On the 11th of August, people across the UK had a break from the sun by experiencing an almost total eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, briefly, for a few minutes, day turns to night as the Moon blocks out the Sun's light. Cheadle has a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, Jim Plant, who was not only able to share the experience with his guests but also to provide COGNEWS with photographs of this celestial phenomenon. To a
This year Alton Castle celebrates its 30th anniversary as a residential retreat and to and to mark the occasion a huge lantern has been commissioned. Constructed by local blacksmith, Jim Plant of Cheadle, the lantern has been built in his workshop over a number of years. It's so large (about 8ft in diameter) that he could hardly move around his workshop during assembly! A local electrician wired the unit up to the British safety standard, and the unit now sits in an area wher
