Gr8 Life Magazine - Issue 18 - Autumn 2011

Anton du BekeEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“Why I choose the Southport’s Prince”

DISCOVER

FormbyISSUE 18 · £3 · AUTUMN 2011

A bedroom with a viewin Scarisbrick

Sophie-sticatedFashion

Love for sailin Crosby

Meet the family:Beautiful Beginnings

Day NurseryNew Born to Reception

Begin Beautifully. Set in the expansive grounds of Scarisbrick Hall, our nursery enjoys a privileged

environment. From just a few months old in our self contained baby unit onwards, your child can enjoy the

perfect start in life, wherever they go from here.

Play and learning are balanced and as children grow, we ensure the curriculum is tailored to each child’s needs as

part of our Early Years Foundation Stage.

Scarisbrick HallFirst School

Reception to Year 4

From the earliest days of their education, our children benefit from an individual learning plan We don’t believe

in a one fits all system, so each child is assessed and a personalised plan is built around them.

We also want children to understand the benefits of new technology from an early age, so we encourage supervised laptop and ipad use on our hi-speed wifi

network, together with plenty of fun-to-learn education.

Scarisbrick HallMiddle School

Year 5 to Year 8

With careers advice from Year 7 and new courses such as catering & hospitality, sports studies and performing arts, we are investing heavily in our children’s future. We have

already seen pupils pass their GCSE exams as much as three years early.

Top quality education is backed by pastoral care and welfare, which have been acknowledged as “outstanding”.

01704 880200www.scarisbrickhallschool.co.uk

[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]

01704 842222www.beautifulbeginningsdaynursery.co.ukSet in the grounds of Scarisbrick Hall. Open 7am - 6pm.

Meet the family:Scarisbrick HallMiddle School

Year 5 to Year 8

With careers advice from Year 7 and new courses such as catering & hospitality, sports studies and performing arts, we are investing heavily in our children’s future. We have

already seen pupils pass their GCSE exams as much as three years early.

Top quality education is backed by pastoral care and welfare, which have been acknowledged as “outstanding”.

Scarisbrick HallCollege

Year 9 to Year 13

The third tier of education is our new college. When it comes to GCSEs, it allows pupils in the College to start their

exam courses a whole year early. Our E3 programme is excellent and more courses are coming on stream as part

of our schedule of ongoing improvements.

Each student has their own personal mentor - we are dedicated to the best academic results as well as an

holistic approach to producing a well rounded adult.


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]

01704 842222www.beautifulbeginningsdaynursery.co.ukSet in the grounds of Scarisbrick Hall. Open 7am - 6pm.

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PUBLISHERBetty Drummond

MANAGING EDITORLaurent Saletto

ASSOCIATE EDITORLouisa Austin

01704 392 [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEAMHenry James

Natasha YoungDavid Simister

CONTRIBUTORSDiane Thompson

Cornelia Kaufmann

PHOTOGRAPHYMartyn Snape

John Swift

ADVERTISING [email protected]

Chris Chew01704 392 338

Jo Gillinder01704 392 336

PRODUCTION TEAM01704 392 320

[email protected] Houghton

Emma LyonMike Rose

DISTRIBUTION TEAM01704 392 345

[email protected]

PUBLISHED BY

Champion Media GroupClare House

166 Lord StreetSouthport PR9 0QA

T: 01704 392 392F: 0871 900 5678

© 2011 Champion Media Group. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. Whilst every care is taken, details, prices etc. are subject to change without notice and the publisher can take no responsibility for any errors or omissions whatsoever.

Hello

Would you believe Autumn is already on our door step? With nights drawing in, sunshine getting paler in the skies (was it ever there?) and everyone checking their heating systems in readiness for the sure-to-come-soon cold snap, Gr8life is here to help you while away a few hours. And wow, do we have a choice of subjects for you this time!

From foods and cars to fashions and properties you will fi nd it all in these pages. We even take you on a ride in a helicopter and a bit of a sailing trip to keep you all fi t!

The Discover section remains the heart of Gr8life. As I have already said in this very column, it is really amazing what this region has to offer. So in this issue, if you thought you knew Formby, well think again! Our cover refl ects the outstanding natural beauty of its coast and it’s spirit is matched by an incredible array of businesses and shops that some of our readers will have, no doubt, yet to still discover. We know by your comments that each edition of Gr8life unveils little treasures you never knew existed in a street near you and there is no doubt our team has done it again with Formby.

Talent in this part of the world is a given and many fashionistas know that the Northwest region in particular is the place for new trends and high fashions. You are about to fi nd out why this reputation is so well earned with our exclusive fashion shoot. Young designer Sophie Maddox is making a real mark on the fashion industry right now and it is easy to see why, you will agree. One of my beliefs is to always unveil new talent in our pages and I am glad Sophie agreed to have her fi ne creations featured with us....Remember you saw her here fi rst!

Birkdale is fast becoming synonymous with fi ne dining and The Gastro Bar and Grill fi ts right in. Local entrepreneur Mike Macomb has done a terrifi c job and the atmosphere of this great restaurant is casual and yet, so elegant. It reminds me of one of those cool Fifties places you see in movies. The food infl uences are British modern and this restaurant is sure to become a regional favourite.

Finally, as Strictly is about to hit our TV screens again, I was lucky enough to speak to Anton du Beke who is every bit as funny as you would expect him to be. You will have to fi nd out about his Bupa connection and why the Prince of Wales is a fi rm favourite with the famed dancer.

So as you can see, there is plenty for you to fi nd out in another fi ne edition of Gr8life. And with less time to spend in the garden working hard, you can just relax with the magazine.... Autumn does have its good side !

Louisa Austin Associate Editor

[email protected]

Anton du BekeEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“Why I choose the Southport’s Prince”

DISCOVER

FormbyISSUE 18 · £3 · AUTUMN 2011

A bedroom with a viewin Scarisbrick

Sophie-sticatedFashion

Love for sailin Crosby

Gr8 Life magazine 5

9 Southport’s forgotten pastNot many people know that the world land speed record was once set on our very own Southport beach. David Simister looks at that momentous but quickly forgotten occasion

14 Glamorous gownsIn the Summer edition we looked at mother of the bride gowns available from Southport based dress hire Heaven Sent. In this edition we return and take a peek at the beautiful selection of evening gowns

17 The fl ying doctorsThe North West Air Ambulance does an amazing job transporting patients all over the area, however they get very little government funding. We look at a days work for everyone involved

21 Discover Formby17 pages showing you what the unique coastal town of Formby has to offer. We pop down to the bustling shopping area, the pinewoods and the beautiful beach which stretches for miles along the coast

38 It’s all in the eyesWe speak to lash technician Suzanne Barclay of Xtreme Lashes who can transform your eyes and give you a set of beautiful eyelashes

39 A fashion star in the makingSophie Maddox is only in her early twenties yet she is designing gowns which wouldn’t look out of place at a red carpet event

45 Southport Flower ShowThis annual event couldn’t go without a mention in Gr8life and so here we showcase the winning gardens and give you a glimpse of the delights which were on offer

49 A little bit of paradiseTucked away in Scarisbrick is an extremely unique home with a couple of surprises waiting for you to discover

53 Simple but stylishGr8life samples the delicious food served at Birkdale’s newest eatery The Gastro Bar and Grill

57 Tarleton’s John DenverChris Bannister is a singer songwriter who has an uncanny resemblance to the late American star. Louisa Austin met him to fi nd out about his musical infl uences

60 Verité at homeThis edition Birkdale chef Marc Verite shows us how to whip up a Venison dish fi t for any dinner party

61 Crosby AhoyGr8life’s David Simister and Chris Chew spent a few hours at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and got more than they bargained for

64 Shall we danceWe talk to ballroom dancer and Strictly Come Dancing star Anton du Beke about his career, plans for the future and love of Southport

69 You can have it allDavid Simister shows us a car which is perfect if you fancy the thrill of a sporty model but also need the practicality of a family car

73 Society PagesA look at who has been out and about in the last three months

Inside Issue 18

6 www.gr8lifemagazine.com

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Beautiful flour arrangements.

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Sculptures, plaques, statues and artworks.

These are just some of the things which

haven’t been commissioned for what

surely ranks as the most awe-inspiring

spectacle in Southport’s history.

On March 16 this year, the 85th anniversary

of the world land speed record, being set on

the town’s beach, passed without so much

as a whimper, without anything in the way of

pomp or ceremony to celebrate. In fact, the

only lasting tribute to the day the seaside resort

became the fastest place on Earth is The Henry

Segrave pub, named in honour of the dashing

chap who dared to push the edges of what’s

possible at the driving seat of a car.

It seems hard to believe, in 2011, that it’s

physically possible to drive along the beach at

152mph, a speed that’s twice what you can

legally do on the motorway. The fastest I’ve

ever driven was 130mph on a banked racing

circuit at the helm of a V8-powered Vauxhall,

and even on smooth tarmac in a modern car

designed to cope, it was mildly terrifying.

Southport’sforgotten past

Gr8 Life magazine 9

I can’t even begin to imagine what it

would have been like going faster still on sand,

driving a racing monster with no airbags,

traction control or ABS - things which weren’t

invented until decades later - and surviving to

tell the tale.

In 1926, when most people’s experience of

motoring was a bumble down the backroads

in an Austin Seven, seeing Henry Segrave

screaming down the sands in his Sunbeam

Tiger must have been an epic sight. Record-

breakingly epic, in fact.

Sir Henry O’Neil de Hane Segrave was, to

borrow the cliché, a chap cast of the right

stuff. Eton-educated, a First World War

fi ghter pilot and a Grand Prix winner, he was

exactly the sort of stiff-upper-lip yet heroic

character you’d likely encounter in a Biggles

adventure story, and as such ideally qualifi ed

for the risky business of breaking land speed

records. To this day he’s the only person who’s

ever held the land and water speed records

simultaneously, and was actually killed at

just 33 setting his fi nal water speed record

on Lake Windermere. After hitting a log at

98mph and crashing, he was recovered from

the lake while still unconscious, and awoke

in hospital to ask of the state of “his men”

who’d helped him in the attempt.

He stayed conscious just long enough to

be informed he’d broken the record, dying

of lung haemorrhages less than half an hour

later. You couldn’t make it up.

Yet it’s always his fi rst record, the one he

set on March 16, 1926 that sticks out in the

mind. It wasn’t an easy record to break - on

his third run, Segrave hit a gulley, sending

his Sunbeam into the air for 49 feet - but

he managed to eake 152.33mph out of the

V12-engined, twin-supercharged Tiger, which

he’d christened Ladybird on account of its red

paint. Despite it being the fastest anybody had

ever driven, it was an event which attracted

few spectators.

GR8Life would like to thank Edwina Gibney, John Baker-Courtenay’s daughter, for her help with information on the Sunbeam Tiger and the Southport land speed record.

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The car, which is now part of a private

collection of classic cars owned by an American

enthusiast, was also the last land speed record

contender to also be a competitive machine on

the nation’s racing circuits, and owed its speed

not only to the driver but also the immense

punch offered up by its 350bhp V12 engine.

Journalist Wille Green, one of the few lucky

enough to drive the machine, said:

“This is one of the gutsiest, most torquey and

powerful engines I’ve ever sat behind and even

when you throw in the Alfa P3 and the Napier

Railton for comparison, with big superchargers,

you can sometimes get surge in a corner but the

Tiger’s throttle response is impeccable in this

respect. There is just instant, solid, vast power

on tap.”

Even though the Southport record was

smashed a month later, when John Parry-

Thomas pounded along Pendine Sands in Wales

at 171mph, it took more than 60 years before

someone was able to make the Sunbeam go any

faster, when the late John Baker-Courtenay took

it to 157.44mph on the runway at RAF Elvington

in Yorkshire. It’s his run, which attracted the

attention of the world’s press back in 1990,

which is likely to remain the ultimate tribute to

Segrave and his incredible antics in Southport.

It is one of the most daring things ever to

be done in the northwest, yet in 2011 the only

reminder you’re likely to fi nd of Sir Segrave’s

speed record is in the name of The Henry

Segrave, a pub on Lord Street. With no museum

exhibits, statues or plaques to commemorate

the resort’s brief claim to being the fastest place

on Earth, it is a record that’s almost slipped

from memory entirely.

As records go it’s one that deserves more

recognition than it has right now, and it’s high

time that we in the northwest did something

to remember this brief but brave, bold and

ultimately successful attempt to nab the world

land speed record on Southport beach.

Statue, anyone?

Gr8 Life magazine 11

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Any lady who has been to the races in recent

years has probably heard of Virginia Lee. Stocked

full of glamorous and elegant designer wear it has

the perfect outfi ts for such an occasion. Lee has

an eye for fashion and her customers trust her

knowledge and ability to guide them to the perfect

purchase.

Lee, who trained in fashion design in Chester

says, “I worked in fashion for years and managed

a shop for someone else. I then worked with my

husband for ten years but I decided a few years ago

I wanted to get back in fashion. It is what I love and

enjoy so I set up my own shop.”

Lee also only buys very few of each garment

which gives her customers the all important

exclusivity factor that many are looking for.

“I always look for designers with the ‘wow’

factor, I love unusual styles while keeping the

glamour,” Lee adds. “I also tend to buy natural

fabrics such as wool, silk and cashmere but will also

try newly created ones such as steel, woven very

fi nely into other fabrics.”

exclusiveGla!our

La Bottega Di Brunella Barbara Schwarzer Caroline

Annette Gortz Isabel De Pedro Annette Gortz

Gr8 Life magazine 2322 www.gr8lifemagazine.com

It is not just clothes Lee stocks, many ladies

go to see her to have hats and fascinators made

especially to match their outfi t. She also has leather

and man-made handbags, hats, scarves and

jewellery.

Lee’s jewellery is as spectacular as her clothes

and often incorporate Swarovoski crystals which

give that extra special feel to them. Lee says, “I

sometimes stock the occasional ‘take your breath

away’ items which are normally made by an up and

coming designer. Prices start at around £29 and

there is something to suit most tastes.”

Once or twice a year Lee puts on a charity

fashion show and has even been known to arrange

smaller shows for her clients and friends in their

own homes, all part of the service. Lee says, “I love

fashion and I love what I do.”

Virginia Lee • 8-9 Garrick Parade Lord Street • 01704 546584Clothes modelled by Mandy Garrity and Roz Tranfi eld.

Hair by “Changes” in Wallasey.Make-up by Roz Tranfi eld of the Beauty Centre in Wallasey.

Winner of Crown Salon 2011.

y p y

fashion show and has even been known to arrange

smaller shows for her clients and friends in their

own homes, all part of the service. Lee says, “I love

fashion and I love what I do.”

1704 546584Virginia Lee • 8-9 Garrick Parade Lord Street • 01Tranfi eld.Clothes modelled by Mandy Garrity and Roz T

Hair by “Changes” in Wallasey.in Wallasey.Make-up by Roz Tranfield of the Beauty Centre i

Mac by Gabi LautonTrousers by Rodika Zanlan

Isabel De Petro Isabel De Petro Gabi Lauton Ozlem Suer La Bottega Di Brunella

Gr8 Life magazine 2524 www.gr8lifemagazine.com

Virginia Lee

Pages from Gr8life’s Spring 2011 edition; you can view back issues of the magazine online at www.gr8lifemagazine.com

Why Gr8life works ...Gr8life is not just a lifestyle magazine, it is YOUR

quarterly regional treasure trove of fantastic

addresses, shops, businesses and events sourced

for our readers to enjoy and truly discover.

One of Gr8life’s strengths is our attention to detail and the fact that most,

if not, all the photos are exclusive to us. Unlike many free magazines, Gr8life is

NOT a collection of pretty adverts but has real independent contents making

it an interesting and worthwhile read. People who read Gr8life will come to

the businesses featured in the magazine.

Take our fashion shoots... Gr8life affords a local business a unique window

showcasing THEIR collection in its pages rather than have national groups and

names diffi cult to fi nd.

If you see something you like in Gr8life, it will

be close to your home. That is our guarantee.

Recently we featured the fabulous spring

collection of Virginia Lee. Take a look at what Lee

Samuels, owner of the trendy store, said in her

letter to our editor.

Being seen in Gr8life works.

If you think you would like our team to visit you

and give your business a real window to over 20,000

homes then give us a call on 01704 392332 today for

an informal chat.


In the Summer edition of Gr8life we featured a local dress hire business called Heaven Sent and the beautiful mother of the bride and wedding outfi ts it has to offer.

GlamourousGownsFor this edition we have returned to Heaven Sent with our

photographers, reporters and part-time local model Caroline

Meehan to help Gr8life showcase a few samples of the vast

collection of evening, party and prom dresses available to hire

or buy.

For those who don’t know about this hidden gem in Southport

town centre, Heaven Sent is owned by local resident Joann who

provides a discrete, professional and personal service to ladies in

the area.


Designers include Mori Lee, Ronald Joyce,

Sherri Hill and many more and with Joann always

there to ensure your dress fi ts you perfectly you

cannot go wrong!

Jane Morris, a customer of Joann told

Gr8life, “I am so pleased I have found her. I used

to traipse round the shops trying to fi nd that

dream dress for a special occasion I attend each

year and I was always disappointed. I have even

had dresses made to measure yet have never

been as happy as when I went to see Joann.

She saves me a fortune and makes me look a

million pounds!”

Joann works on an appointment basis so

you have total one to one service!

Jane added, “She has a fantastic eye for

what suits people of every shape and size and

has persuaded me to try on lots of dresses I

would never normally dream of going near,

which turn out to be perfect! Now, I would

never go anywhere else. She is a real fi nd.”

Joann says, “I make sure no-one ever leaves

with a dress which doesn’t suit them perfectly

or fi t them properly. It is so important that these

beautiful dresses do my clients justice and make

them look and feel amazing.”

When you have to dress for a special

occasion treat yourself to a visit to Heaven

Sent. Please call 01704 547646 or visit www.

heavensentsouthport.com.


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Annette Gortz · Isabel de Pedro · Bitte KairandGabi Lauton · Barbara Schwarzer · Xenia Designs

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Virginia Lee

Rosalind Fashions

138 College Road, Crosby,Liverpool L23 2DP

Tel: 0151 924 7433

Stockists of Stockists of

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1101922

THE FLYINGWe automatically assume that if we or a loved one ever had an accident we would be carted off to hospital in an ambulance. There is however, another, far effi cient way of receiving treatment and getting to a hospital. However, with very little funding it relies solely on donations from the public and without those it may not be able to continue. David Simister investigates...

THE next fl ight to leave Blackpool

International could be the one that saves

your life. I’m not talking about the planes

packed with holidaymakers setting off for a

bit of sunburn in the south of Spain, even

though they’re taking off all around me on

the breezy day I’ve arrived at the airport. I’ve

come to see a much smaller machine which

does a far more important job, something

that’s quite literally a matter of life and

death. The North West Air Ambulance.

If you’re unlucky enough to end up

in a car crash and need urgent hospital

treatment, chances are it’ll be these guys,

operating from a windswept corner of the

airport away from all the tourists, who give

you the all important ride to hospital. The

Blackpool operation is one of two bases used

by the charity to come to the aid of stricken

residents of Sefton and West Lancashire,

and they’re ready to fl y 365 days a year.

Paul West, head of clinical operations

at North West Air Ambulance, says the

helicopter performs a vital role in the

emergencies it attends to right across

the region.

DOCTORS


“We can get people to hospital much

quicker than a road ambulance, so we play a

crucial role. It costs us about £700 an hour

to operate the air ambulance, but you can’t

put a price on saving someone’s life.

“If you consider that we fly at 140mph

in a straight line, we can get people who’ve

suffered serious injuries to hospital a lot

faster than a road ambulance can. For

example, if you wanted to transfer a patient

from the hospital in Barrow-in-Furness to

the trauma centre in Preston, it would take

an hour and a half if you did the journey by

road. We can do that in the air ambulance

in 15 minutes.”

Then it emerges, a fuzzy dot in the skies

looking towards Preston, with a gentle

hum which grows to a mighty throb as it

approaches the airport. This bright yellow

Eurocopter is something I’ve seen countless

times before from its appearances on the

Internet and TV - it is, after all, the icon of

the entire charity’s operations - but seeing it

in the flesh for the first time is a humbling

experience. It might be dwarfed by the

airliners taxiing up the run way behind it,

but it does a far more valuable job than any

of them.

It’s also the size of the air ambulance that

allows it to pack the punch it does when

it’s responding to emergencies; hanging

on the wall of the portacabin used to keep

the crews entertained between missions,

there’s a stunning photograph of it poised

neatly on the narrowest of footpaths beside

a tarn in the Lake District. By being both

big enough to carry a fully-trained team of

medical professionals and small enough to

land in the trickiest of spots, the North West

Air Ambulance’s machines can get to an

emergency unbelievably quickly.

Neil Airey, the helicopter’s pilot, tells me:

“This is a state-of-the art air ambulance

that allows us to cover the area from Carlisle

to Crewe, and it’s a very modern, reliable

machine. Doing tricky landings is a daily

part of the job, but it’s a very easy machine

to fly. The important thing is getting


patients to hospital in what we call

‘the golden hour’, and once we arrive,

we can get fairly close to the patient,

although urban areas can be more of a

problem because you can’t always land

on the main street.

“The important thing is speed,

because once we load up a patient

into the ambulance, we can get them

to a hospital in ten minutes. When the

bell rings here in Blackpool, we can be

airborne in the space of four minutes,

and be over in Southport three minutes

after that. It makes a big difference.”

But the big difference which really

keeps the air ambulance flying is the

one you can make, because it relies on

donations from the public to help pay the

£4m it costs to operate the service every

year. Fundraising activities take place

right across the north west, including

Sefton and West Lancashire, which help

create the cash to let the North West Air

Ambulances get on with what they do

best; saving lives. There are also charity

shops dotted across the region, including

one on Tulketh Street in Southport, and

a region-wide lottery which you can

access from the charity’s website (North

West Air Ambulance get a portion of the

prize fund, so everybody wins).

Weirdly, North West Air Ambulance

isn’t a service I’d ever want to use,

because it would almost certainly involve

being horribly injured and in need of

urgent medical treatment. But if I ever

did end up in a nightmare scenario like

that, I’d want those magnifcent men

(and women) in their flying machines

to be whizzing my way, and I reckon so

would you.

Your life could depend on it.

Head online to our website to see David

Simister’s video report on the North West

Air Ambulance. For more information

on the North West Air Ambulance

visit the charity’s website online at

www.northwestairambulance.com.


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DISCOVER

FORMBY

When many people think of Formby they conjure up images of the beautiful pinewoods and National Trust nature reserve. These age-old woods are home to the protected red squirrel species and lead the way to the beautiful Formby coastline and sand dunes which we are very lucky to have on our doorstep. Behind these popular attractions however, is a bustling village full of independent shops, restaurants and businesses all with something different to offer. Gr8life took a trip to this little coastal town to meet the people who make Formby the inviting and friendly place that it is.



Visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.ukor call 01704 875 699 to book.Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Southport Old Road, Formby,Merseyside L37 0AB

The Restaurant at

Formby Hall

F R O M T H E G R I L L

Formby Grill Gourmet Burger, Crisp Bacon £12.95

& Melted Cheddar, Homemade Slaw, Hand Cut Chips

8oz Hand Cut Sirloin, Vine Roasted Tomatoes, £17.95

Garlic Infused Flat Cap Mushroom, Hand Cut Chips

8oz Hand Cut Fillet, Vine Roasted Tomatoes £20.95

Garlic Infused Flat Cap Mushroom, Hand Cut Chips

Formby Mixed Grill, Rump & Gammon Steak, £21.50

Black & White Pudding, Sausage, Fried Egg & Chips

Homemade Duck Cake, Plum Sauce £6.50

Chicken Liver Parfait, Onion Marmalade & Brioche £5.95

PASTA & RISOTTOSmoked Haddock, Leek Risotto & Duck Egg £11.95

King Prawn Linguini, Tomato, Chilli & Coriander £12.95

MAIN COURSE MEATTarragon Chicken, Pancetta Mash & Dijon Sauce £13.95

Pan Roasted Pork Cutlet, Apple Dauphinoise £14.50

FROM THE SEABaked Whole Plaice, Rosemary Roasted Jackets £16.95

Moules Marinieres, Mussels in White Wine £12.50

DESSERTSSticky Toffee Pudding, Honeycomb Ice Cream £5.50

Hot Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla Pod Ice Cream,

Chocolate Sauce £6.50

Presenting amouthwatering sample

of our new menu...

...perfection on a plateBooking essential

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AC RN

35 Three Tuns Lane, FormbyTel 01704 877220

www.acornkitchensformby.co.uk

1101

587

KITCHENS & BEDROOMS Ltd

Formby’s longest established kitchen company

- Established 1987

I provide fl owers for every occasion including:• Weddings• Funeral and sympathy fl owers• Special occasions• Event & Corporate Floristry• Anniversaries• Christmas Decoration Service

Why choose Flowerstyle By Laurie?• Award winning fl orist• Same day delivery• Quality fl owers guaranteed• Contemporary fl oral designer

Flowers that dare to be different

Contact me or call into my studio to see some of my beautiful arrangements. With an attractive mixture of fresh, exotic and unusual fl ower designs your choice is endless... whatever the occasion

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE6 Ryeground Lane • Formby • L37 7EQ

01704 872000www.fl owerstylebylaurie.co.uk

1101313

Acorn Kitchens don’t employ hard sale sales people and will be involved with a project from start to fi nish. Owners Ben Howes and Steve Penter have been employed in the kitchen industry all their lives, from the manufacturing aspect to the fi tting of kitchens for most of the top kitchen companies, and for more than 20 years, supplying and fi tting kitchens and bedrooms from their own Formby showroom.. They have worked together all their working lives starting at the age of 17, when they served their apprenticeship together, to the present day. Unlike many kitchen companies, Ben and Steve carry out all the work themselves. They will be 100% involved with your project from start to fi nish, they plan it, they design it and they fi t it. You will be invited to the showroom to view your kitchen or bedroom on the latest computer technology available, and you can see your dream kitchen or bedroom in fantastic photo-realism graphics before your eyes. Ben says, “We are very proud of the reputation we have built over the last twenty years and have many satisfi ed customers.”

Acorn KitchensTel: 01704 877220 • 33 Three Tuns Lane, Formby www.acornkitchensformby.co.uk

Owner Ben Howes

Laurie Spencer has been making wedding days perfect and arranging beautiful fl oral displays for twenty-four years. Now, former Crosby fl orist Sarah Cooke has joined Laurie, Karen and Nic and together they offer a second - to - none bespoke service for weddings, funerals, corporate events and arrangements for all occasions.Laurie says, “The philosophy has always been to think outside the box and to design displays which have the wow factor. Now, Sarah has joined me and we make a great team ensuring we can produce the best service for our clientele. Collectively we have over 70 years of fl oristry experience and Sarah has a wide range of expertise within the industry to compliment Laurie’s skills and vision. Laurie adds, “The business is expanding and developing, something which I am very proud about in this economic situation and together the team and I can keep moving the business forward.”

Flowerstyle by LaurieTel: 01704 872000 • 6 Ryeground Lane, Formby www.fl owerstylebylaurie.com

Owner Laurie Spencer and Sarah Cooke


Dermal Spa’s ethos is simply that you should be able to pamper yourself in a warm and friendly environment and in the most luxurious of surroundings.They offer a wide range of beauty treatments at the highest of standards to woman and men.Owners Paul, Sam & Caroline say, “We do everything from head to toe, and our aim is to make Dermal Spa a one stop shop. People can come in and get a spray tan followed by a blow-dry while having their nails manicured - it’s all about convenience.The salon has a big personality and a team of professionals ready to assist you in anyway they can.Paul says, “Why not try our brand new state of the art sunbeds. £2 for 6mins, £3 for 9mins, £4 for 12mins for a golden sun kissed glow. See you soon!”

Dermal SpaTel: 01704 834555 • 130 Church Road, Formby www.130dermalspa.com

The friendly staff of Dermal Spa

This family run jewellers has been established for 35 years and pride themselves on a fi rst rate one to one service. The business was fi rst set up in Leyland in 1977 and then later in Formby and offer all manner of jewellery services. From remodelling, repairs, cleaning and valuations to a full range of watches and gold and silver jewellery Atkinson’s can cater for everyone. They can also source rhinestones and crystals for costume jewellery and precious stones to be added to a special setting. Owner Barry Atkinson says, “My friend mentioned setting up in Formby to me years ago and so I thought I would give it a try as it was handy for our family. We are a very friendly team and our staff have worked for us for years. They never leave!”

Atkinsons JewellersTel: 01704 832056 • Unit 3, The Gallery, Furness Avenue, Formby

Owner Barry and Lynda


Azure Dental believe in confi dent smiles. Worn, discoloured, broken or missing teeth can lead to discomfort, eating diffi culties and cosmetic issues. Azure offer a full range of general, restorative and cosmetic treatments to regenerate your mouth back to complete health and function so that your teeth can last a lifetime. Azure Dental can help with the following treatments:• Comprehensive Healthy Mouth Assessments• Fresh Breath treatments• White Teeth to bring the sparkle out in your smile• Straight Teeth utilising invisible braces to realign your smile• Fixed Replacement Teeth using the latest dental implant technology to restore your smile.This friendly and professional practice is perfect if you would like a new dentist, a problem resolved or your smile enhanced and also expect clinical and technical excellence from people who are reassuringly experienced.

Azure DentalTel: 01704 330210 • 6 The Beacons, 1 School Lane, Formby • www.azuredental.co

Azure Dental staff with Principal Dentist Dr Dan Hines

Heaven for any horse lover, The Bridge Inn Saddlery is stocked full of everything any keen hobbiest or horse owner could need. From nurturing the interest of a young learner to supplying the needs of an experienced rider the saddlery stocks horse feed, blankets, rider clothing, boots and whips. Owner Ruth Moon says, “I went to university and studied Animal Science. Then I started to work in a tack shop and loved it so much I decided to open my own shop. As well as everything horse related we also stock a range of outdoor clothing, wellies, feed for chickens, dogs and guinea pigs and worm and fl ea treatment for cats and dogs.”

The Bridge Inn SaddleryTel: 01704 833222 • Moss Side, Formby

Emma Wilkinson and owner Ruth Moon


INTERIOR

INSPIRATION


Are your teeth looking discoloured, worn out and nearly extinct?Don’t let them go the way of the dinosaurs... let azuredental bring your smile back to life!

Tel: 01704 330210 • 6 The Beacons, 1 School Lane, Formby L37 3LNEmail: [email protected] • Visit our website: www.azuredental.co

“Hi Dan, just writing to say how pleased I am with my recent dental treatment. The fi ve discoloured fi llings in my front teeth look great (in fact you can’t see them now!). Thanks to you and your very pleasant staff I now have a big smile again. The whitening looks nice and natural for someone of my age. I should like to continue with all my future routine dental care with you.”Best Wishes, P.S.

“Many thanks for the treatment I have just fi nished at your practice. The fi nished result was amazing - the technology and expertise involved really made it a pleasant experience. Can’t express enough thanks.”

M.C.

1101335

Practice Membership Plans available for preventative dental care from £13.50 pcm0% FINANCE AVAILABLE

Contact us NOW for a FREE no obligation consultation to discuss how we

can help you achieve dental health and confi dence

Dermal SpaHair · Beauty · Nails · Sunbeds · Colonic · Spray Tanning

Dermal Spa is a friendly top-to-toe salon in Formby offering everything under one roof! With realistic prices, a great service and a welcoming smile, your visit will be one to remember. We have a state-of-the-art tanning centre, all beauty treatments, nails and hairdressing treatments plus the Dermal Spa clinic offering colonic hydrotherapy, semi-permanent make-up, Botox and restylane. We also run a diet

clinic which offers an appetite suppressants weight loss program run by Dr Youll.

OFFERS FOR ALL GR8 LIFE READERSLuxury Spa pedicure inc. polish . £20Dermalogica 45min facial . . . . . . £20Shellac 14 day nail polish . . . . . . £15Hair colour, cut and blow dry . . . £50Cut and blow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £25Colonic hydrotherapy . . . . . . . . . £45Subject to availability valid until 30th November 2011.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

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Salon opening hoursMonday . . . . 9am - 8pmTuesday . . . 9am - 8pmWednesday 9am - 8pmThursday . . . 9am - 8pmFriday . . . . . 9am - 8pmSaturday . 9am - 5.30pm

Gift vouchers available

We accept cash, Visa,Master Card and Amex

130 Church Road(nr The Grapes pub)

Formby L37 3NH

Telephone .01704 834555Mobile . . . .07950 471380www.130dermalspa.com

INTERIOR

INSPIRATION

Anybody wanting design advice with no idea where to start can contact Tessuto Design owner Kate Hilliker who has a wealth of knowledge in her fi eld and can project manage a redesign of your house from start to fi nish. Or, if you want the tiniest of details changing but aren’t sure how, she can also help with that.

Kate has worked with interior designers since leaving art college and was part of the original Laura Ashley Design Team. Kate, who has also worked as an interior designer in Hewitts in Southport, opened Tessuto last Christmas.

She tells GR8 Life: “The mainstay of the business is interior design and I will go into people’s homes and put schemes together and project manage them. It has taken nine years to get my team together, which includes builders, plumbers, painters and decorators. I have clients who come and see me and say they have bought a new house and want it redesigned from top to bottom. But other people may just want a window frame interior designed. The choice is up to the client.

“When we opened the shop I wanted to make interiors accessible. Often people are frightened to go into interior design shops, but here they are free to browse. I think design should be accessible to everyone.”

The retail showroom has furniture, lighting and accessories and they offer the best of British, Scandinavian and European design.

Furniture and accessories on sale have been chosen to fi t in well with contemporary modern and traditional homes. Brands they offer include Established & Sons, Rapture & Wright and Block.

Everyone wants a beautiful house but sometimes it is very diffi cult to know where to begin. Interior design can be a tricky thing which can throw up all kinds of questions. What colour scheme would be best, where should the furniture go? Wood fl ooring or carpets, blinds or curtains? Sometimes it is best to leave it to the experts and watch your dream house unfold.



The Formby shop has a strong London infl uence as Kate says she has taken a lot of inspiration from what she has seen in the city when visiting, in particular the Brick Lane boutique stores.

This infl uence comes through in some of the furniture on offer at the Formby showroom where you can buy Vincent Sheppard furniture which is especially popular in London restaurants and in particular those of Gordon Ramsey.

In fact at Tessuto, on Harington Road, you can also buy wallpapers and fabrics from some of the world’s best design houses, including J and GP Baker and Busby and Busby.

The shop also sells lots of paints from the best quality paint manufacturers, including Paint & Paper Library, National Trust Paints and Cole & Son. They can make up colours to your specifi cations too and this year, Kate, who has done work for several celebrity clients, believes the colours becoming increasingly popular are soft greys and oranges and feels there is a movement away from hi-gloss and leather.

And for those who want to extend their design plans out into the garden, Kate has developed the outside space at the back of the shop, which was previously full of overgrown brambles and ivy, into a fabulous showroom full of inspiration.

Kate and her team can really do anything, as little or as big as you wish and their expertise extends to building outdoor rooms, from sourcing beautiful plants and furniture to full landscape gardening.

Kate says, “Your home and garden is probably the most important thing you own and it needs to be perfect.

Tessuto Design, which has free parking in front of the shop and at the side is open Monday to Friday and on a Saturday morning.

Tessuto Design, 70 Harington Road, Formby, L37 1NU Telephone: 01704 832526Website: www.tessutodesign.co.uk


1101127


WOO

DVAL

EWe couldn’t visit Formby without a mention of this historic RAF station which opened on the 7th December 1941.

Constructed as an all-weather night fi ghter airfi eld for the defence of Liverpool, RAF squadrons were brought up from the south of England to ‘rest’ for short periods, during which time they defended Merseyside.

Since 1971, RAF Woodvale has remained a training station and hosts the annual Woodvale International Rally. This is a charitable event that originally began as a model aircraft show which has grown over the years to include car clubs with both classic cars, vintage cars and other vehicle displays. Now in its 38th year Woodvale rally is a large two day event held on the fi rst weekend in August and is hugely popular with tanks, spitfi res and huge crowds desending for the weekend. 1036293

FORMBY’S

COASTAL DELIGHTS


Formby is best known for it’s beautiful pinewoods, coastline and red squirrels.

If you choose to take a walk around the woods you are in with a good chance of spotting one of our red furry friends or even a Natterjack Toad if you are lucky. Formby is only one of a few sites in England where they will breed and later in the evening the male’s distinctive song can be heard, known locally as the ‘Bootle Organ’. In spring the males gather at the edge of shallow pools in the dune slacks and sing to attract a mate. The Sefton Coast and Countryside Service are working hard to keep these pools from growing over so that that they are ready each spring for this annual event. The pine trees, which seem to touch the sky, are so tall they tower over any other vegetation and are particularly beautiful when the sun fi lters though or they are covered in snow.

There are many marked trails to follow taking you around all the woodlands and dog walkers can spend a few hours tiring out the family pets before heading home. The children also fare well with many organised activites taking place in the holidays to keep them busy including orienteering, trails and treasure hunts.

Formby’s coastline draws visitors from far and wide with a beautiful beach, clear sea and sand dunes perfect for picnics and sunbathing in good weather. The historic beach is the location of the fi rst lifeboat station in the UK which may have been established perhaps as early as 1776. The foundations of the last of the lifeboat station buildings remain on the beach.

FORMBY’S

COASTAL DELIGHTS



Atkinson Jewellers Ltd Craftsman Jewellers since 1977

Suppliers of Ladies & Gents Jewellery and Watches in Silver and 18ct & 9ct GoldA wide selection of Clocks including Mantle and Grandfather

Our services include:• Jewellery Repairs and Cleaning• Valuations on the premises• Precious Stones supplied and set• Gem setting• Rhodium Plating on site• Imitation stones

3 The GalleryFurness AvenueFormby L37 4NN01704 832056

1101589

Freshfield Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd Showroom 31b Stephenson Way, Formby Trading Estate (second left after Tesco), Merseyside, L37 8EG

TELEPHONE:01704 875155

GREAT OFFERS ON APPLIANCESCALL INTO OUR SHOWROOM FOR FREE DESIGN ADVICE, IDEAS AND SERVICE

AND A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKPROJECT MANAGED INSTALLATION SERVICE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL GAS & BUILDING WORK

OVER 25 YEARS OF HIGH QUALITY KITCHEN DESIGN & INSTALLATIONMANY BEDROOM STYLES ON OFFER INCLUDING SLIDING DOORS

1101955

FRESHFIELDKitchens & Bedrooms Ltd

MODERN • TRADITIONAL • CONTEMPORARY • QUALITY UNITS

EXAMPLE14 rigid built made to measure units, 18mm with solid backs and 2mm

pvc edging. Choice of 40mm

worktops. All doors and drawers,

soft closing.ALL FITTED FOR ONLY £4499

INC VAT

5 The Cloisters, Halsall Lane, Formby L37 3PX • T: 01704 879595

EFFORTLESS WARDROBE ESSENTIALS

1101

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LADIES FASHIONS AND ACCESSORIES

AughtonWines

Email: [email protected]

46 CHURCH ROADFORMBY

! 01704 87110433 QUEENS ROAD

FORMBY! 01704 872062

1101

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Established 1989

OVER 300WINES STOCKED

Friendly Service andAdvice always on offer

BEERS FROM ALLOVER THE WORLD

FREE GLASS HIRE • SALE OR RETURN • FREE DELIVERY

The business was established in Southport in 1989 by Martin and Judith Horn and has had a store in Formby for the last 20 years. Stocking a wide variety of wines from 3 for £10 Pinot Grigio to award winning Australian Shiraz and Grand Cru champagnes. Martin and Judith say, `Trying to keep all budgets happy and stocking wines that are a bit different from the usual supermarket offerings has been the key to our success. We also stock a wide range of imported beers and real ales which are very popular.” The couple are seen here holding top recommendations, Araldici Gavi and Novas Carmenere/Cab sauv. Both have won Wine Challenge gold medals this year and both have £3 off.

Aughton WinesTel: 01704 871104 • 46 Church Road, Formby

Martin and Judith Horn

Shopping for clothes isn’t always easy, but at Infi nity Cathy has made fi nding your wardrobe essentials a pleasant experience. With collections from Emreco, Evalinka, Gelco, Lebek, Peruzzi, Pomodoro, Poppy, Robell, Steilmann, Signature and Tia there is something to suit every body. The labels stocked combine the latest fashion with timeless pieces at an affordable price. Start your Christmas shopping early and choose from a wide range of handbags, purses, leather gloves, scarves, slippers and jewellery.

Infi nity ClothingTel: 01704 879595 • 5 The Cloisters, Halsall Lane, Formby

Owner Cathy Milner


Blu Kangaroo is a children’s designer clothing boutique offering something for girls boys and babies. Owner Christine Campbell opened the boutique three and half years ago and says, “ I worked on the airlines for years but we were always being threatened with redundancies and it was such an insecure job to have. I had always wanted to open up my own children’s boutique for years and so thought why not now?” The shop stocks many prestige brands including Kate Mack, DKNY, Lilly and Sid and Moschino and even has a handy reservation club to ensure that all important item doesn’t disappear!

Blu KangarooTel: 01704 832 043 • Unit 1, The Galleries, Halsall Road, Formbywww.blukangaroo.co.uk

Owner Christine Campbell

Mysitefi nder.co.uk is a brand new website which offers its visitors the chance todownload a digital guide of the 150 best kept secret websites you did not know existed.

There are fi ve categories within the guide(Leisure, music and photos, multimedia, games, social networks and the unusual) and you will soon be able to use amazing sites giving youaccess to unknown resources, making life on the Web a renewed pleasure.And all at the low, low price of £1.49 ONLY!

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Did you know that the Internet has scores of websites providing you with perfectly legal and most of them FREE music downloads, video and music editors, converters, social networks and much, much more….

1101019

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FORMBY’S FAMOUS

ASPARAGUS


Owner Christine Campbell

FORMBY’S FAMOUS

ASPARAGUS


Before the 1840’s Formby’s coastal area was considered good for nothing other than than the occasional rabbit warren. However, that all changed when large amounts of fertilizer became available with the construction of the Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway in 1848. Local farmers were then able to cultivate the land to grow Asparagus and it developed into the business it is today, once being so popular that it was served to passengers on the luxury liners leaving from Liverpool. It is estimated that some 200 acres was devoted to asparagus growing around Formby Point in the early part of this century, notable amongst the growers were the Aindow family who farmed the “Willow Slacks” around Lifeboat Road and later at Victoria Road.

Asparagus has no fat or cholesterol, is high in folic acid and a good source of vitamins A, B6 and C and even better, contains less than four calories per spear.So what makes Formby asparagus so special? It has won many awards in the past and is accredited with being one of the tastiest varieties available. It is also considered the freshest you can get your hands on if buying locally as most is now imported and so, as you can imagine, has been through quite a bit before it gets to your plate!The traditional form of asparagus growing ceased at Formby Point four years ago when Joan Winterbourne (nee Aindow) died, however, The National Trust is considering a range of options to breathe new life into the former asparagus fi elds using a variety methods.

Beautiful long eyelashes are something most

ladies long for and we spend hours titivating

our short stubby God givens with mascara

and eyelash serums to make the most of what

we have.

But now lash extensions are not just for the

rich and famous they have become an integral

part of the beauty regime for everyone. In just

a couple of relaxing hours they solve all our

eyelash dilemmas and are the perfect treat for

any lady in need of a pamper and a stunning

beauty make over.

Lash extensions are semi permanent lashes

painstakingly placed on your individual lashes to

add length and thickness. And, the good news is

with infi lls to replace natural lash regrowth they

can last for many months and there is no need

for mascara. What more could a girl ask for?

Naturally, on behalf of our readers, we at

Gr8Life simply had to try them out. Cue staff

volunteer – beauty obsessive, Stephanie, from

our editorial team was the lucky lady. Suzanne

Barclay of Xtreme Lashes™ is fully trained and

qualifi ed in the application and is recognised as

one of the leading technicians in the area. She

provides the Xtreme Lashes™ service from her

beauty studio in Maghull or will even do home

visits by appointment. For our test Suzanne

brought her equipment to the Gr8Life offi ce in

Lord Street.

Our volunteer Steph takes over, “I had

a consultation beforehand which was really

thorough. Suzanne asked about my lifestyle and

my beauty regime, basically so she could ascertain

whether I would be a suitable candidate or not.

I then chose the look I wanted. There are three

levels and I went for medium, as I thought the

thicker longer lashes may have been a bit too

much for the daytime offi ce wear.”

The transformation begins with Steph laying

down and listened to soothing music as Suzanne

skilfully applied the lashes. “It was so relaxing,”

Steph says. It was lovely having my eyes lashes

tickled, well that’s what it felt like. I was at ease

and enjoyed the whole procedure. From start

to fi nish it took two and a half hours but as I

was quite relaxed and happy and the time just

fl ew by.”

The fi nal result was luscious, long, thick lashes

and Steph was certainly very pleased. “They are

fabulous! They feel really soft and light so I don’t

notice them being there at all, but when I look

in the mirror I think, ‘Wow.’ Steph added, “I am

defi nitely going to get mine in-fi lled as the results

are amazing and not having to apply and take off

mascara every day is just so liberating!”

To take yourself off the mascara treadmill

this summer and enjoy months of luscious,

long lashes contact Suzanne for more details

on 07806 723896 or visit her website

www.xtremebeauty.co.uk or email: info@

xtremebeauty.co.uk.

IT’S ALL IN THE EYES

Every day there are wonderful developments in the beauty world and one of the latest is lash extensions. Here at Gr8life we decided to put them to the test.

Before

After

Application


On entering Sophie Maddox’s Southport boutique you are not quite sure where to look fi rst. There are rows of beautiful dresses, intricately made and all examples of the beautiful work of Sophie herself.


The twenty four year old from Formby is

making a name for herself in the North West for

hand making and designing beautiful bespoke

occasion wear. She says, “I have always wanted

to be a fashion designer for as long as I can

remember.” Nervous about starting out on her

own? “No I’ve been working towards it for a

couple of years and had this goal in my head

so have been eager to do it.”


After fi nishing school Sophie went to

Southport College to study a national diploma

in Art and Design and then went to UCLAN

University to study a BAHons in Fashion Design.

She adds, “I then did a year’s placement

with a company in Manchester designing

knitwear for high street shops such as Marks &

Spencer, Evans, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge

and supermarkets such as TU Sainsburys, Tesco

and George @ Asda. After completing my

degree they asked me to go back and work full

time as a design assistant.

So with an already successful beginning to

her career what made Sophie start out on her

own? She answers matter-of-factly, “It’s what

I have always wanted to do and there is no

better time than the present so I put my mind

to it and got results.”


Sophie specialises in occasion wear such

as prom dresses, party dresses, bridesmaids

and wedding dresses. She adds, “ I like a

lot of texture in the dresses I make and love

the fabric to be exquisite and stand out for

people to say its amazing.” As her business

is completely independent there are no rules

when it comes to what the customer can have

and Sophie can design anything that is asked

of her, something which, in a world of mass

produced fashion, is a welcome change.

Sophie obviously revels in the freedom her

own business gives her and says, “Everyday

is different and I love what I do, I get great

job satisfaction and love to put a smile on

someone’s face and make them feel great!”

Along with all the things she has achieved

so far associated with someone so young

starting up their own business, Sophie is also

the winner of an extremley prestigious award.


While in the final year at university she

entered a competition to design a print for

a dress for New look and The BBC’s Clothes

Show Live. Sophie was shortlisted to the final

three and then won, ‘Textile Designer of the

Year’. Her winning print design then went on

sale throughout New Look stores in the UK.

With so many achievements already, are

there any ambitions left for Sophie to fufil? “To

open a wedding boutique with my sister, so

brides can design there own dresses. To make

amazing dresses that will grace Paris couture

fashion week.”

Well, you can’t get much bigger than that.


3-7 Wayfarers Arcade, Lord StreetSouthport, PR8 1NT

T: 01704 513 393www.cocoboutique.co.uk

An exclusive range of Autumn Fashion

accessories and perfume• Matthew Williamson• Juicy Couture• D&G• Gina• Pinko• Creed• Diane von Furstenberg• Milly• TIBI• Missoni• Gas Bijoux• Crumpet• Buba

• Meghan Fabulous• Patrizia Pepe• Twenty8Twelve• Halston Heritage• Amen• Wildfox• Alice by Temperley• Christian Lacroix• Blauer • Byblos• Fabiana Filippi• Moschino and many more

1101

133

Coco-Boutique Southport

Coco_Boutique1

• Antique and older style furniture bought and sold

• We also sell on a commission

• Full stripping & polishing service

• Buy from us and we can restore

• Door stripping service

1101

128

THE ASSOCIATION OFART & ANTIQUES DEALERS

WEST LANCS ANTIQUESVictoria Mill, Victoria Street,Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0SNTel: 01704 894634 Fax: 01704 894486Email: [email protected]: Mon-Fri, 9.00-5.30 • Sat, 11.00-4.30

LARGE ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE

- OPEN TO TRADE AND PUBLIC -

TAKE ADVANTAGEOF THE

MARKET ANDBUY ANTIQUES

AT KNOCK-DOWN PRICES

The Southport Flower Show was,

yet again, a resounding success

with over 70,000 fl ocking to see

what was on offer.

Gr8life photographer

Martyn Snape was there to

capture the beautiful scenes at

the event.

The theme this year was Vintage which

was embraced by gardeners, landscapers and

exhibiters in many different shapes and forms.

With a dog show, duck show, medieval

jousting and a food presentation it wasn’t

just about fl owers and displays, although the

eighteen show gardens drew huge crowds.

There was also celebrities galore with David

Bellemy, Coronation Street actors and ex Atomic

Kitten Liz MaClarnon all there to greet guests,

sign autographs and pose for photographs.

Liz McClarnon presents the Brockhouse Trophy for Best in Show to Paul Richards Garden Design

Dawn Jordan and Hazel McGregor of Midstream West Lancs relax in their 1930s vintage garden

Barton near Downholland based Rob Showering and daughter Lucy in their winning Glam Rock garden The beautiful home grown vegetables on display


Show patron, David Bellamy, had a sweet

pea fl ower named after him and said: “It was

very unexpected. During the war, the sweet pea

was the last thing my mum let go. I used to try

and grow them but I never found them easy.”

There were also many winners to come out

of the show, Paul Richards won the Brockhouse

Trophy for the best exhibit as well as best show

garden.

Paul, of Halsall, near Southport, impressed

the judges with his classic design,which tied in

with the vintage theme of this year’s show. The

water was dyed black to give a refl ection of the

rest of the garden.

Ian Collins right and son Joshua Hardisty in their winning 1970s themed Suburban Garden

Ladies Day lunch

Greg Mook with his winning garden which was awarded a Silver medal.


Paul said: “It feels great to have won and it

was wonderful to have recognition for all the

hard work we have done. The trophy is a tribute

to the skill and quality of the landscapers. It

was a surprise to come fi rst because you never

expect to win something like this.”

Chief Executive, David Jackson, said: “Our

feedback suggests that visitors, overwhelmingly,

had a highly enjoyable experience, which is our

main goal. People who have been coming for

years enjoyed the quality and the variety of the

experience. And fi rst time visitors were surprised

that it was so big and that there was so much

going on.”

Jeff Rawsthorne and John Baldwin celebrate a hat trick for Crosby Landscapes.

Claire Skidmore of Muddy Boots and the ornamental garden - On Moolight Bay - designed in support of the North West Air Ambulance charity.

Halsall based Peter Tinsley celebrates his success at last week’s Southport Flower Show.


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On fi rst glance, it’s hard to believe that this

beautiful sprawling building, which curves

around the edge of the private courtyard

garden, started out as a tiny two up, two down

when owners Glenys and Rob Owens fi rst got

their hands on it.

“We tried to keep it all traditional,” Rob

tells Gr8Life, as he explains the extensions

were built to blend in with the original building

which has been there since the 1840s. Rather

than coming up with a new style they simply

“let the building talk” to them.

Having lived there for more than 20 years,

the couple have transformed the property

into a fi ve-bedroom family home with

countless bathrooms and some stunning

luxury additions.

On arrival the small, secluded

gateway to Scarisbrick’s Shaw

Gate Farm gives nothing

away, with its high wooden

fencing and creeping shrubs.

But as the gates open, it’s

clear that a true hidden gem

has been uncovered.

Natasha Young is lucky

enough to get a guided tour.Gr8 Life magazine 49

One attention-grabbing feature in particular

is the breathtaking swimming pool room. With

its calming lighting and decorative statues it

wouldn’t be out of place in a health spa, but

imagine it being a stone’s throw from your bed.

Vertical blinds in the roomy master bedroom,

which is accompanied by an en suite bathroom

with a sunken bath as well as a walk-in wardrobe,

draw back to unveil glass sliding doors that lead

into the pool room.

Described by Glenys as a “nice relaxing

retreat”, the heated pool is surrounded by

absorbent flooring to prevent slippery splashes,

as well as a whirlpool and sauna.

There’s also bags of poolside room to make

the most of the space with loungers and home

gym equipment, and the adjoining conservatory

lets in plenty of light.

Heat from the pool room spills out into

the conservatory, which is equipped with a

dark roof to help keep it warm, allowing it to

be a usable lounge area or an extra space to

entertain all year round.

Elsewhere in the property Rob also has his

own “retreat”, as a snooker room that’s perfectly

in keeping with the traditional vibe sits upstairs.

Wall mounted lamps and dark wooden

beams across the ceiling give off a cosy feel,

and the matching dark wooden shelving makes

enough storage space for a mini library.

The large size of the room is typical

throughout the property, with clutter free

bedrooms and living areas and plenty of storage

rooms and cupboards to keep everything

hidden and out of the way.

“It is very peaceful with everything hidden

away,” says Glenys, who opts for the house’s

main living room to relax in her spare time.


With a bay window overlooking the

beautiful garden surroundings, she adds:

“Everyone says that the living room is

so relaxing, and it is especially in the

evenings, but we also feel like that about

most of the house.”

The quaint property, which also has a

separate ‘granny flat’ that’s perfect for guests

with its own lounge, kitchen and dining

room, is also littered with modern touches

throughout.

From the laminate flooring in one guest

bedroom and heated towel rails and double

headed shower in it’s accompanying bathroom,

to the gas hobs and double assisted fan oven

that sit alongside the wooden beams in the

kitchen, the up to date twists never detract

from the classic style of the house.

Despite being electric, a fireplace

surrounded by stone and made to look like an

authentic wood burner also adds character to

the kitchen while combining old and new.

Outside, the garden area, which is

equipped with plenty of storage thanks to

sheds, a garage and workshop and an area to

park cars, is full of character with something

for everyone.

A small children’s play house and a carpeted

tree house with a zip line, as well as a pond

with a fountain compliment the simple lawn

and it’s surrounding trees and plants.

The high fences keep it closed off from the

outside streets and Glenys adds: “It’s really

secluded, it’s lovely. We look at it as a little bit

of paradise.”


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For a taste of fresh homemade locally sourced food visit Thowd Boatman’s Cabin at Fettlers Wharf Marina

SERVING Breakfast’s, Hot Meals, Daily Specials, Traditional

Sunday Roast Lunches, Afternoon Tea, Cakes and Ice cream

Perfectly situated along the Rufford branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal in the little village of Rufford, the delightful tea room provides the ideal destination for visitors, walkers and cyclists to enjoy a well deserved break while tucking into freshly prepared food. The family run tea room opened in 2004 and has built up a varied menu including one of the families’ first offerings; Stewed Steak topped with Puff Pastry, which has been a constant favourite with visitors ever since. Celebrating the best of local produce the extensive and tasty menu includes a good choice; homemade breakfasts, light snacks, fresh salads, sandwiches, toasties and paninis. A selection of hot meals from roast chicken to individually baked quiches and daily specials including Lancashire hot pot, braised steak & onions, plate minced beef & onion and cheese & onion pies. Sundays at the tea room see traditional Sunday roast lunches being served with fresh vegetables, mashed and roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire puddings all topped off with a jug of gravy. Hot and cold drinks are available including speciality teas and apple juice.

A real treat can be had by enjoying Afternoon Tea served on a traditional three tier cake stand offering a choice of sandwiches, sultana scones, strawberry preserve and clotted cream, fairy cakes and a pot of tea to finish, or simply tempt your self to a piece of carrot cake, or sample one of the other cakes or slices that are available on display. There is speciality ice cream from Bonds of Elswick of which vanilla through to the more adventurous Sleigh Ride and Rum & Raisin flavours are available. Boasting a traditional ambience and charm that sets it apart from other cafés, visitors can experience the relaxed, friendly and warm welcome they receive whilst browsing over traditional canal ware, jams, marmalades, chutneys and accompaniments that are for sale. Wayne and the staff pride themselves on excellent customer service: “It is a very traditional tea room and we look forward to seeing visitors return again and again”. 11

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I love eating out. I really do.

It is probably my favourite

past time and so when a new

restaurant comes on the scene

I get very excited.

The Gastro Bar and Grill opened

in early March this year and I

was soon through the doors

sampling the delights on offer.

Situated on Birkdale’s Liverpool Road the

restaurant has very modern décor but I couldn’t

help but feel as though there was a 50’s

infl uence in there somewhere. The most recent

time I have dined here (I have been several times

and am never disappointed) I had the smoked

liver pate to start and my husband Paul opted

for the Gastro Bar Antipasto.

The food is simple, perfect for people not

too adventurous and our starters were a good

size to then be followed by fi sh and chips and a

selection of puddings!

Whatever dish you choose you can be sure it

is done well with the highest care and attention

and with no unnecessary frills.

Situated on Birkdale’s Liverpool Road the


So why did owner and successful

businessman Mike McComb decide to increase

his portfolio and open another eatery in the

area? “The beautiful village of Birkdale lends

itself to a high quality restaurant such as the

Gastro Bar & Grill,’ he says. “From a business

point of view I felt it would compliment a

couple of existing top class establishments

already within the locality.”

The business also benefits from a top class

chef in the form of Darren Smith, who, in

2002 won not just Young Merseyside Chef Of

The Year but also Young North West Chef Of

The Year.

Darren adds, “I met Mike over a year ago,

and started to plan the gastro from then. I

think the restaurant has the whole package of

a great restaurant, good food at great prices,

great front of house service and the mixture

of clientele is very varied.”

If you do visit the restaurant and have

been there pre Gastro you will see an

unbelievable change in not only the main

restaurant area but also the whole structure

of the building. Mike explains, “My main

business is property development and so

having the work done was no headache at

all. I have owned the building for over 20

years and had acquired the land at the back

so had the vision to extend the building and

make good use of the space that we had.

To create a good ambience and atmosphere

we designed the restaurant to be open-

plan with no obstacles or pillars of any kind

in the way.

He adds, “I wanted the kitchen to be an

exhibition area so diners could see the chefs

at work and their food being freshly prepared

and also those drinking at the bar area to

have a full view of the restaurant.”

Mike has strong views on what makes a

successful restaurant business and I think it is

fair to say he is more than qualified with his

wealth of experience.


The entrepreneur says, “The atmosphere has

got to be spot-on. I would expect a restaurateur

to recruit the best chefs and staff to provide the

best service. It is not always easy to create a

good atmosphere but I think our restaurant has

a tremendous feel to the place. The combination

of the décor, location, style of music, quality of

the food and professionalism of our staff all work

together thus making it a success.”

Mike and Darren’s well thought out

strategies seem to be working as Gastro is

buzzing with life and has proved very popular

with the locals. Darren also loves being able

to use his creative abilities and experiment

with a varied menu. “I would say the best

thing about working at the gastro bar is the

freedom to serve my own food,” Darren adds.

“I can put almost any cuisine on the menu

from Indian to Chinese.”

Gastro Bar and Grill has certainly succeeded in

what it set out to do and compliments Birkdale’s

selection of bars and restaurants perfectly.


How often should I review my business insurance?

Conducting a regular review of insurance requirements could help to safeguard the stability of your business in the event of a major disaster such as a fire or flood. Businesses are dynamic: they grow and diversify, develop new revenue streams, purchase new stock and machinery and take on new contracts, all of which can affect the insurance cover required. A regular review of business insurance requirements will help ensure that your insurance cover meets the needs of your business.

For example, if your business moves to new premises, extends its business activities, purchases new machinery or makes any significant changes, a review of insurance cover is a sensible precaution.

What about business interruption cover, do I need to consider this?

As the name suggests, Business InterruptionInsurance (BII) covers a business for the loss of profits and increase in costs suffered by the business as a result of a fire or other insured event. Typical increased costs incurred after damage include renting and fitting out temporary premises, overtime payments to staff, payments to other companies to provide services or goods, hiring of plant and equipment, additional advertising and extra transport costs.

A periodic review of your BII cover is essential to ensure your business is adequately covered. If you haven’t reviewed your BII cover for some time you should consider reviewing your requirements as a matter of priority. After all, the worst time to discover your BII cover is not adequate is following a major fire or flood.

Why should I consider NFU Mutual for my business insurance?

At NFU Mutual we recognise that businesses are as individual as the people who run them - that’s why we tailor our business insurance policy to meet the needs of your business; from sole traders through to large commercial operations. Working so closely with our clients gives us a detailed understanding of

their businesses which enables us to respond quickly and accommodate their ever changing requirements. At the end of the day, we recognise that businesses are dynamic, which is why we can provide tailored insurance solutions to meet their needs as they grow and diversify over the years. ‘Defaqto one of the UK’s leading financial services research companies has given us 5 Star Ratings for overall quality to NFU Mutual’s retailer, tradesmen, office and commercial insurance products.

Contact details

For further details about NFU Mutual business insurance or to arrange a review of your business insurance requirements, please call Annabel Robson based in Southport on 01704 512810 or email [email protected] or visit nfumutual.co.uk/southport.

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1101

136

Chris Bannister is a singer songwriter from Lancashire who’s new album Back Home has received rave reviews. Louisa Austin talks to him about his background, inspirations and plans for the future.


Chris, who lives in Tarleton, is onto his forth

album now and is really making a name for

himself. He has been a professional musician

for over 20 years performing many years ago

in the band Johnny and the Fox, and locally in

a duo called Crash.

Recently he has put together an album of

John Denver classics, the American country

artist who died in 2007. “I always liked John

Denver’s music when I was young, I loved his

voice and, coming from an urban environment I

was very inspired by his songs about the natural

world. People have always said my vocal style

reminds them of John so in late 2009 I started

performing a show featuring his music. It’s

not a tribute show as such, not in the modern

sense at least, it’s just me performing music

that inspires me and paying homage to a great

artist who has to some extent, been neglected

over the years.” He adds, “To be honest, my

own music is not dissimilar to John’s, it has a

strong country feel although there is a rock

element too.”

Talking about his early life Chris says, “I had

a pretty standard working class childhood, my

dad was a scrap metal dealer and my mum was

a housewife. When I was ten my dad moved us

all out to a farm in the Lancashire countryside

so he could pursue his love of horse breeding

and training, it was quite a culture shock.”


Music however has always been a stable

presence in his life with his parents singing in a

band in the 60’s. “I sang in a choir when I was

very young but it wasn’t until I got into a band

myself at the age of about 17 that I started to

take singing a bit more seriously,” Chris explains.

“To be honest it was kind of by default, none of

the other guys would sing so it fell to me, when

you get thrown in at the deep end like that, you

tend to learn pretty fast.”

Chris really started reaping the rewards when

he heard his songs being played on the radio

by his hero Bob Harris. Chris also had ‘record of

the week’ on Radio Two with a single called We

Were Children. He says, “That was a big thrill,

however it’s always difficult to name a particular

highlight, just playing and singing for a living is a

privilege in my opinion.”

Details of all Chris’s upcoming shows

are available from www.chrisbannister-

musicofjohndenver.com.


RECIPE Vérité at homeGRILLED VENISON STEAK,

CARAMELISED PEAR WITH PORT AND JUNIPER

This is a great Autumn party dish and far easier to make than it looks!

SERVES 44 Venison (haunch) steaks (ask your local butcher)

1 pear sliced lengthways into 4

1 clove of garlic (crushed)

200 ml port wine1 diced shallot1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar1 teaspoon of juniper berries (crushed)

1 teaspoon of redcurrant jelly25 grams butterolive oildemerara sugar

METHOD1. Rub the steaks with salt, ground black pepper,

crushed garlic and olive oil, leave them out of the fridge for an hour or so at least, to get to room temperature.

2. Sprinkle sliced pears with demerara sugar. Heat a non stick frying pan until very hot and place the pears in. They will soon begin to caramelise so fl ip them over and immediately take off the heat (leave to one side).

3. Heat another non stick pan that will fi t the four steaks in (if not do in two batches).When the pan is smoking hot, add the steaks and get a good colour on both sides to keep all the juices inside. Turn the heat down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side to achieve a pink middle. Remove onto a warm plate.

4. Place the same pan back onto the heat and add the chopped shallots and quickly sauté them. Pour in the port, red wine vinegar, redcurrant jelly and the crushed juniper berries. Reduce down to a syrupy consistency then swirl in the butter. Any juices that come off the plate with the steaks may be added to the sauce as well.

5. Serve the steaks with the caramelised pear and pour around the rich sticky sauce. Serve with creamy mash potatoes, red cabbage and maybe some roasted autumn vegetables.

60 Gr8 Life magazine

Cast your eyes away from the

stunning riot of glass, timber and

stainless steel behind you - all £10

million of it - and you’re met with a

lake, awash with windsurfers, kayakers

and groups of excited youngsters in

yachts of all shapes and sizes. You’d

be forgiven for thinking this was some

sort of country club for adventurous go-

getters, but it isn’t.

What it is, in fact, is one of the most

impressive leisure centres you’re likely to

come across, and it’s open to anyone

and everyone. Mike Wardle, the centre’s

development manager, said: “It’s not

just the Sefton area, for which we offer

very high quality facilities in the coastal

park, but we’ve also got national

offi cers for organisations such as the

British Canoe Union and British Rowing,

and a lot of them use the Lakeside as a

training facility.

“It has been enormously successful,

with July this year being our busiest so far

in terms of our activities, the bistro, the

conference area and our other facilities,

and it’s all down to the hard work of our

staff, who are extremely devoted and

With scrumptious smells wafting across the bistro, down the sparkling corridors and onto the lakeside balcony, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d strolled into a swanky hotel. However, you would be wrong as it is in fact Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre complete indeed with café, bistro, hotel rooms and a large conference area.


help to make it a community that works.

“We have a national remit, a regional

remit, and a devotion to the Borough of

Sefton.”

One of the words Mike uses while talking

in warm tones about the centre - community

- is something that really comes across the

fi rst time you wander through the automated

doors into the Lakeside. Everyone seems to

know one another, families chat and laugh

inside the bistro and everyone from scout

groups to sports professionals seem to be on

the shore of the lake which runs alongside the

centre, discussing techniques and unloading

their kit.

One image that comes across particularly

poignantly is of two empty wheelchairs,

parked up at the end of the jetties leading

out onto the lake itself; their owners are out

on the water, having a whale of a time. This

is the essence of what Lakeside is all about.

I’ve come kitted out in my gym gear but

describing the site, which opened in the

dunes near Crosby last year, as just a gym is

doing it down, because there’s an array of

activities and things to do. My own particular

favourite was the bar and bistro, which offers

everything from a refreshing pint to the

full Lakeside Fish ‘n’ Chips, but there’s also

facilities to hold conferences, 14 bedrooms -

maybe the hotel analogy’s not so far fetched

after all - and the indoor fi tness suites. You

can even get married amid the stunning

seaside scenery, but given how popular its

wedding facilities are you’re better booking

sooner rather than later!

My activity of choice for the morning is

a spot of sailing, and even though my only

experience of sailing was a dip (literally) into

Southport’s Marine Lake the year before, I’m

soon fi lled with confi dence by the Lakeside’s

in-house experts. Not only do they take me

“The

gre

at th

ing

is yo

u do

n’t h

ave

to b

e a

GR8

Life

writ

er

to g

ain

acce

ss to

this

wat

ery

wor

ld o

f fun

and

fi tn

ess.”


through all the techniques in a way that’s

intuitive and easy to follow, but the boats

they’ve brought out are light, friendly and

utterly unintimidating. It’s a shame it’s not

really sailing weather - the wind remarkable

by its absence - but I’m soon in my stride as I

leave the centre itself and take to the water.

The great thing is you don’t have to be a

GR8Life writer to gain access to this watery

world of fun and fi tness; even if you have a

disability which would usually prevent you

from setting sail, the Lakeside’s team will go

out of their way to get you out there safely.

It’s hours of fun, but more importantly it’s

hours of fun that’s accessible to everyone.

Mike’s already told me that the area

needed a leisure centre like this, but what I

love about the Lakeside is that its creators

haven’t just hurriedly thrown up any old gym

next to the lake in the hope that, in these

troubled economic times, “it’d do”. Like a

Victorian railway station, it is a stunning site

they’ve really gone to town on, and unlike

most adventure centres it doesn’t cost the

Earth to enjoy.

I couldn’t agree with the centre’s mantra

more; it really does offer something for

everyone.

Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Crosby

Coastal Park, Off Cambridge Road, Waterloo,

L22 1RR

Website: www.crosbylakeside.co.uk

Telephone: 0151 966 6868


Ballroom dancer Anton Du Beke shot to stardom with BBC 1’s Strictly Come Dancing. Throughout the show he has danced with some huge names including Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen and of course Ann Widdecombe! Here Louisa Austin talks to him about his latest project with BUPA and what he thinks about Line dancing....


Can you tell me about your

involvement with BUPA’s ‘Shall we

dance’ campaign and what it is all about.

Well, it is a campaign to try and encourage

everyone, especially older people, to get up

and have a go at dancing. It is exercise, it is

fun and as you get older it is so easy to do

nothing. At the launch the other day we did

a bit of a tea dance, I got everyone up and

Ann Widdecombe (who is also involved in

the campaign) was there as well. There was

an elderly chap who had come along and he

got up and had a dance with Ann. Apparently

he normally just sits in his room and doesn’t

do anything. However, he was the star of

the show on the day! This just highlights

the importance of the campaign because

ballroom dancing was a very social thing to do

in the past. This gentleman will have danced a

long time ago and for him to get up summed

up the whole thing. Exercise is what people

dread, but dancing is different. You are active,

it stimulates the mind, conversation and

interaction and so is vitally important.

Strictly Come Dancing has become

a national institution! What has the

program done for ballroom dance and

you in particular?

For me it has been great as it has given me

new opportunities to do new things and go in

a different direction. I am thrilled to be invited

to be part of this great program every year and

a by-product of this is being asked to do things

like the Bupa project. Someone said the other

day, ‘I am not sure when the hobby became a

job’ and I think that is a wonderful way to sum

it up. It is a very lucky position to be in. The

best thing about Strictly is that it has brought

dancing back to the public in a very social way.

Your partnership with Ann on the

show was received very positively

from the public. Ann herself has said

she did it for laughs. How, as a serious

professional dancer did you cope with

that - was it hard?

That was the whole point of the show

really; if I wanted to dance fabulously I

would dance with Erin (Anton’s professional

dance partner). It is not about showing how

wonderfully I can dance, my job is to dance

with Ann or whoever I am put with and enjoy

the process. I want Ann to look back on her

experience on the show and say, ‘I had a

great time.’ If she doesn’t then I won’t have

done my job properly. I would have been

upset by that because it is such a wonderful

opportunity and I hope they really enjoy it. It

is also our job to put on a show, even if we

were never going to be world champions. But

to be honest some contestants get to a level

that I really can’t believe they can achieve in

a few weeks.

SHALLWE DANCE


How hard is the schedule for the

pros and the contestants on Strictly?

We are always in the studio rehearsing.

You finish a show and the next day you are

back in.. However, you get together in the

bar once it is over and everyone is great, it

is such a wonderful atmosphere. It always

has been on Strictly.

When the judges do give you a

poor rating for a performance how

do you keep your partners upbeat

and ready to take them on the

following week?

Someone like Ann for example is made

of granite and I don’t think those judges are

going to cause her any problems. Twenty

odd years of being a Member of Parliament

means she has had more difficult criticism

than they are ever

going to give her! That

is something you have

to deal with. Ann even

did things to upset the

judges sometimes which

was always lovely. She

just made me laugh the

whole way through.

Your career as a

television presenter

has sky rocketed. How

do you feel about

that, is it a welcomed

surprise?

Yes, this is also

another string that came

along. One of the things I

like more than anything is

variety in what I am doing.

The thought of doing the

same thing every day

would probably frustrate

me but I am lucky enough

to have that variety. I am

happy to give most things

a go, it is fun and I enjoy it. That’s the key.

What is your finest hour on Strictly?

What makes you most proud?

There are many but the one I always

mention when asked is a duet I performed

with Bruce Forsyth on the show called Me

and My Shadow. That was probably the

highlight of my Strictly experience.

We are based in Southport. Have

you been?

I do know Southport. There is a hotel

called the Prince of Wales and I have done

a dance weekend there before. There is a

wonderful ballroom. A beautiful atrium

ballroom which is absolutely lovely. I have

also played golf at Royal Birkdale so I am

very familiar with Southport and all it has

to offer.


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1093826

Ever wanted to own your very own sports car but never thought you could because you’d struggle to get the kids, the shopping and your suitcase in the back? Well, here David Simister tells you why you can.


Anyone familiar with the letters G, T and I will

already know you can mix the responsibilities

of family life with the indulgence of a fast car

because ever since the hot hatch was invented,

in the late Seventies, it’s been showing the

family man the sort of full-throttle thrills he’d

normally miss out on. Whether it’s the Golf

GTi of the Seventies, the Peugeot 205 GTi of

the Eighties, or the Renault Clio Williams of

the Nineties, chances are there’s a go-faster

shopping car from your generation that proved

you can pack both a big punch and a big boot.

Fast forward to 2011 and Suzuki’s Swift

Sport, yours for a smidgen under £13,000,

brings the familiar formula bang up to date.

Although it’s based on the outgoing model

rather than the new range brought in last year,

it mixes funky styling with sporty touches like

a rear spoiler, alloys all round and bucket seats

on the inside, and defi nitely looks the part if

you’re a keen driver.

With the same practical touches and easy-

revving nature as its slower siblings in the Swift

range, it’s a doddle to drive around town. It’s

a shame the boot doesn’t offer the room of

larger rivals like the Fiesta or Corsa, but it’s very

easy to get comfortable inside, with plenty of

space front and rear. But you can do all that

with a normal hatchback, which is why, to see

the Sport in its element you have to get off

the housing estates and onto the hills, like the

Yorkshire Dales.

Take it to somewhere like the Buttertubs

Pass, one of Britain’s toughest driving roads,

and you’ll see exactly where the Sport shines.

Out here, its handling is as impressive as much

more expensive sports cars like Mazda’s MX-5,

and the 126bhp engine eggs you on into every

corner, giving you all the confi dence you could

ever ask for.

It might only have a frugal little 1.6 petrol

engine but it still gives the swiftest of Swifts

the temperament of an exciting terrier, and

when it’s allied to the slick six speed manual

and the sports suspension it allows you to zip


through corners far more quickly than you

might have expected. Nail a tricky hairpin at

just the right speed and you’ll suddenly realise

the Swift Sport isn’t a car that’s going to fall

foul of the Trade Descriptions Act. They could

have called it the Suzuki Enormous Grin and

still got it spot on.

After tackling the Buttertubs I could have

pulled over, but I carried on, heading right

through the Dales and across the whole of

Cumbria, simply because it’s a car you never

get tired of driving. It’s never anything less

than a giggle from behind the wheel, and

when you do decide you’ve had enough fun

for the day the price and practicality prove

plenty to smile about.

The 123bhp Sport is a hot hatch from the

old school, but that’s not a bad thing. Like

an original Golf GTi, it’s been decorated just

enough on the outside to imply it’s something

a little bit special, but still subtle enough to

avoid attracting unwanted attention. More

importantly, it masters the trick of being just

as much fun to drive as a small sports car while

still being able to carry a cupboard in the back.

Try that in your BMW Z4.

In fact, the Swift Sport’s only real problem

is an existential one - the fact that its days

are numbered. Suzuki launched a new Swift

range last year, meaning that eventually the

company is going to drop its junior hot hatch in

favour of a slicker, newer supermini to replace

it. The good news is that the cooking versions

of the new Swift seem to have followed in

their predecessors’ nimble footsteps, and

- if the Swift Concept S project, seen at

motorshows earlier this year, is anything to

go by - the Japanese fi rm’s working fast on

another Swift Sport.

Forget your posey, pricey sports cars -

get yourself one of these and get into the

countryside. This is one of the best hot hatches

you can buy today

Photographs by Katie Massam


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www.gr8lifemagazine.com 73

This was the inaugural NSPCC charity

golf event held at West Lancashire Golf Club

which was hosted by the Captain of West

Lancashire John Morris and his wife Paula

Morris who is on the Formby branch of NSPCC

committee. 68 golfers took part and due to

their efforts and the many sponsors involved

the initial fundraising target of £2,500 was

succesfully achieved with a fi nal total of

£4,000 being raised. The host of the event

John Morris said “ I would like to thank all

those teams who entered and the numerous

local business’ and golf clubs who offered

their support via sponsorship of holes and

prizes . We are delighted with the fi nal fi gure

of £4,000 and certainly intend to host a

similar event next year.

Charity Golf Event

Sisters Joanne, Jenny and Sophie Morris who were NSPCC helpers for the Charity Golf Day. Sean Marshall, Jonathan Berkson, Ian Tyler and Philip Sheard

Phil Moy, Dave Dunne, Graham Lynch and Phil Alcock Andrew Morris, Phil Lythgoe, Tony Webster and Tim Apel

Spencer Russell, Austin Bell, Andy Jackson and James Carr

Club Captain John Morris and his wife Paula with Rosamond and John Farrell

Tony Griffi n, John Forrest, Mike Forrest and Ian St John

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Ladies DayScarisbrick Hall School, was transformed

into the HMS Scarisbrick for it’s Nautical

themed Ladies Day spectacular. Ladies were

taken to the hall in horse & carriage or open

top limousine and were greeted by sailors at

a drinks reception on the lawn, sponsored by

Christian Audigier Wines and Champagnes.

Guests of honour, Kate & Wills (Kate Jordan &

William Bell) arrived in style by helicopter to

cheers by the ladies who were then treated

to helicopter rides. Mr Eric Borowski, head of

education at Scarisbrick Hall, said ‘once again

it’s been a pleasure to co-ordinate this event

for the ladies and I’ve enjoyed every minute

of it, this year the pupils have been more

involved than ever and have managed to keep

everything top secret from the ladies, the

children have done themselves proud!’

Alison Taylor & Vicki FergusonJulie McDonnell & Zoe BellBetty Cackett, Karen Cackett & Amanda Neale

Dorothy Gibson & Jenny McGreal

Sue Aylmer, Lynda Headley & Jade Headley of Scarisbrick Hall

Sue Abrams & Margo Isherwood

Jospice held their annual volunteers

evening recently. It was a great success

and Director of fundraising Pat Murphy

commented, “It is always a pleasure to host

our annual volunteer evening, and to be able

to thank personally so many good people

who donate their time to Jospice.”

She continued, “Jospice has over 200

volunteers who assist with a wide variety of

support, in the fundraising offi ce, driving,

in our shops, gardening - the list is endless.

Thousands of hours are given to Jospice in

volunteer time each year, and we really do

appreciate the many unpaid hours that are

given to us by so many. We really could not

manage without you.”


Jospice say ‘Thankyou’

Rita Power, Collette Tunney and Jean DickinsonCathy Cusack, Edyna Fox, Ian Fennah, Siobhan

Clinton and Linda Byrne

Gillian Mercer, Mike Murphy, Beverly Cannon and Anne-Marie WhitakerVal Marland, Patricia Gray, Betty Robinson and Diane Donaldson

Maureen Crawford, Cathy Cusack and Rose Moran

Jim and Joan Bell

Beryl Ramsey, Madeline Fraser and Barbara Tran

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Tarleton High School held their

Year 11 leavers’ prom recently and

celebrated in style. The event was

held at The Pines Hotel in Chorley

and the excited guests arrived

in a chauffeur driven limousine!

Year 11 pupil Naomi Naylor said,

“I really enjoyed the night and it

was great way of saying goodbye

to everyone.”

School Leavers Prom

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The annual North West Cancer Summer

Sparkle event was held in July at the home

and gardens of Mr & Mrs Naill and Joan Roy

with approximately 100 ladies enjoyed a

glass of bubbly and canapés. With matched

funding by Barclaycard a fantastic £2444 was

raised for North West Cancer Research Fund

into research into all forms of cancer.

Olive Cutts, Chairman of the Southport

Branch said, “With just over 10p in the pound

taken out for administration, we represent

true value for money! With just one small

room at Liverpool University, which is given to

NWCRF and just three staff, it enables us to

keep our costs really low.”

Both Olive and Joan Pettitt (President) wish

to thank all members of the public who come

and support the events and keep raising vital

monies to help fi nd the causes and in some

cases the cure for some types of cancer.

Fantastic result

Joan Molyneux, Margaret Gleave, Christine Rimmer and Rita Farrow.

Rose Allison, Pauline Duff, Ann Holland and Frances Hoare.

Olive Cutts Vivienne Tyrer, Hilde Hall and Joan Hewitt.

Jill Mook and Denise Armstrong. Kath Clegg and Angela Howard. Linda Nolte and Linda Edge.

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The ninth annual Awards Evening of the Southport

primary schools’ “Service Above Self Competition” took place

recently at the Scarisbrick Hotel. Nine schools took part in the

prestigious event.

Guest of Honour was His Worship The Mayor of Sefton,

Cllr Paul Cummins and the Mayoress, Mrs Carol Cummins.

Another distinguished guest was Mrs Marjorie Carey of the

Scarisbrick Hotel.

Mr Barrie Swan, President of the Rotary Club of Southport

Links, hosted the event.

The aim of the Service Above Self Competition is to

foster the principles of good citizenship and the value of self

discipline, to practise teamwork and recognise that there are

many people in a worse position than themselves.

Competition celebrations

Ainsdale St Johns Bishop David Shephard Churchtown

Farnborough Road Kings Meadow Marshside

Our Lady of Lourdes St Philip’s St Patrick’s

MC John Tarpey

The UK’s newest model agency was launched

in July at Verve in Birkdale Village. GModels was

founded by Chantelle Latham and Lisa Hames as they

discovered there was a gap in the market in the area

for models of all shapes and sizes, not only to work

in the fashion industry, but also in the commercial

sector as well.

The event had an American theme as it was the 4th

July and the evening was toasted with glasses of

Christian Audigier Champagne. Lisa commented,

“It was a fantastic evening, I have found the faces

for my publicity campaign and am delighted with

the professionalism and help I have received from

GModels”


Successful agency launch

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Kim, Chantelle, Arran, Lisa

GModels Models

Holly Latham & James Fell photographed by Adam Yaffe

GModels Models

Lisa, Lamin, Chantelle, Nathan, Kim Verve, Birkdale

Holly LathamDirector Lisa Hames,

Director Chantelle Latham

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As part of their course, Southport

College’s 2nd Year National Diploma Travel

& Tourism students had to plan, promote

and manage an event. On 28 April 2011 the

students held a College Staff Summer Ball

at Southport’s Prince of Wales Hotel to raise

funds for the charity ‘Friends of Africa’.

Berni Deary, Curriculum Leader for Travel

& Tourism said; “The students worked

incredibly hard in planning, promoting and

delivering the event and it has given them a

great experience of the events management

industry. As well as being a fantastic

experience for the students, all of the guests

really enjoyed their evening and most

importantly £1690 was raised for Friends of

Africa through ticket sales and fundraising

activities at the event.”

Southport College ball is great success Travel & Tourism students with Barry Duffi n from Friends of Africa, Carmel Hackett and

Southport College Principal Brian Mitchell

Berni Deary with her guestsJohn Fell, Ronnie Fell, Liz Pickering, Jim Pickering,

Gill Mitchell and Brian Mitchell

Guests enjoying the black tie eventStudents Hollie Webster and Charlie- Louise

Jones drawing the raffl e Barry Duffi n from Friends

Jodie Marcucci with husband Marco Dawn McKenzie and Sara Shotton

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STARS turned out for a charity golf day hosted by leading

autobody repair specialists The Karl Vella Group which raised

£13,000 for their chosen charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Ex- Everton and Scotland star Graeme Sharpe and ex

Welsh rugby International Steve Moore attended the event

at Formby Hall Golf Club recently. It was held to celebrate

the Group’s 25th year in business as well as to raise funds

for the charity.

18 teams from across the UK came to Merseyside for the

golf day and battled it out to win the Rob Lee Memorial

Trophy in honour of their friend Robin Alexander Brian who

lost his battle with bowel cancer in June 2010.

Karl said: “I would like to thank everyone who attended

on Friday and helped raise money for a very worthy cause.

“Cancer is a disease which, sadly, touches nearly

everybody’s lives either directly or indirectly at some point so

it is important we support the work of Macmillan who do a

fantastic job in helping and supporting those in need.”

Charity golf

The teams tee off at Formby Hall Karl Vella MBE with Steve Moore Joe Hunter

Karl Vella MBE Stewart Cahill & Gary Palmer Graeme Sharp

David Vella & Karl Vella MBE

Karl Jennings & John Cackett

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The Ladies of Hillside Golf Club celebrated

their Centenary with a Ladies Invitation

Competition with Ladies from the 25 Clubs

in the Liverpool Society in attendance with

invitations from other Golf Clubs across the

Country. 240 Ladies enjoyed a spectacular

day culminating in a Gala Dinner in the

Marquee with entertainment provided by Julie

A. Scott an International Singing Star. The

Lady Captain Mrs Jane Rose welcomed and

hosted what was stated to be the best Ladies

Invitation Golf Day the Club has seen.

Successful Centenary

Carole Moorcroft, Tricia Houghton and Brenda Hudson

Jennie Robinson, Jackie Bramhall with Veronica Heald-Jones

Shirley Charnock, Sharon Hewer, Elisabeth Mair and Abby Sanderson Anne Starkey, Janet Perkins, Annie Helme and Sue Billington.

Pam Ferguson, Heather Jackson with Phyll JacksonMeegan Switzer, Margaret Milne, Jane Rose Lady Captain of

Hillside Golf Club and Rita Abberley

Beverley Bond, Olive Cutts and Joan Roy Sue Morgan, Joan Pettitt and Pauline Rooney

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Documents

Gr8 Life Magazine - Issue 18 - Autumn 2011