Residents may have spotted lone hiker Ryan Owens making his way through Lancashire’s canals in his quest to raise funds for the hospice which cared for his terminally ill dad.
The 43-year-old walked through Preston, Rufford and Kirkham, on his way up to John O’Groats from Land’s End in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre, which treated his dad, Peter, before he died eight years ago.
Ryan Owen
The father-of-one is also completing the National Three Peaks challenge whilst on his journey, which began on July 1.
Ryan, who is from Aberdare, in South Wales, said: “It is a solo journey (although I may have some friends joining me to walk on certain legs of the journey) and unaided in anyway as far as medics, support vehicles.
“I am expecting the walk to take me up to three months or more and I will be camping for the duration of the hike and carrying my own equipment.
“I needed to go through Lancashire to get to the Lake District, and I found a canal that took me to the top of Preston.
“I stopped off at Scarisbrick, Rufford, Treales and Galgate overnight.
“The landscape in Lancashire is beautiful - I have been mainly walking along the canals.
“People have been very accommodating towards me, right from day one. People have invited me into their homes to use their facilities and have supper and people have offered to do my laundry.
“I have funded the expedition myself so all donations will go directly to Velindre Cancer Centre - a great cause that relies on fund-raising events such as this to help care for people that need treatment.”
To make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ryan-Owen4 and to track his progress, visit http://www.facebook.com/ryankowen1973/#


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Police are appealing for witnesses after a fatal crash closed a large stretch of the motorway.
Emergency services were called at about 3.10am this morning after an HGV travelling north on the M61 motorway left the carriageway and collided with wooden fencing.
The incident happened about a mile north of the Rivington Services between junction 6, Horwich, and junction 8, Chorley,
The driver, the sole occupant of the HGV, was found by passing workmen. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The stretch was closed for almost six hours and accident investigation and recovery work is now complete.
Two lanes of the of the M61 northbound are now open although delays are still to be expected.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0172 of Friday, August 26.

Motorway reopens after fatal crash as police appeal for witnesses


Two goals from Cole Stockton saw Morecambe claim a first ever Football League win at the Crown Ground and keep their place at the top of League 2.
The Shrimps had to do things the hard way as they came back from two goals down after the game was turned on its head when former Morecambe skipper Mark Hughes was sent off for a foul on Stockton in the first half.
The Shrimps started well with striker Stockton heading straight at Elliot Parish before Shay McCartan slalomed through the visiting defence but could only drive his shot narrowly wide.
Soon it was Stanley posing more of the threat, with Billy Kee’s slightly mis-hit shot pushed away by Barry Roche before a Seamus Conneely shot came back to the Stanley striker who could only find the side netting.
After 17 goals last season Kee was yet to get off the mark in the new campaign but wasn’t to be denied a third time in the 26th minute.
He turned his man superbly just outside the box and pulled the trigger, the shot looking to take a deflection to take it past Roche and make it 1-0.
Morecambe's fans finally had a day to remember at the Crown Ground.
John O’Sullivan was only prevented from adding a second by Roche’s superb near-post save moments later but soon they did have the two-goal cushion.
This time Kee may have know less about it; O’Sullivan’s cross seemed to hit the front man and divert into the left corner of the net.
Stanley’s joy lasted just a minute as they were reduced to ten men.
Stockton looked to turn Hughes a few yards outside the box, the defender stopped his progress and referee Michael Jones showed a straight red card.
In three minutes of added time the Shrimps pulled one back when Stockton rose highest to flick a Michael Rose cross beyond Parish and make it 2-1.
It would get better for the Shrimps as they levelled two minutes into the second half. A cross from the right ricocheted to Kevin Ellison, who drilled a right foot shot home to make it 2-2.
Morecambe then should have been in front but for the prowess of Matty Pearson.
A poor back pass let the Shrimps in and the ball was squared for Stockton to shoot. He beat Parish but Pearson flung himself at the ball to block.
It was a temporary reprieve, with Stockton then cutting in from the left and firing right-footed past Parish to turn things around and make it 3-2 to the visitors.
Stanley’s attempts to level brought a shot wide from Sean McConville but Morecambe kept threatening with Ellison hammering over the top before Parish saved from Tom Barkhuizen.
The 10 men pressurised late on with an Omar Beckles header beating Roche but sliding wide and a late melee unable to register a leveller as Morecambe held on for a fourth league win in five games.
Stanley: Parish, Donacien, Beckles, Hughes, Pearson, O’Sullivan, Conneely, Hewitt (Boco 65), McConville, McCartan (Lacey 82), Kee. Subs not used: Davies, Jones, Hery, Chapman, Wall.
Morecambe: Roche, Wakefield, Edwards, Whitmore, Conlan, Fleming (Kenyon 75), Rose, Barkhuizen, Dunn (Molyneux 75), Stockton (Turner 81), Ellison. Subs not used: Nizic, McGowan, Mullin, Hedley.
Attendance: 1,763.
Referee: M Jones


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A teenager has been charged with murder after a man died from multiple stab wounds.
Daniel Bamford, 18, of Harvey Lane, Golborne, has been charged with the murder of a 42-year-old man and with wounding with intent after two people were stabbed in Darwen.
Officers were called by the ambulance service to Hazel Avenue at around 4.15pm on Thursday following reports a man and woman had been stabbed.
The man, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene having suffered a number of injuries.
A 42-year-old woman was also wounded and taken by ambulance to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She has since been released after receiving treatment.
Three males from Liverpool aged 15, 16 and 43 were arrested on suspicion of murder at a nearby address on Frances Street. They have since been released no charge.
A further three men aged 17, 18, and 33 were arrested in Liverpool on Friday afternoon.
The 18-year-old was being held on suspicion of murder and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, while the other two were being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
A further three men aged 19, 23 and 44 were arrested later that day (Friday, August 26) in St Helens, Merseyside. All were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Following investigation, detectives charged Bamford who has been remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday.
The remaining men aged 17, 19, 23, 33 and 44 have all been bailed to October 25.
Following formal identification, police can confirm the name of the deceased as Michael Keen, 42, of Darwen. A post mortem revealed he died from multiple stab wounds.
Detective Supt Paul Withers, from the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “A man has sadly lost his life and my thoughts remain with Mr Keen’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“While we have made a number of arrests and since charged a man, we would continue encouraging people to come forward and help with our enquiries.
“If anyone has any information about this incident that could help us I would urge them to either speak to a local officer or to call us direct.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting incident reference 917 of August 25th.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers.org.


Two Lancashire teenagers are hoping to pun their way to success with a comedy they have penned themselves
The talented duo have spent the last year scripting an original play with the aim of directing and producing it this summer.
Now their dream is about to come true - the curtain goes up on “Don’t Count Your Chickens” this week.
Both student Frances Lamburn, 18, and baker Martin Smith, 19, from Ribchester and Dutton, are, despite their tender age, veteran members of Ribchester Amateur Theatrical Society.(RATS).
They have appeared in numerous productions over the years from pantomimes to plays.
It’s a tradition that Young RATS are encouraged to mount a summer production and gain valuable production experience.
Rehearsals have continued throughout the summer holidays and Frances said: “The final product is a care-free, modern production full of laughs, schemes, singing and dancing. The cast range from ages 9 – 18 and include some new members taking to the Ribchester stage for the first time.”
She continued: “We decided we wanted to write something completely new that wasn’t based on anything else. We spent a long time just brainstorming ideas. It was trial and error with lots of different ones really. The idea was we wanted to have a character that was an incompetent director.....We might write something in the future if this goes well.”
The show is based on a game show and Frances added: “Come along and find out how many biscuit puns can be written into a single play!”
Performances are tonight and September 2 and 3 at 7.30pm in Ribchester Village Hall. Call 01254 878530 to book tickets.

Duo hatched plans for play which premieres this week


A teaching assistant from Padiham is taking social media by storm, after using the modern trend for taking “selfies” to raise awareness of a serious issue which claims thousands of lives a year.
Shocking statistics show 76% of suicides in the UK are male and is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45.
Padiham Fire Station crews support the ItsOKToTalk campaign (s)
That spurred Jordan Taylor into backing a nationwide campaign to promote awareness of men’s mental health issues.
And poignantly the campaign, It’sOKToTalk, launched this month, the month which marks the second anniversary of the death of Jordan’s uncle, Andrew Giles. Known locally as “Nipper,” the community was left in shock after his suicide as he was such a lively, popular and outgoing character who was well loved in Padiham.
A groundsman for Lancashire County Council he doted on his two children, three stepchildren and loved spending time on the farm where he grew up and also the local allotments.
Jordan said: “My uncle was cheeky, happy and loved by everyone. He was a real outdoors person, always helping someone or cutting someone’s grass and he was always smiling. In fact he was famous for his dimples.
Jordan Taylor who is backing the It'sOKToTalk to combat suicide in young men (s)
“That’s why the shock of what happened was a huge blow to our family.”
So far around 200 people from Padiham, Burnley and all over the UK have backed the #ItsOKtoTalk campaign by posting a series of Facebook “selfies”.
Jordan (22) said: “I never expected such a huge response when I started this.
“I thought that maybe 20 or so, mainly friends and family, would take it on board but the reaction I have received has been phenomenal with selfies coming in from all around the country.
Andrew Giles, suiciide victim whose nephew Jordan Taylor is launcing an ItsOKToTalk campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues (s)
“And each person who has posted a picture has their own story to tell about themselves and how they have been affected by this issue.”
Mums and their children, work colleagues, people out socialising, pensioners and even a group of climbers who scaled Ben Nevis have posted selfies on Jordan’s page supporting CALM (Campaign for Living Miserably) which started the trend.
And Jordan was thrilled when Burnley player Dean Marney got on board with his campaign.
Each person is posing with the “It’s ok” hand gesture and all the images are being added to a collage which Jordan, who works at St Leonard’s Primary School in Padiham, plans to send to CALM.
Mayor of Padiham Coun. James Kirk supports the ItsOKToTalk campaign (s)
Jordan added: “The aim of the campaign is to get more men talking about their feelings and what they may be going through and to lift the stigma attached to it.
“I am chuffed that the people of Padiham have taken this on board and started the ball rolling here in our town.
“We need to raise awareness of this issue so that people do start talking about mental health issues so that no-one has to suffer or worry in silence.
“Anything that can be done to save a life is worth doing.”
Padiham Fire Station has thrown its weight behind the campaign and Jordan is contacting companies and organisations across the country for their support.
He is even asking people to come up with different ideas for selfies, including trying to set a record for the selfie featuring the largest number of people. Famed for being a “doer” Jordan was responsible for organising groups of volunteers to help out with a clear up operation after Padiham was devastated by floods on Boxing Day.
Mum and baby support ItsOKToTalk (s)
Anyone who wants to back Jordan’s campaign with a selfie can do so on his Facebook page tagging #ItsOKToTalk or #JTsOKSelfieAppeal.
Or you can send them directly to Jordan via Facebook messenger.

Jordan’s selfie campaign helps raise suicide awareness


We’ve teamed up with Nickelodeon to give you the chance to attend the first-ever UK SLIMEFEST in Blackpool on Saturday September 3rd.
Featuring performances from Alesha Dixon, Conor Maynard, Diversity, The Tide and appearances from Nickelodeon stars Jack Griffo and Kira Kosarin, it’s set to be the slimiest music concert of the Summer.
Slimefest 2016
We’re giving away a VIP family prize package which includes:
4 x General Admission Switch On wristbands on Friday 2nd September 2016
4 x Tickets for the 11am SLIMEFEST concert on Saturday 3rd September 2016
4 x Wristbands for Blackpool Pleasure Beach for Saturday 3rd September 2016
2 x Exclusive official SLIMEFEST Hype® Bag (kids only)
1 x Apple iPad mini 2 7.9” 16gb
Or if you want to guarantee your ticket to the coolest kids’ event of the year, we have an exclusive 2for1 SLIMEFEST ticket offer for you. Just visit nick.co.uk/slimefest and enter FEST02 to get your exclusive 2for1 discount.
All you have to do to have the chance to win this fantastic prize is answer the following question:
Q: Which Britain’s Got Talent judge is performing at Nickelodeon’s SLIMEFEST?
Email your answer with Slimefest in the subject field, adding your name, address and daytime telephone number to competitions@lep.co.uk to arrive by midnight August 31st. Standard competition rules apply, entries merged across JP north west titles.

Win tickets to Nickelodeon's Slimefest and Illuminations Switch On


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Morecambe boss Jim Bentley believes pundits shouldn’t write off Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley despite the loss of several key players.
John Coleman’s men agonisingly missed out on promotion last year with Matt Crooks and Josh Windass, who joined Rangers, and Piero Mingoia, who left for fellow League Two side Cambridge United, amongst the summer departures.
There have been plenty of changes at the Wham Stadium but Bentley believes Stanley have enough to challenge again.
The Shrimps boss said: “They had great players last year in the likes of Windass, Crooks and Mingoia who have gone onto other clubs.
“But he’s (Coleman) brought in good replacements.
“They’ve been a little bit up and down with the league form but they’ve got quality in depth.
“Billy Kee was one of the best leading the line last season I thought, a target man with a good goal return.
“There’s good players throughout the team to be fair.
“They’ve been taken over, they’re ambitious and they’ve got plans off the pitch and on the pitch.”
Despite being fierce rivals on match days, the clubs are to a degree kindred spirits, battling against the odds every season.
Bentley said: “It would be nice to see ourselves and Accrington have successful seasons, after Saturday obviously.
“We get written off every season as the small northern clubs and the two smallest clubs in League Two.
“But Accrington are coming off the back of a good season so people are looking at them to do well again.
“Obviously we’ve come off the back of a disappointing season but we want to improve.”
The Shrimps finally beat Stanley in the Football League at the 17th attempt 12 months ago.
Having made a flying start to the season, with three straight wins seeing Morecambe top of the League Two table, and coming off the back of an impressive performance in defeat to Bournemouth in the EFL Cup, Bentley is confident his side can get a positive result.
He said: “The results hadn’t been great until last year when we got four points, with a win at home and drawing away.
“Fair play to them. Coley’s done a great job, they had a fantastic season last season and I was gutted for them when they didn’t go up on the last day.
“Then obviously they lost to Wimbledon in the play-offs.
“They’ve got good players and they’re always tasty encounters.
“We’re in decent form in the league this year and we’re going there full of confidence on the back of a good performance on Wednesday night against Bournemouth.
“We need take something from that into Saturday.”

Morecambe boss Bentley: Accrington can be a force again


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Motorists experienced greater delays on the roads as journey times increased during the second quarter of 2016, according to data from the Department For Transport.
An average delay of nine seconds per mile on the strategic road network (SRN) was a 1.3 per cent increase on the figures for the year up to the end of March 2016.
Average speed on the SRN - the motorways and ‘A’ roads managed by Highways England - also fell. Between July 2015 and June 2016, the average speed was 59.2mph, a 0.2 per cent decrease on the previous figures.
The reliability of travel times on the SRN also fell, with 68 per cent more time needed to ensure on time arrival - a 2 per cent increase on the previous quarter.
The average delay on local ‘A’ roads in England in the year ending June 2016 saw a year-on-year increase of 3.8 per cent to 45.2 seconds per vehicle per mile, with average speed consequently down 1.5 per cent on the year ending June 2015.

Average road journey delay time increases


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Here is a list of fun events coming up this weekend.
FREE AND PAID: Blackpool Illuminations Switch On and Slimefest, September 2 to 4
Dame Barbara Windsor will switch the lights on at the Tower Festival Headland on Friday, following a party led by Ashley Banjo, and dance group Diversity. Other stars include The Vamps, Fleur East, Fatman Scoop and Club MTV. Free entry by wristband only. Celebrations continue across the weekend, as Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely host Nickelodeon’s first UK Slimfest at the Empress Ballroom. Tickets, at £27.50, available from http://www.visitblackpool.com/slime. Slimfest also features a free outdoor experience including character appearances and family activities on the Tower Festival Headland.
PAID: Survival Skills and Crafty Creative, Preston, September 2 to 4
As part of Brockholes Nature Reserve’s Wild Families series, it hosts Survival Skills on Friday September 2, from 2pm until 4pm. Participants will camouflage up before heading out to follow a tracking trail and have a go at shelter building, fire lighting and cooking. Tickets are from £5. Family ticket is £18. On Saturday and Sunday, there are drop-in craft sessions from 10am until 4pm. Entry is £3.Located off M6, junction 31.
FREE AND PAID: Morecambe Vintage By the Sea Festival, September 3 and 4
A celebration of 20th century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment on the Prom, with a flypast by a Lancaster Bomber; a Spitfire; and a Hurricane as part of an RAF Battle of Britain Memorial. There will be a Routemaster Bus Bar and vintage car show, a Vintage Roadshow, live music, wandering street performance, and workshops. Visit http://www.vintagefestival.co.uk.
FREE AND PAID: Tractor Road Run, Chipping, Sunday September 4
Families are invited to gather around Chipping to watch as an entourage of tractors drive around the village.
Tractors will set off from Green Lane Showground at 10am.
It costs £15 to enter a tractor, including a two-course lunch.
Spectators can stand and watch for free.
All money raised will go towards Rosemere Cancer Foundation.
PAID: Blackburn and East Lancs Model Railway Exhibition, September 3 and 4
A Model Railway Exhibition will be held at Hyndburn Leisure Centre, Henry Street, Accrington, from 10am until 5pm.
There will be layouts in various scales, specialist traders and demonstrators from across the UK and refreshments are available. Adult entry is £7, with children free. Parking is also free. The exhibition is organised by Blackburn and East Lancs Model Railway Society.
FREE AND PAID: Wigan 10k, September 4
Wigan’s annual 10k race, organised by charity Joining Jack, starts at 10am at the town centre. There will be live entertainment, a European Market, and a fun fair. Starsailor frontman James Walsh will close the music festival. Meanwhile, the day before, there is a Fun Run for children at Robin Park, from 11am until 5pm. Free entry. For registration times visit http://www.wiganeventsguide.com/event/wigan-fun-runs/
PAID: Proms in the Park, Wigan, Saturday September 3
Families are invited to bring a picnic and something to sit on whilst enjoying an evening with music at Mesnes Park, Wigan.
Gates open at 6pm and the musical concert starts at 7.45pm.
The event ends at 10pm.
Tickets are £10 for adults, £7 for children and concessions.
A family ticket is £28.
PAID: HAPPA Grand Open Day, Saturday September 3
Families are invited to Horse and Pony Protection Association’s annual open day extravaganza at Shores Hey Farm, off Halifax Road, Briercliffe, Burnley, from noon until 4pm.
There will be stalls, games, cake, scarecrow and produce competitions, horse riding displays and live music. There will also be handling sessions from Cooper’s Critters. Admission is £1 per person.
FREE: Parbold Street Festival, September 3 to 4
A total of 14 venues throughout the village offer a showcase in arts, education, entertainment and music, from noon on Saturday. There will be music from local bands and singers on the Big Stage by the Railway pub; a market place with more than 40 stalls; barges dressed in lights for the Festival of Light; a duck race; theatre; fairground; Kids Zone; workshops; horse demonstrations; and family fun.

Top 10 things to do in Lancashire at the weekend


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The Pheasant, Bassenthwaite and the Lakes Distillery
As a get-away-from-it-all haven in a stunning location, The Pheasant is hard to beat.
The Lakes Distillery.
The 17th Century coaching inn is surrounded by natural beauty on all sides.
Just off the A66 near Keswick and Cockermouth, the Pheasant is situated in a gorgeous woodland location.
Bassenthwaite, the Lake District’s only true lake, is just across the road and the peak of Skiddaw looms overhead.
The hotel has a welcoming and traditional feel with its antique furniture and a cosy panelled bar open to both residents and the public.
While enjoying an ale you can almost feel the presence of the famous huntsman John Peel, a regular at the Pheasant in the 19th century.
Our room was tastefully decorated with important touches such as a powerful shower, ironing board and iron, and flat screen TV for chilling out and watching the Olympics after a tiring day of walking in the Lakes followed by a big meal!
The food at the Pheasant, both in The Fell restaurant and Bistro, was absolutely divine and very filling.
Everything from souffle to shepherd’s pie was cooked to perfection and served with attentiveness by the ultra-professional team of staff.
One of the main attractions to visit nearby is the new Lakes Distillery.
Opened in December 2014, the distillery is a former 1850s farmhouse renovated lovingly into a place where whisky is created using the water from the River Derwent.
The first batches of whisky from the Lakes Distillery will be ready once the three-year maturing process ends in late 2017.
In the meantime you can learn about the process through regular informative on-site tours, and get to taste ‘The One’ – a blended whisky on sale in the distillery souvenir shop, as well as vodka and gin from the same brand.
But the distillery is more than just a draw for whisky conoisseurs.
Its bistro serves an exquisite menu of food and you can also spend time with the alpacas who graze in the splendid grounds.
Located just a short walk from The Pheasant and close to Bassenthwaite sailing club, the Lakes Distillery is well worth a visit.
Just be careful if you visit on the day of a triathlon though (as we did) as you may have to politely dodge a stream of runners on the nearby road!
GREG LAMBERT


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Joe Hart is expected to finalise his proposed loan move to Torino by the time the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight.
The Manchester City goalkeeper was given permission to leave England’s training base, where they are preparing for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, to resolve his club future.
Hull signed Manchester United's ex-PNE loanee Will Keane
Hart, 29, was photographed in Turin on Tuesday and is expected to seal a season-long deal with the Serie A side, having been relegated to third-choice stopper under Pep Guardiola following the arrival of Claudio Bravo.
Samir Nasri could also be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium, with Sevilla reportedly set to take the France midfielder on a season-long loan.
In another eye-catching potential loan deal, Tottenham have reportedly made enquiries about Real Madrid midfielder Isco.
Meanwhile, the total spent so far by Premier League clubs during the summer transfer window reportedly reached £1billion on Tuesday. The previous record stood at £870million.
Confirmation of Shkodran Mustafi’s switch to Arsenal from Valencia was Tuesday’s highest-profile transfer – for a reported £35million – and concluded Arsene Wenger’s near summer-long pursuit.
They had earlier completed the signing of striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna for a fee said to be around the £17million mark.
“Coming here I’ve made a step forward, because Arsenal is a big club with big players and a great manager,” Germany international Mustafi told the club’s website.
While Arsenal’s supporters had been waiting for the arrivals of new players, Hull secured three in one afternoon.
Caretaker manager Mike Phelan began the season with only 14 fit senior players, but on Tuesday signed Ryan Mason, David Marshall and former Preston North End loanee Will Keane, the former for a club record.


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A body been recovered from Preston Docks today (Saturday), police have confirmed.
Eyewitnesses reported a heavy police presence on the Docks including an ambulance and aquatic search team from the fire service.
One bystander, who asked not to be named, said they had seen a white bike pulled from the water, followed by a body.
Emergency services have been at the scene in Navigation Way since shortly before noon today.
Police have not yet been able to give any further details, other then the body being recovered.


Victoria went on to rule for 63 years, and was our longest serving monarch until she was overtaken by Elizabeth II on tith September 2015.
BAFTA-nominated actor Rufus Sewell is cast alongside Jenna starring as Lord Melbourne, Victoria’s ﬁrst prime minister. The two immediately connected and their intimate friendship became a popular source of gossip that threatened to destabilise the Government – angering both Tory and Whigs alike.
Tom Hughes stars as Prince Albert. Appearing in the drama from episode 3, Albert immediately makes an impression on the young queen, his ﬁrst cousin. Although Victoria resisted attempts to rush her into marriage initially, her partnership with Albert was a success and they would ultimately produce nine children.
We caught up with former Doctor Who companian Jenna to find out about the drama. . .
Jenna explains one of the most useful aids to understanding Victoria was her sketchbook...
“I read her diaries but although those have her words they’re more about the rhythm of her writing and her emphasis and consciousness in a way. She’s very emphatic in her writing.
What she likes is in capital letters and underlined and it was very thorough and passionate but I think for me, the most interesting thing was her sketchbook because that is the one thing that has been untouched of her vision and what interests her and how she saw the world. I never knew Victoria was such a good artist but most of what she draws is very human and is not about grandeur or jewels or aﬀairs of state in a way it is much more about nature, horses and people, drama and opera and when she was younger the heights of passion and emotion. She drew Lord Melbourne a lot at one stage and then obviously Albert as well as a lot of landscapes. It is interesting to see the world through her eye which you feel more from her when looking through her sketches.”
What helped your transformation into Queen Victoria?
“We went through a lengthy process with the contact lenses trying to ﬁnd the right ones that would look natural and work on camera. There were a couple that made me look like a white walker from Game of Thrones but I would rehearse in the lenses and I kept them in all of the time because once you have them in, to look at yourself in the mirror and see yourself completely diﬀerently is fantastic. It was the make-up designer Nic Collins idea to go with the lenses because in all of the portraits the one thing that really sticks out are her eyes; they are so big and such a known feature about her.”
But ultimately Jenna explains it was ﬁnding the voice of Victoria that was the biggest challenge...
“As well as the relationship between crown and girl it was her voice that was most interesting because for me I start at a place of voice and can hear the voice very clearly before I play a person or character so I think ﬁnding a regal voice that was of the time, accessible but not inhibiting in a way was a challenge. I listened a lot to Emily Blunt in Young Victoria and Judy Dench in Mrs Brown and bridging that age gap.
“For speeches you had to up it a certain notch and then when behind closed doors with Albert, ﬁnding the more human elements to her because I think one of the biggest fears in period drama is being so stiﬀ that you become talking heads and you have to be mindful of the etiquette and as a girl, she is impulsive. Also taking her through an age. Beginning at 18 and growing her up and yet doing that quite quickly and in less of a marked way, going from someone who is vulnerable and actually insecure and inexperienced yet someone who has a big sense of will and who is incredibly stubborn and ﬂawed yet trying to get across her likeability through that. Trying to get her lust for life through all of that.”
Jenna tells us what it has been like to undertake such an incredible role and what she was keen to portray to an audience.
“Something we spoke about a lot was this idea of playing between state and private, between Victoria’s public face, her private face and going between those two worlds. When she is in her quarters she is undone and private. It’s about ﬁnding the human within the role of Queen and discovering the girl taking on this incredible responsibility.’
“With so much access to her diaries you know a liEle bit about what her daily life was like. On the day of her coronation, for example, she woke up at 4am and could hear the crowds outside and the cannons being ﬁred. It is so fascinating to think of her experience inside the palace and outside those four walls and what her relationship was to the public.
“So it’s about fulﬁlling that on screen, seeing her the way we see her, as queen Victoria in this role that she plays but also seeing her as the girl that she was, behind the scenes and playing between the private and public worlds.”
Queen Victoria had a vast number of hidden talents, which meant that Jenna had to learn a whole new set of skills for this role.
“It was very interesting because once I got the job it was a matter of three weeks before I had to be on horseback riding on camera, ballroom dancing and playing the piano. I managed to get some Beethoven down. I have a piano in my house and I have wanted to learn for ages so it was the perfect opportunity. Tom (Hughes) is an amazing musician, he actually really could do it all and I could do one small section and then completely fudge the rest by methods which were rather ludicrous. Apparently she sings opera but I’m not so sure I would get those skills up to par but we will see!”
Victoria start on Sunday at 9pm on ITV with a 90-minute special and continues on Monday.


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Why is an orange called an orange when a carrot is more orange than an orange?
It’s questions like this that give an insight into the wonderful mind of Joe Pasquale. “It’s one of those things that’s a quandary, I lay at night thinking about it,” the comedian laughs.
It’s also called one man because it’s just me, there’s no support acts. It’s me at the beginning, me in the middle and me at the end
It’s fair to say that Pasquale is a veteran of the comedy circuit and he brings his latest show ‘One Man and his Bog’ to Viva Blackpool on Thursday, September 1.
Explaining the interesting name for the show, the 54-year-old comic says: “It’s called one man and his bog because it’s me on my bog. I sit on a toilet with a little electric motor on it, it does 17mph and has brakes on it.
“I don’t know how big the venue is, so I don’t know how fast I’ll be going on it.”
He adds: “It’s also called one man because it’s just me, there’s no support acts. It’s me at the beginning, me in the middle and me at the end.
“Nobody really wants to see a support act, so I thought I’d do it myself and it just means you can take your time and enjoy yourself for a couple of hours.”
Joe Pasquale is from Grays in Essex and has performed up and down the country, including an incredible five appearances at the Royal Variety, however a show in Blackpool is almost like a homecoming to him. He says: “I’ve been coming to Blackpool for the best part of 30 years so it’s a bit like coming home for me. I love Blackpool.
“I’ve not done this place before [Viva], I’ve done the Opera House, I’ve done the Grand many times. I started my career in the 80s up in Blackpool so I did all the hotels like the Viking.
“Just being in Blackpool is a great atmosphere, it’s the home of variety in Britain.”
It’s hard to believe that it’s 12 years since Pasqual was crowned ‘King of the Jungle’. He acknowledges that his appearance on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ brought him to the attention of a younger audience and it’s with this in mind that he made the show suitable for the whole family,. He said: “We get people in from five to 95, but if you look like your passport photo, you’re too ill to travel!”
Tickets are priced between £18.50 and £22.50 for adults, with children’s tickets costing £6.50.
For tickets call on 01253 297297 or book online at www.vivablackpool.com

Joe’s new show aims to be a gift from Bog


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If your tastes are a bit more blue (or Brown) then you’ll want to check out legendary comic Roy ‘Chubby’ at Viva Blackpool on Friday.
The Yorkshire comic is known for his x-rated style and has attracted plenty of controversy over a career spanning five decades.
Nobody splits opinion quite like the larger than life 71-year-old, with critics often describing his style as outdated but with one academic describing him as “The most important comedian of the past 25 years”.
Starting out as an entertainer in working men’s clubs, Brown got his first real break in the 1970s, coming second on show New Faces to a country and western band.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t so lucky when he applied for Opportunity Knocks, failing an audition due to swearing.
Since then, he’s become very famous on the comedy circuit for his unique stage costume, as well as his offensive shows, filled with back and forth heckling with the audience.
This year marks Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown’s third successive season in Blackpool and he’ll be performing a series of Friday night shows over the next few months.
He has been deemed “too rude for TV” so if you want to see him in action, this is your chance.
Although, probably best to make sure you don’t swear at him. Back in 2003, he was fined £200 in Blackpool for assaulting a fan who had sworn at him. At the time Brown said: “I have traditional values and I wanted the man to stop swearing in front of women and children who were on the pier.”
Tickets are available from https://www.vivablackpool.com/event/roy-chubby-brown and are priced between £17 and £22,
The show is strictly over 18 and those easily offended are advised to stay away.


A gang of burglars broke into Morecambe's new Burger King and stole £8,500 just hours after the restaurant officially opened.
Four men wearing hoods and masks used a crowbar to break in through the front door just 45 minutes after staff left the premises after the restaurant's first full day of trading.
The Burger King safe after being removed from the restaurant and dumped at Sunderland Point, with 8,500 cash having been stolen.
They took the safe which was later found abandoned at Sunderland Point.
Around £8,500 had been taken. The thieves had left behind just £122 in coins.
CCTV footage showed the culprits spraying a fire extinguisher on the floor near the takeaway's counter in an attempt to remove their footprints before leaving.
It also showed one of the burglars adjusting a CCTV camera in an attempt to avoid being filmed.
Coun Robert Redfern, mayor of Lancaster, and his wife Linda Redfern, the mayoress, with Burger King staff at the official opening on Saturday morning just hours before the burglary.
The break-in occurred at around 1.15am on Sunday and the gang were in the shop for just under 10 minutes.
Staff had left the restaurant at around 12.30am. The alarm was not set as workers were due back in just a few hours later.
Police are investigating the crime. Anyone with information who can help their enquiries should contact 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.
The new Burger King next door to the Arndale Centre opened to the public for the first time on Friday afternoon.
Its official opening ceremony was held on Saturday at 10am by the mayor of Lancaster, Councillor Robert Redfern.
A spokesman for franchise operators CPL Food Group, who run 32 Burger Kings nationwide, described Saturday as their second busiest day on record.
The restaurant closed briefly on Sunday but had reopened again by teatime.

Morecambe's new Burger King robbed hours after opening


From Dunkirk to India via Sri Lanka and Burma, World War Two veteran Ken Hill has lived through numerous traumatic experiences but always come out fighting. Guardian reporter GAYLE ROUNCIVELL listened as the 95-year-old spoke for the first time about his incredible life
World War Two veteran Ken Hill believes he must have a guardian angel looking after him due to the number of times he cheated death during the war.
War veteran Ken Hill from Morecambe
Now 95, Ken escaped with his life on several occasions during the war, and was honoured with five medals for his troubles.
Great-grandad Ken joined the Army as a radio operator with the Royal Signals in 1938 at the age of 18.
He was soon in the thick of the action, and was involved in the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940.
“I can remember Dunkirk as though it were yesterday,” Ken said. “I was really lucky to get out alive. We were in rowing boats when we were machine gunned and thrown into the water.
War veteran Ken Hill from Morecambe
“I couldn’t swim but another chap said to hang on to him and he towed me to shore.
“Once we got to the beach it was chaotic. I had lost my trousers so I went to the nearest corpse and borrowed his riding breeches.”
Ken then dodged bullets being fired at the beach by German Messerschmitts.
“They fired right at me and I was surrounded by smoke but they managed to miss me,” Ken said. “At one point I was talking to a group of men and left them minutes before a shell killed them all. There were corpses and people screaming everywhere but I couldn’t do anything to help so I just had to keep walking.”
War veteran Ken Hill from Morecambe
Volunteering as a stretcher bearer, Ken found himself on board a minesweeper where he was fed for the first time in days before being shipped back to Dover.
“I volunteered to carry the wounded men and was told a minesweeper was about to leave,” he said.
“They gave me a salmon sandwich and a hot cup of tea and bundled me below the deck. It was pure silence for the first time in ages.”
Back in England, Ken was given a card to send to his parents letting them know he was alive, before he was put on a train to Nottingham where he eventually rejoined his troop.
War veteran Ken Hill from Morecambe
From there he was sent to act as a lookout at Arundel Castle in West Sussex and later spent time in London during the blitz.
“I remember that time so vividly,” he said. “We would go out dancing because everything was still open and carrying on as normal.”
Ken was eventually sent to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Burma – where he was stationed during D-Day – doing radio communications, before being flown to India.
He then worked on communications in East Africa, dodging elephants and giraffes to lay telephone lines, and surviving a deadly snakebite one night thanks to a quick-thinking colleague slicing the venom from under his skin with a razorblade.
He also survived a bout of malaria.
Other roles Ken was given included instructing British Army generals in radio warfare and teaching morse code during a top secret mission at Windsor Park.
Towards the end of the war, Ken was posted to Portsmouth where he met his first wife, Frances, who was in the WRENs. The couple later married and went on to have four children, David, Jennifer, John and Jackie.
After the war Ken was diagnosed with what would later become known as post-traumatic stress disorder and was put under psychiatric care for five years.
“It was very primitive in those days,” Ken said. “I would have things like electric shock treatment where they would give me a bone to bite down on while they did it.
“When the war was going on you would feel fine; it was only after being demobbed that it hit you. I was very lucky because I never got a single injury.
“We were given five vials of morphine each to carry with us and were told that if anything ever happened to us, we would have to use them because we would be left behind if we were injured. I didn’t have to use any of mine. I must have had a guardian angel watching over me.
“I often think how I got through the war without any harm, but mentally it shattered me.”
Ken later worked for Radio Rentals as a TV engineer in Bath – where he was among the first colour TV engineers – before moving to Morecambe about 35 years ago with his second wife Elin, who sadly passed away 17 years ago.
“We did a lot of fell walking and would stay in B&Bs in Morecambe,” he said. “One day we were having a walk around and bought the Visitor newspaper and looked at some houses. We ended up buying one for £22,000.”
Despite suffering from crippling arthritis now, Ken manages to keep as active as possible and still communicates with the Royal Signals via radio every week.
He has five military medals including the 1939-45 medal and the Africa and Burma Stars for his service during the war.
“It’s been an interesting life I have led and it’s amazing that I am still here really,” Ken said. “I think I must have already used up about eight lives.”

Deadly snakes, flying bullets and malaria couldn’t keep Ken down


A pervert who molested a 10-year-old boy at his flat in Thornton told police ‘age is just a number’.
Richard Stuchfield, 26, has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the little boy.
Preston Crown Court heard the child, who can not be named for legal reasons, was asleep at Stuchfield’s flat when he woke to find the defendant touching him.
He told his attacker to stop and went back to sleep, but woke again to find Stuchfield continuing to grope him.
The boy told his mum when she came to collect him from the flat in Briarwood Close, and she immediately phoned Stuchfield to confront him.
Stuchfield denied he had molested the boy and said he had just cuddled him.
He eventually pleaded guilty three days before he was due to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.
In a victim statement, the boy said he had felt anger which he had kept inside and he had been worried about having to give evidence at court.
His school work was affected and he had lost a year of his life when he should have been enjoying life with his friends.
The court heard Stuchfield was questioned by police about what he considered to be an appropriate relationship between an adult and a child, to which he replied: “Age is just a number,”
He could not accept that he could have caused any harm or upset to the child he abused.
Judge James Adkin, sentencing, said: “You have little empathy or understanding of what you did or how harmful it can be to a child to commit a sexual offence against them.
“I do not accept you crept into bed with this child because you felt sorry for him and you accidentally touched him.”
He made Stuchfield the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed him on the barred list prohibiting him from working with children or vulnerable adults upon his release from prison.


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Police in Lancashire have issued a fresh safety alert after the county was named as the worst in England and Wales for crimes related to the gaming craze Pokemon Go.
Lancashire Constabulary dealt with 39 reports of Pokemon-related crimes during July - the highest of 29 forces in England and Wales.
And the figures have prompted senior officers to warn gamers out hunting Pokemon characters about the dangers they could be facing.
“People should avoid potentially dangerous locations that could make you vulnerable to injury, or become a victim of crime,” said a spokesman at the Constabulary’s headquarters in Hutton.
The game, which is played on mobile phones using satellite navigation, was only officially launched in the UK in July. Yet in its first month it was involved in at least 290 police incidents including robbery, assault, trespass and motoring offences.
Of the 29 police forces who responded to a Freedom of Information request, Lancashire had the highest number of crimes.
No details were released of of offences committed or arrests made. But police across the country say Pokemon Go players have not only been victims, but also perpetrators of crime or anti-social behaviour.
In Surrey police say they were called out to a brawl involving 30 people on a Pokemon hunt. In North Wales a man was reported for inviting children into his home saying he had “lots of Pokemons” in the house.
In London and Greater Manchester robbers set up traps to lure players into an area to rob them of their phones. Drivers in various parts of the country have been caught playing the game at the wheel, while British Transport Police reported at least two cases of children trespassing on the railway looking for Pokemons.
The Lancashire Police spokesman advised players not to trespass or put themselves in any risk while using the game.
“Never enter any water. Pokemon do not appear beyond the safety of the shoreline. And don’t enter derelict structures, unlit footpaths or alleyways. Please remember to be safe and alert at all times, don’t drive and play and respect the locations you visit.”

Pokemon Go gamers make Lancashire hot spot on crime


When the mercury soars, some gardeners enjoy the peace and calm of a cool, shady haven.
Yes, we can all crouch under the sun umbrella, but it’s just not very pretty, is it? And I’m afraid I don’t go for canvas gazebos either, even if they are practical, what with all those metal poles and coach bolts.
So how else can you create shade in a sunny spot?
Awnings are another option and can add a splash of colour if you need it. But they have to be situated in the right spot, can be expensive and if your patio is windy, they may be vulnerable.
One idea which can be effective is to train leafy climbers over an arch to create a retreat.
If you have a wooden bench, you could place some sort of arch over it and grow climbers in pots or in the earth on either side, to train up it and provide colour as well as some shade.
A light-roofed structure, such as a pergola, can also provide relief from the sun, as you can train climbers over the crossbeams, providing more hours of shade.
Pergolas are usually made from timber or metal, with a horizontal trellis laid on top.
They are usually built out from the house or a wall, often positioned directly above a patio and, as well as providing shade, they also put paid to nosey neighbours who may want to know what you’re up to. Ideal trailers to use on pergolas include sweet-smelling roses, honeysuckle or clematis.
You can buy kits from DIY stores and big garden centres consisting of timber uprights and cross pieces to put together yourself, or alternatively have a local builder do it.
If plants aren’t creating your shade, you can add colour and texture to a shady spot with hostas and ferns, heucheras and hydrangeas, adding further splashes of colour with shade-tolerant Busy Lizzies, stocks, violas and nicotiana.
Climbers which grow over a freestanding structure in the sun often do better than when planted against a wall or fence because there is no restriction of light.
If the structure - arch or pergola - is big enough, virtually any climber will be suitable, but if the gap is only small, avoid roses with sharp thorns or other bushy plants.
And remember that a combination of climbers which flower at different times will provide colour to your patio for longer and create an attractive mix. For big structures, you could train wisteria, laburnum and a late-flowering clematis.
Trellis is another useful commodity to help create shade in a sunny spot. Panels with curved tops are available to make useful screens to shelter the patio.
Arbours are another option for shade. They are open-sided structures, usually set over a sitting area in an informal part of the garden, and while they may not suit the patio area, you could always move down the garden to sit in an arbour smothered with fragrant climbers.
Remember before you start, though, to experiment with temporary shade before investing in time and money to create permanent shade.
If you have that old sun umbrella, move it around the patio to find out where it is most effective.


A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman fell from a block of flats in Preston.
Emergency services were called to Sandown Court in Avenham shortly before 8am on Friday, after a 25-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after falling from an 8th floor apartment.
She was taken by ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital where her condition was described as critical.
The incident is currently being treated as unexplained, and police have launched an investigation.
A 29-year-old man from Preston has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was in custody on Friday.
Extra police patrols were in the area to act as reassurance.
Enquiries are continuing.

Man arrested after woman falls from block of flats in Preston


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Here is a list of highly rated coffee shops in the county.
Dahlia's Kitchen, Blackpool
Woodchats
Dahlia’s Kitchen, in Cropper Road, is a coffee shop, ice cream parlour, licenced restaurant and farm shop all rolled into one.
It has a big range of home made cakes, snacks and local produce. It also provides outside catering for weddings, birthdays and corporate events.
Dahlia’s is renowned for its themed entertainment evenings, where diners can enjoy a three-course meal.
There is outdoor seating and a small play area for the children.
Open seven days a week.
Woodchats Coffee Shop, Chorley
Located in Clifford Street, Woodchats Coffee Shop is a popular haunt, with a large selection of home made cakes, soups, sandwiches and snacks.
It also sells unique home made gifts and provides outside catering for parties and events.
Exchange Coffee Company, Clitheroe and Blackburn
Exchange Coffee Company is a coffee roaster and tea merchant, with branches in Clitheroe and Blackburn, in Lancashire, as well as Skipton and Todmorden in Yorkshire.
It has a wholesale roasting warehouse in Blackburn, supplying coffees, teas and all associated products across the country.
The coffee shops also have a daily specials menu, serving hot and cold food. Other drinks on offer include milkshakes and juices.
The company also sells homewares and quirky gifts.
The View, Morecambe
The View, in Marine Road Central, is a cafe with a musical twist. It has a cult following for music enthusiasts, as diners can enjoy a cup of coffee and snacks, whilst browsing through its eclectic range of vintage records, CDs and vinyls.
It also stocks a variety of memorabilia, including clothes, retro gifts and souvenirs.
Not forgetting its status as a cafe and coffee shop, it also has a changing daily specials menu, as well as hot drinks and soft beverages.
How The Other Half Live, Preston
Moved from its original location in Blackpool Road to Winckley Street, Preston, How the Other Half Live is a small coffee shop with a boutique gift store.
The shop has a small selection of coffee and cakes on offer whilst customers browse around the shop.


Morecambe began their EFL Trophy campaign with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Bury on Tuesday night.
Two second half-goals from Tom Pope and a header from Antony Kay gave Bury the points over a much-changed Shrimps’ side.
Jim Bentley’s team got off to the worst possible start as they went a goal down after two minutes with Bury taking the lead from the penalty spot.
Anthony Dudley was bundled over on the edge of the Morecambe box and after a moment’s hesitation the referee pointed to the spot with Zeli Ismail sending debutant keeper Dan Nizic the wrong way.
The Shrimps did come back strongly and created some good openings but showed a lack of composure in front of goal.
Paul Mullin twice tried his luck from distance before Rhys Turner missed a golden opportunity to level the scores on 21 minutes.
The striker received the ball unmarked on the edge of the area but with time on his hands blazed a shot well over the bar when he should have done much better.
Bury threatened themselves with Ismail a constant threat down the right, teeing up Pope with a sweet cross which the striker headed into Nizic’s hands.
The Australian stopper was then forced into action again with a smart save low to his left from Danny Mayor’s right foot curler before producing another flying block to tip away Tom Soares’ stinging shot from distance.
Nizic was rewarded for his saves as Morecambe levelled on 43 minutes when Mullin tried his luck from 25 yards and clipped an unstoppable shot past Ben Williams and into the top left-hand corner of the Bury goal.
Unfortunately the Shrimps were not level for long as Bury regained the lead four minutes after the break.
Andy Fleming gave the ball away in midfield and Mayor took advantage with a cross into the area for Pope to flick a header past Nizic from six yards.
Bury then took control with Soares again denied by a flying Nizic save with a shot from 25 yards before Mayor drilled a low effort wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the area.
Morecambe struggled to gain possession but did create one golden opportunity for Mullin on the hour but he snatched at an effort when found unmarked eight yards out and the chance went begging.
The Shrimps had to thank Nizic again with another excellent save to deny Dudley on 75 minutes and then Soares again before Kay sealed the victory with a bullet header from a right-wing corner.
The game ended on a positive for the Shrimps with Jack Dunn forcing Williams into a good save and hitting the post before captain Peter Murphy was introduced for his first performance since picking up a ligament injury at Wycombe in January.
But it was Bury who had the final say when Pope added his second of the game when played in down the left-hand side before poking the ball past Nizic.
Bury: Williams, Jones (Maher 53), Kay, Barnett, Leigh, Ismail (Hope 64), Mellis, Soares, Mayor (Obi 84), Pope, Dudley. Subs not used: Burgess, Rachubka, Bedeau, Harker.
Booked: Kay.
Morecambe: Nizic, Wakefield (Dunn 71), Edwards, Whitmore, McGowan, Fleming (Murphy 83), Kenyon, Mullin, Ellison (Barkhuizen 59), Molyneux, Turner. Subs not used: Roche, Stockton, Rose, Hedley.
Booked: Mullin, Wakefield.
Referee: R Jones
Attendance: 1,154 (117 away fans)


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A county folk band has suffered its own Olympic disqualification.
As well as dealing with doping scandals and worry over Paralympic funding, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has been scrutinising the 2008 song The Beer Olympics, by The Lancashire Hotpots.
Members of the band say they have been issued a ‘cease and desist’ notice by the IOC, claiming they have infringed copyright on the Olympic name.
A statement released on the band’s website said: “It’s nice to see them finally catch up with a song that we first released in 2008, I’m guessing the Olympic breakfast at the Little Chef is next, get one while you can.
“So, not wishing to get into any massive legal trouble (we can’t pay for that and the ale) we have decided to re-title the song to see if that gets the legal bigwigs off our backs.”
The new title has been announced as The Beer International Non-Profit Non-Governmental Sporting Quad Yearly Event.
“It’s a strange thing that they’re coming after an entity as small and daft as ours,” said Dickie Ticker the percussionist who wrote the song.
“Under something called Article 40, it seems that you can’t use the word Olympics in any business capacity. People would probably use a lot of words to describe our band, but business wouldn’t be one of them.”
He added: “The re-titling has made the song funnier than it was and I hope it’s enough to put them off.
“But we still sing the word in the song, so are we going to have to change that too? We’re testing the waters to see if that pleases the Olympic Gods, but if not, we’ll have to erase it from our catalogues.”
The IOC issued a statement saying it was the exclusive owner of the rights to the Olympic Games and associated symbols and emblems.
It said: “The IOC is particularly attentive to the protection of its intellectual properties rights and assets. As such, the IOC asks that all non-authorized uses of the Olympic Properties, in particular, for commercial purposes, be ceased accordingly.”
In 2012, The British Sugarcraft Guild was told it could face court proceedings if Olympic logos were reproduced on cakes at a show.

Have Hotpots fallen foul of the Olympic bosses?


Here is a list of five popular bookshops in the county
Ebb & Flo, Chorley
Broadhurst's in Southport
Ebb & Flo bookshop is an independent bookshop in Gillibrand Street, Chorley.
Alongside more recognisable titles, its book selection offers something quirky to customers. With a children’s den area, there are activities and sessions for young learners.
The store stocks a wide range of French Djeco crafts, as well as handmade crafts by Darcey Fleur.
The shop also boasts an upstairs gallery, where local artists and photographers can exhibit their work. Prints and artwork are often for sale. The room is also available for hire.
Broadhurst’s Bookshop, Southport
Broadhurst’s Bookshop in Market Street, Southport has four floors of hidden treasures.
The ground floor houses the new bookshop, with fiction and non-fiction. Other floors include an extensive new children’s book department, two rare book rooms specialising in 19th and 20th century literature, modern first editions, private press books and a wide and interesting selection of antiquarian titles. There is also eight second-hand book rooms containing upwards of 50,000 titles on all subjects and a varied selection of 18th, 19th and 20th century prints and maps.
Halewood and Sons, Preston
Halewood and Sons is a family business established in 1867 by William Halewood. It has a vast stock of rare, interesting and collectable books, maps and prints in all subject areas.
Located in 37 Friargate, there is ample choice to browse around for the perfect second hand and antiquarian book. The five-generational store is particularly strong in travel, exploration, local history, Arthur Conan Doyle, and natural history.
For more information and a book search, email dhalewood@aol.com
Book, Bean and Ice Cream, Kirkham
Book, Bean and Ice Cream, run by Elaine Silverwood, is at the site of the former SilverDell bookshop, in Poulton Street, Kirkham. The shop relaunched with a new name, linking with Silverwood Events, to provide cultural and literary activities in a cafe and book shop setting.
Carnforth Bookshop, Carnforth
Carnforth Bookshop, in Market Street, is an independent, family run bookshop, established in 1977.
Situated over three floors, it stocks a wide variety of products, including new, second hand and antiquarian books, as well as a large selection of maps, gifts, cards, toys, stationery and art materials.


As the dust settles on Lancashire County Council’s plans to sell off more than 100 libraries, children’s centres and other facilities across the county we look at five key things you need to know about the move.
1) WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
County Hall
The proposals will go the the County Council’s Cabinet meeting on September 8 for approval.
But first they will be debated by the council’s cross party Executive Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, September 6 at County Hall in Preston.
This is an opportunity for councillors to voice their own and local residents’ concerns and is chaired by Liberal Democrat County Coun Bill Winlow.
Both the meetings start at 2pm and are open to the public to attend and watch.
GOING?: Fulwood Library, Garstang Road
You can also watch a webcast of these meetings - the link can be accessed through the Property Strategy agenda item on the County Council’s online Calendar of Meetings.
2) WHEN WILL THE CLOSURES BEGIN?
Some of the centres could close within weeks.
The changes affect libraries, children’s services, children’s centres, young people’s centres, youth offending teams, older people’s daytime support services, adult disability day services and registrars.
The time span for the changes ranges from September 30, 2016 to March 2020.
It is proposed services will end at Fulwood, Bamber Bridge and Penwortham libraries and Garstang Young People’s Centre on September 30 this year.
By March next year the services at Kirkham Young People’s Centre,St Lawrence Children’s Centre, Preston, Penwortham Young People’s Centre and Wellfield Children’s Centre in South Ribble will cease.
It is also planned that Longridge Young People’s Centre, the Bamber Bridge Children’s Centre, Kingsfold and Longton Children’s Centres and eight services in Chorley -the Blossomfield’s Children’s Centre, Adult Disability Day Services, the Youth offending Team, Clayton Brook and Coppull Children’s Centre, Coppull and Eccleston Young People’s Centres and The Zone in Chorley - will be relocated to new Neighbourhood Centres between January 1 next year and March 2020.
3) WHAT CAN MY COUNCILLOR DO?
There will be a call-in period when councillors can object and ask for the decision to be reviewed by the council’s scrutiny committee. Five county councillors must sign a demand for a call-in to trigger the process. Any such demand must be received three working days after the initial decision - in this case that’s by 5pm on Tuesday September 13. Members of the scrutiny committee must meet within seven days and can ask the cabinet to reconsider its decision.
4) HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE SAVED BY THE SELL OFF?
The council says millions of pounds will be saved by changing the way its frontline services are delivered. It’s not so much the income from sales of buildings which will be crucial - although it’s estimated some £8m -£11m could be raised, as the fact that service delivery has been changed and jobs cut and it’s the ongoing salaries and building maintenance costs saved which will be most significant.
The council estimates it will save £1.6m in reduced running costs for buildings, library closures will save £6.1m and reductions to its wellbeing, prevention and early help services will save £8.4m. But there’s a suggestion the Government, angered at the closure of Children’s Centres it helped to fund may ask for £20m back.
In addition it’s thought some £20m will be needed to make properties suitable for use as new Neighbourhood Centres.
5) WHAT CAN YOU DO?
You could volunteer to run a library service. The county council is proposing to offer help to establish community run libraries.
A help package will include £5,000 to cover set-up costs, shelving, an initial supply of books from the county council’s store and advice from a special community library development officer. Call 0300 1236701 for more information.
A website offering advice and information for people wanting to take over the running of local services or community centres could offer more inspiration. See www.mycommunityrights.org.uk
The council has also said it wants to explore further options for other groups and organisations to take over responsibility for some of its about to be axed buildings and services and wants more time to assess any business cases which have been submitted for such takeovers.
They will consider a report back on these in October. Any new expressions of interest must be submitted as soon as possible.

What the latest county council cuts mean for you. Our guide to what happens next


With Great Britain enjoying a gold rush at the Rio Olympics it seems long time since the 1968 games when the nation collected just 13 medals. Among the few success stories of the Mexico games was Lancastrian Bob Braithwaite. Louise Busfield reports.
There are not many Olympic champions who can celebrate striking gold without any formal training in their sport.
Bob Braithwaite could. Although born in Cumbria, Braithwaite moved to Lancashire as a child and spent the rest of his life in the Red Rose county.
A veterinary surgeon by profession, despite his amateur standing he first began competing on a professional level in trap shooting events in 1956.
In 1964 he qualified for the summer Tokyo Olympic games as part of the British shooting team where he was placed seventh in the trap shooting event.
But it was the 1968 summer Olympic Games in Mexico where Braithwaite’s talents truly captivated the nation.
Bob Braithwaite takes aim at the 1968 Oympics
At the games the trap shooting took place over two days. There were 200 targets to hit across eight stages and on the first day of competition Braithwaite, then aged 43, missed only two shots, the fifth and the 13th clay pigeons, ending day one in seventh place.
The following day he successfully shot every clay pigeon fired on the Campo Militaire range making his final score 198 out of 200, a then Olympic record. Such was the high standard of the competition his margin of victory was just two points over the shooters who finished in silver, bronze and fourth places from a field of 55 competitors.
His achievement was even more remarkable as many of his opponents were either members of their nation’s Armed Forces or enjoyed commercial sponsorship.
But he was not one for basking in his golden glory immediately telling reporters he was heading home to Scorton the next day, “No sense hanging around now. The job’s done, I might as well get back home.”
Olympic champion Bob Braithwaite
Braithwaite told the Evening Post: “Although I hadn’t done too much shooting this year I had the feeling that things would go right for me. Once you run into good form you usually maintain it and I did. It was as simple as that.
“I missed one shot in my first round because of the visibility, but the next one I missed was a real bad ‘un. I thought to myself ‘that’s it chum’, but I just kept firing away, and hitting them. I enjoyed it and had a bit of luck.
“I never really got tensed up. I’ve been far more nervous before. But 198 out of 200, not bad, I suppose.”
He added: “I didn’t look at the scores of the other competitors and it wasn’t until the last but one shot that I thought I had a chance of winning.”
His family had been gathered around radio listening to his efforts but it was a family friend who phoned through news of his victory shortly after 11.30pm on October 19.
Fellow Olympic shooter Colin Sephton, who finished 26th in the mixed skeet, had a closer view.
He said: “The tension was unbearable. None of us dared speak to Bob lest we upset his concentration. To shoot 25 birds four times in a row in one session as he did, phew, that was fantastic. We sat through it until the last round then we couldn’t look. One hundred straight off. Bloody hell!”
Bob’s achievements were made even more impressive as he earned success while holding down a demanding job and had undertaken no formal training programme for the tournament.
In 1947 he qualified as a vet initially working in Lancaster but by the 1968 games he was running his own veterinary surgery at Castle View on Bridge Street, in Garstang.
The practice took up a lot of his time and the nearest trap shooting grounds available were in Hull and Bournemouth, too far to practice while working.
The only logical thing for Braithwaite to do was to build his own practice ground on his family’s farm in Quernmore.
Evening Post sports reporter Alan Hubbard, who was out in Mexico, explained: “Bob bought a hand-operated trap and with Tom Ibison of Shepherd’s Farm, Garstang, he carried on practising – far from the limelight and bally-boo at his father’s farm, Askew Hill Farm.”
It was reported that a local priest volunteered to operate the trap for his twice weekly training sessions.
Over breakfast the following morning after winning gold Braithwaite told Hubbard, “Perhaps now someone will be stirred into doing something for us Cinderella men.
“There are about 4,000 clay pigeon men in Britain although only about 30 shoot the Olympic trench and what we need is a central point where we can practice. If this gold medal gets near to achieving that I’ll be over the moon.”
The event Braithwaite entered was the more difficult of two clay pigeon competitions with the sportsmen stood 45 yards from a trench in which three traps are set at different heights and angles.
The chalk and pitch “pigeon” was four and a quarter inches in diameter and was released on the word “pull” but by the first syllable it was winging away at up to 120mph.
It was an astonishing performance not only in the eye of experts but in those of his family and local supporters who could not believe one of their own had been so successful, one local commented telling the Post: “It is unbelievable. But he’s done it, he’s got an Olympic gold. It’s a marvellous achievement.”
Bob returned home to Preston railway station to a fanfare of fans, friends and newsmen and then boarded a Rolls Royce laid on by Scorton Parish Council for the final stretch of his journey home and a celebratory fireworks display.
Earlier he had landed at Heathrow after a 15 hour flight to discover his suitcase had been lost in transit containing a silver trophy he won in Mexico before the games began.
Thankfully his gold medal was safely around his neck at the time and he later recovered the rest of his belongings.
Later that year the man the Evening Post dubbed Bashful Bob due to his modest manner was awarded the MBE.
Braithwaite died on February 26 last year aged 89 and at the time of his death he lived in Capernwray, near Carnforth.

Olympic great conquered the world from a farm in Lancashire


Visit now for the Preston and Lancashire nostalgia news and features from the Lancashire Evening Post


The family of a man who was killed in a crash outside Preston have spoken out about their ‘tragic loss’.
The 35-year-old man, named as Nick Farrimond, was stood by the road in Whitestake in the early hours of Monday, when he was hit by a car.
Police said Nick, from Bamber Bridge, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. It is believed he had been waiting for a taxi.
His family Lynne, Terry Tom released a tribute to announce the ‘very tragic and untimely death of their most loved son and brother’.
It says: “Nick was a wonderfully caring, kind and most especially funny young man.
“His loss will be deeply felt by all his family and huge circle of friends.
“There is a void in all our lives that will never be filled.”
Messages of love and support also flooded in on social media, paying tribute to Nick.
A 32-year-old man from Preston was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving, and was in custody.
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses for the incident, which is believed to have involved a red Peugeot 106 near to Pope Lane Close and Green Lane at around 12.50am.
Sgt Tracey Ward, of the Lancashire Police Roads Policing Team, said: “These are tragic circumstances and my thoughts remain with this man’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“We are appealing for information and would ask anyone who can help to come forward and contact police.”
Contact police on 101, quoting log reference 0067 of August 29.

Family pays tribute to ‘caring, kind and funny’ man killed in crash


Get the latest breaking news from the Lancashire Evening Post - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more.


Tributes have poured in for a teenager who died after taking drugs at a music festival.
Friends and family of Lewis Haunch, 17, took to social media to say goodbye to the “kind and innocent” teenager following his death at the weekend.
The teenager, from Leigh, was rushed to hospital after collapsing at Leeds Festival at around 4.45pm on Saturday and died a short time later.
West Yorkshire Police have said it appears Lewis, a former Lowton High School pupil, had taken an unknown substance just before he collapsed.
Erica Mcguinness said: “This morning my life changed forever; finding out that my best friend has passed away has to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with.
“Words can’t describe how much I’m missing you already and the hurt I’m experiencing trying to take it all in. Couldn’t ask for a better best friend and I’m just devastated it got cut too short.
“Nobody will ever replace you, I hope you look down on me and your other friends and be proud.”
Joe Heaton added: “Just in absolute shock and speechless and can’t stop crying. My cousin Lewis died last night far too young.
“At just 17 years old, he was taken far too early from us all.
“What a kind innocent young man, who would never cause any harm to anybody.”
Charlie Heaton wrote: “Absolutely devastated that my cousin, one of the most harmless, nicest lads I know has been taken, can’t begin to describe the feeling.
“RIP Lewis, everyone is gonna miss you pal.”
Thomas Wright said: “Never expected anything like this too happen, you’re about too be missed by loads bro, missing you already lad sadly missed.
“RIP Lewis Haunch. Love you loads bro.”
Lewis was taken to St James’ Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition after collapsing at the festival. Despite receiving emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
Police enquiries into his death and how he obtained the substance he took are ongoing but two males, both aged 17, have been arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of drugs offences. Both have since been released on police bail.
Leeds Festival’s Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Keith Gilert said, “Our thoughts are naturally with the family of the young man at this time.
“They were made aware of the incident by officers as soon as possible and were assisted to attend the hospital as quickly as possible. We will continue to support them through this difficult time. We are currently investigating the death and how he obtained the substance he took.
“At this time the indications are that the man consumed drugs immediately before he collapsed.
“I would though like to take this opportunity to remind anyone attending the Festival that there is no safe way to take drugs.
“Taking any illegal drug carries a risk to health and we would always advise people against it, but I would ask that people are particularly conscious of the risks following this young man’s death.”

Tributes paid to teenager after festival drugs death


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Longridge became the new home of rock as music lovers descended on the town for the Rock the Lakes Festival
And in shops about town wellington boots were flying off the shelves as the festival crowd tried to battle the elements and the mud on Longridge Showground off Lower Lane.
Longridge hosted the Rock the Lakes Music Festival over the weekend. Blood Brothers on stage. PIC BY ROB LOCK 21-8-2016
Around 1000 people arrived in Longridge for the three-day rock spectacle, the first to be held in the market town.
The line-up included a host of live tribute acts including the AC/DC Experience. The Phonics, QueenEsque and State of Quo
Organiser Mike Blundell said despite the horrendous weather the feedback had been ‘absolutely fantastic.’
He added: “It was a mud bath but everybody enjoyed every bit of it.”


Visit now for Longridge news from the Lancashire Evening Post


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Thousands of people have packed Blyth for the first day of the Tall Ships Regatta.


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Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit Blyth this bank holiday weekend as it hosts the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016.


Veganism is becoming increasingly popular. Yet most supermarkets fail to label food that is suitable.


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When HMS Blyth paid a visit to her namesake town she was gleaming on a sunny morning.


The Blyth beach huts looked pristine on this sunny evening.


A man crushed his next door neighbour’s five-year-old son to death as his car pulled onto the shared driveway of their homes.
Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Wednesday that 42-year-old David Cowell was returning home to watch an England football match on TV after going on an errand to the shops when the tragedy happened, crushing the child without seeing him.
Cowell is accused of causing the death of Riley Ferguson by careless driving - a charge he denies.
Riley died from horrific injuries to his head and neck after his next door neighbour’s Vauxhall Insignia car rolled over him, the jury was told.
Neighbour Cowell had invited a friend around to watch an England football match on June 7, 2015, when he left his home for a brief moment on an errand.
The defendant returned home to see another neighbour’s daughter, named Millie, standing near his shared driveway but was unable to spot Riley who was already underneath his car and bleeding heavily from his mouth and nose.
Cowell reversed after hitting what he thought was a bike or a scooter on the driveway, only to find Riley who he had not seen while pulling up outside his home in Milton Keynes.
Riley died from his injuries after being taken to a hospital and a hospice.
The court heard how the summer sun had prompted a number of barbecues in Woodspring Court where the tragedy happened last year.
Alan Blake, prosecuting, said: “The front gardens were very small and Millie and Riley would often play together on and around the driveway. That was something that frustrated the defendant who had spoken to his neighbours about it.
“Relations remained cordial and it was just something that had been mentioned.”
He added: “On June 7, 2015, some of the residents, including this defendant, were planning on having barbecues and David Cowell was planning to watch an England match with his friend.
“The defendant popped out on an errand in his black Vauxhall Insignia car. At around 1.45pm he drove down Tewkesbury Lane before turning left into Woodspring Court.
“While the defendant was out on his errand there were some of the children playing on the shared driveway. 10-year-old Millie started playing outside with Riley. Riley had a ball with him while they chatted and played.
“Young Riley was sitting playing on the driveway about a metre or so from Millie.”
Mr Blake told jurors that Cowell returned to his home at around 1.45pm and was aware of Millie who was stood near a fence at the end of the driveway.
He added: “According to what he told police, David Cowell was aware of Millie but failed to see Riley.
“As he entered the driveway he was aware he ran over something that he thought was a child’s toy or bike. He rolled back a distance and there he saw Riley bleeding heavily from the head.
“He picked him up and carried him to the grass.
“Millie’s mother, Tamara, made the 999 call and Riley’s mother was said to be beside herself with grief and shock.
“Riley suffered severe head and neck injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford before he was taken to a hospice where he died four days alter from his injuries.
“He had been run over by the nearside front wheel. David Cowell had been aware of children congregating in that area with bikes and toys on the shared driveway.
“He should have been proceeding with maximum care and attention and unfortunately he didn’t.”
Cowell, now of Deacon Crescent, Middleton, Milton Keynes, denies the charge of causing death by careless driving.
The trial continues.

Court: Driver crushed five-year-old to death on his driveway


A man crushed his next door neighbour’s five-year-old son to death as his car pulled onto the shared driveway of their homes.


More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey.
A poll of more than 8,000 over-50s shows that one in eight grandparents will look after grandchildren once a week over the school summer holidays, with a further one in eight will be on childminding duties twice per week.
However, one in twenty grandparents say they will be hosting their grandchildren three days a week while school is out for the summer, according to the research by Saga Car Insurance.
And it’s not just their time that will be donated - one in five say they will spend well over £200 keeping the children occupied. Days out to the beach (77 per cent) and on shopping trips (35 per cent) are the most popular distractions, although some grandparents are even taking their grandchildren on a holiday either in the UK (14 per cent) or abroad (5 per cent).
Grandparents in the North East are the most likely to babysit grandchildren over the school summer holidays, while those in the East Midlands are least likely to.
The Scots are most likely to spend big on their grandkids, with one in four expecting to spend more than £200 during the school holiday period.
Sue Green, Head of Saga Car Insurance, commented: “It looks as though children are in for an action-packed summer which is full of adventure if nan and granddad are in charge over the next couple of weeks. Grandparents really are generous giving up their time and money to help with childcare over the summer holidays and I’m sure they are really looking forward to spending some quality time with their grandchildren.”

Grandparents to the rescue over school summer holidays


More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey.


Neighbourhood Watch is offering advice to residents approached by door-to-door pedlars at their homes.


The internet is 25 years old today and we take a look at 25 things the world wide web changed forever.
Happy 25th birthday to the internet! In August 1991, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee published the first web page.
And on August 23, 1991, he gave the public access to it.
Handily, the page told readers how they could set up their own website, whatever the heck a website was.
You can view a version of that original web page here. Compared to what we have now obviously it is very basic but will go down in history as one of the most important developments of all time.

The World Wide Web is 25 today: Here’s 25 things the internet changed forever


The internet is 25 years old today and we take a look at 25 things the world wide web changed forever.


Dacorum Borough Council’s five Neighbourhood Action Groups are holding their annual public meetings over the next two months to identify key issues and set plans for the coming year.


Minding your manners, avoiding emotional Facebook rants and knowing what cutlery to use are the modern day signs of class, according to new research.
A study of 2,000 Britons for fashion brand Peter Hahn identified the markers that separate the classy from the hoi polloi and they also include not showing too much cleavage, holding the door for others and speaking more than one language.
So how classy are you? Take our quiz to find out.


Minding your manners, avoiding emotional Facebook rants and knowing what cutlery to use are the modern day signs of class, according to new research.


Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.
But new research suggests injuries sustained from indoor trampoline parks are an “emerging health concern”.
The warning comes after a study recorded 40 children needed medical treatment at one hospital in the space of just six months after trampoline accidents at an indoor park.
Last week 25-year-old Bryony won a silver medal in Rio, performing twists and turns at a staggering 30ft.
But while many youngsters may wish to emulate her, researchers stress the danger of using indoor trampoline parks, where many kids bounce simultaneously, on beds placed in close proximity to each other.
Researchers reviewed the medical records of Australian children under 17, who sought medical treatment at a children’s emergency care department between July 2014 and January 2015.
The team focussed solely on injuries sustained whilst at a trampoline park.
During a six month period, the team recorded 40 child patients, 55 per cent of which were girls, requiring treatment for their injuries.
The average age of each child patient was 10, but the youngest was just a year old.
Most of the injuries, a third, occurred while the child was on the trampoline.
And a fifth - 18 per cent - of the injuries were caused by a failed landing.
But in eight cases, the injury was the result of several different children of different sizes using the trampoline at the same time.
The research, published in the journal Injury Prevention, revealed over half of the children (52.5%) injured were simply jumping and not attempting any flips or somersaults at the time.
Six children injured themselves by landing awkwardly on something on the trampoline, such as protective padding designed to prevent falls.
Bruising and sprained ankles were the most common injuries, with 55% of the children’s medical records detailing these.
A third fractured elbow and ankle bones.
But for five children, their injuries were more serious and required surgery and a hospital admission.
Author Dr Christopher Mulligan, from The University of New South Wales said: “Most children were injured while involved in simple jumping activities (52.5%).
“However, five children (12.5%) were injured while attempting somersaults or flips.
“Six children were injured when they came into contact with something while on the trampoline.
“This included two children who landed on balls, and four children who landed on, or caught their feet in, the less elastic padding surrounding them or the hard surface floor.
“In terms of the injuries observed, the majority of patients presented with a soft tissue injury or sprain ( 55%) or fractured bone(s) (37.5%).
“One child sustained a lip laceration. One child presented with concussion, and one with chest pain.
“The lower extremity was the most frequent site of injury (67.5%), followed by the upper extremity (15%).
“The most common sprains were of the ankle. The most common fractures were supracondylar fractures of the elbow and fractures of the ankle.
“There was one fracture/dislocation of a cervical vertebra. No patients sustained a loss of consciousness.”
He added children using trampolines at home are more at risk of falling off it as they are raised above the ground or falling through the padding.
But at centres “double bouncing, or multiple users on a single trampoline, carried a significant risk for injury.
“This occurred particularly when small children were jumping with larger peers
or other adults.”
The study was published in the BMJ’ s Injury Prevention.


Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.


A pastor and a Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer are among the 12 hopefuls competing to win the 2016 series of The Great British Bake Off.
The amateur bakers, competing to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion Nadiya Hussain, will again seek the approval of judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.
However the seventh series could be the last on the BBC. Its three-year deal with producers Love Productions expires at the end of this run and ITV is bidding to poach the format.
Ms Berry, 81, hinted at tensions behind the scenes between the new batch of contestants donning their aprons. She said: “They know the standard that it is, which is now pretty high. And I think they were slower to bond this year than they were in the past.”
The bakers include Andrew, 25, originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in Derby and works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls-Royce. A Cambridge University graduate, Andrew has set his heart on designing a baguette concorde.
The oldest contestant in this year’s lineup will be Lee, a 67-year-old who has worked in various pastoral ministries for the past 30 years – most recently as the pastor of his local church in Bolton. A former builder, he had a complete change of direction in the mid 1980s, when he turned to theology and took up baking.
The youngest baker is Michael, a 20-year-old from London who is studying politics and economics in Durham. He enjoys making “big grand cakes” and making Greek pastries inspired by his Cypriot heritage.
Teaching Assistant, Benjamina, 23, who started baking aged 14 just for fun, recently graduated with a 1st in Economics & lives in south London.
The contestants also include 66-year-old former primary school head teacher Val, and 31-year-old secondary school PE teacher Candice. Mother of two Kate, 37, is a farmer’s daughter from Norfolk, is a qualified nurse and works on an acute respiratory ward. Candice, 31, from Bedfordshire, was taught to bake by her beloved Nan, and strives to emulate her bakes aiming to be “even half the lady she was.”
Hollywood said Nadiya’s success – she is judging a junior version of the series and is presenting a documentary on her culinary inspirations – had raised the bar for this year’s batch.
“Nadiya went to a whole new level, and because of that I think it put the pressure on them more, and I think we felt that in the tents as well,” the judge said. “But actually they came out tops.
They started quite nervously but once they settled down they got into it. Then the baking started to flow and the standard got really really good.”
The Great British Bake Off launches on August 24 on BBC One at 8pm.

Great British Bake Off contestants: Rolls-Royce engineer and pastor join 2016 lineup


A pastor and a Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer are among the 12 hopefuls competing to win the 2016 series of The Great British Bake Off.