Blackburn & Burnley issue 36

Ruth

Madoc

TALKS ABOUT LIFE AFTER GLADYS PUGH

Rick Stein

SHARES HIS FAVOURITE DISHES FROM AROUND

THE WORLD

Inside

LEISURE

DISCOVER DUBROVNIKA TIMELESS BEAUTY

KEEPING YOU FOREVER YOUNGPENDLE LEISURE TRUST

HEALTH

ARE YOU CONSIDERING CARE FOR YOURSELF OR A LOVED ONE?Approved Care Homes can help

THE LOCAL MAGAZINE FOR THE OVER 50s WWW.50PLUSMAGAZINE.CO.UK

BLACKBURN & BURNLEY

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JUNE - AUGUST 2012 | EDITION 36

ApprovedCareHomes

Just as most people visit their dentist every six months for a check-up, or their doctor for a regular health examination, so you should also visit your optician to have your eyesight tested, regardless of whether you wear glasses or contact lenses.

Such examinations can reveal far more that just whether you need glasses; they can also identify medical conditions that could have far more serious implications.

'All routine eye tests include an internal and external examination of the eyes,' says Stuart Ingleby, director of Specsavers Blackburn. 'If an abnormality is discovered, prompt referral will ensure that your GP is aware of what may be a potentially harmful condition.'

Optometrists - the people who test your eyes - recommend that you have a complete eye examination every two years, whatever your age. Children should have their fi rst eye test before the age of three.

More frequent checks are advised around the age of 45, when the lens of the eye begins to deteriorate (called presbyopia), meaning that some people may need glasses for reading and close work, and for the over-60s, for whom eye disease is more of a risk.

At Specsavers Opticians all children's eyecare is free.* Adults are required to pay a fee for an eye examination, although for some people this will be covered by the NHS. Check with your local store to see if you qualify.

So don't wait until you are having headaches or some kind of visual problem before visiting the optician. Instead, regard your eyes as a useful indicator of your general health and make eye tests a regular part of your life.

Your eyesight is precious and taking care of youreyes is an essential part of your all-round healthcare routine.

Blackburn Morrisons, Railway Road, . Tel: 01254 682 504

Blackburn, 21 Lord Street Mall. Tel: 01254 580 099

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Inside this issue ...6-7

22-24

5

14-15

18-19

12-13

TRAVEL & LEISURE

6-7 Dubrovnik A Timeless Beauty

8-9 Coach Tours 2012 From Robinsons Holidays

10-11 Kickstart to Keeping Fit Sports, Arts & Entertainment

12-13 Playing the Seniors Favourite Game Towneley Golf Courses.

FOOD & DRINK26-28 Rick Steins' Recipe Pages Rick's favourite recipes

HEALTH36 Improve your Hearing With Haslingden Hearing Centre

43 LeadOpinion Your Opinions Matter.

McGrath Regional Media.Unit 6 | Moses Gate Workshops | Gladys StreetBolton | BL3 2QG.T: (01204) 796 494 | F: (01204) 791594e: [email protected]

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Our beleaguered country can always throw up a laugh. Did you see the one about the internet dating sight which was auctioning a date with a busty Virgin Mary or a hunky Joseph!

Dogs are always good for a laugh too. A Chinese man, whose name I cannot possibly spell and you couldn’t say it if I did, has a four-year-old Pekingese dog which walks backwards on its hind legs for two kilometres a day. What is the point of that I ask and what does it do when it wants to spend a penny? The mind boggles.

When is it Christmas?If it’s June when you read this don’t worry Christmas isn’t coming any time soon.

Astronomers have calculated that Christmas should be in June by charting the “Christmas Star” which the Bible says led the Three Wise Men to Jesus.

The have decided that the bright star pinpoints Jesus’ birthday as June 17th rather than December 25th. Well that’s just going to upset a few turkey farmers and artifi cial snow manufacturers isn’t it?

And what a mess they’ve made of the carol service. How can “snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even”, and what about the poor old beggar bringing in his winter fuel? There’s no holly and ivy, the shepherds can’t be watching their fl ocks because it’s still day light and I just cannot listen to Bing Crosby in June!

Which silly old goat with a white beard and a red suit is going to traipse reindeer and a sleigh about in 20 degrees of heat? I don’t eat sprouts in December so I’m surely not about to in June. “All is calm, all is bright”, well it will be in June, new legislation could mean it’s daylight until four in the morning so the poor little beggar will be throwing his swaddling clothes off and tipping the sheepdog out of the manger.

Why can’t they leave things as they are? I’m dreaming of a White Easter.

Graham Smith has a TweetBut what is he twittering about?

He should have ducked!An American duck hunter had to be taken to hospital after being shot in the buttocks by his dog!

The hunter was climbing out of his boat to place decoys in nearby marsh when his “excited” dog trod on a shotgun fi ring 27 pellets into his backside from ten feet.

The man managed to walk to a nearby road and call an ambulance and was not seriously injured.

He should have ducked.

Lost pussy causes a headache!Those of us of a certain age will remember Mrs Slocombe of the BBC sitcom “Are You Being Served” having various problems with her pussy.

They were nothing compared to those of a small village where residents spent the best part of three days digging to rescue a cat whose meowing could be heard clearly. Everyone turned out to help and eventually the animal was found. A large orange plastic moggy with a tape recorded cry which was permanently switched on!

Stories like this warm my heart in troubled times. Half the population can’t afford a can of cat food but they will dig for three days to rescue what they thought was a genuine animal in distress.

There was the Swansea lady who decked out her living room ceiling with 1,700 Christmas baubles. She starts decorating at the end of September and doesn’t usually fi nish until Christmas Day!

You couldn’t make it up could you?


Sitting proudly on the calm blue waters of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the world’s most magnificent fortified cities. Today a UNESCO world heritage site and Croatia’s most upmarket destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy seafaring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808). During its Golden Age in the 16th century, it had one of the largest merchant naval fleets in the world.

Dubrovnik is clearly special. Lord Byron was not overstating the matter when he proclaimed Dubrovnik ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’. Magnificent curtains of walls surround marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a melange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition.

As the sun rises over the terracotta roofs the square awakens to the sound of barrow loads of fruit and vegetables bouncing over the stone cobbles. The ‘green market‘, as the locals call it, offers freshly picked produce as well as jars of homemade jams, pickles and spices. However, Dubrovnik shows her true magnificent colours during the winter months as well as the city looks wonderful “out of season.” True beauty is ageless and timeless.

Beyond the city is a heavenly landscape of beaches, wooded peninsulas and a sea strewn with lush islands.

Rector’s Palace: Right off Luza Square is the Rector’s Palace. It was the seat of the Ragusan government, where the Rector lived and worked. After Napoleon’s army dissolved the Dubrovnik Republic the Rector’s position was reduced. The original palace was modelled after the Roman imperial palace, with some influences from Venetian palaces. In 1435 there was a gunpowder explosion that demolished the structure. It was rebuilt in a late-gothic style. There was another explosion in 1463, and a an earthquake in 1667 that severally damaged the city. What you see now is the final redo that took place at the

end of the 17 century. The central portico features beautiful archways and a second story mezzanine.

Pile Gate: This is the north gate into the city. It features a stone bridge with two gothic arches. If you exit towards the outside you can get to Tower Loverjenac. On entering, the outer draw bridge is met by an internal bridge that leads into the city. Some great shots are to be had with your camera from Pile Gate.

War Photo Limited: Dubrovnik’s sturdy fortifications have been put to the test several times during the centuries, most recently during the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia. This modern gallery is dedicated to stunning photojournalism from war zones around the world, and attempts to offer unbiased reporting with a human element.

Antuninska 6. www.warphotoltd.com. Daily 9am-9pm (Jun-Sep); Tue-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm (May and Oct); closed (Nov-Apr). Entry is 30Kn.

Dubrovnik Cable Car: The best views of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area are seen from the top of the Srd Hill where the Dubrovnik Cable Car was built back in 1969 and boasts the most beautiful panoramic view. On a clear day, you can see up to 60 km (37 miles)!

For this reason the neighbouring Fort Imperial was strategically built on this privileged spot way back in the early 19th century. http://dubrovnikcablecar.com.

The Dubrovnik Summer Festival (www.dubrovnik-festival.hr) runs from mid-Jul to mid-Aug, staging concerts, theatre and opera at various open-air venues in the old town. Pat line-ups have included the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, and Australian-born British classical guitarist John Williams.

Nearby places worth visiting include the Renaissance gardens of Trsteno arboretum, the vineyards of Peljeac peninsular, the seaside resort of Cavtat, the tiny car-free Elafiti islands ,

DubrovnikTimeless Beauty


the island of Mljet (one-third of which is a national park), and neighbouring Montenegro.

EATING/DRINKINGThere is a wide range of restaurants in the Old Town, mostly offering a very similar menu of local seafood and some meat dishes. The cuisine may not be very imaginative, but it is usually of good quality and very fresh.

Restaurants can be crudely separated into (slightly) cheaper tourist-trap haunts, and more expensive but first class gastronomic restaurants. There are a few pizzerias, mostly wood-fired and acceptable. The Kraš chocolate sold at stores is delicious too!

Note that in the off peak season of November to March nearly all the top-end restaurants close, leaving only a handful of desperate tourist trap enterprises operating and still charging high prices. You can however still eat well and best of all, discounts can be negotiated.

Dubrovnik cuisine is characteristically not very spicy and is famous for traditionalism. Many popular meals are characteristic of Dubrovnik such as zelena menestra (it is the name for many sorts of cabbages and other vegetables with meat), pasticada and the famous delicacy dubrovacka rozata.

The most popular alcohol in Croatia is homemade rakija. This is a very strong distilled tipple made from a variety of fruits. Examples include sljivovica, made from plums, loza, made from grapes, and orahovica, made with walnuts. There are many excellent local wines from both the Peljesac Peninsula and Konavle and it is often less expensive than soft drinks. However, be careful when purchasing wine from unlicensed dealers as it can sometimes be of low quality!

SLEEPINGHotels in Dubrovnik include two, three, four and five-star hotels.

Private rooms are a good option for those on a budget; the downside is that they may be far from the Old Town, so make sure to check the location. Owners letting out these rooms accost buses at the bus station, so you can ask around and even bargain a little.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT VISITING…

Cafe Buza:This place is little known but definitely the find in Dubrovnik. Indeed, you will have to wander down an alleyway along the main western wall where you’ll find a nondescript door. Enter it to find the most amazing bar you might ever enjoy a beer in. The cafe is built on the side of the rocky cliffs, hiding inside the Dubrovnik wall. Relax and enjoy the view as the dramatic wall rises above your head; or, as you are so near the small beach why not dip your toes in the water!

Fact file: Dubrovnik has an international airport, located approximately 20 km (12 miles) from Dubrovnik city centre.

There is no train to Dubrovnik. A narrow gauge line used to link Dubrovnik to Sarajevo but was closed in 1976; however, buses connect the airport with the Dubrovnik old main bus station in Gruž and Croatia Airlines even operates buses between the airport and the main bus station in Kantafig (takes approx. 45 minutes), which is 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Taxis from the airport to the centre will cost 220 kn. The bus passes close to the Old Town en-route to the airport; you can board the bus at the stop on Petra Kresimira 4 just above the Old Town, by the lower cable car station. Make sure you wave furiously otherwise the driver may not stop!

The main bus station is in Kantafig, near Port Gruz and the Tudjman Bridge, 2.5 km northwest of the Old Town. Local bus 7 operates between this station and Babin kuk, and bus 1 serves the Old Town. On buses you pay a separate fee of 10 Kn to the driver for luggage, so keep some change handy.

Taxis in Dubrovnik are available around the clock and you can easily pick one up at one of the many taxi stops. The good news is that a taxi service will never cost you more than 100 Kn (approx. £11) in any direction within Dubrovnik city limits!

If you are planning to drive a car in Dubrovnik, be aware that lots of streets are one way. If in doubt, passersby will gladly direct you.

Dubrovnik is easy to cover on foot; in fact it will take the averagely fit person less than 1.5 hours to walk from the historical centre to the very end of Lapad peninsula.

Climate: The climate along the Dubrovnik Region is a typical Mediterranean one, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. However, it is perhaps distinct from other Mediterranean climates because of the unusual winds and frequency of thunderstorms. The Bura wind blows cold gusts down the Adriatic coast between October and April. The air temperatures can slightly vary, depending on the area or region. Typically, in July and August daytime maximum temperatures reach 29°C (84°F), and at night drop to around 21°C (70°F). More comfortable perhaps, is the climate in Spring and Autumn when maximum temperatures are typically between 20°C (68°F) and 28°C (82°F).

Language: Croatian is the official language spoken in Dubrovnik. English is taught as a second language in schools however, and other international languages are also fluently spoken.

Currency: Kuna (Kn.) £1 British pound is worth approx. 8 Kuna. The word “Kuna” means “marten” in Croatian since it is based on the use of marten pelts as units of value in medieval trading.

ROBINSONS ��Imperial Hotel - Eastbourne

An impressive Victorian hotel, situated at the seaward end of Devonshire Place, less than a hundred yards from the seafront, on

a delightful tree-lined boulevard less than fi ve minutes walk from the main facilities and town centre amenities.

The following excursions are included:� Bluebell Railway and Michelham Priory and Gardens � Sussex, Kent Coutryside and Bodium Castle

ROBINSONS AA ��Abbey Lawn - Torquay

If you are looking to unwind in style, this elegant Georgian hotel is the place to stay. Located in the grounds of the former Torre Abbey

overlooking Torbay, there are superb facilities. These include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, steam room, sauna and a spacious conservatory. As with all our own hotels a night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

The following excursions are included:� Paignton Steam Railway and Dartmouth � Dartmouth and Plymouth

ROBINSONS ��Ocean View Shanklin

An elegant hotel commanding magnifi cent views across Sandown Bay, the balconies provide the perfect place to enjoy the sunset

on summer evenings. Guests can unwind in the piano lounge before enjoying an evening meal in the spacious restaurant. A night porter ensures 24 hour reception service.

The following excursions are included:� Cowes and Osborne House � Ventnor, Alum Bay and Godshill

Est.1923

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Sat/Sun departures

02/03 Jun £389 £389 £389 £349

09/10 Jun £399 £399 £399 £359

16/17 Jun £399 £399 £399 £359

23/24 Jun £399 £399 £399 £359

30 Jun/01 Jul £399 £399 £399 £359

07/08 Jul £399 £399 £399 £359

14/15 Jul £399 £399 £399 £359

21/22 Jul £399 £399 £399 £359

28/29 Jul £399 £399 £399 £359

04/05 Aug £399 £399 £399 £359

11/12 Aug £399 £399 £399 £359

18/19 Aug £399 £399 £399 £359

25/26 Aug £399 £399 £399 £359

01/02 Sept £399 £399 £399 £359

08/09 Sept £389 £389 £389 £349

15/16 Sept £379 £379 £379 £339

22/23 Sept £359 £359 £359 £319

29/30 Sept £339 £339 £339 £299


Monday departures

08-Oct £279 £279 £279 £249

15-Oct £269 £269 £269 £245

22-Oct £259 £259 £259 £235

29-Oct £249 £249 £249 £225

Turkey and Tinsel

05-Nov £249 £249 £249 £225

12-Nov £245 £245 £245 £219

19-Nov £239 £239 £239 £215

26-Nov £235 £235 £235 £209

03-Dec £229 £229 £229 £205

10-Dec £225 £225 £225 £199


Monday departures

04-Jun - £229 £229 £209

11-Jun - £239 £239 £215

18-Jun - £249 £249 £225

25-Jun - £249 £249 £225

02-Jul - £249 £249 £225

09-Jul - £249 £249 £225

16-Jul - £249 £249 £225

23-Jul - £249 £249 £225

30-Jul - £249 £249 £225

06-Aug - £249 £249 £225

13-Aug - £249 £249 £225

20-Aug - £249 £249 £225

27-Aug - £249 £249 £225

03-Sept - £249 £249 £225

10-Sept - £245 £245 £219

17-Sept - £239 £239 £215

24-Sept - £235 £235 £209

01-Oct £225 £225 £225 £199

08-Oct £215 £215 £215 £189

15-Oct £209 £209 £209 £185

22-Oct £205 £205 £205 £179

29-Oct £199 £199 £199 £175

Turkey and Tinsel05-Nov £199 £199 £199 £179

12-Nov £195 £195 £195 £175

19-Nov £189 £189 £189 £169

26-Nov £185 £185 £185 £165

03-Dec £179 £179 £179 £165

10-Dec £175* £175* £175* £165*

17-Dec £169* £169* £169* £165*

23-Dec £395 £395 £395 £355

29-Dec £375 £375 £375 £335

* Unlimited Singles

Abbey Lawn and Ocean View Hotels - Front facing/seaview supplements -

7 Days £13 per person. 8 Days £15 per person.5 Days £10 per person

8 Days/ 7 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

7 Days/ 6 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes at least 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

5 Days/ 4 Nights Dinner Bed & Breakfast, includes 2 Excursions and FREE Insurance

FREEPHONE 0800 0839086 > BOOK ONLINE www.robinsons-holidays.co.ukPark Garage, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7SP.

1501

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There can’t be a person in the land who doesn’t know by now that exercise reduces stress, helps to keep the heart healthy, and gives a feeling of well being. It also keeps the weight down. But there’s a problem. Not all of us want to go to a gym, and it’s all too easy to slip into the habit of thinking that a spot of gardening or housework can provide all the exercise we need. But this doesn’t stimulate, take you away from your normal routine, or provide good cardiovascular exercise.

Theories and reasons for being overweight come thick and fast from every angle, but the fact remains that if you eat too much, and don’t use up all those calories with exercise, then the calories turn to fat and sit on the hips. They ruin the hang of a skirt or those new jeans you’ve just paid a fortune for, they make running up the stairs more diffi cult, and you really wish they’d go away.

Part of feeling good is knowing you look good. Think about the way you feel, and the way you look, decide what you want to change, and be positive.

Just for a week, take a daily walk of at least thirty minutes, and speed up your walking pace. At the end of the week, you’ll be feeling more alert and more energetic. For the second week, increase your walk to forty fi ve minutes. Explore places you’ve not visited before. Easy isn’t it. And have you noticed? At the end of the second week, you can take that hill with ease, and your clothes sit more comfortably. Even better, you feel more energetic, and look fi tter. Maybe now, you might be more inclined to investigate your local gym or leisure centre, and check on keep fi t classes? What have you to lose, except maybe the odd inch off your waist?

Our local Leisure centre has a pool, with classes for beginners. It also has Active Plus, which is an aerobic style class with exercises to suit the over fi fties. Its fun and its sociable, and you make new friends. Another exercise

Kickstart to Keeping Fitclass is Aquafi t, a low impact class which improves muscle tone and endurance. There’s also Freedom Circuit, which is another very social class, which is perfect if you want to meet new people, as well as improve your general fi tness. There’s also Latino aerobics, with choreography taken from salsa, mambo and cha cha. How could you not be stimulated in a class like that? There are, of course, many other classes, including Bike It, Body Balance and Body Step.

If you’re looking for even more sociable ways of keeping fi t, have you thought of taking up Ballroom Dancing? The Celebrity Dancing programme on TV has created a huge, new interest in dancing, and it’s a wonderfully sociable way of keeping fi t. For more information, go on the internet to www.dance-clubs.co.uk. Or for a wider ranger of information, try www.mrwonderfuldancing.com.

Once you’ve embarked on an exercise routine, it’s a good idea to check on your food intake. Make sure you’re keeping to a high fi bre, low fat diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Pendle Leisure Trust strives to keep people of all ages fi t, healthy and entertained through a variety of sports, arts and entertainment venues.

With over 100 fi tness classes scheduled throughout the week, 25M swimming pools, multi-purpose sports halls and state-of-the-art gym facilities at Pendle Wavelengths, Pendle Leisure Centre, West Craven Sports Centre and Seedhill Athletics and Fitness Centre, there really is no better place to get active!

Pendle Leisure Trust also looks after Marsden Park Golf Course in Nelson, where you can enjoy stunning views of East Lancashire and the majestic Pendle Hill as you take your swing around the testing 18 holes.

Relax and unwind at Inside Spa in Nelson, which offers eight different Spa Heat Experiences, plus a dedicated Nail Bar and Treatment Rooms offering a full range of body and beauty treatments.

Pendle Leisure Trust also boasts a number of entertainment facilities.

The Muni Theatre in Colne provides year round entertainment for all the family, with live music, theatre, comedy, dance, variety, children’s shows and events.

And The ACE Centre is a multi-functional, state-of-the-art building in the heart of Nelson Town Centre, boasting a Recording Studio, Conference Space, Meeting Rooms, Cinema, Function Rooms, Theatre and a Café/Bistro.

So, whether you’re a fi tness fanatic or a music-lover, Pendle Leisure Trust can offer you lots of entertaining things to do.

www.50plusmagazine.co.uk


Playing the Senior’s Favourite Game

The advancing years, it used to be said, bring wisdom. Now they bring golf. If not already members extra disposable time is increasingly spent at their local golf club.

Why? Well, what else can they do to fill the livelong day that used to be occupied by work? Furthermore, as pronounced in a once-popular lyric, the best things in life are illegal, immoral or they make you fat, and golf is the exception that proves this rule.

Golf is good exercise, stimulating competitive sport and warm companionship, and it is inevitably staged in a wonderful scenic setting, be it undulating parkland, broken woodland, or water-fringed links with gorse and dunes and ups and downs. At the same time, big prize money has made the professional game a great spectator sport, too, commanding audiences of millions on TV and adding universal appeal to the game.

During an average game of golf you are likely to walk five miles. Can you remember the last time you did that? It has all the right things to promote good health. Cardio vascular workout, exercising the limbs and promoting social mixing both on and off the course.

If you haven’t undertaken regular exercise for some time you’d be well advised to have a medical check before starting to play golf. You don’t have to plunge in and play 18 holes immediately. Try a gentle stroll around a couple of holes and ease yourself into it is the experts’ advice.

Being 50 plus you do need to be aware of the dangers of playing golf if they have an existing back problem. If you have not exercised your lower and middle back muscles for some time

the exertion of swinging a club could cause discomfort. It is important to seek medical advice and follow it. It may be that a gentle introduction, building up to full participation over an extended period is the answer for you. Build up your muscles by regular strength training, e.g. in a fitness centre.

Golf is probably one of the most social sports where you will meet people from most walks of

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life on the same level. If you get the bug you can engage the services of a club professional to teach you the fi ner points but it is equally suited to the amateur who just enjoys the exercise and the company.

We hear much of the degeneration of our mental health as we age. Golf is not only physically benefi cial but has been proved to stimulate mental health by improving hand to eye co-ordination and mental agility through the scoring system. Coupled with club selection and observational exercise it is an all round game to keep seniors on the ball for many years to come.

Like many thousands, I started on semi retirement, proceeding from rabbit to veteran without middle-aged mastery in-between, inspired by the late eminent Seve Ballesteros who gave me a demonstration on a Press trip to La Manga Club in Spain.

My wife also started then. The number of women refusing to be golf widows and insisting on playing, too, is exploding, limited only by the discrimination against them at some clubs.

Variety is the spice of golf as it is of life, and the 2,000-odd clubs in Britain offer every kind of challenge, helped by the ingenious handicap system by which every player has a points rating which subtracts from the lesser player's score according to his or her established status, so that even a beginner can tackle a champion.

Incidentally, the days when only golf club members could acquire an offi cial handicap are over. There are now a number of ‘pay and play’ golf courses throughout the country making it more accessible for more people to acquire a handicap.

Golfi ng holidays play a large part in the over 50s lifestyle, as they open the door to sporting pleasure in the UK and throughout the world. You are not restricted to British courses even for a single day's play.

Altogether, the deal gives you a choice of seven star courses including Scottish-style links,

sheltered forest and pleasant parkland. You travel out and back on the same day, playing 18 holes or more if you're fast.

Looking further afi eld, Spain and Portugal have caught the golfi ng bug in a big way and attract British golfers year round but particularly appeal to retirees aiming to avoid the bite of winter.

The Costa del Sol is virtually one long stretch of golf courses from Malaga Airport to Gibraltar. My favourite is Sotogrand a 4,400 - acre sporting estate near Marbella, which has been a second-home for the affl uent international golf set for 30 years. Following the boost it enjoyed as venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup, with subsequent exposure to the world's third biggest TV audience, it is expanding and broadening it's appeal beyond the millionaires who once occupied it villas. Now, there are a wide choice of duplexes and apartments with terraces overlooking its marina, Puerto Sotogrande.

14

“I’m in the South for two weeks with ‘Calendar Girls’,” she explains in those familiar warm, now-muted Welsh tones. “So I’m staying with the family here and love being out for lunch with Seren (Welsh for “star”) because this little girl and I have a real connection.”

Ruth, now 68, has five grandchildren under the age of five (“hard work sometimes, although lovely”). Three of them live in Gibraltar and it’s plain that Ruth thoroughly enjoys being a grandma.

It may be hard to see her in this role as, for many TV viewers, she remains fondly in the memory as the man-hungry Maplins’ Yellowcoat and the mere mention of her name has usually restrained people shouting out “Hi-De-Hi!”.

This wonderful portrayal in the enduringly popular BBC 1 comedy series revealed her comic talents to thousands at home. But her career, even by then, had already covered a startling variety of theatre.

Although Ruth is well known for her Welsh roots she was, in fact, born in Norwich because her parents consistently travelled around Britain. However, she spent much of her childhood with her maternal grandmother in Llansamlet in Swansea.

From the little mining village she made the unlikely but determined leap to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, guided in this by the man who became an early mentor, Sir Harry Secombe. “I was in East Yorkshire with my parents and the head of drama at school sent a tape of me to Harry Secombe’s agent with the intention of interesting Huw Weldon who used to have a BBC children’s talent programme called ‘All Your Own,’ she states.

Instead, the agent showed it to the famous singer and comedian, and he began helping the young Ruth, offering practical advice on her career.

After she graduated, Ruth – a talented singer and performer as well as an actress – spent three years with the “Black and White Minstrel Show” and various summer seasons with Lesley Crowther, Max Wall and Bruch Forsyth in the final days of provincial variety.

She became a theatrical favourite appearing in leading roles in musicals like “West Side Story and “Man of La Mancha” and appeared in both the stage and screen versions of “Under Milk Wood.”

After her high-profile success in “Hi-De-Hi!”, Ruth was in the stage version of the show which enjoyed huge success in

RUTH Madoc had just been having lunch with her five year-old grand-daughter in St Albans when she broke off from encouraging her to eat pizza for a chat with Angela Kelly about the theatre and life after Gladys Pugh.

Calendar Girl

15

Bournemouth, Blackpool and at the Victoria Palace in London.

“I never felt, though, that I was going to be typecast by Gladys,” she says. “I’d already done so much in the theatre I knew that I would go on to do many other, different roles.”

And indeed she did. She has been in a large number of stage productions including “A Taste of

Honey” and “A Murder is Announced”, and in West End musicals like “Niteclub Confidential” and “Bless the Bride.”

Ruth had great personal success with her portrayal of the indomitable Mama Rose in the musical “Gypsy”, toured Japan and the Far East as Madame Giry in “Phantom of the Opera” and was a wonderful Mrs Bardell to Harry Secombe’s “Pickwick” at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Sadlers Wells Theatre and on an extended national tour.

She was also Dorothy Brock in the hit musical “42nd Street”, Miss Hannigan in “Annie”, and Maria in “Twelfth Night” at Regent’s Park Theatre in London.

Her film appearances vary from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “The Prince and the Pauper” and “Very Annie Mary”, and she has also enjoyed an extensive radio

career on programmes like “Some of these Days,” “Woman’s Hour” and “This Family Business.”

Other TV roles over the years have included guest appearances with Morecambe and Wise, Bob Monkhouse and Les Dawson. And, more recently, she was the mother of the infamous Daffyd (the only gay in the village) in the Bafta award-winning comedy series “Little Britain.”.

Ruth has appeared in more than 30 pantomimes in every major city in the UK – as everything from principal boy in “Robin Hood” and “Dick Whittington” to Cinderella’s fairy godmother and the Wicked Queen in “Snow White.”

For the past 18 months, she has been touring in “Calendar Girls” as Marie – the WI protagonist who tries to stop the nude calendar – “and I love it!” she declares with a throaty laugh.

“I think I enjoy playing not so nice people because it’s more interesting. But I really love this play and Tim Firth (the writer) is so clever. While the humour is Northern it works on so many levels and is a great piece of writing.”

Ruth will remain in the production until May, 2012, when, she says, she and her manager husband John will go to Spain to visit their grandchildren. She states that she “won’t do theatre after I’m 75” because she doesn’t want to spend time learning lines.

“I think when you get older there is a great pressure in learning lines. I’ve seen this happen to many other people, and I don’t want that,” she insists.

“I keep my mind sharp now by doing crosswords each day and, although I’ve got lines in ‘Calendar Girls’, I still learn pieces of poetry.”

Her only career regret is that she didn’t take the “Under Milk Wood” role she was offered at the National Theatre “because I was with Harry in ‘Pickwick’ and didn’t want to let him down.”

Ruth would, though, still love to play the part of Madam Horrible in the hit musical “Wicked!” which re-imagines the Land of Oz.

And that inquiring, lively mind, she suspects, will continue until her deathbed. “I think my final words will probably be ‘Eureka!,” she laughs again.

Then it’s back to life as grandma, and that perennial dilemma of how to get small children to eat their lunch.

I N T E RV I E W

Problem Dentures?Marcus Massey now works alongside a full Dental Team, including a specialist in Oral Surgery.Gone are the days when your denture was made remotely by a mass production dental lab….the person making your denture at Petre dental makes every bit of your denture and will make your denture unique.

If you need repair or alteration to your existing denture we will alter it if possible while you wait. Marcus Massey treats you from the fi rst appointment to the fi tting of your denture AND makes your denture so he offers a very personal service tailored to your needs.

Marcus Massey and the team at Petre Dental offer:

• Free Consultation

• Denture Stabilisation for troublesome loose dentures working alongside Jackie James - specialist in Oral Surgery

• Oral surgery procedures including dental implants

• Affordable Dental Plans

• Facial rejuvenation and various orthodontic treatments

• Tooth Whitening

• Convenient Facilities - including large car park, easy access from all routes, right next to M65

6 Market Square, Nelson, BB9 7LP

T: 01282 692225

INC CARE HOMES

PendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendlePendleDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureDentureCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentreCentre

What is a Clinical Dental Technician?Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specifi c training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus post-technician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) dentures to ensure optimal fi t, maximum comfort and general well-being of patients.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental Technician, whilst remaining a member of the Dental Health Care Team, to work independently of other Dental Health Care providers.

A fully qualifi ed local Clinical Dental Technician is Marcus Massey of Petre Dental and Pendle Denture Centre. He was introduced to the world of Denturism at the side of his father John who established Pendle Dental Laboratory 45 years ago making it one of the longest established Denture Clinics in the country.

At the age of sixteen he studied Fine Art and gained his fi rst Diploma.

In 1994, he studied Dental Technology at Manchester University and Dental Hospital, he then attended The George Brown College in Toronto, Canada in 2003 graduated with his Diploma in Denturism.

In 2008, he received a Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology from the Royal College of Surgeons. Also in 2008 he registered with the General Dental Council as a Dental Technician. Marcus is now mentoring students who are studying for their Diplomas in Clinical Dental Technology with The Royal College of Surgeons.

Marcus MasseyRegistered Clinical Dental TechnicianDIP CLIN DENT TECH RCS Eng.

What is a

Professional Clinical Dental Technicians are members of the Dental Health Care Team. They have undergone specifi c training and education in the skills and knowledge necessary to provide a removable appliance service directly to the community.

Equipped with solid technical training as a Dental Technician - plus post-technician training in sciences, clinical skills, and interpersonal skills - the Clinical Dental Technician can design, create, construct and modify (repair and rebase) dentures to ensure optimal fi t, maximum comfort and general well-being of patients.

These skills enable the Clinical Dental These skills enable the Clinical Dental

Contact Us...Petre Dental is located in a purpose built, modern offi ce development just off junction 7 of the M65 in Clayton-le-Moors near Accrington.

You can contact the surgery on 01254 388333 or by e-mail: [email protected]

Marcus Massey operates in 3 different practices throughout the week:

Pendle Dental Laboratory 6 Market Square, Nelson BB9 7LP Tel: 01282 692225

Petre Dental Petre Court, Clayton Business Park, Petre Road, Accrington, BB5 5HY Tel: 01254 388 333

Barrowford Dental Practice 9 Gisburn Road, Barrowford, Nelson BB9 8ND T: 01282 611844


The beginning of the gardener’s year is always a challenge. There are decisions to make. More vegetables or a new planting scheme? Minimum maintenance or a whole new layout? And what about the lawn?

The Lawn

Nothing sets off a well tended garden as effectively as a lush green lawn, or detracts from the effect if it’s patchy and sparse. Particularly at the start of the year, the lawn needs a lot of attention and unfortunately, it’s not always enough to mow regularly and feed correctly. Shaggy edges should be kept neatly clipped. Worn areas lightly forked over and re-seeded, then covered with a fi ne layer of compost. Creeping buttercup and fi eld daisies may need the use of a selective weed killer. Moss is another problem, and generally means the drainage is poor. Raking out the moss by hand, or with an electric scarifyer sometimes helps, as does spiking and incorporating sand, but if the moss persists, then you may need to get more professional advice.

The vivid blue of cornfl owers goes well with marigolds for a later summer display.

What will you grow this year?Vegetables

Even the smallest plot can provide a plentiful supply of salads. A newcomer on the scene includes Suttons multigreen lettuce, which has a short crown and no wastage. Sow seeds little and often at fortnightly intervals from March to July, and you’re guaranteed a regular supply, and while you’re sowing your lettuce, fi nd a space for a succession of plantings of radishes from March to September. Sew these in a cool position, and thin early. Water well in dry weather.

For variety in your salads, a welcome addition is spinach. Sow from March to mid April, thin early, and use these baby leaves in your mix. Rocket is another easily grown plant, to add that wonderful peppery taste to a green leaf mixture, spring onions give salad rolls an extra zing, and chives are a must with scrambled eggs.

2011 was a bad year for tomatoes, so this year, take extra precautions by siting French marigolds in pots around them. Planting basil nearby also helps, as it’s natural repellent to fl ies.

No salad is complete without the sharp refreshing taste of radishes


Soft Fruit in pots

We all love soft fruit, and I’ve just discovered a new range which have a more upright habit, so gooseberries and blackcurrants can be potted up and sited on the patio. Try blackcurrant Noiroma, which is a very sweet, large fruited variety, and gooseberry Lady Sun, an almost thornless yellow variety, both available from Suttons Seeds.

The Flower Garden

Dahlias are making a big comeback. Grown as part of the general planting scheme, the canny gardener knows that when perennials such as delphiniums and lupins are past their best, dahlias will be coming into their own, continuing to flower at full pitch until the first frost. The tall varieties can provide dramatic accents of colour at the back of the flower beds, and the smaller varieties add interest throughout the garden, and provide plenty of cut flowers for the house. Taller dahlias need to be staked, so position these before planting the tubers, to avoid any accidental damage. I’ve found that although the large flowered pompom varieties look sensational, in a wet summer the flower heads retain too much rain and become too heavy for the stems, which bend under the weight. I generally go for the single flowering varieties, which also look more at home in a mixed herbaceous planting.

Dahlias grow in almost any location, and on any soil, although, for best results, good drainage is essential. They can be obtained in almost any colour and any height, as singles, doubles, cactus or dwarf, and at the end of the year, the tubers can be lifted and stored for next year so they’re very economical to grow.

And finally, don’t forget the pleasure of growing flowers from seed. As soon as the soil has warmed up, rake over odd bare patches and scatter a mixture of marigolds and cornflowers. Surround the sown area with a drizzle of sand, to remind yourself of where they were planted, and be rewarded with a wonderful splash of colour later in the summer. This works in pots as well. Love in the Mist seeds scattered amongst the

geraniums, candytuft in troughs, and nasturtiums amongst the tomatoes. All you need is a packet of seeds and a little imagination, and sometimes, the results are spectacular.

Gardening can be hard work, but consider the rewards. All those seeds producing food to eat, and beauty to enjoy. Is there anything that comes close?

Happy gardeningby Sheila Alcock

H O M E

FASHION

and style for women aged over 50 doesn’t necessarily come in a neat package labelled for each day of the week or each different occasion.

First, a few Do’s and Don’ts:

Do give today’s fashions a chance – you don’t have to follow trends slavishly but there might be a look or style worth trying, especially when the catwalk is translated into high street lines

Do be realistic about your shape, height and colouring

Do go for good-fi tting clothes that fl atter your shape

Do look at your daily lifestyle and what sort of clothes suit it

Do ensure that any “special occasion” buys are fairly versatile – why spend a large amount on something you can only wear once?

Do look at multi-buys in the same range if you like them and they look fl attering – this is cost-effective shopping and gives you a better “capsule wardrobe” of complementing outfi ts

Do factor in comfort – if you’re uncomfortable or uneasy in your clothes it shows

Do de-clutter your wardrobe and see what you’ve got that you want to keep and will defi nitely wear – if you’ve not worn any item for 12 months, will you ever again?

Don’t wear baggy clothes in the mistaken idea that they make you look thin – they don’t

Don’t assume you can wear an outfi t just because it looks good on a six-foot tall 17 year-old model – the mirror doesn’t lie!

Don’t dismiss high street brands because you’re not a tiny size – many stores now stock 16-plus in their season’s ranges

Don’t forget the value of accessories, especially the latest ideas that can make a plain outfi t look sensational

Unfortunately, it can come with a big list of questions which start with “Will that suit me?” and go on to “Is that too young for me?”

Most women do know pretty well about their general style by the time they hit middle-age. And what they don’t automatically want is a plethora of elasticated waistbands, dowdy long cardigans and unfl attering brogues – nor are they likely to opt for fi gure-hugging leggings and bottom-skimming mini-skirts.

Dressing well these days is really all about developing a sense of your own style .... and having confi dence in what you wear. That alone lets you lift your head up, walk taller and look better!

It’s very easy to be put off by nubile young fi gures in the Topshop changing rooms when you’ve got an expanding waist, a less-than-pert bosom and thighs that you’ve studiously ignored for the past fi ve years.

But, the key really is not to rule out anything, new or vintage, because fashions can often be adapted to suit you as an individual. Again, we’re back to that confi dence in yourself, and acknowledging what does and doesn’t fl atter you.

There really has never been a better time to be an older woman wanting to look fashionably fabulous. Think Lulu, the Duchess of Cornwall, Jane Asher, Twiggy or Lynda Bellingham. In fact, the last two are actually fronting well-known fashion labels.

Twiggy who, after 40 years in the fashion business, now has her own Marks & Spencer range and has become a fashion icon for older women. And actress Lynda Bellingham long ago shrugged off her homely Oxo mum persona to emerge, chrysalis-like, as a Calendar Girl happy to strip down to just her pearls and her comely shape – all in the cause of theatre, of course!

Lynda is now the public face of online fashion shopping range isme, with regular TV adverts keeping both her and them high-profi le. Her chic looks are being copied by many women who previously might have thought particular styles were not for them.

She believes that we shouldn’t dress “differently” as we age, but realistically. “Look for shape-enhancing details like cap sleeves, stretch in the right places, different trouser cuts, and built-in panels to make you look and feel great,” she states.

Lynda suggests embracing colour rather than shying away from it. “Wear colours that compliment your skin tone and hair colour,” she says. And try substituting black for purple or deep berry tones for a welcome change.

Control your wardrobe properly and have attractive, staple items that look good. These could include a classy mac, a pair of wide-legged trousers, a glamorous top or a classic shift dress which you can dress up or down with suitable accessories as the occasion demands.

However, Lynda is a member of the “less is more” school of fashion when it comes to accessories and advises against overdoing it. Instead, it’s better to opt for one or two statement pieces of jewellery like a necklace or earrings that can look simply sophisticated and very stylish.

She knows that sometimes you need to try something new to develop your own personal style, “So don’t be scared to try different looks,” she advises. Do you ever wear prints, for example? There are plenty around to choose from this year, and if you’re still a little wary you could pair plain trousers or a tailored skirt with a printed top.

In general, investing in, for example, a smart, well-cut jacket that can go anywhere makes sense. In a block colour, it can be teamed with a plain shift dress underneath or something printed. That kind of jacket can take you to a meeting or informal social occasion or can be worn with something more dressy for an evening out.

Look at your accessories in the same way. Many older women seldom buy belts, but these can make a plain outfi t look terrifi c and don’t need to emphasise waists not quite as trim as they used to be. View the outfi t overall, perhaps employ that smart jacket with toning shoes and a bag plus a colourful scarf.

It’s also worth keeping in mind the impact of neutral-coloured shoes like the fashionable Duchess of Cambridge often wears; teamed with fl esh-coloured tight these are real leg-lengtheners.

You don’t need to wear a very short hemline to pull off this kind of look or very high heels if you don’t want to. A knee-length or just-below-the-knee dress length with kitten or other low heels can be equally fl attering. And pretty fl atties like the current crop of ballerina pumps can also look exactly right with some outfi ts, especially the more informal and fl uid.

• www.alexon.co.uk www.pingush.com

As Twiggy insists, don’t forget,

you’re meant to ENJOY fashion

– just make it “stylish and fun”,

and forget which birthday it is.

Farmers Market & Craft Centre, Heskin Hall Estate, Heskin, Chorley PR7 5PA

Finalist for Business Woman of the Year & Most Inspiring Business of the Year 2012

something for everyone ...

With over 30 shops and businesses including gift shops, traditional sweet shops, fl orists and jewellers, The Farmer's Market and Craft Centre, Heskin Hall Estate is a unique retail and leisure destination with something for everyone.Located in the picturesque village of Heskin, off the B5250, and just fi ve minutes from junction 27 of the M6 close to Camelot Theme Park there is easy access for everyone.

With free parking and free entry it's your perfect destination for a fabulous day out, The Two Birds licensed Tea Room provides an excellent opportunity for refreshments, offering a range of home made food, soups and daily specials, made from the fi nest locally sourced produce from within the centre. So why not grab a bite to eat and enjoy a special coffee or hot chocolate with brandy by the cosy wood-burner?

Telephone: 07599 831907 Email: [email protected] events throughout the year check our website: www.heskinfarmersmarket.

The butcher’s shop presents a daily supply of locally-farmed meat, grass fed and reared on our own estate for true freshness. We offer the best joints and fi llets, a hand -made range of traditional and a variety of sausages and burgers including the virtually fat-free Buffalo Burger a signature special plus daily prepared stir-fries and meal ideas.

We have a delectable deli with an excellent range of cheeses, cold meats, Mediterranean accompaniments, and home cooked take home meals. You will also fi nd a fantastic variety of locally grown fruit and vegetables and a fabulous fl orist.

Your shopping and leisure experience is enhanced by a full range of retailers, craft businesses, beauty therapies and the regionally renowned Hepplestone Fine Art Gallery.

Blackpool

Preston

Southport

Warrington

Liverpool

Wigan

Chorley

BurnleyBlackburn

Bolton

Manchester

M55

M58

M66

A59

M67M62

M5

M6M61

M60

M65

M60

M62

Situated only fi ve minutes from junction 27 off the M6 and very close to Bygone Times, Camelot, Park Hall and Heskin Hall, the Farmers Market & Craft Centre hold regular events throughout the year.Limited units available.

Angela and Sarah Look Forward To Welcoming You!

Rolex, high class diamonds, plus various

costume jewellery to suit

Opening July - Arts & Crafts Studio with various classes available and a drop your children off while you shop facility

We now have:

Stressless Beauty salonHair by Adele - hairdressersFour shops of various styles of ladies clothingPurses, handbags, gloves.Gents clothing and gifts for men - The LoftGlobal Interiors - large selection of hand made oak furnitureEquestrian clothingLocal farmed fruit and vegetablesLocal farmed meat - water buffalo - low cholesterol, venison when available and lots of great cuts and ready prepared mealsDeli Vernal at Heskin - new deli all local products


With over 40 years experience in delivering independence, security and peace of mind – we can help you make the most of your retirement years. St Vincent's retirement apartments have so much more to offer than simply a roof over your head. We have won awards for our retirement schemes which are designed specifically to meet the needs of senior members off the community.

Who are our retirement apartments for?Anyone at all who is either over 60 or has a disability. If you feel lonely, isolated from your family, or find your present home is becoming too much to manage, then moving to a St Vincent's retirement apartment could be the best move you will ever make.

A dedicated scheme manager Sarah Reed, has been providing support to the residents at Plessington Court in Longridge for 3 years now. Sarah is a fully trained chef, who enjoys organising and catering for events at the scene.

She is also proficient in IT and enjoys passing her knowledge on to the residents. Her experience in the field enables her to advise residents on accessing benefits and local services.

Company when you want itAll our retirement schemes have a communal lounge where residents can come together, if they wish, and meet for coffee mornings and other social activities , such as bingo and Christmas parties. At Plessington

Court, Sarah organises regular day trips, for example trips to the theatre. At the end of a busy day socialising, however, you can return to your apartment, and close your own front door.

All mod-consAll our retirement schemes have modern amenities-

• Plessington Court benefits from modern amenities such as the kitchens. If you have special requirement, e.g. lever taps, we will make sure the work is carried out for you free of charge.

• Independence with Security. Our retirement schemes are designed to give residents complete independence. You have your own apartment but residents’ security is a key concern for us. We have installed CCTV, a door entry system with intercom, boundary fencing, window locks and smoke alarm.

Lovely surroundings for our residents to enjoyResidents at all our retirement schemes enjoy the peace and tranquillity of delightful landscaped gardens. The grounds are maintained regularly by a gardener and provide a relaxing meeting place for summer BBQ’s or just a lazy afternoon with a book.

Local amenitiesPlessington Court is conveniently located with Longridge Town centre. There are many shops close by, with a bus stop and a regular bus service to Clithese and Preston just a short walk away.

Plessington is a delightful market town with many attractions, including a weekly market.

Take a look for yourselfIf you would like to take a look around the scheme and meet Sarah, the scheme manager, you

St Vincent’s Retirement Apartments

Mrs Mary Fielding - resident of

Plessington CourtMary has lived at plessington court for 21 years, and during this time she has seen many changes. She has made many good friends, and thinks that the Scheme Manager is perfect. Mary said that if she had her time again she would do the same again, because she is happy at Plessington Court, she said that "I have kept my sense of humour" and we can all agree this is important no matter what age you are!

would be more than welcome. See for yourself the benefits of at a St Vincent's retirement apartment, without any obligation.

And if you think a St Vincent's Retirement Apartment is for you We will do everything we can to make sure you settle into your new home. Our scheme manager will ensure you are out in touch with support agencies in the area, and help you find your feet.

We provide a welcome pack containing a lovely hessian shopping bag, a pen, mug, T-bags and coffee, energy saving light bulbs, bin bags and DIY voucher.

If you think a St Vincent's Retirement apartment is for you, or you would like to receive more information, ring Rose on 0161 772 2120.

Independent Living for Older People

Avoid the Rogue Trader!

Do you want the security of your own home, with the independence to get on and live life to the full?

If so, Plessington Court in Longridge may be just the thing. Run by St Vincent's Housing Association, Plessington Court offers older people an apartment as well as communal facilities for all residents to enjoy.

At Plessington Court you can expect:-

• Assistance and advice from an on-site manager

• A communal lounge - you can get involved in social activities as much or little as you want

• Constant heating and hot water

• Free repairs service

St Vincents Homecare & Repair is funded by local councils and operates throughout Pendle, Rossendale & Ribble Valley. We help older or vulnerable people (usually owner occupiers or private tenants) to get repairs done without the risk of fraud or excessive charges.

We have:-

• A panel of trusted and reliable private contractors

• Our own handymen who do smaller jobs for a modest charge

• Caseworkers who can often raise funding from Charities and will liaise with all relevant agencies

• Technical Offi cers who can provide all necessary advice and specifi cations

Telephone: 0845 050 0570

Avoid the Rogue Trader!

For more information about Plessington

Court, give Jane a call on 0161 772 2120

www.svha.co.uk


F O O D & D R I N K

Rick Stein’s passion for fresh well-sourced food has taken him from continent to continent, across magnifi cent shorelines and to the very best produce the coast has to offer. Rick remarks “My greatest enthusiasm in life has been fi nding dishes that change my perception of cooking, that reveal a whole new vista of fl avour combination. I think we all enjoy that. I’m just someone with an enthusiasm for food and a curiosity that’s sent me sniffi ng around all over the place looking for lovely dishes in all corners of the globe”

Taken from his books here are some of Rick's favourite recipes.

Rick Stein's Recipes from around the World

Heat the oil in a really large pan, add the onion, garlic and leek, and cook gently for 3-4 minutes. Drain the soaked beans and add to the pan with the potatoes, carrots, celery, tomato, rosemary, dried oregano and 2 litres of water. Cut the ham hock in half lengthways to one side of the bone, add to the pan and press the pieces down well into the soup so they are totally submerged. Bring everything to a simmer and leave to cook, uncovered, for 1 hour.

Then add the green beans, courgettes, cabbage, tagliatelle pieces and fresh oregano and simmer for a further 15-20 minutes until the soup is thick. Remove the pieces of ham hock, pull the meat off the bone, and pull it into small chunks. Discard the skin and bone. Stir the ham back into the soup with the parsley and approximately 500 ml more hot water to loosen it slightly and season with salt and pepper. Service in large warmed soup bowls, drizzled with a little more olive oil.

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving1 large onion, chopped 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced1 large leek, cleaned and cut into similar-sized pieces

250g dried borlotti beans, soaked overnight450g waxy potatoes, such as Charlotte, peeled and cut into 1- cm dice250g peeled carrots, cut into 1-cm dice2 celery sticks, cut into 1- cm dice1 ripe beef tomato, skinned and choppedLeaves from 1 small rosemary sprig, fi nely chopped1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1.2kg smoked ham hock250g green beans, trimmed and cut into 1- cm pieces2 medium-sized courgettes, topped and tailed and cut into 1- cm dice1/2 small cabbage (about 500g), core removed, thinly sliced75g dried tagliatelle, broken into 5-cm pieces1 tablespoon chopped fresh oreganoA small handful of fl at-leaf parsley leaves, choppedSalt and freshly ground black pepper

SERVES 8-10

Minestra: Corsican Vegetable Soup with Smoked Ham, Cabbage and Borlotti Beans


SERVES 4

400g dried spaghetti

175-g piece smoked pancetta, rind removed

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 garlic cloves, fi nely chopped

A handful of fl at-leaf parsley leaves, fi nely chopped

3 large eggs, beaten

50g fi nely grated pecorino sardo maturo

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara:Pasta with Pecorino Sardo, Pancetta, Parsley and Eggs Bring 4.5 litres water to the boil in a large saucepan with 8 teaspoons salt. Add the spaghetti and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile, cut the pancetta into lardons (short little strips), about 6mm wide. Heat a large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat, add the oil and the pancetta and allow it to fry until lightly golden. Add the garlic and parsley and cook for a few seconds, then remove from the heat and set to one side. Drain the spaghetti well, tip into the frying pan with the pancetta, garlic and parsley, add the beaten eggs and half the grated pecorino cheese and toss together well. Season to taste with a little salt and black pepper. The heat from the spaghetti will be suffi cient to partly cook the egg but still leave it moist and creamy. Take to the table and serve in warmed pasta bowls, sprinkled with the rest of the cheese.

SERVES 6-8

2 x 1-kg shoulders of lamb, each one cut into 3 large chunks through the bone (get your butcher to do this)2kg waxy maincrop potatoes, such as Desiree, peeled and cut into 5-6cm chunks1 head of garlic, outside papery skins removed, cut in half through the middle1 tablespoon dried oregano, Greek if possible3-6 fresh bay leaves2 tablespoons fresh oregano or marjoram leaves3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzlingJuice of 2 large lemonsSalt and freshly ground black pepper

Kleftiko: Slow-cooked Lambwith Garlic, Oregano, Lemon and Potatoes Preheat the oven to 1900C/Gas Mark 5. Combine the meat, potatoes and garlic in a large ovenproof casserole dish. Sprinkle with the dried and fresh herbs, olive oil, lemon juice, 100ml water, 2 teaspoons of salt and plenty of black pepper and mix together well, then nestle the pieces of meat down in among the potatoes. Drizzle with a little more oil. Cover the casserole tightly with foil and a well-fi tting lid and bake for 3 hours until the meat is falling off the bone. However, check after a couple of hours to make sure it doesn’t need a little more water.

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Unroll each sheet of puff pastry and cut a 25-cm disc from one piece and a 29-cm disc from the other, rolling them out a little more if necessary. Rest them in the fridge for 20 minutes.

For the almond paste filling, cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and one of the egg yolks, then gently stir in the ground almonds, flour and kirsch. Stir in the pitted cherries.

Place the smaller disc of pastry onto a buttered baking sheet and mound the cherry and almond mixture into the centre, taking it to within 2.5cm of the edge. Beat the remaining egg yolk with 1 teaspoon of cold water and brush a little around the edge of the pastry. Lay the second disc over the top of the filling and press the edges together to seal, pressing out any trapped air as you do so. Crimp the edges between your thumb and forefinger to give the edge an attractive finish, then chill the pudding for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the over to 220oC/Gas Mark 7. Brush the top of the pithiviers with the rest of the egg yolk glaze, then with the tip of a small, sharp knife, score radiating arcs from the centre out towards the edge, just into the surface of the pastry, taking care not to cut too deeply. Make a small hole in the centre to let the steam escape, and bake for 15-20 minutes until puffed up and richly golden. Lower the over temperature to 180oC/Mark 4 and continue to bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer pushed into the centre comes away clean. If it starts to get too brown, lay a sheet of foil loosely over the top.

To give the pithiviers its classic glazed appearance, remove it from the oven and increase the temperature once more to 220oC/Gas Mark 7. Dust the pastry with the icing sugar and return to the over for 3-4 minutes until the sugar has caramelized and the tart has taken on a high gloss. Transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool slightly, then serve warm, cut into wedges, with vanilla ice cream or pouring cream.

2 x 350-g packets ready-rolled puff pasty, and butter for greasing

FOR THE ALMOND PASTE FILLING:125g butter, softened125g caster sugar1 medium egg2 medium egg yolks125g ground almonds15g plain flour2 tablespoons kirsch225g fresh cherries, stones removed 1 teaspoon icing sugar, for glazing.

Serve with Vanilla Ice creamor pouring cream

VANILLA ICECREAM

SERVES 4

Slit open 2 vanilla pods and scrape out the seeds with the tip of a knife. Put 500 ml full-cream milk, the vanilla pods and seeds into a non-stick pan and bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and set aside for 30 minutes to infuse the milk with the flavour of the vanilla. Put 6 egg yolks and 200g caster sugar into a large bowl and, using an electric hand-held whisk, whisk for 3 minutes until pale and moussey.

Bring the milk back to the boil, strain onto the egg yolk mixture and mix until well combined. Return to the pan and cook over a low heat, stirring for 3-4 minutes until the mixture lightly coats the back of a wooden spoon, but do not let the mixture boil or it will curdle. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly, then stir in 500 ml single or double cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Chill until cold. Pour the chilled mixture into a shallow container and freeze until almost but not quite firm. Then scrape the mixture either into a bowl or a food processor and beat until smooth, then return it to the container and freeze once more.

Repeat this process 2-3 times, until the mixture is very smooth, then leave until frozen. Use as required.

SERVES 8-10

Cherry pithiviers

An Award Winning MarketBury Market’s huge selection of fresh food and produce has

been praised the world over…but the only compliments we reallywant are from our customers!

At Bury Market you’ll discover over 350 stalls selling everythingfrom fresh food to the latest fashions – and a whole lot more!

Bury Market’s easy to find and even easier to enjoy.The world famous Bury Market located off junction 2 of the M66

– every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Why not visit our Food and Craft Market on thethird Sunday of each month?

Bury Market Hallopen everydayexcept Sunday

“Winner BBC Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards”Best Food Market

“Winner NABMA’s”Best Market Attraction

Full Markets OpenWednesdaysFridays andSaturdays

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Over 50?Your local organisation here to help youAge UK Blackburn with Darwen remains a local, independent charity providing our range of services to local older people. We are a brand partner of Age UK which works to improve the lives of older people across the UK through campaigning, infl uencing and support to local organisations.

The services we can offer you in Blackburn with Darwen are:

Advice and Information Service• Through offi ces in Blackburn and Darwen we offer free, confi dential and independent advice on a range of issues including benefi ts and money, care, housing and much more. A variety of free factsheets and leafl ets are also available.

• Our Outreach Advice Service provides home visits and advice sessions in community venues.

• The Money Advice Service offers free information sessions on a range of fi nancial issues such as budgeting; retirements and pensions; credit and borrowing; tax; and savings and investments.

Ageing Well Project• This project provides a range of activities at community venues throughout the Borough. Currently these include tai chi, gentle exercise, gym sessions, walks, swimming groups, Wii sessions, 10 pin bowling, dancing and aromatherapy.

• We also provide basic computer tuition, Facebook and mobile phone sessions and loan of Nintendo DS Brain Training equipment.

Befriending Service• The Caring Neighbourhood Scheme provides a voluntary visitor or ‘phonelink on a weekly basis to people who are

Day Care• Our two day care centres provide services for older people who are physically and/or mentally frail.

• We provide transport to and from the centres, a hot lunch, bathing and personal care, plus the opportunity to participate in a range of therapeutic and social activities.

Charity Shop• Our shop on Market Street in Darwen sells a large range of quality donated clothes, accessories, small electrical and other household items, CDs, DVDs, books and other goods.

• Donations are always welcome and collection can be arranged.

For further information about any of our services or activities you can contact us at:

4 King Street, Blackburn, BB2 2DH Telephone: 01254 266620

Darwen Offi ce, Town Hall, Croft Street, Darwen, BB3 1BQTelephone: 01254 773440

web: www.ageukbwd.org.uk email: [email protected]

Registered charity number 1143809

How youcan help usAs Age UK Blackburn with Darwen we still need to raise all our own funds in order to continue our work providing services to local people and their carers. You could help us in a variety of ways.

Donations - we are always grateful for cash donations, no matter how small - every penny counts towards our work

Legacies - everyone who remembers us in their Will is ensuring that at some time in the future older people will get the help they need

Donations in lieu of fl owers - in memory of a loved one have a lasting effect

Charity shop - the profi t from our shop supplies a vital source of income and each customer and donation helps

Trading products - any profi ts go directly to support our charitable activities

Time - we are always in need of volunteers who give their time to help us

For more information contact either our Blackburn or Darwen offi ce

Tailor made products and services for the over 50s• Home Insurance • Travel Insurance • Car Insurance • Gas and Electricity • Personal Alarms • Funeral Plans

Home, car and travel insurance are provided by Ageas Insurance Limited. Gas and Electricity is provided by E.ON Energy Solutions Limited. Age UK is a registered trademark of Age UK (Charity number 1128267). The use of the name and logo Age UK is done so under a licence agreement between Age UK and Age UK Enterprises Limited, its commercial services arm. Net profits are donated to Age UK. Age UK Enterprises Limited. Tavis House, 1–6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA. ID200457 03/12

MP2210V3MAR12_SL038478_12

For a no obligation quote, visit:Age UK Blackburn with Darwen Trading Ltd4 King Street, Blackburn BB2 2DHTel: 01254 266620 Open: Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri 10am-3.30pmThursday 10am to 1pm

or call 0800 085 3741 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/products


Hyndburn Homes is the largest Registered Social Landlord based in Accrington. Hyndburn Homes manages over 3,000 properties including houses flats and accommodation for the over 60’s.

Hyndburn Homes managed housing accommodation is specifically for anyone aged over 60 who are retired. The accommodation has recently been renovated to a very high standard with new kitchens and accessible bathrooms fitted. There is accommodation available throughout the Borough of Hyndburn: Great Harwood, Rishton, Accrington, Church and Oswaldtwistle.

Who are the managed properties suitable for?

All the properties are suitable for either retired single people or couples who want to live independently but with the peace of mind that should they need a little bit of support it is available 24/7 all year round. If you are feeling isolated or lonely these properties are ideal for you but with the independence of your own front door and self contained flat.

Fantastic Communities:

All our managed schemes have a communal lounge where residents can come together for social activities or just for a chat. In each scheme there are different activities taking place such as coffee mornings, luncheon clubs, bingo and day trips. All the activities are led by the residents and organised by resident led social committees. At the end of a busy day you can just go back to your own flat and relax in your own surroundings. The social activities are of course not compulsory and should you choose you don’t need to join in, the choice is yours.

Security Conscious:

All Hyndburn Homes managed schemes are designed with security in mind. All flats are fitted with door chains and spy holes. The schemes all have door entry systems to protect the residents and each resident is advised about personal and scheme security. In addition some schemes have CCTV installed for added peace of mind.

Heating Bills

At all of the Hyndburn Homes managed schemes all the heating bills are included in the rent*. So this means no more nasty surprises when your heating bill arrives.

What to do if you think this is for you:

If you think you would be interested in this type of housing we will make sure that your move goes as smoothly as possible. We will assist in arranging viewings and swapping over utility supplier, all you will need to do is pack the boxes and order a van.

* This will not be paid by Housing Benefit

Hyndburn Homes Managed Housing Accommodation


All our heating bills are included in the rent.

Over 60 and want to live in Hyndburn?Managed Housing accommodation isnow available. Secure Comfortable Social events

Hyndburn Homes Limited an exempt charity Housing Corporation. Registration L4461 | & P NO. 30031R

24hour Contact Services Independent living Self contained

To find out more informationplease contact us today.

Telephone:

01254 300 552Website:

www.hyndburnhomes.co.uk

Email: [email protected]


NEWS & EVENTS

HASLINGDEN

Blackburn Rd, BB4 5QGOpen Tues & Fri

BACUP

Union St, OL13 0AAOpen Wed & Sat

Fleamarket on Fridays

Telephone: 01706 217777 · www.rossendale.gov.uk/markets

RAWTENSTALL

Newchurch Rd, BB4 7QXOpen Thurs & Sat

take a closer look Unique specialist stalls Free parking

Friendly Fresh local award-winning produce Full of character Great choice & value

Over 5,000 product lines

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All Saints Grange Bowling ClubChurch Street Clayton-le-MoorsNext to All Saints Parish Church

“A Little Corner of Heaven”

Social & League Competition BowlingCommunity Club of the Year 2005CVS “People of the Year - 2005”CVS “People & Community Award - 2008”

l Gardening- Trips Out

l Fund Raising

l Wheelchair Friendly Spectator Pavilion

l Spectator Benches around Green

l Tea Bar-Workshops-Disabled Toilets

l Bowling Green-Car Park

l Every Day Mid March to October

l Usually from 1pm.

l Day Bowling for visitors

l Spectators Free-Learners welcome

l Reduced Membership Fee for Seniors

l Winter Social Club

Come along and meet new friends.

Secretary: Laurie DentonTel: 01254 208495 or 07989 043819.

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration - East Lancashire Concert BandEast Lancashire Concert Band present The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration on 2nd June 2012.

Thwaites Empire Theatre, Aqueduct RoadEwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4HTTel: 01254 685500

On the very day that official celebrations begin to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Queen coming to the throne, the East Lancashire Concert Band offers a special concert to honour this remarkable event. The Band will play rousing music from the Coronation and other great state occasions. The perfect way to join in with the festivities. The concert starts at 7.30pm.

The Official emblem chosen for the Queens Diamond Jubilee is the winning design following a Blue Peter national competition for children aged between 6 and 14. It was designed by 10-year-old Katherine Dewar, from Chester.

Sunday 1st July - Morecambe Bay WalkSponsored 8 mile walk between Arnside and Kents Bank led by Cedric Robinson MBE, the Queen’s Official Guide.

Registration fee of £20.00;inclusive of return coach cost and afternoon tea.

Registration form obtained from fundraising at Rossendale Hospice 01706 253633 option 3, or email [email protected], - to be returned by 15th June to ensure a place.

Saturday 7th July -Rossendale Hospice Summer BallThis year’s Annual Ball will be held at Old Trafford Football Ground.

Tables of 10 are priced at £700.

To book a table please [email protected]

Sunday 12th August - It's A Knockout, Marl Pits, RawtenstallDo you remember the original BBC ‘It’s a Knockout’ series?

Now it’s time to get out of your armchair and be one of the teams taking part in the real thing!

A whole afternoon of fun and laughter for all the family and all ages is guaranteed at Marl Pits on Sunday August 12th 2012 with guest teams and celebrities -

The event is best viewed with 9 teams of 10 competing in 6 fantastic games over a 2 hour period.

The cost for such a crazy, hilarious afternoon is


ALBERT ROAD DENTURE CENTREsmile with confidence

www.albertroaddenturecentre.co.uk

Douglas Heaysman is a Clinical Dental Technician with over 40 years of experience and study. Doug creates bespoke hand crafted dentures using state of the art materials and techniques for an optimum fit and maximum comfort.

Visit us for a free of charge 20 minute consultation for new dentures, implants or any denture related problems to discuss your concerns and to find out how we can help you.

We now offer Dental Implants in conjunction with an Implant Specialist. These stabilise troublesome dentures and can truly change lives.

Home visits are available, where we come to you for all consultations and fittings.

Quality, Convenience and Professionalism are our watchwords and our dedicated team will be with you every step of the way, with a personal, understanding and caring service.

• FREE CONSULTATION

• HANDCRAFTED DENTURES

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• HOME VISITS AVAILABLE

• ELECTRONIC DENTURE CLEANING

• ORAL SCREENING SERVICE

Douglas Heaysman Dip CDT RCS (Eng) RDT Clinical Dental Technician, Denture Provider Registered with the

General Dental Council (no 112441)

71 Albert Road, Colne BB8 0BP | T: 01282 86282357 Pickup Street, Clayton-le-Moors BB5 5NS | T: 01254 416046Also at Fisher Medical Centre, Coach Street, Skipton BD23 1EU | T: 01756 799622

just £50 each team member. For more information and a registration pack contact: [email protected] 01706 253633 Option3.

Sunday 16th September - Great North Run – Newcastle/GatesheadWould you like to participate in the world’s biggest and most iconic half-marathon?

Rossendale Hospice is delighted to be able to offer you the chance to take part.

The Launch of the new Pendle Sculpture Trail will take place on August 18th 2012 A NEW sculpture trail based on the story of the Pendle Witches is to be created in Aiitken Wood near Barley.

Four artists have created sculptures that centre on the famous trial of the Pendle Witches to mark the 400th anniversary of that event. The artists are Phillipe Handford, Martyn Bednarczuk, Sarah McDade and Steve Blaylock

The story will be told through the trail in Aitken Wood, beneath Pendle Hill, which features sculptures made out of stone, wood and metal.

Phillipe Handford, who is originally from Burnley, but now lives in Barrowford and has a workshop in Colne,

is the lead artist in the project.

He said: “Between New Year and May 2010 I went up Pendle Hill around 30 times with the view of creating natural sculptures that seemed to excite other people.

“As a result of this I was approached by the council to see if I would be interested in creating some kind of trail.

“It is great to be involved in this project, especially with it being in my neck of the woods. I love this area and the countryside around here.”

Ribble Valley sculptor Martyn Bednarczuk is carving a lifesize Witchfinder General figure for the trail.

He said: “I have done a lot of research to try and get it as accurate as I possibly can. I have had a look at old photos and on the internet to try and get it right.

Sarah McDade has created ten stone plaques with different pictures and symbols. Each one is different and represents the ten Pendle Witches that died or were hanged in 1612. Steve Blaylock is crafting metal animals which will sit in the trees, including, bats and a spider!

The sculpture trail project is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas, with Defra** as the Managing Authority and via the Pennine Lancashire Local Action Group.

Haslingden Hearing Centre (incorporating Slater’s Hearing Aids)

65 Lower Deardengate Haslingden Lancashire BB4 5SN T: 01706 215479

Clinical Earcare (wax removal)

Comprehensive Ear Examinations and Hearing Tests

Complete range of the latest Hearing instruments

All makes and models supplied and serviced

Complete range of batteries and accessories

Hearing protection and communication products

Comprehensive aftercare and support service

Home visit service available across the area

If you are having trouble hearing clearly, why not do something about it?

Hearcentres are able to test and examine your ears and prescribe the very latest technology hearing instruments. They can offer you an unrivalled service and the results can be life-changing! To find out more, why not call them or call in to their established Hearing Centre in Haslingden. Hearcentres are a small group of established, local hearing centres manned by experienced hearing care professionals.

To improve your hearing, call Hearcentres on 01706 215479. Mention 50 Plus magazine and receive an extra years supply of batteries with every hearing aid.

Exclusive suppliers of

Do you have the time and dedication to care?

With 10,000 new foster families needed for children who require stability, Alpha Plus Fostering facilitate the process...With more and more children needing foster placements and a chronic shortage of foster families, now is the time to care for those who need it most.

There is a current shortfall of over 10,000 foster care families in the UK and Alpha Plus Fostering is looking to recruit more people from all walks of life to help to tackle this issue.

Alpha Plus is an established fostering agency which has been providing carers for over 11 years. Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED for the past 6 years, Alpha Plus is committed to providing high quality placements and improving the outcomes of ‘looked after children’.

Natalie Beswick is the carer recruitment offi cer for Alpha Plus. She said: “Here at Alpha we pride ourselves on providing local children with the opportunity to be looked after in a safe, caring and stable family environment.We have an amazing team of foster carers and I just know that there are other families in our communities just waiting to be found - families who can be part of making the difference to the lives of ‘looked after children”.

Am I suitable?Many people believe that they are not eligible to foster for various reasons, from age and marital status to sexual orientation. In fact, if you drive, have a spare room and the time and dedication to invest in a child’s life and their future then you could be just what the team at Alpha Plus is looking for.

How to get involvedAlpha will be holding a children’s activity stall. We will also have lots of information available to anyone interested in fostering. Sunday June 3rd 2012, 11am – 6pm. Foulridge Diamond Jubilee Party, Foulridge Village Green, Parkinson Street, Foulridge, Blackburn BB8 7PS.

For further information or advice on becoming a foster carer, call Natalie on 0753 011 3170 or the recruitment line on0808 178 4747. All Alpha Plus foster carers receive full training, which is offered up to diploma level, 24-hour support from qualifi ed social workers, free membership to FosterTalk and generous tax free allowances of up to £460 per week.**Subject to Status.

Am I suitable?

puorG spihsrentraP AFN fo traP

Celebrating over 11 years as a fostering agency Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted

77983 125x190 Retired Magazine Jan 2012

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Alpha Plus has a positive approach to fostercarers of all ages.

We are currently recruiting foster carers across Lancashire. We will provide:

■ Generous tax free allowances up to £460 per child per week*■ 24/7 support■ Excellent training up to Diploma level■ Membership to Foster Talk *Subject to Status.

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer and you have a spare bedroom and the time to commit to a childs life and their future then please contact us on: 0808 178 4747or visit www.alphaplusfostering.co.uk

People who have lost or are likely to lose all their teeth have been faced with little choice but to have removable dentures “false teeth”; that is until now.

Douglas Lee (Dougie) a Lancashire dentist, is the UK pioneer for a technique that replaces a full set of teeth fixed onto dental implants in a single day.

Dougie says “The disadvantages of removable false teeth are well known to anyone unfortunate enough to need them. They rely on suction or adhesive to stay in place, they cause embarrassment to the wearer and they alter peoples’ speech and ability to eat well. At best they offer little over 10% of the strength and stability of healthy natural teeth.

For the last thirty years dental implants have been available. These are metal posts that are fitted in place of tooth roots. They can then be used to stabilise a denture with press-stud type attachments. Better still, with enough implants a full set of teeth can be replaced with a “fixed bridge”.

For most of us the latter would be our preferred option. However, the traditional way to achieve this has several problems.

It is normal to wait months after extractions before fitting implants. In the meantime a full denture would be required anyway.

There is often not enough bone for regular implants. This means having to have uncomfortable bone graft surgery first, whereby bone is taken from the chin, hip or skull and placed where it is required.

The costs can be truly eye-watering. It is commonly considered that between seven and ten implants in the upper jaw and six in the lower jaw are required for success. Add to that the cost of separate appointments for bone grafts, extractions and temporary dentures and we are looking at upwards of £25,000 for a single jaw to £35,000 for a whole mouth.

Dougie continued “All this is established, predictable treatment and eventually achieves the desired result, but it takes time and costs a lot of money. It can easily take over twelve months start to finish. It may not even be possible to wear the temporary false teeth in the days after surgery – a situation that my patients found completely unacceptable.”

Unsurprisingly, most of us are put off from going ahead with dental implants and either resign ourselves to full removable

FAST AND FIXED A NEW APPROACH TO TOOTH LOSS

Douglas A. Lee Associaties LtdTel: 01254 237517 115 Whalley Road Accrington BB5 1BX. www.douglasleedental.co.uk The Gentle Practice!GDC 69445

Douglas LeeDental Practice

dentures or hobble along with our remaining, unsightly and untreatable teeth.

The Fast and Fixed system was designed to address the above problems head on. It combines advances in surgical technique and dental engineering to give dentists the ability to offer custom made, fixed, implant supported bridgework in a single day. And because there is only one surgical visit there is never a need for removable dentures at all! After three months, when the tissues are completely settled a definitive bridge is then constructed that should last for many years.

How the Fast and Fixed system is different from traditional techniques:

Dental extractions: Instead of waiting for sockets to heal after extraction like normal, any infection is highlighted with a dye and destroyed painlessly with a laser so the site is fit for implants immediately.

Angled implants: Bone grafting and sinus lifts are avoided by angling the implants at the back of the mouth so they attach into strong bone further forwards.

Fewer implants: Because the bridge is custom made and a perfect fit, as few as six upper implants and four lower implants are required to do the job predictably.

Polymer science: Bridges usually are cast out of metal and porcelain and take days or weeks to make. With Fast and Fixed, the dental technician can make a beautiful custom bridge in an afternoon.

In surgery CT Scanning: With his Cone Beam CT scanner Dougie can study and design the perfect, minimally invasive surgery for his patients before the treatment starts.

With only one surgical visit, no need for temporary removable dentures, fewer implants and no separate bone grafts the Fast and Fixed method means patients have less pain, shorter treatment times and lower surgery costs.

Dougie charges £9800.00 for the fast and fixed implants and bridge including consultation, the scan, all extractions and follow-up. The definitive bridge costs £3500.00 and is fitted within twelve months of surgery.

“It’s still a lot of money but the improved quality of life it has brought my patients is immeasurable” They often tell me that choosing Fast and Fixed was the best decision they have ever made.

Before Treatment After Treatment

douglas lee advert.indd 3 15/05/2012 14:30

We've discovered a new way to look at our dental practice...Through your eyes!

• Dental Implants

• Invisible Orthodontics

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Douglas Lee Dental Practicet : 01254 237517

Douglas A. Lee Associaties Ltd 115 Whalley Road Accrington BB5 1BX.www.douglasleedental.co.uk The Gentle Practice!

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So we have created a warm and welcoming environment to put you at ease, leaving us to focus on what we do best.

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The Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network is supporting the national Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer across the region.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in England. There are some 33,000 new cases every year and it kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. It affects people of all ages but is most common in those who are over 50. Although it is more common in smokers, around one in eight people with lung cancer has never smoked.

You need to see a doctor straight away if you have been coughing for the past three weeks or more. Other symptoms of lung cancer include:

3 A cough that has got worse or changes

3 Repeated chest infections

3 Coughing up blood

3 Breathlessness

3 Feeling more tired than usual for some time

3 Losing weight for no obvious reason

3 An ache or pain in your chest or shoulder that has lasted some time.

Detecting lung cancer early makes it easier to treat, so seeing your doctor quickly may save your life. It’s probably nothing serious but it could also be a sign of something else that needs treatment.

In East Lancashire there are on average 253 deaths each year from lung cancer and 290 new cases diagnosed. At present 27% of all lung cancer sufferers in East Lancashire are expected to reach the one year survival milestone. Across England as a whole this figure is 30%.

Ernie Burton, Aged 62 from Blackburn was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2010 following chemotherapy and surgery Ernie has now given up smoking and is living each day to the full.

He said ‘I would urge anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of lung cancer to go and see their doctor straight away, do not think you are wasting their time and try not to be scared. I thank my wife for making me go to my doctor when I did as I know I would have probably put it off for a bit longer otherwise. The earlier the cancer is diagnosed the better your chances of survival’.

Have You Been Coughing for 3 Weeks? If So Tell Your Doctor!

For more information and guidance please visit eitherwww.nhs.uk/lungcancer or

www.cancerlancashire.org.uk



• ‘Mixed’ packages of support• Short-term residential care• Items of equipment

Direct Payments can also be used for employing a ‘personal assistant’ or arranging care from a private agency. Your local Social Services team will be able to advise you further. There are many benefi ts to Direct Payments – they allow a greater level of fl exibility and freedom for the person who needs the care and support. By employing a care and support worker directly, there is greater choice as to whom the person has looking after them; what times they come and what tasks they perform. People who are eligible to receive a Direct Payment, instead of their ‘usual’ support include:

• Older People who need social care services• People with physical disability who are over 16• People with a learning disability who are over 16• Disabled Parents would receive payments for the needs of their children (non educational)• Carers over 16

PRESERVE YOUR ASSETSThe only person who can save for your retirement is you. To avoid many sandwich generation problems - and help your parents and your children - you fi rst have to keep your own fi nancial house in order. Try not to raid your own retirement savings to pay for your children’s college education or your parents’ long-term care. Students should take out student loans if necessary, and you should use your parents own assets to fi nance their care for as long as possible.

And fi nally, remember you’re all in this together. Don’t be a martyr. Take control and get the whole family on board to help. Getting stressed is counter productive, so make sure you get some time for yourself. Young adults still at home can occasionally take over household duties and visit their grandparents. They could accompany them on hospital visits or doctors’ appointments, and gain enormously from increased contact with an older generation.

This is a time in your life when your parents and your children are dependent on you, so look after your health, take time out to keep up with your friends, and keep your sense of humour.

Nothing lasts forever, and sooner or later, your children will fi nd their independence and fl y the nest. You’ll miss them when they go. Make the most of your time with them. Cherish your parents. They won’t be with you forever, so while you’re coping with their problems, remember how they once helped you with yours, and give them a hug from time to time.

ARE YOU ONE OF THESANDWICH GENERATION?

In 1957, Harold McMillan told the British public ‘we’d never had it so good’ and it was true we were enjoying better health and prosperity. Inevitably, this led to longer life spans, and the phenomena of the sandwich generation.

At the beginning of the 20th century, around 6% of people in their sixties still had one parent living. Today the fi gure is around 50%. At the same time, in 2000, 52% of young adults were living with their parents, and this fi gure is still rising. This has led to a situation where couples coming up to retirement are caring for ageing parents, while still supporting their adult children. This is the sandwich generation, worrying about fi nancing their own retirement, their parents and their children. While many 80 year olds are still hale and hearty, there are many who need constant care and attention, resulting in huge stress levels for those responsible for them. If you’re one of these, it’s time to take stock and explore all avenues. which could help.

PLAN AHEADDiffi cult as it may be, you need to discuss issues with your parents. Discuss their assets, check with them where they want to live, and who should make legal and medical decisions if they are no longer capable of handling their affairs.

The decision of where they wish to live may be taken out of your hands, if they reach a stage when they need full time care. At this stage, it’s important to fi nd a nursing home with staff who treat their elderly residents with respect, and which provides a pleasant environment for your

parents to live out their remaining years. This is easier said than done. First you need to research available government help to fund care, and ensure that your parents are correctly assessed to ensure they’re getting all the funding they are entitled to. Age Concern provides a number of detailed booklets on this issue.

Take full advantage of your computer. Search websites for ratings, send for brochures, and most importantly of all, pay several visits to possible nursing homes. In an effort to help families looking for nursing homes, a new online system is planned, to be published on a website which will also disclose offi cial inspection reports. Nursing homes will be graded according to star ratings, Trip Advisor style.

ORGANISATIONS TO EXPLORENHS Choices provides a comprehensive health information service on fi nding and using NHS services in England.

The Directgov website contains information about public services all in one place.

Age Concern and Help the Aged have combined to become Age UK, which provides a huge body of information and advice to older people and their relatives.

CARE IN THE HOMEIt may be that care in the home is the preferred option, and this is where you need to spend time making sure that all available help from your local council is fully explored, and a correct assessment of necessary care is arrived at.

Check out the Care Quality Commission. This is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It registers care services that meet standards and make constant inspections to check that these standards are kept and take action if standards fall.

Direct Payments are a Government initiative designed to give people the freedom to purchase their own care and support, so since 2002 all Social Services departments offer the option of a Direct Payment to people who receive a social care and support service.

Following an assessment by their local Social Services the person receiving the direct payments can use the money for different types of services.

These include:• Personal care and support• Day care (including domestic help)


HELPLINE: 0161 669 6292or visit: www.approvedcarehomes.com

ApprovedCareHomes

Approved Care can help with everythingand it’s completely free of charge..

Are you considering care for yourself or a loved one?

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www.choicemobility.co.uk [email protected]

104 King Street Blackburn, BB2 2DT

• Wide range of quality fabrics • Leather options • Single or dual motor • Width options from 18" - 30" • Massage & heat systems • Made-to-measure available

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www.choicemobility.co.uk [email protected]

104 King Street Blackburn, BB2 2DT

• Wide range of quality fabrics • Leather options • Single or dual motor • Width options from 18" - 30" • Massage & heat systems • Made-to-measure available

Fast delivery!

• Wide range available • Servicing and repairs • Batteries • Accessories • Insurance • Finance available

Design & Fitting Colonal Kitchenseco KitchensColonial Bedrooms eco Bathrooms

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352 – 358 Newchurch Road Stackshead Bacup, Lancashire OL13 OLD Tel 01706 252122 Email [email protected] www.rossendaleinteriors.com

Established 40 years• Full fitting service

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kitchens • bedrooms • bathrooms

INDIVIDUAL INTERIORS

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They have large, well-fitted showrooms at Bacup, Blackpool and Ulverston. They are owned by J & J Ormerod, fitted furniture manufacturers, established 1876.

The experienced team at Rossendale Interiors will ensure that you can see exactly what you are getting thanks to computer aided designs which allow customers to

be certain that their new interior layout is perfect.

If you require, the company can also organise joiners, plumbers, electricians, tilers and builders for your project.

Alternatively customers can arrange their own installation using their own fitters – whichever way you choose, Rossendale Interiors’ designers will be available to advise and help you along the way.

There is a comprehensive range of traditional and contemporary kitchen and bedroom furniture which co-ordinates with bathroom furniture - and if you want a home

office incorporated this can also be co-ordinated. Bathroom pottery is

available from Laufen and many other ranges, bathroom products include wet rooms and steam showers, and they have a wide range of tiles to complete the job.

Rossendale Interiors offers a no-obligation design service with

detailed pictures for your appraisal. Rossendale Interiors is a member of the KSBA (Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Specialists Association). A condition of membership is financial protection for the consumer and Rossendale Interiors offers a comprehensive Consumer Care Deposit Guarantee Scheme. n

Rossendale Interiors352-358 Newchurch RoadStacksteadsBacup, OL13 0LD01706 252122www.rossendaleinteriors.com

If you are planning a new look for your home and you want tried and trusted advice and quality craftsmanship, head for Rossendale Interiors

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ELEGANCE THROUGH DESIGN

Established 40 years - Part of J & J Ormerod - Holders of the Gold Green Apple Eco AwardFull fitting service - Free design & plan service

352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup, Lancashire OL13 OLD - Tel 01706 252122

Showrooms also at Oswaldtwistle Mills - Tel 01254 304 068 Ulverston - Tel 01229 581 [email protected] www.rossendaleinteriors.com

Buy Now Pay Later and Interest Free Credit Available (subject to status)

Documents

Blackburn & Burnley issue 36