Sue Gerrard – författare

The Lancashire town of Wigan has prehistoric roots and developed in importance through Roman and medieval times. It played a leading role in the English Civil War, being occupied by the Parliamentarians. It grew dramatically during the Industrial Revolution, with its coal mines and cotton industry, and later came to prominence thanks to George Orwell’s book The Road to Wigan Pier, which documented the poverty of the working classes in the 1930s.In this book, author Sue Gerrard explores the town’s history and seeks out some lesser-known stories and surprising aspects of its heritage along the way. Wigan is a sporting centre as it has both a rugby league team, the Wigan Warriors, and Wigan Athletic Football Club, who won the FA Cup in 2013. Over the decades it has been home to actors Sir Ian McKellen and Roy Kinnear, and comedians George Formby, Frank Randle and Ted Ray.Secret Wigan includes historical sites such as the thirteenth-century Mab’s Cross right through to the town’s place in the modern world. From mills to Mint Balls, coal to cavaliers and notable buildings to Northern Soul, this fascinating book will interest residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.

Wigan has been an important town throughout history. It was granted market charters in 1246 and was the centre of the Banastre Rebellion in the next century. In the English Civil War it was the site of the Battle of Wigan Lane in 1651. Wigan expanded during the Industrial Revolution through its coal mining, engineering and textile industries and with the opening of the Leeds–Liverpool Canal and the arrival of the railway. The social conditions which resulted from this rapid change were written about by George Orwell in The Road to Wigan Pier. The town is also noted for its entertainers and actors George Formby, Ian McKellen and Roy Kinnear. As well as its Rugby League Club, the Wigan Warriors, there is Wigan Athletic Football Club which won the FA Cup in 2012.A–Z of Wigan reveals the history behind Wigan, its streets and buildings, businesses and the people connected with the town. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well-known. Readers will discover tales of an opera singer who captivated Hitler and spied for Britain, all-night dancing at the home of Northern Soul and a fatal Zeppelin raid among many other fascinating facts in this A–Z tour of Wigan’s past. Fully illustrated, it will appeal to all those with an interest in this historic town.

St Helens was a giant of the Industrial Revolution, transforming itself through invention and innovation to become a leading voice around the world. It grew from four rural townships – Eccleston, Parr, Sutton and Windle – to become a municipal borough in 1868 and a centre for industries such as glassmaking, coal mining and copper smelting. The town’s industrial heritage is echoed through the town’s buildings such as Cannington Shaw and the Crown Glass Works and the Beecham’s Building, which was the first factory in the world built to manufacture medicines. St Helens was also located on the first canal built in Britain in the Industrial Revolution – the Sankey Canal – and the pioneering Liverpool to Manchester passenger railway, of which one of the oldest passenger railway stations in the world is located at St Helens Junction. Venues such as the Hippodrome which played host to Charlie Chaplin and George Formby entertained the rapidly growing population, and St Helens’ story continues today with the opening of the sustainable Glass Futures plant in 2023.St Helens in 50 Buildings explores the history of this town in Merseyside through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in St Helens or who have an interest in the area.

The Merseyside town of St Helens came into being during the Industrial Revolution. First coal-mining, then glass-making and other industries, with the first industrial canal in the country and first passenger railway in the world, brought a rapidly growing population. In 1868 the town was incorporated as a metropolitan borough. Famous manufacturers such as Pilkington’s and Beecham’s made St Helens their home. During the First World War four St Helens men were awarded the Victoria Cross and later in the century St Helens was host to the largest free show in Europe. Alongside its famous Rugby League team, the town has been associated with many famous names, from royalty, sporting stars and entertainers to New Zealand’s longest serving prime minister and a twice Oscar-winning movie sound pioneer.Celebrating St Helens chronicles the proud heritage of St Helens, its important moments and what draws so many to this flourishing town today. Illustrated throughout, this fascinating book offers a marvellous and refreshingly positive insight into St Helens’ rich heritage, its special events and important moments. Celebrating St Helens will be a valuable contribution to the history of the town and provide a source of many memories to those who have known it well over the years.

Providing a positive and supportive guide to understanding, preventing and managing the stress that can be associated with student life, this book is structured around the main stressors that are likely to be encountered as a student, such as the initial adjustment to university life, financial difficulties and the pressure of examinations. Throughout, the emphasis is on achieving well-being, by minimizing the disruption caused by stress and learning from difficult experiences.

Three main strategies are investigated for handling stress:

reducing the likelihood of encountering stressful situations learning how to handle stressful situations when they cannot be avoided moving on from stressful experiences and achieving positive well-being.

This guide will be a great help to any student troubled by the pressures of university. The highly practical stragtegies provided here will help to ensure that the reader gets the most from their time as a student, without the interference of unnecessary stress. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!