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Julie’s neighbours can rest easy knowing theyare close to where she lives. Elizabeth Gommreports

A BLACKPOOL woman who refused to beintimidated by noisy neighbours and gangsof youths, has become one of Britain’sfirst Community Crime Fighters.Julie Bascombe, 42, is in the first 800 selectedfor the £5million community crime fighter pro-gramme announced by the Home Secretary lastyear which aims to train 3,500 members of thepublic to help keep their communities safe.Julie has been on two initial courses to equip herwith the skills and knowledge to work with localpolice and councils to combat local crime.All Julie, a former auxiliary nurse, wants for her-self, and her neighbours, is for their streets tostay safe and pleasant places live.She has been pivotal in making them that way.When she moved into Harrison Street, four yearsago, she thought she had found her ideal home.It was to be far from that. Within months sheand her West Indian husband, Colin, were thesubject of racist abuse from unruly and noisytenants in private lets. The tenants and theirlifestyle drew gangs of young troublemakers tothe area and a pleasant street became a prisonto residents who, like Julie, just want to live inpeace.Refusing to be intimidated, Julie badgered localauthorities and police to take action and stepped

in herself by doing her best to win over theyoungsters causing trouble.“Every kid deserves a chance, they aren’tborn bad,” said Julie, who led the peacekeep-ing campaign with two of her close neigh-bours.Their courage and determination broughtresults. Over months of effort, working withthe council and police, brought harmony toHarrison Street.While others moved on, Julie has continuedher informal neighbourhood watch. She chatsto everyone, and helps run a Dream Schemefor local kids which rewards points for goodbehaviour which they can cash in for shop-ping vouchers.Julie, who grew up in the resort and attendedStanley and Tyldesley schools, is modestabout her role. “I don’t feel I have achievedanything special. I just want to live in a nicearea, where I feel safe to walk down the

street, and if that is what I have to do to make itsuch, then that’s what I’ll do.“I am proud that after so long we no longer havethe loud music and boarded-up houses. We areno longer afraid to say where we live, we havenice residents and a nice group of youngsters.“But the first sign of trouble and I will step in.”The Government’s Neighbourhood, Crime andJustice Adviser Louise Casey said: “Local peopleare the key to tackling crime and anti-socialbehaviour – they know what is really going ontheir in neighbourhood, what the real problemsare and where residents’ concerns lie.“By training local people who are already activein their communities to work even more closelywith their local services such as NeighbourhoodPolice teams and councils, we can really helpmake communities safer. This training alsomeans these people will have the skills andknowledge to challenge services to do betterwhere they need to.”

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Tuesday, February 3, 200922 www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

A NEW WOMANMakeover magiciansgive Kathleen the 10Years Youngertreatment.Elizabeth Gommreports

CLEVELEYS civil servantKathleen Pownall admits thatshe had been stuck in a fash-ion time warp for more than25 years.Clinging to the familiar, she hidher size eight figure under T-shirts and long skirts, and hadthe same hair style and glassesfor the whole of her married life.But approaching 50 and herSilver Wedding anniversary,Kathleen’s sister stepped in andnominated her for a radicalmakeover on Channel 4’s 10Years Younger.On Thursday, in the first of a new10 part series, viewers will seehow experts in alternative thera-pies, dentistry and fashionstyling worked their magic tobring her right up to date, knock-ing years off her at the sametime.“It was absolutely brilliant, I hadthe time of my life,” saidKathleen. “I just wish I could do itall over again.“I have been watching the pro-gramme ever since it startedabout six years ago. I’d wanted amakeover but I’d never putmyself forward because I didn’tthink I’d get picked. But it was my50th birthday in November andmy 25th wedding anniversary inOctober, and my sister nominated

me because she thought it wouldbe better than any present shecould ever buy”

Kathleen isn’t the only one to befeatured in the TV show – acleaning company manager fromManchester will go under theknife while Kathleen is trans-formed by non-surgical, alterna-tive treatments.

Her saggy eyelids get a boost,her crooked teeth straightenedwith veneers, and skin treatmentsleave her glowing. A new hair-style, clothes and glasses ensurethat Kathleen no longer goesunnoticed when she enters aroom.

The show’s new presenter,Myleene Klass, was on hand toguide her through.

“She is such a nice girl, she putsyou at your ease straight away –it’s as if you have been bestfriends forever,” said Kathleen, acivil servant at Warbreck House.

“When they revealed my newlook I felt like a million dollars. Myhusband said he was a bit dubi-ous about it, but now thinks itwas the best thing I’ve ever done.

“I have so much more confidence.I go out more.

“I was told it would be life chang-ing, and it really is.”

At the end of the show, people inthe street are asked to guess herage, but what did they say?

“I can't tell you, but it was 10years younger and some more!"said a delighted Kathleen.

■ 10 Years Younger: TheChallenge is on Channel 4 onThursday at 8pm.

EasierwaytopayforTVTHERE is a new online and text message services,making it easier than ever before for cash andsavings card customers in Blackpool to spread thecost of their television licence.Customers on TV Licensing’s cash payment planmake small weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay-ments towards the cost of their licence in cash orby debit or credit card, while thesavings card allows people to savemoney towards their next licence.Around 6,000 people in Blackpoolare registered on the cash pay-ment plan, while around 1,100 peo-ple pay by savings card.Under the changes, people on bothschemes can now make paymentsby logging ontowww.tvlicensing.co.uk/cashplans where they will also beable to view their account balanceand payment history and request acall-back from a TV Licensing rep-resentative. Those customers whowould rather use their mobilephone can register to pay and also request bal-ance and arrears information by text message.Transactions are quick and simple, making it morestraightforward than ever for cash schemes cus-tomers to manage their payments.Payments are also accepted over the counter atany PayPoint outlet and by phone – an automatedservice allows customers to make payments andcheck their balance 24 hours a day.Financial expert Lawrence Gold, from the BBC’sBank of Mum and Dad, said: “If you’re struggling

with household bills, it’s essential to think aboutways to spread the cost. Anyone caught watchingTV without a licence risks a £1,000 fine, so it’s sim-ply not worth trying to avoid it. Schemes like TVLicensing’s cash payment plan allow you to planahead and stop bills spiralling, so you have thepeace of mind of knowing that you’re covered.”

Charlotte Hancock, TV Licensingspokesperson for the North, said:“TV Licensing’s database allows us to seeexactly which properties are unlicensed,helping us to target evaders, but we arealso using technology to make it easierfor people in Blackpool to pay for theirlicence.“We would always prefer people to buy alicence rather than risk prosecution and afine, which is why we offer a wide rangeof payment methods to suit people’slifestyles and budgets. If anyone is havingtrouble paying for their licence, we wouldurge them to get in touch with us, eitherby calling 08457 289 289 or by visitingwww.tvlicensing.co.uk/info.”

■ I f you use or install television equipment toreceive or record television programmes as theyare being broadcast, you need to be covered by avalid TV Licence. Viewing television without alicence risks prosecution and a fine of up to£1,000.■ A colour TV Licence currently costs £139.50. Ablack and white TV Licence currently costs £47and there are many different ways to pay – to findout more call 0844 800 6732 or visithttp://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/easyread/

The cost of your kidsWHILE all parents know that bringing upchildren is expensive, the true cost is stag-gering – particularly when so many familiesare so short of cash.A new study has calculated that raising achild from birth to the age of 21 can costparents £193,772 – that’s £9,227 a year,£769 a month or £25 a day.It’s little wonder then that 81 per cent ofparents have had to cut back on familyexpenditure, and over a third have sleep-less nights over money worries.And what won’t help them is the fact that,according to a survey by insurers LV=, thecost of raising a child has increased by fourper cent over the past year, and by 38 percent over the last five years. Childcare andeducation remain the biggest expenditures,costing parents £53,818 and £50,240

respectively until the child reaches 21.There is some good news – pocket moneycosts are at their lowest since 2004 andexpenditure on family holidays in 2008 wasonly four per cent up on the 2003 figure.Over half of parents say they’re curbingspending on holidays and short breaks, aswell as reducing what they spend on leisureand recreational activities (52 per cent).Clothing is also in the firing line, with 47per cent of parents spending less on it.Then there’s savings (42 per cent), furni-ture and furnishings (38 per cent), andfood (35 per cent).Recent research by the Family & ParentingInstitute (FPI) found that 57 per cent ofparents feel unable to save money, and 59per cent think they’ll struggle to pay bills insix months.

evelife

BEFORE: Kathleen in her ‘timewarp’ clothes

AFTER: The new, sophisticated look for Kathleen

A PIECEOF CAKE

Trya fruitypork treat

BRITAIN’S favourite cooking apple is giving causefor celebration this week with national BramleyApple Week.And the clever cooks at The English ProvenderCompany have created a delicious organic chutneyusing Bramley apples carefully and slowly cookedin organic cider to bring out their full flavour andto balance the acidity. It is seasoned with organicspices chosen to complement the fruit flavours,including ginger, cinnamon, garlic and cayennepepper.PORK AND APPLE PASTIESIngredientsMakes 6-8 pastiesCals per serving: 324Fat per serving: 18.8gSaturated fat per serving: 8.5gIngredients:224g (8oz) lean pork mince1 onion, choppedbutternut squash, peeled and cut into small cubes(about 224g (8oz)2 tbsp English Provender Organic Bramley ApplechutneySeasoning500g pack ready-rolled puff pastryBeaten egg and milk washMethodIn a large bowl mix together the pork, onion, but-ternut squash, Organic Bramley Apple Sauce andseasoning.Cut pastry into 6 x 15cm (6’’) rounds using a smallplate or saucer as a guide.Brush edges of the pastry with cold water – placea spoonful of the filling in the centre of the roundand fold over, pressing the edges together to seal.Place onto a non-stick baking sheet and brush thepasties with egg and milk wash.Bake in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 4 180 C 350F for 30 – 40 minutes until pastry is golden brown.Serve with extra chutney and a crunchy salad.

❖VALENTINE’S Day is coming and Life! is hotting up. Be ascarlet woman and steal his heart with any one of the

red hot little numbers on our Fashion&Style page plus feelevery inch a princess with some fabulous beauty buys.Life! is packed with fantastic features for all the family mak-ing it a must-have weekend read, including a full sevendaysTV guide – free inside Saturday’s Gazette. Don’t miss it!

evefoodVikki’s dishes up afresh start. ElizabethGomm reportsLIFE’S a piece of cake for buddingentrepreneur Vikki Clarke.After months clouded with anxiety, andsuffering from panic attacks, Vikki is on theroad to recovery and cooking up a freshstart!She has launched her own businessCupcake – a coffee shop and cupcakery –right in the heart of Blackpool.And she started it with a girly night – Sex inthe City style – with cupcakes, canapes andcocktails on the menu plus pamper mani-cure treatments, and jewellery and hand-bags to buy.Based in Church Street, Vikki’s enterprise isaimed at local businesses and visitors andis going down a storm with students at anearby campus of Blackpool and The FyldeCollege.Vikki, 23, of Staining, had been forced togive up her own studies for a degree intheatre design when her panic attacksbecame too much, and settled for a job atThe Syndicate as bars manager and lateron admissions.Once again, anxiety kicked in and she wasunable to work, signed off by doctors aslong-term sick.But she was determined to win through,and The Gazette held the key.“I was reading the paper and I saw a smallpiece about NES, the New EntrepreneursScheme, which is Euro-funded and run inconjunction with the University ofCumbria.”She applied for a place on the scheme, a10-week course, with a glimmer of an ideafor a business which would give her achance to turn a food passion into a career... a cupcake cafe!Her own enthusiasm, plus the backing fromNES and Blackpool’s Get Started! project,which gives support and advice to buddingbusinesses, has seen Vikki’s seed of an ideablossom into a business.She has won financial backing to the tuneof around £3,000, including support fromthe Prince’s Trust, which gives her a firmfoundation on which to build.It has taken months of effort and hardwork, with hours and hours devoted to per-fecting her basic cupcake recipe, sourcingingredients (using locally produced or FairTrade where possible) and devising newflavours.“We will keep on adding new flavours as wecome up with them,” said Vikki, who inher-ited her love of cooking from her mum,Andrea.“My mum used to rent the kitchen at theNumber 4 pub and I used to help her out,so my love of food and much of my skillhas been passed on from her.”The cafe is offering a variety of snacks,including handcut sandwiches and wraps,plus cupcakes and hot drinks, to eat in orout.

Cupcakes are available for all occasions,with orders being taken for everythingfrom family occasions to corporate events.

Now Andrea is helping Vikki out a couple oftimes a week and other relatives are rally-ing round too. “I am very lucky to havepeople willing to help me out – unpaid, ofcourse,” said Vikki. Her dad, Russell Clarkeof Blackburn, set up her website designed

the logo and took photographs.“I have had a lot of help and I am reallygrateful to everyone.”Vikki said her confidence had grown andshe is enjoying being her own boss. “I don’twant to be a multi-millionaire, I just want tobe secure and happy!”To find out more visit www.cupcakeblack-pool.co.uk

CHEERS: Vikki Clarkecelebrates the opening ofof Cupcake

GIRLS NIGHT: Linda Jacksonand Helen Bowell (above left) atthe Sex in The City night at theCup Cakery, Church Street,Blackpool.ABOVE: Carol Kingdom, AbbeyKingdom and Charlie Davies

CCRRAAZZYY CCAAPPEERRSS!! WWeellccoommee ttoo tthhee wwaacckkyy

wwoorrlldd ooff SShhoowwzzaamm ......

YOUR WEEKEND MAGAZINE: FREE ON SATURDAYS WITH THE GAZETTEFFIINNDDUUSS OONNTTHHEE NNEETT

PPLLUUSS::Your completeseven-day TV& radio listings

25Saturday, February 7, 2009 life!YOURVIEW e-mail life@blackpoolgazette.co.uk

SEVENDAYS Your complete guide tothe week’s television

Talent for laughsBack in November 2007, a

comic gem debuted onChannel 4’s ComedyShowcase slot.

Produced by Nira Park, who helpedmake Spaced, Black Books andShaun of the Dead, Free Agentsbristled with great one liners (by Chris

Niel), a colourful cast, and begged to

be made into a series.

This week comes the first of that long-

awaited sitcom (Channel 4, 10pm,Friday) and it’s just as good as Plus

One, the Friday night series itreplaces.

Stephen Mangan reprises his role as

Alex, the divorced talent agent whohad a one night stand with Helen(Sharon Horgan, pictured), acolleague struggling to get over the

death of her husband. When Alex was

made homeless, she offered him aplace to stay, if he helped her mother’s

toyboy lover land an acting job.

As their working day progresses, Alex

stalks Helen around town trying to get

her to be his girlfriend.

Homeless, he returns to the office tospend another night on his sofa, while

Helen heads to the off-licence to pick

up supplies for the evening’s binge-drinking.So, by the time Alex shows upuninvited on her doorstep, Helen’sbooze goggles are firmly back onagain.As good as Mangan and Horgan are,

it’s Anthony Head who steals the show

as foul-mouthed, sex-obsessed boss

Stephen.

life!The Gazette

IINTERVIEW: Page 5 FASHION: Page 15 TRAVEL: Pages 20/21

www.blackpool

gazette.co.uk

Saturday, February 7, 2009

in association with

Tuesday, February 3, 2009www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk 33

Tuesday, February 3, 200966 www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

evelife

TV FAME

Most can’t life-saveLACK of knowledge and confi-dence in basic first aid could bea national epidemic!A national survey carried outfor First Aid Week shows that77 per cent of those ques-tioned don’t know, or areunsure, how to administer life-saving resuscitation.The survey also highlightedsome of the most importantfirst aid procedures that every-one should know – andrevealed an alarming lack ofknowledge of even the mostcommon scenarios.

One in three people don’t knowhow to respond to a toddlerwho is choking, and one in fourwould be of no use to a personsuffering an asthma attack.Men are more confident aboutputting their knowledge andskills to use - with 30 per centfeeling sufficiently confident toresuscitate a casualty, com-pared to just 20 per cent ofwomen.Watching TV hospital soapsalso boosts first aid with nearlyone in five people confidentenough to resuscitate a casual-

ty as they’d seen it performedon television!Despite the fact that themajority of people (57 percent) don’t own a first aid man-ual, seven out of ten peopleclaim that they would feelmore confident in treating anumber of conditions if theycould refer to a first aidmanual.Now in its ninth edition, TheFirst Aid Manual is still the onlyguide to be written and fullyauthorised by the UK’s leadingfirst aid providers.

Blackpool Sue’s African charitychallenge moves TV producer totears. Elizabeth Gomm reports

A BLACKPOOL hotelier’s challenge tochange the lives of some of the poorestchildren in Africa is the subject of a two-part television documentary startingtomorrow.Sally Williams, a producer from the BBC1’s InsideOut North West, flew out to the Kenyan villageof Watamu last month to see first hand theamazing work of charity champion SueHayward.Sue, 59, and her husband Dave, 65, have puttheir hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue, North Shore,on the market and once it is sold will makeWatamu their permananent home - with a newfamily of 100 kids.Together, with local people, theywill run their Happy House to givea safe an happy home to young-sters orphaned by Aids or disease,or abandoned by families toopoor to look after them.Every child, under Kenyan law, willhave to become a ward of courtto Sue and Dave.Sue said: “Sally was amazed bythe children, the schools we havebuilt and also our Happy House.Her filming has caused greatexcitement among the communi-ty.”Since happening across thepoverty in Watamu whilst on holi-day in 2000, Sue founded thecharity Children of Watamu. Shehas rebuilt the old school, addednew ones, and now has more than

700 children, mostly sponsored, infull-time education.Sue is committed to her cause. “Iwant to teach a generation of childrento read and write. I'm putting hopeinto the hearts of children. It’s a veryspecial job."Inside Out producer Sally said: “It wasa real privilege to be able to travel toKenya and see first hand what a mas-sive difference Sue is making to thelives of a generation of children.“There was a huge contrast betweenthe pupils at Sue's school and theother children that you would seehanging around the streets askingtourists for sweets.“My camera woman Fridah Okutoyiwas from Nairobi. She was reallyimpressed by the standard of care

and particularly food that the chil-dren received at the school. Shethought what Sue was doing wasmarvellous. It was a week which Iwill always remember.“There is a sequence in the pro-gramme where I went home withone of the pupils from the school,13-year-old Samuel Firiki (left).“Samuel’s been sponsored toattend the school for the past threeyears. His parents died from Aids10 years ago and he is beingbrought up by his grandmother. Iwas told Samuel’s home was veryhumble, but nothing prepared mefor the tiny hut that Samuel shareswith his elder brother. It was thesize of a two-man tent.“On the floor was a piece of sack-

ing for them to sleep on. The only other posses-sions were two orange crates used for furnitureand a couple of frayed T shirts on a washingline. The level of poverty was horrifying.

“I'm not ashamed to say that I burstinto tears as soon as we got back tothe car. What was so moving wasthat, despite having nothing, Samuelwas an extremely happy boy whowould arrive at school at 6am so hecould read by the classroom lightsbefore school started and was deter-mined to fulfil his ambition to be anengineer. What a difference Sue hasalready made to this young life.”Sally was also there to see thearrival of 6,000 books, donated bythe Oxford Publishing Company,which will be added to the library,which, thanks to the charity, alreadyhas a stock of 35,000 titles.Sue said: “The children are so happyand proud that their school hasbrand new books to read and share.”In the second programme to shownon Wednesday, February 11, Sally will

be looking at Sue’s plans for the future as sheshows her around the site where the HappyHouse is being built.Sally said: “Her husband Dave, who was at firstreluctant to move to Kenya, is very much look-ing forward to growing enough fruit and vegeta-bles on the plot to feed the orphans and theschool children.At 65 he says: “I'm looking forward to a happyretirement. This is something to focus on, some-thing to get my teeth into.”Sue and Dave are in Watamu for three monthsto oversee work on the Happy House which ishelping the economy by sourcing both its mate-rials and workforce from the local area.Sue, Lancashire Woman of the Year, is passion-ate about improving lives for these youngsters.“I want our Happy House children to grow upand be proud to tell their children:“I was aHappy House child”. I asked God for a little jobto do and he gave me this!”■ InsideOut North West on BBC1 tomorrow,7.30pm, and on February 11, 7.30pm■ To find out more visit www.childrenofwata-mu.net

for charity champion

EMOTIONAL JOURNEY:Visting Watamu wasa moving experience

for BBC1 producerSally Williams.

Below: Barke, five, cango to school thanks toher Blackpool sponsor

BIG HEART: Sue Hayward with children in the schools she has built

GOOD customer service is the key tokeeping shoppers happy, accordingto a survey of high street stores.Waitrose was voted favourite in theWhich? shopping study for the sec-ond year running, while sister com-pany John Lewis was runner-up.More than 14,000 Which? membersrated 96 shops on factors includingproducts, price, staff and shoppingenvironment.Despite higher prices than manyretailers, both were praised for help-ful staff, pleasant store environmentand quality products.Also in the top 10 were toiletry chainLush (joint fourth favourite), bookstore Waterstone’s, joint eighth,stores Aldi seventh, and Lidl eighth.

Customer pleasers

77Tuesday, February 3, 2009www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

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socialspotlig

ht

Coffee callAnchorsholme Methodist Churchholds a coffee morning everyWednesday 10.15am.

Tea danceSt Stephen-on-the-Cliffs, NorthShore, has an afternoon tea danceevery Wednesday, 2pm-4pm. £1.50

Folk danceNorth Shore Folk Dance Club meetstomorrow at All Hallows Church, AllHallows Road, Bispham, 7.30pm. Nopartner needed and all are welcome.Contact: 890486.

Methodist churchCleveleys Park Methodist Church hasa coffee morning every Wednesday,10.30am, and a Mix and Meet Groupon Wednesday, 2pm, for people ontheir own to enjoy a cuppa and makenew friends. Contact 876051.

Support groupBlackpool and Fylde Widows’ andWidowers’ Association meets onJanuary 7, tomorrow at the TradesClub, Chadwick Street, Blackpool,7.30pm. Contact: Lavinia on 623119.

Cleveleys coffeeCleveleys United Reformed Church,Rossall Road, has a coffee morningevery Wednesday from 10.30am.

Stitch and ChatThe Stitch and Chat Club, DunsopCourt, Blackpool, has craft classesevery Monday: 9.45am-11.45am,drawing and waterclour painting withPeter Slater; 11.45am-1.45pm, cardmaking with Debbie Gulliver; 2pm-4pm, crochet and needlework.Advanced card making also availablemonthly. For details and to enrol,contact 405138.

South ShoreSouth Shore Community Centre (TheOld Library) Highfield Road, hosts thefollowing weekly events: Mondays,watercolour painting 10am, socialbridge 1.15pm; Wednesday, social chatand games 10am; Thursday, arts andcrafts 10am, patchwork for beginners2pm; Friday, watercolours 2pm.

Claremont lunchClaremont First Step CommunityCentre’s Senior Citizen LuncheonClub at Methodist Buildings, DicksonRoad,meets every Friday, 1pm. £2.Contact: 299306.

BarbershopHarmonyBlackpool & Fylde BarbershopHarmony Club meet every Tuesdayat Brun Grove Workingmens’ Club.Contact: Pete Lavelle 867218.

Thornton LadiesThornton Ladies Club meets onTuesdays at Thornton MethodistChurch Hall, Victoria Road East,7.30pm. New members welcome.Contact: (01253) 856537.

Bispham coffeeBispham United Reformed Church,Cavendish Road, has a coffee morn-ing tomorrow 10.30am-11.30am.

Photo societyLytham St Annes PhotographicSociety meets at 7.30 pm, everyThursday evening at HeyhousesC of E Junior School, ClarendonRoad North, St Annes.www.lsaps.org.

Fylde RAThe Ramblers’ Association will bewalking in Longton and Ribble tomor-row and Haslam Park and Inglewhiteon Sunday. Contact: 865976.

Bridge clubThe Gazette Bridge Club welcomesplayers at 7pm at the WainwrightClub, Hornby Road, Blackpool onMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday andFriday Contact: 354513.

Kirkham ArtsKirkham Arts Society meets tomor-row at the Community Centre,7.15pm. Contact: 01772 632202.

Coast RamblersFylde Coast Ramblers will be walkingin Grasmere on Sunday. Contact401135.

On songNew singers always welcome toBlackpool Male Voice Choirrehearsals every Monday atSpringfield Methodist Church,Bispham Road. Contact 883913.

Poulton BandPoulton Band welcomes new playersto rehearsal nights on Tuesday andFriday 8pm-10pm at Band HQ,Station Road, Poulton. Contact:886823

Arts SocietyBlackpool Arts Society meets onThursday for a practical with EileenShawcross at the Studio,WilkinsonAvenue, 7.30pm. Weekly sessions atthe studio include: General paintingTuesday and Thursday ,2pm, Friday,9.30am and 2pm; portrait sessionsTuesday, 7.30pm, and Wednesday10am; Life drawing Wednesday 2pm.New members always welcome.Contact 407541.

Windmill artsThe Windmill Arts Society meets onFriday at the Frank Townend Centre,Beach Road, Cleveleys, 1.30pm-3.30pm. Contact: 855072.

Craft clubA weekly craft group meets at HolyCross Church, Central Drive,Blackpool, every Friday, 1.30pm-3.30pm. £2.

Over 50sClaremont Over 50s welcomes newmembers. Meetings at the ClaremontCommunity Centre, North Shore,every Wednesday, 1.30pm-3.30pm.Contact Hilary 353160.

Weeton WIThe new year opened with a talk byGillian Butler, the daughter of one ofthe committee members. She is ablacksmith and members wereamazed at the variety of examples ofher work and the marvellous ideas

she has for her creations. The everpopular craft gatherings, which re-start in February, will have instructionfrom Gillian on how to add this totheir skills.The walking group meets again fromMarch and will alternate the distanceof the routes to enable all abilities totake part. The WI meets on the thirdThursday of the month in the VillageHall at 7.30 pm. We have a variety ofspeakers and events. New membersare always made to feel very welcome.

Royal EngineersThe Blackpool Branch of the RoyalEngineers Association, meets onFriday at the BLESMA Home starting7.30pm for its AGM. Serving and Ex-Sappers are very welcome to attend.

Coffee timeSt Bernadette’s Church, Bispham, hasa coffee morning in the church halltomorrow 10.30am-noon, all welcome.

EmbroiderersBlackpool Embroiderers has a practi-cal evening on Monday at the ArtsStudio, Wilkinson Avenue, 7.15pm. OnSaturday, February 14, there will be aworkshop on textile miniatures withAnn Christy.

Support groupThe Fibryomyalgia Support Groupmeets on Tuesday next at the CVS,Abingdon Street, 1.30pm-3.30pm.Contact: Andrea 358105.

Pilling WIPilling WI were “spellbound” by acaptivating film show staged by Mrand Mrs G Sharp showed severalfilms featuring the Ribble Valley, PatAscroft, the Isle of Mull and TenGreen Bottles. Competition winnerwas Helen Curwen and runners-upwere Maureen O’Reilly, BettyLawrenson and Barbara Johnstone.There is an interesting programmefor the WI this year and new mem-bers are welcome to meetings on thefourth Thursday of each month atthe Methodist Church at 7.30pm.On February 26 Mr G Tolson will talkabout Blackpool’s Grand Theatre.

Social dancingSocial dancing is held every Sundayfrom 8pm Our Lady Star of the Sea,Parish Centre, St Albans Road, StAnne's. £3. Contact: 782717.

Coffee morningSale of books, jigsaws, CDs, DVDs andvideos at the coffee morning onFriday, 10am-noon in St Paul’s Hall,Warren Avenue South, Fleetwood.

Flower clubFleetwood Flower Club has its AGMtomorrow at the Senior CitizensHall, Warrenhurst Road, Fleetwood,followed by a talk from Mr Rotheramof Fishermans Friend. 7pm.

Little Thornton WILittle Thornton WI has a talk on theBowen Technique holistic therapytomorrow at St John’s Church hall,Little Thornton, 7.30pm.

Pre-Bond RamblersPre-Bond Ramblers has a walk inNewby Bridge on Sunday. Contact316713.

Probus clubBlackpool South Probus Club has atalk on the history and humour ofwills from Richard Hook tomorrow atMarton Methodist Community Centre,Midgeland Road, 10am. Visitorswelcome. Contact: 763812.

Choir concertBlackpool Male Voice Choir will be inconcert on Saturday, 7.30pm, at StPaul’s Church, Honister Avenue,Marton, in aid of the Mayor’sCharities. The Mayor who is the choirpresident will attend. Admission £4.

AmicusSt Annes branch of theTownswomens’ Guild has closed tobecome a new independent group,LSA Ladies Amicus Club. The firstmeeting is tomorrow at thePensioners’ Hall, St Albans Road,2.15pm. All ladies welcome. Contact:728167.

NaturalistsFylde Naturalists has a talk from AnnHoyer tomorrow at Fylde Coast AliveChurch, Raikes Parade, 7.30pm.

Wildlife ExplorersThe junior wing of the RSPB meetstomorrow at Wyreside EcologyCentre, Stanah, for an eveningthemed to winter wildlife. 6.30pm.Parents welcome to stay. On Sundaythey will be out in search of wildswans. Contact: 866010.

Lunch clubBlackpool and Fylde Ladies LuncheonClub meets at the Queens Hoteltomorrow for a talk on North WestAir Ambulance.

Bispham TGBispham Townswomen’s Guild has atalk on Tuesday next from GeoffHodkinson at the UR ChurchCavendish Road, 2pm.

ME supportBlackpool and Fylde ME SupportGroup meets on Sunday in the loungeat Poulton Methodist Church,Queensway, 2.30pm. Contact 723608.

Diabetes UKThe Diabetes UK Wyre & DistrictVoluntary Group will meet on Tuesdaynext at The Kirkland Memorial Hall,Garstang, 2pm-4pm for a talk on TheExpert Patients Programme fromSandra Waddingham, Diabetes co-ordinator. All welcome.

Poulton LLLPoulton Lifelong Learning Groupmeets tomorrow at the CommunityCentre, Breck Road, 2pm with a filmshow from Spellbound Productions.New members welcome.

Barn DancePoulton Christian Aid Group has abarn dance on Friday, February 13, atSt Chad’s Church Hall, Poulton, withhotpot supper. 7.30pm. Tickets £5(schoolchildren £3), from 890486before February 11.

Tea ClubSt Christopher/St Nicholas Church,Marton, start a tea club for older peo-ple starting this Sunday at StChristopher’s Church Hall, 3pm, withhigh tea. Music by Bob Milner. A shortservice will follow at 4pm. The clubwill meet on the second Sunday ofeach month.

BloomfieldBloomfield (East) CommunityAssociation, St Heliers Road, hosts thePrimetimers Over 55s from 10am-noonon Tuesday, Mother and Toddler Group,Wednesday 1.30pm-3pm, Saturday cof-fee drop in 10.30am to noon.

Pipe BandPipers and drummers including learn-ers are required by St Annes PipeBand. Practice every Friday at 7.30pmat St Thomas’s Scout HQ, St ThomasRoad, St Annes. Contact: 729587

Senior CitizensA senior citizens’ social club meets onWednesday for sequence dancing atthe Senior Citizens' Hall, Cleveleys,1.30pm-4pm.

Poco LocoPoco Loco, the Blackpool School ofSamba, plays Brazilian-based rhythmsusing surdos (bass drums) and othersmaller percussion instruments. EveryWednesday at the First Step Centre,Dickson Road, Blackpool, 7pm-9pm.Contact: 358432.

evesocial

Fleetwood Rotary Club held their 83rd charter night dinner at the North Euston Hotel, Fleetwood.Pictured are Mayoress of Wyre Yvonne McCann, President of Fleetwood Rotary Gordon Oates, Mayor ofWyre Coun Gordon McCann, and President-Elect Margaret Lund. More pictures, Saturday Life! magazine.

Tuesday, February 3, 200988 www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

evelooks

THE GIFTOF BEAUTY

AWARD-WINNING 5th Avenue –a Decleor Gold Salon ofExcellence for the 10th consecu-tive year – has the perfect giftfor your loved one.Valentine gifts could include tailor-made Decleor, Clarins, Mary Cohr,Gatineau or Nailtiques gift sets forface, body, fragrance and make-up forboth ladies and men.Treatment vouchers could incorporateone of their fantastic ValentineSpecials:■ Ladies’ full Body AromatherapyMassage only £25 (saving £18) allow-ing one hour for treatment.■ Men's Aromatherapy BackTreatment only £18 (saving £8) allow30 minutes for treatment.Hand select any other of 5th Avenue’svast choice of pure indulgent treat-ments for that perfect gift.If you're still not sure of the exactpresent you want to give then giftvouchers are the answer so the peo-ple you care most about can makethe choice for themselves.Ensure you are radiant and polishedfor Valentine’s Day – whether it be fora romantic night out or cosy night in5th Avenue have a wonderful selec-tion of treatments for men andwomen.Male grooming treatments include“energy” facials to revive, refresh andpurify the skin, remedial back mas-sage for the back neck and shoulders,manicures and tanning treatments.Ladies, why not try the Peel and LiftFacial? It’s a superb renewingfacial full of fruit enzymes andvitamins to exfoliate the skin,leaving a truly radiant com-plexion or the Catio Lift Facial– a lifting treatment that tight-ens and tones the skin andfirms the face deep down byexercising the muscles.Throughout the month ofFebruary with each Peel andLift or Catio Lift facial takenyou will receive a fabulous “DiscoverySet” which contains a selection ofMary Cohr facial products worth over£55.Manicures, pedicures, tanning treat-ments and body exfoliation are just afew of the perfect treatments tochoose before a special occasion.5th Avenue members of staff are ded-

icated, professional therapists andconsultants, qualified to the highestof standards with client care as theirmain priority.Take time to replenish your body and

mind and relax in completetranquility.With every visit to 5thAvenue Poulton or Cleveleyslet the everyday stresses oflife drift away and experi-ence a sense of deep calmand renewed vitality.Feel secure and calm in theexpert hands of your thera-pist.5th Avenue, Chapel Street,

Poulton: Open Monday 9am-5.30pm;Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm. Tel (01253) 893660.5th Avenue, Victoria Road West,Cleveleys: Open Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday 9am-5.30pm; Thursday9am-8pm; Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday9am-5pm. Tel (01253) 820888.

Advertising feature

DRESSED UP: 5th Ave staff at their Moulin Rouge themed charity event

ABOVE: Hayley Pearson (proprietor),Naomi Bardusco (senior therapist) andJeannie Farmer (receptionist)BELOW: Senior therapist Rebecca Stott(left) and therapist Elizabeth NeveINSET: Senior therapist CarolynSwarbrick