ON Wednesday, September 4, I opened the first page of the Guardian to see the article 'Centre of Discontent' by Chris Reed. I am the manager of Wilkinson Home and Garden Stores, and have been at the Winsford shop in the Shopping Centre for some 16 months
A MARRIAGE counselling service which has advised couples for 50 years is looking for male counsellors in the Vale Royal area. Marriage Care - formerly Catholic Marriage Advisory Council - needs practising Christians, preferably married for five years,
A CROWD of thousands lined Winsford's streets last Saturday as the town's biggest carnival yet took to the road. A procession of more than a dozen floats wound its way around Winsford from Woodford Lodge High School to the Verdin Playing Field where a
A WINSFORD factory has become a centre for National Vocational Qualification training. Three workers at LINPAC Mouldings - which makes plastic injection moulds - were awarded NVQ certificates last week. The certificates mean Chris Done, Wayne Hatton and
WINSFORD United officials were said to be 'very pleased' after a good result against much-fancied Hyde United writes Jason Grimsley. The blues managed a no-score draw against the team who are favourites to win the Unibond Premier League. But a mixed week
A FORMER special constable blinded in an air-rifle attack took her latest step on the road to recovery when she married her sweetheart on Saturday. The attack on Sarah Barcoe two years ago cost her the sight in one eye and her dream of becoming a full-time
DOCTORS in Winsford are giving way to potentially violent drug addicts who demand more supplies. They are forced to back down to threats from desperate users for fear of being attacked if they do not hand over what their patients want. That was the shock
DOZENS of runners took to the streets to take part in the Brunner Mond Northwich Guardian Fun Run on Saturday. Pensioners, men, women, mums pushing prams and children, one just two years old, lined up alongside top quality runners to walk, jog and run
CHURCH leaders gathered this week to finalise preparations for the biggest Christian outreach event in Northwich this century. After three years of planning Challenge 96 will be launched next month at Hartford Parish Church when representatives of 30
DRUM loving percussion duo Off The Beaten Track bring an impressive variety of instruments to Northwich this week. Patricia Allardyce and Sarah Wood, both graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music, will perform the first of a series concerts to
AUTHOR and poetess Joan Millington from Comberbach has received three more commendations to add to her collection. The prolific writer from Senna Lane estimates that she has had something in the region of 150 poems published along with numerous children's
CLASSICS from the likes of Samuel Beckett and Tchaikovsky sit side-by-side in the coming Autumn season of entertainment from the DAN arts organisation. A concert from South Cheshire Orchestra makes up an exciting new series of music at Mid Cheshire College
A NORTHWICH company has been given a cash award by the DTI to help it develop a new scientific invention. Analytical Precision Ltd, which operates out of Gadbrook Park, is one of only four Cheshire companies to be given funding in the 1996 SMART awards
CAMBRIDGE Research Biochemicals (CRB), based at Gadbrook Park, Northwich, has opened a new facility to carry out a synthetic DNA research programme. The project will be dedicated to the identification of generic methods for the production of DNA medicines
NORTHWICH Victoria could make Non-League history by naming a current international player in their line-up. Centre back Walter Manda flew in to Britain over the weekend for a one week trial and could make his competitive Vics debut in the reserve team
ENTERPRISING would-be journalist Andrew Simpson has shown he has what it takes to reach the top. The Barnton teenager reached the final five nationwide in a competition run by Radio Times and BBC's Newsround. Andrew, aged 14, of Townfield Road joined
BOATING bride, Elaine Plumridge (n ee Robinson), floated to her wedding in style and made her big day dream come true on Saturday. Elaine, aged 29, was married at the Friendly Floatel after being ferried to the ceremony with her father Stan Robinson.
LIKE MANY sons Michael Oakes was happy to follow in his father's footsteps. But unlike most 22-year-olds from Davenham Michael's dad is former professional footballer Alan Oakes, the man who played more games for Manchester City than anyone else. And
Every meadow immaculately harvested. The field gates left triumphantly open to reveal the trim golden stubble. Late into the evening tractors bringing home the last of the corn and hay. The farmers have faced this heart-breaking year for their beautiful
Most people on the estate whom I have spoken to say the same. I believe the estate was named after a councillor and if so, I think we owe him or his family our commiserations for any upset by lack of thought by the council in the first place. I think
For he bred a successful new variety of rose in his first year of professional breeding. "Rose breeding is hit or miss," he said. "We later had some unproductive years and if I had not had that success straightaway I could have lost interest very quickly
But little was left of the Fuhrer's holiday home in Berchtesgaden after bomb aimer George Clark and his RAF colleagues had finished. "It was flattened," said George, still known to many by his service nickname Nobby. "And I've been told you can still
By day he wined and dined with the town's toffs. "He hunted with them, went to their country homes and attended the big events," said local historian Joan Leach. But by night he would ride his horse to the homes where he'd been a welcome guest - and steal
But her first close encounter with the game came literally out of the blue. "I was sitting in the back garden with my two daughters when a golf ball came flying over the hedge and hit me on the forehead," she said. "A golfer had mis-hit and we were in
Roy Harrison has BANNED councillors from referring to the chairman of a committee meeting as a chair. "Whether it's a lady or gentleman in charge of the meeting, chairman is the appropriate address," he said on Monday. The Conservative councillor, who
The Oriana String Quartet will be playing a varied programme including works by Puccini, Mozart, Scott Joplin and Henry Mancini. Tickets for Classics to Palm Court on Sunday October 6 at 7.30pm cost £12 and are available from Ken Palk in Canute Place.
The popular Wood Weekend is organised by Tatton's award winning Forestry Team, headed by Brian Goulden. "We hope there will be up to 60 stands and demonstration areas both indoors and outside. This will be a reflection of the growth in interest and regional
But they were not to be daunted and opened their account in fantastic style on Saturday. With the more senior of Knutsford's players strategically placed in the back line, the home side had a sound base from which to launch their assault. Knutsford didn't
Fortunately Cuddington missed an early penalty and lacked the finishing for their chances. After soaking up the pressure, Peover began to get into their stride. The best chance fell to Rob Gallimore, who volleyed from close range but saw it pushed over
Councillors feared approving the scheme - proposed by Manchester Airport - could imply they were not against the second runway. The airport plans to divert part of the river near Castle Hill Farm as part of a package of environmental measures to mitigate
Leisure chiefs say subject to budget approval next year, the cash will be available for league-standard senior and junior pitches plus changing rooms and parking. Councillor Bill Davies was delighted at the news. "We are providing a facility for the future
THE CHESHIRE branch of CPRE is to award a plaque, with certificates for runners-up, in recognition of farmers and landowners who, in their judgement have shown the most merit in 1996 for the selection and maintenance of their hedgerows and hedgerow trees
WINSFORD adventurer Amy Lithgow is preparing to embark on a year's teaching career in Africa. The 17-year-old student, of Carisbrook Drive, Winsford, will be working in an SOS village for orphaned children in a rural area of Zimbabwe. She will jet out
A DEVELOPER has pulled the plug on plans to build a massive supermarket on the outskirts of Middlewich - for now! Jokaro has announced that it has withdrawn proposals for the 40,000 square foxot retail store on land north of Holmes Chapel Road. Alternative
MIDDLEWICH Athletic had a disappointing week dropping a potential five points in two games. The Robins played Maghull on Saturday and Skelmersdale the Wednesday before. They could have won both games but drew and lost instead. The week started when Athletic
MOULTON junior football teams are a hotbed of talent - as two young footballers proved this week. James Rogerson, son of youth team coach Jim, took a step towards his goal when he signed a two-year contact with Bury FC. While nine-year old Andrew Ford
WHARTON Youth Club finally opened this week - with the Duke of Westminster's help. Winsford Youth Forum has been working for the past three years to convert a derelict building on Greville Drive into a youth club. The Duke of Westminster gave £4,000 towards
A MAN who held special memories for many people who live in Northwich has died aged 91. Clarence or 'Pop' Hornby spent 30 years of his life behind the counter of his herbalist's shop and temperance bar in Witton Street where people would drop in for a
HEART transplant recipient, Keith Musgrave, knows he can never repay the debt to the medical team which saved him after he was given just eight weeks to live. But the sixty-three-year-old Hartford man, who had the operation just one week before the two
A FORMER special constable blinded in an air-rifle attack took her latest step on the road to recovery when she married her sweetheart on Saturday. The attack on Sarah Barcoe two years ago cost her the sight in one eye and her dream of becoming a full-time
Cheshire County Council has now decided there are too many vehicles on the county's roads. This is the authority which supported Manchester Airport's bid for a second runway, thereby supporting a hugely-extended road network and vastly increased traffic
SUNDAY is the traditional day of rest. Try telling that to people living near the Heath. During the summer they have had to put up with thousands of bargain hunters descending on car boot sales held on Sundays on the Heath. Drivers almost abandon their
Rosemary Dear and five other villagers, who started the classes 15 years ago, have written a history of the village from the Vikings to the Second World War. "So many of the people who live in the village weren't born and brought up here," said Mrs Dear
The special film show is part of the North West Film Archive's celebrations of 100 years of cinematography. The film will feature gems from the archive's heritage collection from across the north west followed by footage from Knutsford and the surrounding
Banning cars from King Street means taxis would have to drop off their customers some distance away. And that may make people not bother going in the first place, say some taxi bosses. Lloyd Evans, who runs Amber Cars, said clients liked to be dropped
Orders from Australia, America, Europe, South Africa and the Shetland Isles have come in for Cromwells' handmade goodies. Even Belgians have been asking for choccies from the King Street store. But owner Janet Layfield says: "It's my regular Knutsford
Matches at Albion's Oakwood Farm rarely seem to throw up a footballing feast for the purist, but in terms of endeavour, sweat and toil Knutsford deserved a share of the spoils. The game had been lacking real goalmouth incident and had all the hallmarks
On a helpful wicket, Holmes Chapel decided to bowl first restricting the visitors well, in particular Bhardwa whose variation of pace and flight bemused most batsmen. Only Sheldon's innings held things together for Knutsford, his fine strokeplay often
But Egerton's new look side, managed by Wayne Porter, responded in traditional fashion. Chris Yeadon sent a long ball to Chris Rawlings - back after nine months out with injury - who went up with the keeper and headed home. Soon after the half hour Richie
Burnage, needing a win for the Oxbridge Cheshire Competition, put Radbroke into bat on a very unpredictable surface. But some solid batting from opener Adam Locke (31) laid the foundations for the onslaught that followed. Indian all-rounder Anu Sinha
Better signs and more advertising are already in place in an effort to boost trade. And later this month the market's layout and stalls will be re-vamped in bright colours. The improvements - which will include repairs to the main entrance sign - follow
Mr Hamilton said he was determined to clear his name of allegations made in the The Guardian. The national newspaper's lawyers have subpoenaed John Major because they want him to explain his role in the sacking of former minister Mr Hamilton. They also
Macclesfield councillors are set to back the principle of closed-circuit TV - and develop a scheme with police and traders to attract government funding. Officers have outlined the authority's commitment to cameras by offering to meet the running costs
Knutsford's John Aspin, who has researched big cats in Britain for 10 years, said it was not a panther, leopard or a puma. "If it had been there would've been sheep, deer and maybe even cattle going missing," he said. He argued it was likely to be a 3ft
