GOOD News: 1st April

If you will forgive us, we start with a little indulgence. This week marks 30 years of Mark Spencer working as a GP in Fleetwood at The Mount View Practice, a remarkable achievement.

It's also very nearly 5 years since Healthier Fleetwood was formed with a meeting at the North Euston hotel. Mark spoke passionately about finding a new way of involving the community in the decisions that affected their health and wellbeing.

While Healthier Fleetwood has always remained small in size as an organisation, the 'spirit' of a healthier Fleetwood that Mark continues to champion has been taken up by many groups and individuals who give great support to the community.

Congratulations Mark and thank you.

More and more activities are restarting now following the easing of lockdown restrictions, outdoor sports and fitness in particular.

Great to see the Fleetwood Flyers walking footballers back in action this week at Poolfoot. Opportunities to support health will be very important in the months ahead and around forty men attended a busy Wednesday lunchtime session in the sunshine for a much-needed boost to their wellbeing, even with a few aching joints!

Well done to the Flyers committee for their hard work preparing and facilitating this. It is 'members only' at the moment for the sessions - for further information visit their website. Wyre Council’s ‘Great Outdoors’ program begins on April 12th offering a huge range of events and activities designed to make the most of open spaces and fresh air.

Included will be walks, cycle rides and fitness, conservation and ecology events, family fun, details of play areas and more. Many of the activities are free or at a low cost and they all offer a great way to support your physical and mental health. Find out more by checking out the Events calendar on Wyre Council's website.

Swimming in outdoor pools and in open water as an organised group is now permitted again and a new club has been set up by local enthusiasts. Triathlon is swimming, cycling and running - Fleetwood Triathlon Club was formed towards the end of last year but with the restrictions lifted has only recently started sessions using the natural environment. The club is supported by Healthier Heroes and Healthier Fleetwood, more details of how to get involved will be shared soon but if you’d like to know more, please contact us and we can put you in touch with the organisers. The opportunity for indoor swimming is getting closer too as Fleetwood pool is due to reopen on May 1st.

Members of Fleetwood Swim Team including some wonderful young people were interviewed by the BBC recently about what they were looking forward to when they get back into the water. > Watch the interview on You Tube here.

Memberships for the YMCA Fleetwood are now available. Community groups and schools will be working together with the operators and local authorities on ideas to engage as many residents as possible with the facilities. > YMCA membership information.

There was of course some very sad news this week with the passing of Doreen Lofthouse, aged 91. We add our condolences to the many words of tribute and thanks to Mrs Lofthouse from the community she did so much to support.