Baxenden Farmer Paul Starkie raising Funds for British Heart Foundation

Everest Trek

This weekend Paul will leave the UK along with his friend to travel to Nepal, and then the trip begins to reach Base Camp at the foot of the world’s tallest mountain and hopefully for both men the fulfilment of a dream.

We reported earlier in March about the plan to raise funds and complete a personal challenge by Paul who will leave behind his family and friends, but not to worry with the weather in Lancashire almost identical to that in Nepal at this time of the year he will already be accustomed to snow, driving winds and the extreme cold.

I'm Trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp for British Heart Foundation because it's a personal challenge and to raise money,

Please donate at: www.justgiving.com/poultrypaul

Please follow the link above and donate to Pauls fund raising, remember we all have a "heart" and the research carried out will help someone survive the second biggest killer in the UK after cancer.

Donate whatever you can pennies or pounds it will spur Paul and his friend on.

The British Heart Foundation has saved thousands of lives.

And remember if you’re a business it's tax deductible

Primary school teacher, 32, who announced to pupils he was changing sex is found dead at home

Primary school teacher, 32, who announced to pupils he was changing sex is found dead at home

Nathan Upton taught at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School, in Accrington, Lancs

He switched his name to Miss Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 19:33, 21 March 2013 | UPDATED: 19:34, 21 March 2013

A teacher who told parents and colleagues he was changing sex and coming back to school as a woman has been found dead at home.

Nathan Upton, 32, a Year Six teacher at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School, in Accrington, Lancashire, switched his name to Miss Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery.

Last December, a newsletter was sent out by the school saying Mr Upton should be addressed as Miss Meadows when classes returned following the Christmas holidays.

Each class at the 169-pupil school - whose motto is 'Reaching our potential together in Christ' - was spoken to about the schoolmaster's sex change.

Nathan Upton, a teacher at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School (above), in Accrington, Lancs, has been found dead at home. He switched his name to Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery

This week, police went to the teacher's home in Accrington and found her body inside. The cause of death is not known but officers confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

The matter has been referred to the coroner.

News of the tragedy was broken today by the school's headteacher Karen Hardman, who posted a message on the school's website saying: 'It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the death of Miss Lucy Meadows.

'Our staff will be working closely with bereavement teams and are here to offer the children and yourselves any support in any way we can.'

Lancashire Police said: 'At 4.45pm on Tuesday, March 19, police were called by the ambulance service to a report of a sudden death at an address in Accrington.

'On arrival, they found the body of a 32-year-old woman. There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared and passed to the coroner.'

The newsletter which was hand-delivered to parents, said: 'Mr Upton has made a significant change in his life and will be transitioning to live as a woman after the Christmas break. She will return to work as Miss Meadows.'

It said the school was fully supporting him throughout his 'transition' and added: 'We are proud of our commitment to equality and diversity among our staff and children.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297116/Primary-school-teacher-32-announced-pupils-changing-sex-dead-home.html#ixzz2OFkKTCgi

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Primary school teacher, 32, who announced to pupils he was changing sex is found dead at home

Nathan Upton taught at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School, in Accrington, Lancs

He switched his name to Miss Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 19:33, 21 March 2013 | UPDATED: 19:34, 21 March 2013

A teacher who told parents and colleagues he was changing sex and coming back to school as a woman has been found dead at home.

Nathan Upton, 32, a Year Six teacher at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School, in Accrington, Lancashire, switched his name to Miss Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery.

Last December, a newsletter was sent out by the school saying Mr Upton should be addressed as Miss Meadows when classes returned following the Christmas holidays.

Each class at the 169-pupil school - whose motto is 'Reaching our potential together in Christ' - was spoken to about the schoolmaster's sex change.

Nathan Upton, a teacher at St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School (above), in Accrington, Lancs, has been found dead at home. He switched his name to Lucy Meadows after undergoing gender reassignment surgery

This week, police went to the teacher's home in Accrington and found her body inside. The cause of death is not known but officers confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

The matter has been referred to the coroner.

News of the tragedy was broken today by the school's headteacher Karen Hardman, who posted a message on the school's website saying: 'It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the death of Miss Lucy Meadows.

'Our staff will be working closely with bereavement teams and are here to offer the children and yourselves any support in any way we can.'

Lancashire Police said: 'At 4.45pm on Tuesday, March 19, police were called by the ambulance service to a report of a sudden death at an address in Accrington.

'On arrival, they found the body of a 32-year-old woman. There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared and passed to the coroner.'

The newsletter which was hand-delivered to parents, said: 'Mr Upton has made a significant change in his life and will be transitioning to live as a woman after the Christmas break. She will return to work as Miss Meadows.'

It said the school was fully supporting him throughout his 'transition' and added: 'We are proud of our commitment to equality and diversity among our staff and children.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297116/Primary-school-teacher-32-announced-pupils-changing-sex-dead-home.html#ixzz2OFkKTCgi

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

When representatives of a Rossendale-based food bank went along to speak to a group of Brownies in Haslingden, little did they expect to receive a donation

that would cause a stir.

The RAFT Foundation, which provides a food bank service to those in financial difficulty in Rossendale, went along to speak to St. Peter's Brownies in Haslingden about the valuable work that they carry out.

Kate Crane, Chair of the RAFT Foundation, said: "We often give talks to local organisations interested in hearing about or supporting our work. Recently we spent the evening with a local pack of brownies. Almost 30 girls played games relating to poverty and food parcels. They thought about how changes in circumstances, such as the loss of a job, have a huge impact on a family. Items which the girls take for granted in their lives would be non-existent. Treats such as cinema trips, pocket money, internet and cable TV would vanish. They worked out the dilemmas facing people in financial crisis and how priorities have to change."

Following the session, one of the girls approached Kate and presented her with the contents of her pocket - 2p, a trolley token with a smiley face and a plastic pen. "Please can you sell these to help the people who need food?" the Brownie asked.  Kate explained that she didn't need to donate her special possessions and that her understanding that there were people who needed food was enough, but she insisted, saying: "I know they're mine but I want you to take them and sell them". She would not take no for an answer.

Fast-forward a few days and those very items appeared on eBay to be sold to raise funds for the RAFT Foundation. When Kate posted the items, she could not have predicted the interest that they would generate.  At the time of writing, the price bid for these items stands at £32!

Kate posted the eBay listing details on the RAFT Foundation's Facebook page, which resulted in the girl's dad revealing who had made the donation. The generous Brownie is Lucy Whitham, who said: "I like giving to charity and also like helping other people." Dad Adam said: "I have no idea why those items were in her pocket that night! I do remember Lucy once having a homework from school which was what would you do if you won the lottery. Lucy wrote in her book "Send a plane to Africa with food because the people haven't had any food there"."

Kind-hearted Brownie Lucy Whitham

I think we may be hearing more from this little girl in the future.

You can keep an eye on the bidding for these items, and bid yourself, by viewing the listing on eBay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brownies-pocket-contents-including-pen-and-Smiley-trolley-token-keyring-/261182734325?roken=9keEfl

A popular cupcake shop and tea room in Rawtenstall is for sale due to the owner relocating

A popular cupcake shop and tea room in Rawtenstall is for sale due to the owner relocating.

Fantasy Cupcakes at A Right RoyalTea Party in Rawtenstall

A Right RoyalTea Party, on Ormerod Street in Rawtenstall, has proved popular since it opened in 2011, and won the 'New Business of the Year' award at 2012's Rossendale Business Awards. Fantasy Cupcakes, which is part of the business, has been selling cupcakes in Rawtenstall for five years. Owner Melinda Foster is looking for a buyer to continue serving customers and cupcake lovers in the Rossendale area following her relocation.

Melinda said: "Due to my relocation to the South Devon coast regrettably my business is for sale. I feel that A Right RoyalTea Party tea rooms/Fantasy Cupcakes would suit someone with a passion for baking and vintage style. The premises benefits from a town centre location in Rawtenstall, but with low rent and rates. I would also like to thank all the customers who have supported me in the five years I have been running the business in Rossendale."

For more information please click here, or contact Melinda on 07936 263385.

Accrington In Terminal Decline

What is happening to Accrington ......?

Yet another company with a proud history of serving the public has closed its doors in the centre of town.

North’s Cleaners a 50 year old family firm has closed its doors for the final time. A company who have ridden numerous down turns in the Accrington economy is no more.

So what went wrong ?

Being the only dry cleaners should have ensured its survival no competition, and people still require their cloths cleaned to a high standard especially those working in offices and facing the public. They provided employment and a valued service.

Was it the rising cost of property rents or raw materials, perhaps the cost of maintenance for machines, we will probably never know, what we do know is its yet another nail in the economic life of the town.

As a friend of ours stated the closest dry cleaners is now Haslingden and given transport costs and the time to travel there it’s cheaper to just throw away the trousers and buy new ones …. !

So what are Hyndburn council doing to assist, it would appear as usual nothing, sitting on their hands and hoping for a miracle ….. IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ….. someone needs to open their eyes and see the day light in the council chambers of the North West.

Rossendale fashion star Agyness becomes the new face of Doc Martens

Rossendale fashion star Agyness becomes the new face of Doc Martens

CATWALK queen Agyness Deyn has become the new face of iconic label Doc Martens.

The former chip shop worker from Stubbins, now living in Los Angeles, is highlighting a 1990s-inspired collection from the legendary British label.

Agyness, whose career has spanned both modelling and edgy acting roles since leaving East Lancashire, is fronting the new collection.

Agyness Deyn

A fresh take on the heavy duty boot beloved of punk rockers, the fashion label found Agyness’ elfin rock chick look perfect for their new look. The Agyness Deyn Collection for Doctor Martens includes chunky effect Mary Jane’s T-bars and ankle boots. The 30-year-old, whose career began after winning a Rossendale modelling contest, is now beloved of fashion houses from Armani to Gautier.

She has appeared on the cover of Vogue around the globe and has also in the past fronted labels including Armani, Burberry and Hugo Boss.