SEPTEMBER 2014 · DELIVERED FREE
YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOCAL LIVING COVERINGBANGOR ON DEE, OVERTON, CROSS LANES AND SURROUNDING AREAS
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DISCLAIMERThe opinions and views expressed in articles and advertisements published in this issue of essentiallyours are not necessarily the views held by the editors....................................................................................
All facts and figures are correct at time of going to press....................................................................................
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Front cover image ‘The Druid’, Erddig © Ellen Parzer
POLICE ADVICE
WREXHAM
MUSEUM
INTO HIS 80S
- AND STILL
CLIMBING!
THE JEWEL OF
THE DEE
RADIO MAELOR
King’s Open Morning11th October 2014, 9.30am-12.30pm
Call: 01244 689 553Email: [email protected]
www.kingschester.co.uk
#KingsChesterOpenMorningAges 4-18
Colour their lives foreverLook inside King’s and uncover a vibrant, academic
environment for girls and boys, with distinct sections for Infant, Junior, Senior and Sixth Form pupils. A nurturing
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Telephone 01244 571 [email protected]
Welcome
I somehow managed to sign up for the Wrexham half marathon next March! Well when I say signed up I mean someone signed me up, but I’m secretly pleased about it.
That’ll teach me to watch Jo Pavey at the Common wealth games run a fabulous 5k at the age of 41, having had a baby 10 months earlier, and make a bronze medal look easy! I used to run quite a lot, nothing competitive, but just used to put the old trainers on and run a few miles for pure enjoyment, but never timed myself or knew how fast I was going. There’s only a few names down for the marathon so far, so just a few mad people up for such a run in March; and anything could happen in March weather wise. I’ve started running again and tried running 10k a few times. After a few goes I’m back under 60 minutes, but if I’m going to win the veterans ladies section in this Wrexham half marathon I’m going to have to do it in under 1 hour 30 minutes in total, and that’s double the distance I’m running at the moment. So I’ve got my work cut out indeed.
Anyway that’s me. I hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend, despite the weather, and now it’s back to work and back to school time. It’s like ground hog day isn’t it, how soon this comes around and the years tick by. Although not for Tricia, and she
knows who she is, who has just retired from teaching, and will be feeling the benefit just about now as everyone else returns to work and she can do as she likes. I’m quite jealous. Enjoy your retirement Tricia!
In light of the wonderful memorial month of August for the war it is appropriate to mention the memorial benches in Bangor on dee, if you use them could you remember their special purpose and help look after them, and ensure our local children value them too and understand the difference. There has been recent signs of damage so please keep your eye on them as you pass through the village. Also if you know what happened to the coffin shaped union flag that has disappeared since the British Legion disbanded in Bangor on Dee please let me know.
And lastly a little message to Viv who writes the local history articles as I’ve lost her number to say we’ve used all the articles up and I would welcome some more if she would like to continue, but perhaps she could ring me. Thanks for providing them Viv , we’ve all enjoyed them.
Enjoy September, I hope the sun returns and the return to work and school isn’t too painful.
All the best, Jill
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It is becoming common place for parents to turn to homeopathy as a natural form of treatment for childhood ailments.It is proven to be particularly useful for young children and in pregnancy, where pharmaceutical drugs are often unsafe. The remedies are not toxic, and can even be used on newborn babies.
The principle behind the therapy is that ‘like is treated with like’. The remedies chosen are those which, in much larger quantities, can produce similar symptoms to those being treated. The remedy acts as a catalyst, kick-starting the healing process.
Babies often present with common short term problems that homeopathy can deal with easily. One of the most distressing and difficult problems that young babies often get is colic. In breast-fed babies, colic can be caused by spicy or acidic food in the mother’s diet, or the mother’s anxiety. In bottle-fed infants, air swallowing is the most likely cause.
There are a number of remedies that can help safely and quickly:
Chamomilla: The baby can’t be settled, but seems to improve when carried around.
Colocynth: Rubbing the tummy relieves the symptoms. The baby wants to curl up its legs and may also have intermittent diarrhea.
Mag Phos: Spasms relieved by warmth and gentle pressure. This is the baby that likes to be placed stomach down on your knee and have its back rubbed.
Bryonia: The baby is irritable, screams at the slightest movement and won’t tolerate being picked up or rocked.
Nux Vomica: if the breastfeeding mother has eaten spicy food and suspects it may be the cause.
Ignatia: If the breastfeeding mother is emotionally upset this can also affect the baby and can cause colic.
Over-the-counter remedies are available in health shops and some chemists. The most common potencies are 6c and 30c. Both of these can be used; 6c can be repeated more frequently. For babies, tablets should be crushed between two clean teaspoons and dissolved in 2fl oz of warm water, giving a teaspoon full as a dose. For young children, the tablets should be given crushed. Remedies to be given every 20 minutes for up to five doses, using 6c or 30c.
Self-help homeopathy can be extremely effective, but for long-term health problems see a qualified homeopath.
For more information see; www.keynotehealth.com or ring 0774 761 5713Carol Lloyd BSc(Hons) Homeopathy, MSc, LFHom, RSHom, LCHE
Advertising Feature
Homeopathy and colic
I run a regular clinic in central Wrexham, please see website for further details or call Carol Lloyd on 01978 257031.
www.keynotehealth.com
When it comes to looking after yourself and your family it is important that you make the right choices.
Homeopathy is holistic and works by stimulating the body’s own healing abilities.Homeopathy is evidence based and has been around for more than 200 years.
Common problems that may respond to homeopathic treatment include:• Skin disorders• Joint problems• Digestive disorders• Stress and emotional
problems• Hormonal disorders• Respiratory complaints• Childhood illnesses
Carol Lloyd BSc (Hons) Homeopathy, MSc, LFHom, LCHE, RSHom.
Healing the Body & Mind WITH HOMEOPATHY
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Jones Brothers Farm Shop, Stansty Lodge, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 4YF
www.jonesfarmshop.com 01978 359 001
We have the most amazing selection of local, quality meat at the farm shop.
We also have a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and bedding plants!
Shop local. You know it makes sense.
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We are a family-run farm shop based in Wrexham.
At Jones Brothers our aim is, and always has been, to offer locally-sourced, high quality
food at reasonable prices.
In addition to a wide range of meats we also offer a selection of locally-sourced dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables.
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Eve Woolley & Barbara Whitley
Lane End InteriorsGreenLane,Shocklack,MalpasSY147BN
01829 250407 07899 948608 07717 350931
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Lynne Maurice
Police Advice
CONTACT NUMBERSPCSO 0151 Lynne Maurice Blackberry 07854 352 815
PCSO 2858 Phil Jones Mobile 07854 389056Overton, Hanmer, Bettisfield, Horeseman’s, Green & Penley
PCSO 2610 Robina Ahmed Mobile 07854 334279Cross Lanes, Bangor on Dee, Bronington, Worthenbury & Tallarn Green
Overton Police Station 01978 348 425CALL 101 which is a 24 hour number for non emergency calls ie.
threatening and abusive behaviour, drunk and rowdy groups, drug related anti-social behaviour.
999 FOR EMERGENCY
Well it’s been a lovely summer and everyone seems to have been on their best behaviour. No real problems to report for the village which is good and hopefully everyone is happy. Please be vigilant regarding scams that are out there. One of the latest reports are of a suspected ‘Phishing E Mail’ purporting to be from TV Licencing by a resident in the Wrexham area. Phishing is when you are sent an email which is designed to look like it comes from a trustworthy organisation but has actually come from someone else. The sender normally wants you to provide them with passwords or bank or credit card details or to pay money into their account. By keeping alert and following these simple rules you should be able to spot a scam. Please visit the TV Licensing website to assist in identifying phishing emails and advice and to check if an email has come
from them, by typing www.tvlicencing.co.uk into your web browser or you can use their other contact details. Please take a quick look at a few handy hints to protect yourself from scams etc.
Protect your identity. Only give out your personal details when absolutely necessary and when you trust the person you are talking to. Destroy personal information. Make sure you shred all documents, old credit and debit cards and anything else with personal details on. Treat personal details like you would money. Don’t leave them lying around for others to see and take. Be wary of who you give your personal details to in the street (eg. Charities, products, competitions etc). Do not sign up for anything until you have researched the company or charity.
Money matters.Never send money to anyone you don’t know. Do not send any money or pay fees to claim prizes or lottery winnings.Responding to jobs asking you to simply use you own bank account to transfer money for somebody could be a front for money laundering activity. Money laundering is a serious criminal offence and can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Avoid transferring or sending any refunds or overpayments back to anyone you do not know.
Wrexham Museum
Welsh Guards Capture Visitors’ Attention New exhibition opens at Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives
Imag
e, co
urte
st o
f Eye
Imag
ery
Wrexham Museum is the venue for a new display of uniforms and headgear from the Welsh Guards Collection, Park Hall, Oswestry. The new display has been curated with the assistance of former members of the Welsh Guards to mark the granting of the freedom of the borough of Wrexham to the Welsh Guards on 18th July.
The display includes:• A battle tunic and peaked cap ( part of
service dress – a guardsman’s everyday uniform) from the First World War
• A Home Service tunic and peaked caps, modern, worn when the Welsh Guards walk out on parade
• And a First World War German helmet from the site of the battle of the Somme, one of the many locations where the Welsh Guards saw action during the Great War.
Jonathan Gammond, Access & Interpretation Officer said “Wrexham Museum would like to thank Graham Binnie and John Williams of the Welsh Guards Collection for lending these historic items for display at such short notice.
The pristine uniforms look great in their display cases in the main gallery and the Bwtri café, while the German stahlhelm or steel helmet is positively menacing. It hovers in its case as if the spirit of a long dead soldier is holding it aloft.”
The Welsh Guards objects will remain on display until after Armistice Day.
For more information and to arrange a photocall, please telephone 01978 297 460.
The Welsh Guards were formed in 1915 from volunteers recruited from Wales by existing grenadier companies. While they are the youngest of the Guards, their origins date back to the first regiments of the British Army.
The Carpet & Bed Warehouse
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36-39 Chester StreetWrexham LL13 8AHTel: 01978 291500
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We are open 7 days a week, Mon- Fri 9-5pm Sat 9-4pm Sun 10.30-3pm.
Tel: 07803 169 777
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Katy’s Mobile Hairdressing
Qualified mobile hairdresser, Wrexham & surrounding areas
22 years experience
Tel: 01978 711978www.trottingmaregarage.co.uk
Trotting Mare Garage, KnoltonNr. Overton on Dee, Wrexham LL13 0LE
CAR LEASINGNEW & USED CARS AVAILABLE
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FORD TRANSIT 350 L4 DIESEL RWD Curtainslider TDCi 100ps ‘One Stop’
Business lease from £340.72 + VAT per month (48 months), Initial payment: £2044.32 + VAT
Shape your future
Choose King’s Sixth FormKing’s has a proven track record of helping students reach their aspirations and gain places at the top universities. Almost 80% of last year’s leavers went to the top 30 UK universities.*
*The Times top universities 2013
Thursday 2nd October, 6-8pm
Call: 01244 689553email: [email protected]
www.kingschester.co.uk
#KingsChesterSixthFormAges 16-18
PROSPECTIVE SIXTH FORMERS AN INFORMAL EVENING FOR
Wrexham Council’s Connect magazine has been keeping residents up to date with the Council’s news for over 10 years.
In that time it has covered some major events, shared stories of exceptional people in town and looked at difficult issues facing the Council. It has also won a prestigious award for ‘Best External Publication’ from The Chartered Institute of Public Relations Cymru - and now the time has come for a change. Connect has moved online and we want to make sure that all residents within the County Borough are given the chance to receive a copy. To make sure you receive yours, visit the link below to subscribe or email [email protected] with your email address. It is completely FREE of charge.
The new online version is available at http://connect.wrexham.gov.uk and gives you the chance to browse articles by category, search the site for a certain issue, comment on an article you have read, give your opinions in the online poll and share news with friends. We will still be printing a number of copies and making them available to you in our buildings – leisure centres, libraries, Contact Wrexham and reception areas in other Council buildings. Don’t forget, if you would like to make sure that you receive Connect when each issue is released, visit the new site and subscribe for FREE or send your email address to [email protected] to be added to our mailing list.
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Hoffi Hair Studio, Rose HillErbistockWrexham LL13 0DE
01978 806400www.hoffi hairstudio.co.uk
Time for autumn colours & styles
Saltney, Chester, CH4 8SW | www.oakwarehouse.co.uk | 01244 67 65 65
Come and visit ourlocal showroom
The FCA launches recruitment drive to
build an army of foster carers to support children in Wrexham
News Release
Foster Care Associates has launched a recruitment drive to build an army of carers to nurture and care for the 195 children in care in Wrexham.Since it was established 20 years ago, Foster Care Associates has placed 30,000 children with families to nurture and support them, and Sandra Jones, Registered Manager for the FCA in Wrexham, said that the agency is now on a quest for responsible, nurturing adults who can give children in need of parental guidance and support they need to thrive and grow.
Sandra said: “As you’d expect, there is a rigorous process involved in finding suitable foster carers for children. When you consider that there are, on average, 195 children in Wrexham alone in need of support – 135 of whom are in foster care - there is a massive need for suitable candidates to step forward and find out more about the rewards.
“Carers receive excellent conditions including support and training from their local FCA office as well as 24/7 support provided by our dedicated out of hours service of skilled and committed staff.
Fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience, and there are many factors that make up an ideal candidate – everything from being adaptable, resilient and nurturing to being a good listener and flexible in response to a young person’s needs. Everyone is different and with so many responsible, sympathetic and caring adults in the area, we’re appealing to people to consider themselves as a potential foster carer regardless of whether they have children themselves. In fact many of our prospective carers are parents whose children have left
home, leaving them with space and inclination to provide the care required to children and young people.”
Sandra added: “We have many, many examples of outstanding foster carers who have cared for and nurtured children with complex needs until they either move to live independently in the community, or return home. Many of our carers have been fostering with us since we were established two decades ago, and have fostered a vast number of children with more than half of our placements being long-term.
“These carers act as our ambassadors and are prime examples of the rewards and outcomes that foster care can bring, they thoroughly enjoy sharing their experiences with potential foster carers to demonstrate the kind of impact their support can have on young people,” she said.
FCA offers full support and guidance to carers and children alike to ensure that each new relationship fulfils the needs of the child.
Sandra added: “It’s imperative that we enhance our pool of carers in the region to give the young charges in our care the best possible support. That includes considering their religion, sex and needs, while aiming to continue their education and social development with as little disruption as possible.
Foster Care Associates operates 50 offices across the UK, servicing every region in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and has 20 years’ experience of offering high quality and stable fostering placements.
For more information on becoming a foster carer with the FCA, call 0800 023 4561 or visit thefca.co.uk
Celebrating 8 years in Overtonwith a salon make over
Robin and the team have enjoyed hairdressing in
the village over the years and always welcome new
customers
Celebrating 8 years in Overtonwith a salon make over
Ego Xcentric Hair and BeautyTel 01978 710100 www.ego-x.co.uk
The Old Police Station. Station Road. Overton
Terry Davies
Into his 80s - and still climbing!
Among all that delectable machinery on display at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the spectacle that gave me so much pleasure was the sight of the veteran racing driver Sir Stirling Moss demonstration driving the famous Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR up the hill past Goodwood House, just as he has done for so many years before.
‘Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be’ some say, but when it comes to Sir Stirling on the occasion of Mercedes-Benz’s 120th. Anniversary, it certainly IS! Do you know, it seems that I’ve always been watching this famous racing driver ever since he was an energetic young man at Oulton Park, driving in 500c.c. events or particularly Rob Walker’s Lotus. Mind you, in those days the drivers would drive anything they could get their hands on - F1, F2, Formula Junior, Formula Libre, saloon cars and everybody was so thrilled by the skilled driving of the young Moss. Mercedes-Benz certainly were, pairing him up with the great Juan Manuel Fangio in their ‘Silver Arrows’ of the early ‘50s, and Stirling followed so closely in the tracks of his mentor, that they called them ‘The Train’. Then came 1955, and Stirling
won the British Grand Prix at Aintree with Fangio a very close second, and went on to win the famous Italian Mille Miglia road race with motoring journalist Dennis Jenkinson in the brilliant Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with the number 722 on the bonnet- denoting their morning starting time. Then, after Mercedes-Benz withdrew from motoring racing after the terrible Le Mans crash, Moss drove the British Vanwalls to many victories, Maseratis, Coopers and Lotus’ until that fateful day at Goodwood in 1962 when he was very lucky to survive his terrible crash in a Lotus.
So, after 10 years of driving at the very top flight, was that the end of motor racing for Stirling? Not likely, because 52 years later he is still heavily involved in the sport, and has probably earned far more over those years than he would ever have earned as a driver. He is still as tough as nails, and a broken arm a few years ago when he was knocked off his scooter in London didn’t worry him too much, and neither did a fall down the lift shaft at his London home breaking both ankles in his late ‘70s put an end to his racing involvement!
Now, that young Stirling is SIR Stirling in his 80’s, which is why to see him wearing his famous white helmet and still demonstration driving at Goodwood has thrilled so many people- but particularly me!
I have met and ridden with him many times over the years, and I hope there are several more of his Goodwood hill climbs yet to come.
OVERTON MEDICAL PRACTICE
Flu VaccinationsLate Sept/Oct 2014
Arrange your appointment NOW at Overton Medical Practice
01978 710666
OVERTON MEDICAL PRACTICE
Flu VaccinationsIf you are one of our patients and have:• HEART or RESPIRATORY problems• KIDNEY or LIVER disease• Lowered IMMUNITY due to disease
or treatment• Had a STROKE or TIA• A neurolgical condition (eg MS)• DIABETES• If you are AGED 65 OR OVER• If you are PREGNANT• IF YOU ARE A CARER
A concert will be given by the
Porthywaen Youth and Training Band & the Bangor-on-Dee Community Choir at St Dunawd’s Church, Bangor-on-Dee
on Saturday 11th October 2014 from 7.30pmTickets priced £6 available from Brian Neale on 01978 780735
Bangor-on-Dee Community Choir
The Bangor-on-Dee Community Choir is a mixed choir which started singing in February 2013. It currently has about 50 voices drawn from Bangor-on-Dee and the wider community.
Practices are held in the village’s Presbyterian Chapel on Monday evenings from 7.00 until 9.00pm. There are two sessions per year: from early September until mid-December and from early January until the end of June.
The Choir sings a variety of songs from very different genres and to date has given three public performances. It is pleasing to be performing alongside the Porthywaen Youth and Training Band at St. Dunawd’s Church, Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday 11th October 2014 from 7.30pm.
The Choir is always looking to recruit new members. No experience is necessary; there are no auditions and all we ask for is enthusiasm and some commitment.
So why not give it a go and join us on the 1st September for what is an uplifting and very enjoyable experience!
MOT’s • Repairs • Service • Tyres • Exhausts • Recovery • Bosch Trained Technicians Courtesy Cars Available • Specialists in the supply of low mileage vehicles up to three years old
www.trottingmaregarage.co.ukKnolton, Nr. Overton on Dee, Wrexham LL13 0LE
Tel: 01978 710 435Lines open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm
“a business built on recommendation”
MULTI MAKE SERVICING AND REPAIRS AT
COMPETITIVE RATESFord • Nissan • Volkswagen • Skoda
Vauxhall • Renault • Peugeot • Citroen
New & Used Car SalesWe can fi nd the make and model
you require
Four Wheel Laser Alignment
PLUMBING, HEATING AND RENEWABLES
Local family fi rm with 30 years experience
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www.awrenewables.co.ukTel: 01978 631013 • 07860 563827
No job too big or smallBoiler installation, service and repair 10 year parts & labour warranty with
new boiler installations • Plumbing RepairsLandlord certifi cates • Renewable energy installation
Gas, Oil, LPG, Soild Fuel
• Small scale maintenance • Full house renovations • Extensions
• Drawings • Building regs • Project management
m: 07922 923 206 | t: 01691 773 393 e: [email protected] w: www.g-construction.org.ukUnit F5, Bank Top Industrial Estate,
St Martins, Oswestry, SY10 7HB
When you first see a kingfisher it’s the cobalt blue of its back that comes into view first as it skims the water of the river; he gives two loud whistles as he signals to all it is his territory. The Kingfisher, or The Halcyon Bird is Britain’s most colourful and has been the photographic subject of local wildlife photographer Ian Humphreys of Bangor on Dee.
Over the months from April to August, Ian has studied and gained images of a pair of Kingfishers which raised two broods along the Dee.
Ian has watched these stunning birds for over 25 years and has a library of shots of their behaviour, but this year has been special as it’s the first pair for a number of years that has successfully had young to fledge. The diet of the birds includes minnows, sticklebacks and bullheads, caught by diving at an angle so as to take account of the diffraction of light through water. Ian can anticipate where the birds will land, as Kingfishers are creatures of habit and usually alight on favourite perches.
A camera is then placed, focused and controlled remotely so that disturbance of these sensitive flying machines is kept to a minimum.
The hope is that with up to 10 to 14 Kingfishers along the river near Bangor, they will return and Ian can continue his work in portraying the Jewel of the Dee.
The Jewel of the Dee
Tel: 01829 270834 Website: www.shie.co.uk Email: [email protected]: Shie, High Street, Farndon, Cheshire, CH3 6PU
Opening hOurs : Monday 9.30am – 5pmTuesday 9.30am – 5pmWednesday 9.30am – 5pmThursday 9.30am - 5pmFriday 9.30am – 5pmSaturday 9.30am – 5pmSunday Closed
new ladies bOutique
Brands include: Charli, Two Danes, Backstage, Boomerang, Eve in Paradise, Great Plains, Tutti & co, Tilley & Grace, Fraas, Alpe, Black and Brown and many more …
10% discOunton all items purchased on our opening day.
We welcome you to the opening of a friendly ladies boutique. Enjoy our new range of ladies clothing, accessories and beauty products with a glass of Prosecco and nibbles.
cOming tO the village Of farndOn, Opening friday 26th september 2014
A C DAVIES Chimney Sweep
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Last month we wrote about the Taylor’s our imaginary local family and told you a little about their background. For those who didn’t read it - a short recap of ‘Episode 1, Series 1’ as follows. Peter and Sally, late 40’s two kids with very different ambitions. Peter runs their business, Sally is employed by the NHS, both have parents getting on a bit - none of them know exactly how to keep their hard earned money ‘in the family’ and all of them find it hard to talk about the subject in general. There. I told you it was short. Our first meeting with Pete and Sally covered a lot of ground and detail. I guess if you really want to know where you are going - understanding where you are starting from is not a bad plan. We decided to concentrate on Peter and Sally’s plans initially - and look at the parents position separately. Following the Bank adviser chaps ‘disappearing act’ the Taylor’s really wanted to get to grips with their existing plans and initially two areas in particular. We agreed that having a plan (an actual written down set of targets/goals for their money) was going to help a lot if the next 10-12 years, up to potential retirement ages, was going to be used well. We quickly gathered together all of Peter’s pension information and all of the ISA papers to establish exactly what the current position looked like.
Peter had an old ‘final salary’ employers pension scheme which was an easy one to just hold onto for the future. Two personal pension ‘money purchase’ schemes also from previous employed days had been left ‘paid up’ years ago. We discovered both were consistently in the bottom quarter of their respective league tables and needed some close attention. Surprisingly (and for Peter rather worryingly) his existing personal pension plan where he was making a healthy monthly contribution was performing very poorly. We produced some simple graphs and again league tables showing each pension fund’s exact performance over the years. We then put a plan together to transfer those funds which were not ‘earning their keep’ and reviewed Peter’s current contributions. Peter liked the idea of contributing £480 a month and seeing the tax break add £120 to his contribution - which he wanted to review annually for the next 10 years or so. The ISAs were we discovered ‘all over the place’ with small ‘cash’ holdings and a few investment funds held. After a bit of effort on our part we quickly had a good picture of exactly what was where. The three cash holdings were in Sally’s words earning interest equivalent to ‘three balloons and a party hat’ (the rate was actually 0.6% and I didn’t have
The Taylors - getting seriousAdvertising Feature
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the heart initially to tell her what her savings account was earning!). Whilst the new £15,000 annual tax year limit for each of us had caught Sally’s eye - she had missed that ISAs can now be transferred from cash into investment holdings and the other way (back to cash) if you wish. We quickly organised transferring the 3 cash accounts to investment funds. The rationale was fairly simple - if your money isn’t currently earning 2% annually it is losing value in real terms against inflation. The other two ISAs were doing rather well - both sitting towards the top end of their peer group tables and it made good sense to hang onto them. (Sally was secretly rather pleased that her choices of ISA funds had done rather better than Peter’s pensions.)Sally also decided that it was time to gather together some of the savings accounts and encash some old Premium Savings Bonds. A very necessary ‘cash
reserve’ was left in one account as a safety net - and we set about looking for the right ISA for the current tax year using the funds raised. A monthly contribution also looked sensible but both Peter and Sally wanted to get Peter’s new pension payment into place first (and have the meetings with their parents) before deciding on the way forward in this area. Over the course of a couple of meetings the Taylor’s felt they had at last made some real progress. They knew a lot more about their pensions and investments - and we had started to set some goals for what they wanted their figures to look like in both 5 and 10 years time. The next meetings were scheduled for me to meet with Sally’s parents and Peters mother. I will tell you about those meetings next month - when one or two surprises may be unveiled.
Radio Maelor is Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s very own radio station which was founded and first aired in September 1979. They are part of the Wrexham Hospital League of Friends.
During the week, there are 12 volunteers who dedicate their time broadcasting playing a diverse kind of music for patient’s entertainment, helping them on the road to recovery.
Jimmy Smith is Chairman of the Station, Programme Controller and a Presenter and joined in 2001. The first request I played for a patient was Welcome To My World by Jim Reeves. Jimmy presents 2 shows in the week, a country music programme every Wednesday at 6.30pm featuring different country artists and every Thursday at 2.00pm with Those Oldies but Goodies featuring music from the 50’s up to the 90’s.
Jimmy and Catherine recently gave a talk to the Erdigg Rotary club and presented them with details all about the station. We are more than happy in future to give
talks to other charities and organisations, so if anyone is interested, please email our address below.
Catherine Ollier is Secretary and Presenter of Radio Maelor and joined in 1995. When I joined one of the first requests I recall playing was Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield. I present a show called Travelling Through Time every Wednesday at 5.30pm which includes tunes from 1950’s to present day and covers patient’s requests.
At the moment Radio Maelor are looking for new volunteers and presenters. If you are aged over 18 years and are interested, please send an email to [email protected]
We also take on work experience placements. If you are interested in a career in media it gives you a really good starting point. Radio Maelor recently have started to take volunteers who are completing skills as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Catherine & Jimmy also assist in charity work alongside St Christopher’s School, the Maelor Hospital Children’s Ward at Easter and Christmas time with donations from Asda, Sainsbury’s and Erdigg Rotary Club.
You can also keep in touch with Radio Maelor on Facebook. Enter Radio Maelor and click like to join us.
Radio Maelor
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Gardening Tips
September is generally a cooler, gustier month than August and days start to be noticeably shorter. A reminder that autumn is not that far away. And whilst we enjoy the last days of summer and harvest our last fruit and veg, for some animals it’s time to start preparing for hibernating the winter. One of them being the hedgehog. Even though it is not usually until November, December or January that larger hedgehogs finally settle down to hibernation, we can help them finding a good, safe and comfortable home.
Home, sweet homeYou can buy or build a hedgehog house in various styles. From a wooden “villa” to a sturdy crate everything is possible and there are many instructions to be found online.
The easiest way to help hedgehogs find a home is to give them lots of natural opportunities like log piles, compost heaps and cosy spaces under a hedge or shed.
Location, Location, LocationSomewhere quiet and undisturbed - against a wall or bank and under or near plant cover face the entrance away from north to north-east to avoid cold winds.
Hedgehogs like to furnish their homes themselves. Just make sure there is a soft surface - like dirt - on the floor to protect their delicate feet. The rest of the “furnishing” is part of their hibernation ritual.
Put your hedgehog home near a damp and untidy area if possible, so they are protected when they come out to forage.
Harzards in your gardenCompost heaps - they might be nesting in your compost heap so check first before you dig in your fork to turn it over
Fruit nets - avoid them as they can get tangled in them
Slug pellets, weedkillers and other chemicals can be fatal.
September days are here
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WORTHENBURY W.I.We invite you to join us on
Tues 9th Sept. in Worthenbury Village Hall,
at 7.15p.m. when we will hear how guide dogs are trained for the blind. Visitors welcome.
Worthenbury have organized the
Group Meeting, at the Rainbow Centre, Penley on
Thurs.25th Sept at 7.30p.m. Admission £5.
The speaker will be Julie Summers author of the book “Jambusters”. This book is
going to be turned into a drama by the BBC, and filming is going on locally at Bunbury, Nr. Tarporley. It is based on the W.I.efforts in the war, making jam etc. tinning fruit, and placing evacuees with country folk.
NEW FARNDON FARMERS MARKET
FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTHSEPTEMBER, OCTOBER and
NOVEMBERLOCAL PRODUCE - FOOD,
CRAFTS, PLANTS & CLOTHESFARNDON SPORTS
& SOCIAL CLUBDRINKS & HOMEMADE CAKES
AVAILABLESIBBERSFIELD LANE, FARNDON CH3 6NX
SEPTEMBER 7th 9.30 till 12.30CONTACT- Dave 01829 270032
THE ULTIMATE RAT PACK TRIBUTE ACT
Friday 5th September Doors open 8.00pm - bar ‘til lateSt Margaret’s Church & Community Hall,
Garden Village
Tickets £10 - Francis 01978 353 643
One Night Only!
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BOURTON ON THE WATER, COTSWOLDS
Mrs Margaret Hanmer is organising this lovely trip on
SATURDAY 20th September 2014
Pick ups from: Marchwiel Church – 8.amThe Buck, Bangor on Dee
– approx. 8.15 amOverton Church – approx. 8.30 am
Fare will be £20 - Adults & £15 - Children
Payment on booking please. First come first servedContact Margaret on
01978 262876 for further details and bookings
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CONTACT MARY OR JULIA ON
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Penley Polish Hospital
In 1986, Chris Jobson and I took Overton Brownies to the hospital, the girls had made cards and sang some songs for the patients. At that time Prince John the last Prince of Poland was a patient there. The highlight of the visit was the sheepdog, collie cross that we took with us. Some of the patients had been in farming and had had dogs themselves.
Joan Deverell.
MAILBOX
Your views, comments
and thoughts.
Tallarn Green Methodist Church
celebrate their Chapel Anniversary on Sun.21st Sept. the service at 10.45a.m. will be led by
Michael Ridley, and at 6.30p.m. the service will be a “Songs of Praise”.
The Annual Concert of popular Songs and Music will be held in
the Maelor School, Penley on Friday 24th Nov. featuring the Fauls Singers, and Maurice Posniak pianist.
MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
THE WORLDS BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING
At Our Lady and The Welsh Martyrs Church Hall
Friday 26th September10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Admission £1 to include coffee and cake
SATURDAY SEPT 13th THE LI’L JIMMY REED BAND
with BOB HALL on piano and THE CHESHIRE KATZ with
TOMMY ALLEN & JOHNNY HEWITT
at THE BUCK HOUSE HOTEL in BANGOR ON DEE
Doors 7pm for 7.45 show - £10
Little Scholars Day NurseryThe Centre for the Child,
Glyndwr University, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW
Little Scholars Day NurseryThe Centre for the Child,
Glyndwr University, Mold Road,
‘Creative play is like a spring that bubbles up from deep within a child.’ Joan Almon
For further details and availability call CATRIN or BECCA
01978 314912, [email protected]
