insideIssue 48 December 2014 - January 2015

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azines

b r a m h a l l

The local magazine our readers love to keep

One of six magazines delivered to 45,000 homes

Inside Bramhall is produced by Inside Magazines Ltd. We cannot be held responsible for views expressed by contributors or any advert content, including errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. We endeavour to ensure that all local information given in this magazine is accurate, but we cannot always guarantee this.

© Copyright Inside Magazines Ltd 2014.

Material from this magazine may not be reproduced without prior written permission from Inside Magazines Ltd.

design and artwork by spring Creativewww.spring-creative.co.uk | 01925 714203

Contact usInside Magazines, 352a Park Lane, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1RL.

Tel: 01625 879611email: info@insidemagazines.co.uk www.insidemagazines.co.ukCopy deadline for the next issue:

Monday 12 January

Co-Editors

Garth Aspinall

Claire Hawker

In the years leading up to 2014 – this special year of remembrance- there seems to have been a growing appreciation of the sacrifice made by so many young people a hundred years ago and a realisation of just how fortunate we are today. But life seems to move on, as our attention now drifts to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

But life is fragile. As we watch the televised news, we see countries ravaged by war and disease. And if we really open our eyes, we will see hardship and sadness much closer to home.

Christmas and New Year is a good time to show our gratitude and to bring a little extra joy to those within our community. It’s a time to be generous, to create special memories, to re-assess our priorities, to be positive and to make new choices for the year ahead.

We wish you lots of happiness during the festive season. We hope you create lots of great memories. We hope you choose wisely and that your most important wishes come true during 2015.

Thank you for reading and supporting this magazine.

A guide to selected events in East Cheshire during December & January

TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme Flower Club.

Demonstrator- Vanessa Wellock with a title of

“Christmas by Design” A warm welcome to visitors

(cost £6) Enquiries 0161 483 3271Parish Room, Church Road, Cheadle Hulme 7pm

for 7.30pm

THURSDAY 4 DECEMBERLINK Women’s Fellowship will be holding a short Advent

Service followed by a talk by Mrs Mary Pease on the

charity Tinkuy Peru. Andean Crafts produced by the

charity, which would make good Christmas presents,

will be for sale. Gentlemen to come and join us so ALL

will be welcome. Gentlemen welcome too! Excellent

value for only £2 with mince pie and a cup of tea.

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village

Centre) 7.30pm for 7.4pm startFRIDAY 5 DECEMBERSimply Cinema presents FROZEN SING-A-LONG (U).

For the first time in forever you’re invited to a special

sing-a-long screening of FROZEN. Get ready to sing and

‘let it go’! Come dressed in your Royal Finery! Doors

open 5.30pm for themed drinks and snacks, screening

at 6pm. Tickets: Adults £7; Child £6. To book call in to

Simply Books, phone 0161 439 1436 or email

events@simplybooks.infoCentrepoint, Bramhall Methodist Church 5.30pm FRIDAY 5 DECEMBERHarmony Revival Barbershop Chorus Charity Concert.

Bring your own drinks and enjoy an evening of music,

song & laughter. Tickets £5 from Linda Morton 01663

762150High Lane Village Hall SK6 8AB 7.30pmSATURDAY 6 DECEMBERBramhall Methodist Church Pre-School Christmas

Fair is taking place between 10am - 12pm. Games and

crafts for children, tombolas, bouncy castle, cakes,

refreshments plus lots of Christmas goodies. Someone

very special is also flying in to meet us, so it’s time

to make sure everyone is on their best behaviour!

Admission free for children, 50p for adults.

www.bmcpreschool.org.ukBramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village

Centre) 10am – 12pm

SATURDAY 6 DECEMBERLight up Bramhall weekend. Christmas lights switch on

at 5pm, with lantern parade. Santa’s Grotto, Christmas

market & entertainment organised by Bramhall

Together Trust. Bramhall Village Centre 5pmSATURDAY 6 DECEMBERLadybrook Singers Christmas Charity Concert with

Guests The JJ Singers Proceeds to North West Air

Ambulance (NWAA) Tickets £6 Adults £2 Children

Enquiries via website www.ladybrooksingers.co.uk

Tel 0161-485 6642 or pay at the door. Refreshments

available. Parking nearby and disabled access.

St. Mary’s Parish Church in the Market Place,

Churchgate, Stockport 7.30pmSATURDAY 6 DECEMBERA Celebration of Dvorak & Christmas Music. Phoenix

Opera Chorus & soloists present excerpts from the

operetta “Summer Song” Beautiful melodies by Dvorak

arranged by Eric Maschwitz. Also chorus, soloists

and orchestra perform music for Christmas and an

opportunity for audience to join in singing favourite

carols. Tickets - adults £8 under 12 - £4 Call for tickets 01565 733230 or email:

phoenixartsgroup@yahoo.co.uk Trinity Methodist

Church, Bramhall Lane, Davenport 7.30pmSATURDAY 6 DECEMBERCarols and Brass by Candlelight. See In Touch for more

details. St George’s Church, Stockport 7pmSATURDAY 6 DECEMBERThe Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra will perform a

festive programme including Tchaikovsky Nutcracker

Suite No. 1 and Ravel’s Mother Goose. Tickets £12, Conc

£10, Under 18’s £2 Wilmslow Leisure Centre 7.45pmSAT 6 & 7 DECEMBERScale Modelling Exhibition. Working model railways

in 2mm to O gauges. Many static exhibits and

demonstrations, full trade support, many scale societies

and model club stands. Free parking, full disabled

access, refreshments. Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday

10am - 4.30pm Adults £5.50 14-18yrs £3.50 Uniform

ID UK Forces & Service Personnel £4 Family (2 adults + 3 U/18s) £15 www.themodelshow.co.uk Poynton Leisure Centre, Yew Tree Lane, Poynton

Inside Guide

Compiled by Claire Hawkere: claire@insidemagazines.co.uk

Continued over...55

insidemagazines

Welcome to the latest issue of

Cover photo: Santa Float by Harry Hill, Bramhall & Woodford Rotary.

Issue 48 - December 2014/January 2015

b r a m h a l l

ContentsBest Front Cover 4

Simply Books Book Club Choice 7

It’s Behind You 8

Light Up Bramhall 11

Luis, Great British Baker 12

Crossword 18

santa Comes to Bramhall 21

In Touch 25

Stocking Filler 30

The Walk 32

sudoku 34

Just 4 Kids 37

Children’s Activities 38

Martin Lewis Column 41

Reviews by Jasmine 47

Social Media 48

inside Guide 55

Useful Numbers 59

Puzzle Solutions 60

Classified index 62

We are delighted to tell you that Inside Magazines received a much coveted award at a recent conference of Independent Magazine Publishers.

About 100 different businesses attended the conference which was held in early October and welcomed delegates from as far afield as Australia. Short-listed in two categories, Best Editorial and Best Front Cover, we were voted Highly Commended Winner for Best Front Cover 2014. Whoopee!

The judging panel commented:

‘We love the mix of imagery and typography on this cover. A very strong simple font and design over a full bleed image is a winner. The colours change to complement the images nicely. Good use of local photography. Looks more like a magazine that could sit on a magazine stand than any of the others and would be easy to identify amongst others. This front cover has excellent local pictures that again will motivate the reader to open as well as keep the magazine’.

As this was our first ever entry in the competition, you can imagine how pleased we are. And to be one of the eight short-listed candidates for Best Editorial also gave us a great deal of pleasure. To be highly ranked in these two important areas was fantastic.

Our Philosophy

Our cover has always been graced by a full page photo. Living in a lovely part of the country, we made a conscious decision in 2006 to reflect this beauty as often as possible. It is arguably the hallmark of our magazine.

The Challenge

Over nine years we have had to source some 250 quality images and the task is rarely straightforward. Adverse English weather is probably enemy number one. We often hope to depict a seasonal landscape, but unfortunately, we have to go to press before the actual season has arrived! There are two significant design constraints – firstly, the need for a portrait orientation (as dictated by the A5 format) and secondly, placement of the text which must not obscure an important part of the image. Sometimes, images that seem wonderful in the shooting, turn out to be useless, given the above constraints.

Can you rise to the challenge?

We love to receive contributions from readers, but sadly we do receive lovely pictures, only to find that they cannot be used for the reasons given above. If you have taken pictures that you feel would be of interest, do send them to us. If you have taken a large size picture at a high resolution, there is always the chance that we can crop the picture to size.

Just imagine – if you’re lucky and we’re lucky, we could both be winners next year.

Inside Magazines Wins ‘Best Front Cover’ AWArd

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Simply Booksbook Club ChoiceWe Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler is an unusual book – there’s an extraordinary twist in the story which also makes it a difficult book to review without revealing ‘spoilers’! When we chose the book for our book club other members of the group kept popping into the shop asking if I’d reached page 77 yet (at which point the secret is out...so no peeping!). It’s that rare thing, a comic novel that also wrestles with some serious moral questions. On the face of it this is the story of a family growing up in America in the seventies – and the devastating fall-out after a young daughter is sent away – but there’s a lot more going on under the surface. It’s told with a wonderful lightness of touch and the author’s story-telling reveals just enough, a little at a time, to keep us on our toes. This is a heart-breaking read - a deeply moral look at what it means to be human and how human beings treat each other and the world around them. The novel was shortlisted for this year’s Man Booker.

Christmas is upon us and with it the seasonal crop of ‘quirky’ books (last minute stocking-fillers!). Our favourites so far are Terrible Estate Agent Photos - a collection of the most baffling

property photographs ever taken – and Mangled English by Gervase Phinn – a light hearted look at the mishandling of the English language, from Spoonerisms to classroom howlers.

On a more serious note Carol Ann Duffy’s Christmas poem this year is Dorothy Wordsworth’s Christmas Birthday – set in the frozen landscape of the Lake District, where a merry celebration is about to begin in the Wordsworth’s cottage, and beautifully illustrated by Tom Duxbury.

And for children...one of our favourites is How to hide a Lion from Grandma by Helen Stephens. This is a brand new story but it has an old-fashioned charm and the soft pastel illustrations give this picture book a retro feel. Grandma is coming to stay so Iris needs to hide her lion as grandmas can get anxious if they find a lion in the house - but grandma seems to be hiding something too! Iris is delightful and her fun-loving grandma is totally endearing. The perfect granny-gift for Christmas!

Simply Books, 228 Moss Lane, Bramhall, Cheshire SK7 1BD 0161 439 1436 Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm

Sue Steel & Andrew Cantwww.simplybooks.info

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If you’re at the Panto this Christmas, and you want to find someone to blame for Widow Twankey, badly re-written pop songs, and a theatre crammed with, hysterical children joyously yelling their heads off, blame the Greeks – because they invented Panto. The very word ‘pantomime’ comes from the Greek word which means ‘imitator of all’, and the ancients would entertain with stories performed by multi-talented actors, who would tell tales well larded with comedy, tragedy and sex. When the English got hold of Pantomime in the Middle Ages, we turned it into a piece of knockabout festive theatre, known as a Mummers Play, in which local people would perform a well-worn tale (often about death and resurrection), with much audience participation and friendly heckling. Even today, Alderley Edge has its own unique Mummers Play, containing stock characters such as a Moor, St George, a Doctor of Physick, and a strange, whirling equine creature (played by an actor) which has more than a whiff of the Pantomime Horse about it.

An Italian makeover

In the 17th century, Pantomime was given a grandiose makeover by the Italians, by which

time Pantomime-like performances were often known throughout Europe as ‘Masques’, and their definition conformed to today’s core Panto values of entertainment, laughter, audience involvement – and plenty of good sing-along tunes. Italian Panto was influenced by commedia dell’arte, a form of theatre in which professional artists travelled from town to town telling improvised comic stories, all of which had fixed clown characters, young lovers, Arlecchino and Colombina, the father of Colombina (Pantalone), and Pantalone’s servants, Pulcinella and Pierrot, one being crafty and the other being stupid.

An English takeover

These characters made their way into equivalent English entertainments, from which our own English Harlequinade developed, depicting the eloping lovers Harlequin and Columbine, pursued by the girl’s father, Pantaloon, and his comic servants Clown and Pierrot. By the 18th century, Harlequin was the central figure and romantic lead – and the basic plot of the harlequinade remained essentially the same for more than 150 years. Eventually, Pantomime’s stories embraced European fairy tales, classic English literature and nursery rhymes, and the Pantomime as we know it today began to take shape. At Christmas

by John Wallace

It’s behind You!

8

performances, children would attend so as to witness the comedy and silliness of the highlight of the show, the harlequinade chase scene; it was fast-paced, and often contained spectacular magic, slapstick comedy, dancing and acrobatics.

The familiar modern Panto

These days, Pantomime story-lines and scripts usually make no direct reference to Christmas, and are almost always based on traditional children’s stories, such as Cinderella, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk. The leading male (the ‘Principal Boy’) is often played by a young woman in tight-fitting male garments that make her female charms even more evident, plus other stock characters include the pantomime dame, usually played by a man in drag, plus there is almost always a pantomime horse, a good fairy – and plenty of spectacle provided by an all-star cast. Depending on how big and opulent the production is, you might be lucky enough to see genuine acting talent on stage (the Shakespearian actor Ian McKellen was Widow Twankey in a memorable 2004 production of Aladdin), though provincial Pantos are more likely to be a rather dubious parade of minor soap stars, semi-forgotten comedians, reality show celebrities – and jobbing actors desperate for any paying gig that will see them through the Christmas period.

Nevertheless, Pantomime is a thoroughly British tradition, it’s harmless, hearty and adored by children of all ages; and it shows every sign of going on (and on, and on) for the forseeable future - oh yes it is! (your turn…)

After a brilliant Summer of entertainment everyone is invited to celebrate the arrival of Christmas in style.

Over the weekend of 6-7 December, the Bramhall Together Trust will host Light Up Bramhall, a fun-filled festive celebration which will feature a Christmas market, entertainment, food and drink and a wide variety of other activities and events organised by local businesses and community groups.

One of the main events will take place at the Methodist Church on Saturday evening. Local groups and schools will provide live entertainment on the Imagine FM stage from 4pm and there will be a return appearance from Alex Lees, the recent winner of Bramhall’s Got Talent. Talented group Ever Young www.everyoungmusic.com will be also be performing their new single and Icy Blue. At 5pm the lantern parade will arrive at the Church and the Christmas Tree lights will be formally switched on, followed by more entertainment and a carol service.

On Sunday 7 December, the Imagine FM stage will move to the Village Square and at 4pm Bramhall High School will be hosting a Carol service.

Running alongside the Christmas Market throughout the weekend, Fords Lane Church will be looking after Santa in his grotto in the Village Square and the Methodist Church will be organising a nativity trail around the village. Children can send a letter to Santa by using a special postbox.

What better way to step into Christmas than a community event such as this, brimming with festive activities? No matter what time you turn up - whether you’re with kids or not - you’ll be charmed, entertained and sent home more than ready to deck the halls.

Light Up Bramhall

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Local resident Luis Troyano put Poynton well and truly on the map when he reached the final of BBC1s Great British Bake Off (GBBO) and modelled his final showstopper on one of the gateways to the village. I caught up with Luis, back in his day job at Forever Creative in Cheadle where he filled me in on the background to his whole Bake Off experience.

What made you apply in the first place?

I applied just because I fancied doing something different. I had thought about applying the year before but I downloaded the form and it’s massive! I decided I wouldn’t stand a chance at that point because they look for experience in every discipline of baking so I parked the idea for a year. By next time, with another year of baking behind me, a friend persuaded me to have a go. The Bake Off doesn’t just want cake makers but people who do the broader spectrum of baking and some of those other areas, such as bread, are more my thing.

Is there a secret being selected?

I don’t think there is one, other than having a breadth of knowledge. They aren’t looking for ‘characters’ in the way shows like Britain’s Got Talent and The Apprentice are. But you do need to demonstrate you can you bake in front of cameras, with unfamiliar equipment and in an alien environment. The tent looks quite serene

when you watch on TV but it’s absolute chaos with cameramen, interviewers, everyone has cameras on them all the time, it’s bedlam. It’s funny really!

What was the hardest thing about the experience?

The toughest thing is the transition from baking at home to baking in the tent. Also, I think people assume you’ve practised things about 30 times but it’s not like that at all. The schedule is really tough. Everyone who’s selected has to do the signature bakes and showstoppers for weeks 1 to 9, no matter how far you get – that’s done and developed before you even get there. There wouldn’t be time to recipe develop in that schedule. I think it was Frances from last year who said the further you get the tougher it is, it becomes like an endurance test because you’re so tired. It’s really gruelling as the weeks go on. The technical challenge in the final was by far the toughest thing for me. My heart sank when they announced it!

And you got to the final!

I never expected to get further than week 5. My wife was keen for me to get to the week where I did The Cage. Once I was past that I just kept going – and suddenly I was at the Final. It was surreal to get to the final but my money was always on Nancy to win – she was consistently great and after each day when we sampled

by Claire Hawkere: claire@insidemagazines.co.uk

luis, Great british baker

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each others baking I was drawn to hers every time! Another great thing was how well all the contestants got on with each other, which I wasn’t expecting at all. The true competition is against the judges, not against the other bakers.

How did you come up with the Poynton idea?

When you get to the final you’ve only got just over a week to develop your signature and showstopper. When we were told what they were I hadn’t heard of either - I had to Google them! I knew I wanted to do something about where I live (I wanted one last push for the North!) and sitting in traffic on my way home from work I saw the ‘gateway’ and thought ‘I’ll make that.’ There was no more pre- thought than that and I literally had about four days before I was going filming.

Even on the day I was adjusting the design! The arch at the top was just a strip of pastry when I tried it at home. On the day I decided to do something fancier and as I had a load of choux paste prepared I came up with the idea of profiteroles stuck together with sugar. And that’s the thing they showed most on the final!

It was great to pay homage to Poynton! I was always a supporter of the village revitalisation – I know it was a pain living through all those roadworks but Poynton is a much better place for it. The whole area has benefitted so much from that year or so of pain!

Do you get recognised now?

All the time! I didn’t apply because I wanted to be on TV – I applied because I wanted to bake in that tent. The reality hits you after – there was a six week gap after we’d finished filming and you go back to your normal life and then you start to see the adverts for it and you think oh that’s me! It’s so strange now – everywhere I go I get stared at. Nobody expected the Bake Off to be as huge as it was – nobody expected 14 million people to tune into the final. People come and talk to me all the time. It makes me feel good that I’ve made other people feel good about where they live.

What’s the future?

If you want a career change there’s easier ways to do it than applying for the Bake Off! For me

it broke the routine a bit – it’s given me the opportunity to do interesting things as well as my day job. I’m having fun now with the spin-offs so it’s ticked the boxes for me. I’ve got loads of bookings for food shows and the like, I’ve done some writing, I’m doing some teaching at a school called Seasoned next year. It’s opened up lots of avenues – I’m on one of the demo stages at the Good Food Show in London in a couple of weeks time and that’s surreal to me – I’m usually the guy sitting in the audience watching! That’s beyond my wildest dreams..

…Paul & Mary?

Paul is the loveliest guy you could ever meet and he’s got this kind of villain persona – he’s not like that at all! He always has time for you. Mary Berry is Mary Berry – everything you think she is, she is in real life, there’s no hidden agenda there. And I really like the way they kept everything completely impartial. How you see it on TV is exactly how it is – they talk to you, judge you and that’s that – there was never any favouritism, hats off to them for that.

As far as an experience goes, I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone – fill the form out, because you never know!

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At Amaranth, we are delighted to announce that we have recently been awarded the North West Natural Lifestyle Retailer of the Year. The judges praised us for the depth of knowledge within our team, our innovative products, and the quality and range of services we have to offer.

If you are not yet familiar with our Bramhall shop and treatment rooms, we specialise in natural health, beauty, nutrition and wellbeing. We stock leading natural skincare from Dr Hauschka, Weleda, Green People, Pai, NEOM, Caudalie and REN along with nutrition supplements and

superfoods. We provide aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture, organic body treatments and facials from our luxury treatment rooms.

As December is fast approaching, why not pop in, enjoy a herbal tea with us and Christmas gift shop in your local village. From luxury organic gifts to pampering stocking fillers, here’s a selection of our customers’ favourites.

Natural Lifestyle Store and Treatment Rooms 19 Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall Tel: 0161 439 9856

If you can’t decide, how about an AMARANTH GIFT vOuCHER to spend on a product or treatment?

We would like to wish all of our customers a very Happy Christmas and thank you for your continued support.

It’s Christmashealth & Wellbeing

by Joanne Hill www.amaranth-wellbeing.com

NEOM Organics Perfect Nights Sleep Gift Set £29.95

REN Grab & Go Kit Everything you need for a week away £28

Caudalie vine Body Set Loved by everybody £22

Caudalie Elixir Gift Handbag size of this cult product £11.99

Burts Bees Lip Balm Set The essential stocking filler £6.99

Defiant Beauty Hand Set A unique range for people undergoing treatment for Cancer £23.50

Pai Head to Toe Indulgence for even the most sensitive skin £20

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Quick Crossword

Across9 Motion sickness (7) 10 Query (7)11 Trouble (7)12 Army squad (7) 13 Winners (9)15 Also known as (5)16 Smiled contemptuously (7) 19 Car pilots (7)20 Italian lawn bowling (5)21 Categories (9)25 The joined continents of Europe and Asia (7)26 Exposes (7)28 Duo (7)29 Correction to a printed mistake (7)

Down1 Micro______ = something very small (6) 2 The circle of colour around a nipple (6) 3 The lowest timber in a structure (4)4 Elbows pointed outwards (6)5 Threw away (8)6 Greenish blue (10)7 A black flavoured candy (8)8 Mesmerism (8)14 Approval to do something (10) 16 Branches of knowledge (8)17 Snails (8)18 Diverged (8)22 Ship’s steering mechanism (6) 23 Inborn (6)24 Big Bird’s street (6)27 City in Italy (4)

Solution on page 60.18

Santa will be out and about in Bramhall and Woodford, from 7 December, meeting the children and finding out just what they would like for Christmas.

The Christmas Float is a well known fund raiser which has been in existence for over 30 years raising thousands of pounds for many deserving causes in that time. This year 14 local organisations and charities will be visiting most of the streets of Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme with Santa and undertaking a door to door collection. When you hear or see the Float please encourage your young ones to go and see Santa, also please give generously. This year the Float is being organised by Bramhall and Woodford Rotary Club and is brilliantly supported by NFU Mutual.

Look out for the diary/street plan with the details of the route and visiting days dropping through your letterbox. They can also be found on our website www.bwrotary.org and our Facebook page (Bramhall & Woodford Rotary)

For initial contact and more information details can be found at www.bwrotary.org.uk.

Santa’s Christmas Village Tour

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Whilst the majority of us will be looking forward to celebrating the festive season with our family and friends, there are many in our community who will be alone. A recent survey suggests nearly half a million people

aged over 75 will spend Christmas Day on their own. Unfortunately loneliness isn’t unique to Christmas time and it’s on the increase. According to Age UK and The Campaign to end Loneliness, one in 10 report to having contact

with family, friends and neighbours only once a month.

On a positive note, awareness is growing about the impact of loneliness, especially on the elderly and you don’t have to look too hard to find details of local support groups and activities promoting social inclusion. These can be hugely beneficial.

We too can play our part by simply making time to engage with a family member or neighbour who, we know in the back of our minds, might be lonely. Typically, such people might not be as mobile as they once were. Alternatively, they might have lost a loved one and for them, life has suddenly become more solitary. The positive impact of social engagement on our health and wellbeing is well documented, and by giving a small amount of time each week we can make a big difference in our local community and not just at Christmas time!

Karen Perry, Founder alice chilton www.alicechilton.com

Caring Beyond Christmas

CaroLs and Brass By CandLeLiGhT

St George’s Singers and Bradshaw Hall Primary School Choir are delighted to be sharing the stage for a third Christmas together at St George’s Church, Buxton Road, Stockport on 6 December. Carols and Brass by Candlelight is a now a firm favourite with its mix of Christmas carols and songs traditional and modern from the choirs (and audience!) and the warm rich sound of the award winning Vernon Building Society (Poynton) Brass Band. There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than an evening of seasonal music amid twinkling candles, glittering Christmas trees and the aroma of mulled wine. Together with mountains of mince pies it will be a treat for the senses and the family friendly start time of 7pm should mean that children, parents and grandparents can all enjoy it together.

Tickets can be obtained by phone, email or via the website from the Ticket secretary who can also arrange group discounts. Phone 01633 764012, email tickets@st-georges-singers.org.uk

www.st-georges-singers.org.uk

annuaL sinGinG day

If you would like to experience singing with St George’s Singers, their annual Singing Day at St George’s Poynton on 17 January 1 2015 features Mozart Coronation Mass and Haydn Te Deum. All are welcome to come and join a massed choir of around 200 to learn and then perform with superb soloists under the baton of the choir’s brilliant conductor Neil Taylor. As usual delicious refreshments (home-made soups, sandwiches and cakes) will be available in the church hall throughout the day. The last three Singing Days have been a sell out so please book early to secure your place.

Contact Gillian Banks on 01925 213949 or email gillian.m.banks@gmail.com

BraMhaLL & WoodFord roTary CLuB supporT prosTaTe CanCer uK

For more than 15 years Bramhall & Woodford Rotary Club has collected money at Christmas time for good causes. In recent years we have been privileged to be able to collect at Woodford Park Garden Centre and this year is no different. Over the years the patrons of the Garden Centre have donated many thousands of pounds which has been distributed both locally, nationally and internationally.

This year the Club has decided to support Prostate Cancer UK with the majority of the moneys raised, the remainder going to other local charities. Prostate Cancer UK provides a range of information and support and their services are open to men, their family and their friends.

If you visit the Woodford Park Garden Centre over the weekends leading up to Christmas and see the Rotary stand please consider giving generously. More information can be found at www.bwrotary.org.uk.

In TouchYour Community Noticeboard

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BraMhaLL CoMMuniTy Choir neW TerM

Bramhall Community Choir has been meeting for the last four years. The ethos has always been to enjoy singing in a warm and friendly environment without any pressure. As most of our members have never sung before we don’t hold auditions and only sing publicly at informal events.

Recently we have had a change of choir director. Kate Firth was a competitive A Cappella singer and has been involved in two award winning barbershop choruses and a successful ladies quartet, ‘Eu4ia’. The quartet was five times National Champion and became European Champion in 2004. They eventually earned 12th place in the world in Las Vegas at the Ladies International Barbershop convention.

Kate brings a great deal of energy and expertise to the choir and specialises in healthy singing technique. She says “this term has been an absolute joy and I feel I have made some great friends. We work hard but have a great deal of fun and laugh constantly. I would love to share this with others and hope to meet new members in the New Year – I hope people will come along and see what we do”

The Bramhall Community Choir will meet on Wednesday 14 January at 8pm-9.30pm and Friday 16 January 2pm-3.30pm at Bramhall Methodist Church. We also have a choir in Heald Green that will be meeting on Tuesday 13 January at 10am-11.30am at St Catherine’s Church hall on Outwood Road, Heald Green. All members can attend as many sessions as they wish.

More information is available from Tel: 07794 050591 or email cheshirecommunitychoirs@gmail.com

Learn For Leisure

Adult Daytime Short Courses in Creative Writing, Digital Photography, History and Literature will be starting in January.

Call 0151 243 5340 or 0161 485 3287 for further information or visit www.nw.wea.org.uk

BraMhaLL CoMMuniTy ChurCh (BCC)

BCC is a new fellowship of Christians who have started to meet every Sunday at 11am at the Brookdale Club. Any like-minded folk who would like to try our meetings, or visitors simply curious about what we do, are more than welcome to come along to watch or take part.

BCC’s distinctive is in our name, Community: we are a body all on the same level, deliberately avoiding raising-up leaders. We are effectively a Christian collective whose people want to keep their responsibility for their own spiritual lives. Apart from our distinctive, BCC is a conventional Christian church: our statement of faith is the Apostle’s Creed; we are initially using the Church of England’s Bible reading program; and our approach is charismatic – we expect to witness the work of the Holy Spirit among us, and in particular to participate in spiritual ministries such as supernatural healing.

We aim to meet for about an hour, to include: singing worship; the Holy meal; Bible reading and prayer, sharing and/or ministry. Please come expecting a good level of audience participation – including your own contributions. Children and young people are welcome although there won’t be any specific activities for them at first. Young children are welcome to bring their toys to play with, quietly, away from the main fellowship when they find the central activities don’t hold their attention.

visitors are welcome simply to turn-up on Sundays at 11am at the Brookdale Club, to join right in. If anyone prefers an introduction, or would like to know more information before coming, please telephone Jonathan Mounteney on 0781 764 5379.

IN TouCh

26

Stocking Filler for your teenager?If your teenager is confused about their identity, or their future, has low-self esteem or confidence issues, Know Who U R 4 Teens could help!

Bramhall author Lynn Shaw’s book helps teenagers to understand what drives them, what their passion is and what will motivate them, including making choices about which subjects to study, career paths and how to build their self-esteem and confidence.

“Many things influence the way in which we determine who we are: society, parents, carers, and teachers,” explains Lynn “ If we suffer from low self-esteem, we can also adapt our identity to suit or rebel against the labels of life we pick up or are given for example: delinquent, bully, gay, adopted, loner, swot, obese, anorexic, or useless. There are so many reasons that we can lose sight of who we are during our informative years”

The self-help manual is simple and easy to follow. Lynn’s sense of humour is obvious throughout the book as she believes that change is best facilitated by fun. “If you don’t know who you are, how can you understand what you want from life. If you don’t know what you want from life, how can you get it?”.

Know Who u R 4 Teens is available from Simply Books in Bramhall, www.amazon.co.uk and from Lynn’s website www.winatlife.co.uk.

30

Route: A6 from Hazel Grove towards Buxton; left on A623 towards Chesterfield; 2 miles past the turn for Tideswell, turn right on to the B6465 through Wardlow for Monsal Head. Turn right in front of the hotel and right down a steep hill. In half a mile park on the left in a lay by parking area beyond some cottages.

Walk: 7 miles with two short but fairly steep hills and one steep descent. Use White Peak OS Map 24.

Walk back from the lay by and turn right between the cottages. Go up the hill and join the Monsal Trail. Before the viaduct a path takes you left and then right under the viaduct. This famous viaduct, first criticised by John Ruskin for “ruining the valley”, now carries the newly restored Monsal Trail instead of the old steam railway between Bakewell and Buxton. Opened within the last few years, it is popular with both walkers and cyclists, taking you through a series of tunnels, and past open views of our walk and beyond.

Passing under the viaduct, the path goes through

a gate out on to the grassy path along Monsal Dale. You follow the long river path until you eventually reach the A6. High up on the left of the Dale is the site of Fin Cop, the only known Iron Age fort on the limestone in Derbyshire with a natural defence above the Wye. Going up steps and across this busy A6 road into White Lodge Car Park, you will find benches, picnic tables and toilets.

From the car park, opposite the picnic bench, you take the pathway up through the trees and out into open fields. At a finger post for Taddington, turn right and slowly climb along a twisting path through limestone outcrops. This soon levels out, crosses one stone stile and then takes you gradually up through a wooded dry valley. Look out for the next wooden stile as the path turns sharp left and then leads you up right along a stony path towards Taddington Field Farm. Go through the small gate by the farm, reaching a small road. At the T junction turn right towards Taddington Village, a quiet spot above the A6 by-pass. As you enter the village, take the road to the right and right again down to the A6.

The Walk - Monsal Dale and Miller’s Dale

by Barry Wilsonmarple District rambling Club 32

Cross carefully over this fast section and go straight ahead for the farm gate. This track goes up for a short while before opening out into a level field. Follow the track round to the left and then turn right at the first wall. Keeping this crumbly wall on your left enter a narrow path down to the steep sided High Dale. At the bottom, turn left and follow the clear path through this secluded and perfectly V shaped dry dale. Keep the stone wall to your right and go along this path to the far end of this wall. Turn sharp right past the wall and climb up the grassy path leading to a gateway on to a wide farm track at the top of this hill. (183723)

Going left along the track for about 75 yards, you then climb over the stone stile on the right and on to a level field. The path keeps to the left of the wall reaching a wooden stile in the corner. Climb over and then turn right past former lead raking hollows. If it is windy, these can provide a sheltered picnic stop or, for even better views, go beyond the hollows and as you begin to go

downhill, a series of rock outcrops on the slope give a great view point over Miller’s Dale.

Below you can see the hillside chimney which took the smoke away from Litton Mill’s steam engines, keeping the deep valley site smoke free. The limestone outcrops punctuate the landscape

to the east, and the church of Tideswell, “the Cathedral village of the Peak District”, is visible over to the north-west.

Go over the stile beneath this spot and head steeply downhill to a bridge over the Monsal Trail or former rail track. Go down the steps before the bridge and then diagonally across the trail to the right, where the path drops down over the river into Litton Mill. Turn right and pass though the road by the converted Mill until you join the river path. This secluded section along the river is delightful and eventually opens out along a potentially muddy, and occasionally flooded section where you can observe a variety of water birds. Look out for trout in the river as you approach the amazing Water-cum -Jolly Dale with its remarkable limestone cliffs, a favourite rock climbing spot. The dammed mill pond beneath the crags, viewed from the footbridge over the weir, affords stunning reflections of this spot. It is where Julia Bradbury, on her Railway Trails series, interviewed her father for the BBC programme.

Leaving this spot over the footbridge by the weir, climb up the path and out on to a narrow pathway towards the Monsal Trail. The views of Cresswell Mill and the Wye Valley are stunning. Turn left along the Trail and follow it as far as the old station platform. At the end of the station platform turn right and walk down under the bridge, arriving back at the starting point. Drive back up to the Hotel and enjoy the special views over the viaduct and Monsal Dale or the bar and restaurant in the stables, or have an ice cream or afternoon tea nearby. Enjoy the walk!

The walk was contributed by the Marple District Rambling Club. They organise over 30 walks of all levels and distances every month, going out on Thursdays and Sundays. To see copies of their progamme, visit www.marple-uk.com/rambling

To join the Club, please contact either Barry Wilson, 0161 439 1225, or Deirdre Nolan, 0161 427 7794.

33

SudokuHow to play SudokuFill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone.

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

Solution on page 60.

Solution on page 60.

JuST 4 KIDSAnswers: elves, christmas eve, tinsel, snowflake, turkey, present

Extra letter word: sleigh

37

Things to do with pre-school kids

Compiled by Jenny Rileye: jenny@insidemagazines.co.uk

MondayStory Time 11-11.30amBramhall Library. Telephone 0161 217 6009

Baby Massage & Yoga – afternoonBramhall Library Children’s Centre. Combined class run by The Baby Massage Company & Honeychild Baby Yoga.

Email babylovesmassage@live.co.uk or call Kate on 07866 468245 for class times and to book (necessary).

TuesdayBaby Sensory 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pmSt John’s Church Hall. A learning and development program for parents and babies.

To book, call Becky on 07503547083 or email eastcheshire@babysensory.co.uk

Active Angels 10-11.30amSt Michael & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall. Carer and baby/toddler group. Contact Melissa Davis for details on 07764744637

Story Time 2-2.30pmCheadle Hulme Library. Telephone 0161 217 6009.

WednesdayBMC Baby Chat 10.30-11.45am Term-time only, Bramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South. Come and join us every Wednesday morning for a chat, tea/coffee and biscuits and the opportunity to meet other mums, grandparents and carers with young babies in the Bramhall area.

There’s a small charge of £1 per adult. For further details please call 0161 439 1204.

ThursdayWFA Little Strikers Pre School Football 9.30-10.30amTerm time only. Brookdale Theatre, Bridge lane. £5 per session, no pre-booking required just drop in, pay and play.

Contact Erik on 07792 791382.

FridayBaby Massage & Yoga – morningBramhall Library Children’s Centre. Combined class run by The Baby Massage Company & Honeychild Baby Yoga. Email babylovesmassage@live.co.uk or call Kate on 07866 468245 for class times and to book (necessary).

Toddler Group 10-11.30amCheadle Hulme United Reformed Church, Swann Lane. £1 per child including refreshments. Contact Louise Everett on 07535 450041 or outreach@churc.org.uk

Little Fishes Toddler Group for under 5’s 10-11.30amTerm-time only, Bramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South. For more information contact Angela Fixter on 01614391204 or email angelafixter@hotmail.co.uk

NCT (National Childbirth Trust) 10-11.30amSt Michael & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall. Contact Tracy Howe on 0161 477 3252

Baby Sensory 11am, 12.30pm and 2pmThe Woodford Scout and Guide Headquarters, Moor Lane, Woodford. To book, call Becky on 07503547083 or email eastcheshire@babysensory.co.uk

Toddler Group 3-4.30pmTerm time only. Bramhall United Reformed Church, Robins Lane. Toys & activities for all ages. £1 per family including refreshments, drop in at any time. Contact Louise on 07535450041 or outreach@churc.org.uk

saTurdayWho Let the Dads Out? 10-11.30amEvery 3rd Saturday of the month, Bramhall Methodist Church. A play session for dads, granddads and male carers and their pre-school aged children. Messy play, games, a room full of toys, followed by bacon butties, tea and coffee for dads, and drinks and biscuits for the children. For further details and dates please contact Jo@bramhallmethodists.org.uk or telephone 0161 439 1204.

sundayMessy Church. Second Sunday of every month 4-6pmBramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South. See Inside Guide or call 0161 439 1204.

Bramhall Children’s Activities

38

Connecting local people to local businesses and delivering a quality read to 45,000 Cheshire homes.

With six titles to choose from you can select the areas that suit you best from:

■ Inside Bollington, Prestbury & Tytherington

■ Inside Bramhall

■ Inside Hazel Grove & High Lane

■ Inside Marple

■ Inside Poynton

■ Inside Wilmslow & Alderley Edge

East Cheshire’s leading independent publisher of community magazines

magazinesinside

Kale is from the same family as cabbage.

It’s packed with calcium, vitamins and other

nutrients as well as being full of fibre. It’s already

classed as a super food, but this simple supper

dish proves that it’s super-tasty too.

Servings: 1

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

■ 60g penne pasta

■ 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

■ ½ a bunch of kale, finely chopped

■ Handful of baby spinach

■ 1 clove garlic, crushed

■ 30g sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained &

chopped

■ ½-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

■ Salt and ground pepper to taste

Method

Cook the pasta according to the instructions.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a frying pan over

medium heat. Add garlic, kale, spinach and salt

– cook gently for a couple of minutes, then add

sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes.

Drain pasta and add to veggie mixture in skillet

– stir well. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil

and some Parmesan shavings and serve.

Food & Drink

by xxxx

e: xxx18

RecipePenne with Kale and Sun-dried Tomatoes

18

Quick Crossword

Across

1 Medium hot curry (6)

4 Large boats (5)

8 Broil (5)

9 Drinking glass (7)

10 Immobility (7)

11 Pace (4)

12 Cut the grass (3)

14 Improves grip on sport shoe (4)

15 Arch (4)

18 Hole in a needle (3)

21 Bind (4)

23 Helps (7)

25 Cloth toy (7)

26 Eliminate (5)

27 Charm (5)

28 Atoll (6)

Down

1 Border (6)

2 Patois (7)

3 Ability (8)

4 A few (4)

5 Estuary (5)

6 Chafe (6)

7 Water vapour (5)

13 Hushed tones (8)

16 Eye make-up (7)

17 Presents (6)

19 Large bird of prey (5)

20 Climb (6)

22 Bicker (5)

24 Lagoon (4)

Solution on page 42.21

INSIDE

Issue 30 February March2013

MAG

AZINES

The local magazine our readers love to keepOne of six magazines delivered to over 45,000 homes

WILMSLOW & ALDERLEY EDGE

To find out more about our competitive advertising rates call

01625 879611 or email info@insidemagazines.co.ukJoin us on Facebook & Twitter:

facebook.com/insidemagstwitter.com/insidemagazines

If you took a break this year, some simple checks could help you save money now and for future holidays (a nice thought to get over the back-to-work blues). So here’s my holiday hangover checklist.

Flight delayed by over 3hrs this summer (or any time since 2008)? EU reg 261/2004 means you’re entitled to £100-£480 per person compensation, regardless of the cost of the trip, even for flights going back to 2008, if it:

■ was an EU flight ie any from an EU airport or to one if an EU airline; arrived over 3 hours late or was cancelled;

■ was the airline’s fault, which covers pretty much anything barring extraordinary circumstances such as air-traffic strikes, bad weather and volcanoes.

Free templates, help and what to do about airline excuses can be found in www.mse.me/flightdelays compensation guide. And the results can be large, as Pat contacted us, “Read your info and decided to contact Etihad about our 14.5hr delay from Heathrow to Sri Lanka in 2011. We’ve received a total of £2,010 between four of us... great”.

Shocked by bank/card currency charges on your statement? Fight back. My dad called me outraged at the ‘new’ foreign exchange charges on his bank statement for using his card abroad - nearly £50 in total. Yet banks and credit card providers have always levied these (and I’ve always nagged him to sort it, but he’s my father, he’ll never listen to me, I hope you will). The shock comes from the fact banks have now been forced to split charges out on statements, not hide them in the exchange rate. Most debit and credit cards add 3% loads, so £100-worth of euros costs you £100 plus a £3 charge. Instead grab a specialist load-free credit card just for spending abroad

as they give near-perfect, bureaux-beating rates every time, in every country.

Got Euros or dollars left over? Changing currency back is very expensive, especially for small amounts. So if it’s a country you’ll revisit even in a couple of years, it’s likely best to hold onto it (worth putting it in your overseas wallet (yes, I’m that nerdy). If not, use the buyback comparison at www.travelmoneymax.com to find best rates or find a friend/colleague who’s going where you went, and offer to exchange with them. Use the spot FX rate at www.xe.com and you both win.

Stung by hefty insurance when picking your car hire up? Let me guess, you booked cheap car hire, turned up and they fear-sold you into paying 10 euros a day extra for car hire excess insurance? It happens all the time.

The way round it is to get a standalone policy before you go (you can even get an annual policy to cover the whole year’s hire). To find the cheapest, use www.moneymaxim.co.uk. Full help on cutting costs in www.mse.me/carhire.

Check your passport and EHIC sell-by dates now. Thousands were hit by passport office delays this year, causing some to miss their breaks. If your passport’s nearly at renewal, do it now while you’ve plenty of time before you next go (you’ll get the extra months added on). It’s one less thing to sort, and once it’s done, you’re good for the next ten years. While you’re at it, check the ‘valid by’ date on your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - if it goes before your next holiday renew it now.

The big rule for renewing though is DONT GOOGLE - for both these, imposter sites unnecessarily charge you more than you should pay. Instead the official sites to use are www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport and www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC.

by Martin Lewistwitter: @moneySavingExpert

Don’t forget your holidays

martin lewis Column

41

Wendy Vigurs was born in Aldershot on Burns Night which makes her an Aquarian. In 1940 the family moved to Morecambe where Wendy attended Lancaster Road Primary School where earlier Eric Bartholomew, later to achieve fame as Eric Morecambe, had been a pupil. She then went to Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School and every year 20 members of the class of 1948 still attend an old girls’ get together.

In 1954, the family moved to Bramhall and Wendy attended Manchester High, taking A levels in Physics, Chemistry, Zoology and Botany before attending Manchester University to read Pharmacognosy, the science of deriving medicine from plants. When she graduated, Wendy was offered a research post in Nigeria but having been diagnosed as diabetic, chose to remain in the UK, becoming a retail/community pharmacist, her career for 46 years. Wendy suspects the inspiration to enter pharmacy came from her maiden aunt, Bess, also a pharmacist who was very close to her brother’s children.

Although pharmacy was Wendy’s career, music and acting are the great passions in her life. As a child her ambition was to audition for the D’ Oyly Carte but her father insisted that she pursue her studies first; she has retained a lifelong love of Gilbert and Sullivan. She sang the lead in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride at the Boys’ Grammar School, Morecambe (when the voice of the boy intended for the role broke!) and has sung as Ado Annie in Oklahoma and in performances of Fiddler on the Roof as Tzeitel and in a second performance as Hodel at the Rex in Wilmslow.

As a child she had piano lessons until ten but her interest rekindled when her younger daughter was studying for her grade 4 examination. Within a few years she had achieved a grade 8 qualification and was herself teaching pupils. Wendy still sings with the Poynton MAPS Cantata choir and plays in the Community Orchestra.

In addition to her personal musical accomplishments, Wendy has achieved fame locally as the organiser of regular local trips to the Opus One Halle concerts. This began in 1990 when she advertised in the local paper to share a car to attend concerts. Within a week there were 12 replies. Resourceful as ever, she decided to hire a 16 seater mini bus which then cost £48. Soon more replies came and by the time of the first concert, she had enough people to fill a 53 seat coach and enough reserves to fund a second coach.

For 25 years now, hundreds of people from Romiley, Bramhall, Hazel Grove and Poynton have taken advantage of the trips.

In recognition of her “sustained and significant contribution to the community” and her “dedication and commitment over many years” in organising these visits, Wendy was presented with a Community Award and the Certificate of Civic Service in 2013 by the Mayor of Poynton.

Married at 29, Wendy has two daughters and four grandchildren, three girls and a boy. She admits to a dislike of spiders, a love of steak and an enduring adoration for the actor Steve McQueen, whose much bent picture postcard graces her wall. For 34 years Wendy has been a member of the active church, Poynton Christian Fellowship.

Last Word from Wendy

The Halle Group is open to new members. We attend the Opus One concerts on Thursday evenings and would welcome anyone who is interested in joining the group.

For information please contact Wendy on 01625 260145 or email wendyv1@ntlworld.com

Inside PeopleWendy Vigurs

by Ed Blundell44

Hi Everyone,

On Thursday 6 November, I went to Bramhall And Woodford Rotary Club’s Fashion Show. This was the second fashion show event that the Rotary have put on. It was all in aid of Shelterbox, which is a charity that sends out boxes full of survival items to unfortunate people affected by disasters worldwide.

In the fashion show, there were four clothes shops, all based in Bramhall, which presented their autumn collection, Crissan, SOS, Modiste and What Lyes Beneath. The clothes were for all ages and sizes for every woman.

The marketplace was situated at the front of the room and it was where you could enter the raffle, pick up a glass of wine and a canapé and buy different products from shops that were also located in Bramhall. There was a range of items that looked perfect for Christmas presents, such as jewellery, handmade knitted teddies and bags, chocolates and small gifts.

Clarins, the cosmetic company, also attended the event with their own stall and generously gave out a free goody bag to everyone who came.

The music was bouncy which complemented the models whilst they walked to the beat. There was a bubbly atmosphere in the room throughout the evening and the Deanwater Hotel was decorated which made me feel welcomed.

The night went very quickly, everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves as there was a buzz that lingered in the air. I went home feeling like I had a fun time. Thank you, to Bramhall and Woodford Rotary Club for organising the event.

I suggest that you go next year and have a great time yourself, there is no confirmed date yet so look forward to hearing about it, around this time next year.

Reviews

by Jasmine Jenkins 47

Nothing is permanent, except change. So said Greek Philosopher Heraclitus over 2,500 years ago. And nowhere is change more unstoppable than in the world of digital media.

With the advent of the internet it was widely assumed that the writing was on the wall for printed media such as our magazines. But then, along came social media, which changed the way we communicate again. It is a great tool for community magazines like ours to build relationships and engage with the local community.

We have been dabbling with it – we have a Facebook page and a Twitter account and have recently been learning about how we could use these to better effect. But to do that we need to know more about you, our lovely readers!

The fact that our magazines go to every home in the area means that we don’t know exactly who’s reading them and how many of you are also

using social media. What do you use? Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat? We would love to know so that we can engage with you easily - even if it’s a few weeks until our next issue is published!

If you are internet savvy, please take part in our online survey which will take just a couple of minutes to complete and we will report back next issue.

visit www.survey-me.com/ take-a-survey/uK-IMAG-003 or scan the QR code above.

In the meantime, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/insidemags and feel free to share your community events and activities

Follow us on Twitter @insidemagazines to receive regular updates, reminders about what’s on, and a whole host of interesting content!

Social media - help us to engage with you.

48

As 2014 draws to an end, many of you will be making resolutions for 2015 which may include a review of your career. The difficult job market of recent years might have discouraged you from seeking a change, but with the right approach, there really is no reason why you should not take some first exploratory steps.

Firstly, clarify exactly what you want in your career. Ask yourself “what isn’t working for me right now?” This important step can help pinpoint the source of your current frustrations - perhaps an overbearing boss, heavy workload or lack of progression within your role. If you otherwise enjoy the work you do and the concerns are easily addressed by simply moving jobs, then start your job hunt.

If however, you dislike the nature of your work, then you can use this realisation as the catalyst

for researching other fields. Make a list of what fields interest you and use this as a starting point for research into what education and training would be required, what opportunities exist and whether salaries are within a range to meet your needs.

You should then speak to people you know who are already within that career. Talk to those within your immediate network. But also make good use of social media tools such as Linked In or Twitter to establish connections with individuals working in your field of interest. Once you have tapped into these connections, use the chance to speak to them and gain in-depth knowledge of your chosen area of interest to help you make an informed decision.

By following these simple steps, you can make your research phase a little simpler to navigate and set yourself on the way to a new career in 2015.

By Tasmin Sabar Twitter @tasminsabar

neW YeAr, neW CAreer?

Want to help a family member onto the property ladder?

”

Vernon Building Society’s Family Assist mortgage allows a family member to use their savings to help a relative buy a home without giving away their funds for good.

Research carried out by the Council of Mortgage Lenders has shown that around 64% of first time buyers have assistance from family members when buying their first home, with the average deposit for a buyer in the North West being over £16,000.

Such support often comes in the form of a gifted deposit however this can be problematic as the helper can’t rely on their money being returned should they need it in future.

Recognising this, local lender Vernon Building Society has developed their Family Assist mortgage which allows a first time buyer to borrow up to 100% of a property’s purchase price, provided that a relative is able to deposit savings with the Society equivalent to 20% of the purchase price for a minimum of 4 years.

The savings are kept in an account in the helper’s name separate to the mortgage and are returned to the relative after 4 years provided that all mortgage payments have been maintained satisfactorily. Instead of earning interest, the

savings are offset against the mortgage balance which means that they proportionally reduce the amount of interest charged to the borrower. This results in a more rapid reduction in the balanced owed creating valuable equity for the borrower.

The Vernon’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Ian Keeling, said: “By linking a relative’s savings to the mortgage we are able to offer a lower interest rate than typical first time buyer mortgages, and therefore lower mortgage payments, which would only usually be accessible to those with a large deposit. It differs from a traditional ‘guarantor’ mortgage as the helping relative is putting a maximum of 20% of the property value at risk rather than being responsible for the entire loan if the borrower is unable to keep up with their payments.”

The Family Assist Mortgage is exclusively available to homebuyers within a 25 mile radius of Stockport. With qualified mortgage advisers at each of its local branches in Stockport, Edgeley, Hazel Grove, Marple, Bramhall, Poynton and Reddish, Vernon Building Society offers a friendly and personal approach to those looking to purchase a property.

For more information about the Family Assist Mortgage or to find your nearest branch visit www.thevernon.co.uk or contact the vernon on 0161 429 6262.

“

52

A guide to selected events in East Cheshire during December & January

Tuesday 2 deCeMBer Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme Flower Club. Demonstrator- Vanessa Wellock with a title of “Christmas by Design” A warm welcome to visitors (cost £6) Enquiries 0161 483 3271

Parish Room, Church Road, Cheadle Hulme 7pm for 7.30pm

Thursday 4 deCeMBerLINK Women’s Fellowship will be holding a short Advent Service followed by a talk by Mrs Mary Pease on the charity Tinkuy Peru. Andean Crafts produced by the charity, which would make good Christmas presents, will be for sale. Gentlemen to come and join us so ALL will be welcome. Gentlemen welcome too! Excellent value for only £2 with mince pie and a cup of tea.

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall village Centre) 7.30pm for 7.4pm start

Friday 5 deCeMBerSimply Cinema presents FROZEN SING-A-LONG (U). For the first time in forever you’re invited to a special sing-a-long screening of FROZEN. Get ready to sing and ‘let it go’! Come dressed in your Royal Finery! Doors open 5.30pm for themed drinks and snacks, screening at 6pm. Tickets: Adults £7; Child £6. To book call in to Simply Books, phone 0161 439 1436 or email events@simplybooks.info

Centrepoint, Bramhall Methodist Church 5.30pm

Friday 5 deCeMBerHarmony Revival Barbershop Chorus Charity Concert. Bring your own drinks and enjoy an evening of music, song & laughter. Tickets £5 from Linda Morton 01663 762150

High Lane village Hall SK6 8AB 7.30pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerBramhall Methodist Church Pre-School Christmas Fair is taking place between 10am - 12pm. Games and crafts for children, tombolas, bouncy castle, cakes, refreshments plus lots of Christmas goodies. Someone very special is also flying in to meet us, so it’s time to make sure everyone is on their best behaviour! Admission free for children, 50p for adults. www.bmcpreschool.org.uk

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall village Centre) 10am – 12pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerLight up Bramhall weekend. Christmas lights switch on at 5pm, with lantern parade. Santa’s Grotto, Christmas market & entertainment organised by Bramhall Together Trust. Bramhall village Centre 5pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerLadybrook Singers Christmas Charity Concert with Guests The JJ Singers Proceeds to North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) Tickets £6 Adults £2 Children Enquiries via website www.ladybrooksingers.co.uk Tel 0161-485 6642 or pay at the door. Refreshments available. Parking nearby and disabled access.

St. Mary’s Parish Church in the Market Place, Churchgate, Stockport 7.30pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerA Celebration of Dvorak & Christmas Music. Phoenix Opera Chorus & soloists present excerpts from the operetta “Summer Song” Beautiful melodies by Dvorak arranged by Eric Maschwitz. Also chorus, soloists and orchestra perform music for Christmas and an opportunity for audience to join in singing favourite carols. Tickets - adults £8 under 12 - £4

Call for tickets 01565 733230 or email: phoenixartsgroup@yahoo.co.uk Trinity Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane, Davenport 7.30pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerCarols and Brass by Candlelight. See In Touch for more details. St George’s Church, Stockport 7pm

saTurday 6 deCeMBerThe Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra will perform a festive programme including Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite No. 1 and Ravel’s Mother Goose. Tickets £12, Conc £10, Under 18’s £2 Wilmslow Leisure Centre 7.45pm

saT 6 & 7 deCeMBerScale Modelling Exhibition. Working model railways in 2mm to O gauges. Many static exhibits and demonstrations, full trade support, many scale societies and model club stands. Free parking, full disabled access, refreshments. Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4.30pm Adults £5.50 14-18yrs £3.50 Uniform ID UK Forces & Service Personnel £4

Family (2 adults + 3 u/18s) £15 www.themodelshow.co.uk Poynton Leisure Centre, Yew Tree Lane, Poynton

Inside Guide

Compiled by Claire Hawkere: claire@insidemagazines.co.uk

Continued over...55

saT 6 To saT 13 deCeMBer NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn. The classic theatre-based farce which proves ‘the show really must go on!’ To book online: www.stockportgarrick.co.uk Tickets £9.50 (£8 concession) Telephone orderline: 0161 477 7779. Tickets available in person from the Stockport Plaza box office. Monday 2 for 1 ticket offer: Cheapest ticket free (does not apply to studio performances) Tickets £9.50 (£8 concession)

Garrick Theatre, Exchange Street, Wellington Road South, Stockport

Mon 8 To saT 13 deCeMBerPoynton Players present Gaslight (a classic Victorian thriller) by Patrick Hamilton. Ticket Prices - Monday only £7.50. Tuesday to Saturday £8. Tickets can be booked online, full details www.poyntonplayers.co.uk or by phone (0333 666 3366 Mon-Fri 9am to 7pm. Sat 9am to 5pm)

Poynton Theatre, George’s Road West, Poynton

Tuesday 9 deCeMBerEast Cheshire Assoc. of National Trust Lecture – ‘In the Bleak Mid-Winter.’ Speaker: Brian Hallworth.

St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michaels Avenue, Bramhall 2pm

Wednesday 10 deCeMBerCraft and Chatter. A monthly get together for crafters of all kinds, card making, quilting, collage, embroidery, sewing and any other interests you might have. Bring your own project and enjoy good crafting company with a cuppa and the opportunity to learn from each other. Contact Chrissie 0161 439 8262 for further details. £2

Dean Row Chapel Hall, Adlington Road, SK9 2BX 2pm to 4pm

Wednesday 10 deCeMBerThe life of the Queen of Sheba, one of the most intriguing and exotic figures in history, will be explored in a lecture preceding the annual Christmas Lunch of North East Cheshire Decorative and Fine Arts Society (Necdfas) Lecturer Christopher Bradley, an expert on Middle Eastern culture, will explain where she came from, when she ruled and why she is so famous.

Hunting Lodge, Adlington Hall email: info@necdfas.org.uk

Thursday 11 deCeMBerCheadle Hulme & Bramhall Natural History Society: ‘An exploration of Styal Country Park’ John Hill Wilson. All welcome - contact Dave Ward 0161 439 7215 for information. St Michael’s Church Hall, Bramhall 7.30pm

Thursday 11 deCeMBerBramhall Group of Family History Society: Bramhall Memorabilia from the Findlows of Benja Fold – local postcards, photographs, letters, newspaper articles etc., followed by our Christmas Party. Admission £2 inc. refreshments. More information from 0161 439 5021 or email bramhall@fhsc.org.uk

Main Hall of the united Reformed Church, Bramhall 7.30pm

Friday 12 deCeMBerSimply Cinema presents MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (U). Join us for our special Christmas screening of this seasonal favourite – a heart-warming, tear-jerker! Doors open at 6.30pm for seasonal refreshments and Green & Blacks ices creams! Screening at 7pm. Tickets £7. To book call in to Simply Books, phone 0161 439 1436 or email events@simplybooks.info

Centrepoint, Bramhall Methodist Church 7pm

Friday 12 deCeMBer St Ann’s Hospice Choir ‘Christmas is Coming’ Music and carols for all to join in. St Ann’s Hospice Festival Choir with Anna-Clare Monk, soprano, Corus Brass Ensemble, Jeffrey Makinson, organ, Christopher Ellis, piano, John Pomphrey, conductor, Sue Nicholls, presenter. Tickets £20 - £27 from box office or Tel: 0161 907 9000 Concessions available. Children half price.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 7.30pm

sunday 14 deCeMBerCheshire A Cappella presents a Christmas Variety Show with guest quartets Reckless and Tagline. Tickets £10, £6 under 12s from 01625 251569 or email sing@cheshireacappella.org Woodford Community Centre, Woodford. Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm

Friday 19 deCeMBer‘Classics at Christmas’ Concert with ‘Epiphany’. Featuring Violinist Caroline Pether including music by Bach, Strauss and a Christmas Selection. Tickets £15, £10 (conc), £35 family (2 adults/2 children) Available at the door or in advance from 01625 858802

St Georges’ Church Poynton 7.30pm

Tues 6 To saT 10 JanuaryCHYPS (Cheshire youth pantomime society) presents Robin Hood with a cast and live band made up of some of the most talented 11 – 19 year olds in Cheshire. Evening performances plus a Saturday matinee.

Tickets start from £8 with family and group bookings available. Ticket Line 07910 187 583 or visit www.chypspanto.co.uk Woodford Centre, Woodford

INSIDE GuIDE

56

Thursday 8 JanuaryLINK Women’s Fellowship: Mr Ted Doan who will give a talk on the Plaza Cinema. All ladies are welcome - whether or not you are a member of our church (or any church for that matter). We round off the evening with tea and biscuits and a bit of a natter and its only £2 for the evening. New Year, New Resolution - come and join us!

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall village Centre) 7.30pm for 7.45pm start

Thursday 8 JanuaryBramhall Group of Family History Society: Beginning Your Family History- with Liz de Mercado. Admission £2 inc. refreshments. More information from 0161 439 5021 or email bramhall@fhsc.org.uk

Main Hall of the united Reformed Church, Bramhall 7.30pm

Wednesday 14 JanuaryNecdfas lecture on the History of the Royal Academy of Arts. Website: www.necdfas.org.uk Email info@necdfas.org.uk Brookdale Club, Bramhall.

Wednesday 14 January Craft and Chatter. A monthly get together for crafters of all kinds, card making, quilting, collage, embroidery, sewing and any other interests you might have. Bring your own project and enjoy good crafting company with a cuppa and the opportunity to learn from each other.

£2 - contact Chrissie 0161 439 8262 for further details £2 Dean Row Chapel Hall, Adlington Road, SK9 2BX 2pm to 4pm

Wednesday 14 JanuaryThe Friends of Silk Heritage presents: ‘A story of the collection’ Ever wondered how and why Macclesfield came to have its Egyptian collection? Well now is your chance to find out. The Honorary Curator of Egyptology at West Park Museum will lead this fascinating talk through the history of the West Park collection £4/£3

The Old Sunday School, Roe Street, Macclesfield SK11 6uT 7.30pm

Wednesday 14 To saT 17 JanuaryApril in Paris by John Godber - a present-day comedy. A couple from Hull bicker about everything, but when one wins a trip to Paris, a glimmer of hope appears. To book online: www.stockportgarrick.co.uk Tickets Tickets £7.50 (£6.50 concession)Telephone orderline: 0161 477 7779. Tickets available in person from the Stockport Plaza box office.

Studio, Garrick Theatre, Exchange Street, Wellington Road South, Stockport SK3 0EJ

Wednesday 21 JanuaryLunchtime Concert by kind permission of the Royal Northern College of Music www.rncm.ac.uk Admission by programme £4. Light lunches available from 12 noon.

Alderley Edge Methodist Church 1pm

Thursday 29 JanuaryBramhall Christian Viewpoint: Supper Evening and talk entitled ‘Treasure in Dark Places’ by Nadine Parkinson from Tearfund. To reserve a place (£10 including supper) please ring Liz Dooley Tel: 0161 439 6015

Deanwater Hotel, Woodford at 7.45pm

saT 31 Jan - 7 FeB 2015Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie Tickets £9.50 (£8 concession) To book online: www.stockportgarrick.co.uk Tickets £9.50 (£8 concession)Telephone orderline: 0161 477 7779. Tickets available in person from the Stockport Plaza box office.

Garrick Theatre, Exchange Street, Wellington Road South, Stockport SK3 0EJ

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Copy deadline for the next issue:

Monday 12 JanuaryTel: 01625 879611 email: info@insidemagazines.co.uk

Don’t forget!

57

No job too small…

Gutter Cleaning Painting & Decorating

Inside or Out Assembling Flat Pack Furniture

Fence and shed painting

Even those little jobs like

Putting up a shelf Fixing that squeaking door

...and much, much more AFFORDABLE PRICES

FRIENDLY SERVICE FREE ESTIMATES

ICAN Handyman Services

Contact Patrick 07787 552719

ChurChes

Baptist Church 0161 440 9091

Christ Church, Woodford 0161 439 2286

Bramhall Christian Fellowship 0161 440 9132

Evangelical Church 0161 439 3103

Methodist Church 0161 440 8007

Roman Catholic Church of

St Vincent de Paul 0161 440 0889

St Michael & All Angels 0161 439 6532

United Reformed Church 0161 439 4807

doCTors

Bramhall Health Centre 0161 426 5850

Bramhall Park Medical Centre 0161 426 9700

Bramhall Park Cancellation Line 07548 098 258

The Village Surgery 0161 439 3322

heLpLines

Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 7697555

CALL Listening Line 0845 123 2329

Childline 0800 1111

Citizens Advice Bureau 08444 111444

Crimestoppers 0800 555111

Directory Enquiries 118 500

National Dementia Helpline 0845 300 0336

RSPCA 0300 1234999

Samaritans 0845 7909090

hospiTaLs

Stepping Hill Hospital 0161 483 1010

NHS Direct 0845 4647

Leisure CenTre

Bramhall 0161 439 8128

LiBrariesBramhall Library 0161 217 6009

Stockport Central Reference Library 0845 644 4307

LoCaL GoVernMenTStockport MBC 0161 480 4949

Mark Hunter MP Constituency Office 0161 486 1359

poLiCe (non-eMerGenCy)Bramhall Police Post 0161 439 2189

Cheadle Heath Police Station 0161 856 9770

(non-emergency) 101

posT oFFiCesBramhall Sorting Office 0161 255 3371

Maple Road Post Office 0161 439 4100

Parkside Post Office 0161 439 4006

Hazel Grove Post Office 0161 483 2332

sChooLsBramhall High School 0161 439 8045

Ladybrook Primary School 0161 439 8444

Moss Hey Primary School 0161 439 5114

Nevill Road Primary School

Infants 0161 439 4817

Juniors 0161 439 4598

Pownall Green Primary School 0161 439 1105

Queensgate Primary School 0161 439 3330

TraVeLBus Information 0161 228 7811

Train Information 0845 748 4950

Manchester Airport 0161 489 3000

uTiLiTiesElectricity – Power Loss 0800 195 4141

Gas – Emergency 0800 111 999

Water Mains 0845 746 2200

Environment Agency Floodline 0845 988 1188

Useful Numbers

59

CrosswordSolution

SudokuSolution

60

aCCounTanTsDavid Hanley 60

aCupunCTureFiona Bullock 54

arTElm Art 16

audio VisuaLF Maddocks 30, 60

BaThrooMsHazel Grove Bathroom Centre 46

BuiLdinG serViCesCheshire Roofline & Building Services 58S.P. Lee & Co 58Whitehall Builders 54

BuiLdinG soCieTiesVernon Building Society 53

Car repairsScratches & Scrapes 58

Cards & GiFTsLozziwoo 11

Care hoMes Borough Care 49Fernlea 23Sunrise of Bramhall 24

Care serViCesAlice Chilton In-Home Care 22Cheshire Home Care Solutions 5

CarpeT & uphoLsTery CLeaninGPremier Carpet Cleaning 27Safeclean 29

ChiLdren’s aCTiViTiesDizzy Rascals 21

ChiropodySuzanne Gaskell 34

CoMpLeMenTary TherapyAmaranth 17

CoMpuTer & inTerneTPC Doctor 6

CreaTiVe arTs CLassesPottery Classes 11

deCoraTorsL & L Limited 57Gary O Reilly 9Spring Decorating 14Stuart Ennis 47

drainaGePure Clean Drainage Solutions 28, 46

eduCaTionGreenbank Preparatory School 36

eLeCTriCaL suppLiesTaylor Electrical 45

eLeCTriCiansF Maddocks 29

esTaTe aGenTsMosley Jarman Inside Back Snapes Inside Front

FinanCiaL serViCesMaestro Financial Services 50

GaraGe doorsCarrington Doors 6

Garden BuiLdinGsSwift Organisation 10

Garden desiGn & LandsCapinGCreative Gardens & Driveways Back Cover

Garden MainTenanCeGreenside Gardens 54NRG Garden Services 28Robinson Garden Maintenance 60

hoMe iMproVeMenT & properTy MainTenanCeICAN Handyman Services 58JS Services 39

hosT FaMiLiesHome to Home 51

inTerior desiGnGatley Interiors 20

KiTChensByles 45Dream Doors 35Richard Allen Interiors 27Simplicity Granite 54

oVen CLeaninGEcodazzle 30

pLasTerersPJ McEvoy 47

pLuMBinG & heaTinGBPF Plumbing & Heating 39Warmflame Gas 21

resTauranTsTom Yam 19

rooFinGV. Gill Roofing 29

soLiCiTorsHale Solicitors 50Mounteney Solicitors 9Slater & Gordon 43

Tree serViCesSwift Tree & Arboricultural Services 28

WindoW & ConserVaTory repairsThe Window Repair Centre 61Window Geeks 49

Classified Index

62