WEST COAST The magazine for West Kirby and Caldy January 2011 Issue 16 Inside this month: Allotments, Round Table 3 Peaks success, Esther McVey Ally Interiors, Hilbre High School, local news, what’s on, car club and gardening The FREE monthly magazine for West Kirby & Caldy Tel 01244 512251 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country – Texas Guinan WEST COAST HAPPY 4 THE New Year is NEW YEAR upon us and the green shoots are already sprouting - at least for the allotment holders in West Kirby who 6 will get an extra 40 plots when a redundant site is turned over to them. We’ve got more on this, as well as stories from Hilbre High, the West Kirby Round Table, Ally McDermott’s interior design column, books by Lingham’s of West Kirby and the Wirral Classic Car Club. 8 We hope you enjoy the magazine and please remember to use your local shops and trades people! Hayley The page footers this month are winter quotes 17 For advertisement inquiries please call Hayley on 01244 350398 / 07801506538 or e-mail [email protected] visit www.westkirbylocal.com 24 Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1AE 22 We are an independently owned company producing seven magazines, Keep it Local, Neston Local, Heswall Local, West Coast, Tarporley Talk, Overleigh Roundabout and Hoole Roundabout. For details visit www.talkaboutpublishing.co.uk Winter is nature’s way of saying, “Up yours.” - Robert Byrne 4 01244 512251 / 07801 506538 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com West Coast magazine January 2011 5 IN THE NEWS Green shoots of recovery? WIRRAL Council is allowing a local group of allotment holders to lease an unused section of greenbelt. The newly-formed Gilroy Road Community Allotment Society has been given the green light to step up their efforts to transform land at the rear of Coronation Buildings in West Kirby into a substantial allotment site. No fewer than 40 full-size plots could be created on the land, which was formerly used for grazing horses and hadn’t been used since 2002, as well as a communal allotment area, picnic areas, a communal orchard and a classroom. The move is in accordance with the Council’s Allotment Strategy, which identified the importance of trying to find new potential allotment sites, particularly in areas where there is a high demand for them. Cllr. Simon Holbrook, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, said: “I have nothing but praise for the vision and determination of the members of the Gilroy Road Community Allotment Society in reaching this stage. They have been granted an agreement to lease this land, which means they have five years to develop their plans and prove they are viable and sustainable. If they are, they will be then given a 25-year peppercorn lease on the land. “I believe this is a further demonstration of how the Council is fully supportive of community groups coming up with their own ideas to provide a viable and sustainable future for Council land or assets for the benefit of the local community. Hoylake and District Gardening Society THE speaker at our January 12th meeting will be local horticulturist Mr Ted Brabin who will be telling us about the Plant Hunter George Forrest who was born in 1873. Forrest encountered many dangerous situations on his expeditions to China , which were sponsored by Mr Arthur Bulley the creator of Ness Gardens. The resulting introductions to British Gardens included such favourites as azaleas, primulas, gentians and over 300 species of rhododendron. Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at West Kirby Rachel Bolland married Tyrone Concourse starting at 7.30 p.m. They are Cisarello at St Bartholomew’s Church, free to members but visitors are welcome Thurstaston, and then held their at a charge of £1.50. Call Pat Johnson reception at The Grange, Thornton on 625 7036 Hough. Pic by Cetra Gallery, Heswall Now is the winter of our discontent - William Shakespeare 4 01244 512251 / 07801 506538 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com West Coast magazine January 2011 5 LIFE DRAWING SESSIONS TWO-hour drop-in drawing sessions in Hoylake on Tuesdays at 1pm & 7pm Suitable for beginners or more experienced artists. Tuition given as necessary. £7.50 per session. Contact Dennis Spicer at [email protected] or 0151 625 3107 Maths & English Tuition Maths & English Tuition l Private & Group Sessions l Private & Group Sessions l Other Subjects Available l Other Subjects Available l All Ages, Abilities & Levels Welcome l All Ages, Abilities & Levels Welcome l Friendly Experienced Tutors l Friendly Experienced Tutors Call Elaine on Call Jess on 07966 956 880 07894 744 698 www.getintuition.co.uk www.getintuition.co.uk The Beacon Coffee Shop Heswall Methodist Church, Telegraph Road, Heswall. Tel 342 7446 Opening times Tuesday 10.30-2pm - Coffee and lunches Friday 10.30-2pm - Coffee and lunches Saturday 10-12noon - Coffee and snacks Friendly Welcoming Atmosphere, Homemade Food - Fair Trade Goods, Gifts, Cards and Second hand Books We are a voluntary organisation and all profits are donated to charities at home and abroad. There are two seasons in Scotland: June and Winter - Billy Connolly 6 01244 512251 / 07801 506538 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com West Coast magazine January 2011 7 Round table reach peak fitness 3,407m of mountain climbing! That on the motorway, the troop arrived at was what Hoylake and West Kirby Snowdon with only 2hours 50 minutes Round Table members set themselves remaining. This meant the rather portly in August when they completed the chaps from Round Table had to run up infamous 3 Peak Challenge. the final mountain in order to reach the 24 This involved climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell hour goal. Arriving back off the mountain Pike and finally Snowdon all in the space with thighs burning, the team had done it of 24 hours. To ensure there was to be with only 7 minutes remaining. no change of heart at the last minute, the All the members of the Round Table table raised £2200 on behalf of the RNLI. hold a great sense of pride for how they The training began in earnest, mouldy achieved the 3 Peaks. In September, they walking boots had an airing, the jackets were given a tour of the Hoylake Lifeboat were resealed and the orienteering was station and were able to find how their honed. (Although a walk down the Wirral contribution will help the RNLI. Way did not provide the stiffest of tests for Other events in 2010 included Fire any map reader or mountaineer). Walking, visit to the greyhound stadium The team began the challenge scaling in Manchester, brewery tours as well as Ben Nevis within their time limit, it was helping Father Christmas visit the children then a mad dash past Loch Lomond of the Wirral on his sleigh. for the 5am assault on Scafell Pike. For further details of the table and dates, Successfully completed, it was again a please go to www.hoylake.roundtable. hectic drive down the M6 in their speed co.uk limited minibus. Despite traffic delays Never take a job where winter winds can blow up your pants - Geraldo Rivera 6 01244 512251 / 07801 506538 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com West Coast magazine January 2011 7 HEALTHIER, FITTER, HAPPIER NEW Year’s Resolutions are You can choose to train at easy to make, but harder to your own home, in a local gym keep. Many people vow to get or in an outdoors environ- in shape following the ex- ment, be that the beach at cesses of Christmas, but if you West Kirby or the countryside are really serious, then talk to around your village. Living Fit. Jamie has a wide experi- Jamie Leighton and his team ence, ranging from helping of personal trainers those who wish to lose a will create a per- few pounds, through to sonal fitness plan, training a Rowing World tailored to your own Champion. specific require- So, if you are really seri- ments. The beauty of this is ous about making a difference that we help you to meet your to your life this year, then talk goals, however modest or am- to Living Fit and be healthier, bitious, in your own time and fitter and happier. as quickly as possible. Feel healthier, fitter and happier in 2011 Personal training and conditioning consultant Call Jamie on 0797 147 8786 W www.living-fit.co.uk E [email protected] A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night - Marilyn Monroe 8 01244 512251 / 07801 506538 E [email protected] W www.westkirbylocal.com West Coast magazine January 2011 9 “To Infinity and Beyond”- Ally Interiors Buzz Lightyear Interior design thoughts with Ally MacDermot, Best Superhero quote I could find- apologies from Your Choice Interiors to Spiderman, Superman, Batman Rip up the rule book and go for it THERE’S a partial solar eclipse beginning of January. The United Nations has designated 2011 the International Year School joins Rotary family of Forests and International Year of Chemistry Jupiter and Uranus are in conjunction for the first time in 14 years. HILBRE High School Humanities College has recently become the latest addition to This is all meaning, take some chances. Do something the ever-expanding Family of Rotary. unconventional , different, colourful even. The school’s Student Council made the decision at the beginning of the school term to create a Rotary Interact Club, a club that is linked to and helped by, but independent I love and read books.