Monday, 10 May 2010

Stairlifts in Birmingham


Click below to find new and reconditioned stairlifts in Birmingham and the West Midlands








Castle Comfort Stairlifts offers top brand stairlifts, keen prices and fast installs for all those seeking stairlifts in  Birmingham. And all work comes with our no-quibble guarantees and famous customer service satisfaction.

Give us a call today on 0121 371 0123.  

If however, you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.

Choosing a stairlift in Birmingham has for some time been a little easier. 'Brummies' can even take the short hop up the M6 to a stairlifts showhouse to try one!  But if not, Castle Comfort Stairlifts who have been arranging installations of their straight and curved stair lifts in what is regarded as the UK's 'Second City' for over a decade, have opened their Birmingham office.

Following the interest in other 'UK City Stairlift blogs' we'll bring you here a Birmingham version - with some fascinating, and at times, amusing facts about this interesting place. 

First - if your priority is to get a price and further information click on a Chair Lift . Now, and we promise you'll find, upon that click, just what you want... then, book mark this page to get back to as soon as you have chance - for some interesting things about your city - BIRMINGHAM.

And congratulations Birmingham City, today (27th Feb 2011) you wrote history for all, as beating Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final has delighted everyone! All football fans from Stoke on Trent, home of stairlifts specialists Castle Comfort - know how you feel - as their team Stoke City FC) also beat Arsenal by the same score. It's Birmingham's second trophy - they won the 'league cup' a few years before - though followers in those days are perhaps a touch older - and who knows may need a stairlift! It's Stoke City's tjurn at Wembley now - first with Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup semi final - then back a few weeks later to thrash the pants of one of the Manchester giants! Come on Birmingham soccer fans, give us a shout - you must be on the side of your allies from Stoke on Trent!

Birmingham population statistication freaks, have a look here. - This will delight you - or totally bore you to desperation. What language is spoke in Birmingham? English of course.. well try Brummagem, which is a word deriving from 'Bromwicham' an earlier name for the city. Brummagen is the correct word for the distinct dialect of the 'Brummies' - (that is the name of the natives there) and it's a totally different dialect from that spoken by those from the adjacent Black Country. The young lady filmed here - is not speaking Welsh, Russian or Icelandic, she is in fact supposedly a junior Brummie - and if anyone can work out what's being said, or even confirm the lingo, please email us at castlecomfortcentre.com and we'll put in a tenner into this good cause.

Birmingham is famous for more than its unique dialect. The city has some notable football clubs, Birmingham City, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. Birds Custard comes from here and only a few hundred yards from the renowned Bull Ring Shopping Centre is 'The Custard Factory' - the area's revolutionary new arts and media quarter. It was first built a century ago and now homes Birmingham's finest restaurants, shops, nightclubs and live music.Birmingham is known as the City of the Thousand Trades. Can you name some of them? Have a look at this quiz.

Arthur Conan Doyle is amongst a host of famous names originating from the UK's second largest city as well as Nigel Mansell, William Murdoch, and chocolate extraordinaire George Cadbury. The amount of fame in the music world here is huge - with Black Sabbath, Duran Duran, ELO, Traffic and UB40 all of Brummie origins and beginnings. For a galaxy of other famous names belonging to Birmingham go to the stage now. Sadly in Birmingham one one the worsts terrorist atrocities was carried out by the IRA in 1974- the Birmingham Pub Bombings. See the Wikipedia account. All of us in the stairlift industry hope that the terrible history book written as a result of the troubles in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland is now closed. Castle Stairlifts have put their vote of confidence in to the Northern Ireland's economy by opening its BELFAST registered office.

Back to Stairlifts, and Castle Comfort continue their nationwide expansion with the opening of their Birmingham administration office which will, serve well communications-wise, the whole of the city and surrounding areas and places including - West Bromwich, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Walsall, Kenilworth, Dudley, Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Stourbridge and Redditch. In fact with an excellent road system in the Birmingham area installations, visits to quote throughout Warwickshire and the West Midlands can be made at very short notice. Castle Comfort have installed many curved and straight Stairlifts in Warwick, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Rugby and Coventry. None of these places are more than an hour away from the new Birmingham base. Solihull, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester, Droitwich, Meiden and Balsall Common are placs where scores of happy Castle Comfort clients live.

For those unfamiliar with this popular stairlift company, it is stressed that the company actually exists - as opposed to 'boiler room' enquiry websites. Web searches produce hundreds of 'stairlift experts' who simply harvest details of stairlift shoppers to sell them on to the stairlift companies. When you find these websites - look for a street address and maybe even call them at midnight as if your stairlift was broken down and you needed help. For the last 12 years Castle Comfort have become well established as a leading UK suppliers of straight and curved - new and reconditioned chairlifts. It is personally controlled by the directors and have in their team a retired but renowned medic - Dr Neil Stirling MB ChB - who even has his own advisory and helpful website. Dr Stirling controls and administers the Castle Comfort Good Deeds fund which over the past decade has raised £50,000 for good causes. This included for the provision of Stairlifts without charge under certain circumstances. See HERE on the BBC a Walsall couple who were in despair over the two year delay to get a funded stairlift to which they were entitled. Dr Stirling sorted one out without cost immediately. Meet Castle Comfort directors Ann & Keith with Dr Stirling. Castle Comfort Stairlifts Ltd Digbeth Court 162-164 High Street, Digbeth Birmingham B12 0LD And if you haven't already done so -find us on Google maps here




Tel 0121 371 0123 8am - 11pm Freephone 0800 007 6959 for a quote



And to change the subject somewhat - here is a telephone number we all know but sometimes don't use it when we should - - 999 - NEVER BE AFRAID TO DIAL IT. Providing stairlifts to stroke victims and learning how cases were dealt with has reinforced time and time again to Castle Comfort staff that attention within minutes of a STROKE is vital for a good chance of a complete recovery. How can we recognize a stroke? BY THE FAST TEST - The Face-Arm-Speech-Time (FAST) test lists the main symptoms to look out for: •Face: Has the person's face fallen on one side? Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped? •Arms: Can the person raise both arms and keep them there? •Speech: Is their speech slurred? •Time: Time to call 999 if you see or even suspect one or more of these signs. Announce 'STROKE' and briefly explain what you have seen and give clear concise details of where you are. Links Stroke - even if think you know the signs of one, just check Glanmore for your special needs mobility products, excluding Stairlifts! Hotfrog .... to us - to find what you want and where you want it Manchester do you have relatives here? See their blog. A Riser Recliner Chair? see this very comfortable display.



Grants - never easy as you can read here - but Castle Comfort can often advise and help.
Assistance is sometime available from unexpected sources.


And last but not least - to get your Stairlift quote, go ... here.


............................................................. Birmingham From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to 'navigation' and search it. This article is about the city in England. For the U.S. city named after it, see Birmingham (USA) Some of the nicknames the city has acquired over the years are "Brum", "Brummagem", "Second City", "City of a thousand trades", and "Workshop of the World" Motto: Forward . Can anyone explain why this is? We don't know. Birmingham's technical location is 'within England and the in West Midlands' and coordinates: 52°28′59″N 1°53′37″W / 52.48306°N 1.89361°W / 52.48306; -1.89361. So if you are from Brum and someone boring on an aeroplane talks to you you can answer them with that and they will then probably go to sleep. If the don't straight away - say Birmingham is- 'a sovereign state of the United Kingdom. Constituent country England,Region West Midlands, and is a Ceremonial county West Midlands and its Administrative HQ is The Council House.' . The city was founded 7Th century and its Municipal borough 1838 City 1889 It's authority definition - Metropolitan borough and its an official political name - Birmingham City Council The Lord Mayor is Michael Wilkes The Deputy Lord Mayor is Chauhdry Abdul Rashid The council leader is Mike Whitby (Conservative) therefore the Council is a Controlled Conservative / Liberal Democrat Progressive Partnership Area - Total 267.77 km2 (103.4 sq mi) Elevation 140 m (459 ft) Population (2008 est.) - Total 1,016,800 (Ranked 1st) - Density 3,739/km2 (9,684/sq mi) - Conurbation 2,284,093 - Ethnicity (2007 estimates[1]) 66.7% White (62.1% White British) 21.0% South Asian 6.7% Black 3.2% Mixed Race 1.2% Chinese 1.2% Other Time zone Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) - Summer (DST) British Summer Time (UTC+1) Postcode B Area code(s) 0121 ISO 3166 code GB-BIR ONS code 00CN OS grid reference SP066868 ............................................................................ The official Birmingham website is - http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. It is the most populous British city outside London with a population of 1,016,800 (2008 estimate), and is situated at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the UK's 2nd most populous Urban Area with a population of 2,284,093 according to the 2001census. Birmingham's metropolitan area, which includes surrounding towns to which it is closely tied through commuting, is the United Kingdom's second most populous with a population of 3,683,000. Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England, a fact which led to it being known as "the workshop of the world" or the "city of a thousand trades". Although Birmingham's industrial importance has declined, it has developed into a national commercial centre, being named as the second-best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business. Birmingham is a national hub for conferences, retail and events along with an established high tech, research and development sector, supported by its three Universities. It is also the fourth-most visited city by foreign visitors in the UK, has the second-largest city economy in the UK and is often referred to as the Second City. In 2010, Birmingham was ranked as the 55th-most livable city in the world, according to the Mercer Index of worldwide standards of living. The Big City Plan is a large redevelopment plan currently underway in the city centre with the aim of making Birmingham one of the top 20 most livable cities in the world within 20 years.People from Birmingham are known as 'Brummies', a term derived from the city's nickname of 'Brum'. This may originate from the city's dialect name, Brummagem,which may in turn have been derived from one of the city's earlier names, 'Bromwicham'. There is a distinctive Brummie dialect and accent, both of which differ from the adjacent Black Country.



History Main articles: History of Birmingham, Economic history of Birmingham, and Timeline of Birmingham history William Westley's 1731 map of Birmingham. The top of the map is oriented westwards.Some of the earliest evidence of settlement in Birmingham are artifacts dating back 10,400 years discovered near Curzon Street in the city centre. In the early 7th century , Birmingham was an Anglo-Saxon farming hamlet on the banks of the River Rea. It is commonly believed that the name 'Birmingham' comes from "Beorma inga ham", meaning farmstead of the sons (or descendants) of Beorma.Birmingham was first recorded in written documents by the Domesday Book of 1086 as a small village, worth only 20 shillings. There were many variations on this name. Bermingeham is another version. In 1166 the holder of the manor of Birmingham, Peter de Birmingham, was granted a royal charter to hold a market in his castle, which in time became known as the Bull Ring, transforming Birmingham from a village to a market town. The de Birmingham family continued to be Lords of Birmingham until the 1530s when Edward de Birmingham was cheated out of its lordship by the traitor John Dudley. As early as the sixteenth century, Birmingham's access to supplies of iron ore and coal meant that metal working industries became established. By the time of the English Civil War in the 17th century, Birmingham had become an important manufacturing town with a reputation for producing small arms. Arms manufacture in Birmingham became a staple trade and was concentrated in the area known as the Gun Quarter. During the Industrial Revolution (from the mid-18th century onwards), Birmingham grew rapidly into a major industrial centre and the town prospered. Birmingham’s population grew from 15,000 in the late 17th century to 70,000 a century later During the 18th century, Birmingham was home to the Lunar Society, an important gathering of local thinkers and industrialists. Thomas Attwood addressing the Birmingham Political Union during the Days of May, 1832Birmingham rose to national political prominence in the campaign for political reform in the early nineteenth century, with Thomas Attwood's Birmingham Political Union bringing the country to the brink of civil war and back during the Days of May that preceded the passing of the Great Reform Act in 1832. The Union's meetings on Newhall Hill in 1831 and 1832 were the largest political assemblies Britain had ever seen. Lord Durham, who drafted the act, wrote that "the country owed Reform to Birmingham, and its salvation from revolution". By the 1820s, an extensive canal system had been constructed, giving greater access to natural resources to fuel to industries. Railways arrived in Birmingham in 1837 with the arrival of the Grand Junction Railway, and a year later, the London and Birmingham Railway. During the Victorian era, the population of Birmingham grew rapidly to well over half a million and Birmingham became the second largest population centre in England. Birmingham was granted city status in 1889 by Queen Victoria. The city established its own university in 1900. Birmingham in 1886Birmingham suffered heavy bomb damage during World War II's "Birmingham Blitz", and the city was extensively redeveloped during the 1950s and 1960s. This included the construction of large tower block estates, such as Castle Vale. The Bull Ring reconstructed and New Street station was redeveloped. In recent years, Birmingham has been transformed, with the construction of new squares like Centenary Square and Millennium Place. Old streets, buildings and canals have been restored, the pedestrian subways have been removed, and the Bull Ring shopping centre has been completely redeveloped. These were the first steps in the ambitious plans of Birmingham City Council for the redevelopment of Birmingham, which has become known as the Big City Plan. In the decades following the Second World War, the ethnic makeup of Birmingham changed significantly, as it received waves of immigration from the Commonwealth of Nations and beyond. The city's population peaked in 1951 at 1,113,000 residents. Some pretty famous people originate from 'Brum' Come back here to see a few examples.



THAT'S IT FOLKS! Info - thanks to Wikipedia. BUT FINALLY THE DAILY MAIL IS CURRENTLY REPORTING ON A INQUEST/HEARING INTO SOMETHING OF A STAIRLIFT DISASTER - SEE HERE HOW NOT TO MARKET YOUR STAIRLIFTS !


LINKS See here a fascinating blog on new home development in Birmingham. And go here to shop in Birmingham.

Here below, as with all our regional stairlift blogs, we have some of the notable residents (past and present) from the area. It’s always remarkable, how many people do not know just who comes from where they live.

Sir Michael Balcon, film director. Alfred Bird, inventor of custard powder. Geezer Butler, bassist of Black Sabbath. Bill Ward, drummer of Black Sabbath. Jasper Carrott, comedian Neville Chamberlain, former prime-minister. Richard Hammond, TV presenter, Mr Hudson, singer. Washington Irving, author. Cat Deeley TV presenter, Trevor Eve, Actor. Bill Oddie, comedian and ornithologist, Ozzy Osbourne, singer of Black Sabbath. Jamelia, singer. Victoria Wood, actress.

Our health-conscious Birmingham followers showed an interesting reaction to the article above on STROKES - so without wishing to sound morbid - we bring you here another section in relation to HEART ATTACKS. Heartburn or heart attack? How to tell the difference - More than 225,000 people suffer from heart attacks in the UK each year, and sadly, about one in three die before even reaching the hospital. That means on average, just in the city of Birmingham alone, over 4,000 annually are victims – and of those, statistically, some 1360 don’t survive long enough to even get close to needing a stairlift. Heart attacks need to be dealt with immediately. The odds of surviving a heart attack are significantly improved if you are treated within 90 minutes of experiencing the first symptoms. It is odd how we can ignore certain medical conditions. Despite being a medical emergency, too many people delay calling for an ambulance when symptoms start. Research from the US has found that men waited an average of two and a half hours before contacting the emergency services, and women took even longer. A likely explanation for this is that people know only one of the main symptoms of heart a heart attack - chest pain - but don't know the others. Even then, if the chest pain is mild, heart attack victims often put it down to a bad case of heartburn or indigestion. So how can you tell the difference? Heart Attack Warning Signs The common or 'classic' symptoms of a heart attack include: · Pain in the centre of the chest · Chest pain which spreads to the arms, neck or jaw · Chest pain and feeling sick or sweaty · Chest pain and shortness of breath. The less commons symptoms of a heart attack include: · A dull pain, ache, or ‘heavy’ feeling in the chest · A mild discomfort in the chest that makes you feel generally unwell · A pain in your chest that can spread to the back or stomach · A chest pain that feels like a bad episode of indigestion · Feeling light-headed or dizzy as well as having chest pain . Heart attack symptoms differ from person to person. Chest pain can vary from mild discomfort in the centre of the chest to severe pain, which is often described as a heavy pressure, crushing or tightness. But, for others, the chest pain may be relatively mild, but accompanied by some of the other symptoms, so recognising a pattern of symptoms is key - 'heartburn' with breathlessness and sweating needs to be checked out. Both men and women can experience common or uncommon symptoms of a heart attack, or even a combination of both. Either way, they need to be dealt with immediately. Look after yourself and also be on the cautious side. Many folk invest in stairlifts because they are being careful and protecting themselves against not certain (but possible) disasters – like slipping or falling on the stairs. Treat a pain with the same caution and dial 999. It's what you pay your taxes for. A paramedic and doctor would be delighted to find out you only have heart burn! Why not take the 'Healthy Heart Quiz' - here.






Click here to find new and reconditioned Stairlifts in Birmingham

Monday, 26 April 2010

Cheshire, Lancashire & Manchester folk hunting for Stairlifts enter the quiz and score for Cancer Research


For those in a hurry and wanting info and prices on a Stairlift - bookmark this page for later, and go to ...
www.castlecomfortstairlifts.co.uk/ where you will find exactly what you are looking for. Even heavy duty stair lifts that will carry about four times the weight of the Castle Comfort model riding on one recently at Naidex. Yes, a stairlift that takes 30 stone! See our video of it made at the NEC Birmingham.



Now, thanks to all those looking for a stairlift in Cheshire and Lancashire, particularly Manchester who entered our competition and generated ££££'s for a very good cause. And those of you looking for our new office in Macclesfield can trust the directions offered from our envied number one, page one entry on Google Maps.

Eight people emailed us or sent in the coupon to tell us that the official name of Manchester Airport is. Ringway International Airport, of course. Simple enough quiz? Well, perhaps but as over twenty folk sent in the wrong answer - perhaps it wasn't that easy.



Keep in touch with our blogs - and having a look at another test of skill here will give everyone another chance to win a tenner for Stairlift Stephen's amazing effort to raise £50,000.


HOW MANY MINERS WERE RESCUED RECENTLY FROM THE CHILEAN MINE AFTER BEING STUCK THERE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS ? email your answer to - quizes@castlecomfotcentre.com and every correct answer will result in £10 being paid by this popular stairlifts company in Stephen's pot.















And if a Riser Recliner Chair is later on the agenda - check out this BLOG supreme.


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Sunday, 21 March 2010

STAIRLIFTS - Manchester | Manchester Stairlifts North West




If you are looking for top brand stairlifts at the best prices in the North West it makes sense to 
click here to get a quote on a stairlift in Manchester


We offer branded stair lifts at reasonable cost and completed with a quick and tidy install. All installations are guaranteed and come with our legendary service quality.



CALL US ON 0161 452 3636


(If you need a stair lift, we'd like you to read and enjoy this blog first - but if you are in a rush and need the facts on stair lifts first - go here for the best stairlift prices - then bookmark this page for later)

Castle Comfort Stairlifts have never worried about being able to provide an efficient service in the Manchester region. The best motorway system in the United Kingdom means that even travelling from Stafford, south of Stoke in Trent in Staffordshire to the England’s ‘Second City’ never takes much more than an hour.

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But recent increased demand has resulted in Castle Comfort expanding its offices to
Manchester City Centre.

Our Manchester stairlifts office is as follows
Castle Comfort Stairlifts Ltd Advantage Business Centre, 132-134 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, Lancashire M4 6DE 0161 452 3636 0800 007 6959

From here, the whole of Manchester and indeed the Lancashire region can be even better served and is even closer to the population of over two and a half million in Greater Manchester where this popular family chair lift business have already installed a huge amount of straight and curved jobs over the years. Folk in Manchester seeking stairlifts - can hop down to the head office showhouse very easily.

Many stairlift orders have come through recommendation – but the national press advertising campaign in the past two years in the Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Times, The Telegraph and the Sun – offering stairlifts at an ingoing price of just £995, has caused a huge reaction from Mancunians, the demonym used to call folk from this city. What’s a demonyn? It’s not someone bad. Find out here

Often known as ‘the capital of the north’ or ‘the warehouse city’ the Metropolitan Borough of Manchester has a population of 465,000- and Greater Manchester in its entirely contains two and a half million people. If just 2% of this second most populated area of the UK (in relation to its size) – need a stair lift in the future – then Castle Comfort are going to be as busy as ever! The aficionados of population statistics can feed their addiction here. And those who revel in other somewhat monotonous facts will just love this.

Manchester is the third-most visited city in the United Kingdom by foreign visitors and the most visited in England outside London. Chester and York are the others. The city has the famous Granada Studios, still the home of the most famous soap in the world, Coronation Street. One of the most memorable editions, containing Stan & Hilda Ogden's 'flying ducks' scene is immortalised here.

Manchester was the host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and of course has a pair of Premiership League football clubs, United and City. Manchester football fans are some of the most fervent in the world. Many believe the pop group Simply Red was named because its founder Mick Hucknall has red hair – in fact Mick is a Manchester United stalwart and chose the name because of his beloved ‘Reds.’
For a great interview with George Best on the eve of their champions league final see here.

In 1934 the biggest crowd ever in the UK at a league game was witnessed in Manchester. Stoke City visited Manchester City. It remains a mystery how the figure of 84,569 was finalised, as many watched the game from rooftops and other vantage points. Had stairlifts been around in those days to climb up the final total may have been higher.
Some quite odd things have happened since on that side of the city. In 1999, a City fan from Gizmoville threw an asthma inhaler on to the pitch during a disappointing home draw against lowly Northampton Town. Stewards made him take a deep breath before his ejection. Another ‘blue’ was banned in 1995 from bringing dead chickens into the Maine Road ground. He used to celebrate Manchester City goals by swinging the birds around his head. The mind boggles.

So, if you live in the Greater Manchester region, or in fact any where in Lancashire, and are stairlift shopping for yourself or a loved one, then contact Castle Comfort on 0161 452 3636 or Freephone 0800 007 6959. Followers of any football denomination are welcome, but please - no asthma inhaler throwers or those wielding dead chickens.


It is hoped that fans of Manchester United seeking a stairlift will not bear a grudge against a stairlift company because they originate from Stoke on Trent. Stoke’s own Premiership club, another City ie Stoke – has for many years been the Reds' ‘bogey team’ and over the years some remarkable surprise results have been achieved by the team from The Potteries. Therefore, any Manchester United fans seeking revenge at this point can poke fun or even throw darts here at a Stoke fan riding on a stairlift platform. By the way - do you like the cartoon? That chicken is from Stoke! See more cartoons here.

And don't forget, if you answer the blog quiz question below, you'll get a £50 discount voucher towards any Castle Comfort purchase, and we for every correct response, will contribute £10 to this very special Just Giving cause. (Runners in the 2010 Stoke 'arf marthon are not eligible to enter!)

??? Here we go, you Manchester pub-quizzers and brain boxes ....


WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL NAME OF MANCHESTER AIRPORT?

Clue - it begins with the fifth letter of the name of the product for which you have just searched.

Email your answer to info@castlecomfortcentre.com or use the reply coupon.



Was that too easy? Well here is one to test you more. Is a stairlift the same as a stair lift? Join in the discussion on our sister blog and your contribution guarantees £10 for Cancer Research.

... WE HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING OUR MANCHESTER BLOG, IT IS ONLY ONE OF A SERIES OF CASTLE COMFORT 'CITY' BLOGS. YET THE SERIOUS PURPOSE OF IT IS TO HELP YOU FIND WHAT YOUR ARE LOOKING FOR. IF YOU SEEK A QUALITY TOP BRAND BRITISH STAIR LIFT, INSTALLED PERFECTLY, AT THE RIGHT PRICE, WITHOUT ANY HASSLE OR RISKS - THEN CALL US, KEITH OR ANN, OWNERS OF CASTLE COMFORT STAIR LIFTS.



EVEN IF YOU ARE FACED WITH THE EXTRA COST OF A CURVED STAIRLIFT, THEN THERE MAY WELL BE AN ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE... IT'S CALLED A PLATFORM. IT IS GOING TO TAKE A STOKE CITY FOOTBALL FAN TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY - GO HERE !   However, with the price of curved stairlifts having come down lot in recent times - a curved track is a better option.



Footnote - HEAVY DUTY STAIRLIFTS, often called heavy weight stairlifts, are also availible with 28.5 OR 30 STONE WEIGHT LIMITS. See our film of it here. Riser recliner chairs too. A bariatric stair lift has a high weight capacity, including a curved stairlift with a higher weight of 30 stone. Henry V111 may have been impressed .. David Starkey says here that the King invented the stairlift, and may it was even a heavy weight one!WE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOUR CALLS PERSONALLY FROM 8AM - 11PM ANY DAY INCLUDING SUNDAYS. OR SIMPLY USE THIS, OR..... VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO READ MORE. And zoom in on us too here on Google Maps.





THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN -



0161 452 3636




0800 007 6959 - 8-11- 7 days


Footnote - To meet requests - Castle's Manchester Stairlifts installation teams will shortly carry sample WHEELCHAIRS with them and information on on RISER RECLINER CHAIRS, ADJUSTABLE BEDS AND MOBILITY SCOOTERS. Just ask for a go of the famous featherweight Wheelchair - or a leaflet on the other in-demand products, such as WALK IN BATHS & SHOWERS.


Got relations in Birmingham? See their own blog here. And about their new homes here. Manchester, has of course a noteable Irish contingent and anyone looking for a stairlift for friends or relatives back home in the Emerald Isle can use the facilities of Castle's new stairlifts offcie in Dublin.


Why would a doctor be at number one on GoogleMaps? Here's a clue.


Someone once said that there is 'no such thing as bad publicity' - well after reading this - they will change their mind!


Finally, we wonder who saw Castle Comfort Stairlifts on 'the telly' - in fact, the BBC news,

because the directors of this company picked up on the fact that over 800 families were waiting for an essential grant from the council in the Staffordshire town of Walsall to provide stairlifts to those who couldn't afford to pay. Manchester - sadly contains many more. To highlight this awful situation, Castle Comfort Stairlifts did this - to embarass the civil servants - and get one family off the list ...





IF YOU LIKE IT - CLICK ON THE 'THUMBS UP' AND MAYBE EVEN MAKE A COMMENT - MANY FOLK HAVE.


Here below, as with all our regional stairlift blogs, we have some of the notable residents (past and present) from the area. It’s always remarkable, how many people do not know just who comes from where they live.

Ancoats – Bernard Manning, comedian. Ardwick – Johnny Marr, guitarist of The Smiths. Blackley – Bernard Hill, actor.
Bolton – Peter Kay, comedian.
Burnage – Liam and Noel Gallagher, musicians from Oasis.
Bury – Cherie Blair – wife of Tony Blair.
Cheetham Hill – Don Arden, promoter and manager of bands such as the Small Faces. Collyhurst – Brian Kidd, footballer. Crumpsall – Jason Orange, musician. Didsbury – Carol Ann Duffy, poet. Fallowfield – Thomas Tout, historian.
Hulme – Morrisey, lead singer of The Smiths. Longsight – Ethel Lowry, first woman to swim the English Channel. Moss Side – Anthony Burgess, author. Oldham – Henry Taylor, Olympic swimmer.Salford – Clinton Ford, singer. Stockport – Sarah Harding, singer. Rochdale – Colin Baker, actor. Tameside – Margaret Beckett, first female British Foreign Secretary. Trafford – David Gray, singer songwriter. Victoria Park – Emmeline Pankhurst, famous suffragette. Wigan – Richard Ashcroft, lead singer of The Verve. Wythenshaw – Simon Gregson, actor.

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Stairlifts in Cheshire - Buy a Stairlift from this firm and you'll be grinning like a Cheshire Cat!



Looking for
Stairlifts in Cheshire ... ?


If you are looking for fascinating facts about the area then feel free to read on.

Shopping in the county of Cheshire may have been an expensive thing in the past. This delightful county with the walled city of Chester as its principal town, is one of the more up market and wealthiest regions of England. After the stock broker zones of the home counties, Cheshire is one of the most renowned and favoured areas for many of the UK's richest entrepreneurs and elite. Manchester-based business executives and a host of famous sportspeople reside in Cheshire - especially places like Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, Altrincham and Sale. Outside London, Tatton, which includes Prestbury and Knutsford, is one of the fifth richest places in the UK with an average income per resident of over £62,000. Read here which members of the nouveau-rich live in the region. And have a hunt around on this site for some interesting and suprising property values. Many Cheshire people will be aware that their county is famous for cheese, silk and salt - but maybe some have no idea just how many famous, not necessarily rich, people were born there. What names here do you recognise? The most expensive street in Britain, with homes costing a staggering 18 million pounds, has just been revealed - and is it in Cheshire? Find out, it's remarkable. And for those Cheshire residents who can breath a sigh of relief that that price tag is found miles away from near Chester or Wilmslow or Warrington - here is where the cheapest home, at under £28k, is found in the UK.

Back to wealth. It's a known fact that buying anything from a newspaper to a new home can cost more in a salubrious place like Cheshire, than somewhere where there is not as much cash.
Therefore, Castle Comfort Stairlifts marketing campaign in conjunction with their new Macclesfield-based regional office has attracted a lot of attention. Putting prices in an advert is a relatively new thing to the stairlift industry - as the big companies like to get the sales person in to the house before delivering the news what is going to be spent!

Castle Comfort's impact in the market by offering their range of fully guaranteed reconditioned stairlifts from £995 is similar in Cheshire as it was initially in Staffordshire. Their new stairlift administration office in Macclesfield, a town which has, again, some of the wealthiest residents in England, (if you wonder who, go here) is the place to call to arrange for a quote and get more information. The company is privileged to have been given a Google Maps No 1 slot.


So, calling all Cheshire residents, whether you are a Rooney or a Reg Jones, and thinking of a stairlift for yourself a family member, you can call 01625 588 6599. Or see the Macclesfield regional office details, and those of all UK offices here. So a stair lift may not be as much as you thought - so why not call this Macclesfield number? - and you'll be grinning like a Cheshire Cat! Where does the phrase - 'grinning like a Cheshire Cat' come from? Just click on this one here to find out.......



And to enhance your knowledge about our feline friends - take a look at the captured on camera Stairlift Cat.

See below the couple who were kept waiting two years for their local council to provide a necessary stairlift and Castle Comfort put in a chairlift without charge. And the BBC liked the gesture. Please take a moment to watch the 6pm BBC News clip below -




Here below, as with all our regional stairlift blogs, we have some of the main towns and cities in the region – along with a selection of notable residents – past and present. It’s always remarkable, how many people do not know just who comes from their own town.

Alsager – Sir James Chadwick, Nobel prize-winning scientist who proved the existence of neutrons. Bollington – David Dickinson, TV personality Chester – Anthony Thwaite, poet and writer. Congleton – Daniel Sturridge, footballer. Crewe – Neil Brooks, Australian Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer. Ellesmere Port – Russ Abbott, comedian. John Prescott, politician. Knutsford – Sir Bobby Charlton, former professional footballer.

Macclesfield – Peter Crouch, footballer. Reg Harris, track cyclist. Malpas – Chris Stockton, jockey. Middlewich – James Hargreaves, chemist and inventor. Nantwich – Sophie Readem, winner of Big Brother in 2009.

Northwich – Paula Radcliffe, marathon runner. Runcorn – John Holt, scientist who helped develop the atom bomb. Sandbach – George Roper, comedian.

Warrington – George Formby, entertainer. Sue Johnston, actress. Widnes – Charles Glover Barkla, winner of the 1917 Nobel prize for physics.

Wilmslow – Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United. Winsford – Alan Oakes, footballer.
If your place hasn't been mentioned and you have a famous resident past or present then add a comment telling us who it is and we will add it in.

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Staffordshire Stairlifts company chooses the name for the new A380 (picked by a 4 year old family member to be exact)




A four year old's choice for the name of Luthansa's flagship A380 - is set to make history.






The moment of an historic decision -

"What shall we name this aircraft?"

We, or rather Keith Zaragoza of Buenos Aires therefore name this fantastic aircraft the COMFORT CHARISMA and pledge that the points and benefits won from this choice, will benefit the Castle Comfort Stairlifts Good Deeds fund. See Keith junior's entry on the aircraft here





Why not choose your name here for what will become a name as famous as the word 'Jumbo'

Saturday, 20 February 2010

STAIRLIFTS - in Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme


Stairlifts Showroom 

Stoke on Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme

Stairlifts Stoke on Trent showroom
The little house next to Castle Comfort's main showroom has for years been a private home of Stairlifts expert and owner of the CCC Group - Keith Simpson. Clients wanting to do a 'try before they buy' always find a ride on a real stairlift much better than DVDs or a brochure to help to make an important decision.

The stairlifts showhouse is Stoke on Trent's only showroom showing a number of different models of stair lift from Acorn and Minivator.  You can visit us to see them and try one out.

Here's a recent customer who has had her stair lift installed by Castle Comfort. This professional installation of a stair lift in Stoke on Trent has made the lady owner very happy, as now she can be safe on her stairs. She feels that the climb up is now so much easier, and said that it was quite literally a godsend for her.

Stairlifts Safety in Stoke on Trent

A few years ago there was an incident at our stairlift showroom. Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under Lyme's only STAIRLIFT show house at Wolstanton village, was the scene of a major drama  as it went up in flames!

A fire that started in the kitchen washing machine gutted the house within minutes. Only due to Castle Comfort staff discovering the disaster early and the response within minutes of Stafford shire fire services, the house and possibly adjoining ones in the street were not completely destroyed.

Remarkably, despite the total internal damage - the working display Acorn/Brooks stairlift and a reconditioned Stannah curved lift, remained in full working use - and after a wipe down this popular Midlands chair lift company is still operating as normal.

We'll present shortly, a few alarming facts about the fire risk involved with washing machines and other appliances in the home upon which we all depend. But first - the two hours spent by twenty emergency services staff yesterday, was concluded by the hilarious tale of the first firefighter who charged into the house with his mask, headgear and hosepipe look for the source of ignition. He announced, after the drama subsided, to the roars of laughter of all present, that he could see little through the thick black smoke engulfing the lounge, other than the stairs situated just inside the front door as he entered. So ran up them. However, he quickly realised after taking about eight steps he would have gone nowhere, other than to the ceiling of the lounge ... he was going up the steps built for a curved stair lift model!! So he came back down and went into the kitchen to put the fire out.

Now to less amusing facts. Is it safe to leave the washing machine on while out or in bed?
Many washing machines now come with delayed start features. This shows the manufacturers are happy for the washing machine to be used totally unattended. However, cases of washing machines (and other white goods such as dishwashers and tumble dryers) catching fire still occur. Government fire safety advice is to not to leave white goods unattended - CHECK YOUR HOME: Before Bed Routine (Government fire safety site)
Always at least have a smoke alarm fitted near to the washing machine (or other white goods appliance) if it is left on and unattended. However, this could be impractical if they are in a kitchen due to the nuisance alarms from cooking
The Trading Standards site has an excellent list of safety related product recalls which covers virtually all appliances in the home. It's well worth book-marking and checking regularly as it covers all safety issues on all consumer goods - even food mixers.

Some old washing machines (at least over 10 years) have no protection against overheating. If the timer or thermostat fails, it can boil the water inside. Your clothes could be reduced to pulp and the wallpaper in the kitchen could peel off. The other main risk is flooding. Most washing machines have a third level on the pressure switch (the pressure switch controls the water levels in the machine) This third level switch is supposed to protect against overfilling by energizing the water pump if the water level rises dangerously above normal. This will work fine if the cause of an overfilling machine is a fill valve that has failed to turn off. However, the majority of overfilling machines are caused by a blockage in the pressure system. This safety feature will not work if a blockage stops air entering the pressure tubing. This amounts to having no real overfilling protection at all. Finally flooding could occur through a leak.

Many people like to set their washing machine to come on during the night to use off-peak electricity through economy 7.  If you are prepared to risk doing this then make sure you set it to come on as late as possible so that you will be up not long after the machine has finished. UPDATE: Most modern washing machines are now controlled totally electronically by software built into the main PCB. Such a machine will typically have selector buttons and LCD or LED displays. Some of them may still have control knob selectors, but unlike the old ones, when you turn them they don't click round (no cogs inside) and don't have the same resistance to turn that they used to. Instead they electronically send instructions to the main PCB power module. These washing machines have much better safety protection and will normally abort if they detect over heating for example. The computer style programs they use will time out (causing an abort of the programme and an error code to display or be indicated by flashing lights) if it takes too long to fill, empty or heat the water. They can even abort the programme if the load is unbalanced.

These washing machines are much safer than the old ones, but clearly none are infallible and electrical short circuits or overheating connections could still cause a fire!


To conclude - the frightening thing about this event is that the washing machine in the stair lift house was not switched on when it caught fire. It was plugged in to a live 13 amp socket - but not in use. So who knows what can happen? For instance, a young man named Lupton - our contact at a Stairlifts company in Yorkshire - was recently woken up by a smoke alarm at home when his
heated and illuminated fish tank ignited !!

Back to the stairlift house.That machine in the house was bought second hand 8 years ago so it was at least 10 years old. However, the mystery with this one is the bloody thing had never been used in eight years and wasn't even switched on when it ignited !!??

The insurance loss adjuster who came from Stafford to Castle Comfort Stairlifts to see the damage was asked if he personally always unplugs washing machines and other devices when not in use and he replied 'without fail'. He has seen too many cases like ours.

To repeat - that machine had never been used and as you can see here - it never will be.





LINKS

Hotfrog to us










NEWSFLASH - Any dance hall ravers in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire during the 60s and 70s - (who may well be users of stairlifts now) will be sad at the lost of someone as indestructible as this stairlift - EDDIE FENTON founder of the Adulte Ballroom in Burslem, The Crystal Ballroom (later renamed Tiffany's) in Newcastle under Lyme and many more dancing institutions. Eddie was a friend and customer of Castle Comfort. A gentleman worthy of legend status.

ON THE SUBJECT OF A CRISIS - WE ARE OFEN ASKED ABOU THE SAFETY OF STAIRLIFTS.

Well, the Castle Comfort Team have composed the following interesting and informative article -

 Going Up in the World – are stair lifts safe?


To most people, the expression ‘going up in the world’ usually applies to personal ambition. It may imply promotion at work, financial enhancement or steps up the social ladder.

For others, with impaired mobility, going up in the world can literarily mean the ability to move safely up and down stairs from one level of the house to another. Falls in the home, especially on stairs, account for a large proportion of injuries or even deaths each year. When restricted mobility, or breathing difficulties, makes climbing and descending stairs not just a struggle, but a very real hazard, tens of thousands of people benefit from the installation of a stairlift. I have experienced the trauma felt by an elder member of my family, following a simple fall, resulting in a seriously broken leg. She lives on her own and we all knew that a difficult staircase was going to present a worry. The gentle suggestion that a stairlift may be a good idea, resulted in this question - ‘Are stairlifts safe?’ Never having had cause to think about such an issue, I decided to try to find the answer so that I could offer some informed opinion.

Statistically, the answer is yes, they are, provided that some obvious conditions are applied. As with any mechanical device, from an aircraft to a tin-opener, freak accidents can and do occur. The incidence of accidents involving stairlifts, seen against the number of installations, happily seems to be very rare indeed. The horrific fact is that such accidents which have happened were probably avoidable, had the correct procedures and safe-guards been applied. Our Stoke Stairlifts are safe but, as with any equipment, the rules must be stringently applied by both the industry and the user. Manufacturers and suppliers cannot legislate for what happens once the equipment is installed and in the hands of the user, so make sure that you get a specialist in to get yours installed.  It isn't a job for an amateur DIY person.

It is essential to buy the right quality product from an experienced and reliable supplier, with an expert maintenance and service engineer on hand locally for a quick response to any problem. The dearest or the cheapest are not necessarily the best; there is no such thing as a ‘free-lunch’ where safety is the primary issue.

Let us take an analytical look at some accidents which have appeared in the headlines implicating stairlifts.

In Stoke-on-Trent, a stairlift owner tragically died in an avoidable accident on the stairs. The lady, who was only fifty-five, was found dead by her daughter, an appalling experience for anyone and she has my sympathy. It seems that her mother had fallen, resulting in her head becoming trapped between the wall and the stirlift rail. The headline could have implied that somehow the stairlift was a factor in the accident, but this was not the case. An inquest was told that in spite of her severe physical problems, the lady never used the stairlift and walked on the stairs, having expressed the fear that she would lose the use of her legs. Clearly, her stairlift was not to blame. Had she used the lift, the accident may not have happened. With the greatest of respect, it has to be noted that she had been in the habit of the regular excessive consumption of alcohol. The coroner ruled that to be a factor in the accident, not the stairlift.


It hardly requires an A level in the blindingly obvious to know that the installation of a stairlift must never be a task for an amateur. We all try our hand at DIY, with variable success, but I am left incredulous by the next incident, reported in ‘The Shropshire Star’ (July 2007)


Tragically the result was the instant death of a six year old boy who was playing on a stairlift whilst visiting the home of his great-grandmother. All stairlifts have a key to immobilise the motor and when children are in the house it is essential that the stairlift cannot be activated, Children must never be allowed to play on a lift as if it is something akin to a ride at a fun fair. Currently, YouTube is carrying a clip entitled ‘Lads mucking about on a stairlift’. The ‘humour’ appears to be a shot of one guy falling off. These idiots are actually young adults! Stairlifts are not designed for ‘mucking about’.


This accident was the direct result of faulty installation by someone who had no idea how to carry out the work. It seems that the boy’s uncle had removed the stairlift from another house and installed it in the new location with no professional assistance or even a manual. In the original installation, the equipment was installed on left side of the stairs. In the new location it was installed on the right. This meant that the obstruction contact strip, an essential safety device, was rendered inoperative.



A consultant forensic engineer told the inquest that some of the safety devices were not working properly – “If they had been, we would not be here today.” The boy’s head was pressing against trips which meant that the lift could not reverse and free him. This was another tragedy which could have been avoided by simple common sense.



The next example was the failure of the equipment but as a result of other possible factors.



MailOnline June 15th 2010

‘Great grand-mother, 90, dies after being catapulted from faulty stairlift’


The report recorded that an inquest was told that a great-grandmother died in hospital just three days after being catapulted 20ft down the stairs in her home in Barnsley by a faulty stairlift. The lady was spun round in the chair and tipped out headfirst after restraining bolts on the seat sheared off.


Her family told a hearing in Sheffield that they had reported a ‘whining noise’ and ‘juddering’ with the mechanism a week earlier but the company maintaining the stairlift had not sent out an engineer.


The lady’s grand-daughter told the inquest that she was putting the seat belt round her gran, but, before she could do it, the chair swung round and tipped her over, causing her to fall down the stairs from top to bottom.


Police attended and were of the opinion that the stairs gradient was too steep for the type of lift. There was evidence of more than five years wear and tear on the machine which had been installed as new in July 2006. An engineer who carried out an inspection after the accident confirmed two of the retaining screws on the seat had sheared off. He also believed that the seat belt had not been regularly used.


The inquest heard that Barnsley Council had awarded the contract to a company to supply and fit stairlifts. However, the company had sub-contracted the installation and maintenance to another firm.


Two independent experts told the hearing the seat belt failed but they disagreed as to whether it was the design or the fitting. A director of the company told the court that after the tragedy they had contacted all users of stairlifts on their books and had removed all seat belts and put new ones on which were tightened up.


I am not qualified to make, nor do I make any judgement, implied or otherwise. The facts are those from the inquest, as reported in the Daily Mail article. Both companies named in the press are currently trading on the internet.


I return to my question – “Are stair lifts safe?”



My conclusion – Yes, but follow the key points.

THE CHAIRLIFT CODE

C   Company – a reputable supplier with proven track record is a must

H   Have correct professional installation – NO DIY

A   Arrange a regular service contract to ensure reliability and safety

I    Insist that kids keep off - keep it locked

R   Responsible user – care and common sense at all times



L    Listen to expert opinion

I     Investigate the options – what is best for you and your staircase

F    Follow all safety procedures

T   Take care on every journey



Follow the rules and you will be ‘going up in the world’ safely and with confidence.



To end on a lighter note-
A very little guy, wearing a very little green suit and a very little green hat was seen going up and down on a stairlift in a Stoke on Trent Stairlifts showroom. When asked what he was doing he explained that he was carrying out an elf and safety inspection!



Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Stair Lift Prices are Monstrous - maybe, so look at this stairlifts firm from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire


Stairlift Prices Are Monstrous...?

- Well, they can be, if you don't have a word with this national stair lift company originating from Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. Whether you are looking for straight stairlifts or curved stairlifts, you have just discovered a very serious message. 

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION PRICESON NEW & RECONDITIONED STAIRLIFTS IN YOUR AREA

After first smiling at the following - you may then find yourself shouting - 'Spam!’ - at the next chair salesperson that turns up at your house. You must have had quotes for new windows? Well, let's remind you what probably happened.

Be on your guard if they arrive wearing a suit and brandishing DVD’s, a bunch of flowers and a smile that suggests you are going to tempted into a ‘special offer’ for a chairlift lift that may still be much more than you need to pay. This double glazing hard sell approach is all to common in the mobility products business – and not acceptable at all when often older and maybe vulnerable members of society are alone to deal with such matters. Often, the chairlifts company seem more interested in selling it on the ‘never-never’ as more profit is always made in business when the customer can’t pay cash.

Remember, if a sales person in your home expects and entices you to an instant decision – just tell them you want time to think – and not just for twenty minutes whilst they sit outside in their car.
If the pressure is turned is on just politely ask them to leave. And they will. If they don’t, tell them you are going to call 999 and if they don't shift then - dial it! The police just love to responding to cries for help like that – it’s easy meat (or even Spam) for the boys in blue.
The price for a stair lift isn’t a secret these days. Just ask the firm on the phone or look at Castle Comfort's fact-filled website on the link here- castlecomfortstairlifts. Or you can phone any one of Castle's regional offices listed at the foot of this page. A free survey is needed to check there are no extras but all that is needed is a phone call to get the cost. Many firms actually put their guide prices in their press adverts – but be careful – the word ‘from’ can mean anything.

Castle Comfort’s ads carry an ingoing price for a straight reconditioned lift - installed and guaranteed. And they are always available. Get a quote for a ‘recon’ and a new one but with prices having come down tremendously in recent years – the difference may not be that great. This company with its HQ at Newcastle under Lyme, just north of Stafford has full UK coverage. The installation and technical back up - ie 24 hour emergency call out service is supported by the British manufacturers of stairlifts with which Castle Comfort deal.
How much does a stairlift cost?
If you are under 95 - and looking forward to the next few decades, a brand new one with all the latest features is well worth the bit extra. It's best to get the options - then you decide. Another advantage with buying a new lift is that you will always get some money back on it if is to be sold one day.




Back to Spam. This phenomena of chopped pork, salt water and sugar with a few added chemicals was first made in 1937 – and its maker American firm Hormel Food Corporation is now on its way to producing its eight billionth can! That’s a lot of butties.






Britain’s brave Armed Forces have survived on the variety of meals that can be produced with Spam, yet the 2nd Royal Welsh Guards refused to surrender in Afghanistan when the Taliban interrupted supplies for six weeks. See Daily Mail article by Luke Salkeld.

Apparently, Spam stands for ‘shoulder of pork and ham’ although intellectual connoisseurs of school dinners have more than once labelled it ‘something posing as meat.’
These days day however, junk emails that constantly bombard us computer-literate geeks since, have been given a new name. These electronic litter attacks – have assumed the name of our infamous canned snack. Was the label Spam taken from the Bill Gates glossary no .... Monty Python. What??? Indeed. The monotonous use of Spam in endless dishes – egg, bacon and Spam, sausage and Spam, bacon and Spam and the repetitious nature of such inspired a Monty Python mickey-taking sketch. This brilliant and now legendary sketch, see it here, was repeated so much at unwelcome times – that word was adopted to describe an endless boring sea of unwanted junk mails.

So now we now all about that can than has always been in the kitchen cupboard- who makes it, what it can be used for, and why its name was adopted in the world of computers. Who knows? You savvy stair lift shoppers may be bringing on a new use of the word. Remember, if it’s a hard sell, or the price seems over the top, yell ‘Spam.’
Happy chair lift hunting!

LINKS



Castle Comfort can often advise on getting a GRANT for a curved or straight stairlift - and they can sometimes be obtained from unexpected sources. But see here how difficult that can be.
Finally, see this Daily Mail story here how not to market stairlifts. Not forgetting that the same care exercised when buying a stairlift - needs to be shown if you are selling one .............
This article demonstrates the risk of getting a cold call from someone you don't know offering something that appears to good to be true. And things too good to be true nearly always are.

October 2011 NEWS UPDATE  Even worse - if anyone actually turns up unexpected on your doorstep then it's almost guaranteed bad news. There will be a small chance of it being a genuine company with a genuine product at a genuine price, but read here what happened to Mrs Bell from Sheffield when she handed over £1800 at the door for a stairlift.

November  2011 NEWS UPDATE  - and it's porridge time  (not the kind you have with spam for breakfast) for two guys in the mobility products business.  It's bad enough training an already a dodgy salesforce how to behave - but publishing  a book on it  is asking for trouble!

December 2012 NEWS UPDATE -   double  porridge time for more scum bags. When these pair come out maybe they'll be old enough for a stairlifts and we hope they get the same treatment as they dish out themselves

The anti-spam reference box-

CASTLE COMFORT STAIRLIFTS REGIONAL LOCATIONS
Stairlifts Cheshire, Stairlifts Manchester, Stairlifts Birmingham, Stairlifts Dublin, Stairlifts Stoke on Trent, Stairlifts Swansea, Stairlifts Walsall, Stairlifts Devon & Cornwall, Stairlifts Belfast, Stairlifts Bournemouth, Stairlifts Bristol, Stairlifts Glasgow, Stairlifts Ireland,
Stairlifts Liverpool, Stairlifts London, Stairlifts Newcastle upon Tyne, Stairlifts Stafford , Stairlifts Nottingham, Stairlifts Stoke on Trent, Stairlifts Wolverhampton, and last but not least, Stairlifts York.


Contact any of our stairlifts offices in these locations;

Cheshire, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, Newcastle Under Lyme, Stoke on Trent, Swansea, Walsall, Devon, Cornwall, Belfast, Ireland, London, Nottingham, Stafford, Wolverhampton, West Country, South Wales, Northern Ireland.


In addition, we have new stairlift offices opening in these locations soon;
Bournemouth, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne & York.
Find your local rep's telephone number now. We already have full sales and installation cover with 24 hour technical back up.
Also, we have full representative cover, continual stairlift installations, and 24- hour technical back up in these locations -

Aberdeen, Basildon, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley, Bradford, Brighton, Bury, Cambridge, Cardiff, Colchester, Coventry, Crawley, Derby, Dudley, Dundee, Eastbourne, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gizmoville, Gloucester, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Hull, Keighley, Lancaster, Leicester, Llandudno, Leeds, Leicester, Luton, Morecambe, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newport, Northampton, Norwich, Oldbury, Oldham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Rotherham, Sheffield, Slough, Southampton, Southend on Sea, St Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Swindon, Watford, Warrington, West Bromwich and Woking.


Finalmente, para los que hablan espanol, y estan buscando una silla salvaescaleras - vea estoCall Freephone 0800 007 6959 to speak to your local 'anti-spam' rep ! - and finally (for now) - isn't it nice when people go out if their way to say 'thank you' instead of the normal instinct to just moan when things don't go well - see what we mean here .. http://bit.ly/bHBGrw and here - http://bit.ly/auATK7

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Stairlifts in Staffordshire - or Aeroplanes in Spain. Which take longest to fix?








Many modern gadgets have lights on them to warn you something is wrong - or about to go wrong. Usually such a diagnostic display, as it is known, will tell you exactly what there is to sort out. We have gone a long way since a dock leaf from the side of the road was employed to wipe the oil dipstick. That metal stick, then told us, or told our parents/grandparents - that there was no oil in the car! Maybe that is why it broke down. So then the oil light evolved. Then, with a few inventions in between - came the modern DC (battery operated) STAIRLIFT - and what a delight for companies like us when someone calls us to say the lift has packed up. A number between 1 -12 is flashing, or maybe a certain letter. We know from this, if it has been accidentally switched off - or the batteries have flagged (unusual, but now and again it happens) or various other things usually connected with the circuit board. This magical circuit board is the brains of the chairlift. If it has caused a problem then the remedy is simple - a new circuit board. If a call out is necessary - we are all ready for it - quick, simple and soon the lift is back in action.

(Habla espanol? - tecla aqui)

So what's this about aeroplanes? When buying a stairlift, it's normal to find out about the firm's reputation, the quality of the products and above all the technical back up if things go wrong. Imagine when booking a flight or checking in at the airport we asked those questions... well, that's just not on. Because things can't seriously go wrong. Really? Just read this -

Monarch Airlines flight ZB 626 Manchester – Lanzarote - 2/02/2010.
On board - 5 stewardesses, 2 pilots, approx. 188 holidaymakers and a working (more or less) stairlifts company proprietor from Newcastle under Lyme.


Half an hour from arrival I wondered why I had for years preferred routes via Madrid to visit our offices in the Canaries. After all, the trip was taking under four hours, I had an extra legroom seat, a meal that was OK and I was looked after by professional staff – then, sadly... it was problem time. No, the wine hadn't run out.



The pilot calmly announced that poor visibility would mean a trip around the island, getting us there 15 minutes late at 12.15 pm. No big deal, but I noticed sometime after a quarter past twelve that we had swerved away and heading for the adjoining island of Fuertaventura. A still calm voice from the cabin was heard again but with slightly more disturbing facts. The flaps had failed to open meaning, whilst the aircraft was ‘capable of landing without them - we needed a longer runway’ and that was to be found on the neighbouring island 15 minutes away. Then there was a ‘But.’ And the blood pressure went up. We were going to have a landing ‘faster than normal' and added that 'the fire engines would be there as a precaution.’ When he announced that we were to pay attention to instructions from the crew - it rang to me of something different, not experienced in 40 years of regular flying – an emergency landing. The cabin staff girls put on smiles a little exaggerated – I suspect that is practised in their training. The one who joined me in her jump seat in the emergency exit couldn’t smile for long. An eerie silence throughout the plane contrasted a previous holiday type buzz. Eyes were closed everywhere and couples squeezed each other's hands - even those who hadn't done so for years.

We hit the tarmac fast. How fast, I did not realise until later. Brakes screamed and the aircraft went, at speed, what seemed an awful long way on the ground – overstepping onto what was clearly not normally used tarmac - therefore a section littered with debris. Debris which may have included dust, small pebbles or building blocks, I don’t know – but the noise was frightening – with the sound maybe like that of a machine gun attacking the underside of the plane. I kept looking at the adjoining emergency exit door. For the first time in my life I read its opening instructions. Is there a turbo stairlift the other side to make a descent? If not, there’s no time to do a quote. Brakes were rammed on and golly they were loud – and everyone wished and hoped they were good ones. We eventually stopped with fire engines on both sides chasing us. Thankfully, they didn’t need their foam or water. Any stairlift in situ the other side of my exit door would have remained idle.

An apology came from the pilot amongst a ripple of applause from all, and he told us we had landed 'at 170 knots' – but the inconvenience suffered was better that ending up, he said casually ‘in the sea at Lanzarote.’ He then – or it may have been his co-pilot, told me at the departure steps whilst he proudly saw us off – that 170 knots meant we had landed at 200 mph! – against what would normally have been 40 - 50 mph.

We all waited for some three hours in the transit terminal without news, and then suddenly the departure of our aircraft to Lanzarote was announced. I happened to know by talking Spanish to various airport staff earlier that a local engineer had checked the aircraft flaps within 20 minutes of us arriving, and all appeared OK – a fact that supports what I think to be the next and most startling part of my tale.

We boarded and took off again – scheduled to arrive at Lanzarote within 15 minutes at about, I think, 5.30pm. Then the impossible happened. Virtually over our intended destination island, the now almost standardised tone of apology came back over the loudspeaker.... and guess what? Those flaps yet again, would not open – so 'we were going back to Fuertaventura.' The pilot said he had done his best but apparently the fault could not be simulated on the tarmac after the first emergency landing, so the reason for the problem was not clear. He surmised that it might have been that the flaps worked on the ground but not with the full weight of people on board.

So what had been a novelty of a first time bullet-style landing was to be repeated. All heads shook in disbelief. Only sober and mature Brits could absorb such drama without audible passion.
Once again, the debris, the fire engines, closed eyes etc – but this time it was made worse by the incredible repetition of what should have been a once (or never) in a lifetime experience. So it was buses again to the terminal – and an indefinite wait for more instructions. The uniformed Monarch official again saw us off the plane – but this time with a glaze this time of embarrassment rather than pride.

Now, it’s question time – and I have emailed the MD of Monarch, Mr Tim Jeans, as I’d be grateful of a response by someone in authority at the Airline. The answer if I get one, may deter me from doing what some contacts of mine who work in the aviation industry want me to do here in Spain – and that is file an official complaint to the Guardia Civil, who will alongside other authorities investigate possible negligence, unnecessary risks to passengers in an aircraft by possible irresponsible flying practices - or inept technical services on the ground. Someone gave authority for that aircraft to take off again – only to suffer a second emergency landing the same afternoon.

So, to sum up, an aircraft is diverted and grounded due to an essential item mal-functioning. Then the reason for flap failure is unknown and not discovered. A fact later admitted by the pilot to passengers. In non-airline speak - ‘an intermittent fault’. The same aircraft takes off – the same happens and a further emergency landed is deployed – putting some 200 passengers again, in my opinion, at risk.

WHY SHOULD THIS BE ALLOWED? If a faulty aircraft does not have its fault diagnosed and remedied, should it not be immediately grounded? It’s OK using an old STAIRLIFT if it keeps packing up and a retired and out of touch engineer can’t find the fault – but surely not a passenger airline!!



On a lesser note, yet still an important issue; can Monarch please explain why the passengers on this scheduled flight, not charter, who suffered a delay of his magnitude (original arrival time 12pm) were not offered free refreshments?


When I left this fracas at 6pm and continued my journey to Lanzarote by taxi and boat, no one, not even children had been offered as much as a glass of water. What happened after 6 pm I have no idea – maybe the nightmare continued until the following day.

It would be interesting to know if this aircraft – an Airbus 321 (registration G-OZBN) built in 1999, and flying, according to the Spanish press, since 17th December of that year, has had previous similar problems.

Over to you Mr Jeans.

Update - 2 weeks on, no reply to the email, so a recorded letter- (snail-mail style) has gone off to Monarch. Perhaps Mr Jeans is on leave in the Canaries.
Watch this space.Update - 2 months on, no reply from anyone at perhaps they are all too busy fixing flaps. We asure Mr Jeans and his executive colleauges - that a certain stairlifts company fom Staffordshire doesn't hold grudges. If if anyone of them have a chair lift from us, whether they live in Stafordshire, Cheshire, Manchester or anywhere in England - and it breaks down - we'll offer them our usual prompt service!

Meanwhile - it seems that Ryanair have upset yet folk again- on the same Canaries route, a few passengers. - see their latest PR disaster