I76 Local Local St Helens - Jan 2012

January 2012St Helens & Ashton Edition

www.locallife247.co.uk

A-Z of local activities for 2012

Just Do It!

CompetitionResults

Pictures of our hamper winners

FREE SWEETS!

See voucher on page 24

Local Life talks to theBBC’s Dave Guest

A Local Life www.locallife247.co.uk

1 in 4 women will be a victim ofdomestic violence in their lifetime.If it’s happening to you or anyoneyou know, there is help.

Are you the apple of his eye?Or is your relationshipshowing signs of damage?

Call the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)on 01744 743 200

www.safersthelens.org.uk

[email protected]

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AdvertisingNicola Gray01744 [email protected]

EditorialChris Pearce01744 [email protected]

Accounts/DistributionSally Boon01695 [email protected]

For further information, visit our websitewww.locallife247.co.uk

The February issue of Local Life will be published on Thursday 2nd February. The copy deadline for this issue is Thursday 19th January. Local Life is published every month. Distribution areas will alternate each month between two separate edition areas: The St Helens and Ashton edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Newton-le-Willows, Garswood, Crank, Kings Moss and parts of Ashton and Moss Bank.

Copies of this edition are also available to pick up free from Tesco Stores in Haydock and Earlestown.

The St Helens and Prescot edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Windle, Knowsley Village, Prescot Road and part of Nutgrove.

Copies of this edition are also available to pick up free from Tesco Extra Stores in Peasley Cross and Prescot.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

No part of this publication, including pictures, may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

20% off all Curtains and BlindsFirst & Last – Dave Guest70% off at Morpheus Glass!Taste of Italy with Marken TravelFree Sweeties at Connie’s Kitchen50% off Perfect Fit window blinds20% off offer at Real FlameESP-ecially for you – great offers!Just Do It! A-Z of local activitiesXmas Hamper winners announced!Angie’s Garden DiaryKids StuffTest Drive – Renault TwingoHome ServicesTell Us Once Useful Numbers

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In this issue

Just Do It!I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas period - welcome to 2012 and the latest issue of Local Life!

What’s the front page all about I hear you ask? Well, who can forget the sight of those Emperor Penguins on the BBC’s Frozen Planet as they huddled together against the ravages of an Antarctic winter? I think it’s a natural instinct for nature to hunker down at this time of year and wait for the worst of the winter to pass, and man is certainly no exception! If this sounds like you, then you might not be tempted right now by our ‘Just Do It!’ feature on pages 36-38 which aims to inform and entice more people to try our local activity groups, but hopefully you’ll make a mental note to try these activities when Spring is sprung.

Who can resist free sweeties? Connie’s Kitchen, a real life Willy Wonka story, are again offering a free 50g bag of sweets to all Local Life customers! Just cut out the voucher on page 24 and pop down to their Earlestown shop to try out their delicious tablet sweets.

The next issue brings the return of Jack’s Tracks, our What’s On guide, and whatever else we can think of to make your read even more enjoyable. Don’t forget - please support our advertisers whenever you can, as these are the people who make it possible for us to design, print and deliver your Local Life to you.

See you next time!

[email protected]

When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.


One Ella of a GuessClever Garswood youngster Ella Guest was the toast of her family as she won a charity competition hosted by Windy Arbour Farm to guess the weight of a giant pumpkin! Customers were invited to guess the weight of the pumpkin which was on display in the popular farm shop in Billinge and three hundred and fifty of them paid £1 each to enter the competition. Six year old Ella correctly guessed the weight of the whopper as 34 kilos, and won a £20 voucher to spend at the farm shop!

Ella is pictured on the left with the owner of the farm shop Pam Turner, whose idea it was to hold the competition, and Saints legend and local resident Paul Sculthorpe, a regular customer at the farm shop who was collecting the cheque on behalf of Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Pam was inspired to raise funds for the hospice following the tragic loss of her husband John to cancer in September 2010, and the competition raised a total of £350. Well done to all concerned!

Wedding FairIf you’re planning a wedding in 2012 or even in 2013, then check out a wedding fair in style at the Park Inn, St Helens this Sunday (8th January) from 12 noon to 4pm. Catwalk shows, vintage cars, venue stylists, creative cakes, entertainers and beauticians will all be on hand to give the savvy bride ideas on how to plan her perfect day. Entrance is free and everyone will receive a wedding magazine and exclusive goody bag.


Prom DayIf you have a party princess who is leaving school this year, then no doubt you will have been informed by now that your essential duties as a parent requires parting with a sum equivalent to Greece’s national debt for her prom night. Anything less than that and you could well receive a call from Childline!

Fear not, you can take the stress out of all the planning by attending the rather exclusive Prom Day event being held from 10am-5pm on Saturday January 21st at Romancia, located on Main Street

in Billinge. There, your very own prom queen can browse through the whole range of Paparazzi Prom dresses by must-have designer Mori Lee.

Open WeekendMorpheus Glass, based at Hewitt Business Park off Winstanley Road in Orrell, are staging an Open Weekend on 21st and 22nd January from 10am-4pm, where members of the public can visit their studios, inspect their collection of glass fusion work and pick up some unbelievable bargains at 70% off retail prices!

You’ll be able to browse through some original pieces of glass art; ideal and unique presents for your family and friends. Gifts on offer will include handmade jewellery; earrings, bracelets and pendants, coaster sets, colourful hangings and beautiful vessels too. If your budget is a bit more considerable, you can pick up glass splashbacks, sculptures and wall panels at a fraction of the prices you’ll pay elsewhere!


Win a Carpet!The winning entry in the United Carpets ‘Win a Carpet for Christmas’ competition in the October and November issues of Local Life was Jayne McArthur from Second Avenue in Rainhill. Local Life went along to Jayne’s house just before Christmas to capture the moment when United Carpets turned up with her brand new carpet, which was worth £350!

Jayne and her husband Stephen recently converted their loft into a bedroom for their eldest son, and were about to go shopping for a carpet for the room on the day that the letter arrived confirming the prize was theirs! Jayne said, “It’s a great prize and I’m so glad I entered”.

This Christmas was the first full festive period that the couple had spent at their house because Stephen’s Army commitments had meant that he was often away

for part of the Christmas period. Stephen has just left the army after 24 years, finishing his service with a tour in Afghanistan.

The manager at United Carpets, Nathan Grant, told Local Life “We had a great response to the Local Life competition; we asked people to tell us which room they would like to carpet and why, and there were some really good and also some quite sad stories too. We whittled the number down to just ten entries and then we drew Jayne’s entry out at random”.

Well done Jayne; a big thanks also to everyone who entered and also to United Carpets for donating such a great prize!

New Year Fitness Are you over 50 and looking to increase the amount of exercise you have? The Sports Development Team in St Helens hosts a senior activities afternoon every Friday between 1pm-3pm. You can choose from a wide variation of sport and recreational activities, and you’ll increase your fitness levels without even realising it!

Activities including Boccia, New Age Curling, Badminton, Target Golf/Putting, Dance, Basketball, Multi Movement Skills, Self Defence, Table Tennis and Nordic walking and more. The class is held at the Queens Park Health & Fitness Centre on Boundary Road, is open to all residents aged 50+ and costs just £1 per session. For more information call the Sports Development Team on 01744 675923.


ASHTON IN MAKERFIELDByrchall High School, Warrington Road, Ashton In Makerfield, WN4 9RQMonday 6:00 - 7:30 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Monday 7:30 - 9:00 pm (Slim & Zumba®) -New Class starts 9th January

GARSWOODRectory CE Primary School, Rectory Road, Garswood, WN4 0QFThursday 5:45 - 7:15 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Thursday 7:15 - 8:30 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

HIGHFIELDHighfield St Matthew’s Primary School, Billinge Road, Highfield, WN3 6BLTuesday 5:45 - 7:15 pm (Slim & Aerobics)Tuesday 7:15 - 8:30 pm (Slim & Zumba®)

WINSTANLEYSt Aiden’s Social Club, Highfield Grange Ave, Winstanley, WN3 6TBMonday 09:30 - 11:00 am (Slim & Aerobatone)

Call Chris on 01942 824557 or 07968 608861email:[email protected]

in just 7 WEEKsLOsE A stOnE

with the newROSeMARY COnLeY

fAtAttACKbOOstERdiet

SAV

e ££

£

*New members only. Valid until 14/02/12. Class Fee £5.95. Bring voucher to class to claim.

fRee Membership AnD free Diet Pack worth £35!*

ZUMBA®, ZUMBA FITNESS®; and the Zumba Fitness Logo are registered trademarks of Zumba Fitness, LLC, used with permission.

Exercise only option available £4 per session!

Classes also available in Wigan, Whelley, Hindley & Hindley Green

BOOKING ESSENTIAL


Free Venue!The Ramada Encore Hotel in Haydock has made a generous offer to any community groups, projects or charities needing extra support! If your community group or charity needs free space to hold meetings or training, or you would like some free function rooms for charity events, then please get in touch with the hotel manager Marie Miller.

The offer is open to charities, fundraising groups, reading groups, coffee morning groups, history societies and dance clubs. If your club/society is looking for a free venue for an annual dinner or fundraising event, then please get in touch. Email [email protected] to discuss and arrange using the hotel.

New Members WantedSt. Matthew’s Walking Club, based at the Parish Hall of St. Matthew’s Church in Highfield, are looking for new members for their walking group. Each month the club arranges three grades of walks within locations such as The Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire and North Wales. A coach is hired for the day and an after the walk a meal is booked at a pub in or near the area of the walk. If you are interested in walking, meeting new friends and enjoying the countryside and would like to join, take a look at our website atwww.st-matthews-ramblers.co.uk.


This is War!And now for something completely different! The St Helens War Games Society, also known as the Spartans War Games Society, is looking for new members who would like to try their hand at war gaming. You don’t have to be a violent psychopath to take part though, because war gaming is a tactical game played on table tops, with small figures. Famous battles are re-created using information from history books and a good time is had by all!

The club is situated on Bolton Road, Ashton and meets every Wednesday night at 7.30pm. If you would like to know more about the society then have a browse around the website at www.spartans.org.uk. There you will find information about meeting times, membership fees and a host of pictures from games they enjoy and the figures they paint. You will also find links to their annual War Games Show, Phalanx, which is held at the Sutton Community Leisure Centre, in St Helens, around mid-June every year.

Competition WinnerWe had an amazingly high response to our Lancashire dialect competition which was in the November edition of Local Life; there’s obviously many of our readers who are not yet ready to let go of our heritage! The winner, who received a meal for two at The Red Cat in Crank, was David Goode from Hamilton Road in Garswood. Well done David! For details of the winners of our Christmas Hamper competition, turn to pages 42 & 43.


Would you like to get rid of unsightly leg veins?We all know that sinking feeling, when you look in the mirror and you’re not 100% happy with what you see. It can be an up-hill battle for some of us and after trying every lotion and potion that promises to turn back the clock you could be forgiven for being a little bit sceptical.

Don’t be too hasty though because we might just have found a new weapon for your armoury against ageing. If you’re looking for beautiful age defying results then you simply must read on.

Natura Skin Clinic on Newton Road, Warrington, can offer you a wide range of non-surgical treatments so if the thought of full blown cosmetic surgery leaves you feeling cold then there’s no need to worry, this revolutionary clinic has a few tricks up its sleeve!

Natura specialises in non-surgical face and body treatments using the latest techniques and technology and you can rest easy in the knowledge that unlike other back street beauty salons or spas, every procedure at Natura is carried out by a doctor.

If you would you like to get rid of unsightly and ugly leg veins then you need to know that Natura Skin Clinic offers a medical grade laser treatment to rid legs of veins for good, just think by the summer you could be showing off some perfect pins!

The leg vein treatment on offer deals with spider, purple thread veins and also the unsightly blue veins that often make women miserable and if left untreated never actually fade. Natura’s Laser Vein Treatment is a gold standard treatment for getting rid of spider veins, they guarantee to clear your legs.

Established local GP, Dr. Carlos Xavier, set up Natura after identifying a common problem among patients. He told Local Life, “Lots of my patients came to me unhappy with their appearance and complaining of low self-esteem. They were considering plastic surgery but I felt this rather extreme as non-surgical alternatives achieve similar results.”

Oxford educated Dr. Xavier set up the Aesthetic Laser Centre in 2004 alongside his NHS practice to treat skin conditions but decided to relaunch as Natura Skin Clinic, in response to an overwhelming demand for his expertise and a wider range of procedures, the clinic is stylish and friendly. Dr. Xavier added, “As a privately owned, family-run clinic, every patient is assured of the highest standards of service and care.”

Dr. Xavier believes he can help you to achieve your perfect self with visible yet natural looking results. A free skin evaluation is provided by a doctor who will then make treatment recommendations and all treatments are followed up with on-going consultations ensuring you get the very best outcome.

If you’re looking for a place where you can feel comfortable having treatments in total medical safety, feel cared for and leave feeling happier and looking great, we’ll let you into a little secret... it’s called Natura Skin Clinic!

For further information or to arrange a free Skin Evaluation, call Natura on 01925 393 201.


Puppy WalkerIf your New Year’s Resolution is to do more for charity, but you’re not sure where to start then here’s an idea with a difference! Guide Dogs, the UK charity for the blind and partially sighted, are looking for help with the puppies that they have earmarked for the guide dogs of the future.

A volunteer takes a puppy into their home for the first year of its life, teaches the dog basic commands and socialises it with as many different environments as possible. Puppy walking is an essential element in the development of a future guide dog.

You will have to meet a certain criteria such as being home for most of the day, be over eighteen and have suitable accommodation. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering please contact the National Volunteer Recruitment Office on 0845 371 7771 or e-mail [email protected].

Youth ClubIf your child overdosed on the PS3 or X-Box this Christmas, and you’d like introduce more wholesome activities to their lives in 2012, then you could mention the Seneley Green Community Centre on Billinge Road to them. The centre is open daily from 7pm-9.30pm for children over 10 years old and offers sports such as Badminton, Rounders and Football, or your child might like to have a go at some arts and crafts, or learn a bit more about health and beauty. If you’re interested in joining in or would like some more information please contact Barbara Walsh on 01744 675931 or drop her an e-mail on [email protected]

If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number [email protected].


Snap Happy

You can happily

snap away in 2012 with the

help of one of the region’s most prestigious

camera clubs. St Helens Camera Club covers a wide range of subjects reflecting the club competitions held throughout the year, together with three Open Category competitions.

The Camera Club membership has no age limits and welcomes everyone irrespective of what equipment they use or current skill levels. Members include both novices and professional photographers. The club runs a series of evening lectures on a wide range of photographic subjects covering natural history, travel and landscape, including specific technical talks covering a number of digital imaging topics.

The club meets every Monday evening at 8pm, from next Monday (9th January) until Monday 30th April, at the Police Club on Bishop Road in Dentons Green. For more information please contact George Burrows on 01744 603553.

Rainhill GarrickThe Rainhill Garrick Society invites you to join them in February to view their production of 84 Charing Cross Road – a celebration of a love affair set in New York and London. The production will take place at the Rainhill Village Hall in Weaver Avenue, Rainhill on 16th-18th February. See the advertisement below for more details.

The Society are on the lookout for new members who would be actively involved in all aspects of theatre - on stage, back stage and front of house - there is always something for everyone to do. They are a friendly society and also have social gatherings throughout the year which also provide the opportunity for friendships to be made and nurtured. If you fancy having a go, then pop along to a rehearsal nights, which are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30pm at Rainhill Village Hall. Visit the website at www.rainhillgarrick.co.uk for more information.

If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number [email protected].


First memory you haveI can’t remember!

First school you attendedI was born in Hastings, but moved north to Morecambe when I was about six months old. My dad was a journalist and had been moving around until that time. He and we then settled in Morecambe. My first school was West End County Primary in Morecambe.

First job you had My first job was with the Lancaster Guardian as a trainee reporter. My first wage packet contained £17.50 – a fortune at the time (we are talking the mid-1970s.) I had the exciting job of writing up wedding reports, and fruit and veg prices from the local markets. But I eventually progressed on to more interesting assignments.

One of the most bizarre stories I covered during newspaper days concerned the human mole. He was

IntroductionDave will be familiar face in homes all across the North West; he is the chief reporter on the BBC’s North West Tonight and brings us our daily fix of local news. Dave started his working life as a trainee journalist after leaving school in Morecambe.

His first job was working on the Lancaster Guardian before moving to the Wigan Evening Post. Dave then worked as a freelance journalist in Manchester before making his big move by joining the BBC in 1983.

Since then, he has undertaken various roles with the BBC including producing and editing North West Tonight. He became education correspondent in 1993, social affairs correspondent in 2000 and in 2006 was appointed chief reporter.

He says that his job is more like a hobby because he enjoys it so much. Every day is different, and he gets to meet an amazing array of people throughout his working life.

Dave currently lives in Winstanley in Wigan, and is married and with two daughters.

Dave Guest


a man who’d evaded punishment for some relatively minor misdemeanor by living under the living room floor of his family home for years. He eventually emerged to tell me his story!

First car you boughtMy first car, aged 17, was a 1970 Ford Capri. I thought it was the bee’s knees. It had leatherette seats, a mock walnut dash board and stereo cassette player. Sadly, what it didn’t have was a decent engine. It averaged 60 miles to the gallon – of oil!

First house you boughtMy first house was a three bed semi in Wigan. It cost the grand total of £13,995. My wife and I spent many sleepless nights worrying about taking on such debt!

First pub or club you visitedThe first pub I visited was the Gaiety Bar in Preston (apparently it was a converted theatre – sadly it’s no longer there). At the time I was attending a newspaper training centre in the city - a half of lager cost me just 15p.

First record you boughtMy first single was Ride a White Swan by T Rex. Not quite sure why I bought it – probably peer pressure from a friend!

First best friend My first best friend was Alan who lived next door to us in Morecambe. We were best men at each other’s weddings and remain in touch to this day. He now lives in Loughborough.

Last restaurant you visitedThe last restaurant I visited was the Babar Elephant, an Indian restaurant in Morecambe. We have a house in the resort and spend a fair amount of time there. I love Indian cuisine and fortunately the chain has a place in Gathurst, close to our main home in Wigan so I can easily get my fix there too. Italian is another favourite but I’m willing to try most foods.

Last DIY task attemptedI quite enjoy a spot of DIY – just basic stuff though; I don’t go in for knocking down walls. The last task successfully completed was decorating a bedroom.

Last film you watched at the cinemaThe last film I saw at the cinema was The Inbetweeners at the Empire in Wigan. I was dubious as to whether it would live up to the TV series – but it did!

Last disagreement you hadIn my line of work you frequently have “artistic differences”, but they’re usually forgotten as soon as they arise.

Last time you went shoppingI do my best to avoid shopping, but the last place I visited was Bents Garden Centre.

Last holiday you hadMy last holiday was Menorca. Nice place, but, quite frankly, a little dull. I doubt we’ll be going back.


Anne Frank: A History for TodayAs part of the wider Holocaust Memorial Commemoration 2012, St.Helens Central Library will be hosting a national exhibition from the Anne Frank UK Trust.

The Anne Frank: A History For Today Exhibition is running now until Friday 13th January 2012 at St Helens Central Library and provides a unique experience for visitors to learn more about the story of Anne Frank and the history of the Holocaust.

The life of Anne Frank, the rise of the Nazi party, the history of the Second World War and the appalling consequences of the Holocaust are the threads that run through the entire exhibition. It draws on the power of Anne Frank’s life and diary to challenge prejudice and reduce hatred, encouraging people to embrace positive attitudes, responsibility and respect for others.

In conjunction with the exhibition, High School pupils from across the Borough will be participating in workshops along the Anne Frank UK Trust

For further information please contact St.Helens Central Library on 01744 676989 or visitwww.whatsoninsthelens.com

© AFS Amsterdam /AFF Basel

Images reproduced by permission from the Anne Frank Trust UK

A Travel brought to you in association with Marken Travel

Beautiful scenery, a rich historical past, awesome art treasures, wonderful food and sunshine too – it is no wonder that the British, as pilgrims, adventurers, poets and tourists, have been going there for more than 1,000 years. All the great things in life; beauty, food, wine, opera, football, art and the pursuit of happiness – seem to matter more in Italy.

But Italy retains strong regional differences and it is this diversity - of cuisine, art, outlook and landscape – which is one of the great joys of the country, making it a pleasure to visit and re-visit.

Throughout the 15th century, its various cities vied with each other to produce ever more wonderful works of art and architecture - and many of them are still there. Florence is the ultimate city of art, and it is home to Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. The town centre is like some glorious open-air museum.

Rome is one of the world’s most photogenic cities; a glorious city filled with classical antiquities, medieval buildings and Renaissance palaces. Gaze in wonderment at the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, and take in the gladiatorial majesty of the magnificent Colosseum.

You can take a trip up the mountains of the Apennines on the way through Umbria to peaceful Assisi, one of Italy’s most beautiful mountain towns. Here you’ll find the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, a huge split level

church built into the hills of Assisi, which was built in c13th after the local saint’s death, and now a World Heritage site.

And thenthere’s Venice.

Described recently in the New York Times as “Undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man”, Venice is renowned for its artworks and architecture, but its magical setting across 117 islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon is what makes it truly distinctive. You simply can’t visit Venice without cruising along Venetian canals in romantic gondolas, soaking in the music and the unique atmosphere. And if it’s romance you want (and who doesn’t!), you can visit the site of what is, perhaps, history’s saddest love story in nearby Verona, looking up at Juliet’s balcony in the courtyard of the Capulet home.

Travelling through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany, with its rolling hills of well-tended vines and olive trees, punctured by the occasional medieval walled hill-town, you’ll start to appreciate the essence of Italy and what draws tourists to return year after year.Sounds wonderful doesn’t it, and that’s without mentioning the beauty of Sorrento, historic Pompeii, striking Sicily, the delightful Isle of Capri, the gorgeous Italian Riviera and the sublime grandeur of the Italian

A Taste of Italy

AVisit us online - www.markentravel.co.uk

Lakes; there’s just so much to write about!

So if you’re set on Italy this summer you’ll be spoilt for choice, but to get the best of your holiday you need the very best tour operator to help you plan your trip and that’s where Insight Vacations comes in!

Once you land in Italy, you’ll travel in style and comfort across the country in luxury coaches (with lots of leg room), scenic railways and river cruise boats, taking in a fabulous selection of sights with a small group of fellow tourists. Think of travelling business class with expert drivers and knowledgeable guides, staying only in premium hotels in central locations, and having free time available to explore beautiful Italy at your leisure and that is what’s on offer from Insight Vacations.

Insight Vacations boasts the finest collection of premium and luxury escorted journeys throughout Europe, the US and many other destinations. If you’re interested in one of their Italian tours or you’d like to discover what else this tour operator can offer you, don’t miss the informal Italian evening hosted jointly by Insight Vacations and Marken Travel, which is being held at Marken Travel on Main Street in Billinge on Wednesday 18th January between 6.30pm and 8.30pm – see advertisement below for more details.

Free case of 6 fine Italian wines to every customer who books an Insight Vacations tour to Italy before 31st January at Marken Travel!


January ExhibitsTwo local artists kick off 2012 in style with an exhibition at the World of Glass! Artist Theresa Taylor started to showcase her work at the end of last year and you will have chance to see it until Saturday 15th January. Described as a thought provoking exhibition, she uses her interest in the natural world in a contemporary way by producing images using the technique of collagraph. Her use of imagery creates intriguing and personal imagery for the viewer.

The second exhibition not to be missed also finishes next Saturday. After a decade dedicated purely to working with glass, Nerjit Dhol has spent the last two years branching out into other materials and techniques. This exhibition showcases a new body of

work influenced by many elements and is the result of a journey built on freedom, a luxury few artists can afford. Admission to the exhibitions are free, for more information please contact the World of Glass on 01744 22766 or visit www.worldofglass.com.

Free Zumba!If you’re potty about the Latin rhythms of Zumba, but you’re a bit strapped for cash, you’ll be interested in free Zumba classes being run by The Sports Development Service at St Helens Council.

The Grange Valley Youth Centre on Clipsley Lane in Haydock are offering free fitness sessions every Wednesday between 6.15pm-7.15pm to those between 14 and 24. You can register by simply going along to the class, or if you want to avoid disappointment you can register before you go. Call Mark Jennings from the St Helens Sports Development service on 01744 675922 or 07768 414970 or e-mail [email protected].

Burns NightThe Thistle Society is bringing you a Burns Night celebration to remember! This Scottish-dancing society always puts on an excellent evening of entertainment to celebrate Robbie Burns and this year will be no different. The celebration will take place on Friday 27th January at Lowton Civic Hall and after a traditional Burns Night supper you will be treated to first class evening of both Scottish Country and Old Time dances. The evening kicks off at 7pm. Tickets cost £16.50; for more information please contact The Thistle Society on 01942 861549.


A Trip Down Memory Lane.When I think about sweets, I think about my Nan. Immediately I am five again and picking out my favourite sweets as a Saturday indulgence. I believe that no other product has the same ability as a sweet treat to give you a trip down memory lane. And on a recent visit to Earlestown, I decided to treat the office to some traditional confectionery!

The shop, situated on busy Market Street in Earlestown is called Connie’s Kitchen. The shop has just celebrated its first anniversary and has quickly become a favourite amongst locals and visitors to nearby Earlestown Market. The main attraction at Connie’s Kitchen, as you would expect, is a wide range of sweets! When you walk through the door, you’ll be transported back to the good old days when sugar was king, and you’ll gasp in amazement at the selection of your old time favourites!

Connie’s Kitchen was established back in 2008 as a sweet manufacturer by Helen Baxendale, and was named after her grandmother Connie Lavin, who used to spend hours with Helen in the kitchen at her Billinge home, baking and making sweets with the youngster. The Connie’s Kitchen factory is based in Pemberton and makes a range of including such diverse delights as Winter Nips, Beer Fudge (yes – made with real beer !), Chilli Fudge, Lemon meringue Tablet, Cough Candy, Butter Tablet and Billinge Mintcake, all of which are sold at the Earlestown shop.

Helen’s husband Andy, who is the joint owner of Connie’s Kitchen, is a highly qualified and experienced confectioner. A real-life Willy Wonka,

Andy divides his time between the Connie’s Kitchen factory in Pemberton and the Earlestown shop, and even manages to find time to fit in a part-time research and development role at Bonds confectionery and Stockley’s sweets.

Connie’s Kitchen can help with big celebrations, providing bags of sweets with customised labels for birthdays, anniversaries and other parties. The company is also a popular choice for anyone planning a wedding, as they can provide wedding favours with all kinds of sweets, a perfect and thoughtful way of saying thank you to their wedding guests.

In addition to the wide range of sweets, the Earlestown shop sells a selection of roasted coffee beans from Brazil, Indonesia, Italy and India, and for those tea connoisseurs, the shop also sells loose tea from China, India, Sri Lanka and Japan. The different types of coffee beans are supplied from a specialist roastery, and customers can even sample these delicious coffees before they buy!

Would you like to take a trip down memory lane? Then simply cut out the voucher below and pop into Connie’s Kitchen in Earlestown to pick up your FREE 50g bag of sweets (that’s around 2 oz in old money!).

Connie’s Kitchen20 Market StreetEarlestown01925 222306www.connies-kitchen.co.uk


New Year at NewtonThere are lots of activities planned for Newton Community Centre in 2012 – here we highlight three activities guaranteed to make a difference to your life!

Fresh Start is a free 10-week course that helps people switch to a healthier lifestyle. If you want to improve your fitness, your knowledge of a balanced diet and lose weight, then this free course is for you. It explores diet, exercise and cookery, helping you with portion sizes, healthy snacking, energy balance, calorie control and shopping on a budget. This weight loss course is run in Partnership with St Helens Health Improvement Team so you can be sure of some great support. The next course starts on Monday 16th January from 9.30-11am. To book your place or for more information please telephone 0300 300 0103..

Adult Social Dancing is a very popular class so if you would like to get active and keep fit whilst having

a ball then this is the place for you. Beginners are always welcome, you can learn to Waltz, Cha Cha, Tango, Jive and much more. Just toe-tap your way down to the Centre on Tuesdays between 6.45pm-8.45pm. Each class costs just £4.75.

Pram Stepz is a brand new initiative just for mums and babies, to help mum get back into shape whilst in the company of baby - using the pram as a barre. This method should prove popular for young mums as they are normally keen to get back into shape, whilst still reluctant to leave their baby during the first weeks of birth. By sharing these classes with their babies, the parental bond will continue to be developed, and mum’s health and wellbeing will be enhanced through participating in a gentle exercise class and socialising with a group of peers to develop and enhance friendships. The class content will be gentle balletic exercise that improves stance and posture and strengthens core muscles. The pram will be static and used for balance with a finger-tip touch, as ballerinas would use the barre in a ballet class, it will also include floor exercise and gentle movement. Classes will be 45 minutes to take into consideration of post-natal mums’ fitness levels.

For more information about activities at Newton Community Centre, call the centre on 01925 224731 or visit the websitewww.newtoncommunitycentre.co.uk.


At Wigan Family Chiropractic Clinic, our team of Chiropractors and therapists can help to relieve

most types of muscle, joint and nerve pain.

What sorts of problem can you help me with? We can relieve pain that is caused by a variety of muscle, joint and nerve problems. This includes both new and old pain resulting from your job, sports, poor posture, accidents and some types of arthritis or wear & tear. We specialise in treating neck and back pain as well as pulled muscles, stiff joints and trapped nerves.

How can you help me? We always start off with a 45 minute consultation and exami-nation to find the underlying causes of your problem. We then use gentle, safe hands-on treatments to relieve your pain.

Why do you have a digital x-ray department? We have our own digital x-ray department at the clinic so that we can take and show you your pictures within 24 hours.This helps us to show you the underlying causes of your problem, allowing us to start treatment quickly and get you out of pain.

How soon can you help me?We are open six days a week and offer appointments the same or the next day. We are open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm, Saturdays 8am-4pm.

Why do we offer gentle treatments? Because we treat young children and senior citizens, we know that people prefer gentle, painless treatments.

Don’t suffer with muscle, joint or nerve pain!

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Chris GreenSports Injury Specialist

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suFFeRING WITH MusCLe, jOINT OR NeRve PAIN?

Low back or neck pain? visit our clinic

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A5_single page_WFC1.indd 1 28/11/11 22:22:43


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January Sale now on!


New Scheme for Local FundingThe Ward Committees in St Helens have now been scrapped, and replaced with a Councillor Improvement Fund. Unlike the Committees, there is no formal meeting structure to the Councillor Improvement Fund, and individual Councillors can establish their own arrangements for meeting with residents, local groups and partners in order to determine how best to spend the fund. It is felt that, across the Borough, this new arrangement will bring about better opportunities for local people to “have their say” about local issues and priorities.

Rainford’s three Ward Councillors, Betty Lowe MBE, Allan Jones and David Monk (pictured) have decided that they we will run meetings in conjunction with their Ward Surgeries which are held in Rainford Village Hall (1st Saturday of the month from 11am-12am), North End Club (3rd Thursday of the month from 7.00pm-7.30pm) and Crank Nursery (3rd Saturday of the month from 11.00am-11.30am).

The three Ward Councillors for Billinge and Seneley Green (Sue Murphy, Joe Pearson and Alison Bacon) are meeting early in the New Year to determine how best to meet with residents, and we will publish their plans in the next edition of Local Life. When Local Life went to press, no information was forthcoming from Ward Councillors in Newton-le-Willows or Moss Bank.

Scheme suggestions are likely to fall within one or more of the following to be eligible for approval - Carriageway surfacing, Resurfacing of passageways, Footway improvements, Public footpaths, Lighting schemes, Street nameplates, Direction signing, Boundary fencing on highways, Permanent landscaping/planting within the highway boundary and Christmas trees, lights and planting.

Storm into 2012Is your child a budding Rugby League star, aged 4-5 and interested in playing for a team, then look no further because Newton Storm Cubs are now recruiting! Newton Storm pride themselves on giving any youngster the opportunity to play in a team, so all abilities are welcome and with fully qualified coaches and a friendly atmosphere your child is sure to have a ball, a rugby ball that it is, at Newton Storm.

Training is held at Newton-le-Willows Sports Club on Crow Lane East every Wednesday between 6pm-7pm and Saturdays between 10am-11am, so why not go along and join in the fun. For further information please contact Nichola Norton on 07739 307523.


Rainford Activities The Churches Together in Rainford group have recently launched a new initiative called Helping Hands, with the aim of collating information about community activities within the village and communicating that information to the wider community. The objective of the initiative is to support existing community groups and help the development of new groups in the village.

As part of this initiative, Local Life has been asked to publish information about the following Community groups in the village. If you are interested in taking part in any of the listed activities, either contact the group directly or contact Helping Hands on 01744 883969 or e-mail [email protected]. If you would like to start a community group or activity in Rainford, please contact Helping Hands; they would be delighted to hear from you.

Tot’s Time/Wednesday Welcome (01744 882522)Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association Ian Lancaster (01744 883400)Beavers & Cubs – Christine Williams (01744 750702)Rainbows & Brownies – Marjorie Boyd (01744 27194)Act 2 (Drama group for young people aged 11+) - Mike Forsyth (01744 882522)Scouts & Explorers – Christine Williams (01744 750702)Guides - Marjorie Boyd (01744 27194)Mothers Union (01744 882558)

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The Construction ProfessionalsHave you ever heard yourself saying to a friend, do you

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Free WorkshopThere isn’t much to do in January, but don’t miss out on the free digital music and arts workshop being held at St Helens Central Library next Saturday (14th January)between 11am-3pm. If you have ever wanted to know how to make music on a computer you can drop into our friendly activity, which is suitable for all ages and abilities, to find out how. Create your own tracks and take them home on your phone or MP3 player.

Artists will also be on hand to collect your dreams and turn them into works of art. You can help them create and animate amazing images inspired by your dreams. To find out more about the Library of Dreams project, and to submit your own dreams, visit www.libraryofdreams.org.uk or on twitter @libraryofdreams For further information on each monthly session please visit www.whatsoninsthelens.com or telephone 01744 674401.

Loose End Ladies?If you’re not busy on a Tuesday night and you’d like to get out and make friends and enjoy activities then why noy pop along to Haydock Women’s Group at Haydock Cricket Club on Piele Road between 8pm-10pm. There you will have the chance to enjoy crafts, quiz nights, games nights and day trips. The ladies also organise annual themed nights and mini holidays so get with the girls and have a laugh. Entrance is just £1.50 and this includes tea and biscuits. For more information contact Kay on 01942 724889.

Open Door The St Helens Historical Society delves into the past and discovers more about olde-worlde Windows and Doors at their monthly meeting on Monday 16th January. The session starts at 7.30pm and runs until 8.30pm at the Friends Meeting House near Church Square in St Helens town centre. Admission is free. For more details about the session and about the Society please contact Peter Gateley on 01744 23141.


splashbacks | panels | coasters | jewellery | hangings | sculptures | bowls

Unit 11, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 7XBt/f 01695 624182 w www.morpheusglass.co.uk e [email protected]

At our January sale open studio weekend there will be a wide range ofpieces on show and many items will have up to 70% off plus all orders placedon the weekend will receive 30% off the normal RRP. All our work is handmadeby glass designer Stephanie Bowen at the studio and pieces can be made to

order to suit any space including splashbacks. So come and join us on the21st and 22nd January open from 10 - 4 both days.

UP TO

70%OFF

bespoke fused glass design

morpheus glass

January saleSaturday 21st & Sunday 22nd


Archery If you would like to add another string to your bow in 2012, you could try your hand at archery. St Helens Archers are based at LSH Rugby Club on Moss Lane, Windle, they have a membership of all ages and abilities so you won’t feel left out! For further information about joining the club please contact Alan Holcroft on 01942 244615 or e-mail [email protected].

Belly Dancing If you want to shed the pounds you’ve accumulated over Christmas, enrol at YMCA on Hilton Street, Ashton for sessions every Wednesday from 1pm - 2pm. Belly Dancing has many benefits aiding posture, breathing and balance, releasing muscle tension, improving co-ordination and, above all, it’s a great laugh! For further information please telephone 01942 488481.

CookingIf you want to develop your culinary flair then have a look at the new 10-week course running at St Helens College. You will learn how to create mouth-watering dishes and above all have some fun! For details on this and other courses starting in the New Year, visit the college’s enrolment day on Thursday 24th January or visit www.sthelens.ac.uk.

Life is not a dress rehearsal, as the saying goes, so let 2012 be the year when you leave your comfort zone way behind you and try something new. Local Life has compiled an entire A-Z of activities, most of which are right on your doorstep, so that you can spend a bit of time in January working out what you’d like to try. You could discover a hidden talent or a lifetime hobby, you could master an activity that will make you a bit of cash and you could make some new friends along the way. What have you got to lose? Just do it!

Just Do It!


DanceWhat better way to kick off your New Year fitness then by having a right old laugh learning to Morris Dance with Gems Morris Dance Troupe! Newton Boys & Girls Club in Earlestown is the place to go, and Tuesdays from 7pm is the time to be there. For further information, please telephone 01925 226149 or visit www.newtonboysandgirlsclub.co.uk

Eco-friendlyGo green in 2012 and give some much needed help to The Ashton-in-Makerfield Pond Life Project. This local scheme aims to protect the ponds within our local community, preserving a vital resource for our wildlife and a source of education and pleasure for our children. If you would like to volunteer, please email the group on [email protected]

FishingYou know how the saying goes; a bad day of fishing beats a good day at work, so if you fancy a spot of fishing in the New Year the Newton Anglers are waiting to hear from you. Membership is open to all, so for more information call Stephen McNally on 01925 229074 or e-mail [email protected].

Garswood Art ClubIf you’re looking to fill your New Year with a bit of artistic inspiration, then get your paint brushes at the ready! Garswood Art Club is an informal group with members ranging from 14 to 80+, with a mixture of abilities. If you fancy giving this a go, pop along to Garswood Independent Methodist Church on Victoria Road every Monday between 10am-12pm.

HistoryWhether you want to research your family history or local history, there are a number of clubs who can help. Billinge History Society holds their meetings at 7.30pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month at Chapel End Labour Club in Billinge, and the St Helens Townships Family History Society is also very active; visit their website at www.sthelenstownshipsfhs.org.uk .

Ice SkatingYes, you’ll probably fall over a few times, but you’ll have great fun and the kids will love it! Nearest venue is the synthetic ice rink (www.ice-blok.co.uk) at the Cockhedge Shopping Centre in Warrington, which is open 7 days a week and lessons are available if required. For the real thing, try the Silver Blades Rink in Altrincham (www.silver-blades.co.uk).

Ju-JitsuLet 2011 be the last year you’re pushed around when you sign up for Ju-Jitsu classes with Full Circle Ju-Jitsu. The classes are held every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday at the Dojo on Lord Street, St Helens. Whether it is self-defence skills that you need or you just want to get fit, the martial art of Ju-Jitsu can help. For more details about these classes visit www.fullcirclecombatjujitsu.webs.com or call Sensei Hutton on 01744 613561.


KartingWhether you’ve got a son or a daughter, a nervous novice or the next Jenson Button, go-karting is great fun for all the family. For indoor karting try Speedkarting at Warrington, this has two separate tracks one of which is on three levels for more information check out the website atwww.speedkarting.co.uk.

LanguagesWhether you fancy brushing up on your French and Spanish or you fancy trying Mandarin, then Newton-le-Willows Community Centre is the place for you. The new courses are aimed at beginners and intermediates. For more information about any of the course details please contact Anne Keen on 01925 224731 or visit the websitewww.newtoncommunitycentre.co.uk .

Moto Cross Have you got a budding biker in the family? Newton-le-Willows Moto Cross Club’s membership is now open for 2012. To enquire about membership and to find out more about the club please contact Marlene on 07858 152794 or check out the website atwww.nlwmcc.co.uk.

NetballIf you know your Goal Attack from your Goal Shooter then you’ll know how to play netball, but did you know that there’s a thriving Netball club in St Helens? The Capricorn Netball Club has junior and senior teams that play within the local leagues. If you’re interested in joining them, please contact Sue on 01744 612474 or email [email protected].

Over 60’s in BillingeMake 2012 the year of friends with The Mature Billingers. This is a friendly group of over 60’s who meet every Thursday between 2pm-4pm at the John Eddleston Centre in Billinge. They have guest speakers, go on occasional trips, play bingo and keep fit by doing armchair exercises. For more information about the group please contact Molly Scott on 01744 894809.

PilatesHas become the exercise of celebrities, if you would like to whittle your waistline to A-list proportions then why not try out a few classes at the Northwest Pilates & Yoga Centre. Classes are held at a number of locations, so please telephone 01744 751115 for further information or visit the websitewww.pilatesforsport.com.

QuiltingHands up if you watched Kirstie Allsopp’s new series on Channel 4 recently? Yes? Then you’ll know that crafts are back! Quilting is enjoying renewed popularity and many groups are full to new members. If you’re interested, try the Phoenix Quilters who meet on the last Wednesday of the month at Rainford Scout Hut on Church Road between 1pm-4pm. For more information please contact Sue Leigh on 01744 883294.

Rainford Girl Guides Girl Guides can give you the opportunity to just be yourself, make friends, learn new skills and have some fun. If you would like some more information about the Rainford Rainbows, Brownies and Guides please contact Marjorie Boyd on 01744 27194. To find your nearest group have a look at the website at www.girlguiding.org.uk.


SailingIf a life at sea appeals, pop along to the Pilkington Sailing Club on Eccleston Mere, Burrows Lane, St Helens! The next beginner’s course starts in April 2012 and runs throughout the summer. For more information on how to join the club or enrol on the course please telephone Rob Tyler on 01744 884821 or e-mail [email protected]

Tennis Anyone for tennis? Rainford Tennis Club offers tennis coaching, competitions, team matches, and some friendly social tennis. They are based at the Jubilee Recreation Ground just off Church Road, Rainford. For more information please contact the club through the website at www.rainfordtennisclub.co.uk

U3AIf you’re over 50 or retired (or both), then you’ll find a wealth of activities on offer at the U3A. The name’s a bit strange (it stands for University of the Third Age), but this is a global organisation with groups in both St Helens and Ashton, and both groups run enough activities to fill an entire A-Z of their own! Visit www.u3a.org.uk for details.

VolunteeringSt Helens Youth Service offers a wide range of exciting, innovative and challenging activities for young people aged 11-17 in St Helens. With projects in Billinge, Rainford and Haydock there are a range of volunteering opportunities available, for further information about these opportunities please contact the team at [email protected].

WritingAshton Writers meet on a Tuesday at 7.30pm at The King’s Arms on Warrington Road. They meet every two weeks to discuss each other’s prose and poetry with the occasional workshop. If this sounds like your kind of thing then put pen to paper and see what

you can come up with! For more information please contact Frances Parkinson on 01942 723350.

X-treme SportsYes, that’s a bit of a cheat, but there’s nothing fake about Extreme Element, who are the UK’s leading extreme sports specialist, offering over 800 Extreme Sports Courses and Outdoor Activity Days, across the UK. Fancy tandem skydives, flying lessons, rock climbing, motocross or quad biking…visit the website www.exelement.co.uk !

Youth SoccerIf your child fancies playing soccer through the dark nights of January, pop down to the Billinge Community and Soccer Centre to get involved in five-a-side football run by the Sports Development Team. Sessions take place on a Monday from 6pm-9pm on Carr Mill Road, Billinge, for more information please contact the team on 01744 675922.

Zumba Zumba-mania has swept the nation and 2012 should be the year you get involved. The reason is simple every class feels like a party! You don’t even have to know how to dance, just move your body and enjoy the music. Check out your local leisure centre or church hall for details of classes in your area – there are too many to list here!


Beef in Guinness - with herby onion dumplingsYou’ve finally finished the turkey leftovers and you’re ready to try a winter’s dish that will really stick to your ribs - celebrate the New Year in style with this Irish dish that uses Guinness to make a delicious sauce. Serves 4.

IngredientsFor the stew

2 tbsp oil

1kg braising steak, cut into large pieces

2 tbsp plain flour , well seasoned

3 onions , sliced

500ml Guinness

2 sprigs thyme

For the dumplings

75g butter , frozen and grated

150g self-raising flour

1 small onion , grated

2 sprigs of thyme, leaves stripped and chopped

Water for mixing

MethodHeat the oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Heat a little of the oil in a large oven-proof pan.

Lightly flour the pieces of braising steak and fry in small batches until well browned. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate.

Add the onions to the pan and fry on a fairly high heat until they soften and tinge brown at the edges.

Pour the Guinness into the pan, letting it bubble up, then return the meat to the pan along with the thyme. Cover the pan and transfer to the oven for 2-2 1/2 hours or until tender. The sauce will sweeten and thicken during the cooking time.

Make the dumplings (towards the end of the cooking time by mixing the suet, flour, onion and thyme together and season well.)

Gradually add water to the dry ingredients until you have a soft dough. Divide into 12 balls. Place the dumplings on top of the casserole and return it to the oven, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Serve with shredded Savoy cabbage

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Dish of theMonth


Our annual Christmas Hamper competition went down a storm again this year! The lucky winners are listed below and all received their hamper a couple of weeks before Christmas. We would like to thank our hamper sponsors (see the advertisement below) who dug deep and paid £100 for the privilege of sponsoring a hamper. Half of the money that they donated went to Willowbrook Hospice, so Local Life presented a £500 cheque on their behalf to the hospice just before Christmas. Local Life would also like to thank Windy Arbour Farm Shop who, in addition to sponsoring a hamper, also provided many of the goods at cost price, which enabled us to maximise the donation to the hospice. Pictured pulling out the winning competition entries at the Willowbrook shop in Rainford are Jenny Repton and Judith Atherton, hospice volunteers who work at the shop.

Pictured on the opposite page are;

Steve Howard from Fleetwood Drive in Newton-le-Willows, being presented with his hamper by

Claire Thomas from the Unique Kitchen Company in Newton-le-Willows.

Jane Evans from Standish Avenue in Billinge, who is pictured receiving her Christmas hamper from Tony Lowe from the Billinge Furniture Outlet, based at Barrows Farm in Billinge.

Mrs Porter from Chetwode Avenue in Ashton, who was lucky enough to win a Christmas Hamper donated by Garden Designer (and Local Life columnist), Angie Barker.

Liz Birchall from Brownheath Avenue in Billinge who is pictured receiving her festive hamper from Marlene Hughes from Haydock’s Kitchen and Bathroom company, Designs for Life.

Emma Cutler from Croxteth Drive in Rainford who is pictured with the hamper sponsored by Ian Read from Rainford-basedcompany Total Bathroom Restoration.

Other hamper winners not pictured here include; Ruth Jackson from Howards Lane in Eccleston, Avril Stott from The Meadows in Rainhill, Ann Slattery from Martin Grove in Prescot, Margaret Maddox from St Ann’s Road in St Helens and Gill McCabe from Delph Lane in Whiston.

Hamper Winners

would like to thank the following companies for sponsoring ourChristmas Hamper competition and raising £500 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

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A Local Gardening Life www.locallife247.co.uk

Spruce up your borders!Happy New Year everyone - I hope you had a lovely time. Now that the decorations have been put back in the loft it’s time to look forward. January can be hard work after the giddiness of the festive season but don’t let the gloomier aspects of this month get you down. The best tonic I find is to have something to plan and look forward to and apart from re-decorating our bedroom (I can hear hubby groaning at the thought and he’ll never understand why I want to dress the bed with gorgeous sparkly cushions) I’m thinking about warmer, sunnier days to be spent outside in the garden.

As you probably know by now, I like to think of my garden as another room in the house and if you are finding that you tend not to use your garden much, this can be a useful tool in understanding the reasons why you don’t make the most of your outside space. The following checklist may help:

Is the garden practical and does it have useable spaces for dining outside, sunbathing, entertaining, children’s play

Is it overlooked and lacking privacy?

Is the garden boring without focal points or nice planting. Does it lack features such as a pergola or water feature?

If you don’t want a full garden makeover, tweaking your garden can make a big difference. For instance give your lawn a strong shape with defined edges. Unless you prefer a contemporary style, curves usually work best. Just tidying up the borders and adding some new plants can breathe new life into your garden. Place a large urn or pot in the border, amongst the planting, and you instantly have a focal point. And my two absolute favourite plants for late winter are Sarcococca confusa and Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’. They are both evergreen and at this time of year produce highly scented flowers (white and pink respectively) - perfect! Place the Sarcococca in a shady spot and the Daphne in sun and they will instantly add glamour to your borders. See, hubby - just like my sparkly cushions add glamour to the bedroom!

Author: Angie Barker (Dip GD) Inst GD BA (Hons)

Our resident gardening expert Angie Barker, provides us with some more gardening hints, tips and seasonal selections.

Sarcococca confusa

Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’


Renault reckons it’s high time the Twingo put the fun back into the city car. Andy Enright agrees.

The Renault Twingo always offered a fun drive but was starting to look a little old fashioned. The latest version retains the fun factor but refreshes the styling and adds a little more quality into the mix.

When Renault first introduced the cheeky Twingo to European markets way back in 1992 it proved an instant hit with British holidaymakers. Renault deciding not to import it to the UK fearing it would cannibalise profitable Clio sales and it wasn’t until 2007 that Renault started bringing in the Twingo, in a vastly different second generation guise. It was a very good car but never had the sheer force of personality of its predecessor. Renault is working to rectify that situation with a heavily revised Twingo that aims to put the fun back into the model line.

Since diesel power generally makes sense only for larger superminis, the Twingo emphasis is, not surprisingly, on petrol power. The units in question, like the chassis, are borrowed largely from the previous

generation Clio and for keen drivers, that’s good news as the Clio II boasted one of the most capable and fun small car platforms around. Electric variable power steering is fitted as standard, with the sportier models getting a beefier set up to complement the use of stiffer bushes in their suspension set-ups.

SUPER COOPER


The Twingo has been treated to quite a radical piece of cosmetic surgery. The rather bland face of the old car has been replaced by something a lot busier. The massive sidelights that bulge from the edge of the front grille are almost Nissan Juke-like while the headlights get a set of eyelid type mouldings that give it a sleepy-eyed look. At the back there’s a new bumper and light clusters and Renault’s wheel designers have been caning the overtime with 17 new designs for alloy rims and wheel trims.

The cabin demonstrates Renault’s aim to improve perceived quality with some interesting uses of colour and material. It gives the car a more considered and upmarket feel than the surprisingly bland finish of its predecessor. The two rear seats can slide 220mm fore and aft to prioritise space for either people or luggage and they also fold flat and then tumble forwards, offering up to 959 litres of space in this guise.

Budget between £7,500 and £13,500 for your Twingo, depending on the specification you choose. If that seems fairly close to what you’d pay for a Clio, that’s fair comment, but many prefer the Twingo’s cheeky personality to the rather more mature feel of the Clio. The latest Twingo expresses that side of its nature rather more extrovertly with a choice of a five different roof decals, an idea clearly purloined from MINI and Citroen. Each one is factory fitted, with the contrasting motifs offering different visual atmospheres. Customers can also choose contrasting colours for the door mirrors and tips of the protective side mouldings, which stand out boldly against the main body colour.

The Twingo has earned a reputation for offering a lot of fun at very little cost. The great thing about the little Renault is that even the entry-level cars can put a big smile on your face and you’ll see over 55mpg from the 75bhp 1.2-litre engine. Even the raciest Renaultsport version should average 42mpg if you drive it fairly sensibly, although I readily concede that the chances of that are small. Likewise insurance costs are very reasonable, ranging from group 10 at the bottom to a fairly acceptable group 21 for a Renaultsport 133. Depreciation is well controlled as there’s always a market for economical city cars and improved build quality is bolstering residuals still further.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and although I’m not fully sold just yet on the styling of the latest Twingo, I have a suspicion that it’s something I’ll grow to like. The Renaultsport model I’m not so sure about but it drives so well I’d probably own one even if were emblazoned with rainbows and cherubs.

In summary, Renault has taken a good car that’s imbued with a broad streak of fun, and has made it a little better, with improved quality inside and more customer choice in terms of personalisation. It’s a car that looks as if it has changed more than it actually has, but perhaps that’s no bad thing. The underpinnings were sound already. If you’re looking for an entertaining car that won’t cost the earth, the Twingo deserves serious consideration. Efficiency hasn’t replaced fun just yet.

To book your test drive or for more details about the Twingo please contact:Arnold Clark’s at Scot Lane Wigan (01942 225565), Sherdley Road St Helens (01744 457000) or Gemini Retail Park in Warrington (01925 575885).


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Background.pdf 10/06/2011 12:29:04

AshtonCllr P Tushingham 01942 776060Cllr J Haddley 01942 487689Cllr N Ash 01942 736216Ashton Library 01942 727119Ashton Police Team 0161 856 7436

Billinge & GarswoodCllr A Bacon 0787 293 8085Cllr S Murphy 01942 743098Cllr J Pearson 01942 743021Billinge Medical Practice 01744 892205Garswood Surgery 01744 621670Billinge & Garswood Police Team 0151 777 6054Billinge Parish Council Clerk 01744 884857Selenley Green Parish Council Clerk 01744 892167Billinge Library 01744 677535Garswood Library 01744 677797

HaydockCllr W Anderton 0787 985 0518Cllr Banks 01744 676109Cllr A Burns 01744 677295Haydock Medical Cen. (Dr Vaughan) 0844 477 8626Haydock Medical Cen. (Dr Roberts) 01744 22272Haydock Library 01744 677801

Moss BankCllr J Fletcher 01744 884984Cllr Fulham 01744 676109Cllr C Kavanagh 01744 678918Windermere Medical Centre 01744 739645Moss Bank Library 01744 677988

Newton Cllr S Dyer 01744 671900Cllr S Knight 01925 227669Cllr N Taylor 01925 220104Newton Community Hospital 01925 222731Dr Pitalia – Comm. Hosp. 01925 220469Dr Pitalia – Bridge St 01925 225755High St Surgery 01925 290311Patterdale Lodge 01925 227111Market St Surgery 01925 221457Newton Library 01744 677885

RainfordCllr A Jones 01744 893367Cllr B Lowe MBE 01744 884891Cllr D Monk 01744 678032Rainford Health Centre 01744 882855K McRae Health Centre 01744 882606Rainford Library 01744 677820Rainford Parish Council 01744 884709

General Medical St Helens Hospital 01744 26633Wigan Infirmary 01942 244000Whiston Hospital 0151 426 1600Minor Injuries Walk in Centre 01744 627400NHS Direct 0845 4647

Police & Councils Merseyside Police 0151 709 6010Greater Manchester Police 0161 872 5050St.Helens Council 01744 676789Wigan Council 01942 244991

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Tell us once poster.pdf 10/06/2011 12:22:29

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When someone has died, Tell Us Once and we’ll tell all of the relevant services within St.Helens Council plus other government agencies for you.

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HM Government.pdf 10/06/2011 13:06:59

For more information, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/tellusonce or call 01744 676789.

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I76 Local Local St Helens - Jan 2012

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Transcript of I76 Local Local St Helens - Jan 2012