Emily Loynton, who lives in Knutsford, was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was just eight-years-old but beat the condition within two years.

Now Emily, who wants to help others, will be selling her own art at the exhibition and donating the funds to the charity Epilepsy Action in order to raise awareness.

“I think Epilepsy Action is a great charity to support because it helps people to overcome epilepsy, just like me,” she said.

“If people kindly make a donation or even buy one of my drawings, they would not only be helping to make a difference but also ensuring people get the right treatment and medication required to fight epilepsy.”

Emily will be welcoming visitors at her exhibition which takes place on Friday, June 1 at the Canvas Lounge in Knutsford from 3pm until 5pm.

The number of children receiving brain surgery for epilepsy is set to almost treble under plans for a major expansion of services across England.

Bristol Royal Infirmary, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Manchester/Alder Hey have been named by the Department of Health. The hospitals will carry out all operations on children suitable for surgery with difficult to control epilepsy.

Doctors say they will be able to treat three times as many children with drug resistant epilepsy in England and Wales- from 125 to around 350 each year by 2015-2016.

Epilepsy charities welcomed the announcement.

Epilepsy Action’s deputy chief executive, Simon Wigglesworth, said:

“We’re delighted to hear that Alder Hey and Central Manchester trusts have been chosen, and will be working together to provide specialist epilepsy surgery for children. This is a huge step forward that will help build skills and expertise in the field of epilepsy.

“Most importantly it will give more children with difficulty to control epilepsy a chance to have surgery which could significantly impact on their quality of lives.”

Epilepsy Action has been discussing paediatric epilepsy surgery (surgery for people under 18) in England with the Department of Health for some time. The charity has been instrumental in developing the new services to ensure paediatric epilepsy surgery is available in sufficient numbers and with excellent quality across England.

“Paediatric epilepsy surgery has been poorly provided for over recent years,”  Simon Wigglesworth said.

“Surgery can radically improve the lives of young people and, in many cases, cure their epilepsy. These specialist centres will ensure that more children with epilepsy receive the surgery and quality care they need.”

Around 60,000 children in the UK have epilepsy.

This event is proudly hosted by The Canvas Lounge

Austen and Scott Smart, who have been collaborating since 2007, submitted their rendition of “Schwindelig” released on Connaisseur recordings (who teamed up with ‘junodownload’) for the famous Kollektiv Turmstrasse Remix Contest.

The five year-old Offenbach based label provides an efficient network to promote their releases on a global scale. Some of the biggest names in Dance Music have released on Connaisseur including Jamie Jones, Claude Von Stroke and Anja Schneider.

With more than 40 Releases on Connaisseur alone and an additional 25 records out on both sub labels they have become a major player on the international scene and are responsible for unforgettable moments on dance floors worldwide.

Austen, aged 25 said: “To be ranked in the top ten was a great achievement for us. One of the things we put it down to is the fact that we are based outside the city (our studio is in Knutsford, Cheshire) and therefore we work a lot harder to get our sound heard.”

“As well as this we do not follow current trends in house music – something that we have been applauded for over and over again by some rather juicy names in House Music.”

“We had been following Kollektiv Turmstrasse for quite a long time so when presented with the opportunity to do a remix for them and get the Brodanse name out to a worldwide audience, we could not resist!”

“Our remix really turns a quite down tempo track into something meant much for the clubs. We threw out nearly all of the remix parts and kept only the baseline and a snippet of the vocal, from there we were able to give it that Brodanse ‘Bass Hall’ feel that we are getting known for.”

The winners of the contest received over 500 euros worth of vouchers and a release of the remix on Connaisseur recordings

Brodanse tracks will be available to buy in August and can be heard on soundcloud.

http://soundcloud.com/alexconnaisseurrecordings/kollektiv-turmstrasse-2 you can also hear all of their other work at http://soundcloud.com/brodanse.

Edited by Charlie Kennedy

Expect double-takes galore this summer when visitors to Tatton Park come across a crash-landed flying saucer in the grounds of the historic estate.

‘VEX’, by artist Dinu Li, is a tantalising artwork created especially for Tatton Park Biennial 2012.  This leading contemporary art event brings new work, commissioned from established and emerging artists, to the mansion, gardens and parkland of Tatton Park from May 12 to September 30.

Li’s work is a 5-metre diameter spaceship, crash-landed on the long avenue approaching the Neo-Classical mansion.  But the intrigue does not stop there.   Inside the ship curious visitors will find a series of video messages from the pilot, whom, in this parallel universe, is the Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.  In the videos Che extolls the virtues of subjects as diverse as space flight, gardening and dub music.

This captivating piece, inspired in part by the B movies of 1950s Cold War America, is sure to spark debate, excitement and to no doubt raise many a smile among our visitors.

Li hopes the work will “inspire us to be more receptive of the things around us and the potential to discover something fantastical around every corner.”  Li added: “There are moments in life when one is convinced we have seen or witnessed something that nobody else around seemed to notice. How many times have we read the newspaper about people saying they have seen Elvis or other people proclaiming they have seen a table levitate?”

His current work explores such themes and aims to connect its audience with experiences beyond the ordinary and the everyday.

An artwork of this scale and technicality presents a number of challenges. There have been lengthy discussions with designers, fabricators and technicians, to find solutions to questions posed by the work, such as: “‘how to design the piece accessible enough for humans to peer inside without it becoming a shelter for animals at night-time?’ or ‘how will morning dew affect the audio visual’s inner mechanisms?’ or ‘can the angle of the crash landing help prevent rain pouring inside the open hatch?’”

The installation of the work began on Wednesday, May 2, much to the curiosity of our visitors human and animal alike!

Curators, Danielle Arnaud and Jordan Kaplan, from commissioning group Parabola said “We’re really excited to see the results of Dinu’s installation, which has been many months in planning.  His performance piece navigates the audience through an alternative outlook on the past and present ranging from the legacy of Che Guevara, to depictions of space travel and dub step. It is certainly an experience for our visitors!”

Tatton Park Biennial 2012 is a leading contemporary art event, which is open to the public from Saturday, May 12 until Sunday, September 30 and brings new work, inspired by and for Tatton Park to the mansion, gardens and parkland.

Previous Biennials took place in 2008 and 2010 to critical and public acclaim. In 2012 the Biennial theme is ‘Flights of Fancy’ and examines the human urge to fly and the aeronautical legacy of Tatton Park and the region.

For more information visit: www.tattonparkbiennial.org

Dave leads the class in Brush Knee Twist Step

As well as being an excellent form of exercise, suitable for all members of the family, it’s also great for relaxation and de-stressing, as it focuses and calms the mind. The health benefits have been well-known for centuries, and include improved balance, posture, co-ordination, circulation and muscle tone.

“It’s accessible to all, as you don’t need specialist equipment, just loose-fitting clothes and soft footwear that you can move in,“ explains instructor Dave Bailey, 2008 Tui Shou gold medallist at the British Open Championships. “When carried out properly, it’s equivalent to an internal massage of the joints. As Tai Chi is low impact, it’s suitable for any age, and can help with health problems and recuperation from injury.”

Classes held in Congleton have proved so successful that Dave has started the new class in Chelford Village Hall, teaching Wudang Tai Chi Chuan, one of the eight ‘true styles’.

Retiree Linda Stevens has been doing Tai Chi for five years, and credits it with her rapid recovery from illness. “As a result of my weekly sessions, I had good balance and co-ordination, which enabled me to make a rapid return to fighting fitness!”

Martin Ball, whose son JJ, aged 10, is the youngest member of the Congleton class, adds, “It’s a great way to relax after a week’s work, and excellent food for both body and soul.”

Classes are held on Tuesdays evenings at Chelford Village Hall, and Friday evenings at Congleton High School, and cost £4 per session. Classes are suitable for all levels, from beginners upwards, and are conducted in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. For more details, or to book a place, please call Dave Bailey on 07801 557200.

Story submitted and written by Sara Walker

This new project brings together a variety of drama groups from the surrounding area, including Knutsford Little Theatre and Chelford Players, who will compete for awards with one –act plays. The plays last between twenty and forty- five minutes and will be judged by Greater Manchester Drama Federation adjudicator David Wood.

There will be two plays a night and a short assessment by the adjudicator at the end of each night. The final adjudication will take place after the plays on the Saturday evening when trophies will be awarded. Awards will be for Best Senior Play, Best Junior Play and Best Individual Performance.

Tickets can be obtained from 01625 861172— £5 a night or £12 for all three nights. A Licensed Bar will be available.

‘Gleaners of the Infocalypse’ by Juneau Projects (artists Philip Duckworth and Ben Sadler) is an extraordinary piece of visual art commissioned especially for Tatton Park Biennial 2012.

Juneau Projects’ work involves the installing of the ten metre tail-end of a decommissioned BAe 146-200 aeroplane in the parkland. The plane provides a monumental sized canvas, which will be painted, in situ, over the coming weeks.

The narrative which inspires this work is that following an apocalyptic worldwide event, the remains of an abandoned, crashed plane is ‘rescued’ and converted into a makeshift studio and base for wildlife artists. A huge stag will eventually be painted on this new canvas, creating, as the artists commented “a tribal emblem to protect them and to ward off other hostile survivors.”

This is the latest in a series of re-inventions for the aeroplane, and is just one stopover on its intriguing journey!

The aeroplane was built in Woodford, Stockport in 1984 and has seen service under nine airlines including Pacific Southwest Airlines, USAir and Aer Lingus. It was sourced by Retro Aviation, who have also overseen its transfer to and installation in the lush meadows of Tatton Park.

Juneau Projects hope their piece will create a number of responses in visitors. They would like them “to feel a sense of both curiosity and wonder: how did this plane get here? Why is it painted like it is?”

They also hope visitors will feel encouraged to “fill out the narrative behind the work, to reflect upon the possible scenarios and situations that might have led people to have constructed a shelter from a section of a plane and how these inhabitants survive from day to day.”

The work is, they believe, “like a giant prop from a film” and one which will, no doubt, continue to intrigue throughout the duration of the Biennial.

Curators, Danielle Arnaud and Jordan Kaplan, from commissioning group Parabola said “This has been an extraordinary journey, both for the artists and the curators. We have dreamt of seeing a dysfunctional, disembodied plane sitting in the parkland for over a year and, after many attempts and a few false starts, we hope that the encounter will enchant our audiences.

“The work is an important one that can resonate with pop-cultural and sci-fi notions of the present and future. Importantly, the work is also a platform, from which performances, workshops and tours can be staged. We are delighted by its many prospects.”

Tatton Park Biennial 2012 is a leading contemporary art event, which opens to the public on Saturday, May 12 and runs until September 30.

Every other year new work is commissioned from established and emerging artists, inspired by and for Tatton Park. Previous Biennials took place in 2008 and 2010 to critical and public acclaim. In 2012 the Biennial examines the human urge to fly and the aeronautical legacy of Tatton Park and the region.

For more information visit: www.tattonparkbiennial.org

Photo (C) 2012 Nick Jones - Knutsford Guardian

Knutsford-based vehicle bodywork repair company, Revive! Manchester, offered its services free of charge to the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT), to spruce up the Trust’s minibuses, by removing scuffs and scrapes and tidying up the paintwork.

Simon Homer, co-owner of Revive! Manchester said: “The Farm Trust does an amazing job and benefits children from right across the region. We are a small company but we wanted to do something to help so we offered to give their mini-buses a make-over.”

CAFT was conceived in 1985 by a small group of volunteers led by founding patron Tim Grundy.  The charity offers free adventure breaks and activities to children who are disadvantaged by illness, disability and poverty, from all over the North West.

Paul Farrington, Chief Executive, CAFT said: “We were delighted to hear from Simon and very grateful for his offer.  We run entirely from charitable donations so we wouldn’t normally have the funds for this kind of activity. It will be lovely for the children to be transported in newer looking, smartened up vehicles and better reflect the work we do here.”

Simon set up Revive! Manchester in 2004 and carries out vehicle bodywork repairs, also known as SMART repairs, on a mobile basis across Knutsford, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and surrounding areas. The typical kinds of repairs he does include bumper scuffs and panel scratches, as well as generally tidying up and protecting of paintwork.

SMART repair is a quality, cost effective and time-saving alternative to taking the vehicle to a body shop for minor paintwork repairs. Costing far less than most insurance policy excesses, the work is carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, minimising vehicle downtime and protecting the owner’s no claims bonus.

For more information about Revive! Manchester contact Simon Homer on 07967 322420.

For more information about The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust visit their website www.caft.co.uk or call their office on 01565 830 053.

The popular BBC2 antiques programme Flog It! presented by Paul Martin, is coming to Cheshire.

Tatton Park will be hosting the Flog It! Valuation Day.  Rather like a treasure hunt, members of the public are invited to bring along up to three antiques and collectables they might be interested in selling. Once valued, the owner and a team of experts decide whether an item should go forward for auction.  If the item is chosen it is sold a few weeks later – often with the owner making a tidy sum.  Everyone who goes along to the Valuation Day will receive a free valuation – even if their antiques are not chosen to go forward for auction.

Previous programmes have seen a small cream jug sold at auction for £1,300; a ceramic bowl, bought for £4 at a car boot sale, achieving £1,500; and a lady in Aberdeen sold a Shelley tea set for a huge £3,400! More recently we surprised a gentleman who brought in a ceremonial cup; it later sold for £44,000!

Heidi Ellert, Series Producer says “Paul Martin and the entire Flog It! team are really looking forward to bringing the show to Cheshire. Tatton Park is a beautiful location and is home to so many fascinating historical treasures. The house and grounds will provide the perfect setting for our valuation day event. We all hope you will join us for a free valuation, if you’ve ever wondered how much your boot sale bargains or clutter in the loft might be worth, now is your chance to find out.”

Flog It! will be at Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN on Saturday 12^th May from 9.30am until 4:00pm. The auction will take place at Partridge and Bray in Liverpool on Thursday 7^th June, the editions of Flog It! recorded at Tatton Park will be broadcast as part of the eleventh series.

Paul Martin will be joined on the day by antiques experts Anita Manning, Mark Stacey and David Fletcher.

Story submitted by the BBC

A gorgeous Jersey calf was born to Lou Lou today, in the early hours of the morning.

Tatton farm staff were delighted to find the udderly delightful new arrival, a little male calf, named Jimmy, during their early morning round – not least because he has arrived a week early!

Although she had calved before, this is Lou Lou’s first Tatton-born calf.  Lou is a charming five -year-old Jersey cow who was bought by the farm last year to make the small herd of native milking breeds complete.  The farm is already home to three other native dairy breeds – Ayrshire, Guernsey and dairy shorthorn.

The Jersey is prized for the high quality and butterfat content of its milk. The breed originated in the Channel island of Jersey.  Today, the Jersey is the only cattle breed allowed on the island in order to maintain the purity of the breed.

Like his mum, Jimmy is a lovely fawn colour and already seems to have inherited some of her easy-going nature and sweet temperament.  He has been cuddling up in the straw in the cowshed and enjoying the sunshine. Lou Lou is producing lots of lovely, thick Jersey cream for him, so much so that there is a surplus for the farm’s bottle-fed newborn lambs!

Visitors will be able to watch daily milking demonstrations in the farm’s milking parlour or ‘shippon’ throughout the summer holidays.  The shippon was newly re-displayed last year after months of renovation.  In the future it is hoped that all four dairy breeds will be milked here and that staff will also be able to give demonstrations of butter churning and cheese making.

The shippon development is just one of many new activities at the farm, which opened for high season at the end of March.  New this year are a woodland play trail (with wobble boards, clatterbridges, balance beams and a bubble tunnel), den building in the woods and indoor and outdoor storytelling areas.

Farm manager, Jayne Chapman said: “Jimmy is just another reason for our visitors to come see us soon. He truly is the crème de la crème. Like Lou Lou he is sure to receive a lot of attention from our visitors –the gorgeous mother and son will no doubt milk all the attention!”

Home Farm opening times and prices
The farm is open for high season (until October 28, 2012) Tuesday to Sunday from noon-5pm (last entry 4pm).

High season prices for single attraction entry: adult £5.50, child £3.50 (aged four to 15 years of age), family £14.50 (two adults and up to three children).

Totally Tatton Ticket (entry to three attractions: mansion, gardens and farm): Adult £10, child (aged four to 15) £5, family (two adults and up to three children) £25.

National Trust members pay 50 per cent entry to the farm.  Park entry charge of £5 per car applies to all.

Please visit our website www.tattonpark.org.uk or call 01625 374400 for more information.

Let your imagination take flight with a new exhibition in the mansion at Tatton Park, marking the re-opening of the house for spring.

‘Among Pioneers: Maurice Egerton and Early Flight’, opens on Saturday, March 24 and explores the fascinating story of the development of aeroplane flight during the early 20^th century.

Central to the story the exhibition uncovers is the passionate involvement of Maurice Egerton during this intense period of exploration into early flight.  Maurice, 4^th and last Baron Egerton of Tatton (1874-1958) was a pioneer aviator, photographer, filmmaker, traveller and motorist.

In 1903 the American Wright brothers made the first controlled, powered and sustained, heavier-than-air, human flight in an aeroplane.  Inspired by this great event Maurice devoted a decade of his life to pioneering aviation work, at first developing his own aircraft, then testing and flying planes, eventually for the Royal Navy.

The exhibition explores Maurice’s friendships with some of these early aviators and his personal journey to make his own ambitions to quite literally, take flight.

Original material from Maurice’s archive and photographic collection will also be on display.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Tatton Park and Jim Rait, an aero-engine designer and expert in aviation history.  The exhibition will be supplemented by a special talk by Jim on Wednesday, September 20, ‘Invention and adventure – early flight and technology’.  Further details can be found below and on the Tatton Park website.

Mansion and collections manager Caroline Schofield said: “Maurice Egerton is something of an enigma. This quiet, unassuming and shy man is found among the ranks of the pioneers in the development of early aeroplanes in Britain. Though a terrible flying accident curtailed feats of daring, he continued to test and fly aeroplanes during the First World War, employing his meticulous eye for detail in support of the war effort. ”

‘Among Pioneers: Maurice Egerton and Early Flight’ exhibition
Saturday, March 24 to Sunday, May 6 2012 (closed Mondays). The Mansion is open from 1pm-5pm (last entry 4pm).

Prices
Adult £5.50, child £3.50 (4-15 years), family £14.50 (two adults and up to three children). T
otally Tatton tickets (entry to mansion, gardens and farm): adult £10, child £5, family £14.50.
Group discounts for 12 or more people available if booked in advance.
Entrance to the mansion is free for National Trust members. Park entry charge of £5 per car applies to all.

‘Invention and adventure – early flight and technology’ talk:

Wednesday, September 20. 11am-noon. £7.50 per person.

Jim Rait, aero-engine designer and expert in aviation history has researched the life and aviation exploits of Maurice Egerton.  Tatton Park’s photographic collection and Maurice Egerton’s flight-log provides a fascinating insight into Egerton’s first attempts as a pilot and relations with the aviator Orville Wright.

Booking in advance essential.  Please call 01625 374428 to book.