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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Edition<br />
<strong>May</strong>/<strong>Jun</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
WIN<br />
Tickets to<br />
Live Show!<br />
Jack’s Tracks visits<br />
Crank<br />
Pages 46-48<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>’ Civic Pride<br />
Pages 15-18<br />
Rainford’s Music Maestro<br />
Pages 44-45<br />
Create a Relaxing Bathroom Oasis<br />
Pages 26-27<br />
WFH? Update your Home Office<br />
Page 30<br />
LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | WALKS | COMPETITIONS | HOME & GARDEN SERVICES
2<br />
Luxury Coach Holidays & Excursions<br />
Here’s a small sample of our luxury coach holidays and day excursions<br />
Luxury HoLidays<br />
Isle of Wight<br />
5 days £355<br />
12th July ~ Dinner, B&B<br />
Ocean View Hotel is an<br />
attractive 3 star hotel<br />
situated in a prime cliff top<br />
location looking out across<br />
Sandown Bay.<br />
What’s included:<br />
3 Home Pick Up<br />
3 Executive Coach Travel<br />
3 Indoor swimming pool<br />
3 Entertainment every night<br />
3 Excursions to Newport,<br />
The Needles, Yarmouth and<br />
Godshill<br />
Luxury HoLidays<br />
Norfolk<br />
5 days £539<br />
6th <strong>Jun</strong>e ~ Dinner, B&B<br />
Located in the picturesque<br />
seaside town of Old Hunstanton<br />
on the North Norfolk coast,<br />
Le <strong>St</strong>range Arms Hotel is the<br />
perfect venue for the ultimate<br />
relaxing seaside break.<br />
What’s included:<br />
3 Home Pick-up<br />
3 Executive Coach Travel<br />
3 Norfolk Broad Cruise<br />
3 Coach excursions to Wells-<br />
Next-the-Sea, Sheringham and<br />
Thursford<br />
3 Train Journey to Sandringham<br />
for more details about our luxury coach holidays, call 01942 728 960<br />
for a holiday brochure or visit www.memorylanetravel.co.uk<br />
Our SPaCIOuS aND COMfOrTaBLE<br />
LuxurY COaCHES HavE;<br />
3 Full air-conditioning<br />
3 Onboard entertainment system with DVD screens and WiFi<br />
3 Individual Reclining Seats fitted with Seat Belts, Foot & Arm Rests<br />
3 Toilet facilities, fridge, sink and boiler<br />
3 Huge luggage space with driver assistance<br />
day Excursions<br />
Springtime in York<br />
Sunday 30th <strong>May</strong> ~ £20 p.p.<br />
Arriving in this beautiful city<br />
arriving at 10.30, we’ll have lots<br />
of time to visit the attractions and<br />
shops before leaving at 4pm.<br />
day Excursions<br />
Liverpool Bay<br />
Cruise & Shop<br />
Sunday 4th July ~ £29.50 p.p.<br />
We start the day at Liverpool One<br />
shopping centre and from there, we’ll make our way to<br />
the Pier Head for the Liverpool Bay Cruise.<br />
for more details about our day excursions, call 01942 728 960<br />
for an Excursion Supplement or visit www.memorylanetravel.co.uk<br />
All excursions will pick up from the closest main road to your home.<br />
Please note that this is a tiny selection of our luxury coach holidays and day excursions<br />
available – for more details call 01942 728 960 or visit www.memorylanetravel.co.uk<br />
01942 728960 • www.memorylanetravel.co.uk<br />
Moss Industrial Estate,<br />
William Way,<br />
Leigh WN7 3PT<br />
Memory Lane Holidays is a trading name of Ashcrofts Mini Travel Ltd. Company Number 06950361
3<br />
Interior Design Services<br />
Bay Windows Specialists<br />
Bespoke Curtains & Blinds<br />
Upholstery Services<br />
Proud stockists of<br />
Visit our showroom to view our fine selection of<br />
fabrics, wall coverings, paint<br />
and much more.<br />
Home consultations available<br />
Millan Interiors, 5/7 Mill Lane, Parbold WN8 7NW T: 01257 46 34 77<br />
Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri 10am-4pm • Thurs 10-1pm<br />
www.millaninteriors.co.uk
4<br />
With restrictions easing across the UK, life is<br />
slowly returning to normal. More relieved<br />
than most are the owners of businesses<br />
that have had to close their doors during the lockdowns,<br />
in particular those businesses in the hospitality, personal<br />
care and non-essential retail sector.<br />
Owners of small businesses like these often exist on next<br />
to nothing in their business’s formative years with the<br />
plan that rewards will follow if the business succeeds.<br />
During the pandemic, many businesses, particularly the<br />
newer ones, were faced with a life-changing ‘stick or<br />
twist’ decision. Some threw in their cards whilst others<br />
are hanging on in the hope that the easing of restrictions<br />
brings a change in fortunes. Your support can help.<br />
Let’s also be patient with our hospitality industry when<br />
it opens up. Ordering perishable supplies when there is<br />
no trading pattern of post-pandemic sales, training new<br />
staff to replace those who left, keeping customers safe by<br />
ensuring social distancing rules are in place, and having<br />
to keep records of everyone who walks through the door<br />
is not an easy task.<br />
Walking into your favourite pub and restaurant and<br />
expecting the quality of food and the ambience to be<br />
perfect from Day 1 post-lockdown is like expecting your<br />
team’s star player to be at peak form on the first day of<br />
pre-season training. To achieve perfection takes time.<br />
#bekind #shoplocal<br />
New Brand in store<br />
Chris Pearce, Publisher<br />
chrisp@locallife247.co.uk<br />
Click & Collect<br />
Free Shipping<br />
Keep in touch with the<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong> Team!<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Telephone: 01744 649722<br />
info@locallife247.co.uk<br />
locallifemagazine247@locallifemedia<br />
38 Church Road Rainford WA11 8HD<br />
01744 881 588 www.ellamora.co.uk<br />
/ellamora38<br />
38 Church Road Rainford WA11<br />
8HD Tel: 01744 881 588<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB<br />
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the<br />
publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss<br />
or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of<br />
this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd.
5<br />
This month’s highlights<br />
15. <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>’ Civic Spirit<br />
Contents<br />
28. Tech<br />
Check out the best kitchen gadgets.<br />
42. Puzzle Pages<br />
Try out our new word ladder!<br />
49. Outdoors<br />
Cycling with bionic legs<br />
50. Health<br />
Cope with stress and anxiety.<br />
26. Bathroom Oasis 30. Office Uplift<br />
52. Health<br />
Should you be taking supplements?<br />
56. Gardening<br />
Love your lawn.<br />
57. Home & Garden Services<br />
Find the best local traders for you.<br />
46. Jack’s Tracks visits Crank<br />
44. Music Maestro<br />
53. Switch to Electric<br />
Want to<br />
promote your<br />
business in<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong>?<br />
Next Issue - Jul/Aug <strong>2021</strong><br />
Advertising deadline - 23rd <strong>Jun</strong>e<br />
Published - 7th July<br />
01744 649722<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk
6<br />
Libraries Re-Open<br />
Five <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> libraries re-opened on 12th April as<br />
lockdown restrictions eased. <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Library, Chester<br />
Lane Library, Eccleston Library, Newton-le-Willows<br />
Library and Parr Library are now fully open for those<br />
residents who want to browse, borrow books and use the<br />
PC facilities.<br />
In addition, Click and Collect facilities are now available<br />
at Haydock Library, Moss Bank Library and Thatto Heath<br />
Library. These three sites will all offer essential computer<br />
access, which is available to book by appointment for up<br />
to 45 minutes at a time during opening hours. This is to<br />
assist with essential tasks such as study, access to benefits,<br />
searches for work and training opportunities.<br />
For library members wanting to use the Click and<br />
Collect service, you can view the catalogue here; https://<br />
sthlibrarieswp.koha-ptfs.co.uk/ and reserve up to 6 books<br />
for free.<br />
For latest information on the re-opening of other <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong> libraries, visit the Facebook page; www.facebook.<br />
com/STHLibraries<br />
Now fully<br />
open!<br />
Same day delivery when possible<br />
Shop instore, by phone or via website<br />
National &<br />
International<br />
01744 885 363<br />
29 Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HE<br />
Open: Monday - Saturdays, 8.30am - 5.30pm<br />
www.wendysflowers.co.uk<br />
In Bloom<br />
Community-minded Rainford residents are being urged<br />
to help Rainford in Bloom in their efforts to visually<br />
enhance the local area.<br />
Rainford in Bloom launched in 2014 and won awards from<br />
In Bloom from 2015-2018, before landing a Gold award<br />
in 2019 for the in the Large Village Category, the highest<br />
individual award available.<br />
The organising committee meets every month in the<br />
Rainford Village Hall and is supported by more than<br />
30 regular volunteers, including those from ‘Friends of<br />
Rainford <strong>St</strong>ation’. The volunteers work in groups that plan<br />
and manage specific projects, planting schemes and<br />
planters throughout the year.<br />
Each year the team looks to improve new areas while<br />
maintaining and developing existing projects.<br />
Rainford in Bloom is self-funded by donations from the<br />
community, fundraising events and applications for<br />
grants from various organisations and groups throughout<br />
the year.<br />
Volunteers don’t have to be expert gardeners. The team<br />
has a diverse range of skills including experienced<br />
gardeners and horticulturists, new gardeners, volunteers<br />
with building experience and also those with business<br />
expertise to help with fund raising and finance.<br />
To contact the group, either message them via<br />
their Facebook page @RainfordinBloom or email<br />
rainfordinbloom@gmail.com<br />
Volunteers Wanted<br />
<strong>St</strong> Aidan’s Church in Billinge is looking for volunteers to<br />
help tidy and improve the grounds around the church.<br />
The church’s aim is to make different spaces in the church<br />
grounds more relaxing and pleasant for those people<br />
who visit their loved ones resting places. They also want<br />
to plant areas with spring bulbs and some trees and<br />
shrubs.<br />
As part of the eco-Church awareness strategy, the church<br />
plans to erect bird boxes, bat boxes and other natural<br />
habitat areas to encourage our local wildlife.<br />
If anyone would like to contribute a few hours each week<br />
to help with these projects, please call Tracey Holland on<br />
01744 893905 or 07866 955 316.
7<br />
Monaco 3-seater settee + 2 chairs £1,799.<br />
3-seater settee + 2 seater settees £1,699.<br />
All products reclining and 3-seater settee has drop down back<br />
with drink holders. In grey only.<br />
Only<br />
2 weeks<br />
delivery!<br />
Valor,<br />
Flavel, Dimplex<br />
Aurora & many more<br />
Fully Fitted<br />
Bathrooms<br />
from £4,999!<br />
Free quotations<br />
available<br />
Fully Fitted<br />
Kitchens from<br />
£6,999!<br />
Sofas | Chairs | Dining Sets | Kitchens | Bathrooms | Beds & Bedroom Furniture | Fires<br />
<strong>St</strong>oves | Boilers | Occasional Furniture | Mirrors & Artwork | Lamps & Ornaments<br />
64-80 Duke <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 2JW<br />
Tel: 01744 22331 www.bartonsofdukestreet.co.uk
8<br />
Kickstart Placements<br />
<strong>Local</strong> businesses are being encouraged to create job<br />
placements for young people as part of a national<br />
initiative backed by <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Borough Council.<br />
The government’s Kickstart scheme provides funding<br />
to employers to create six-month job placements for 16<br />
to 24-year olds on Universal Credit at risk of long-term<br />
unemployment, with <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Borough Council’s Ways<br />
to Work team helping deliver the programme locally as a<br />
gateway organisation.<br />
The Government hopes that the scheme will give young<br />
people the chance to build their skills in the workplace,<br />
and gain experience that will improve their chances of<br />
going on to find long- term, sustainable work.<br />
For each placement, the government will fund salaries for<br />
25 hours per week, paid at the national minimum wage<br />
– as well as applicable national insurance and employer<br />
pension contributions. Any additional working hours will<br />
be paid by the employer.<br />
Commenting on the benefits of local businesses taking<br />
up the offer, Andrew Beresford, Delivery Coordinator<br />
for the council’s Ways to Work programme, which has<br />
supported hundreds of residents during the coronavirus<br />
pandemic, said:<br />
“The Kickstart scheme is a brilliant opportunity for<br />
businesses of all sizes looking for additional staff<br />
members to nurture young people so that they can<br />
develop the skills and experience required to find work<br />
after completing the scheme.<br />
“As a gateway organisation, we will assist businesses that<br />
register to the Kickstart scheme through us every step of<br />
the way with a full wrap-around support offer.<br />
“With more restrictions lifted, meaning businesses are<br />
now able to open again, initiatives like this are vital to the<br />
reset and recovery period as we look to build back better<br />
for this pandemic”.<br />
For more information about the support <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
Borough Council can offer, call 07872113654, email<br />
andrewberesford@sthelens.gov.uk or visit sthelens.gov.<br />
uk/waystowork<br />
LEADING LOCAL SPECIALISTS<br />
25 HARDSHAW STREET, ST HELENS, WA10 1RP<br />
2 DERBY STREET, PRESCOT, L34 3LJ<br />
THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE?<br />
Everyone should make a Will and we can give advice and guidance as to the<br />
most appropriate form of Will for you to cover your individual requirements<br />
and to try to minimize, where possible, the impact of Inheritance Tax.<br />
WILLS<br />
TRUSTS<br />
PROBATE<br />
ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES<br />
INHERITANCE TAX PLANNING<br />
LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY
9<br />
MEEtiNg FriENdS, EAtiNg Out ANd SuMMEr HOlidAyS are BaCK!<br />
It’s time for the New You!<br />
Here are a selection of our top treatments to help your body to<br />
recover from the pressures and temptations of lockdown.<br />
Clarins Well-Being Treatments are the ultimate me-time.<br />
New head-to-toe massage treatments to relieve stress<br />
and tension, and to re-energise and improve your mood.<br />
CACI Non-Surgical Facial will lift and tone facial muscles,<br />
whilst improving the skin elasticity and reducing the<br />
appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.<br />
3D-Powersculpt is a new treatment<br />
that can burn fat, tone muscle, build<br />
muscle and tighten your body. A<br />
30-minute treatment is equivalent to<br />
20,000 crunches, squats, curls or leg<br />
extensions.<br />
3D Lipo Fat Freezing works by<br />
destroying a proportion of the<br />
fat cells in targeted areas such as<br />
stomach, love handles, inner thigh,<br />
bingo wings, double chins and back<br />
fat.<br />
3D Trilogy Ice is a premium laser<br />
treatment to effectively remove and<br />
permanently reduce hair growth<br />
without the pain of traditional laser<br />
hair removal systems.<br />
Call us now on 01744 894 214 to book these treatments.<br />
For more details visit our website www.expressionsofbeauty.co.uk<br />
Expressions Of Beauty<br />
161-171, Main <strong>St</strong>reet, Billinge, WN5 7PA
10<br />
Cricket for Kids<br />
The English Cricket Board return this summer with their<br />
popular cricket programmes for kids.<br />
5 to 8-year-olds can play in the All <strong>St</strong>ars Cricket<br />
programme, which is described as ‘An activity and gamebased<br />
programme that is suitable for all skill levels,<br />
providing your child with the foundations to begin a<br />
lifelong love of physical activity and cricket, while making<br />
friends in a safe and enjoyable environment’.<br />
Meanwhile, 8 to 11-year-olds can play in the Dynamos<br />
Cricket programme. This programme is described by the<br />
ECB as ‘providing boys and girls from 8-11 years old with<br />
6+ sessions of non-stop fun. Each week there will be a<br />
focus on a different cricket skill to build their confidence<br />
and ability, before they take part in a 60-ball countdown<br />
cricket match’.<br />
The programmes are running at the following Cricket<br />
Clubs:<br />
All <strong>St</strong>ars (5-8 years)<br />
Earlestown CC on Mondays between 5.30-6.15pm<br />
starting 10th <strong>May</strong>. Contact Karl Allan on 07434 904 904 or<br />
email earlestowncc@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Newton-le-Willows CC on Fridays between 6-7pm starting<br />
21st <strong>May</strong>. Contact Ian Walkden on 07368 478 787 or email<br />
ianwalky112@gmail.com.<br />
Sutton CC on Tuesdays between 6-7pm starting 1st<br />
<strong>Jun</strong>e. Contact Gary Greener on 01744 812266 or email<br />
suttoncc@uwclub.net.<br />
Rainford CC on Fridays between 5-5.45pm starting 4th<br />
<strong>Jun</strong>e. Contact John Williams on 07767 441 978 or e-mail<br />
johnawilliams1@btinternet.com<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town CC (Denton’s Green) on Wednesdays<br />
between 6-6.45pm starting 28th July. Contact Matthew<br />
Bielby on 07572 754 431 or email sthelenstowncc@ymail.<br />
com<br />
Dynamos (8-11 years)<br />
Earlestown CC on Mondays between 6-7pm starting<br />
10th <strong>May</strong>. Contact Karl Allan on 07434 904 904 or email<br />
earlestowncc@hotmail.co.uk<br />
Newton-le-Willows CC on Fridays between 6-7pm starting<br />
21st <strong>May</strong>. Contact Ian Walkden on 07368 478 787 or email<br />
ianwalky112@gmail.com.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town CC (Denton’s Green) on Wednesdays<br />
between 6-7pm starting 2nd <strong>Jun</strong>e. Contact Chris<br />
Meadows on 07860 373 229 or email sthelenstowncc@<br />
ymail.com<br />
Selected Dynamos sessions at Newton-le-Willows CC are<br />
exclusively for 8 to 11-year-old girls.<br />
To book a place on the All <strong>St</strong>ars or Dynamos programmes<br />
at any of these venues, visit www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars<br />
25% Off<br />
Book before 31st July<br />
for 21/22 and get 25% off!<br />
Garswood Based<br />
Make your special day a<br />
day you’ll never forget<br />
www.graceluxurycars.com<br />
Chauffeur-driven Maserati available for:<br />
• Weddings ~ Proms ~ Parties<br />
• Airport trips<br />
• Racing & Golf days<br />
• and all other special occasions<br />
Elite Supercar experience –<br />
can seat 4 in comfort<br />
Grace Luxury Cars<br />
Call Kate or <strong>St</strong>eve on 07539 595 022<br />
or email graceluxurycars@gmail.com
11
12<br />
Tell Us Your <strong>St</strong>ory!<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is always<br />
on the look out<br />
for news stories<br />
from the local<br />
communities we<br />
serve. Are you<br />
raising money<br />
for charity? Are<br />
you a member<br />
of a community<br />
group with<br />
something to<br />
shout about?<br />
<strong>May</strong>be you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a<br />
claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be<br />
appearing in the next edition!<br />
Simply contact us on<br />
editorial@locallife247.co.uk<br />
or call us on 01744 649722<br />
Earn extra<br />
cash!<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> require distributors<br />
for the following areas;<br />
Rainford <strong>Jun</strong>ction<br />
Bushey Ln, Kendal Dr etc & News Ln area<br />
355 copies £23.96 + leaflet pay<br />
Windle Island Area<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Rd, Moss Ln & Rainford Rd area<br />
167 copies £14.61 + leaflet pay<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
The Shires estate<br />
402 copies £27.14 + leaflet pay<br />
Interested?<br />
Please email your name, address,<br />
contact number and date of birth to<br />
sallyb@locallife247.co.uk<br />
Beautifully furnished<br />
<strong>St</strong>one Cottage<br />
Holiday Let<br />
– sleeps up to 4<br />
Situated near Sedbergh,<br />
in the Yorkshire Dales,<br />
and also within easy<br />
reach of the Lake District<br />
Children & pets welcome<br />
Call 01942 216 058<br />
www.millthropcottage.co.uk
13<br />
Looking to sell your<br />
property in <strong>2021</strong>?<br />
You Win no Fee<br />
As part of celebrating<br />
40 years serving the borough<br />
of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, upon listing<br />
your property with us you<br />
will be entered into a draw.<br />
40 prizes to be won including<br />
‘winning’ a refund of your<br />
selling fees.<br />
Call today on 01744 885753 to arrange a valuation<br />
4 Offices open.....<br />
4 Open 6 days per week<br />
4 24/7 manned contact via our website<br />
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4 Listings on all major portals<br />
4 Experienced, Professional service with no tie in period<br />
Sales & Lettings Agent<br />
Refreshingly<br />
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SaleS<br />
57 Duke <strong>St</strong>reet<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
WA10 2JF<br />
sales@daviddaviesestateagent.co.uk<br />
SaleS<br />
22 Church Road<br />
Rainford<br />
WA11 8HE<br />
lettingS<br />
19 Church Road<br />
Rainford<br />
WA11 8HE<br />
01744 885753<br />
www.daviddaviesestateagent.co.uk<br />
SaleS<br />
168 Kiln Lane<br />
Eccleston<br />
WA10 4RB<br />
lettings@daviddaviesestateagent.co.uk<br />
*T&C’s apply and are available on our website
14<br />
Goodyear<br />
Furniture Centre<br />
One of the most<br />
Inspirational Showrooms<br />
in the North West!<br />
We have over 20’000 sq.ft of<br />
showrooms, displaying some<br />
of the finest furniture.<br />
Choice, quality, service<br />
and value for money<br />
Wide selection of quality lounge suites<br />
in fabric or leather, Dining and Cane<br />
conservatory furniture.<br />
Large selection of occasional furniture,<br />
mirrors, pictures, lamps and other<br />
accessories.<br />
Goodyear Furniture Centre:<br />
18 New <strong>St</strong>reet, Mawdesley, Lancashire. L40 2QP<br />
Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm / Sat 10am - 4pm / Sun 11am - 4pm<br />
www.goodyearfurniture.co.uk<br />
01704 821577<br />
Ample free<br />
onsite parking<br />
A highly recommended family name established in 1982
15<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>’<br />
Civic Spirit<br />
by Nicola Gray<br />
Civic buildings have been used for generations as central<br />
landmarks, symbols of power, dominance and authority,<br />
providing public services and meeting points for local<br />
people. Over the years buildings under the civic umbrella<br />
have come to include libraries, town halls, concert halls,<br />
theatres, public squares, government buildings and schools.<br />
There are civic buildings in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> which are still<br />
being used for their original purpose whilst others have<br />
undergone a merry-go-round of re-purposing over the<br />
years. Some are iconic and recognisable in equal measure<br />
and a few are hidden in plain sight.<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> takes a closer look at some of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>’ best<br />
examples of civic buildings, to try and understand the<br />
history behind them and how important they were, and<br />
still are, to our community.<br />
The Town Hall<br />
The first Town Hall, which was designed in the Italianate<br />
style, was completed in 1839. It contained a large<br />
assembly hall for holding legal courts, concerts, balls, and<br />
public meetings, as well as a lock up for holding prisoners.<br />
The Town Hall became the headquarters of the new<br />
municipal borough of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> on 2nd February 1868,<br />
but the building was badly damaged in a fire in 1871.<br />
Civic leaders decided to build a new Town Hall on the<br />
same site and the larger Victorian style building was<br />
completed in 1876 and still stands on Bickerstaffe <strong>St</strong>reet<br />
in the town centre.<br />
Although the town hall itself, which is still the headquarters<br />
of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council, is not a listed building, there are two<br />
telephone kiosks flanking the entrance which are listed.<br />
The pair of kiosks<br />
were designed by<br />
Giles Gilbert Scott<br />
in 1935 and are<br />
constructed in cast<br />
iron with a square<br />
plan and a dome.<br />
Old <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town Hall<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Town Hall
16<br />
Transport Depot<br />
North West Museum of Road Transport<br />
This red-brick building started life as home to the town’s<br />
horse-drawn trams in 1881; the first horse tram service<br />
began on 5th November that year.<br />
It continued in use for public transport purposes, housing<br />
steam and electric<br />
trams, trolleybuses and<br />
motor buses, with The<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> & District<br />
Tramway Corporation<br />
running steam trams<br />
from 1889. They were<br />
replaced by electric<br />
trams a decade later and<br />
the first ever motorbus<br />
was stored here from<br />
1921; with trolleybuses<br />
running from 1927.<br />
decker buses were introduced in the early 1980s.<br />
The museum society was able to obtain a lease on the<br />
premises, which remained in the ownership of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
Council, and moved into building in 1986. In 1994 the<br />
In 1930 a new garage<br />
was added onto the<br />
original depot and they<br />
were later converted<br />
into workshops. The<br />
depot fell into disuse<br />
when new large single<br />
The Bus Sheds
17<br />
poor condition of the roof meant that the facility had to<br />
be closed to the public.<br />
The building underwent renovation, the roof was<br />
replaced, and the museum reopened in 2006. The<br />
building is now home to over 60 heritage buses from<br />
all over the North West including a trolleybus, open top<br />
buses, coaches, and vehicles built by Daimler, Leyland<br />
and Crossley.<br />
Transport Depot Hall <strong>St</strong><br />
Victoria Square<br />
Earlestown Town Hall<br />
Earlestown Town Hall was designed in 1891 by local<br />
architect, Thomas Beesley following a competition. The<br />
two-storey brick building was constructed in 1892 at<br />
a cost of £10,200 and is finished with stone dressings<br />
and slate roofs. There is a five-stage clock tower on the<br />
northeast corner complete with bells, produced by<br />
Messrs Potts & Sons of Manchester.<br />
It has been suggested that the cost of the hall was<br />
provided as a gift for the community by William John<br />
Legh, the local lord of the manor (Lord Newton), to<br />
celebrate his rise to a peerage in 1892.<br />
Through the years the Town Hall has been home<br />
to events and community groups such as Newton<br />
Amateur Dramatic & Operatic Society. The hall even<br />
had some famous guests in 1962, when the Beatles<br />
visited and played a gig.<br />
The Town Hall<br />
closed its doors to<br />
public use in 2008<br />
but plans are<br />
now<br />
underway<br />
to transform the<br />
building<br />
and<br />
bring it back<br />
into public use<br />
once again. The<br />
restoration of the<br />
Grade II listed<br />
building began last summer with the demolition of<br />
two annex buildings and the caretaker’s house.<br />
Earlestown Town Hall and its fascinating history are<br />
now featured on information boards that have been<br />
placed around the building, detailing some of the<br />
building’s historic moments.<br />
Earlestown<br />
Town Hall
18<br />
Gamble Building<br />
Gamble Building<br />
Situated in Victoria Square in<br />
the town centre, the Gamble<br />
building was built in the late<br />
1800s and officially opened on<br />
5th November 1896, as a gift<br />
to the people of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> from<br />
Sir David Gamble. Built in brick<br />
with terracotta dressings and a<br />
slate roof, it began its life as the<br />
Gamble Institute, housing both a<br />
library and a technical school.<br />
At the end of the 19th century,<br />
the town had a few elementary<br />
schools but lacked schools<br />
capable of providing its pupils<br />
with qualifications of a more<br />
advanced technical nature<br />
that would be needed by local<br />
industries.<br />
Sir David, a chemical magnate and first mayor of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />
offered to build a technical school, donating £30,000 to<br />
the project, around £3.5 million today. He stated that he<br />
wanted to assist local people in making themselves equal<br />
or superior to those countries where technical education<br />
is already an institution.<br />
Originally, the library housed in the Gamble Building<br />
occupied the ground floor<br />
complete with a ladies-only<br />
reading room. The basement<br />
was devoted to manual training<br />
including engineering and<br />
plumbing. The first floor was<br />
home to various technical<br />
classrooms, a laboratory, a<br />
geometrical drawing room,<br />
and cookery and laundry<br />
departments. The second floor<br />
was mostly used for chemical<br />
works and art.<br />
The Archive Service is still<br />
based there, along with many<br />
council staff, but the library<br />
closed in 2017 due to water<br />
damage, making that section of<br />
the building unsafe. <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
Council has announced plans<br />
to bring the Gamble building<br />
back into full use and after engaging the public in several<br />
drop-in events to talk about how the building should be<br />
used in the future; senior councillors signed off on £1.4m<br />
in funding for the restoration. January 2022 has been<br />
earmarked as a potential date for the completion of work.<br />
Images courtesy of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Archives & Geoff Sandford of<br />
The North West Transport Museum<br />
Gamble Institute
19<br />
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22<br />
A Billinge horse owner is asking members of the public<br />
not to feed horses whilst out and about.<br />
With country walks on the increase during the pandemic,<br />
horse owners across the UK have reported incidents<br />
where horses and ponies have suffered and died due<br />
to well-meaning passers-by feeding them without<br />
permission.<br />
Jenny Walsh, along with fellow horse owners on the same<br />
Billinge yard, is the latest horse owner to take action<br />
to stop these incidents<br />
happening. Jenny said,<br />
“We have put new signs on<br />
the field fences and gates<br />
and have posted messages<br />
about this issue on local<br />
community blogs, but some<br />
people continue to disregard<br />
all this.<br />
“Horses have delicate<br />
digestive systems and are<br />
unable to be sick, so ingesting<br />
something that their body<br />
cannot deal with can often<br />
lead to a very painful and<br />
distressing death.<br />
“Just as you wouldn’t give a<br />
child some sweets without<br />
permission or feed a dog a<br />
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treat without asking its owner, don’t feed a horse or pony.<br />
“Look at the horses and take pictures, but please don’t<br />
touch or feed them. I know people mean well but, whilst<br />
they can just walk away after feeding horses, owners can<br />
be left with vet’s bills for thousands of pounds because of<br />
their actions”.<br />
Fellow horse owner Tracey Holland, pictured above with<br />
11-year-old Troy, also warned against petting horses.<br />
“If you pet horses at the gate, they think that they are<br />
being fed, so they can bite your<br />
fingers”, said Tracey, admitting<br />
that her own horse Troy had<br />
even bitten her a few times.<br />
The campaign to stop the<br />
public from feeding horses<br />
gathers momentum, with<br />
extensive coverage in national<br />
magazine, Horse and Hound,<br />
and the campaign has also<br />
reached social media. ‘<strong>St</strong>op<br />
Feeding our Horses’ is a<br />
Facebook group consisting of<br />
almost 10,000 members and<br />
was created by former horseowner<br />
Hannah Johnstone<br />
whose Welsh gelding Lightning<br />
died after he was fed a raw<br />
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25<br />
Tiddlers Return<br />
Tuesday Tiddlers, a play group for toddlers in Garswood,<br />
was just one community project which closed the doors<br />
when the pandemic took hold last year, but thanks to<br />
local resident Lauren Quinn, the popular toddlers’ group<br />
has resumed.<br />
The group now meets from 9am-10.30am every Tuesday at<br />
<strong>St</strong> Andrews Mission Hall on Garswood Road in the village.<br />
Lauren has two children, including a lockdown baby born<br />
in <strong>May</strong> 2020, and she has experienced first- hand the<br />
isolation that parents and children have suffered in the<br />
past year.<br />
She said “I am keen on giving back some normality to the<br />
parents in our community, for them and the children”.<br />
As the toys and equipment for the original Tuesday<br />
Tiddlers group were disposed of last spring, an appeal<br />
has gone out for help in re-stocking the toy provision for<br />
the group.<br />
Lauren said “If anyone is having a clear out and has any<br />
unwanted toys that are suitable for young children, it<br />
would be lovely to have them for the church.<br />
“Due to COVID any toys we use have to be easy to disinfect<br />
so this means no soft toys unfortunately.”<br />
If you have anything to donate or need further information<br />
about the group, then call Lauren on 07903 736143.<br />
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26<br />
This hybrid bath is designed for smaller rooms, allowing luxury,<br />
comfort and choice to fit into even a modest space.<br />
Mini Ebb shower bath, £1,495, Waters Baths of Ashbourne.<br />
12 ways to make your bathroom a<br />
Relaxing Oasis<br />
Functionality comes first in the bathroom, but there’s no<br />
reason why you can’t combine efficiency with aesthetics<br />
– and gain all the benefits of a space that looks good and<br />
feels good at the same time. Here are a dozen ideas to<br />
start you off:<br />
• Lighting is vital. Check that the bulbs in your light fittings<br />
are giving off the light you prefer, though try not to mix<br />
different light temperatures (warm or cool) in the same<br />
room. Smart bulbs can be switched on and off and the<br />
colour temperature changed or dimmed using a remote<br />
control or an app. Or, if you have a light switch outside the<br />
bathroom door, consider swapping it for a dimmer.<br />
• Sort out your storage. Slim wall cupboards, shelves,<br />
ladders, caddies, peg rails and over-door hooks are<br />
options, while small storage items – such as wicker<br />
baskets, pretty ceramics or bright plastic tubs – bring<br />
texture, colour and interest.<br />
• If your shower is pathetic, investigate whether you can<br />
add a pump to make it more powerful.<br />
• Add a large mirror – it’s not only useful and a focal point<br />
but increases the feeling of light and space in the room.<br />
• Buy a set of coordinating towels. The fluffier the better, in<br />
clean, bright, hotel-white or a colourful pattern.<br />
• Add plants, large and small, high and low – they usually<br />
thrive in a bathroom’s humid atmosphere. Choose pots<br />
that complement your overall scheme.<br />
• Lay a woven cotton or ‘outdoor’ rug on the floor – it can<br />
easily be washed or wiped down and will introduce a<br />
softer feel, adding colour, pattern and texture, too.<br />
• Change a dated pair of taps for some good-looking,<br />
modern ones. Check that they will suit your water<br />
pressure, and make sure the new spout extends the<br />
correct amount over the bath or basin – they should<br />
reach about as far as the plug hole.<br />
• A chair or stool is always useful in a bathroom, even if it’s<br />
just to throw clothes over or to hold soap and books next<br />
to the bath.<br />
• Get rid of the grunge and scrape out the old grout and<br />
silicone between and around your tiles, especially if there’s<br />
any mould. Redoing them will make an extraordinary<br />
difference.<br />
• Replace a shower curtain with a shiny glass shower<br />
screen – the look is clean and minimally efficient (and<br />
won’t need replacing regularly).<br />
• Jazz up your windows. Options include decorative<br />
window film, a beautiful blind (Roman or roller) or some<br />
minimal wooden louvres.<br />
Wooden blinds are elegant and practical, and<br />
come in a range of natural colours, or brighter,<br />
painted shades.<br />
Luxury Clay Brown wooden Venetian blinds<br />
with tapes, price depends on size, English Blinds.
27<br />
Incredibly glamorous, these pink wall tiles have a glossy,<br />
crackle-glazed finish, and fit right into this luxurious<br />
bathroom, which features huge amounts of built-in storage.<br />
Bella Pink wall tiles, £35.99 per square metre, Tile Mountain.<br />
Recharge and Revive<br />
in a bathroom that makes<br />
you<br />
LONGER-TERM CHANGES<br />
If you are rethinking your entire room, decide on basic<br />
layout issues at the start. Should the WC be in a separate<br />
room, for example? Do you need to knock down or add<br />
partition walls? Or would you like a walk-in shower,<br />
extensive fitted storage or perhaps a pair of his and hers<br />
basins? Avoid moving existing plumbing, if possible, as it<br />
will save money and effort. However, if the floorplan of<br />
your current bathroom really isn’t working for you, this<br />
one-off plumbing cost could be worth it in the long run.<br />
When thinking about the overall room design, it makes<br />
sense to build shallow false walls within which to hide<br />
cables and pipework, while installing underfloor heating<br />
Feel Great<br />
allows you to remove a radiator, thus freeing up some wall<br />
space for a statement towel warmer as well as providing<br />
cosy, constant heat.<br />
A brand new lighting scheme can provide a real upgrade<br />
and, if you’re renovating the whole bathroom, it may be<br />
possible to install two lighting circuits: one for working<br />
lights and the other, on a dimmer switch, for soothing,<br />
ambient lights. Some gorgeous new flooring is a must: for<br />
the look of luxurious stone or marble on a lower budget,<br />
lookalike porcelain tiles are a great option, while vinyl<br />
flooring comes in a huge range of colours and patterns.
28<br />
The best gadgets for<br />
every kitchen<br />
Now that many of us are cooking so much more at<br />
home, there are lots of gadgets that promise to make our<br />
kitchen time better. Some of them enable you to do much<br />
more with much less washing up; others ensure brilliant<br />
results for every meal; and still others enable you to cook<br />
like the pros.<br />
One of our favourite kitchen gadgets is the electric<br />
pressure cooker. The most famous one is the Instant Pot,<br />
but there are lots of rivals. It’s a one-pot machine that you<br />
can use to make soup, stews, casseroles and even yogurt,<br />
and unlike many multi-cook devices it’s good at all of<br />
them. One of the best things about it is that it enables you<br />
to slow cook quickly: pressure cooking means you get all<br />
the flavour and tenderness of slow cooking in less than an<br />
hour. And when you’re done, there’s only one dishwashersafe<br />
pot to clean.<br />
Another firm favourite in our kitchen is the air<br />
fryer, which gives you deep fried taste<br />
without the mess, smell<br />
or unhealthiness. They’ve come a very long way in just a<br />
few years and they’re brilliant for fantastic fried chicken,<br />
amazing chips and quickly reheating takeaways: the only<br />
thing they’re not great at is food with lots of runny batter,<br />
which just falls off.<br />
If you’re feeling really fancy, a Thermomix can do pretty<br />
much everything: it can vacuum cook meat, fish and<br />
vegetables for sous vide cooking; it can slow cook; it can<br />
caramelise, brown, blend, boil, knead, emulsify and more.<br />
It even has a display to show you video tutorials. It’s very<br />
expensive but it’s an incredible device.<br />
If you prefer to cook manually we’d thoroughly<br />
recommend the Thermapen, an instant thermometer<br />
that enables you to test the temperature of things like<br />
large roasts. It takes the guesswork out of cooking times,<br />
ensuring that every roast is perfectly done, and it’s also<br />
really useful in barbecue season when you<br />
don’t want to risk giving people<br />
undercooked meat.<br />
THERMOMIX TM6<br />
The TM6 is incredibly expensive but it’s a truly<br />
extraordinary intelligent cooking machine that’ll<br />
replace many of your existing appliances.<br />
£1,145, Vorwerk.co.uk<br />
THERMAPEN<br />
This instant-read digital<br />
thermometer takes the<br />
guesswork out of cooking<br />
meat, fish and bread, and<br />
while clones are cheaper<br />
they’re not as accurate.<br />
£51, Thermapen.co.uk<br />
ANOVA PRECISION<br />
COOKER NANO<br />
Sous Vide – gently<br />
cooking food for hours<br />
in warm water – delivers<br />
incredible tenderness<br />
and flavour, and the<br />
Anova enables you to do<br />
it in any big pot. It’s appcontrolled,<br />
easy to use<br />
and produces amazing<br />
results.<br />
£129, Anovaculinary.com<br />
PHILIPS AVANCE COLLECTION<br />
AIR FRYER<br />
Philips’ air fryers are easy to use,<br />
easy to clean and deliver excellent<br />
results. This is one of the larger<br />
models, with a 1.2kg capacity that<br />
makes it ideal for families.<br />
£250, Amazon.co.uk<br />
INSTANT POT DUO<br />
EVO PLUS<br />
This isn’t the cheapest Instant<br />
Pot – the Duo is half the price<br />
– but this is more flexible and<br />
has a brilliant display that<br />
makes it even easier to use.<br />
£129.99, Amazon.co.uk
29
30<br />
Working from home may not be<br />
all fun and games, but there is no<br />
reason why your home office has to<br />
be dull. Add some personal touches<br />
and transform it into a space in<br />
which you actually enjoy spending<br />
time.<br />
To take your home office to the<br />
next level, add some abstract<br />
art, with prints featuring organic<br />
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monochrome colours<br />
Selection of framed prints, all<br />
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Give your Home<br />
Office an Uplift<br />
Working from home at least gives you more<br />
time to tend to your plant collection. If you<br />
haven’t got one, now’s the time to start.<br />
Terracotta plant pots, from £2 each,<br />
Scaramanga.<br />
Combine support and style<br />
with an office chair that raises<br />
and lowers to a comfortable<br />
position, swivels easily and<br />
looks good enough to fit into<br />
your overall room scheme.<br />
Calgary office chair in faux<br />
leather, £164.99, Lakeland<br />
Furniture.<br />
A home office need never<br />
be drab. Add some colour<br />
with well-chosen shades<br />
of paint.<br />
Shown here: Greek Blue,<br />
Louis Blue, Giverny,<br />
Napoleonic Blue and<br />
Athenian Black, all £5.95 per<br />
120ml, Annie Sloan.<br />
Add a spot of cheerful colour in the<br />
form of an adjustable desk lamp.<br />
Ginaz table lamp, £25, B&Q.<br />
A HOME OFFICE ‘GLOW UP’<br />
Colour is important. If a particular colour makes you<br />
feel happy – add it! If you don’t want to go as far<br />
as painting the whole room, just refresh the wall<br />
behind the desk (that you spend the majority of<br />
your time looking at) with a small pot of emulsion.<br />
You can also add colour in the form of furniture and<br />
accessories, from an office chair to the essential<br />
adjustable desk lamp, as well as pen holders, clocks<br />
or paperweights.<br />
Personalise the walls with your favourite prints,<br />
posters, paintings and photographs. For a formal<br />
look, frame them identically and hang them<br />
symmetrically. Alternatively, you could peg small<br />
pictures to a string, stick postcards to a corkboard<br />
with coloured drawing pins or prop them, facing<br />
outwards, on a narrow shelf.<br />
It’s all about comfort, so make sure you’re working<br />
at the right temperature. A small desk fan for the<br />
summer may be useful, while in the winter a heater<br />
can be an essential. For an even cosier feel, choose a<br />
woolly throw that looks pretty and feels soft.<br />
A few plants dotted here and there go a long way<br />
to making an office feel more homely. Increase the<br />
sensory experience with a vase of fresh flowers,<br />
scented candles or an aromatic diffuser.
31<br />
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34<br />
or return the form opposite
35
36<br />
Invest Today.<br />
Change Tomorrow<br />
A Guide to Responsible Investing<br />
Responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly<br />
investing is here to stay. However, while demand is<br />
growing among all age groups, genders and income<br />
bands, some savers and investors are missing their<br />
biggest opportunity for responsible investing, which is<br />
through their pension.<br />
We all want to make responsible choices as more of<br />
us are becoming aware of global challenges, such as<br />
environmental issues, human rights and climate change.<br />
We’re also starting to care more about how our behaviours<br />
affect the planet and society.<br />
Future Success<br />
Taking ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)<br />
factors into consideration when investing is becoming<br />
more mainstream. It is acknowledged that companies<br />
that act responsibly to their employees, the environment<br />
and the public have a better chance of future success<br />
than those that don’t. Investing in these companies is<br />
now a logical approach financially as well as ethically.<br />
Many pension holders understand this approach and see<br />
the value of it. In a recent survey, more than one-third of<br />
respondents said that the option to invest their pension<br />
only in sustainable companies is important to them.<br />
Nearly two-thirds said having clearly branded funds for<br />
investing in environmentally and socially responsible<br />
companies is important to them.<br />
Pension Investments<br />
The same survey suggests that pension holders feel that<br />
sustainable investing isn’t just important, but interesting.<br />
More than half of respondents said that a fund focused<br />
on clean energy and lowering carbon would make them<br />
more interested in their pension. A similar number felt<br />
that way about a zero-plastic fund.<br />
But while pension holders feel these issues are important<br />
and interesting, that isn’t yet affecting the way they invest.<br />
Most people don’t manage their pension investments<br />
personally so, more than two-thirds of pension holders<br />
do not know how sustainable their pension is.<br />
Environmentally Friendly<br />
Many pension holders don’t know that they can choose<br />
their own funds, and therefore that they can choose<br />
sustainable or responsible funds. Around half are unaware<br />
of ways to ensure their pension is environmentally<br />
friendly.<br />
Clearly, many pension holders would like to invest<br />
pension funds more sustainably and responsibly but<br />
don’t know where to start. There are plenty of options,<br />
but without specialist advice, it can be difficult to<br />
select those companies that are truly responsible and<br />
environmentally friendly and will also deliver the financial<br />
return you’re seeking.<br />
Investing with Purpose<br />
Responsible investors essentially take responsibility for<br />
the impact that the companies they invest in have on the<br />
world. Thankfully, investing with an ESG focus has moved<br />
from a niche area of investing to the mainstream, with<br />
many well-known investment firms now offering a large<br />
number of funds in this area.<br />
Speak to us at Callisto about what responsible investing<br />
options are available in your pension scheme and any<br />
other investment, and for advice on how to help your<br />
money have the greatest impact. We look forward to<br />
hearing from you.<br />
Andrew Platt<br />
CFP TM Chartered MCSI<br />
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as<br />
up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.<br />
The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances, tax legislation and regulation which are subject to change in the future. You should<br />
seek advice to understand your options at retirement.
Planning for your future is hard if you don’t have the<br />
necessary financial expertise.<br />
Callisto Wealth Management will work with you to help you achieve your financial<br />
freedom once you reach retirement.<br />
Take the first step today towards enjoying the rest of your life.<br />
Call us on 01744 881421 to arrange a<br />
no-obligation consultation at Rainford Hall.<br />
Remote consultations also available.<br />
Call us now for your FREE Smart Money guide!<br />
Callisto Wealth Management Ltd<br />
Rainford Hall | Crank Road | <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> | WA11 7RP<br />
01744 881421<br />
www.callistowealth.co.uk<br />
enquiries@callistowealth.co.uk
38<br />
WIN<br />
Tickets to<br />
Live Show!<br />
<strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> has teamed up with Liverpool’s M&S Bank<br />
Arena to give our readers a chance to win a pair of tickets<br />
to one of three fantastic live shows taking place at the<br />
waterfront venue after lockdown restrictions are eased<br />
on 17th <strong>May</strong>.<br />
X-treme Magic will be staged on Saturday 22 <strong>May</strong>;<br />
Sleeping Beauty will run from Saturday 29 <strong>May</strong> until<br />
Saturday 5 <strong>Jun</strong>e; and audiences can look forward to<br />
Circus Spectacular on Saturday 12 <strong>Jun</strong>e. All shows will be<br />
staged in The Auditorium at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena,<br />
and tickets are on sale now.<br />
X-treme Magic<br />
Billed as The World’s Most Dangerous Thrill Show and<br />
is packed with fire, illusion and death-defying<br />
stunts. Master illusionist Richard Cadell will be<br />
joined by a full supporting cast of magicians<br />
including Pete Firman, Elizabeth Best and Craig<br />
Christian, as well as fire artistes, speciality<br />
acts and dancers. Highlights include making<br />
a motorcycle appear from nowhere; Russian<br />
roulette with sticks of dynamite; and even<br />
trying to escape from a straightjacket<br />
while hung from a burning<br />
rope.<br />
Sleeping Beauty<br />
Billed as the Pantomime<br />
Of Your Dreams, Sleeping<br />
Beauty will star singer<br />
Gareth Gates, comedy star<br />
Bippo, and Peppa Pig’s Emma<br />
Grace Arends. When the<br />
Evil Carabosse curses Princess<br />
Beauty to die on her 21st birthday,<br />
Beauty’s Fairy ensures she only falls into<br />
a deep sleep which can be broken with<br />
a kiss from her true love. A handsome Prince must come<br />
to her rescue and save the day. The show also features<br />
a live band, beautiful scenery and costumes, special<br />
effects, and lots of laughs.<br />
Circus Spectacular<br />
Billed as Madness and <strong>May</strong>hem For All The<br />
Family, Circus Spectacular is a circus variety show<br />
bursting with fun for all the family,<br />
starring comedy performer Bippo<br />
The Clown and friends. The firstclass<br />
artistes will also present<br />
production numbers and<br />
comedy to make the show a<br />
fantastic experience. Every<br />
show is unique as audiences<br />
are given the rare opportunity<br />
to choose acts of the show in<br />
the ‘what’s next?’ section, with<br />
both sets of artistes fighting<br />
it out for the winning vote. The<br />
show culminates in a grand finale,<br />
which includes the first four rows being<br />
provided with rain macs.
39<br />
Organisers are keen to reassure theatregoers that all<br />
necessary safety measures – including social distancing –<br />
will be in place to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable return<br />
to indoor live entertainment.<br />
Producer James Shone commented: “We are thrilled to<br />
announce these new shows for Summer <strong>2021</strong>. Audiences<br />
have missed out on so many live experiences over the<br />
last 12 months, so it’s a real privilege that we will be<br />
presenting some of the very first shows once lockdown<br />
restrictions are eased.<br />
“The three spectacular shows promise fun, laughter<br />
and magic – something we all really need right now.<br />
We want to reassure theatregoers that social distancing<br />
and safety measures will be in place to ensure Covidsecure<br />
performances – audience, cast and crew safety is<br />
paramount.”<br />
To enter the competition to win one pair of the three pairs of tickets on offer, simply visit<br />
our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and<br />
then answer the following question;<br />
In which city is the M&S Bank Arena located?<br />
Please hurry, the expiry date for this competition is Friday 14th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
The expiry date for the competition is midnight on Friday 14th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong>, and the winners will be<br />
personally contacted within three working days and the results will be posted on our Facebook account<br />
by 31st <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong>. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. <strong>St</strong>rictly one entry per household – multiple<br />
entries will be disqualified. <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us.<br />
Employees of <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Life</strong> 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.<br />
To book tickets for these shows visit www.mandsbankarena.com
40<br />
The On-Going War Against Litter<br />
The Parish Council organised a litter pick on 11.04.<strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Residents joined with Councillors, The Girl Guides and<br />
the Boy’s Brigade & Girl’s Association and sadly collected<br />
large quantities of rubbish from around Rainford.<br />
Grateful thanks to all those who were involved and to all<br />
those who created the need, please stop desecrating our<br />
beautiful village by dropping litter. Use the many bins<br />
provided or take it home.<br />
Rainford PC will<br />
be supporting<br />
Rainford-in-Bloom<br />
on the next assault<br />
against litter, as<br />
part of the Keep<br />
Britain Tidy - Great<br />
British Spring<br />
Clean campaign.<br />
Cllrs Reynolds, Lamb and Monk<br />
Business Around Rainford<br />
This Parish Council initiative had a virtual launch on<br />
21.04.<strong>2021</strong>. It is a forum for Businesses in Rainford and<br />
for Rainford residents who have businesses. The next<br />
meeting will take place on 21.07.<strong>2021</strong>. If you would like<br />
more information, please contact Victoria Swainbank on<br />
01744 884709 admin@rainfordparishcouncil.com<br />
The Parish Council is currently compiling a Business<br />
Directory which will be on the Parish Council website.<br />
Paper copies will also be available.<br />
Parking in the Village<br />
The Parish Council has received numerous complaints and<br />
concerns from residents about the way some people park<br />
their vehicles in and around the Village, particularly in the<br />
vicinity of the schools. It is therefore involved in a number<br />
of initiatives which will hopefully result in less thoughtless<br />
and illegal parking.<br />
Quiz Nights<br />
KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE<br />
Newsletter<br />
The Village Hall bar, which had a complete refit just before<br />
the first lockdown, will re-open for socially distanced<br />
Friday night quizzes on 21.05.<strong>2021</strong> at 7pm. These will<br />
continue for 5 weeks and will be a good way for people<br />
to ease back into social situations. Entrance to the quiz is<br />
free and it will start at 7.30pm.<br />
Boundary Commission Review<br />
The <strong>Local</strong> Government Boundary Commission for England<br />
issued draft recommendations on the new electoral<br />
arrangements for <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Borough Council. There were<br />
two parts of the draft recommendations that involved<br />
Rainford. The Parish Council made a submission which<br />
can be viewed at: www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk<br />
Please contact the Clerk’s office if you would like a paper<br />
copy.<br />
Elections <strong>May</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
There are elections for members of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> Council on<br />
06.05.<strong>2021</strong>. Some people make a point of always voting.<br />
Others choose not to. But if you’re not sure whether there<br />
is any point, here are some points to consider:<br />
1) It’s free and the polling station is a quiet place to make<br />
decisions in peace.<br />
2) It affects where you live. Westminster and European<br />
elections can feel a little remote, but local councils are<br />
where decisions are made that matter on a day-to-day<br />
basis; schools, libraries, street cleaning, leisure centres,<br />
the bins etc. Many of the services you need, love and<br />
maybe despair of.<br />
3) Councillors are important. It’s worth thinking about the<br />
qualities each candidate would bring to the role as they<br />
will be the people (along with the Parish Councillors), you<br />
can get in touch with if you want to improve your lives<br />
over the next few years. You will be able to vote for one of<br />
three candidates for Rainford.<br />
4) Lots of your money is at stake. Councils account for<br />
a whopping one quarter of public spending. This equates<br />
to billions of pounds. Even divided area-by-area, this is a<br />
fortune. Have a say over how your money is spent.<br />
5) It gives you the right to moan! You only have the right<br />
to criticise the “powers that be” if you didn’t do your bit to<br />
help choose them.<br />
6) Voting can be fun. Polling stations are not dull. The staff<br />
are usually very pleased to see you and will help with any<br />
problems or concerns.<br />
7) It’s anonymous. The candidate and party you choose<br />
are not made public and you don’t have to tell anyone<br />
how you voted. If you don’t want to vote for any of those<br />
standing, you can make your point by “spoiling” your ballot<br />
paper.
41<br />
8) You could be helping the prime minister of the future.<br />
Who knows how far the political career of your chosen<br />
candidate will go? You could be helping someone on their<br />
way on a great political journey.<br />
9) It should turn out nice. The weather is usually very<br />
pleasant at the beginning of <strong>May</strong>, so why not take a stroll<br />
to your local polling station. It will be open from 7am to<br />
10pm, so plenty of time to get there.<br />
10) It doesn’t happen often. We don’t get to vote on every<br />
issue or even every year, so it’s worth taking advantage of<br />
when we get the chance to have our say.<br />
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh<br />
The Parish Council was saddened to learn about the death<br />
of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The Chairman<br />
attended a special service at All Saints Parish Church.<br />
Wildlife Cameras<br />
The Parish Council is exploring the possibility of locating<br />
wildlife cameras around the Village.<br />
Parish Council Meetings<br />
Parish Council meetings are currently taking place via<br />
Zoom but that doesn’t mean that you can’t join in. Please<br />
contact the Clerk’s office for the link. 01744 884709.<br />
Further details can be found on the Parish Council website:<br />
www.rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk<br />
The Full Council meets on the fourth Monday of the<br />
month and residents are encouraged to address members<br />
on matters of concern to them.<br />
The Annual Meeting of the Parish<br />
Council<br />
Not to be confused with the Annual Parish Meeting! This<br />
will take place at 6.30pm on 24.05.<strong>2021</strong> and is when the<br />
Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected for <strong>2021</strong>/22.<br />
The <strong>St</strong>anding Orders and Code of Conduct are approved<br />
and the Internal auditor is appointed. Additionally,<br />
the committee structure is reviewed and members are<br />
appointed to committees. Finally, the dates for the full<br />
Council meetings for <strong>2021</strong>/22 are decided.<br />
Residents are very welcome to attend this meeting. It will<br />
be decided nearer the time whether this meeting will be<br />
held virtually via Zoom or in person. You can register your<br />
interest by contacting the Clerk’s office.<br />
Bookings now being taken<br />
Rainford Village Hall is available to hire for classes,<br />
parties, anniversaries, events and Wedding Receptions.<br />
Please ring 01744 884709 and speak to the Event<br />
Co-ordinator, Victoria Swainbank. email admin@<br />
rainfordparishcouncil.com<br />
If you are interested in getting involved, would like<br />
further details of events or have suggestions for ways<br />
the Parish Council can engage with the community,<br />
please contact the Clerk, Sally Powell on 01744<br />
884709 clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.com<br />
Annual Parish Meeting<br />
The Annual Parish meeting will take place on 10.05.<strong>2021</strong><br />
at 6pm. The meeting will be held via Zoom and residents<br />
are encouraged to attend. Please contact the Clerk’s<br />
office for the link. The meeting will also be streamed live.<br />
If you have a question for the Parish Council you can ask it<br />
at the meeting or submit it in advance to the Clerk: 01744<br />
884709 clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.com<br />
Please do take this opportunity to engage with your Parish<br />
Council.<br />
RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL<br />
Rainford Village Hall, Church Road Rainford WA11 8HB<br />
01744 884709<br />
clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.com<br />
@rainfordvillagehall<br />
@rainfordparishcouncil
42<br />
Puzzle Pages<br />
CROSSWORD<br />
DOWN<br />
1. Father or mother (6)<br />
2. Daphne du Maurier novel (7)<br />
3. River which flows through Paris (5)<br />
5. Fishermen (7)<br />
6. Follower of a major religion (5)<br />
7. Rough shelter at the side of a house (4-2)<br />
8. Root used in the preparation of a sharp-tasting<br />
condiment (11)<br />
14. Underground prison (7)<br />
15. Japanese paper-folding art (7)<br />
16. French sweet blackcurrant liqueur (6)<br />
17. With hands on hips and elbows extending<br />
outward (6)<br />
19. Compass point at 180 degrees (5)<br />
21. Unprocessed thick sap from a tree (5)<br />
ACROSS<br />
1. <strong>Local</strong> church community (6)<br />
4. US artist, Andy ___ (6)<br />
9. Leader of a Jewish congregation (5)<br />
10. Fabric made of silk (7)<br />
11. Centre of an atom (7)<br />
12. Spew forth lava and rocks (5)<br />
13. Mythical container enclosing all human ills (8,3)<br />
18. Malicious burning to destroy property (5)<br />
20. Framework erected over an oil well (7)<br />
22. Receptacles for cups (7)<br />
23. Medieval and Renaissance wind instrument resembling<br />
an oboe (5)<br />
24. <strong>St</strong>atue with the body of a lion and the head of a man (6)<br />
25. Colour of the rainbow (6)<br />
WORDWHEEL<br />
Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten<br />
minutes to find as many words as possible, none of<br />
which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.<br />
Each word must be of three letters or more, all must<br />
contain the central letter and letters can only be used<br />
once in every word. There is at least one word that uses<br />
all of the letters in the wheel.<br />
TARGET<br />
EXCELLENT: 24 or more words<br />
GOOD: 18 words<br />
M<br />
T<br />
A<br />
R<br />
O<br />
L<br />
FAIR: 15 words
43<br />
WORDSEARCH<br />
INSECTS<br />
ANTS<br />
APHID<br />
BEDBUG<br />
BEETLE<br />
BUMBLEBEE<br />
CATERPILLAR<br />
CICADA<br />
COCKROACH<br />
CRICKET<br />
EARWIG<br />
FIREFLY<br />
FLEA<br />
FLIES<br />
HORNET<br />
LADYBIRD<br />
LICE<br />
LOCUST<br />
MAYFLY<br />
MOSQUITO<br />
MOTH<br />
SILKWORM<br />
TERMITE<br />
TICKS<br />
WASP<br />
WEEVIL<br />
SUDOKU<br />
WORD LADDER<br />
Change one letter at a time (but not the position<br />
of any letter) to make a new word - and move from<br />
the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the<br />
bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.<br />
HAND<br />
WIGGLE WORDS<br />
CLUE: an implausible<br />
story used as an<br />
explanation or excuse.<br />
Trace a path through all<br />
the letters to find the<br />
word or phrase that fits<br />
the clue.<br />
T O R Y<br />
S C O C<br />
L B D K<br />
L U N A<br />
FOOT<br />
All the puzzle solutions can be found<br />
on page 55 of this magazine
44<br />
Rainford’s<br />
Music Maestro<br />
by Nicola Gray<br />
It has been said that self-doubt kills more dreams than<br />
failure ever will; but for Rainford’s Ross Harrington, failure<br />
simply wasn’t an option when it came to pursuing his<br />
passion for music.<br />
The 21-year-old, better known to the music world as<br />
producer, NAVOS, has just been signed by Island Records<br />
and is tipped to be the sound of the summer as his new<br />
hit ‘Believe Me’, rockets up the official charts.<br />
Ross’s story is a modern day fairy-tale backed up by<br />
passion and lots of hard work. Ross grew up in Rainford<br />
and has lived in the village all his life, attending<br />
Rainford CE Primary, before moving on to Rainford High<br />
Technology College and Sixth Form.<br />
Ross added, “I’ve spent a lot of my time here and I love a<br />
night out in Rainford, some of my favourite places to go<br />
are The Golden Lion and the <strong>Jun</strong>ction Pub. I worked in the<br />
<strong>Jun</strong>ction Pub, that was my first real job.<br />
I like a good back story, so I wanted to know where Ross<br />
came up with the name NAVOS, he laughs, “That’s a funny<br />
one, when I was little, I wanted to be in the Navy so that<br />
together with the last part of my first name gave me<br />
NAVOS.<br />
Ross’s name isn’t the only thing that has changed in the<br />
last few months; he’s made the move from University and<br />
Dunelm to the studio and the heady heights of the music<br />
charts. Ross explains, “My work mates are always texting<br />
to say I’m smashing it and that they’re really happy for me.<br />
Everyone has been so supportive.<br />
“<strong>Life</strong> is quite a bit different, sometimes I can’t believe that<br />
I’m doing interviews and going to photo shoots, but it’s<br />
cool and I’m loving it.”<br />
The pretext to all of Ross’ success is his hard work, when I<br />
ask him about an average day his head is most definitely<br />
Ross continues, “Music has always been my passion<br />
though, since I was 12 or 13 years old. I have always been<br />
into music, I played guitar in primary school and it just<br />
grew and grew from there.<br />
“I went to an Avicii show in Manchester in 2015 and I<br />
thought that’s what I want to do as a job. From there it<br />
started as a hobby, I got a computer for Christmas and the<br />
necessary software and the rest is self-taught. It all comes<br />
with a lot of time and effort.<br />
And effort is exactly what Ross has in abundance; last<br />
year saw him finishing his last year at Edge Hill University<br />
and up until a few months ago was working in Dunelm<br />
in Liverpool. Ross added, “It was a lot of work, I was<br />
completing the last year of my Sport Therapy degree, so<br />
there was a dissertation to write. I enjoyed University but<br />
I’m concentrating on producing music, I think you get one<br />
shot at this and I intend to give it my all.”
45<br />
Quiz<br />
Theme:<br />
Land and Sea<br />
1. Which country is sometimes referred to as the<br />
“land of the rising sun”?<br />
2. Who used the stage name “the Sea Monster”<br />
when she first began her career in stand-up<br />
comedy?<br />
on his music, “I just want this to happen, so I’m willing to<br />
put the work in and that means putting the hours in at<br />
the studio. I also like to get out for a walk and I’m looking<br />
forward to being able to go for a drink with friends when<br />
we can.”<br />
Born in lockdown, ‘Believe Me’ became an instant hit and<br />
currently stands at number 27 in the charts, with more<br />
than 16 million streams on music site Spotify. Ross says,<br />
“Lockdown has given me time to focus on my music,<br />
being locked in the house, I got my head down and it<br />
was a way for me to keep myself occupied and doing<br />
something.<br />
“I put aside quite a few hours a day and without that time<br />
I wouldn’t be where I am today. This is the dream and I’ll<br />
keep working hard for it.”<br />
So, what is next for Ross and where would he like to take<br />
his music career? Ross explains, “I would love to go on<br />
tour, have a few top 10’s and to headline Creamfields or<br />
Glastonbury.”<br />
For now, though he intends to enjoy his success, work<br />
hard and continue to keep his feet firmly on the floor, he<br />
says, “My friends always keep me grounded, the banter<br />
is always there and although they like my work they still<br />
treat me the same, I’m still me; my hobby just turned into<br />
my job!”<br />
3. Which act won the 2004 Brit Award for Best<br />
British Album for their debut album, Permission<br />
To Land?<br />
4. Marked by dropping a ring into the sea inscribed<br />
with the Latin for “we wed thee, sea, as a sign of<br />
true and everlasting domination”, the Marriage<br />
of the Sea ceremony is an ancient ceremony<br />
that is still performed today in which European<br />
city?<br />
5. What is the only landlocked country with a<br />
name ending in “land”?<br />
6. The Sea of Marmara separates the European<br />
and Asian parts of which country?<br />
7. The poem The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot begins<br />
by saying that which month of the year “is the<br />
cruellest month”?<br />
8. The Suez canal links which two seas?<br />
9. According to the book of Genesis, which “land”<br />
was Cain exiled to by God after murdering his<br />
brother, Abel?<br />
10. Which famous fictional bar is located directly<br />
below a restaurant called Melville’s Fine Sea<br />
Food?<br />
Quiz solutions can be found on page 55 of this magazine
46<br />
Crank<br />
by Chris Pearce<br />
Distance: 7.5 miles Difficulty: Medium<br />
The landscapes of most walks have an element of ‘old’<br />
and ‘new’ about them, and this latest Jack’s Tracks has<br />
more than most. Ancient country estates, old railway lines,<br />
attractive churches and beautiful countryside make this 7.5<br />
mile walk around the northern villages of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> a real<br />
treat for walkers.<br />
Park up on Crank Hill (WA11 7SD) near the bend at the<br />
higher end of Alder Lane. Follow the footpath away from<br />
the village and up an incline. You’ll pass the reservoir on<br />
the right as you arrive at the top of the hill; carry on in the<br />
same direction downhill. The path bends as you enter the<br />
wooded area and you’ll go slowly uphill again, rewarded<br />
with great views of Billinge as you exit the trees.<br />
Go through two stiles, pass Forsters Farm Shop and turn<br />
right when you arrive at Moss Bank Road. The handsome<br />
alms-houses appear soon after on the right, which date<br />
back to 1725 and give you an idea of the rich history of the<br />
hilltop village, followed shortly after by Moss Bank Mission,<br />
which was built in 1855 and donated to the village by Lord<br />
Daresbury for the education of local children.<br />
Take the footpath that runs between the boundaries of 59<br />
and 61 Moss Bank Road, and as you exit through a metal<br />
turnstile you can expect to see great views from your lofty<br />
position. You’re now on the Rainford Hall estate, which<br />
is far off to your right and straight ahead on the top of<br />
that hillock, you can see the rooftops of Windle Hall. Both<br />
homes were once owned by members of the Pilkington<br />
family.<br />
Follow the path downhill and then turn right down the<br />
wide bridleway, which in years past was the track bed for<br />
the <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong> to Rainford <strong>Jun</strong>ction railway, opened in 1858<br />
and closed to passengers 93 years later. Other stations on<br />
the line included Crank Halt, Old Mill Lane, Rookery 1 & 2<br />
and Rainford Village.
A570<br />
47<br />
For those with the OS Maps<br />
app on your desktop, mobile<br />
or tablet, this walk is named:<br />
Holiday Moss<br />
Farm<br />
King’s Moss Plantation<br />
JT-Crank<br />
Rainford<br />
Myer’s<br />
Farm<br />
Red Cat Lane<br />
Higher Lane<br />
Rookery<br />
Farm<br />
Mill House<br />
Farm<br />
Alderley<br />
Farm<br />
Rainford<br />
Delph Farm<br />
Rainford Road<br />
Mill Lane<br />
Farm<br />
Crank<br />
Alder Lane<br />
Farm<br />
Fir Wood<br />
Delph Cottage<br />
Crank Hall<br />
Farm<br />
Crank<br />
Farm<br />
Clay Wood<br />
Reed’s Moss<br />
Rainford Brook<br />
Crank House<br />
Rainford<br />
Hall<br />
Shoots Delph<br />
Farm<br />
Moss Bank Road<br />
Crank Road<br />
Winstanley<br />
Wood<br />
Moss Plantation<br />
Dagnals<br />
Bridge<br />
Farm<br />
Poverty Plantation<br />
Moss Bank<br />
Berrington Hall<br />
Golf Club<br />
A570<br />
Windle Park<br />
Wood<br />
Windle Hall<br />
Follow the bridleway as it bends to the left and then<br />
cross Rainford Brook via the metal footbridge on the left.<br />
Follow the footpath to Crank Road, cross then turn left for<br />
50 yards, then turn right into Berrington’s Lane.<br />
Berrington’s Lane is just under a mile long and as you walk<br />
away from the noisy East Lancs Road, the lane becomes<br />
alive with wildlife. It was early morning when we did the<br />
walk and we were lucky enough to spot a couple of deer,<br />
a few rabbits and numerous songbirds.<br />
At the end of Berrington’s Lane, turn right and follow Mill<br />
Lane for 600 yards crossing Rainford Brook once more.<br />
Look closely for a path on the left-hand side once the<br />
Saint-Gobain site ends and in the vicinity of the bus stop.<br />
Follow the path, which takes you down the back of the
48<br />
industrial site, for ½ mile until you arrive at Rookery Lane<br />
in Rainford. Turn right, go straight past the junction for<br />
Derby Drive and then turn left into Rainford Linear Park.<br />
Once again, the walk returns to the track bed of the <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Helens</strong> to Rainford <strong>Jun</strong>ction railway. Rainford Linear Park<br />
runs straight through the village like an arrow, bringing a<br />
green sanctuary to the residents. The park is a real delight,<br />
it’s so well kept and is a haven for walkers and cyclists of<br />
all ages.<br />
You’re going to follow the path for until you reach a<br />
road called Cross Pit Lane (the site for the old Rainford<br />
Village <strong>St</strong>ation). Turn right here and walk up to the mini<br />
roundabout at the top of the road. Turn left and just<br />
after you pass the Rainford URC Church, turn right into<br />
Muncaster Drive.<br />
Follow Muncaster Drive for 650 yards as the walk opens<br />
up to views of Billinge Hill. Once you reach the crossroads<br />
of paths, go straight on for a further ½ mile and then turn<br />
right at Fire Clay Farm and follow the path for a further<br />
400 yards until you emerge on Higher Lane. Turn left.<br />
Follow the road away from Rainford for just over ½ mile<br />
until you reach Mill Lane Farm on a dogleg bend. Just<br />
after the dogleg, turn right and follow the path at the side<br />
of the field. Hop over a couple of stiles, then turn left and<br />
follow the well-used path around the perimeter of the<br />
field until you reach the driveway to Crank Hall Farm. Turn<br />
left to reach Crank Road and then turn left again towards<br />
Crank. Follow the road for 1/3 mile into the village.<br />
Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear<br />
whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure<br />
that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial<br />
contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any<br />
party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting<br />
from negligence, accident or other cause.
49<br />
Cycling<br />
with bionic legs!<br />
Cyrusher<br />
XF690 folding fat bike<br />
£1,799 from Cyrusher.co.uk<br />
An introduction to e-bikes<br />
E-bikes are like normal bikes given super powers: you still<br />
pedal them, but they have an electric motor that gives<br />
you some extra help. It feels rather like having bionic legs:<br />
you can pull away from traffic lights quickly and easily<br />
tackle steep hills.<br />
That makes them brilliant for commuting and urban<br />
cycling, and a great choice for people who want to<br />
improve their fitness and haven’t been on a bike for years.<br />
What kind of e-bikes are there?<br />
Commuter bikes are all-rounders while MTBs are<br />
mountain bikes and road bikes are racing bikes. The<br />
former have big tyres and great suspension, while the<br />
latter use super-light materials and aggressive geometry<br />
to achieve high speeds. Cargo bikes are for carrying loads<br />
that are too big for panniers or a backpack, and usually<br />
have bigger tyres and better brakes.<br />
How do I get the right e-bike size?<br />
E-bike sizes are usually expressed as S, M, L and XL. Small<br />
bikes are generally suitable for riders up to 5’5” while<br />
XL bikes are designed for six footers and above. Some<br />
e-bikes have very adjustable seats and handlebars that<br />
enable them to skip between sizes.<br />
Swifty E-Mountain Bike,<br />
£799 from Amazon.co.uk<br />
Volt Metro Folding Commuter<br />
Bike,<br />
£1,599 from Voltbikes.co.uk<br />
Is there more than one kind of<br />
e-bike motor?<br />
Crank drives connect directly to the bike chain, while hub<br />
drives sit in the wheel hub – usually the rear wheel. Crank<br />
drives are more energy efficient and feel more natural<br />
when pedalling but hub drives are usually much cheaper.<br />
What about gears?<br />
E-bikes come with the same kind of gear systems as<br />
ordinary bikes and the gears adjust how much pedalling<br />
is needed.<br />
With e-bikes you’ll usually be able to control the<br />
assistance level the motor gives you. You might choose<br />
Turbo for fast pulling away from traffic lights but Eco (or<br />
equivalent) when on a relaxing country ride.<br />
Which battery should I choose?<br />
Most manufacturers provide a battery range estimate,<br />
or you can calculate the range by dividing the battery’s<br />
power by 20 – a battery with a 400Wh rating should give<br />
about 20 miles on full assist, which is when the electric<br />
motor is operating at full power. Most e-bikes have a little<br />
bike computer that shows battery charge and the range<br />
remaining before recharging is needed. When the battery<br />
runs out of power, your e-bike behaves like a normal bike,<br />
albeit a heavier one. Typical recharge time is three to four<br />
hours and batteries typically last for two to four years.<br />
How much should I spend?<br />
You can get perfectly decent e-bikes for around £500,<br />
or you can spend over £4,000 on a carbon road bike.<br />
The more you spend the lighter the bikes become and<br />
the better the hardware: where cheaper e-bikes are<br />
designed for everyday use, the most expensive<br />
e-bikes are serious bits of sporting equipment<br />
with matching price tags. Whatever you buy,<br />
make sure you acquire a very good U-lock:<br />
sadly, all e-bikes are targets for bike thieves.
50<br />
<strong>St</strong>ress and Anxiety<br />
Are you feeling stressed and anxious about the future?<br />
During the pandemic, we are experiencing more stress and<br />
anxiety than ever before. This is caused by uncertainty and<br />
ever-changing information. According to the mental health<br />
charity Mind, 60% of adults said their mental health became<br />
worse during lockdown.<br />
<strong>St</strong>ress and anxiety can manifest itself in many different<br />
ways. Physical symptoms can include an increased<br />
heart rate or muscle tension, ‘jelly’ legs or tingling in the<br />
hands and feet, breathing too heavily or dizziness. You<br />
may experience feelings that you might lose control,<br />
faint, think people are looking at you and noticing your<br />
anxiety. Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK says “Those who<br />
are usually outgoing may become withdrawn or those<br />
who are reserved may become erratic.<br />
Everyone is different and anxiety can<br />
be triggered by a range of things.”<br />
Other symptoms can include<br />
lack of concentration,<br />
catastrophic thoughts,<br />
poor memory, excessive<br />
alcohol intake, under<br />
or overeating, a short<br />
temper and tearfulness.<br />
A key indicator is<br />
blowing things out of<br />
proportion. As Lorraine<br />
Collins, psychodynamic<br />
counsellor, psychotherapist,<br />
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist<br />
and member of the British<br />
Association for Counselling and<br />
Psychotherapy (BACP), says<br />
“If you’re stressed, how you<br />
view situations can become<br />
altered and distorted due<br />
to the brain not being able<br />
to process information in<br />
a more balanced way. It<br />
can also be a cry for help<br />
in communicating distress<br />
that can be difficult to put into words, so is ‘acted out’ by<br />
slamming doors, banging around, road rage and so on.”<br />
If you are under threat of redundancy as a result of the<br />
pandemic, this is additional stress as a job provides selfesteem,<br />
purpose and a social network. Losing your job<br />
unexpectedly affects all this, so stress accumulates.<br />
Lorraine says “If there is a threat of redundancy, it’s quite<br />
normal to feel stressed and anxious about your security<br />
and future. It can be like a constant feeling of dread and<br />
impending doom. You may experience a sinking feeling<br />
in the stomach. There may be a tendency for catastrophic<br />
thoughts about what the future might hold.”<br />
If you are suffering from extreme stress, it may be difficult<br />
to recognise it. Lorraine advises checking your<br />
‘internal dialogue’, which will reduce the risk of<br />
stress and tension building up. By that she<br />
means asking yourself “Am I tired and<br />
wired?” as a kind of self-monitoring.<br />
“I often suggest to my patients<br />
to use the HALT method – am<br />
I hungry, angry, lonely or<br />
tired? Getting into the habit<br />
of addressing these things<br />
can help to monitor your<br />
levels of stress and keep a<br />
more balanced sense of wellbeing,”<br />
she says.<br />
How To Manage<br />
<strong>St</strong>ress and Anxiety<br />
The good news is there are<br />
plenty of practical and useful<br />
tools to manage anxiety and<br />
reduce stress:<br />
• Getting back into nature is a<br />
great way of calming your anxiety.<br />
This can be a local park, woodland,<br />
nature reserve or your garden.<br />
Lorraine says “You can practice<br />
naming what’s around you, the
51<br />
things you see and hear, and this will interrupt<br />
the constant looping of anxious thoughts.”<br />
• Looking after mind and body: “Go to bed<br />
at a reasonable time without screens and<br />
mobiles or other things that will decrease<br />
the winding-down time we need to settle<br />
into a relaxed state and leave the day behind,”<br />
says Lorraine. “Watch your diet, as excessive<br />
caffeine and refined sugars will only stimulate<br />
an already stimulated body and mind.”<br />
• Learning to relax: relaxation techniques can<br />
include exercises to release the tension in your body by<br />
easing your muscles. The Mind web site lists plenty of<br />
options.<br />
• Switch off the news: if you find it difficult coping with<br />
news coverage, it may make you feel better if you limit<br />
what you read, watch and listen to for a while.<br />
• Connecting with other people: “Plan to have regular<br />
chats with friends and family over the phone,” says<br />
<strong>St</strong>ephen Buckley from Mind. “This is a vital way of<br />
maintaining wellbeing.”<br />
• Sharing the problem: talking to someone you trust<br />
about what is making you stressed can be helpful. If this<br />
isn’t possible, you could call a confidential helpline such<br />
as Mind’s Infoline or those run by Anxiety UK and the<br />
Samaritans. You could also join a support or self-help group<br />
– talking to people in the same boat can be reassuring.<br />
If these self-care techniques don’t work, it’s best to talk to<br />
your GP about treatment options. This can include talking<br />
therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).<br />
www.lccounselling.com<br />
www.mind.org.uk<br />
www.anxietyuk.org.uk
52<br />
Should you be taking<br />
supplements?<br />
We should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals our<br />
bodies need from the food we eat. However, modern day life<br />
is making it increasingly difficult to achieve a balanced diet.<br />
That’s where supplements come in.<br />
Supplements are considered ‘top-ups’ for the vital<br />
vitamins and minerals our bodies require to function.<br />
They can take the form of vitamins, probiotics, herbal<br />
products, powders, drinks – and more.<br />
There is still much debate surrounding their effectiveness.<br />
However, although medical professionals insist that<br />
supplements aren’t a substitute for a healthy diet, it’s proven<br />
that some could have a positive effect on your health.<br />
For example, many vegetarians and vegans will benefit<br />
from iron and vitamin B-12 supplements, while those trying<br />
for a baby are advised to take folic acid supplements until<br />
twelve weeks into their pregnancy. It’s also recommended<br />
that children aged between six months and five years take<br />
vitamin A, C and D supplements every day.<br />
Other supplements, however, could be a waste of money.<br />
If you’re wondering whether supplements could benefit<br />
your diet, it’s worth speaking to your doctor or nutritionist<br />
first. But to start you off, we’ve put together a list of the<br />
top five supplements people take in the UK, and what<br />
they are taken for.<br />
Magnesium Found naturally in foods such as<br />
pumpkin, spinach, soy beans and brown rice, magnesium<br />
is important for bone health and energy production. It’s a<br />
known stress-reliever too, and studies have proven that it<br />
can even help sleeping problems.<br />
Omega 3 Swallowing fish oil first thing in the<br />
morning might not sound appetising. But, there’s solid<br />
evidence to suggest that omega 3 fatty acids can help<br />
contribute towards a healthy heart and brain, while also<br />
reducing inflammation.<br />
That’s why omega 3 supplements, often in the shape of<br />
fish oil capsules, are so popular. Vegans and vegetarians<br />
can also top up their intake with algae oil supplements.<br />
Iron Iron is responsible for making red blood cells. It’s<br />
particularly important in younger women, but according<br />
to the 2018 National Diet and Nutrition Survey, 27% of<br />
women are deficient.<br />
It’s predominantly found in red meat, which is why<br />
many vegans and vegetarians take iron supplements to<br />
make up for any potential deficiencies. However, smaller<br />
amounts can be found in beans, nuts and fortified cereals.<br />
Prescot Chiropody Clinic<br />
Vitamin D A vital vitamin for regulating our bodies’<br />
calcium and phosphate content, vitamin D is a key<br />
contributor to healthy bones, teeth and muscles.<br />
We get most of our vitamin D from the sun, but living in<br />
the UK means we have limited daylight hours during the<br />
autumn and winter. For this reason, many people in the<br />
UK choose to take vitamin D supplements between late<br />
September and early April, when the sunlight is weaker.<br />
Zinc Best known for its ability to boost immunity and<br />
fight off bacteria and viruses, zinc is another vital mineral<br />
our bodies need to function.<br />
Red meat, shellfish and dairy foods all have high levels<br />
of zinc, as do chickpeas, lentils and beans. In supplement<br />
form, you can top up your zinc levels with over-thecounter<br />
capsules, tablets and lozenges.
53<br />
Making<br />
the switch<br />
to an<br />
electric<br />
vehicle:<br />
what you need to know<br />
Government announcements mean more EVs will be on<br />
our roads, but what do you need to know about them?<br />
Last year’s announcement by Boris Johnson that sales of<br />
new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be phased out by<br />
2030 means that electric vehicles are going to become a<br />
more important part of our driving lives very shortly.<br />
But even with this change, there remains a level of<br />
mystery surrounding all things electric. Fortunately,<br />
we’ve got some of the key things you need to know about<br />
making the leap to an EV.<br />
How much range do you need?<br />
Range is a word which has great importance in the<br />
EV world, as it’s what governs how far you’ll be able to<br />
travel in between trips to the plug. However,<br />
there’s no need to get worried about a car’s<br />
range if you think carefully about how far<br />
you travel.<br />
If you’re someone who only does shorter<br />
trips around town and does fewer than 100<br />
miles a week, for instance, then a car with a<br />
shorter range will suit you down the ground.<br />
However, if you’re a driver who travels further<br />
afield, then a car with a bigger battery might<br />
make more sense. Don’t be scared of cars<br />
with shorter ranges, though, as they’ll still<br />
offer more than most people do on average<br />
each week. Plus, cars with smaller batteries<br />
offer quicker charge times.
54<br />
How do I add charge<br />
when I get home?<br />
Home charging is one of the crucial<br />
aspects of owning and running an<br />
electric car. Being able to add energy<br />
to the vehicle while it’s at your home<br />
really does make things a lot more<br />
flexible – and cheaper, too.<br />
Whenever you buy a new car, there<br />
are incentives in place for charging<br />
at home. Government grants and<br />
even manufacturer schemes will<br />
make installing a home wall box<br />
much cheaper. Yes, you can use a three-pin socket, but<br />
this isn’t as quick or as safe as having a wall box.<br />
Will it actually be cheaper to buy<br />
and run an electric car?<br />
Of course, the initial upfront cost for an EV is often more<br />
than an equivalent internal combustion-engined car.<br />
However, as the technology progresses, this is becoming<br />
less common. The new Renault Zoe, for instance, is priced<br />
from £26,495, which though still relatively expensive is<br />
more in line with the segment.<br />
The Prime Minister also outlined up to £582 million in<br />
extra grants to help those buying zero or low-emissions<br />
vehicles to lower the cost.<br />
It’s charging where the cost savings really come into play.<br />
As with petrol, the prices do vary between chargers, with<br />
some costing from around 25p/kWh up to around 35p/<br />
kWh. For around 100 miles of additional charge, you’ll be<br />
looking at about £6-7.<br />
When it comes to charging at home, that really depends<br />
on your own energy tariff. Plenty of companies are now<br />
offering EV-friendly plans that take advantage of lowerpriced<br />
charging times, such as in the middle of the night.<br />
However, for an average EV with around 200 miles of<br />
range and a 60kWh battery, you’ll be looking at around<br />
£8.40 for a full charge. It represents good value compared<br />
with petrol and diesel.<br />
Are there any benefits that aren’t as<br />
obvious?<br />
Though the cost-saving benefits are quite easy to see,<br />
there are some other positives to owning an electric car.<br />
One of them is simply refinement – EVs are quiet and,<br />
therefore, relaxing to drive around in. You’ll notice quite<br />
a difference compared with a petrol or diesel car, in fact.<br />
Another positive is performance. Even lower-powered EVs<br />
really zip away from the line, and they give acceleration<br />
that regular cars simply can’t hope to match.<br />
But isn’t the UK lacking in charge<br />
points?<br />
The number of charging stations in the UK has grown<br />
enormously in recent years. According to ZapMap, there<br />
are over 35,000 connectors across the country, made<br />
up of around 20,000 charge points in about 13,000<br />
locations.<br />
In terms of how they’re spread out across the country, 26<br />
per cent are in central London alone, with 13.5 per cent in<br />
the south east and 12.3 per cent in Scotland. This figure is<br />
only set to rise, too, as government funding looks to make<br />
fast chargers more widespread across the country.<br />
Furthermore, the Prime Minister has stated that an extra<br />
£1.3 billion in investment will be rolled out in order to<br />
improve the country’s charging structure and thus make<br />
charging easier.<br />
Doesn’t the energy for electric cars<br />
only come from fossil fuels anyway?<br />
Of course, an electric vehicle is only as environmentally<br />
friendly as its energy source. However, many energy<br />
and charger unit suppliers are working to ensure that<br />
their energy comes from green suppliers. All of BP<br />
Chargemaster’s charging stations, for example, are<br />
certified as providing renewable energy, while home<br />
energy providers like Octopus Energy provide power that<br />
is completely green.
55<br />
Puzzle Solutions<br />
CROSSWORD<br />
WORDWHEEL<br />
ACROSS: 1. Parish, 4. Warhol, 9. Rabbi, 10. Organza, 11. Nucleus, 12. Erupt,<br />
13. Pandora’s box, 18. Arson, 20. Derrick, 22. Saucers, 23. Shawm, 24. Sphinx, 25. Indigo.<br />
DOWN: 1. Parent, 2. Rebecca, 3. Seine, 5. Anglers, 6. Hindu, 7. Lean-to, 8. Horseradish,<br />
14. Dungeon, 15. Origami, 16. Cassis, 1.7 Akimbo, 19. South, 21. Resin.<br />
ANSWER:<br />
MORTAL<br />
T O<br />
M A<br />
L<br />
R<br />
WORDSEARCH SUDOKU WIGGLE<br />
WORDS<br />
PUB QUIZ<br />
Cock and Bull <strong>St</strong>ory<br />
WORD<br />
LADDER<br />
Here is one possible<br />
solution (others may exist)<br />
HAND<br />
band<br />
bond<br />
fond<br />
food<br />
FOOT<br />
1. Japan<br />
4. Venice<br />
7. April<br />
9. The land of nod<br />
2. Jo Brand<br />
5. Switzerland<br />
8. The Mediterranean Sea<br />
10. Cheers (in the TV<br />
3. The Darkness<br />
6. Turkey<br />
and the Red Sea<br />
sitcom Cheers)
56<br />
Love Your<br />
Lawn<br />
Look out of your window at your lawn and<br />
you’ll probably see that it has suddenly taken<br />
off and is growing rapidly. This means that<br />
now is the perfect time to get to grips with a<br />
bit of spring maintenance. True, your lawn<br />
will survive without it, but if you want it to<br />
look a good deal better than average, then get<br />
your skates on! In most areas temperatures<br />
should have evened up a little and the soil in<br />
beds, borders and under your lawn should<br />
hopefully not be wet and soggy.<br />
Grass needs regular mowing from now on; in some areas<br />
this may mean once a week, so make sure that the mower<br />
blades are good and sharp. On so-called utility lawns you<br />
will need to cut to about 2.5cm or 1”, while on higher<br />
grade smart lawns cut to about 1-1.5cm.<br />
Lawns benefit from a specially formulated spring feed at<br />
this time of year to encourage good strong growth and<br />
strengthen the grasses up after any winter setbacks. If you<br />
use a granular formulation, make sure that you water it in<br />
well if you cannot time the job so that the rain does this<br />
for you!<br />
Give yourself a bit of a workout too and scarify the<br />
lawn. This means using a spring-tined rake to pull out<br />
any accumulated debris or thatch from the base of the<br />
grasses. This allows for a better flow of moisture and air,<br />
thus ensuring that the grass grows stronger and more<br />
healthily.<br />
If your lawn has developed a lot of moss (especially<br />
likely if it has suffered compaction, is shaded or has been<br />
particularly wet), then apply a proprietary moss killer<br />
before scarifying. Use a combined feed and moss killer<br />
to save yourself time if you like, but whichever product<br />
you choose, make sure that you leave the specified time<br />
between applying the treatment and raking the dead<br />
moss out. If you don’t, the moss problem could become<br />
a lot worse, as you’ll spread the pieces of living moss as<br />
you rake.<br />
Worm casts may be there in abundance now too, so if<br />
necessary simply use a besom or brush to brush them<br />
away or distribute them over the lawn.<br />
Humps and bumps in the lawn or indeed any other sort<br />
of uneven surface can be dealt with now, but you will<br />
need to get this done promptly, just in case the weather<br />
gets hot and dry soon. A minor problem can be dealt with<br />
using a sandy top-dressing mixture, but if there are some<br />
prominent problems then use a sharp spade to cut an ‘H’<br />
shape over the bump or hollow. Now carefully peel back<br />
the turf and then remove or add soil as necessary before<br />
replacing the turf flaps, firming well and providing a good<br />
drink.<br />
It is also worth sorting out any stepping stones that<br />
have sunk too low or become uneven. Use a spade to<br />
ease them out of the lawn and lift and readjust the level<br />
beneath before replacing them.<br />
It may sound as if there’s a lot to do, but remember that<br />
every hour spent now will make a huge difference to how<br />
the lawn looks for the rest of the year!
57<br />
Promote your<br />
company here for<br />
just £30 + VAT<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
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quotations provided<br />
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www.aabronlandscaping.co.uk<br />
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feLLed<br />
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rated by<br />
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58<br />
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UP TO 25% DISCOUNT<br />
Call Al today for a free quote or advice<br />
OFFICE<br />
01942 396 818<br />
Dave’s<br />
GARDENING<br />
SERVICES<br />
3 Garden Maintenance<br />
3 Grass Cutting<br />
3 Hedge Trimming<br />
3 Power Washing<br />
Regular or<br />
one-off work welcome<br />
Call Dave for a free quote on<br />
01744 322 334<br />
07974 119 321<br />
Based in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong><br />
MOBILE<br />
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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
• Landscaping<br />
• Driveways & Patios<br />
• Block Paving<br />
• Indian <strong>St</strong>one<br />
All tree work including<br />
• Shaping & Pruning<br />
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• APPLICATION OF LAWN<br />
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• HEDGES & SHRUB MAINTAINED<br />
• WEED SPRAYING OF PATHS &<br />
DRIVEWAYS<br />
• Fencing & Decking<br />
• Turfing &<br />
Artificial<br />
Grass<br />
MAN<br />
& DIggER<br />
for hire<br />
SMN<br />
Tree and Landscape Management<br />
Tree Felling & Pruning<br />
Site Clearance<br />
Tree Surveys and Reports<br />
Invasive Weed Control<br />
Ground Maintenance<br />
Agricultural & Domestic Fencing<br />
Firewood & Woodchip<br />
Woodland Maintenance<br />
24 Hour Emergency Tree Work<br />
West Lancashire Borough Council<br />
approved contractor<br />
Wigan Council approved contractor<br />
Day: 07970 521 692<br />
Eve: 01942 214 121<br />
www.smntrees.co.uk<br />
steve@smntrees.co.uk<br />
Over 70 Lancashire<br />
Walks<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
FREE to download at<br />
locallife247.co.uk<br />
01744 893 477<br />
or 07950 651 956<br />
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BILLINGE BASED<br />
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~ Est. 2001 ~<br />
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<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a b oking system for the<br />
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Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest<br />
which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com
Home Services<br />
59<br />
All Electrical Installations,<br />
Maintenance & Repairs<br />
From full re-wires to<br />
outside lighting to socket<br />
replacements<br />
No job too sMAll<br />
24/7 emergency call-out<br />
with no call-out charges<br />
Over 30 years’ experience<br />
call steve on<br />
07874 352501 or 01744 368055<br />
www.billingeelctrical.co.uk<br />
We repair:<br />
4 Phones & Tablets<br />
4 Laptops & PC’s<br />
4 Gaming Consoles<br />
4 Apple Watches<br />
We also build<br />
gaming PC’s to all<br />
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If we<br />
can’t fix it,<br />
no one<br />
can!<br />
QUALITY service<br />
FREE estimates<br />
FAST turnaround<br />
Call the Tech Guys on 01744 410554<br />
or email info@techguys360.co.uk<br />
www.techguys360.co.uk<br />
1st Floor, Rainford Parish Council Offices,<br />
Church Rd, Rainford, <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong> WA11 8HB<br />
All electrical work undertaken from<br />
full re-wires to alarms/CCTV.<br />
No job too small.<br />
No call out charge – guaranteed.<br />
30 years experience.<br />
CAll STeVe oN<br />
07809 427 508<br />
www.hjselectricalservices.co.uk<br />
COMPUTER<br />
PROBLEMS?<br />
• No Call Out Charges<br />
• <strong>Local</strong> Company<br />
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Bodtree Systems fix all types of PC problems<br />
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Call Catherine Now<br />
07540 222787<br />
Tel: 01744 778381 - 01942 418763<br />
Rainford<br />
Electrical<br />
Est.1975<br />
Electrical Installations & Repairs<br />
All aspects of domestic work<br />
undertaken<br />
Lights, Sockets, Fuseboards etc<br />
Electric Oven & Shower Repairs<br />
P.A.T. Testing & Inspection<br />
Small jobs a speciality<br />
Call Alan Leigh on<br />
01744 883883<br />
or 07884 496434<br />
W.Hurst & Son Ltd<br />
ELECTRIC<br />
CONTRACTOR<br />
www.whurstandson.co.uk<br />
• All types of electrical work<br />
• 35+ years experience<br />
• No job too small<br />
• Friendly and reliable<br />
For a free quote<br />
& advice call Jeff<br />
01695 622 191<br />
07850 622 191<br />
Design & Print<br />
Flyers, postcards, brochures<br />
and distribution service.<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Are you the carer of an older person?<br />
Do you need a break from your caring role?<br />
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Genesis Care provides daytime support for older people with dementia & other disabilities.<br />
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Open Mon, Tues, Thurs & Friday<br />
9.30am – 3.30pm<br />
The School Rooms, Chorley Methodist<br />
Church (formerly Trinity Church),<br />
Gi librand Walks, Chorley, PR7 2HF<br />
Email: genesiscare@btinternet.com<br />
Website: www.genesiscarenw.co.uk<br />
Tel: 07845 969442 / 07715 809236 for more information<br />
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Do you need care and support in<br />
Your OWN Home?<br />
We are a CHORLEY company providing BESPOKE QUALITY CARE<br />
For helpful and friendly advice, pop into our office at 225 Eaves Lane, Chorley,<br />
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We are fu ly Insured, Care Quality Commission regulated, member of the UK<br />
Home Care Association and Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.<br />
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Call Amanda on 01257 696 050 for further details<br />
• Earwax Removal<br />
• FREE Hearing Tests<br />
• Hearing Aids & Repairs<br />
• FREE 1 Week Hearing Aid Trial<br />
Drop in or contact Darren on:<br />
01942 215 391<br />
8-10 Gathurst Road, Orre l, WN5 8QH<br />
www.wiganhearing.co.uk<br />
10% off<br />
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Contact us today for further information. Terms and conditions a ply<br />
rural Vi lage<br />
NUrSErY<br />
A l staff<br />
paediatric<br />
& first aid<br />
QUALIFIED<br />
oPEN<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
8AM-6PM<br />
FUNDED<br />
PLACES<br />
Available for<br />
2/3/4<br />
year olds<br />
£37.50<br />
per day<br />
LANgUAgE<br />
& SPortS<br />
LESSoNS<br />
for<br />
pre-schoolers<br />
Large<br />
outdoor<br />
PLAY ArEA<br />
rated by<br />
oF<strong>St</strong>ED<br />
as<br />
oUt<strong>St</strong>ANDINg<br />
We cater for<br />
CHILDrEN<br />
3 months<br />
- 4 years<br />
NEWLY<br />
rEFUrBISHED<br />
in 2019<br />
Ca l Sarah on 01744 886166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
www.cranknursery.co.uk<br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a booking system for the<br />
holidays which saves you money<br />
We deliver 30 hours free entitlement<br />
£29 for a fu l day<br />
Flexible sessions available<br />
We take children from 2 years old<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outdoors & being down in the forest<br />
which is good for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
A l Saints’ Primary School | Finch Lane | Appley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com<br />
For more information please ca l 01744 649091 or email us on contact@carebreak.co.uk.<br />
The Care Quality Commi sion (CQC) defines companies like Care Break as an introductory agency<br />
pursuant to the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
£29 for a fu l day<br />
rural Vi lage<br />
NUrSErY<br />
A l sta f<br />
paediatric<br />
& first aid<br />
QUALIFIED<br />
oPEN<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
8AM-6PM<br />
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Available for<br />
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year olds<br />
£37.50<br />
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www.cranknursery.co.uk<br />
LANgUAgE<br />
& SPortS<br />
LESSoNS<br />
for<br />
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Large<br />
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rated by<br />
oF<strong>St</strong>ED<br />
as<br />
oUt<strong>St</strong>ANDINg<br />
We cater for<br />
CHILDrEN<br />
3 months<br />
- 4 years<br />
NEWLY<br />
rEFUrBISHED<br />
in 2019<br />
60<br />
No job too small or tall<br />
Call:<br />
01942 273944<br />
07872 176335<br />
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e: sales@alliancecleaningsystems.co.uk<br />
H. TEBB<br />
& SON<br />
French Polishers &<br />
Upholsterers of Distinction<br />
• Domestic and commercial<br />
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• Free Pick Up and Delivery<br />
• Established in <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Helens</strong><br />
since 1946<br />
• Free estimates<br />
01744 23074<br />
91 Shaw <strong>St</strong>reet, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>,<br />
WA10 1EN<br />
www.htebb.co.uk<br />
Promote your<br />
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Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
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• Professional Carpet, Rug<br />
& Upholstery Cleaning<br />
• Leather Cleaning & Restoration<br />
• FREE Pre-Inspection Visit & Quotation<br />
T: 01942 409401<br />
M: 07881 816839<br />
helen@carrolls-cleaning.co.uk<br />
Get your oven<br />
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We clean ovens, hobs,<br />
microwaves and fans for over<br />
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Single ovens only £50<br />
We only use non-caustic,<br />
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Design & Print<br />
Flyers, postcards, brochures<br />
and distribution service.<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a b oking system for the<br />
holidays which saves you money<br />
We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement<br />
Flexible se sions available<br />
We take children from 2 years old<br />
Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest<br />
which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com
61<br />
Call Clint for a free no obligation quote<br />
01744 470 051<br />
07834 241 642<br />
www.justcleanpropertycare.co.uk<br />
ROOF CLEANING<br />
• Moss Removal & Bio-Treatment<br />
• Softwashing / Low Pressure<br />
POWER WASHING<br />
• Driveways & Patios etc.<br />
CONSERVATORIES<br />
• Exterior & Interior (Cleaning)<br />
UPVC CLEANING<br />
• Windows, Fascias,<br />
Gutters etc.<br />
SPECIAL OFFER - 20% OFF ALL CLEANING PACKAGES<br />
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4 Cheaper than a skip<br />
4 Smart and friendly staff<br />
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• House and garden clearances<br />
• Rubbish removals<br />
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northwestwaste<br />
The Meadows, Ruskin Drive, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 6RP<br />
01744 758 349 / 07557 764 940<br />
Email: info@northwestwaste.co.uk<br />
www.northwestwaste.co.uk
62<br />
Call Paul<br />
Locksmiths<br />
EstablishEd 2000<br />
• uPVC & WOOdEN dOOR sPECialist<br />
• Emergency door Opening<br />
• uPVC door lock Repairs<br />
• uPVC door lock Changes<br />
• uPVC door lock upgrades<br />
• Wood door lock Changes<br />
• all Work Guaranteed<br />
a Registered insured NCFE Certified Company<br />
call Paul for a Fast, Reliable,<br />
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tELEPhoNE<br />
01744 526 589<br />
moBiLE<br />
07932 718 362<br />
WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK<br />
Garswood<br />
Decorating<br />
Services<br />
3 Internal & External<br />
Decorating<br />
3 30 years experience<br />
3 No job too small<br />
Call Shaun for a free quote<br />
07542 405031<br />
07545 956712<br />
9 Hamilton Road<br />
Garswood<br />
shaun@garswooddecoratingservices.co.uk<br />
A.J.Davies<br />
Est.1991<br />
Painter<br />
& Decorator<br />
Paper Hanging a Speciality<br />
Friendly & Very Reliable Service<br />
Both Domestic & Commercial<br />
Trading for over 30 years<br />
Call Adam on<br />
01744 755 005<br />
e-mail ajdaviesdecorator@hotmail.co.uk<br />
gArAge door<br />
repAirS<br />
Haydock<br />
Decorators<br />
• High Quality Decorating<br />
• Neat & Tidy Workmanship<br />
Over 20 years<br />
experience<br />
All gArAge<br />
doorS<br />
repAired:<br />
Springs, Cables,<br />
Locks, Rollers etc.<br />
Doors of all ages<br />
repaired<br />
01744 894939 / 07891 330214<br />
NO FIX, NO CHARGE!<br />
<strong>St</strong>rawberry Cottage,<br />
Pimbo Road, Kings Moss<br />
WN8 9QL<br />
www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk<br />
For a free quote & friendly advice<br />
contact Paul on<br />
07596 956 030<br />
Haydock Decorators<br />
KEYS LOCKS SAFES<br />
• Repairs & Upgrades on<br />
all locks, including UPVC<br />
• Safes supplied & installed<br />
• Key cutting service<br />
• Emergency call outs<br />
welcomed<br />
• All work guaranteed<br />
Call your local lock expert<br />
for a free quote<br />
Established 1970<br />
Call us now on<br />
01744 732 256<br />
Visit our showroom:<br />
2, Lingholme Road, <strong>St</strong> <strong>Helens</strong>, WA10 2NS<br />
Promote your<br />
company here for<br />
just £30 + VAT<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
www.locallife247.co.uk
£29 for a fu l day<br />
rural Vi lage<br />
NUrSErY<br />
FUNDED LANgUAgE<br />
A l sta f<br />
PLACES & SPortS<br />
paediatric<br />
Available for LESSoNS<br />
& first aid<br />
2/3/4<br />
for<br />
QUALIFIED<br />
year olds pre-schoolers<br />
oPEN<br />
Large<br />
£37.50<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
outdoor<br />
per day<br />
8AM-6PM<br />
PLAY ArEA<br />
www.cranknursery.co.uk<br />
rated by<br />
oF<strong>St</strong>ED<br />
as<br />
oUt<strong>St</strong>ANDINg<br />
We cater for<br />
CHILDrEN<br />
3 months<br />
- 4 years<br />
NEWLY<br />
rEFUrBISHED<br />
in 2019<br />
All aspects of Gas Heating<br />
& Plumbing<br />
• Boilers<br />
• Bathrooms<br />
• Servicing<br />
Installations, Upgrades<br />
& Maintenance<br />
Established 30+ years<br />
emergency call outs<br />
11672<br />
Call Paul for advice<br />
and a free quote<br />
07929 428 496<br />
42-44 Rainford Road, Billinge<br />
FINANCE<br />
AVAILABLE<br />
ASK FOR DETAILS<br />
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and distribution service.<br />
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Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a b oking system for the<br />
holidays which saves you money<br />
We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement<br />
Flexible se sions available<br />
We take children from 2 years old<br />
Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest<br />
which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com<br />
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624630<br />
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& Heating<br />
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System Flushes<br />
Landlords Certifications<br />
LPG<br />
Call Alec on<br />
07730 735 174<br />
rainford-boiler-tech.co.uk<br />
63<br />
• Brand New Bathrooms<br />
• Boiler + Central Heating<br />
Installs, Servicing + Repairs<br />
• Extended warranties<br />
available<br />
• 24 Hour Call-out<br />
• Domestic + Commercial<br />
Freephone:<br />
0300 3030121<br />
Dave: 07769 942218<br />
Matt: 07969 183809<br />
506515<br />
FINANCE<br />
OPTIONS<br />
AVAILABLE<br />
21 Naburn Drive, Orrell wN5 8SB<br />
Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk<br />
www.orrellheating.co.uk<br />
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LeafLet Distribution<br />
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Prices from £27.50 per thousand (minimum 4,000 leaflets)<br />
Call or email us for a Leaflet Coverage List<br />
then simply chose the postcode areas<br />
you want to target<br />
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also available<br />
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NUrSErY<br />
A l sta f<br />
paediatric<br />
& first aid<br />
QUALIFIED<br />
oPEN<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
8AM-6PM<br />
FUNDED<br />
PLACES<br />
Available for<br />
2/3/4<br />
year olds<br />
£37.50<br />
per day<br />
www.cranknursery.co.uk<br />
LANgUAgE<br />
& SPortS<br />
LESSoNS<br />
for<br />
pre-schoolers<br />
Large<br />
outdoor<br />
PLAY ArEA<br />
rated by<br />
oF<strong>St</strong>ED<br />
as<br />
oUt<strong>St</strong>ANDINg<br />
We cater for<br />
CHILDrEN<br />
3 months<br />
- 4 years<br />
NEWLY<br />
rEFUrBISHED<br />
in 2019<br />
64<br />
Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements!<br />
Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters<br />
PLC<br />
MAINTENANCE<br />
MuLtiSkiLLed<br />
HandyMan<br />
• Roofing & Roofline -<br />
repairs and replacement<br />
• Decorating • Building<br />
• Gates supplied & fitted<br />
• Plastering • Gardening<br />
For all your home improvements<br />
No job too small<br />
07847 394040<br />
01744 606938<br />
All aspects of wall &<br />
floor tiling: bathrooms,<br />
wet rooms, en-suites,<br />
kitchens, lounges,<br />
conservatories etc<br />
Underfloor heating<br />
Call Karl now for a<br />
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or 07756 274503<br />
7 Albany Avenue,<br />
Eccleston Park, L34 2QN<br />
We specialise in seamless<br />
aluminium gutters.<br />
Clean, stylish and guaranteed<br />
for 25 years!<br />
Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183<br />
www.orrellroofline.co.uk<br />
Design & Print<br />
Flyers, postcards, brochures<br />
and distribution service.<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a b oking system for the<br />
holidays which saves you money<br />
We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement<br />
Flexible se sions available<br />
We take children from 2 years old<br />
Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest<br />
which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com<br />
JJ Driveways<br />
Imprinted Concrete<br />
Specialists<br />
Huge range of colours<br />
& patterns<br />
• Resin Driveways<br />
• Block Paving<br />
• Indian <strong>St</strong>one<br />
• Flagging<br />
We can also revive<br />
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Ask about our sealing<br />
service<br />
Call Joe for a<br />
free quotation on<br />
01942 621 959<br />
07867 697 972<br />
www.jjdriveways.co.uk<br />
Do you<br />
have<br />
Failed<br />
Double<br />
Glazing<br />
Units?<br />
Don’t pay £££’s to replace<br />
the frame, we’ll replace the<br />
glass panes.<br />
We also replace; Window<br />
locks, Door locks, Hinges<br />
& Handles.<br />
...and we do conservatory<br />
repairs.<br />
Call us now for a free<br />
quotation on<br />
01744 810 000<br />
www.northwestwindowrepairs.co.uk<br />
Convert your bath to a<br />
Walk-In Shower<br />
AJC<br />
WALK IN SHOWERS<br />
Typical price<br />
£1800<br />
Fully guaranteed<br />
One day installation<br />
No mess - no fuss<br />
Easy to clean & maintain<br />
Call Anthony on<br />
07919 876 825<br />
Workshop address:<br />
Bulldog Tools Ind. Est.<br />
Darlington <strong>St</strong>reet East Wigan WN1 3BT<br />
We also fit full bathrooms!
£29 for a fu l day<br />
rural Vi lage<br />
NUrSErY<br />
FUNDED LANgUAgE<br />
A l sta f<br />
PLACES & SPortS<br />
paediatric<br />
Available for LESSoNS<br />
& first aid<br />
2/3/4<br />
for<br />
QUALIFIED<br />
year olds pre-schoolers<br />
oPEN<br />
Large<br />
£37.50<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
outdoor<br />
per day<br />
8AM-6PM<br />
PLAY ArEA<br />
www.cranknursery.co.uk<br />
rated by<br />
oF<strong>St</strong>ED<br />
as<br />
oUt<strong>St</strong>ANDINg<br />
We cater for<br />
CHILDrEN<br />
3 months<br />
- 4 years<br />
NEWLY<br />
rEFUrBISHED<br />
in 2019<br />
Our Focus Is<br />
Quality & Price<br />
From a Loose Slate to a<br />
Complete Construction<br />
LOCAL<br />
FAMILY<br />
FIRM<br />
All aspects<br />
of Building<br />
& Roofing<br />
UPVC Rooflines<br />
Extensions &<br />
Alterations Specialists<br />
References Available<br />
Call us on... 01744 600074<br />
Mobile: 07867 592460<br />
13 Hawes Ave, Carr Mill, WA11 7EA<br />
Promote your<br />
company here for<br />
just £30 + VAT<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
Promote your<br />
company here for<br />
just £30 + VAT<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
Damp<br />
Control<br />
We use state of the art<br />
diagnostic equipment to<br />
provide a comprehensive<br />
assessment of your damp<br />
issues.<br />
Free quote and<br />
advice provided<br />
for any remedial<br />
works needed.<br />
For a reliable, friendly<br />
service call Matthew on<br />
07840 096 233<br />
Matthew<br />
Rigby<br />
Property Services<br />
Damp Control Specialists<br />
WILSON<br />
BROS<br />
• •<br />
Est. 1985<br />
Roofing & Roofline<br />
Specialists<br />
• All aspects of<br />
maintenance & repair<br />
• Fascia & soffit<br />
installation<br />
• Guttering and felting<br />
services<br />
Call us now for<br />
a free estimate<br />
01695 633173<br />
Colin: 07958 302 166<br />
Brian: 07760 160 988<br />
www.wilson-bros.co.uk<br />
Flyers, postcards, brochures<br />
and distribution service.<br />
65<br />
Design & Print<br />
Call 01744 649722<br />
<strong>Local</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />
Little Acorns Nursery<br />
QUALITY CHILDCARE YOU CAN TRUST!<br />
Open Mon-Fri: 8am ti l 5.30pm term time<br />
We operate a b oking system for the<br />
holidays which saves you money<br />
We deliver 30 hours fr e entitlement<br />
Flexible se sions available<br />
We take children from 2 years old<br />
Ca l Sarah on 01744 86166 for more information or admin@cranknursery.net<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery is situated in a beautiful woodland<br />
se ting. It is a safe and vibrant place for your child to gain<br />
lots of wonderful educational experiences.<br />
We are big on the great outd ors & being down in the forest<br />
which is g od for your child’s health and we l-being<br />
A l Saints’ Primary Sch ol | Finch Lane | A pley Bridge | WN6 9DT<br />
Li tle Acorns Nursery<br />
www.locallife247.co.uk<br />
01257 252647<br />
www.li tleacorns-daynursery.com<br />
ALPINE LTD<br />
Roofing & Building Services<br />
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CHORLEY, WEST<br />
LANCASHIRE &<br />
WIGAN<br />
Your local roofing company from repairs<br />
to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters.<br />
• Flat roof specialists<br />
• Damp proof specialists<br />
• Quality workmanship<br />
• Affordable pricing<br />
• Quick response to all repairs<br />
FULLY INSURED<br />
Tel: 01744 776880<br />
Mob: 07730 351523<br />
www.alpineroofingandbuildingltd.co.uk
Cover photo © Ian Bonne l Photograpthy<br />
66<br />
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67<br />
Come and visit the largest<br />
showroom in the North West<br />
Quality installations of windows,<br />
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Established since 1999<br />
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Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria <strong>St</strong>reet, Leigh, WN7 5SE<br />
warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk<br />
Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest<br />
rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and<br />
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.
68<br />
Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!<br />
Quality ~ Choice ~ Value<br />
Windows<br />
Bi-Fold Doors<br />
Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs<br />
expertly fitted by accredited installers<br />
©<br />
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Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)<br />
www.orrellwindows.co.uk<br />
28544