st. nicholas church news...2.00pm walking group leave church (by car) for a stroll around the hills...
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St. Nicholas’ Church News Belonging – Believing - Becoming
October 2018
50p
Registered Charity Number 1158819 www.stnicholaschurchblundellsands.org
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Who’s Who in St. Nicholas’ Church
Vicar Rev’d Canon Janet Roberts [email protected]
924 3551
Curate Rev’d Ravi Sangra [email protected]
07958 783684
Curate Rev’d Keith Thornborough [email protected]
281 4459
Church Warden Church Warden
Derek Parkinson [email protected] Lesley Utley [email protected]
924 9031 931 1813
Deputy Church Wardens Glenda Cain Caroline Hailwood Stephen Bailey Stephen Green Stephen Chantler
474 0189 924 1714 924 4416 476 9885 920 3839
Musical Director Adult Church Choir
Mr Michael Foy [email protected]
281 2541
Youth Church Choir Welfare
Barbara Qualtrough [email protected]
932 9946
St. Nicholas’ Singers (Community Choir)
Michael Foy [email protected]
281 2541
PCC Secretary Gill Enstone [email protected]
PCC Treasurer Liz Sinker [email protected]
476 4211 07796 628901
Stewardship Recorder Paul Mainey
Gift Aid Administrators Angela and John Rankin [email protected]
474 5967
Safeguarding Officer Liz Sinker 476 4211
Child Protection Officer Lynne Godfrey – Child Protection (DBS) [email protected]
474 0194
Parish Administrator - General Administration
Diane Turner (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) [email protected]
352 8893
Parish Assistant Nicola Jeens (Wednesday) [email protected]
352 8893
St. Nicholas’ School Head www.st.nicholasprimary.org
Rebekah Woods
924 1204
Website Administrator www.stnicholasblundellsands.org
Mrs Joyce Batey [email protected]
929 3031
Magazine Distribution Mr Brian Fairclough Mrs Grace Donnelly
932 0578 07710046524
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Vicar’s Viewpoint October 2018
A Bigger Vision:
Jesus said “Go into ALL THE WORLD and preach the good news to ALL creation.” Mark 16
v.15
How big is our vision for the Church? How big is our God?
Sometimes they are both too small. The church becomes just our church here, instead of
the huge worldwide church and our picture of God is way too small. We put God in a box to
keep him under control because it’s far too easy to let him loose.
The motto for our diocese in Liverpool is a ‘Bigger Church making a bigger difference’. That
is a challenge for us as we face the future. These things are happening this month which
may expand our vision and may help us get a bigger picture of the church and our part in it:
Worldwide Church: we have adopted a new Church Mission Society link partner, Stephen
Hatch. Like our previous link partner Dr Ruth Hulser, Stephen works in Tanzania in East
Africa where there are few resources and a massive population. Stephen can help us see
that God’s church is much bigger than St Nicholas’ Church. He is teaching maths in a
seminary.
Nationwide Church: We are having a curate from another diocese on placement for nearly a
month. The Rev’d Julie Clarkson is curate in Barnoldswick. She comes from a long career in
business, was ordained around the same time as Ravi, but has had a totally different
experience of ministry from Ravi. She comes to us from a parish with two old historic
churches and a reasonably new one. She comes to learn from us, but maybe we can learn
from her.
Local Church, our church: On October 20th the Rev’d Neil Short, the new vicar of St.
Michael’s, will lead a morning for our church, our Church Council and anyone else who
would like to come on our vision for the future. What you will be doing after I have left? We
begin at 8.30am with breakfast and finish at 12.30pm. Please let me know if you are
coming.
Locally, nationally and worldwide God is working his purpose out, are we listening and have
we got the big picture? Let us together adjust our vision and see just what God has in mind
for our future.
Janet
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CURATE ON PLACEMENT
The Rev’d Julie Clarkson from Barnoldswick is going to join us at St. Nicholas’ for a
placement between 20th October and 11th November.
Julie was ordained at the same time as our own curate, Ravi, after a long career in Business
and Training. Just after she was ordained, her vicar went off sick and has since had to retire
on health grounds. Julie has missed out on some of her curacy training, so we thought it
would be beneficial to both us and her, for her to spend some time with us. Her husband
Chris will also be around for some of the time.
On a few of the Sundays. Ravi will be helping out in Maghull, while there is no vicar.
Please do welcome Julie and tell her about the life of our church. Feel free to invite her
round for meals or to visit you. She will be staying at the vicarage and taking part in our
church activities.
HARVEST FESTIVAL 21st OCTOBER at 10.30am
As usual, we will be collecting food, toiletries etc.
for our local Foodbank (The Trussel Trust - Reg.
Charity No: 1110522).
Tinned, packet and dried goods are all needed.
However, the Foodbank is currently overrun with
baked beans and soup, so any other items would
be preferred.
Tins of meat and fish are always appreciated, as
are gluten free products, pet food and some small
treats.
If you would like to give a monetary donation
instead, this can be put in an envelope marked
FOODBANK and this will be used to top up goods
when there is a shortage of any particular items.
Please see the list at the back of church for items
in particular need, or speak to Margaret Bird. There is also an article about the Foodbank
in this magazine should you want any further information.
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OCTOBER SERVICES
Wed 3rd 10.15am Eucharist in church
Thurs 4th 9.00am Morning Prayer
Sun 7th 8.30am Eucharist
10.30am Eucharist with Prayer Ministry
5.00pm Soul Food
7.00pm The Bridge
Mon 10th 10.15am Eucharist
Thurs 11th 9.00am St. Nicholas’ School Harvest
Sun 14th 8.30am Eucharist - Healthcare Sunday
10.30am Eucharist – Healthcare Sunday
5.00pm Toddler Church
Wed 17th 10.15am Eucharist
Thurs 18th 9.00am Morning Prayer
Sun 21st 8.30am Eucharist - Harvest Festival
10.30am All Age Parade - Harvest Festival
5.00pm Soul Food
7pm The Bridge
Wed 24th 10.15am Eucharist
Thurs 25th 9.00am Morning Prayer
Sun 28th 8.30am Eucharist – Bible Sunday
10.30am Eucharist – Bible Sunday
5.00pm Heart & Soul
Wed 31st 10.15am Eucharist
6.00pm Church @ School ‘Light Party’
Thurs 1st Nov 9.00am Morning Prayer
Sun 4th 8.30am Eucharist
10.30am Eucharist with Prayer Ministry
5.00pm Soul Food
7.00pm The Bridge
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WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER?
Tues 2nd 7.30pm Deanery Synod meets in church
Wed 3rd School Governor committee meetings
Tues 9th 3.10pm 3F4U meet in church
Wed 10th 11.15am Bible Study and lunch in church following the
Eucharist. All welcome
Sat 13th 9.00am Men’s Working Party
2.00pm Walking Group leave church (by car) for a stroll
around the hills of Aughton
7.30pm Murder Mystery Evening with supper. Tickets
from Steve Bailey, Derek Parkinson, Ravi and
Janet
Mon 15th 9.00am Janet takes assembly at St. Nicholas’ School
7.30pm Shared Ministry Team meet in the church
Wed 17th 11.15am Standing Committee meet in the vicarage
Sat 20th 8.30am - PCC Vision Morning with Revd. Neil Short to
12.30pm think about the future of our church.
Mon 29th 9.00am Assembly in St. Nicholas’ School
7.30pm Heart & Soul planning meeting
Tues 30th 3.10pm 3F4U meet in church
Wed 31st 6.00pm ‘Light Party’ takes place as Church @ School in
St. Nicholas’ School
NEW INITIATIVE: Fancy a cuppa and a chat? Every Thursday from 5th October 11.30am -1.30pm
“The Kindness Cafe” is coming to St. Nicholas’ Church in Council Chamber during term time. Tea, coffee and toast will be served, please feel welcome to pop in for a chat in a friendly environment.
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HERITAGE OPENING: The church
continues to be open every Tuesday
morning from 10.00 am - 12 Noon and
Thursday afternoon 2.00pm – 4.00 pm.
Our Heritage Volunteers are available
for tours. Group visits welcome by pre-
arrangement. Email:
COMING SOON - Heritage Exhibition to commemorate 100 years since WWI
ended: From early November we will be mounting an exhibition in the church
to pay tribute to those brave men in the parish who gave their lives. Over the
weekend of Remembrance Sunday, we will be opening the church for heritage
viewing. More details to come in November’s magazine.
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MURDER MYSTERY EVENING. 13th OCTOBER at 7.30pm
Ormskirk Theatre Company will come to
entertain and mystify us again. We will
have the opportunity to try and solve the
murder, question the suspects and eat
supper together. Tickets £8 available from
the Social Committee. Bring your friends
and bring your own drinks, glasses and
nibbles for a great night out!
HEALTHCARE SUNDAY - 14TH OCTOBER
We are very fortunate to have an efficient and well-resourced healthcare system. There are
always problems and difficulties, but staff do an incredible job and exercise enormous skill
in helping people back to health. On this Sunday, we give thanks and pray for our Health
Service. This year, our preacher is Keith Thornborough, who is a specialist diabetes senior
nurse at Alder Hey Hospital.
CHURCH @ SCHOOL - ‘Light Party’ on 31st October at 6.00pm in St. Nicholas’
School.
Each month we are having a service in school at 6.00pm, especially for those who can’t
make it to church on a Sunday. This is a new venture, suitable for all ages with something
different each month. In October, we are having a ‘Light Party’ to celebrate All Saints & All
Souls Night, something rather different to all the Halloween and Fright Night events that
will be going on elsewhere that night.
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CAPERNWRAY COLLEGE STUDENTS 2019
The Church Council has agreed to host another team from Capernwray College next year.
We have applied to have a team of international students come to join us over the
weekend of the 25th and 27th January for an initial visit to meet us, and then from 22nd
February – 3rd March for their 10 day outreach.
They will be involved in all sorts of activities throughout their time with us. We will need to
provide them with accommodation and meals during their stay.
If you think you may be able to help by providing a meal or accommodation, please let
Janet know. We will also probably need help with catering for an Afternoon Tea, transport
to and from Capernwray College and practical help in other ways.
NEW CMS LINK PARTNER:
Ruth Hulser, our CMS link in Tanzania, has now returned to Europe to be near to her elderly parents. The PCC has now approved another link partner also working in Tanzania. Stephen Hatch’s role will be working as a maths teacher and head of science department and supporting the headmaster and chaplain at St. John’s Seminary, Kilimatinde. He says ‘Imagine if your education had to stop after primary school. How different would your life be? In Tanzania, to proceed to government-provided secondary education, pupils must pass primary school exams.
Many pupils fail these. About 80 per cent of children attend primary school but only 25 per cent make it to secondary school – a huge gulf in learning. Such children, most of whom are academically capable, need a secondary education, and I am helping to provide this at St John’s Seminary, transforming the lives of one of the most vulnerable elements within Tanzanian society’. Follow Stephen’s work through the CMS link letters pinned on board at the back of church.
THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS MONTH
Hello dear friends, how the time flies! The past few weeks seemed to have had wings, and as I write we are in the middle of September. The summer holidays are over, the children are back at school, in new classes perhaps apprehensively facing changes in the curriculum, for those in year six there are the SATS next year, and for some of the children they are a frightening prospect, they will need our love, understanding and support at this time.
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This month also sees the migration of our young people to colleges and universities, leaving the love and comfort of their family homes to start on a new chapter of their lives. Such a lot to cope with, but very exciting, finding new places to live, beginning to look after themselves and making new friends. We sometimes forget the parents at this time, it is all hustle and bustle transporting their children and all the goods and chattels, helping them to go forward on their adult lives. Then they return home to an empty bedroom, quiet, no mayhem and mess, no pounding music, no chattering voices, but most of all their child isn't there, and it is like a grieving process for them, until they adjust to this new life. So we remember all the above in our thoughts and prayers, may God's love surround all of them. As autumn begins, and the leaves begin to fall casting a myriad of beautiful colours as a pathway for our feet, the colder weather also starts to creep up upon us. We are thankful for somewhere to live, food to eat, warm clothing and people who care about us. Let us not forget those who are homeless, jobless, struggling to cope, perhaps depressed and very lonely, having to use food banks to survive. When you do your shopping, even one extra item could be donated to the food banks. There are collection points in most of the supermarkets, and there is a box at the back of St Nicholas’ Church too. Some of the more crafty minded amongst us will perhaps begin to sew, knit or crochet Christmas gifts for our loved ones. Others will purchase a gift here and there as they see something suitable, all in a state of preparation to celebrate the Christmas season. In the shops we are surrounded by the paraphernalia of it all, cards, tinsel, various decorated trees, big boxes of chocolates, mounds of gifts and toys, and a lot of lovely food. Let us not forget the real reason we celebrate this moving Holy season, it is the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, God's Son who came to earth to save us from our sins! ‘Whoever values peace of mind and health of the soul will live the best of all possible lives’ - Marcus Aurelius Until next time, hug your loved ones, smile at a stranger, run through the fallen leaves, jump in the puddles, be kind to all you meet, and be thankful for all that you have. God Bless.
Shirley Fairclough.
The good news is that everyone benefits!
If you would like to take part in the St. Nicholas’ Parish Giving Scheme, for regular giving, please see full details of the benefits at www.liverpoolanglican.org or talk to Janet or Ravi
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Sunday Tea Rota for October
7th Oct - Carl and Sam Rooney 14th Oct - Laura Gear and Helen Pennington 21st Oct - Rhian Kilpatrick and one other 28th Oct - Maureen and Alf Fairclough
4th Nov - Tim and Glynis Johnston
OUR LOCAL FOODBANK - Can you help?
In our area we have the Waterloo Foodbank, (part of the Trussel Trust
charity) located in St. George’s Road, which helps families in need in the
local area by providing food, toiletries small treats etc. Sadly, there is an
increasing need for families to rely on this charity and in turn, the Foodbank
relies almost entirely on donations from the public.
Here at St. Nicholas’, we have adopted the Foodbank as our chosen charity
for Harvest for the past few years and this has been a great success. For a
long while, we have had a box at the back of church for donations.
Please could you help by making regular donations, particularly items
on the list of stock that is running low.
*All food items should be in packaging of secure and good condition.
Please be practical (not peaches in brandy, pickled artichokes etc) and
should be within the 3 - 6months of expiry date. The baked beans and
soup mountain is still growing, so hold off on these items please.
There is also an increasing need for toiletries such as toothbrushes,
toothpaste, sanitary products, soap, deodorant etc. It’s always nice to offer
just a simple bar of chocolate as a small treat. In addition to this, animals
are in need too. For some people, their pet is the only family member they
have, so pet food is always in demand too.
Please look out for:
A more prominent donation station at back of church
Regular updates from the Foodbank
A list of the ‘in real need of’ … items
One off donation appeals, such as the recent stationery appeal. Thanks
to your generosity, a great number of children have been able to start
back at school term stocked with a full pencil case.
Thank you in advance
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Music in October
Before 10.30am service After 10.30am service
7th Oct Trio Sonata (1st Mov)
Bach
Toccata in C BWV564
Bach
14th Oct Prelude in C Minor BWV549
Bach
Fugue in Eb BWV552
Bach
21st Oct Prelude and Fugue BWV536
Bach
Toccata (Dorian) BWV536
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Grand toccatas and fantasies; the sophisticated counterpoint of preludes and fugues; virtuoso sets of variations; show-off concertos; astonishingly tuneful pedagogical sonatas; and chorale preludes ranging from complex fugal subjects to simply elaborated harmonisations of Lutheran chorales - in all these genres, Bach built on existing, inherited models and launched them into new territories of the imagination. Much of Bach's organ music dates from the periods during which
he held organist’s posts (in Arnstadt, Mühlhausen and Weimar). Paradoxically, Bach was never to enjoy regular access to a large organ made expressly to his own specification, though he played on, and acted as consultant for, many fine organs. Part of the integrity of his organ writing stems from the fact that it does not require huge organs to make it effective. Like so many organists of his time, Bach grew up under the influence of the North German master, Dietrich Buxtehude, whom Bach visited on extended leave from his post at Arnstadt, by
walking all the way to Lubeck, where Buxtehude was based. Earlier organ works display many of the exuberant, quasi-improvisatory aspects of North German style. Bach's mature works develop the North German virtuoso style of pedal playing and integrate it into preludes, toccatas, fantasias and fugues which require great technical skill of the player.
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OUR CHOIRS:
Do you have a singing voice? Come and join one of the choirs and raise your voice. Tenors and basses particularly welcome. Both choirs are non-audition and all are welcome. Why not join us and bring a friend?
St Nicholas’ Church Choir:
Email: [email protected]
The church choir sings every Sunday at the 10.30am service
Rehearsal every Thursday 6.30pm - 7.30pm for Youth Choir
Rehearsal every Thursday 7.15pm - 8.30pm for Adult Choir
The St. Nicholas’ Singers - Community Choir:
The community choir sing at special services to augment the church choir and also perform concerts at local churches and other venues. Email [email protected]
Rehearsal every Wednesday 7.30pm - 9.00pm in the church hall.
@stnicholassingersblundellsands HAVE YOU LIKED OUR SINGERS FB PAGE?
@stnicholaschurchblundellsands HAVE YOU LIKED OUR CHURCH FB PAGE?
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
St. Nicholas’ Church is running a photographic competition and invite photographs from the community on the theme of ‘HERITAGE’ within Sefton area.
So, if you are you proud of our local area? Then take a photo on your phone or camera in Sefton which illustrates the theme of “heritage” and send it to us by email: [email protected]
We will choose 13 images from those submitted to be published as a Sefton Heritage Calendar 2019. The calendar will be on sale to the general public from mid-November to raise funds for our church heritage project.
Plus images submitted will be displayed in the church as part of an exhibition while the competition is running and in the following weeks leading up to Christmas.
The competition is free to enter and open to all persons aged 13 years or over. The closing date is Friday 5th October 2018.
For full Terms & Conditions go to: www.stnicholasblundellsands.org/category/whats-new
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CALLED TO READ - Bishop Paul on the Rule of Life
In the second part of our series on the Rule of Life, Bishop Paul considers what it is like to be called to read.
Rule of life: Called to pray, read and learn; sent to tell, serve and give. Our Diocesan Rule of Life is easy to say and easy to remember, but as we practise it we can expect our lives to be transformed. Last week I said that the first step on the road to aligning yourself with the 60,000 other people in our Liverpool Diocesan family was to pray the Lord’s Prayer, to pray it just as you normally do, but deliberately to remember that you are doing so as a disciple in the Diocese of Liverpool. As you do this your heart beats with the heart of the Church, and you join us all in saying the prayer that Jesus gave us all. And the next step in transformation is to read. To read what? To read scripture Called to Read: Hundreds of years ago Augustine of Hippo was a bright young man, and a bit of a wild child. As he studied philosophy, and as he met significant Christian leaders, and as he became aware of his mother’s prayers for him, he began to question his riotous youth. While working as an academic, he spent time in reflection, and philosophising, and repenting, and exploring. And then, at the age of 31, in turmoil of heart, he experienced a deep Christian conversion, and eventually became one of the very greatest Christian leaders of any age. He did so because he read. He read what? He read scripture. In his “Confessions” he wrote about what happened. Let him pick up the story himself: ‘So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, I heard from a neighbouring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, "Take up and read; Take up and read". Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book...’ A child’s voice, calling him to open the book. I think this wonderful image is for all of us. Holy Scripture is a gift for anyone who wishes, as Jesus says, to turn their lives around and become as a little child (Matthew 18:3), and take, and read. The study of scripture is fathomlessly deep. We will always be able to discover more, as we read and learn together, and in the next weeks and months I shall be sharing many resources and ways of studying and deepening our knowledge, for you to use if it helps. But here at the beginning of our Rule of Life I wanted to remember Augustine with you - Augustine to whom God spoke in the voice of a child, and simply said – ‘take and read’.
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Church Groups
Junior Sparks Sparks Plus
Ravi [email protected]
07958 783684
JUICE (Join Us In Christ’s Environment)
Helen Pennington [email protected]
07963 000053
3F4U Julie Dray [email protected]
924 4073
The Bridge Youth Club Nikki and Colin Wilson [email protected]
286 7911
Card Making Class Jan Warren [email protected]
9241287
Flower Team Co-ordinator Laura Gear 07748 597571
Men’s Working Party Steve Bailey Stephen Green
924 4416 476 9885
Hall User Groups’ Contacts
Apple of my Eye Children`s cookery Michaela Wright 07984 153798
Weight Watchers: Sarah Lee 07803 845972
Music in Unison-children`s music class Tara Evans 07809 137048
WEA French class Paul Thompson 243 5340
Greek School Demetra Gavriel 07805972846
Baby Sensory Mel Batchelor 07719 545607
Friday Fun for Tots Playgroup Jenny Campbell 07815947950
Baby Ballet Jennifer Berrett 07980521267
NCT playgroup Anna Smith 07974 227740
Jets Linzi 07815 431332
Caterpillar Music Emma Gerrard 07884 073049
Constituency Surgeries Cllr Dan Lewis 07731 721637
Uniformed Groups
Rainbows Liz Sinker 476 4211 07796 628901
Brownies Gemma Silcock-Stevenson [email protected]
Guides Lindsay Martin [email protected]
07534 958925
Beaver Scouts Andy Davidson [email protected]
07900 582094
Cub Scouts Andy Davidson [email protected]
07900 582094
Any News?
Articles can be posted to the editor at the address below, emailed to: [email protected] or posted into the box at the back of church. Please note – deadline for article: 3rd Sunday of the month preceding publication.
Editor: Joyce Batey (October’s magazine)
Editor: Irene Davies, 17 Holden Road, Brighton-le-Sands, L22 6Q
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HALLS FOR HIRE
Contact: Liz Sinker, Hall Bookings
Administrator 0151 476 4211 or 07796628901
Main hall: This hall seats over 100 people and
includes stage area Small Hall: Seats up to 40 people
This Advertising space is
available for businesses in the
Blundellsands locality!
Do you know someone who might like to advertise their business, or has a business next to yours?
Contact Editor to have your Ad included each month for a small
annual charge of £20 per year for 10 copies
Slimming World
Here at St. Nicholas’ Primary school Nicholas Road, Blundellsands
Every Saturday at 8.30am And 10.30am
Do you want to lose weight without ever feeling hungry?
Join us for a cuppa and find out how For more details:
Phone Vicki on 07909 614123
Crosby Tool Hire
For all your equipment needs
Sales, service, repair & hire of
all tools & gardening
Equipment
Floor sanders & carpet cleaners
Weekend deals!
We stock and deliver all sizes of
Calor gas
0151 281 9832
Kynaston – Electrical
151 Liverpool Road Crosby
Tel: 928 6721/1469
Electrical repairs and
Rewiring – free estimates NIC – EIC registered
McCallum & Tritton Funeral Directors
46 Mersey View, Waterloo L22 6QB
Tel: 0151 931 2002
Cohen’s Chemist Providing all your cosmetic
Requirements
17 Bridge Road
Blundellsands