Archive

  • Garden team 'adopted' by United Utilities

    A TEAM from the Prince's Trust Volunteer Programme, which is doing a "make-over" of a garden at the Children's Society Centre, Orford, has been adopted by Warrington-based United Utilities as part of a £40,000 sponsorship of eight teams in the region.

  • Site could bring 12,000 new jobs

    Shortlist of six for Omega site FIFTEEN companies have shown an interest in developing the Omega site at Burtonwood and a short list of six has been drawn up. Omega, part of the former Burtonwood Air Base, is one of the most important strategic sites

  • Bird expert appointed

    to chairman's post PROFESSOR David Norman, director of synchrotron at Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, has been appointed as acting chairman of English Nature. The organisation provides advice to the government on nature conservation and heritage. David

  • VIKINGS PREAPRE FOR BATTLE

    WIDNES Vikings are gearing up for their pre-season friendly against Whitehaven. The friendly will be played on Sunday, November 19 at the Auto Quest stadium at 1.30pm. The match which was arranged before the fixture lists came out, will coincidentally

  • Pupils are united in song in aid of GOSH

    PUPILS from High Street Primary School joined a choir of 8,000 children at the MEN arena, in Manchester, on Monday. The huge charity concert, organised by the Young World Organisation was an impressive spectacular with schools from across the North West

  • Headteacher's appeal for new road safety measures

    SCHOOL children could be in danger from the traffic on Grange Lane according to Verdin High School's headteacher. Neil Dyment wants to see improved safety after a schoolgirl was hit by a car two weeks ago and was lucky not to be seriously injured. The

  • In memory of those who gave their lives

    VETERANS and youngsters stood side by side in Middlewich on Sunday as a Remembrance Service was held. The Last Post was played and then a minute's silence was held before the wreaths were laid. The parade set off from the Royal British Legion headquarters

  • No patients without extra funds

    MIDDLEWICH is facing a potential crisis as patient lists are closing, while the population continues to grow. The Acorns Medical Centre, in Wheelock Street, had one of the fastest growing patient lists in Mid Cheshire but has now been forced to stop taking

  • Conservation workers needed

    CONSERVATION volunteers braved the wet weather to do some much needed work in the grounds of Meadowbank Lodge last week. Members of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers worked on tree planting, improvements to pathways for wheelchair users and

  • In need of a home

    A WINSFORD family are appealing for a new home for a cat found dumped on a dual carriageway. The 12-month-old cat was found in a cardboard box on Wednesday night, November 8 by the side of the road in Over. The couple who found the cat gave her to Dot

  • Appeal after theft from pensioner

    POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a man who carried out a distraction burglary at the home of an 81-year-old woman. The incident happened at 1.15pm on Friday, November 3, when the offender forced his way into the woman's home on the Grange estate

  • Pete's brewing up

    A HAPPY coincidence has seen Warrington's most famous son Pete Postlethwaite become the face of 10 year's of beer brewing in his home town. The Coach House Brewing Company were delighted when the movie super-star's cousin called out of the blue to offer

  • Family at war

    A FAMILY of history buffs are dedicating their lives to helping children learn about those who died for their country in the two World Wars. Collectors Howard and Sandra Buxton, of Risley, are ensuring that the young men who gave their lives are never

  • Second Arpley blaze

    A SECOND fire has broken out within Arpley Landfill site as another continues to burn more than a month after it first appeared. News of the fire, which is situated in another chamber in the Lapwing phase, has sparked an investigation by 3C Waste and

  • Making the headlines

    YOUNG newshounds at Penketh Primary School are making the headlines with Newspapers in Education packs. Pupils are responding positively to the activity packs and have been working hard to produce their own mock copy of the GUARDIAN. Working together

  • Opening eyes and changing young minds

    MANY of the opinions of the young people from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England have changed or been broadened since they took part in the scholarship. Talking to them also made me realise my own ignorance about the situations in their

  • PEOPLE'S CHAMPION IS REMEMBERED

    BY BERYL PATEMAN A PEOPLE'S champion has been honoured by the community he served. Borough councillor and welfare rights worker, Peter Axon, died suddenly last December. His death was described as a blow, not only for Crewe's West End, where he lived

  • Traffic chaos

    MANCHESTER Ship Canal Company received complaints from frustrated motorists who were caught up in traffic chaos after the Stockton Heath Swing Bridge became stuck for half an hour on Monday afternoon. The company were alerted to the problem after pumphouse

  • Hunt for missing woman

    POLICE are increasingly concerned about the welfare and whereabouts of Gloria Hewitt-Brown, who was last seen in Grappenhall on Sunday afternoon. Fifty-year-old Gloria requires regular medication and without this she can become confused. She is considered

  • LAMB PLANS PUT ON HOLD

    BY TOBY ROBINSON PLANS that would "drastically improve the centre of Nantwich" have been stalled over a lack of car parking facilities. Proposals to redevelop the Lamb Hotel in Hospital Street were deferred at the borough council's policy committee meeting

  • Art attack

    TOWN hall bosses planning to transform Palmyra Square into a bustling arts haven are to clash with campaigners in the High Court, the can exclusively reveal. Last week, the council was warned to prepare a legal defence of its multi million pound scheme

  • WINTER WORRIES

    BY PETE HENSHAW WARNINGS of a winter crisis at Leighton Hospital have been voiced after it was revealed that the beds situation has not improved. In September the GUARDIAN reported that Social Services patients were blocking beds at Leighton causing operations

  • School remembers

    PUPILS at St Thomas Boteler High School held a special service of remembrance in the school library for former pupils who gave their lives in the two World Wars. Students who had visited the First World War battlefields in Belgium only a few days earlier

  • Phyllis has pension power

    WHAT'S the secret of staying lively and healthy into old age? According to Phyllis Henderson, it's done by realising your "inner potential" and you don't have to be old to do it. Phyllis, 81, is an author. She also goes round the Warrington area lecturing

  • Helping the elderly age well

    AS old age begins to take a hold, one of the major issues concerning all organisations supporting the elderly is helping to keep them in their own homes, according to Maxine Grimshaw, new chief officer at Age Concern, Warrington. "I hope we are going

  • Make an older friend

    JENNY Broadhurst, who has recently been appointed development officer for the north west region of a charity called Contact the Elderly, is looking to set up a group in Warrington. One is already established in Lymm. The charity aims to alleviate the

  • The silent epidemic

    ONE in 20 people over the age of 70 are affected by Alzheimer's disease. It is also estimated that approximately three quarters of residents in long term care have some form of dementia. Often called the "silent epidemic", the illness impacts not just

  • BOOTH RETURNS TO FRAY TO FLICK IN EQUALIZER

    MENS HOCKEY Plas Coch 2 Winnington Park 2 ALTHOUGH Winnington Park's tactic of trying not to concede early goals as they did a week earlier worked, they still couldn't find the cutting edge in front of goal to force victory. And once again they fell two

  • HUW WOULD BELIEVE IT?

    HUW Jones picked up a personal haul of 42 points as Northwich RUFC Colts continued their unbeaten start to the season at home to Warrington with an emphatic 74-0 win. Jones scored six tries and kicked six conversions in a stunning individual effort, backed

  • THE FOY DONE GOOD

    Barnton 4 Rylands 1 Unibond Division One Saturday, November 11 ADAM Foy showed he intends to make the most of his first team opportunity with two goals in Barnton's 4-1 win over Rylands on Saturday. The teenager opened his account on 11 minutes when Gareth

  • AVENUE AT DEAD END

    A SEVEN goal haul by Crewe Rolls Royce's Damien McLoughlin destroyed hapless Winnington Avenue in the Crewe & District League Premier Division on Saturday. Adrian Stafford even managed to add a hat-trick as Rolls clocked up a 10-3 victory over their

  • FARMERS OFFERED SUPERMARKET STALLS

    FARMERS from Biddulph and the surrounding area are being invited to take part in new-style markets. The Somerfield supermarket in Biddulph is keen to host stalls selling local produce, but the Moorlands Council is finding it difficult to attract farmers

  • CHURCH TILE APPEAL TO RAISE THE ROOF

    BY IAN ROSS CONGLETON people are being invited to 'book' a place in history by helping to keep churchgoers nice and dry. St James' Church needs to raise £40,000 to replace part of the church's slate roof, which is leaking and in urgent need of attention

  • SCHOOL IS SHOCKED BY PUPIL'S DEATH

    HEADTEACHER David Black spoke this week of his shock at the death on Thursday of one of his pupils. Marcus Samuels, a first year pupil at Alsager School, was found hanged in the bedroom of his home in Coronation Avenue, Alsager. The 11-year-old had attended

  • JABBA AWAY!

    MANCHESTER'S club sounds are coming to Congleton next month in the shape of the latest Jabba Party. Jabba, alias market trader Paul Singh, is putting on a Christmas party night at the town hall on December 8. Paul started the monthly discos in Congleton

  • LINDA'S CHARITY SHARK SWIM

    BY IAN ROSS DAREDEVIL Linda Sandbach is to dive with dozens of sharks next Tuesday to raise money for charity. She will be scubadiving with the sharks at the Blue Planet Aquarium at Ellesmere Port to raise money for the David Lewis Centre. Linda is a

  • CAB IS NOW AT FULL STRENGTH

    NANTWICH Citizens Advice Bureau is under new management and back to full strength. Wendy Tozer, previously manager of Crewe, has now been appointed district manager of both bureaux. Short of advisors with irregular opening hours, Wendy has transformed

  • HOSPITAL WILL GET HELP TO CUT CRIME

    STAFF AND Patients at Leighton hospital are to benefit from a crime-busting initiative. The Crewe Crime Prevention Panel is to visit the hospital to promote the issue to every staff member, patient and even visitors. Exhibitions take place at the hospital

  • CATCH OF THE DAY - LES LANDS TITLE

    BY TOBY ROBINSON COD you believe it! Crewe has the best fish and chips in Britain. Les's Fish Bar, based in Victoria Street, battered all competition to land the prestigious title of Fish and Chip Shop of the Year 2000. One of eight regional winners out

  • X-RAY MACHINE WILL MAKE SERVICE MORE PATIENT-FRIENDLY

    THE brand new X-ray suite has just been opened at Leighton following a quarter of a million pounds spendout. The room is based in the Medical Imaging Department at the hospital and was opened by Chief Executive Simon Yates. It contains a new machine called

  • Take a leaf out of their book

    BUSY bookworms from Whitegate Primary School have been presented with a set of Heinemann's Big Books after they made a special family tree. Cheshire County Council Chairman David Newton was so impressed with the life-like, 3D tree, he awarded the youngsters

  • Martin Bell MP in bomb drama

    TATTON MP Martin Bell was among a number of dignitaries evacuated from Chester Cathedral, last Saturday - after a bomb alert. The whole city was brought to a standstill as sniffer dogs were sent into the 900-year-old building. The drama began on Saturday

  • BIGGEST TENCH

    THE Trent and Mersey Canal is not at its best but Saltersford basin is producing plenty of roach in the 5 to 6oz range on the tip and red maggot. Large perch to 2lbs reported from Acton Bridge on worm. Decent perch also showing up in match catches from

  • WELCOMER RETURN

    Latchford Alb...40 West Bank...4 PLAYING their first game for three weeks Albion produced good rugby to beat a plucky Widnes team on Saturday. Early pressure saw Fowler score and with Mellor adding the goal it was just the start they wanted. This was

  • ROVERS LOSE ON HUMBERSIDE

    Skirlaugh...18 Woolston Rovrs...14 A disappointing performance from Rovers saw their winning run in the National Conference League Premier Division end. An inability to control the ball proved costly as they failed to complete a set of six in the first

  • SEASON TICKET DEAL FOR PENSIONERS

    PENSIONERS will qualify for a new Wolves Super League VI shirt at half price when purchasing their ground or Brian Bevan stand season ticket before the deadline of December 1, 2000. The club was criticised during last year's highly successful season ticket

  • CAMPION THE WONDER HORSE!

    WOLVES' back row forward Kevin Campion will remember the World Cup for the number of friends he has made. There was an emotional end to the campaign for 29-year-old workhorse Campo and the Irish squad as they lost their first game from four outings to

  • HUNTE GIVES UNION A TRY

    FORMER international Alan Hunte will play on the wing for Rugby Union side Pontypridd against Swansea on Saturday. The friendly clash will be his first game with the south Wales club after they agreed a loan deal with Warrington Wolves this week. It leaves

  • TRIT-ON THE UP

    TRITON hockey club mens 1st X1 scored a 3-2 victory over Prescot on Saturday to lift them to seventh in the Division One table. Mark Bastock put Triton ahead on nine minutes, converting a penalty flick after he had been tripped in the area. The home side

  • ALLISON'S HEROICS NOT ENOUGH

    CONGLETON Town keeper Micky Allison produced a string of excellent stops for his rock bottom side on Saturday. However his top class display was not enough to stop the Bears sliding to defeat against top three side Ashton United. Congleton went down 1

  • Going west!

    INTERNET company Vistorm, of Stockport, will create new jobs in Warrington when it moves into Daresbury Park next year. The company has signed a 25 year lease for premises and is expanding in three locations, Warrington, Oxford and London. Vistorm has

  • Delegation on a mission

    THE latest "Business Connections" event at the International Business Centre, Warrington, is a visit from a delegation from Slovakia. The trade mission representatives aim to make contact with businesses and organisations interested in trading in the

  • Tributes flood in for brave Joan

    COLLEAGUES have paid tribute to Joan Massey, who died at the weekend after a battle against leukaemia. Joan, aged 35, was an editorial assistant at the Warrington GUARDIAN for more than 11 years. She had been ill since March and had only recently returned

  • Lest we forget

    PROUD and tall they stood silently - to remember those who did not return from war. Young and old stood side by side on an overcast Sunday morning as the Remembrance Service was held and the Last Post was played. At Winsford the parade assembled on the

  • Chips are down but not out

    THE Middlewich Microchips Project will go ahead despite a National Lottery snub that has left the charity £2,000 out of pocket. The plan for a community internet cafe received a hefty setback last week when a Lottery bid in the region of £500,000 was

  • Meet the birdman

    HIGH-FLIER Andrew Ward never gets into a flap, thanks to the stress-busting hobby he shares with David Beckham! The manager of Warrington's Golden Square shopping centre took up the ancient sport of falconry after hearing that business people found it

  • Town housing plans

    AN AMBITIOUS scheme to boost town centre housing has been given the green light by town planners. Bulldozers are poised to move in on the former Royal Mail sorting office building in Palmyra Square, converting the site to a five-storey block containing

  • Slicker police control room

    QUICKER responses to emergency police calls could soon be on the cards for residents in Warrington if a new scheme to merge the control room with Halton is a success. In 12 months' time, Warrington's control room will handle calls from both boroughs,

  • Lost legal fight has cost club official £33,000

    A SEVEN-month stint as a social club secretary has left George Robinson bankrupt and cashing in his life's savings to survive. Mr Robinson, aged 51, of Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey, was held liable for club debts of £17,500 after employees at the doomed

  • Dreams become reality at town's peace centre

    DANCE, drama, photography and seminars inspired a weekend of conflict resolution and marked the culmination of Wendy and Colin Parry's dream for the peace centre. The Tim Parry Scholarship, which has formerly taken place in the Republic of Ireland and

  • Cracking the mirror riddle

    PUZZLED police in Warrington are reflecting on a tricky problem how to trace the owner of an ornate mirror which has come into their possession. The mirror was among a batch of property recovered by Warrington detectives, and they are anxious to return

  • 800 factory workers face uncertain future

    HUNDREDS of workers at a Warrington factory could face an uncertain future following news of a possible takeover at Hazelwood foods. Bosses at the Woolston factory announced that they had received an offer from Irish food company Greencore of £258 million

  • LIGHTING UP THE TOWN

    NANTWICH is about to be 'turned on' by glamorous star of the Lyceum panto, Emma Steadman! The Price is Right girl will be switching on the town's Christmas lights on Saturday, November 25. Although a little later than usual, the festive brightener is

  • Jury convicts brutal lover

    A WARRINGTON man has been found guilty on charges of raping, assaulting and falsely imprisoning his girlfriend of two years. During a four day trial at Warrington Crown Court, a jury heard how the man, who cannot be named for fear of identifying his victim

  • VICTIMS NAMED AT REMEMBRANCE

    BY BEYRL PATEMAN YOUNG people were at the heart of Nantwich's tribute to its war victims. Twelve members of youth organisations read out every name on the town's cenotaph. It was the first time for many years that such a roll-call had been made at the

  • EMOTIVE OCCASION

    BY BERYL PATEMAN RELATIVES of 12 war victims whose names have recently been added to Crewe's memorial joined Sunday's Remembrance Service on the Square. "Their presence made it a very emotive occasion. They were delighted that their loved ones had been

  • Padgate popstress takes on Kerry

    SHARPEN those nails, kittens the claws are out! Kerry Catona's teen rival is set to take the pop world by storm, single-handedly. Star-struck Padgate teenager Michelle McManus took on Kerry in classroom feuds at high school and now she's hoping to knock

  • Thelwall remembers

    HUNDREDS of residents in Thelwall and Grappenhall packed St Wilfrid's Church to the rafters to remember the men who died in the two World Wars on Sunday. Residents young and old from both villages congregated at the British Legion on Stockport Road to

  • OWL'S ABOUT THAT THEN?

    IN the first leg of the qualifying round of the Northwich & District Pool League team knockout, Barn Owl A reversed last week's league result against the B side, winning 6-1. Also taking a comfortable lead into their second leg are first division

  • Chester just too good

    LADIES HOCKEY WINNINGTON Ladies suffered a thrashing against a Chester side who look groomed for promotion to the National League. Park were never in serious contention against the top placed side, whose movement off the ball and well-rehearsed set moves

  • MICK BEATS OFF THE FLOODS TO NET FINE VICTORY

    ONLY ounces separated competitors as squatt and punch dominated catches in Barnton & Frodsham Angling Club's 3rd round match in the Brown Cup series which used the Hole House Lane stretch of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Little Leigh as its venue

  • BACK IN THE RUNNING

    HARTFORD has been chosen as the venue for the 2001 Cheshire Cross Country Championships. Around 500 athletes are set to take part in the race on Sunday, January 7, which is a qualifying event for the English Inter Counties Championships. It will be the

  • HYDE AWAY

    Vics 1 Hyde United 2 UniBond Cheshire Senior Cup Tuesday, November 14 NORTHWICH manager Keith Alexander played a completely different 11 to the side who won at Kettering on Saturday - but he won't have been too impressed with the players he hadn't seen

  • NEW UNITS COULD BRING 50 JOBS

    NEW business units being created on a venture park could create up to 50 new jobs, it was claimed this week. Imex Spaces, the managed workspace division of Mentmore Abbey, acquired Radway Green Venture Park earlier this year in a deal worth more than

  • AMANDA'S PUB IS A HIGH STREET OASIS

    BY IAN ROSS PUB landlady Amanda Roberts has received an award and £500 cheque to mark her success in a national floral contest. Amanda runs the White Lion in Congleton High Street, and won the gardens and patio section of the national Pubs in Bloom competition

  • RESIDENTS UNITE TO HALT PUB LICENCE BID

    BY IAN ROSS RESIDENTS have banded together to oppose an entertainments licence bid by the landlord at a nearby pub. Eight people living in Brown Lees Road, Biddulph, have signed a petition against the licence move at The Gardeners Arms. They say music

  • SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED AFTER SHORT INVESTIGATION

    BY IAN ROSS COUNCILLORS are to attend a special meeting to discuss a report into allegations against their leader and her husband. Linda and Malcolm Short face allegations that they breached national codes of conduct for members. The allegations are being

  • PLANS FOR 100 NEW HOUSES AT BIDDULPH

    BY IAN ROSS ALMOST 100 new homes are earmarked for Biddulph under plans to redevelop land south of the town centre. The site covers 3.8 hectares between Tunstall Road and the disused railway line, now the Biddulph Valley Way. Most of the land is allocated

  • MANHUNT LAUNCHED FOR SEX ATTACKER

    DETECTIVES are appealing for the public's help in catching a sex attacker who assaulted a teenage girl late at night. Police say the 18-year-old was subjected to a 'serious sexual assault' as she was walking home through the centre of Biddulph. The young

  • VIOLENCE ON THE STREET

    BY IAN ROSS DETECTIVES are keen to contact a group of women believed to have witnessed an unprovoked late-night attack. Two Congleton friends in their early 30s were injured when they were set upon by a group of youths on Friday night. One of the men

  • TOP PINTS

    PUB tenant Jim Anchors caught the eye of competition judges with the spotless condition of his beer cellar. Mr Anchors is the tenant of The Moss Inn, Canal Road, Congleton, which has won a place in the final round of a contest for this year's best kept

  • "OFF WITH THEIR HAIR" AT THE QUEEN'S HEAD

    FOUR pub regulars are due to sacrifice their precious locks tonight in aid of Children of Need. The event is part of a series of fund-raisers being staged at the Queen's Head Hotel in Congleton to support the national charity. Talkative landlord Tony

  • WAITING LISTS CUT

    BY PETE HENSHAW WAITING lists at Leighton Hospital have fallen over the last year. Figures released by the National Health Services North West Executive show that inroads have been made into the total number of people waiting for one-day operations. The

  • Cows stampede through town? Pull the udder one!

    HOOVED have believed it? We've an-udderly amoosing tail to tell you. Have you herd about the 20 cows who stampeded through Northwich town centre - and they didn't even have time to stop for a Mcdonalds. Drinkers at the Beehive pub scratched their heads

  • TIP OF THE WEEK

    PROSPECTS have only improved a little for Lymm Angling Club anglers since last week. Village Pool has produced some brilliant bags of fish with no reports of any blanks. Skimmers, roach, perch and carp have all obliged anglers and have made this little

  • JUNIOR AND YOUTH RUGBY LEAGUE

    Woolston Rovers u7...32 Portico u7...32 WOOLSTON put in an excellent display. Try scorers were player of the match Denis Dinizilitmis, three, Natman Pemberton, two, Michael Speakman, two, Jade Fieldhouse, Tom Corroboy. Rylands u8...36 Crosfields u8...8

  • TRIUMPHANT AT LAST

    Dalton...14 Rylands...20 AT last Rylands have won a match this season after only losing by a few points or being unlucky in previous games. The team gelled and it was difficult to find a man of the match as all players gave 100 per cent. Peter Leonard

  • MECHANICS THROW SPANNER IN WORKS

    Blackpool Mechs...2 Tetley Walker...1 A whirlwind start by Blackpool Mechanics caught Tetley cold at a wet and windy Jepson Way as they missed the chance to leap-frog their hosts and claim second place in North West Counties League Division Two. The home

  • TICKLE RUES MISSED CHANCES

    Warrington Town...0 Fleetwood Free...3 THE scoreline gives the impression that this FA Vase Second Round tie at Cantilever Park was a one-sided contest which was not the case. After a five match lay-off Warrington saw their brave bid to force extra time

  • BUSBY AND BRIERS FACE AUSSIES

    AFTER overcoming a groin strain last week to help his country through to the semi-finals Dean Busby now faces a battle to overcome a knee injury which threatens to rule him out of the biggest game of his career. Busby was again tireless in attack and

  • WOLVES HOOK INTO GEORGALLIS

    By MIKE PARSONS EXPERIENCED Steve Georgallis will almost certainly be Warrington Wolves' hooker for the start of the 2001 season. The Wolves have signed the Wests-Tigers utility player on a one-year contract, subject to work permit clearance, and he is

  • CONGLETON'S FALSE START

    CONGLETON'S rugby men were never in the running on Saturday as they went down 22-0 at Ruskin Park. Both sides were on the same points total before the league match, although on paper Congleton looked to have the edge. Ruskin piled into their opponents

  • BROTHERTON ON SONG FOR ALSAGER

    TWO goals from Wayne Brotherton sent Alsager on their way to a battling 3-2 victory on Saturday. Alsager led 2-0 for 50 minutes of their home league match, against Formby, which produced three goals in 14 minutes. Formby made it 3-2 with 26 minutes to

  • VICS SUFFER DRAMATIC DEFEAT

    PELSALL Villas rocked Knypersley Vics with two last-gasp goals on Saturday to earn a dramatic 3-2 victory. The Vics took a first half lead in their home league match, only to be pegged back on 65 minutes. They regained the initiative with a second goal