DIARY

FORTON POST OFFICE, Methodist Church Hall, : OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-1pm All activities & meetings paused until further notice

Baby & Toddler Group: Fridays 10-11.30am in term time Toffee Stall: Fridays 3.20 - 3.50pm in term time Children’s Judo Club: Fridays 5-5.45pm (younger group) & 5.45-6.30pm (older group) in term time - contact Antony 07738 408731 for further details Dog Training: Mondays 6-8.00 pm; Tuesdays 6-7.00pm (Monday class outside during AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2020 summer - contact Elaine 07790 395289 for further details) Fitness/Weight Classes: Wednesday, 6-7.00pm & 7-8.00pm and Saturday, 7.30-8am & 8.10-9am (To book contact Jennie Marie 07502 981608) South Lancaster Speakers Club: Methodist Church Hall, Hollins Lane Most 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 7.30pm September-May (Contact David Knox 01524 805554) Singing Club: St Peter’s Church, Scorton Thursdays, 6.30pm - contact Jan Hindle 07730 646581 1st Forton Scout Group meet at the Scout Hut on Hollins Lane Scouts – ages 10½ to 14 – Thursdays 7.00 to 9 pm Beaver Scouts - ages 5½ to 8 - Tuesdays 6.00 to 7.15pm Cub Scouts - ages 8 to 10½ - Wednesdays 6.00 to 7.30pm Brownies - Mondays 6.00 to 7.30pm Please tel 01524 792089 for more information

There is no diary of events at the present time. Do keep in touch with your friends, club secretaries and organisers.

Information about Church Services Parish Council meetings held on the 1st and events on page 21 Monday of each month in the Playing Field Pavilion at 7pm.

Pavement poppies, nature makes a comeback - Page 19 The Parish website address is: fortonvillage.org Coordinator - Neil Adams (791004) email: [email protected] Items of interest regarding Forton’s past remain available on: http://www.shireshead-forton.co.uk The email address for the Village Voice is: [email protected] Nightmare on Hollins Lane - pages 2, 3 & 19 Content not attributed has been contributed by the editors VILLAGE VOICE Cricketers are back - page 5 & 7 VILLAGECONTENTS VOICE Except forCONTENTS reports made by 1918 - What pandemic? - page 9 Village Voice Editorial Team & Advertising: David & Rhona Sharp (791758) Except for reports made by Proof Reading: Margaret Mansfield members of Forton Parish Council,members the ofviews Forton expressed Parish in Rocky Road - page 11 Distribution: West of A6 - Janet Huddart (791571) & Michael Briggs (791026) C o u n c i l , t h e v i e w s East of A6 - Fiona Riley (792245) reports are not necessarily Love of the stage - pages 12, 13 & 15 thoseexpressed of the Council. in reports are not necessarily those of the Please plot potholes- page 23 Printed by Colin Cross of Council.

ITEMS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE (October/November) BY 12 SEPT, PLEASE 2 3 Parish News - Chairman’s Comments I have also written to the Chief Executive of Wyre Council (Garry Payne) asking what the We are back as a printed edition ... how has life changed for you? Parish Council meetings Council will do to enforce conditions of plans previously approved and what action they for the last few months have been conducted by email and our clerk, Lindsey, has will take to address reported breaches. I have also asked what steps the Council will take assembled an update for these meetings. This has been published on the website, where to better engage with the Hollins Lane community to ensure you feel listened to, and to you can follow details (fortonvillage.org). Hopefully, the next meeting will be on promote a longer-term resolution both during the continuing development, and for the September 7th at 7pm in the pavilion and as ever, we welcome residents to air their future community of Hollins Lane. thoughts. There is no change to the usual practice of not having an August meeting. In my correspondence to the Highways Department, I said: Some time ago, councillors decided that speed cameras for Hollins Lane would be “with at least three housing developments in progress, as well as Network Rail essential. By the time you read this, it is hoped two will be installed. A big thank you to engineering work ongoing at weekends to improve the West Coast Mainline, residents Councillor McLoughlin and to Chris Taylor for all the work involved. feel as though they are on a permanent building site. Residents describe to me having to negotiate a constant stream of HGV and site traffic on country roads, continuous dirt, dust The final consultation on the Forton Masterplan is with a cross-party group of Wyre and mud brought from the site onto the roads (and inevitably then into their gardens and councillors (called PPWG), which we understand met on July 15th. If they are happy with homes), topped off by the relentless building and construction noise seven days a week. it, then it may go for approval to the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council. The This endless intrusion into their lives is further compounded by real safety fears when Local Planning Authority (LPA) wants to make progress on the community hall. Project using Hollins Lane either as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver, due to the volume and nature management responsibilities for planning and building should be assigned across the of construction traffic using Hollins Lane to access the site(s). Already a problematic LPA, Trust and Parish Council. PC members decided that their part in the new community junction, turning right from Hollins Lane onto the A6 has become a manoeuvre expressed hall would be limited to finance administration. to me as “hugely anxiety provoking”, and “intimidating”. The community have real fears FULL DETAILS WERE EXPLAINED IN THE JULY 6TH UPDATE OF THE PC MEETING of further accidents and serious injuries to road users of Hollins Lane, and particularly the It remains to be seen if the Trust can undertake the work supported by a professional junction with the A6, unless urgent action is taken to improve safety: this should include project manager. restricting access to the development sites to be from the A6 only, and limiting the Planning applications have been discussed regularly and in future it is hoped decisions volume, size and weight of construction traffic able to use Hollins Lane. I share the will be published in Village Voice. Many of you are now familiar with tracking applications community concerns, and ask that the situation be given urgent attention, and online, but if there is a problem, please contact one of the councillors. specifically the Hollins Lane/A6 junction, in view of the serious safety risks highlighted above." Dog fouling continues to be a problem: the new notices may be a reminder ... but do the In my letter to Garry Payne, I said: perpetrators care anyway? “I am aware residents have already submitted numerous complaints to your relevant planning department, referencing assorted breaches of planning terms and conditions by Hollins Lane residents’ lives continue to be disrupted by the three building sites and work the various developers and contractors, yet to date they remain frustrated at what they on the railway embankment. In particular, the ‘dreadful 60 site’ has caused concern as describe to me as complete lack of action and enforcement by Wyre Council planners - you can see by the banners and mud. The PC have put in a very detailed criticism of indeed I understand a revised application has recently been submitted by one developer recent problems, which with other details can be seen by accessing the planning in retrospect of their divergence from the original plans approved. My constituents, application 20/00505/FULMAJ already resident in the Hollins Lane community, feel routinely ignored, and their concerns Janet Huddart effectively dismissed: all power appears to be held by the developers, who seem to be Cat Smith MP able to continue regardless of any previously agreed ‘rules’. Whilst I acknowledge the need for additional housing across the district, the requirements of the Local Plan, and the Hello everyone, pressure on resources (not least as a result of the continuing Covid-19 response), I am I hope as many of you as possible have now had the opportunity to very concerned at the impact of this situation on my constituents - their safety, quality of safely meet with friends and loved ones and you’re starting to feel like life and continuing community cohesion. life is a bit more normal. Accepting planning decisions already taken at a local level, what action will the Council take to enforce conditions imposed with those approvals? Where breaches of conditions My inbox has been full of correspondence about the Hollins Lane have occurred/continue to occur, what action will the Council take to address this i.e. development and the concerns so many of you have had. I was struck issuing ‘stop notices’? And finally, what action will the Council take to engage with the by worries about safety on the roads due to the volume of construction community - with individuals or via the Parish Council - to ensure my constituents feel traffic and the already difficult junction of Hollins Lane onto the A6, and listened to in their worries and concerns, and to promote a longer-term resolution both the huge frustration at what appears to be a complete lack of understanding, during the continuing development and for the future community of Hollins Lane”. engagement and action by Wyre Council to address apparent breaches of conditions. I can understand why so many of you feel ‘unheard’ as a result, and that all the power lies I am waiting for a response from both parties and I’ll forward their correspondence to you with the developers. when I receive it. In the meantime, I hope the situation improves and the disruption doesn’t impact on your enjoyment of the season - particularly in a year when so few of us I have written to the Director of County Council Highways (Phil Durnell) about will be able to enjoy a summer holiday away from home. the safety concerns on Hollins Lane and at the junction, asking that urgent action is taken If you have any further concerns, please contact my office on 01524 566551 or email me to review the situation, given the serious issues raised. via [email protected] 4 5 Shireshead and Forton Cricket Club

Cricket Club resumes play after long layoff. Lawn Care Lawn Treatment On 11th July, the cricket club played their first games of the season after recreational From only £14 plus vat cricket was finally given the go-ahead by the Government. The sticking point seemed to have been the polishing of the ball with the aid of saliva, apparently the ball being a ‘natural vector’ for the potential transmission of the virus. With several safety measures in place such as regular ‘hygiene breaks’ to sanitize the ball and players’ hands, the first game at Clifton Park was the 2nd XI match versus Cartmel, ending in a ‘winning draw’ for Shireshead. It was pleasing to hear the sound of leather on willow and the exuberant “howzat” appeals resonating around the village once again.

The protracted season involves splitting each division into two groups and games until the middle of September, culminating in a play-off match against the leaders of each of the two groups in each division. Junior cricket will have started by the time this edition of the Village Voice is published and the three age groups are ‘champing at the bit’ to play some competitive cricket again.

The ladies section practises on Fridays from 6.45pm and new players are always welcome with no special skills or equipment needed. Full coaching will be received, and the bar is always open after the session.

The hard work of the committee has meant that modified practice sessions have been taking place for some time following strict adherence to Government guidance. Much work and planning has enabled the bar/pavilion to be reopened on Friday evenings from 8pm and on match days and everyone is welcome. The measures for social distancing and sanitization have been implemented to ensure safety of the public.

For further information about joining the club as a player at senior, junior or as part of the ladies section, please contact Angela Murphy, club secretary, at: [email protected] Please visit our website to see what is going on at the club: https://shiresheadandfortoncc.co.uk/ Mike Park. Chairman 6 7 (continued from page 5) Shireshead Fixtures 2020 Computer Help At Home Saturdays 1st Team 2nd Team Sundays 3rd Team Division 1 Division 2 Div. 3 South Internet and For all Computer or 1st August v Burneside v Ingleton 2nd August v 3 Tablet Problems Connection Issues away home home

8th August v Trimpell v Sedbergh 9th August NO GAME Repairs Plain English Tutorials home Sch. away 15th August v Heysham v Cartmel 16th August v Trimpell A home away home

22nd August v Westgate v K. Lonsdale 23rd August v Bare A away home away

Call Graham on 07787 727443 29th August v Bare v A 30th August v Arnside A home away home

5th Sept. v Burneside v Ingleton 6th Sept. v Silverdale A home away home

12th Sept. v Trimpell v Sedbergh 13th Sept. v Westgate 3 away Sch. home away Play Offs - Saturday 19th September

1st Shireshead Brownies Although we cannot meet together at the hut, our Brownie meetings have continued virtually on Zoom. This has proved an excellent way to keep together as a group and to have fun together as Brownie friends. The Brownie meetings have looked at the themes of ‘All creatures great and small’ with quizzes and crafts (making giraffe and dinosaur models), and space, involving designing astronaut suits and space menus, making a sunspot viewer and learning about some of the constellations and planets. We just need some sunshine for the sunspot viewer and clear night skies, after all the recent cloud and rain! B.C Maintenance Designing a Brownie emoji brought out lots of super ideas and remote bingo and Pictionary worked well. Brownies have shared photos on WhatsApp of their badge work Decorating,Tiling Install new fencing with successful ‘Grow Your Own’ flowers and vegetables looking flourishing and mouth- Painting inside & out Flat pack assembly watering cakes and bakes. Well done to all the Brownies. Fascias/Guttering Kitchen updates etc Meetings would usually end in July for the summer break but we are continuing with the Zoom meetings over the coming months with fun, games and exciting challenges for the General Property Repairs Brownies to work on together. We say farewell to Annabelle, who has been with the 1st Shireshead Brownies for a number of years, and wish her well in all her future adventures. At the same time we Over 10 years experience welcome Chloe who joined us virtually and we look forward to meeting her in person No job too small! before too long.

For more information on the 1st Shireshead Brownies, contact the Owls: Brown Owl Contact Brent on 01524 793949 or 07947 508272 Ruth (792306) and Barn Owl Nichola (791301). 8 9 Forton Primary School It was with a tearful “Goodbye and stay safe”, back in March that we sent the majority of Forton Post Office Forton our children home, armed with reading books, exercise books and strict instructions to do 01524 793402 Post Office Joe Wick’s exercise every day. It was for all of us a very emotional day. Little did we know that we would all be apart as a school community for such a long time or that our parents For all Post Office services except are actually excellent home schoolers! Car tax & Passports The past months have been a strange *Cash withdrawal *Cash & Cheque deposits *Chip ‘n’ Pin *Post your parcels old time for us all but I cannot even begin to try and explain just how odd a to UK & abroad *Drop & Go facility *Euros on demand or ‘Click & Collect’* school feels with only four children in *Other currencies to order (1 or 2 days) *Travel Insurance* it. The Fabulous Four soon got used to *Greetings Cards & One4all Gift Cards *Range of Stationery* the space, adult attention and delicious school dinners. It was a AMPLE FREE PARKING special time for us all - Easter egg Methodist Chapel Meeting Room, Hollins Lane hunts, baking and at least one water fight ... Monday to Friday 9am-1pm Meanwhile, the children at home were busy doing the work set by the teachers and learning so many more skills from their parents. The Lockdown has had both a negative and a positive impact upon our children and we need to celebrate the positive and support the negative. Government guidance meant, that as June arrived, we opened to more children (39). Then, with all our beautiful and spacious grounds, dedicated staff and vigilant governors, we opened further to the majority of our children. The school was a school again! Luxury Kitchens, Bathrooms, I want to thank the Forton School parents for doing such a good job in home schooling Bedrooms & Home Office their children and trusting us to look after them. The governors for making sure that the Health and Safety measures were rigorous, the staff for working throughout the Designed to your every need pandemic and the children for just being themselves and for bringing a building back to life. Free Design Service I Complete Installation Service Available I wonder what September will look like? Nateby Works I Longmoor Lane I Garstang I PR3 0JB Tel: 01995 606311 Lorna Boase, Head teacher www.ccsupplies.co.uk I www.fittedkitchenpreston.co.uk Robinson’s ‘The Home of the Mammoth Onion’ look back [email protected] During the main lockdown our mail order service was very, very busy with the nursery opening again on May 19th. Margaret and I thought it would be interesting to take a look back. We are very grateful to the Royal Mail and delivery drivers who kept our plants and seeds on the go. All our shows have been cancelled for 2020 and two for 2021, so we are FORTON GLASS having a very different year. HIGH QUALITY PVCu WINDOWS & DOORS We have looked through our great and grandfather’s diaries to see what was happening SUPPLIED OR FITTED on the nursery during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. The quick answer is the same as always, there is no mention of flu at all. He mentions armistice signed on November 11th, FAILED/MISTED UP DOUBLE GLAZING UNITS the rest of the year both sides of this date is taken up with growing vegetables and fruit. REPLACED IN TIMBER OR PVCu He lists: the price of different types of apples and pears, when the onions and leeks were GLASS CUT TO SIZE, BALUSTRADE GLASS sown, when the land was made ready. The weather evidently was wet from July 1918 to HORTICULTURAL GLASS, MIRRORS & SHELVES January 1919, but no flu! There was no such thing as social media or TV bulletins, so a different set of priorities was made, with just day to day living high on the agenda. He did Tel: 01524 751600 or 07580 025368 note that he sold some prize winning apples at Bolton Show for 6 pence each which would Email: [email protected] have been a good sum in 1918. We do still have some of the old apple and pear trees on the nursery but sadly they are not in a good state, many have been blown over in the OR CALL IN AT UNIT 18, GALGATE MILL winds. GALGATE, LANCASTER Susan Redmayne 10 11 Local meetings, such as ours, have had to go into hibernation, but this LANDROVER®SPECIALISTS does not mean that the WI nationally has ‘gone to sleep’. There is plenty to encourage members in the July/August edition of WI Life, the magazine that goes to all members. The tone is very upbeat with news of online 01524 791 214 or 07990 554 883 meetings, with photos of members who are still working in their communities, making PPE for local care homes, acting as volunteers to take medical supplies from pharmacies to those that are shielding or unable, because of their age, to go shopping, and simply LANDROVER® PARTS keep a lookout for their neighbours. There are enticing recipes, both savoury and sweet - did you ever make a Rocky Road*? The recipe says it takes 10 minutes to prepare, 10 LANDROVER® SALES minutes to cook and 1 hour to chill. A good treat for visiting families. There are also handicrafts to suit all abilities. It is very positive and encouraging for these times. REPAIRS & SERVICING We hope meetings can resume soon, but at the time of going to press, a date has not yet been set. President Pat Murgatroyd (791580) or Secretary Christine Smith (793493) will Unit 5, Hamilton House Workshops do their best to answer any enquiries. Station Lane, , Garstang, PR3 1AN *Recipe for Rocky Road www.rogersonsgarage.co.uk 200g unsalted butter 300g dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids, broken up) 250g digestive biscuits or crackers 150g mini marshmallows 75g salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Method 1) Preheat the oven to 200 C/180C fan/gas mark 6. 2) Tip the butter and chocolate into a saucepan over a low heat and stir until both have fully melted. 3) Break up all but 4 of the digestive biscuits or crackers and stir them into the chocolate butter mixture: then stir in 100g of the marshmallows. Spread this mix into a lined, shallow roasting tin, scatter with the remaining digestive biscuits/crackers, broken into larger pieces, the marshmallows and the salted peanuts. 4) Transfer the tin to the oven and bake for 5/10 minutes, until the marshmallows have just started to catch and turn golden brown. 5) Leave the tin to cool on the side before cutting the cake into squares. (A warm square is lovely to eat but for a proper refrigerator cake, pop it into the fridge to chill for an hour or two before serving, so that it sets properly.) Margaret Mansfield A & P Painting and Decorating Date for your diary - Cockerham Village Show orton based Satisfaction guaranteed F Competitive rates No job too big or small Free no obligation quotes The 2020 Cockerham Village Show has sadly had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However we are looking ahead to the next Show which is scheduled for Saturday, 14th August 2021 and, with all those of you keeping busy doing crafts, painting and home baking, it should be bigger and better than ever Call: 01524 903204 / 07858 796676 before. Email: [email protected] Christine Smith 12 13 it was a conspiracy by the greengrocer. In truth, of course, Syb would be late putting on The Way we Were the vegetables to cook, but in her mind the fault lay in the carrots. Back to the kitchen Dancing was always the most important interest of my life. where Syb is now dealing with the second course. Lifting the sponge pudding from the Even as a small child I remember stepping out of a large pan, she gives it a tentative prod with a spoon and then “Oh dear!” (sounding surprised snowball dressed in a red costume trimmed with white fur. I as though it were the exception rather than the rule) “ the middle hasn’t cooked must have been about five years old and attended a local through”, and skimming off the top inch, she shares it between Paul and me. Custard, dance studio. From there at 10 years old I was dancing solo solid as a brick or too weak to struggle out of the jug, completes the meal and we are all (and singing) in shows for the forces which were held in the happy. Jubilee Theatre in - long since gone, as are many of Five years later I had a contract for the King’s the theatres. Theatre in Glasgow with the Howard and How is this for name-dropping ? - Sidney Torch on piano and Wyndham Company. I was 14/15 at the time Max Wall top of the bill. and lived at the YWCA with three friends from the show. Receiving £4 per week for six evening My brother Paul and I grew up in . Father was in the shows and one matinee, plus rehearsals every army and during that time our mother Syb (short for Sybil) morning as we changed the show each week. would take us to the cinema on a Saturday night. If all our We paid 28/- per week for dormitory sleeping sweet coupons had been used we would take, instead of with half board. Howard and Wyndham was an sweets, a bag of peeled carrots and a small bag of sugar. Syb excellent company at the time, so the rate of would sit between us holding both bags and Paul and I would pay must have been acceptable. A few weeks dip and crunch all through the film. One night we were a little into the season, the pay was increased to late for the first performance. The house lights were down and £5.50. Wonderful memories. I declined the last the film had already begun. contract offered due to circumstances at home, The girl with the torch took our tickets and walked ahead of us down the aisle, showing but joined a touring company a few months us into a row where there were presumably three seats in the centre. Having pointed later. Twelve months later I decided to stay at us in the right direction she left, and Syb, speaking in a very loud whisper, bent to home and went to work selling fur coats in my speak to the people at the beginning of the row. “Would you mind? Oh thank you! So aunt’s salon on the corner of the Strand and sorry ... sorry to disturb you. Thank you, oh dear! Was that your foot? So sorry ...” Queen Street in Blackpool. I had missed out on This continued all along the row with Paul and me following behind. Having two or three a lot of my teenage years with being on the feet between us meant that the whole row were on their feet at one time, some at move so much, but having said that, it was a attention and some with their knees bent clutching belongings. Suddenly Syb did an Paul, Bill, Anita, Syb & Lucky wonderful time and I don’t regret it. about turn and, with an explanatory “there are only two seats Anita, go back!”, we started back the way we had come. Those who had sunk into their seats made a quick change of plan, and those with their knees bent couldn’t decide which way to go, but gradually, still trying to keep their eyes on the film, they realised what was expected of them and they all stood up once more. As I was the leader at this time, I did my share of apologising which added to the commotion, and once again Syb talked her way past the upstanding row. “I am so sorry to trouble you again. Do you mind? Oh thank you ... oh! Was that the same foot? So sorry ...” By this time I had almost reached the aisle and Syb having been delayed by her socialising, was making very slow progress. At this point from beyond the centre of the row someone called “ I’ll move up one!” She obviously hoped to salvage what she could of the film and get us settled somewhere. By now the whole row was looking glazed and waiting for further instructions. They were not disappointed. Changing direction mid-row we started back. “Well I never! Would you believe it? There are three seats after all, isn’t that lucky? Thank you ... thank you, sorry to trouble you” and at last we were all sat down. Then we started on the carrots. In fact carrots seemed to loom large in our young lives.

Another memory - Paul and I standing in the kitchen waiting for our dinner. Syb, with a pan lid in one hand and a knife in the other, is busily chopping away at the contents of the pan. “I don’t know”, she says, “these carrots will NEVER cook”. “Oh dear,” we think, “poor Syb has been sold some duff uncookable carrots AGAIN!” ... and we eat another King’s Theatre, Glasgow - Anita back row third from left meal minus vegetables. In fact, this happened so frequently in our house, we believed (Continued on page 15) 14 15 (Continued from page 13) D.C. WILSON Saturday night then was the most important night of the week. Dancing at the Winter Gardens to all the top bands. The dance floor so crowded, but not a hint of violence or PENNINE GARAGE trouble. At the interval we went for a coffee, not to the bar. My dear friend Audrey and I Lancaster Road, Forton, Preston, PR3 0BP both met our future husbands in the Winter Gardens. One memory, a crowded dance floor, Ted Heath or Joe Loss, Lita Roza (1953 hit, That Doggie in the Window?) and 01524 793323 www.dcwilson.co.uk [email protected] Dickie Valentine. As we danced and the crowd moved around, at some point we came to the front of the stage. Should we dare to stop and lower our arms, a small man about • New & used car sales • Tyres my height (5'1") in white tie and tails (yes!) holding a baton, would give one of us a • Mots • Brakes prod and tell us to “lift your arms and move on” ... and we all did. • Servicing • Exhausts I married and my husband qualified as a solicitor. Three children later we all went out to Sabah, Borneo, on a three year contract with the Ministry of Overseas Development. • Air conditioning regas • Engine diagnostics Initially we stayed in Sandakan, but then went to Jesselton, the capital. This is now & leak detection known as Kota Kinabalu since independence. My husband covered the whole area and Courtesy cars available free of charge had wonderful tales to tell of some of the more primitive court rooms and offences. I Open 6 days a week Monday - Friday 8.00am-5.30pm & Saturday 9.00am-12.00noon must admit to feelings of concern about going away. I had never travelled abroad before, at least no further than Ireland, and with three children, the youngest two years old, it was quite a decision but I am so glad we did. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Whilst there, three of us climbed Kinabalu, not dangerous, but hard work, height 14000 feet. The army sent many of their men to climb to the top, but many were stricken with altitude sickness at 11000 feet and had to return without reaching the top. Fortunately we were not affected. After we left I understand they built a cable car and it became more accessible, not the same! It was a long time ago, but from memory ... the first overnight stop after leaving the rest house was a very makeshift wooden shack at 5000 feet. The second stop was 11000 feet. Here we were woken by the bearers at 3am to climb the last section which was rock. Apparently an early start was essential as the mist descended quite early and we had to be up and down before this happened as visibility would be minimal. At 11000 feet I experienced one of the most wonderful sights. Sitting outside the hut in the dark and alone, to the right was the black outline of the mountain and in front, I was above the clouds. They looked like a grey carpet and ahead was the most wonderful sunset I have ever seen. It was magical. Had I not had spiritual beliefs before this, that was the moment. Back in the UK a few years later, I opened an antique shop in Blackpool called ‘The Way we Were’. From there to Garstang (where the undertaker is now, opposite Sainsburys) and during this time I began painting as a hobby. As I improved, the paintings began to sell very well. Victoriana was the vogue for furnishings at the time and the subject of my paintings was of the nostalgic style which suited the trend. From Garstang I moved to Allonby in Cumbria, then to Wanlockhead in Scotland and from there to Forton. At one time I thought I would like to live in the South of , but inevitably I returned home to Lancashire and have lived here, in Forton, very happily for 30 years. Anita Tomlinson 16 17 Walks around the village with my dog There is no doubt this has been a captive, strange time. New words and phrases have crept into our daily vocabulary: lockdown, social distancing, hand sanitising, face masks and shielding. Not being able to travel has certainly made me explore our beautiful village, made me appreciate it more and find new joys in the familiar.

This walk is only half an hour. It takes in some amazing hidden views, can be walked any time of year and is best early morning or late evening. Start at the Bowling Pavilion. There is a footpath that runs along the back of the playing field and can be accessed from Winder Lane over a stile. Remember to keep dogs on a lead whilst on the playing field. Head towards the hut in the top corner of the field. Behind here enter the Robinson Mammoth Onion land via a gate, keeping the hedge on your left. A few yards ahead there is another gate that takes you through an avenue of holly trees. This path runs along the edge of Oakfield Nursing Home and brings you out onto the A6. There is a small grass verge, just wide enough for you to stand on while you wait to cross the busy road. Take great care crossing as cars seem to come too fast down this road.

Once you have crossed straight over there is a metal ladder stile on the left of where you have crossed. It can be difficult to see. Small dogs might find it hard to attempt this stile and might need a helping hand. Our dog never seems to mind being passed from one person to another over difficult stiles! You enter a traditional hay meadow. During the early summer peacock butterflies were in abundance, swallows seemed to make the most of the bounty of flying insects and would sweep over the grasses in the early evening. Head towards the line of beech trees and stop to look west towards the village. Seeing the sun paint the sky crimson as it sets of an evening is a delight. At the top of the field the footpath is signposted and takes you through a gate into another meadow. Now the hedge is on your left. This point always makes me stop and take in this seldom seen vista. You look directly over Hollins Lane towards the Bowland Fells. I think it is the heather clad Harrisend Fell that you can see. Because you are now facing east, watching the sunrise over these hills on an early morning walk really lifts the soul. Follow the hedge towards Hollins Lane, making sure you keep to the designated footpath, now enclosed by fences. This leads you out onto Hollins Lane by Duchy House. Turn right on Hollins Lane and just past Jasmine House there is another footpath signposted. Once over this stile and into the field head for the bottom right corner and through the gate. Now the hedge is on your left. It is worth mentioning this field often has a small flock of sheep, so it is best to keep your dog on a lead. Follow the footpath, over the stile and make your way towards the A6 once again. This brings you out onto the pavement opposite Oakfield Nursing Home by The Channings. Once again, take great care crossing and again take the footpath through the avenue of holly trees back to where you started. Heather Moorland Jonny Leech - Wyresdale Ward District Councillor Hi all, what a rollercoaster ride we have been on these past three months. I hope you and your family are keeping safe and well. It is great news that we can begin to enjoy spending time with our family and friends again and have some much needed social interaction, albeit at a little distance. Well done to everyone that has been home-schooling. I know that this has been an exceptionally tough task but one that is hugely critical for our children’s healthy development. Wyre Council has been exceptionally busy during lockdown and I imagine will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. We have now paid out £26.5m in grants to local businesses and receive further applications daily. If you know any business that is a business rate payer and has not yet received any financial support, please encourage them to apply. (continued on page 19) 18 19 (continued from page 17) We have provided thousands of food parcels and delivered thousands of medication packages to the most vulnerable in our Borough to ensure they are well looked after as well as responding to requests for help with shopping and overseeing the work of local volunteer groups that have been looking after households too. A special mention for the Garstang Volunteer Force who have been tireless in their support of vulnerable people in our close area and serving them well with food, medicine and friendly conversation. We are also a large employer and have had to reassign and assist with home working for the majority of our staff. Unfortunately at the beginning of lockdown we had to temporarily suspend green bin collections due to staff shortages because of Covid-19 and redeployment of staff to deal with new areas of concern. I am glad to report that full bin collection services are now back up and running. Anyone that has been waiting for green bin stickers should have now received these. Anyone who is waiting for the new red bin or a larger blue bin, these are once again being delivered and you should receive yours soon. There continue to be significant issues with the multiple developments we are seeing on Hollins Lane. Firstly, I need to say thank you to the residents who are working hard at combatting these issues and for the assistance in providing me with important information which helps hugely with our battles. I want to encourage you that our voice is being heard and changes are happening, even if it is somewhat slower than we would like. We now have wheel-washing facilities at the new development which should help with debris on the road. Another development should now be using the A6 as its primary access to their site. We have also had multiple site visits from Wyre officers to deal with concerns, so they have seen first hand some of the problems. We continue to wrestle with developers over the heights of certain houses and I encourage any of you that have concerns about this to register your complaints formally to help shape the final decisions. I have received an unprecedented amount of phone calls and emails over the last three months with requests for assistance and am happy to do so. If you feel I can help with anything then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Jonny Delightful poppies are growing on the kerb side in Forton , a reminder of the Flanders’ poppies that sprung up on ground disturbed by the tragedy of the Great War. A consequence of no road sweeping in lockdown , our poppies today show that nature can also regenerate when left undisturbed and benefit from lack of interference. In the online June/July issue we said we were adopting Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May’ and have watched our wildflower areas flourish . Already we have seen more bees, moths, butterflies and all manner of insects. We were excited to spot a Small Skipper and a Meadow Brown , both butterflies attracted to grasslands and a first for our garden . Rhona and David Sharp 20 21

Hollins Lane Methodist Church Sadly services and meetings are not resuming at present, but we hope to be able to welcome you as soon as it is practical and possible. We look forward to the time we are open to all without restrictions.

We are sorry that our Minister, Rev Derek Oldham, is out of action at the moment, having suffered a heart attack a few weeks ago. He is making steady progress and is grateful for the prayers of those who wish him well. St James’ Shireshead Public worship resumed at St James on 12th July. Every Sunday we will be holding our 10am Eucharist although at the moment there will be no Sunday School. In addition we will be live streaming the service on the church Facebook page so you can join in at 10am or watch on catch up. The Facebook address is: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1773176729456758

Every week we have been producing a Reflection which can be viewed on the Church website: www.stjameschurchforton.org

If you have not been back to St James’ since public worship restarted and would like to know what to expect, you can find out more at: https://youtu.be/W_48UTdR45w

Baptisms, weddings and funerals can now take place in church although at the moment they are limited to 30 people. Things are however changing very quickly so for the up to date position please contact Peter: [email protected] or mobile 07970 923141 United Reformed Church After what seems a long time we shall open for short prayer service on August 16th at 9.15am and then resume services twice monthly from September. Social distance rules will still apply. Watch our notice board for details.

Our Nativity Festival has been cancelled until 2021. Roman Catholic Church There is no Roman Catholic Church in the village so the nearest churches are: St Mary and St James, Scorton. St Thomas and St Elizabeth, Thurnham. St Mary and St Michael, Garstang. St Bernadette, Bowerham. Please contact them at this time for details of services.

If you think the weather has been bad this summer then this article from the Lancaster Gazette of 19th August 1815 proves that it’s nothing new (by the way a rood was a quarter of an acre) Christine Smith:

About 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, during a violent thunder-storm, the lightning struck the East end of Shireshead Chapel, in Cleveley, near Garstang, breaking 40 large panes of glass (each 17 inches by 12) much injuring the pews and woodwork on each side of the communion table, and leaving marks in different parts of the Chapel - it threw the splinters of wood, etc. to the distance of 10 roods from the Chapel. 22 23 Have your say on your roads You can have your say on your roads and transport locally by completing a short survey. As part of a new campaign to promote the work of their highways service, Lancashire County Council is encouraging people to complete the National Highways and Transport (NHT) survey which measures public satisfaction with services across different local authorities.

The campaign will also focus on their work maintaining Lancashire’s roads. This year the team will fix around 36,000 potholes and resurface 175 miles of roads. But following a wet and stormy winter the council are finding more potholes than usual this year, so they are also asking people to help them by reporting potholes on their website.

In 2020/21, the County Council will spend £26m to maintain our 4600 miles of highways and 5300 miles of footways. They are continuously introducing new techniques to fix potholes and supplement the traditional repair teams. They have also introduced a new deep in situ recycling process for resurfacing and this year will recycle 19,000 tonnes of asphalt in resurfacing our roads. At 20 tonnes per wagon load that’s an amazing 900 loads diverted from landfill and 1800 return journeys eliminated.

Find out more about how Lancashire’s roads are improving and complete the survey at: www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/pothole THE PARISH COUNCIL Chairman Mrs Janet Huddart Parish Clerk: Lindsey Hall Home Farm, Clifton Hill, Stony Lane, Tel 791571 Forton, PR3 0AR Tel. 01524 791313 Dr Peter Young, OBE email: [email protected] Tel 792678

Mrs Lesley Dodgson County Councillor Tel 792978 Mr Matthew Salter (07803 723958) District Councillor Mr Jonny Leech (07980 759576) Mr Don McLoughlin Tel 792805 Forton Parish Council operate a publication scheme. For more information, please contact Mr Robbie Stewart Tel 07791 669140 the Parish Clerk. Parish Council meetings are usually held on Mrs Sarah Taylor the 1st Monday of each month in the Playing Tel 01524 792528 Field Pavilion Some Councillors may be contacted by email: Mrs Janet Huddart: [email protected] Mr Don McLoughlin: [email protected] Mr Robbie Stewart: [email protected] Mrs Sarah Taylor: [email protected] Dr Peter Young: [email protected]