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Lancashire News

Lancashire News

We’re asking local businesses to pledge their support to helping out the borough’s future workforce. This week councillors, council officers and representatives from leading local firms met for the Oldham Pledge Business Launch. The Oldham Pledge has been up and running for a number of years and is led by schools and young people across the borough. The scheme gives our young people the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities – helping to build their confidence and supporting their education and development so they can contribute to their communities. Those who sign up to The Oldham Pledge are asked to show evidence that they continually show 14 key character traits, such as leadership, take responsibility for their health and wellbeing, volunteer and pursue learning opportunities. The Pledge also aims to focus on developing a range of skills in children and young people to help improve their employability, in terms of personal skills and experiences.

And this is why we are asking local businesses to get involved and help support the Oldham Pledge. You can do this in various ways: by offering to go into schools and give talks/workshops; invite pupils to your firm; help with mock interviews; offer work experience and by considering those who have taken The Oldham Pledge when it comes to employment. Councillor Paul Jacques, Cabinet Member for Education and Culture, attended the launch, which was held during Business Month, at the Civic Centre. He said: “As well as having the right technical skills and qualifications it is equally as important for our young people to have key, transferable skills and values that underpin their jobs and careers in the future.

“It’s vital that this starts from a young age and carries on throughout the school life of a child so these positive character traits can be developed. “By signing up for the Oldham Pledge our young people are showing they are prepared to go the extra mile when it comes to learning and development. “Now we are calling on businesses to get involved. Together we can help support our young people and ensure they are ready for work in the future so they help the borough grow.” Dave Benstead, HR Director of Diodes and Chair of Oldham Enterprise Trust, said: “We want to recruit young people who we believe can add the most value to our business. “Being involved in the Oldham Pledge helps us to strengthen the talent pool available for selection and encourages young people to exercise initiative and responsibility, and engages them to make a positive difference for the common good; attributes we look for.” For more information about how your firm or business could get involved with The Oldham Pledge contact Suzy Ashworth on 0161 770 8997 or email suzy.ashworth@oldham.gov.uk or Lorna Philip on lp@hathershaw.org.uk

The Oldham Pledge is supported by the Oldham Educational Partnership and the Oldham Enterprise Trust.

Lancashire News, Lancs Weddings

Trying to make your wedding different from the others you have attended is not easy. Being creative with your venue can often be the start of helping to bring your ideas to life. Every little detail should say something about the happy couple and your choices of food and drink should be no different to this.

A drink on arrival for guests doesn’t have to be a glass of fizz, ready poured on a table. Why not think about a quirky Prosecco Van if you are outdoors ?
Also, a simple but delicious glass of fizz can be lifted by the addition of fresh fruit, luxury cordials or liqueurs, even a small cloud of candy floss, so think about how you can ‘pimp that fizz’.

Alternatively, if the happy couple love a G&T, a Gin bar can be curated to reflect artisan gins from the area where the happy couple are from, or are planning to set up home together.  Special gin bottles can even be given as table wedding favours or included into the table plan, as a reminder of the bride and groom. A good mobile Gin and Prosecco bar can provide all these services and we can even create a wedding cocktail, personalised menus and help make your wedding standout and memorable for all the right reasons.  

For all your innovative drinks related solutions, please contact: Gillian Bartlett

Director, Copa Fizz on 07787867262 or visit www.copafizz.co.uk
‘If Prosecco isn’t the answer….. then Gin definitely is!’

Lancashire News, Lancs Weddings

With many years in the fashion industry and a degree in tailoring, I decided to open Romantique Couture in 2004 and offer a variety of dressmaking/designing services. Since 2004 I have created five beautiful collections from my studio in the Lakes ; collections exhibited to various fashion shows and art exhibitions around the country.

From Carlisle to Newcastle to London Fashion Week and back. My services are centered on unique outfits, one-off designs as well as ready to wear versions of stylish clothes from my collections. My speciality is creating something unique and ‘different’ by challenging that fine line between the ‘urban chic’, ‘fantasy’ and ‘practicality’. I am committed to provide a professional and unique service at all times, as well as maintaining the highest quality of work.

Angy provides the following services:
unique bespoke gowns
unique designer outfits
unique ready to wear collection
unique prom dresses & ball gowns
unique wedding dresses and oufits.
unique accessories – clutches, handbags, bags
unique recycled clothing
unique baby wear (A-Goo label)
Romantique Couture

High Dyke Cottage
Mosser, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0RA
T: 01900 824329
M: 07379 496485
E: romantiquecouture@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amdressdesigner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angymortondressdesigner/

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Age, rarity, condition and provenance – the four pillars of finding and acquiring antiques. I’ve found visiting historic houses that remain in private ownership to be an enjoyable and educational way of fine-tuning my antiquing skills. These houses represent the organic growth of a family residence over time, where each succeeding generation added things they found beautiful and useful. I’ve chosen three of my favourite houses in North Wales. They have an interesting story and reflect the owner’s tastes and interests. Go, visit, enjoy a day out. Find out how each owner chose the things for their home – the beauties of their time and the antiques of today. And, when you are in the neighbourhood, give us a call to make sure we are in and drop by the Banquet House in Rhuddlan. We would love to meet you, offer you a cup of tea, and talk about collecting and living with antiques.

Bodrhyddan Hall
The present building was remodelled in the 1690s. The original house was obtained from King Henry VIII at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries when the abbot and his flock relocated to another site at Hendre Farm nearby. The house is known for its collection of armour and militaria; however, the 9th Lord Langford, who died in 2017 at the age of 105, collected ceramics and added many pieces of tourist souvenir ceramics from places he visited. Those tourist pieces are displayed alongside Minton, Royal Doulton and Wedgwood pieces of great value.

Plas Newydd (Llangollan)
Plas Newydd is in the town of Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales, and was the home of the Ladies of Llangollen, Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, for nearly 50 years. Their story is most romantic and the house reflects their collecting interests. The most unusual feature is the panelling made of pieces of reclaimed oak carvings collected by the ladies and set in a patchwork style over much of the interior of the house. The carvings came from broken-up furniture and church fittings, ranging from medieval to Baroque, dominated a vernacular folk and Jacobean styles.

Gwydr Castle
During the 16th and 17th centuries the Gwydir Estate belonged to the Wynn family. The Wynn’s were closely associated with the courts of Charles I and Charles II. In the early 20th century, the castle and its contents were sold and key components of the interior were purchased by William Randolph Hearst and taken to storage in warehouses in New York City. The castle is now privately owned by Peter Welford and his wife, Judy Corbett. They purchased the castle in 1994. They then began a programme of conservation with authenticity as the main consideration. Part of that programme was identifying, locating, and acquiring pieces that had been sold. A key find was the contents of the dining room.

With the assistance and support of Prince Charles, the dining room was acquired from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, to which it had been donated by Mr. Hearst. The restoration continues, funded primarily by the current owners according to their philosophy. “Ancient houses like Gwydir are the sum of their parts, historical as well as architectural. But in addition, they evolve a particular frequency, over the centuries, which is specific to nowhere else. Gwydir has its own time, its own smell, its dense and layered atmosphere, which amounts to the metaphysical equivalent of its archaeology; this represents, in short, the soul of the house.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Leisure

Historic St George’s Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Philip Newmarch as the new General Manager of the Hotel. This senior appointment follows the recent acquisition of Rowton Hall Hotel and Spa in Chester by Anderbury Ltd, an independent group of award-winning properties that also includes Hatherley Manor Hotel and Spa in Gloucester.
Mr Newmarch has a wealth of experience in working in a number of leading hotels throughout the North West, including Peckforton Castle Hotel, Craxton Wood, Carden Park and more recently the Abode in Chester.
Commenting on his appointment, Philip said, “I’m excited to be taking on the role of General Manager at the iconic St George’s Hotel and I am looking forward to working with such an experienced and enthusiastic team. Having worked in a variety of hotels across Cheshire I am looking forward to continuing to build of the hotel’s proven success.

Speaking of the new appointment, Mr Tony Burns, now the Group Operations Director of Anderbury Ltd, commented.
“Philip is joining the team at the perfect time, after almost 25 years in managing St George’s I am pleased to be handing over the managerial reins to him so that I can concentrate on the further development of the Anderbury Hotel Group which has recently expanded this year after the acquisition of Rowton Hall Hotel and Spa in Chester in June. We are thrilled that Philip has come on board, and his valued management experience will go a long way in helping us deliver a seamless guest experience at one of the leading hotels in Wales.

St George’s has 81 beautifully decorated rooms with air-conditioning, high speed internet access, LCD TVs, luxurious Egyptian cotton duvets and many offer stunning views across the bay of Llandudno. Among the bedrooms are the new Rooftop Rooms which were completed last summer. These rooms capitalise on their elevated position and stunning Orme to Orme view by having large glass patio doors leading out onto a panoramic seaview balcony. The rooms also benefit from having some of the latest in-room technology, stunning bathrooms with walk in shower plus ‘His and Hers’ sinks and guests are able to enjoy a personal concierge service offering a range of tailored services. The hotel has a variety of dining options to suit all tastes including the AA Rosette winning Terrace Restaurant, serving a mouth-watering selection of dishes sourced within Conwy and North Wales. The Terrace Lounge serves light lunches, traditional afternoon teas and the best espresso and cappuccino in the area.

St George’s Hotel has seven function rooms including the stunning Grade II listed Wedgwood Suite which is one of the largest function rooms in North Wales and has hosted many prestigious events in its 150-year history including political party conferences for Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, esteemed Guests have included Winston Churchill among others.

Further information St George’s Hotel can be found at www.stgeorgeswales.co.uk

Lancashire News, Lancs What's On

The Stonyhurst College Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Hurst Green, Near Clitheroe, Lancashire. Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th February 2019. Open 10.30am – 5.00pm daily (4.30pm finish Sunday only)
Admission £5.00

Stonyhurst College, for the 24th year, will provide the perfect shopping experience for interiors designers, home furnishers and avid antiques collectors over the weekend of 22nd – 24th February 2019. A wonderful collection of antiques, furniture, silver, porcelain, glass, clocks, oriental rugs, antiquarian maps, Jewellery, vintage and decorative items, antique and contemporary fine art and bronze sculptures from 17th century to modern times will go on sale at Stonyhurst College over the weekend. There will be items suit every taste and pocket, giving visitors the opportunity to furnish their homes with style, elegance and originality in a relaxed, friendly environment where dealers will be happy to share their knowledge. Prices range form £25 to £25000.

The venue lends itself well to this type of event. Set in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley, the approach to Stonyhurst College really is spectacular, with 2 lakes either side of the driveway offering reflections of the Elizabethan Manor House which was built in 1592 by Sir Richard Shireburn. It was occupied as the family seat until 1794 at which time an ancestor gave The Hall and estate to the Society of Jesus as a new home for their college. Stonyhurst College is now one of the country’s premier independent boarding schools. Its location attracts visitors from Lancashire, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the Lakes.

Among the 30 or so dealers will be Local dealers Lancaster House Antiques specialising in clocks and furniture, and Mark Buckley of Skipton who deals in inlaid Victorian and Edwardian furniture. Among the traditional and Contemporary art dealers are Yorkshire dealers Ruth Hudson and J C Fine Art. Jewellers will include Plaza, Anderson Jones, S & A Thomson, Scarab and Billy Rae. Among some of the other regulars will be Lancaster House Antiques of Lancashire, period oak dealers Melody Antiques of Chester, Antiquarian map dealer J. Dickinson of Derbyshire, Solo Antiques of Lancashire who specialises in Art Nouveau and Art Deco bronze and ivory sculpture, glass and Arts and Crafts antiques and Malcolm Eglin Antiques of Northumberland who deals in quality period furniture and decorative home furnishings.

As always there will be superb catering offered by the college themselves, and visitors to the fair are most welcome to walk around the beautiful gardens.

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

Lancashire County Council is always looking for adopters, but this month there’s an added focus on finding people willing to adopt older children and sibling groups. County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “We’re running a campaign from the end of the month to remind anyone wanting to start or grow their family through adoption that there are children of all ages ready for a loving home.

“When people first start to think about adoption, they usually consider a baby, or even a toddler, rather than an older child. “The unfortunate reality is that children are considered to be older for adoption at just four years of age. It is likely that these children will have a brother or sister, and we try to keep brothers and sisters together whenever we can. “We’re trying to find homes for these children in particular.

“There is always a need for adopters to come forward to look after all types of children of different ages and backgrounds.” “There are real benefits to adopting a sibling group. The children will already have bonded and will settle into their new family much quicker if they are with their brothers and sisters. Anyone open to adopting more than one child will also only have to go through the adoption process once to adopt a sibling group.” The county council is keen to hear from a broad range of prospective adopters, including single people and couples, same-sex and heterosexual, from all religious backgrounds or none.

Consideration is given to anyone who wishes to adopt, regardless of their age, marital status, sexuality or gender. There are no strict rules about whether people should have jobs, their own homes or have their own children. The only legal requirement is that adopters must be over 21 and live within Lancashire or nearby.

A range of adoption support services and advice is available to anyone who has adopted a child. The council recognise that adoptive families require support at different times and even after people adopt, the authority is there to help.

People can spread the word about adopting with Lancashire County Council on their own social media channels. This can be done by:

• Following the county council on Twitter @LancashireCC and searching for #LancsAdoption for messages to retweet.

• Liking the county council on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lancashireccand sharing #LancsAdoption posts.
By doing this people can help to spread the word to their friends and family, their colleagues and maybe the organisations they work with.
Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption can contact the county council by:

• Calling the friendly adoption team on 0300 123 6723.

• Visiting the website at www.lancashire.gov.uk/adoptionand filling in the enquiry form.

• Attending an information evening, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/adoptionfor details.

Lancashire News

This week, it was announced Keep Blackburn Tidy will be this year’s recipient of the Council Leader Award created by community group One Voice Blackburn. The winner is chosen by the leader of the Council and One Voice Blackburn. The award is given at the One Voice Blackburn Annual Dinner. The award invites the public to nominate people that have promoted community cohesion through leadership.

Dozens of nominations were submitted for the award with the vast majority putting forward Keep Blackburn Tidy. Welcoming the news, Councillor Khan said: “I am delighted Keep Blackburn Tidy are being recognised for their efforts. Our borough is blessed with two fantastic Keep Tidy groups, this one and the one in Darwen. Both are part of a red bag revolution, the Council’s campaign to highlight and celebrate our army of litter pickers.
Our borough would be a worse place without them. But the Keep Tidy groups are not just about litter though. They are bringing people and communities together around the goal of loving where you live and being proud of your town.”

Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

Staff at Lancashire County Council’s care homes and day centres have been recognised for the excellent level of customer service they provide. The older people’s services team, which runs 17 residential care homes and 13 day centres, has been accredited with the Customer Service Excellence standard following a recent inspection. Customer Service Excellence is a nationally-recognised standard which was introduced by the government as a way to improve services. This standard focuses on issues that research has proven are important to customers, such as service delivery, timeliness, staff attitude, professionalism and the quality of information provided.
County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult services, said: “I’m pleased our older people’s services team has once again been recognised for the excellent levels of service it provides.

“Staff provide invaluable support to people who live in our care homes and for people who need daytime support at our day centres. “They work tirelessly day in, day out, and as well as providing support and care, they run a wide variety of activities which help improve people’s quality of life. “Inspectors praised the comprehensive knowledge of our staff, exemplary employee training, good staff attitude and the provision of clear information through measures such as dementia friendly signage, menu boards and pain assessment charts following their assessment visit. “This is very reassuring for the hundreds of people who already use our day centres and care homes and their families, and anyone else who may be considering using our services.

“Well done to everyone at our older people’s service on achieving the Customer Service Excellence standard.” The county council runs residential homes and day centres in each district of Lancashire. You can find out more about our day centres at our adult social care page. https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/older-people-services/day-time-support/
For more information about our residential care homes, visit our older people’s services page. https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/older-people-services/

Lancashire News

A company with a history of flyposting offences has been hit once more with a fine. Shortly before Christmas Figgos Ltd, trading as bathroompackage.com was taken to court by Manchester City Council. Earlier in the year council officers found six posters advertising the website attached to street furniture in the Northenden and Baguley areas of the city. Because of the inherent danger posed to motorists by flyposted signs, which include posing a dangerous distraction, blocking lines of sight and generally degrading the overall amenity of the area they are posted, the activity is banned under the Highways Act 1980. Through their investigations council officers discovered previous enforcement action had taken place regarding flyposters advertising the same website.

Manchester City Council subsequently invited the management of Figgos Ltd to explain their actions but this was not taken up. On December 20 the company was convicted in abesentia of flyposting at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court. It was ordered to pay a fine of £1,680, as well as court costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £30, totalling £1,960.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “It is no secret this type of behaviour is illegal, which makes the actions of Figgos Ltd all the more baffling.

“As a council we are determined to ensure our city is a pleasant place to live, and the sight of adverts strapped to lamp posts or railings being left to rot away is something we are not prepared to tolerate. “Cleaning up the mess left by flyposters diverts time and money away from far more important projects and hopefully this substantial fine will act as a deterrent to any other companies tempted to flypost.”