. Highquality 

meat and dairy products can be costly and cutting 

them out of your diet in favour of fresh fruits and vegetables 

can actually help you save money on your weekly shop. 

Branded meat and dairy substitutes can be more pricey, 

but most long-term vegans will buy these rarely, instead 

getting their nutrients from beans, rice, pasta, fruits and 

vegetables – the cheapest ingredients in the world! 

Visit uk.veganuary.com to sign up today.

50 

READY 

in 20 mins 

Makes 4 

These delicious dairy-free sweet pots are perfect for 

Vegan banana 

and custard pots 

an energy-boosting breakfast or a simple dessert. 

Ingredients 

500ml non-dairy milk (see Tip) 

2 tbsp cornflour 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

2-3 tbsp maple or agave syrup 

Few drops vegan yellow food 

colouring 

100g vegan granola 

1 large banana, peeled and sliced 

Mint sprigs, to decorate 

Method 

1 Mix 6 tbsp of the non-dairy milk with the cornflour and vanilla extract in 

a jug to make a smooth paste. Gradually stir in the rest of the milk. 

2 Pour the milk mixture into a medium saucepan and slowly bring to the 

boil over a medium heat, stirring all the time. The mixture will gradually 

thicken but keep stirring to prevent any lumps forming. Continue 

cooking over a low heat for 2-3 minutes until you have a smooth 

thick sauce. Stir in the maple or agave syrup and a few drops of food 

colouring to give a custard-yellow colour. 

3 Divide half the granola and nearly all the banana slices between four 

small heatproof serving dishes. Spoon over the custard and top with 

the rest of the granola and banana. Decorate each pot with a sprig of 

mint and serve warm or cold. 

TIP: Almond, oat, coconut or soy milk will all work well in this recipe.

51 

Rabbit Rocks 

Loop 

by Chris Pearce 

Distance: 7.3 miles Difficulty: Medium 

There is a definite urban renewal theme to this month’s 

Jack’s Tracks. Go back less than 100 years and this walk 

would have taken in some of the dirtiest, smelliest places in 

Wigan. In the 1930’s George Orwell described the area in his 

diary as a “frightful landscape of slagheaps and belching 

chimneys”. With lots of investment and the helping hand of 

Mother Nature, the area directly to the south/south-east of 

Wigan town centre has undergone a complete change, and 

this 7.3-mile walk through Wigan’s ‘Greenheart’ highlights 

that remarkable transformation. 

Start at the dry dock next to Wigan Investment Centre 

(WN3 5BA), cross over the bridge and turn right to head 

away from the handsome Trencherfield Mill. Go under 

Henhurst Bridge, which carries the Chapel Lane traffic, 

and follow the canal round a left-hand bend. Follow the 

canal as it climbs uphill for 1.3 miles passing several locks 

until you reach lock number 73.

52 

Cross the canal at this point and 

head up the hill directly on the 

left to experience one of the 

highlights of the walk – the views 

from Rabbit Rocks. This was once 

the site of Europe’s largest iron 

and steel works, and the rocks 

comprise of unwanted blocks of 

slag, some of which are huge and 

cylindrical. The views of the town 

centre and beyond are impressive. 

Follow the main shale path 

gradually downhill and then 

turn right at the wooden post 

to go down steps and through 

the wooded area until you reach 

the gates. You’ve arrived at the 

former Whelley Loop railway line; turn left and follow 

this charming tree-lined corridor for just under a mile 

until you reach the busy A577 Wigan to Hindley road. 

Use the crossing and head in the same direction onto 

Amberwood Common, again using the disused rail line. 

Turn right when you reach a three-way junction and then 

turn left when you reach another three-way junction 

shortly afterwards and walk round the left-hand side of 

the lake. When you reach a staggered four-way junction 

by a fingerpost sign, head away from the lake uphill 

towards Widdows Flash. 

Follow this route for just over half a mile until you arrive 

at the doughnut shaped Widdows Fishery. Turn left 

and follow the path out of the fishery, and along the 

cobbled Constantia Street until you reach the busy A577 

Warrington Road. Turn right, cross over and then, 250 

yards later, turn left down Taylors Lane. 

Follow the road over the railway bridge and head downhill 

on a wide track. Turn right at the 

bottom and go through a tunnel 

underneath the railway. Cross the 

wide track at the other side of the 

tunnel and enter some woodland. 

Bear right immediately and again 

a little further on when you have 

passed through a large expanse of 

knotweed. When you emerge into 

open space, take the better used 

footpath on the left and then turn 

left again shortly afterwards when 

you reach a concrete path. 

You’ll pass through the impressive 

metalwork entrance to Wigan 

Flashes on the left and then follow 

the block paved path to the canal 

– the Leigh branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Turn left, 

cross at the first bridge and then turn right. The canal 

passes through two expanses of water, Scotman’s Flash on 

the left and Pearson’s Flash on the right, both formed as a 

result of mining subsidence. 

The last leg of the walk goes under the new road bridge 

and eventually runs parallel to Poolstock Road, passing 

the attractive St James Church. Just by a huge waste 

facility, as the Leigh section of the canal merges into the 

main branch, there is a metal bridge. Cross the bridge and 

turn left, go under Henhurst Bridge once more and you’re 

back at the starting point of the walk. 

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.

A49 

53 

For those with the OS Maps 

app on your desktop, mobile 

or tablet, this walk is named: 

JT-Rabbit-Rocks 

A58 

A577 

Wigan Wallgate 

Wallgate 

Water Hayes 

Longshoot 

Scholes 

Rose Bridge 

Higher Ince 

Ince 

Lower Ince 

Ince Brook 

Spring 

View 

Lakes Terrace 

Amberswood 

Common 

Ince Moss 

A577 

FORGE STREET 

A573 

A573 

A573 

A577 

WIGAN 

A49 

WESTWOOD WAY 

POOL STREET 

Pearson’s Flash 

Scotsman’s Flash 

Wigan Flashes 

Nature Reserve 

INCE-IN-MAKERFIELD

54 

Dog Dieting 

Your dog isn’t starting the month worried 

about zipping up their jeans. But if a check 

on their waistline shows that they are 

carrying a few extra pounds, it’s time for to 

you to address the problem for the sake of 

their health. 

Studies have shown that overweight dogs 

don’t live as long and are more prone to 

illnesses that spoil their quality of life. All 

those little extra treats you’ve been giving 

them could mean there’s a genuine risk of 

killing your pet with kindness. 

There’s no BMI chart for dogs, so you need 

to look at body shape and assess body fat. 

Viewed from above, does your dog have a 

waist where their body tapers after the ribcage? Can you 

feel your dog’s ribs or do they have a potbelly? 

Increasing exercise will not be enough on its own, so you 

should plan a trip to the vet. Not only will they assess 

how overweight they are, they’ll check if any medical 

conditions are causing the extra pounds or will prevent 

weight loss. Furthermore the vet can provide a special 

calorie-controlled food. 

Keep a note of everything – including table scraps and 

treats – that your dog eats for a few days. A dog that does 

not seem to eat much dog food probably still has an 

appetite for sausages and biscuits! 

If you’ve reached the stage that your pet actually looks 

plump, it’s going to take quite a while to reach their target 

weight, so stick with it. 

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55 

January 

Blues 

The Great Outdoors 

The ongoing pandemic is challenging 

the best of us when it comes to keeping 

our spirits up, but even without this the 

shorter daylight hours of winter can 

have a huge effect on how we feel. It’s 

not good for us or for those around us 

to feel perpetually negative, so it’s 

time to take action. 

Spending time outdoors each day is crucial to tackling 

winter blues. Exercise and laughter both stimulate and 

boost endorphins, those wonderful feel-good chemicals 

in our bodies that help to lift our mood. Furthermore, 

spending an hour or two away from the news will distract 

you from negative feelings through the rest of the day. 

It’s Not All About You 

Our social lives have been considerably curtailed since 

March 2020 but contact with other people is so important. 

When you are feeling down, you might feel you don’t 

want to bother your friends and family. But imagine if 

they asked to speak to you? You’d be unlikely to say no, 

so flip that on its head and remember that they are likely 

to be glad to hear from you too! Video calls are a real 

blessing for distanced interactions, but even just a phone 

call will cheer you. 

Even better, instead of a phone call, a short walk around 

the block for an in-person catch-up is likely to find 

conversation flowing more easily. If you are on your own, 

go somewhere that other people are – a park, the seaside 

or one of the National Trust gardens. 

Maybe It’s Really SAD 

Over two million people in the UK are affected by Seasonal 

Affective Disorder (SAD). The low levels of light during 

the winter months can cause a range of symptoms, from 

slowing down and lacking energy right through to severe 

depression. Other symptoms include feeling gloomy, 

lethargic and experiencing feelings of being unable to 

carry out our normal routine. 

Light therapy in the form of a lightbox has been shown 

to be helpful for many sufferers, but any exposure to light 

will help: a lunchtime walk or sitting near a window when 

indoors. 

Read All About It…Or Not 

Reading about ‘the blues’ can help as it’ll reassure you that 

you aren’t on your own. Seeing a post on a user forum 

from someone with a similar problem and reading the 

encouraging and sympathetic replies will be a comfort to 

you. “A problem shared is a problem halved” as the saying 

goes. 

On the other hand, if the news depresses you and social 

media makes you feel like everyone else is living their 

best life, switch it off. When someone boasts about how 

amazing their life is right now, it’s really not going to 

cheer you up. 

Summer’s Coming 

OK, admittedly that’s stretching it a bit in January. But 

each day has been getting a few minutes longer since the 

21st December so there is – literally – light at the end of 

the tunnel.

56 

Helping your child to get their 

5 a day 

Fruit + vegetables + kids isn’t always a match made in heaven. 

These tips might help to make meal times less stressful. 

Don’t let dinner become a battle field 

Studies have shown that putting pressure on kids to eat 

can actually lead to worse eating habits a couple of years 

down the line. Try to make sure you’re sitting down to 

eat as a family at least a few times a week and don’t let 

the tension build up until you’re all just focusing on how 

much (or how little) your child is eating. 

Ultimately, you want your child to have a healthy longterm 

relationship with food. That’s going to be so much 

harder if they end up getting anxious about dinner time. 

And remember that we all have food we hate, even as 

adults. So if they really despise something, move on. 

Try raw 

Kids often prefer the taste or texture of raw vegetables 

over cooked. My children, for example, will happily munch 

on raw carrots and peppers, but loathe cooked ones. 

Some vegetables shouldn’t be eaten raw (like potatoes) 

but most can be, even ones like broccoli. 

When you are cooking vegetables, it’s worth trying 

different methods. My daughter hates steamed kale, but 

loves crispy kale (chopped up, tossed in olive 

oil and roasted in the oven for 5-10 minutes). 

Boost with multivitamins 

Multivitamins don’t replace the need for a healthy diet, 

but they can provide a handy boost. Look for ones that 

include Vitamin D, as our bodies struggle to absorb 

enough of it during winter. 

Bassetts chewable multivitamins tend to be popular with 

kids. Another option is Kendakids Vita-Boost Shakes, 

which are fortified with twenty-three vitamins (including 

vitamin D). You mix the powder with warm water (it’s a bit 

like making up a bottle of baby formula). There are three 

flavours to choose from. The chocolate one is basically a 

healthier version of hot chocolate, but my son swears the 

strawberry is by far the best. See www.kendamil.com. 

Blend it up 

Children often complain about ‘bits’, whether it’s the 

seeds in granary bread or pieces of mushroom in a pasta 

sauce. Blending soups and sauces until they’re smooth 

can work wonders. 

Let them help themselves 

Keep your fruit bowl within reach of children over three, 

so that they can help themselves when they want a snack. 

You could also keep a snack box of chopped up carrots, 

peppers, cucumbers etc. on a low shelf of the fridge. 

Give them a choice 

If you can, involve your child in shopping, and 

let them pick out some fruits and vegetables 

that they want to try. You could also help them 

to grow some of their own, even if it’s just 

strawberries on a windowsill. When it comes to 

meal times, try offering your child a choice of 

a few different vegetables sometimes, so they 

feel that they have some control. And when 

you have time, involve them in preparing 

dinner and then praise them for how tasty the 

food is.

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58 

What is Tinnitus? 

By Darren Glancey of Wigan Hearing 

Tinnitus is an abnormal noise (or noises) that you can hear, however the noise does not come from outside your 

ear. Some of the noises that people can hear include ringing, buzzing, whistles, roaring, and humming. Tinnitus 

can be either constant or come and go and it can vary in loudness and character. You can hear the noise or noises 

in one ear or in both ears, making it difficult to pinpoint where the noise is coming from. 

The noise is often more prominent when you are in a 

quiet place, as there is less background noise to distract 

you, such as when you are in bed and trying to get to 

sleep. It may also be more noticeable when you are tired. 

Some people with tinnitus are also more sensitive to 

normal everyday sounds; the radio or TV can be painfully 

loud when it is at a normal volume for most other people. 

Tinnitus red flags 

· Pulsatile tinnitus 

· Tinnitus in association with significant vertigo 

· Unilateral tinnitus 

· Tinnitus in association with asymmetric hearing loss 

· Tinnitus causing psychological distress 

· Tinnitus in association with significant neurological 

symptoms and/or signs 

It is though that around 10% of the population experience 

tinnitus and both sexes are equally affected and although 

tinnitus is more common in the elderly it can occur at 

any age, including childhood. Most tinnitus is mild, and 

it is relatively rare for it to develop into a chronic problem 

of life-altering severity. The natural history of tinnitus in 

most patients is of an acute phase of distress when the 

problem begins, followed by improvement over time. 

But for a minority of patients the distress is ongoing and 

significant, and they will require specialist support. 

For reasons that are not clear tinnitus and sensorineural 

hearing loss can give rise to a blocked feeling in the 

ears despite normal middle ear pressure and eardrum 

mobility; and therefore, decongestants and antibiotics 

are rarely helpful. 

It is all too common to hear that patients have been 

told nothing can be done about tinnitus. Such negative 

statements are not only unhelpful but also tend to focus 

the patient’s attention on their tinnitus and exacerbate 

the distress. And whilst there is no direct role for drugs, 

they can be used to treat associated symptoms such as 

vertigo, insomnia, anxiety or depression. Referral routes 

vary and will depend on local protocols, but in most 

cases, referrals are directed to ENT or audiology services. 

Tinnitus prevalence is greater amongst people with 

hearing impairment but the severity of the tinnitus 

correlates poorly with the degree of hearing loss. Hearing 

aids are helpful if there is associated hearing loss and 

straining to listen can allow tinnitus to emerge or, if 

already present, to worsen. Correcting any hearing loss 

reduces listening effort and generally reduces the level of 

the tinnitus. Hearing aids are useful even if the hearing 

loss is relatively mild and at a level where aids would 

not normally be considered. Some modern hearing 

aids have sound therapy devices incorporated within 

the aid specifically for tinnitus patients. In our view, all 

people who describe tinnitus deserve an audiological 

assessment. Decisions on when to start using a hearing 

aid and what sort to use are up to the individual patient 

and audiologist. 

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not 

be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.

59 

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60 

The best new SUVs 

for under £30,000 

AFTER AN SUV BUT DON’T WANT TO BREAK THE BANK? WHY NOT TRY THESE OPTIONS? 

The SUV segment is one that seems to be showing 

no signs of slowing down when it comes to 

popularity. They’re being snapped up thick and 

fast thanks to good practicality levels and that allimportant 

high driving position. 

But they’re often not cheap. However, there is a 

way to get into a new SUV without stretching the 

budget too far – so we’ve set a cap of £30,000. Let’s 

see what’s on offer. 

MAZDA CX-5 

An SUV is not often the type of car you go to for a true ‘drivers’ 

experience; they can be heavy, a little detached and not overly 

involving. The CX-5, however, is a car that goes against the 

grain – somehow Mazda has made this big SUV a genuinely 

good car to drive. It’s smart to look at and smart inside too, 

while all of the materials feel of a high quality. It’s also well 

put together and standard equipment levels are good – all for 

well under our £30,000 budget. 

HONDA CR-V 

Honda’s CR-V is a space-age looking SUV that stands out from 

the crowd thanks to plenty of quirky design touches, such as 

wraparound LED headlights and funky chrome sections. It’s 

practical, well-made and spacious too. Like the Kodiaq, there’s 

a seven-seater option as well. 

Only available with either a petrol or hybrid setup, the CR-V 

does lack the diesel option that is often preferred in this 

segment, but it counters with a great driving experience and 

frugal around-town motoring.

61 

SKODA KODIAQ 

The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the go-to choices when it comes 

to budget SUVs. It’s spacious, practical and it looks good too 

– but more importantly, it comes loaded with equipment yet 

won’t break the bank. 

Prices start for a smidge over £25,000 which, given the 

Kodiaq offers a refined driving experience and seven-seater 

flexibility, isn’t bad at all in our minds. 

PEUGEOT 5008 

If you’re after a different-looking SUV then step this way 

towards the Peugeot 5008, arguably one of the most 

distinctive cars of its type on the market today. Prices start 

from just over £28,000, and for that you’re getting plenty of 

standard equipment and an interior that really does feel a 

class above the rest in terms of styling. 

It too has seven seats – matching the CR-V and Kodiaq’s 

offerings – which adds another string to the 5008’s already 

well-strung bow. 

RENAULT KADJAR 

Renault’s Kadjar is one of the best cars on this list in terms 

of budget, thanks to a starting price of just under £22,000. 

For that, you’re getting a good-looking SUV with smart 

styling and a well-appointed interior, along with the choice 

of efficient petrol or diesel engines. 

It recently had a refresh too, only helping to sharpen the 

way it looks, and is packed with technology and assistance 

systems. 

NISSAN QASHQAI 

The Nissan Qashqai is one of the go-to cars in this segment 

– it’s been one of the most popular SUVs in the UK for some 

time now, where its excellent value and good practicality 

levels have won many drivers over. 

The most recent Qashqai has been around for some time now 

– and it’s due to be replaced soon – but it still represents a 

real bargain considering prices start at £23,450.

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64 

Forget New Year 

Resolutions 

Award Winner 

Happy New Year everyone. Let’s look forward and hope 

we get some normality back into to our lives, 2020 was 

a tough year. This year, more than any other we could do 

without focusing on dreary new year resolutions which 

are usually based on depressing deprivation. Instead 

let’s plan ahead and dream of new and exciting projects, 

holidays and celebrations spent with families and friends. 

I have a garden notebook and at this time of year I sit 

down and write a list of all the things I would like to 

achieve in the coming year. Here are some of the things 

on my list which may inspire you to start planning your 

outside space and to dream of happier times to come: 

New plants to buy (there is always room to 

squidge one more plant in a border) 

Gilenia trifoliata - a lovely perennial covered in star 

shaped white flowers in summer 

Lychnis coronaria - magenta flowers which float above 

clumps of silver grey leaves 

Seeds to order 

Tomato ‘Oh Happy Day’ - I’ve not grown this tomato 

before but they are said to be blight resistant with lots 

of flavour 

Courgettes – if only to prove to Hubby that you CAN stuff 

the flowers with cream cheese and eat them 

Lupinus ‘The Pages’ – if you like cottage garden planting 

then this is one for you. It has spires of red pea-like flowers. 

by Angie Barker 

Beware slugs will go 

for young plants so 

only plant out in 

borders when they 

are a good size 

Visits 

Broughton House – 

a two acre garden in 

Moreton In Marsh. A 

gorgeous garden which I plan to visit in late summer (not 

told Hubby yet) 

Chelsea Flower Show. This always coincides with our 

wedding anniversary in May which is handy because it 

means Hubby never forgets and always buys me a glass 

of fizz. I really needed cheering up one dark day last 

November so I ordered the tickets – and well, if you’re 

going to London you may as well spend a few days down 

there and visit the National Gallery and take in a show. 

(Again not told Hubby yet) 

Projects 

Buy a solar water fountain, a glazed pot (without drainage 

holes) and some pebbles and assemble for a home made 

water feature. I saw a lady do this on telly during the first 

lockdown – brilliant! 

Well I’ve enjoyed sharing my plans with you and hope I’ve 

given you food for thought – and let’s face it, this year our 

new year resolutions can always be tackled at Easter. 

Angie is a qualified awardwinning 

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plants. 

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Tel: 07714 596648 

www.kineylandscapes.co.uk 

info@kineylandscapes.co.uk 

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After 

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Brian 07760 160 988 

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67 

feLLed 

tOpped 

pruned 

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Our aim is to deliver a creative, 

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fencInG 

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turfInG 

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Paving 

Turfing 

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Planting 

Creative solutions for all 

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or 01942 512 635 

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MOBILE 

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All tree work including 

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• Turfing & 

Artificial 

Grass 

MAN 

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68 

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or phone 03454 040506 

and ask for Wigan Council’s Good Trader Scheme. 

we do 

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Check out before & after pics here; 

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prices start from £45 

let us clean your oven so you don’t have to! 

professional oven cleaning 

environmentally friendly 

we’ll restore your oven to near showroom condition! 

call Steven today on 07393 818 392 

www.ovenrescue.co.uk/wigan 

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service 

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LocalLife


rural Vi lage 

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paediatric 

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rated by 

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as 

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69 

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01942 470 089 

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ROOF CLEANING 

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joanne@acleanbreak.co.uk 

www.acleanbreak.co.uk/wigan 




Call 01695 627 999 



















01257 252647 


Power 

PB Washing 

PROFESSIONAL EXTERNAL 

CLEANING 

• Driveways - Cleaning & Sealing 

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Stoves & Fireplaces Swept 

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07736 396 374 

www.pbpowerwashing.co.uk 

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70 

Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 


Carpet & Upholstery 

Cleaning 

• traditional service, state of the art results • 

• Carpets 

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Upholstery 


5 star rating with Wigan Trading 

Standards Good Trader Scheme 

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& no obligation quote 

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Mobile - 07908 770808 

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New Name - 

Same Fantastic Cleans! 

• Carpets - Quick Drying 

includes moving furniture for you 

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FREE Test clean to see the results 

• Curtains - Hassle free 

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• Rugs 

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today for 

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www.alliancecleaningsystems.co.uk 

e: sales@alliancecleaningsystems.co.uk 

Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 



• Professional Carpet, Rug 

& Upholstery Cleaning 

• Leather Cleaning & Restoration 

• FREE Pre-Inspection Visit & Quotation 

T: 01942 409401 

M: 07881 816839 

helen@carrolls-cleaning.co.uk 

W.Hurst & Son Ltd 

ELECTRIC 

CONTRACTOR 

www.whurstandson.co.uk 

• All types of electrical work 

• 35+ years experience 

• No job too small 

• Friendly and reliable 

For a free quote 

& advice call Jeff 

01695 622 191 

07850 622 191

71 

Whatever your electrical needs, 

GHE have the answer! 

Complete re-wires 

New/moving sockets 

All lighting needs 

Burglar Alarm systems 

CCTV systems 

Security Light installations 

PAT testing & inspections 

No Job too Small 

Domestic and commercial work welcomed 

Suite 1A, Kirkless Industrial Estate 

Cale Lane, Wigan, WN2 1HF 

Jon Wright 

Electrical Ltd 

All types of 

Domestic & Commercial 

work undertaken 

• Inspection & Tests 

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• Solar PV 

• Alarms 

Call now on: 07983 387448 

Email: jonwrightelec@live.co.uk 

Certificate of excellence winner 

2017, 2018 & 2019 

Call us today for friendly advice and a free quote. 

01942 836 937 www.ghewigan.co.uk 

Call: 0800 6446100 

or 07904 127663 

Covering all North West Areas 

4 NAPIT part ‘P’ registered 

4 JIB Approved Technician 

4 38 Years Experience 

4 Local, Honest & Reliable 

4 Domestic 

4 Industrial & Commercial 

J.Dillon 

Electrical Services Ltd 

Electrician ~ Standish 

• All types of electrical work 

• 30+ years experience 

• Friendly, fast and reliable 

• 24 hour call out service 

Call: 01257 424918 

or 07821 139826 

www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk 

A.J.S. 

BAILEYS 

ELECTRICAL 

All electrical work undertaken 

Free quotations 

• Friendly reliable service 

• Mains board upgrades 

• Extra sockets to full rewires 

01942 215 769 

07739 709 005 

a Installation & Maintenance 

a Inspection & Testing 

a Nest Pro Installer 

a CCTV & Alarms 

Orrell based 

Tel: 07738 117712

for 

as 

72 

Call Paul 

Locksmiths 

EstablishEd 2000 

• uPVC & WOOdEN dOOR sPECialist 

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• all Work Guaranteed 

a Registered insured NCFE Certified Company 

call Paul for a Fast, Reliable, 

Professional service 

tELEPhoNE 

01942 901103 

moBiLE 

07932 718 362 

WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK 







01942 215 391 

8-10 Gathurst Road, O re l, WN5 8QH 


10% off 

Presen 



Put your 

hearing 

first with 






rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 



For more information 

Call 01695 627 999 

















01257 252647 



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• PC Experts 

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Broadband broken, computer slow 

printer packed up, virus/spyware or 

your keyboards gone kaput 

Bodtree Systems fix all types of PC problems 

in the comfort of your own home 

Call Catherine Now 

07540 222787 

Tel: 01744 778381 - 01942 418763 

gArAge door 

repAirS 

All gArAge 

doorS 

repAired: 

Springs, Cables, 

Locks, Rollers etc. 

Doors of all ages 

repaired 

01744 894939 / 07891 330214 

NO FIX, NO CHARGE! 

Strawberry Cottage, 

Pimbo Lane, Upholland 

WN8 9QL 

www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk 

We repair: 

4 Phones & Tablets 

4 Laptops & PC’s 

4 Gaming Consoles 

4 Apple Watches 

We also build 

gaming PC’s to all 

specifications. 

If we 

can’t fix it, 

no one 

can! 

QUALITY service 

FREE estimates 

FAST turnaround 

Call the Tech Guys on 01744 410554 

or email info@techguys360.co.uk 

www.techguys360.co.uk 

1st Floor, Rainford Parish Council Offices, 

Church Rd, Rainford, St. Helens WA11 8HB 

Alarm installations, 

repairs & upgrades 

Domestic and commercial 

work welcome 

Free security assessment provided 

Emergency lock openings 

Lock changes 

No call-out charges 

24-hour service 

60 mins response 

Call 01942 669505 

www.uklocksandalarms.co.uk 

info@ianwalkerservices.co.uk 

Over 70 Lancashire 

Walks 


Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 





for 

as 

AJH DECORATORS 

Painting and Decorating 

Quality work 

assured 

Over 30 years 

experience 

Free quotes 

Mobile: 

07784 876 338 

Email: 

ajhdecorators66@gmail.com 

Quality work at a 

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• Quality workmanship 

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or 07707 321383 

Need a new 

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Skilled interior and 

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Chris Smith - Painter and 

Decorator 

01257 415388 

or 07545 065119 

Shevington based business 

4 Exterior & Interior 

Decorating 

4 Domestic & 

Commercial work 

undertaken 

4 Competitive rate 

Award Winner 

Contact Graham now 

free estimate provided 

01257 426 234 

graham@topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk 

73 

J&P 

MOORCROFT 

LTD 

Professional Painting 

and Decorating 

• Domestic & Commercial 

Work 

• Interior & Exterior work 

welcomed 

• Old/listed buildings a 

speciality 

Call us today for a free quotation 

Home Service available 

Choose from 1000s of paint & 

paper samples in the comfort of 

our own home 

01942 212096 

07831 102 511 

www.jpmoorcroft.com 

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Call 01695 627 999 

www.topcoatdecoratingservices.co.uk 









01942 215 391 

8-10 Gathurst Road, O re l, WN5 8QH 


10% off 

Presen 



Put your 

hearing 

first with 






rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l staff 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 

LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 



For more information 

Call 01695 627 999 

















01257 252647 



Fully 

qualified 

& 

Insured 

Plasterer. 

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL 

All plastering work 

undertaken including: 

• All types of rendering • Skimming 

• Dry lining • Basement tanking 

• Damp proof courses 

Call Westley Gillett for a 

FREE no obligation quote 

01257 413206 

or 07802 710685 

Des Pilling 

Plastering 

• Plastering 

• Skimming 

• Artexing 

Coving & Cornice work 

also welcomed 

Orrell based – Established 1986 

Call Des on 

07787 513 235 

www.lakelandplastering.co.uk 

www.despilling.org.uk

74 

• Business Telephone 

Systems 

• Voip & Structured Cabling 

• Residential Extensions 

• Faults & Gen Enq 

Tel: 01942 441221 

Askus@LJTelecomServices.co.uk 

www.LJTelecomServices.com 

Aerial & Sky 

Services 

RX-12 Digital TV Aerials 

£65 supplied & fitted 

Aerial Multi-room System 

at £45 per room 

TV Wall Mounting Service 

Level 5 in Signal Path & Fault 

Diagnostics 

Domestic 

& Commercial 

work welcomed 

30+ years 

experience 

01942 257804 

07966 488585 

Call anytime for a quote or email: 

andyaerial@blueyonder.co.uk 

• TV Aerials Installed 

• TV Wall Mounting 

• Telephone Lines 

• Setup Service 

Ring Paul on 

01942 514 532 

07709 490 095 

www.aerialandskyservices.co.uk 

Convert your bath to a 

Walk-In Shower 

Specialists in 

Replacement 

Double 

Glazed Units 

Ring with sizes for 

a FREE estimate 

Open 7 days 8am - 8pm 

Established Local Family Company 

01942 470 085 

0800 328 8573 

www.steamywindows.net 

• Conservatory repairs 

• Locks, handles and hinges 

• Replacement glass 

• Windows and doors installed 

• Replacement conservatory 

roofs 

Call MARK now on 

01942 737 381 

0776 315 1720 

conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com 

www.fixmyconservatory.com 

AJC 

WALK IN SHOWERS 

Typical price 

£1800 

Fully guaranteed 

One day installation 

No mess - no fuss 

Easy to clean & maintain 

Call Anthony on 

07919 876 825 

Workshop address: 

Bulldog Tools Ind. Est. 

Darlington Street East Wigan WN1 3BT 

We also fit full bathrooms!


rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 

A l sta f 

paediatric 

& first aid 

QUALIFIED 

oPEN 

Mon-Fri 

8AM-6PM 

FUNDED 

PLACES 

Available for 

2/3/4 

year olds 

£37.50 

per day 


LANgUAgE 

& SPortS 

LESSoNS 

for 

pre-schoolers 

Large 

outdoor 

PLAY ArEA 

rated by 

oFStED 

as 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 

Plumbing & Heating 

Specialist 

Complete Bathrooms 

Elite 

Bathrooms 

& Wet Room Installation 

Great Value 

Bathrooms! 

75 

John Bailey 

01942 495785 

or 07721 040620 

& 07710 153238 

Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan 

Bathroom Installation, 

Full Bathrooms & 

En-Suites 

Plumbing Services 

Wall & Floor Tiling 

Ceiling Panelling 

01942 397173 

07803 057940 

Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan 

www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk 

• Bathrooms • Wet Rooms 

• Wall & Floor Tiling 

Please call for a FREE Estimates 

07703 448890 

01942 208926 

StoveS 

by Andy 

Save £££’s on 

your install 

• InStallatIonS 

• MaIntenance 

• ServIcIng 

For a free quote and expert 

advice call Andy on 

01257 369 685 

07899 752 225 

stovesbyandy@gmail.com 

Full Bathrooms 

& En-Suites 

Showers, Trays & Cubicles 

Relocation of Bathroom Suites 

25 years bathroom experience 

Call Chris now for a free quotation 

C L Bathrooms 

01942 749085 

or 07801 295483 

www.clbathrooms.co.uk 




Call 01695 627 999 



















01257 252647 

www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com


rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 


A l sta f 


paediatric 


& first aid 

2/3/4 

for 

QUALIFIED 


oPEN 

Large 

£37.50 

Mon-Fri 

outdoor 

per day 

8AM-6PM 

PLAY ArEA 


rated by 

oFStED 

as 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 

76 

• Brand New Bathrooms 

• Boiler + Central Heating 

Installs, Servicing + Repairs 

• Extended warranties 

available 

• 24 Hour Call-out 

• Domestic + Commercial 

Freephone: 

0300 3030121 

Dave: 07769 942218 

Matt: 07969 183809 

506515 

FINANCE 

OPTIONS 

AVAILABLE 

21 Naburn Drive, Orrell wN5 8SB 

Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk 

www.orrellheating.co.uk 




Call 01695 627 999 



















01257 252647 


Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 


4 Boiler Servicing & 

Maintenance 

4 All aspects of 

plumbing and 

heating work. 


4 Gas Safety Inspection 

reports undertaken. 

FULL BOILER 

SERVICE 

FROM JUST £58 

Call MIKE on 

0787 113 1012 

Established since 1967 

WIGAn BASEd 

10238 

AGBathrooms.net 

Quality bathrooms at 

reasonable prices 

Complete bathroom 

installations from design 

to completion. 

For free quotes, call Adrian on 

07816 394 292 

Check out our work on 

www.AGBathrooms.net 

Over 70 Lancashire 

Walks 




A Genuine Family Run Business 

With Friendly & Courteous Staff 

SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES 

• Annual Boiler Servicing 

• Landlord & Home Owner Gas Safety Checks 

• Mechanical Power Flushing 

• Thermostatic Valves Radiators Fitted 

• All-in-One Air Conditioning & Heating Units for Home & Work 

Telephone: 01942 504 429 

TEL: 01257 421 660 MOB: 07515 505 501 

Accredited Installer & Service Partner 

WE REPAIR ALL 

MAKES OF BOILERS! 

Registration No. 

88604 

www.fgwelch.co.uk

77 

ShOwROOM NOw OpEN at 19 Preston Road, Standish WN6 0HP 

All plumbing services 

including services & repairs 

• Bathrooms/Wet Rooms designed and fitted 

• Specialists in Disability 

Installations & Conversions 

• Emergency Call outs welcome 

BOILER 

SERVICING 

FROM 

£60 

www.gphwigan.co.uk 

No Obligation Quotes – Call Mark on 

01257 473026 

07515 894281 

527090 

EmErgEncy call outs 

wElcomEd 

Installation ~ Repairs ~ Service 

Central Heating Systems 

Boilers & Gas Appliances 

General Plumbing 

Gas Safety Certificates 

Call Andy for a free quote on 

01942 564 226 

07397 391 935 

acampbellheatingandgas 

597379 

Pay nothing upfront for 

your new boiler* 

• Boilers 

servicing, repairs & installation 

• Central Heating 

upgrades and energy saving 

• Smart Controls 

installations & upgrades 

*Subject to terms and conditions 

4622825 

Call Craig for a free quote; 

07469 185 776 

or email 

enquiries@warmconnections.co.uk 

4 Installations, Services 

& Repairs 

4 Boilers 

4 Central Heating 

Bathrooms 

4 573747 

Call nico for a free quote on 

07818 335 441 

• Most aspects of 

plumbing and heating 

• No job too small 

No 

• Quality work call out 

guaranteed fee 

• Local and reliable 

Ring Ken for a free quote 

01695 624769 or 

07909 734978 

651511 

Boiler Installation 

Boiler Servicing & Repairs 

Boiler Finance Available 

Landlords Gas Safety Reports 

Experienced, Reliable & Friendly Service 

BOILER 

SERVICES 

FROM 

£60 

Credit Cards accepted 

01942 221 996 

07769 203 056 

hartheatingwigan@gmail.com 

Winstanley-based

78 

GDR Driveways 

ALL ASPECTS OF PAVING & tuRfING 

4 Block Paving 

Clean & Re-seal 

4 Indian Stone 

service available 

4 Flagging 

4 Turfing 

4 Artificial Grass 

JJ Driveways 

Imprinted Concrete 

Specialists 

Huge range of colours 

& patterns 

• Resin Driveways 

• Block Paving 

• Indian Stone 

• Flagging 

We can also revive 

your old drive! 

Ask about our sealing 

service 

Call Joe for a 

free quotation on 

01942 621 959 

07867 697 972 

www.jjdriveways.co.uk 

Winstanley-based 

www.gdrdriveways.com 

Call Gareth for a fREE quotation: 01942 217 113 or 07715 177 754 

HANDS ON 

Property Maintenance 

& Handyman Services 

3 Kitchens & Bathrooms 

3 Painting & Decorating 

3 Joinery 

3 Electrical 

3 Building 

3 Paving, Decking 

& Fencing 

3 Tiling 

3 Plumbing 

Telephone Keith on 

07812 110476 

Handy 

Andy 

Building / Joinery 

Plastering / Tiling 

Plumbing / Roofing 

Flatpack Assembly 

Call Handy Andy on 

01257 369 685 

07899 752 225 

tradesbyandy@gmail.com 

All 

jobs 

considered 

No job 

too 

small! 

Quality Handyman Service from a qualified Joiner 

Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 



4 Flat-packs assembled 

4 Laminated Flooring laid 

4 Door Hanging 

All aspects of maintenance; 

And so much more.. 

4 Electrical appliances fitted 

4 TV Mounting 

4 Garden Maintenance 

01942 387 090 / 07568 195 033 

Fixouse Property Maintenance 

fixouse@gmail.com


rural Vi lage 

NUrSErY 


A l sta f 


paediatric 


& first aid 

2/3/4 

for 

QUALIFIED 


oPEN 

Large 

£37.50 

Mon-Fri 

outdoor 

per day 

8AM-6PM 

PLAY ArEA 


rated by 

oFStED 

as 

oUtStANDINg 

We cater for 

CHILDrEN 

3 months 

- 4 years 

NEWLY 

rEFUrBISHED 

in 2019 

Superior 

craftmanship at 

competitive rates 

• Home improvements 

• Loft conversions 

• Garage conversions 

& Extensions 

• Staircases 

• Windows & Doors 

For all aspects of renovations 

and maintenance - 

no job too small! 

For a free quote, 

call MT Joinery now. 

01257 422317 

or 07852 202867 

www.mtjoinery.co.uk 




Call 01695 627 999 



















01257 252647 


Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 


28 Years Experience 

Extensions & Refurbishments 

Kitchens & Bathrooms 

Conservatories & Orangeries 

Windows & Doors 


Roofs & Fascia Boards 

Decking & Balustrading 

All aspects of building works 

No job too small 

Call Peter for a free quotation 

Day: 07961 516 677 

Eve: 01942 745 428 

Cambridge Road, Orrell 

Prices include 

suPPly & fit 

Orrell 

based 

6 Doors 

from 

£350 

Oak Door 

from 

£130 

Joinery services include; 

gates, decking, flooring, skirting, 

handrails and balustrades, kitchen 

makeovers, loft boarding and 

ladders, fencing, external doors 

and garden buildings. 

79 

call Mike for a free quote 

01942 590514 

07988 260621 

www.orrelljoinery.co.uk 

Promote your 



Call 01695 627 999 



ALPINE LTD 

Roofing & Building Services 

OAP 

DISCOUNTS 

SERVING 

CHORLEY, WEST 

LANCASHIRE & 

WIGAN 

Your local roofing company from repairs 

to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters. 

• Flat roof specialists 

• Damp proof specialists 

• Quality workmanship 

• Affordable pricing 

• Quick response to all repairs 

FULLY INSURED 

Tel: 01942 410989 

Mob: 07730 351523 

www.alpineroofingandbuildingltd.co.uk

80 

Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements! 

Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters 

We specialise in seamless 

aluminium gutters. 

Clean, stylish and guaranteed 

for 25 years! 

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 

www.orrellroofline.co.uk 

K Stone 

Building Services 

All types of building 

work undertaken 

• Brickwork 

• Pointing 

• Garden Walls 

• Patios 

25 years 

experience 

• Roof Repairs 

• Flagging 

• Alterations 

• Driveways 

01942 495412 

07974 496676 

Home 

Improvements 

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call David on... 

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DS Joinery 

PP 

Your 

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Facebook Review, July 2018

NEIL SIMPSON 

BUILDER 

Can’t find a reliable local 

builder?...look no further 

brickwork 

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plastering 

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all types of building work undertaken 

garden construction 

garden walls patios 

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pergolas 

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07939 961190 (day) 

or 01942 230402 (eve) 

• All aspects of home 

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Tel: 01257 401 243 

Mob: 0777 602 4045 

SpeakmanpropertyServiceS.com 

First Class 

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4 All types of re-roofs 

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4 Built up felt/flat roofs, 

dormers etc. 

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fascias, soffits 

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ROOFING & REPAIRS 

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MOBILE: 07774 943 706 

52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, 

UP HOLLAND 

Established Over 30 Years 

B.A. 

Berry 

Building & Roofing 

Specialists 

• All building work undertaken. 

• From a broken tile to a full 

re roof. 

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07968 652 320 

www.baberry.co.uk 

WILSON 

BROS 

• • 

Est. 1985 

Roofing & Roofline 

Specialists 

• All aspects of 

maintenance & repair 

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installation 

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services 

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Colin: 07958 302 166 

Brian: 07760 160 988 

www.wilson-bros.co.uk 

All aspects of 

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Dormers and 

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Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist 

Guaranteed 50 years 

Call for free quote 

M: 07894 687 384 

81

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Come and visit the largest 

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Quality installations of windows, 

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First for quality 

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warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk 

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest 

rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and 

regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

84 

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today! 

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value 

Windows 

Bi-Fold Doors 

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

www.orrellwindows.co.uk 

28544

Local Life - Wigan - January 2021

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