Archive

  • FIVE GO INTO LABOUR

    LABOUR added five new councillors to its overwhelming majority this week - defeating the rebel new breakaway party. However, it was a close result in Palacefields, with Labour's Alan Lowe getting home just 21 votes ahead of sitting Cllr Mike Gelling,

  • CARNIVAL FUND-RAISERS AIM TO BOOST SUPPORT

    WINSFORD town carnival organisers are holding a series of fund-raising events and meetings in the forthcoming weeks. The events and meetings will help support this year's carnival on Saturday, July 10, and ensure a full day's entertainment. Fund-raisers

  • SUPERDAD JIM IS NEW TOWN MAYOR

    SUPERDAD Jim Hughes has been sworn in as Winsford's new mayor. Town Clr Hughes, 61, who has five daughters has chosen local organisations the Neuro Muscular Centre at Woodford Lodge School and Winsford and Middlewich Sea Cadets as his mayoral charities

  • REFUSAL TO AWARD LOTTERY FUNDING SLAMMED

    A WINSFORD councillor has slammed lottery administrators who turned down a school's bid for cash. Woodford Lodge in Winsford spent months working with the borough and county councils on an application for £700,000 towards a centre of sporting excellence

  • DENISE WILL BE JUMPING FOR JOY - AND CHARITY

    THE mum of a teenage cancer victim hopes big-hearted Guardian readers will help her raise cash for the hospital which treated him. Denise Bradley, 39, of Wharton Gardens, Winsford, was devastated earlier this year when son Chris, 15, was diagnosed with

  • TV STARDOM BECKONS FOR ACTRESS CLARE

    A WINSFORD actress is on the threshold of super-stardom as she comes back to her roots to star at Crewe's Lyceum Theatre. Clare Calbraith's television credits include Casualty and Silent Night, and now she is treading the boards with The English Touring

  • DOG SUFFERED 'CAT SCRATCH' FEVER AFTER KILLING PET

    A SHOCKED pet owner's dog caught an infection after it killed a cat in Northwich. Rags the cat, which belonged to Greg, 52, and Jan Bartlett, 36, of Chester Road, suffered a broken back after it was mauled to death in the couple's back garden. But days

  • GIRL, 8, INJURED AFTER FALLING FROM FUN FAIR RIDE

    A HEALTH and Safety investigation has been launched after a little girl was seriously injured when she was thrown from a fairground ride on Saturday afternoon. The eight-year-old hit her head on a post as she fell from one of the spinning carriages of

  • FARMER SURVIVES AFTER MASSIVE 11,000-VOLT SHOCK

    A 30-YEAR-OLD farmer has miraculously survived an ll,000 volt electric shock from an overhead power cable. Stephen Wilkinson suffered severe burns to his hands, arms, legs and feet, after equipment attached to his tractor touched the cable and sent a

  • Knutsford Bowling League Knock-Out Results

    Golden Pheasant B 202 - Victory Hall B 125, Railway A 171 - Railway C 144, Wilmslow RBL B 168 - Knutsford Cons A 109, Grappenhall 168 - NFU 142, Victory Hall A 182 - Church Inn B 124, Knutsford Private A 165 - Union C 142. First Round - Revised Draw Golden

  • Knutsford Bowling League Fixtures

    Week 4 DIVISION ONE: Wednesday May 3 Crosstown A 135 v Legh Arms A 138; Drum & Monkey 165 v Alderley Union A 121; Good Companions A 151 v Wilmslow RBL A 125; Grappenhall 164 v ASE 124; Jolly Thresher A 154 v Swettenham A 130; Railway A 146 v Knutsford

  • BEARS' BOSS SEES RED AS KEEPER ALLISON IS SENT OFF

    CONGLETON Town boss Glyn Chamberlain was left fuming on Saturday by a controversial refereeing decision which swung the match. Chamberlain saw red when keeper Micky Allison was sent off after 13 minutes of Congleton's league clash at Farsley Celtic. The

  • DECADE OF SUCCESS RAISES £400,000

    CHARITY shop volunteers have won praise for their efforts in raising £400,000 in just 10 years. The money has been raised by the Cancer Research Campaign shop in Congleton High Street since opening in 1990. Staff and volunteers will be celebrating the

  • CUP CRASH

    NANTWICH Town suffered a disappointing end to the season with a 3-0 defeat in their cup clash at Witton on Friday. The Dabbers dominated the mid-cheshire senior cup final for long spells but failed to find the net and paid for it. Dave Anane gave Witton

  • SOUTH CHESHIRE MIDWEEK ACTION

    LAST year's cup winners, Crewe, started their midweek league campaign with a win against Cholmondeley. Despite some early pressure from the Cholmondeley bowling attack, which resulted in 4 wickets, Milne (70) steered the home side to victory in the nineteenth

  • BLYTHE SPIRIT SEES OFF WESTON ATTACK

    Blythe promised to be formidable opponents for a Weston side looking to win their first match of the 2000 season. Blythe were asked to bat first and after opener Grimley was superbly run out after only 7 balls, Weston were in high spirits. However, inspired

  • BAND IS INVITED TO PLAY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

    THE award-winning Fodens Courtois Band has been invited to play at Buckingham Palace. The band, which originated in Sandbach, became National Champions after taking the Royal Albert Hall by storm last October. To celebrate the year 2000, the band's centenary

  • COMPANY IS LEFT TO FOOT THE BILL OF TRAVELLERS' DAMAGE

    UNWANTED visitors have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a distribution depot in Crewe. The travellers moved into the car park at the Bargain Booze depot in Weston Lane on the Crewe Gates Industrial Park two weeks ago and refused to move on

  • LABOUR HOLDS ONTO POWER IN BOROUGH ELECTIONS

    The Labour party clung on to its slender majority of two in last week's local elections, bucking the national trend by holding all eight of its contested seats. The Tories also retained their seven seats up for grabs and made the only gain, at Bunbury

  • SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR NEW ARRIVAL

    Most good neighbours are happy to deal with unexpected deliveries next door. But when that delivery is the birth of a baby few would be likely to cope. Luckily for Haslington mum-to-be Grainne Rowlands of St Matthew's Close, her friend next door is midwife

  • CREWE ALEX FIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS TO CLINCH SURVIVAL

    More than 2,000 supporters cheered Crewe Alexandra on to a fantastic 2-0 victory at Barnsley on Sunday. The win guarantees the club a fourth successive season of First Division football. Local lad, Rob Hulse, scored a sensational winner, proving that

  • SLIMLINE TONIC

    A WIDNES slimmer who was given a New Deal grant to lose weight has managed to shed 14 stone in just one year. Amanda Saxon is understood to be the first person ever to receive a slimming grant, and her efforts were recognised by Employment Minister Tessa

  • PUPILS IN TUNE

    BANKFIELD School choir made its public debut to rapturous applause after it was invited to take part in a music festival at Walton Hall, Warrington. "People really enjoyed it," said music teacher Miss Philippou. "The room was packed out. Walton Hall is

  • BOWLED OVER

    Widnes Recreation Cricket Club THE Rec's 1st XI played their first full game, after the first two were the victims of the inclement weather of the past weeks. Culcheth won the toss and elected to bat. The Rec's fielders and bowlers toiled in the hot conditions

  • JUNIOR RUGBY

    Widnes RUFC u10 Moseley FC Festival AGAIN a slow start cost the Wids Kids any chance of silverware. Losing the first two matches cost them dear. Moseley ran out winners 15-0 then totally against the run of play, St Mary's snatched two tries to win 10-

  • POLECATS VICTORY

    Halton Polecats Baseball Club LAST Saturday, the opening day of the 2000 junior baseball season, the Halton Polecats Bronco League team entertained their neighbours, the Runcorn Jets, after which the Pony league team travelled to Maghull to face the Maricourt

  • TERROR OF MASKED RAID

    TWO MASKED men dressed in boilersuits terrorised a Widnes postmaster and robbed a 'substantial' amount of cash on Friday morning. The raid took place just after 9am, as the postmaster was preparing to open Albert Road Post Office on Peel House Lane. Police

  • THEY ASDA SAY YES

    PLANS to build a new Asda superstore in the dilapidated Simms Cross area of Widnes came under scrutiny this week as a public inquiry opened. The proposed development in Widnes Road would replace the firm's Halebank store, securing employment for 239 employees

  • ADIOS HALTON GIRLS

    Longmoor Barcelona u12 2 Halton Girls u12 (jnrs) 0 ALTHOUGH losing this Sporting Cup Final, Halton can take pride in their efforts in the game and the achievement of reaching a final in the first place. In the first-half, it was a very even game, both

  • BRIDGING THE GAP

    PEOPLE in Halton are being asked for their views on the Borough Council's plans to improve the area's transport systems and highways network. Halton Borough Council has issued its draft five-year Local Transport Plan for public consultation before it

  • SUCCESS IN THE CELLROOMS

    AN APPRENTICE from ICI's Castner Kellner plant in Runcorn has scooped a prestigious Trainee of the Year Award at a ceremony hosted by TV star Philippa Forrester. Kevin Cartwright picked up the North and Mid Cheshire training and enterprise council prize

  • MENINGITIS TRAGEDY

    A RUNCORN mother has died from the killer brain bug meningitis, it was confirmed this week. Mother-of-two Mrs Sandra Dennett, 33, of Hazel Avenue, Weston Point was taken to Halton Hospital on Easter Monday. She died several hours later, leaving a husband

  • WE SHALL BE MOVED

    RUNCORN Football Club is to sell its ground to house builder Persimmon Homes, the can exclusively reveal. Linnets chairman, Dr Dave Robertson, this week red carded rumours that the 83-year-old club is to fold amid spiralling debts. And he said: We might

  • ARE YOU THE YOUNG CITIZEN 2000?

    ENTRIES are already coming in for ICI Chlor-Chemicals and World Group Newspapers' awards scheme which will highlight and reward the work carried out by young people from Runcorn and Widnes. And we still want to hear from anyone in Halton who knows a special

  • CLIFF PLUNGE

    A RUNCORN teenager is critically ill in hospital after falling 60 feet from Helsby Hill on Sunday afternoon. The 14-year-old boy was enjoying a day out at the beauty spot with his family when he fell from a crag, hit a tree, then landed on a ledge near

  • RUNCORN CRIME SPATE

    A RUNCORN woman was attacked by two men and robbed of her handbag as she walked between Calvers and Shopping City The assault took place at 12.30pm, near to the steps leading to the shopping centre subway. After attacking the 50-year-old woman and forcing

  • MP BACKS WASTE CAMPAIGN

    MP Stephen O'Brien is backing a campaign to fight plans for a toxic waste dump outside Winsford. The proposal by Minosus would see industrial waste dumped in the Winsford Rock Salt Mine number four shaft at Jack Lane, Moulton. But Mr O'Brien fears: "If

  • DOWN ON THE FARM

    WINSFORD residents got a chance to see farm animals close up when the National Farmers Union brought its trailer to the shopping centre. Farmer Phil Smallwood explained: "It's an annual event just to let people, especially children, see animals close

  • FITNESS FOOD FOR MARATHON MAN

    A BIG Mac or chicken nuggets may not seem too conducive to a fitness regime suitable for a marathon runner. But Middlewich High School teacher John O' Boyle is thanking the Winsford branch of the fast-food experts for making his London Marathon run a

  • CHURCH FOR THE MILLENNIUM

    MIDDLEWICH's new Methodist Church for the millennium opened its doors last Saturday, May 6, on Booth Lane. The church brings together three congregations and cost almost £300,000. The money was raised from the sale of the Chester Road and St Paul's Churches

  • LABOUR LOSES OUT IN ELECTIONS

    DEPUTY mayor Clr Dave Sutton has been voted the new Congleton Borough Clr for Middlewich Kinderton after going head to head with mayor Clr Ben Hart for the seat. Conservative Clr Sutton, with 781 votes snatched the seat from Liberal Democrat candidate

  • WITNESS APPEAL AFTER PENSIONER DIES

    POLICE have named the woman pedestrian killed in an accident with a car at Winsford on Friday morning as pensioner Joan Olive Alylisse. Mrs Alylisse, 73, of Swanlow Lane, Winsford, was walking along Oakmere Way, close to Over Roundabout, at around 9am

  • POLICE WARNING AFTER BOGUS CALLER

    POLICE are hunting a bogus gas man who talked his way into the bungalow of a Middlewich OAP and made off with jewellery and cash totalling £702. The man called at the house on Laxton Way and claimed to be checking the central heating. While in the house

  • RESIDENTS COULD SEE MAST MOVED

    CAMPAIGNERS have convinced Vale Royal Borough Council to consider negotiating a possible relocation of a mobile phones mast in Winsford. The borough council is currently determining if it is in a position to negotiate the removal of the mast from between

  • PIGEON SALE CASH ROLLS IN

    A MAN has raised more than £2,500 for the hospital which helped to save his granddaughter from the brink of death. Tom Howarth, from Great Budworth, decided to hold a pigeon sale for Alder Hey Children's Hospital, after baby Lucy Barker was forced to

  • BLESS THIS HORSE

    IT may not have been one of the most ideal places to worship, but it was certainly a ceremony to be enjoyed by all creatures great and small. For when the Rev Mike Dye arrived at Tatton's Home Farm for a special service at the weekend, it was not humans

  • EVERY VILLAGER MUST GIVE THEIR VIEW

    VILLAGERS in Hartford are being urged to have their say over the planned development of Grange Farm - before it's too late. More than 250 people have already attended the village hall in Bradburns Lane, to take a look at the design brief showing potential

  • MUM'S NEW HOME JOY

    A LOVING mother will now be able to walk her special needs son to school for the first time after kind-hearted council officers found her a new home. Carol Spencer, 36 has spent three years holding back the tears as her seven-year-old son Andrew bravely

  • TOGETHER AGAIN - AT LAST

    A MARRIED couple who were forced to live more than 8,000 miles apart have finally been reunited following a two-month battle with immigration authorities. Last week The Guardian told how 20-year-old Samantha Swift had been living with her husband Jon,

  • TIP WOULD BE A 'BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE'

    PRIME farmland near Middlewich could soon provide Vale Royal with its first waste tip. For a North-East based mining company is planning to dig up clay which is buried underneath some 80 acres of farmland at Kinderton Lodge Farm near Middlewich. Once

  • POLICE SEARCH FOR MISSING BOY

    POLICE are searching for a 15-year-old boy who vanished after setting off for school on Monday morning. Richard Mark Cheesebrough left his home as normal at 7.15am to go to the Grange School, in Hartford. He usually caught a bus from his Middlewich home

  • THIS year's Royal May Day was the best ever.

    The children looked superb in the bright sunshine. So many magnificently-groomed horses and all our favourites - the sedan chair, morris men, splendid bands, Jack in the Green and historical characters from British history. The huge crowds were deeply

  • IT is hard to imagine Knutsford without the M6.

    But this picture shows the construction of the town's service station before the motorway was even open. "The motorways have already paid handsome dividends in terms of speed and safety," said Transport Minister Ernest Marples in his opening speech in

  • Knutsford Flying Club

    SATURDAY'S race from Wincanton saw 158 birds competing. Results: (velocity in brackets) 1 Howarth (1305.3) 2 Keen (1288.3) 3 Keen (1282.6) 4 Taylor (1280.2) 5 Jones (1279.04) 6 Cheetham (1272.4) 7 Jones (1267.8) 8 Keen (1267.08) 9 Howarth (1264.1) 10

  • VICS GO DOWN AT HOME TO SWIFTS

    KNYPERSLEY Vics went down 3-0 at home to Stourport Swifts on Saturday in their penultimate league game of the season. Stourport took the lead on 20 minutes when a long punt upfield was headed backwards by Stanway over the keeper's head and into the net

  • DEADLY DUTTON'S RECORD HAUL

    KNYPERSLEY bowler Neil Dutton turned in a career best performance for his side on Saturday as he demolished Checkley. Dutton took eight wickets for 17 runs to help his side to a home league victory. Knypersley won again on Sunday, this time having professional

  • PACE ACE BATTERS BATSMEN

    FAST bowler Andy Umpleby turned on the style for his new side on Saturday as he tore through the Warrington batsmen. Umpleby is an ex-England under-19 player, and a key figure in Congleton's promotion bid this season. He claimed five wickets for 13 runs

  • DO YOU KNOW WHERE JENNIFER IS?

    SCHOOL friends of an Alsager woman have enlisted the help of the Congleton GUARDIAN in trying to track her down. Jennifer Cowley is believed to be living in the Alsager area, and her friends are attempting to trace her for a planned school reunion. The

  • FIREFIGHTERS GIVE FIRST AID TO TRIO IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

    FIREFIGHTERS gave first aid to three young people involved in a car accident in Congleton. The trio were in two cars which collided at the junction of Bromley Road and Festival Hill at 7pm last Wednesday. The youngsters were given neck collars, which

  • TOP MARKS FOR NURSERY STAFF

    OFSTED inspectors have praised nursery school staff for their enthusiasm and commitment to helping children learn. The comments came from a team who visited St Peter's Nursery School, Chapel Street, Congleton, over a day last month. The inspectors said

  • FIRM FACES ACTION OVER HGV PARKING

    BIDDULPH Moor firm Mitras Composites is facing possible action over claims that lorries are blocking a public footpath. Mitras is seeking planning permission to reduce its car parking spaces from 55 to 50 to allow for more outside storage. The Moorlands

  • ZETA'S HALFWAY TO THE ANDES

    WOULD-BE Andes adventurer, Zeta, is hoping for a flood of bargain hunters to snap up items for a charity fund-raiser. Zeta, from Sefton Avenue, Congleton, is due to tackle a gruelling high altitude mountain trek in October across the Peruvian Andes. She

  • FLOWER POWER TO TRANSFORM TOWN

    CONGLETON shoppers are to be treated to a new flower show this summer as part of a drive to transform the town centre into a riot of colour. New varieties of flowers are being introduced into the hundreds of hanging baskets due to go up across the town

  • HELP CREATE A TOWN PORTRAIT

    CONGLETON people are being urged to play their part in creating a snapshot of the town for future generations. Congleton History Society is teaming up with the town's civic society and museum trust to produce a picture of Congleton in the year 2000. Questionnaires

  • BOXES OF HOPE FOR DISASTER VICTIMS

    GENEROUS rotarians are helping to bring hope to victims of famine and natural disasters around the world. Congleton Rotary Club has donated hundreds of items to help people who have lost everything get back on their feet. The club is providing five boxes

  • TRADE BOOM

    RETAIL leader Ian Swann is predicting a retail boost for the Mill Street area of Congleton with the imminent relocation of the town's post office. Mr Swann is president of Congleton Chamber of Trade, and his claim came following news that Congleton Post

  • ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK TO BE LAUNCHED IN STYLE

    ADULT learners' week begins in Crewe on May 20 with a carnival-style extravaganza in the town square. Crewe and Nantwich MP, Gywneth Dunwoody, will be there releasing 1,000 balloons into the sky to celebrate the launch and there will also be live bands

  • GOING UP

    CREWE FC consolidated promotion with a 1-1 draw at Chorlton on Saturday. Only a defeat well into double figures would have cost Crewe a place in the first division of the Mid Cheshire League next season. The game came to life in the last two minutes as

  • CRICKET: SIX WICKET DEBUT FOR KULKANNI

    CREWE CC 1st XI beat Buxton by 9 wickets at Willaston on Saturday. Buxton were bowled out for 83 with their professional Mohammed Ali scoring a fine 61 in a one man show of defiance. Crewe's new pro Nilesh Kulkanni made a great debut by picking up 6 for

  • CREWE'S SUNDAY BEST

    Barnsley 0 Crewe Alex...2 SUNDAY demonstrated what football is all about as the Alex secured their first division status in style. Emotions endured and enjoyed throughout the afternoon at Barnsley summed up just how important the game is to supporters

  • CITIZENS' PANEL AIMS TO GIVE RESIDENTS A VOICE

    RESIDENTS are being recruited to a citizens' panel to provide a direct input into county council decisions. Around 1,500 people will be on the panel representing all areas and minority groups of the county and they will form focus groups and provide input

  • NEW STORE THREATENS SANDBACH TOWN CENTRE

    PLANS for a retail outlet on the ERF site at Sandbach could drive the final nail into the coffin for the town centre community leaders claim. Town councillors are objecting to an application by PB Developments for permission to replace the Sunworks in

  • TIME TRAVEL TO RECREATE 1900 TRIP FOR CHARITY

    VINTAGE wheels will be put into motion, next Thursday, when four Wistaston men embark on a 1,000 mile charity drive. David Potts has been preparing to take his 1912 Studebaker car across the country in order to raise funds for the MacMillan Cancer Charity

  • SPLASHING BACK

    CREWE'S swimming pool re-opens this Saturday with a colourful splash and 1930s prices. A balloon launch, brass band and ribbon cutting ceremony will mark the occasion before swimmers are able to dive in for the first time in nine months. A fun-packed

  • CHRIS BRUSHES UP ON POLISH NAMES FOR GOODWILL VISIT

    GETTING to grips with some unpronounceable place names was part of mayor Chris Thorley's preparations for a goodwill trip to Poland. He has been given a helping hand by two members of Crewe's Polish community whose surnames were tricky enough for the

  • RACIST RESPONSE TO ASYLUM SEEKERS

    A BOROUGH councillor has hit back at 'racists', who are against asylum seekers being given refuge in Crewe, after becoming a target of abuse. Cllr Maureen Grant, chair of the council's housing committee, has been receiving abusive and racist letters on

  • SCHOOL BACKS ROLLS ROYCE MANAGER'S AFRICAN CHARITY

    A HEARTWARMING bid to help African schoolchildren has been launched by high school pupils. Top-notch Brine Leas, well equipped and anticipating the opening of superb new sports and arts facilities, is educationally worlds away from the facilities in poverty-stricken

  • THE PRICE IS RIGHT

    TRUANCY is on the up, and when councillors ask children why they don't want to go to school, they say it's because the teachers are boring, and they have no respect for them. Well, no change there then. It was the same when I went to school, but I knew

  • DRAMA QUEENS

    A SUCCESSFUL Runcorn theatre school has raised the curtain in Widnes. The Glenda Hill Theatre School has opened a new branch at Ditton Community Centre, Dundalk Road. Dance classes began six weeks ago, drama is starting next week and singing classes are

  • ALL ROVER

    Featherstone Rovers 28 Widnes Vikings 22 A SPIRITED second-half fight back by the Vikings came to a juddering halt with the dismissal of Lee Birdseye after 66 minutes. Having trailed throughout the match, Widnes looked as if they could go on to win the

  • RUNCORN VICTORY

    Thwaites Cheshire Plate Final Runcorn 14 Crewe & N'wich 11 THE double was gained after a brilliant finale to a very tense and exciting cup final that will be remembered for years to come. With tense tackling and ferocious defence coming from both

  • WATERHEAD DOWN

    NWC Premiership Cup Waterhead u15 6 Halton Hornets u15 41 IN their first game for five weeks, Hornets played superbly to reach the semi finals of this tournament. This was against a team they had struggled to beat on their last visit to Oldham in the

  • HORNETS BUZZING

    Halton Hornets u8 20 Pilks u8 6 HORNETS were always in command but had to work hard for this victory against a resilient Pilks side. Clever play from Gareth O'Brien brought him three well-earned tries and a conversion. Hornets other try came about following

  • SCARRED FOR LIFE

    A TEENAGE girl has been left scarred for life following an unprovoked attack at Dundalk Park in Widnes on March 25. The 14-year-old victim was walking through the park with a friend, just after 10pm, when a yob hurled a sharp object at her leg. Det Con

  • NO CHANGE IN EXECUTIVE

    HALTON Borough Council's Executive Board remains unchanged following last week's local elections. The Board - of which one member Cllr Phil Harris was up for re-election and regained his Hough Green seat - will now continue with its decision-making duties

  • LINNETS MISS OUT ON SEVENTH HEAVEN

    Blyth Spartans 4 Runcorn 2 RUNCORN missed out on seventh place in the league despite a spirited fightback. Mike Smith and David Ness were the only changes to the team who defeated Spennymoor Utd 3-2 last Thursday at Canal Street. Runcorn did not make

  • PLAETTAC LEAGUE

    Plettac NSG Runcorn Sunday League THE FINAL of the Paddy Heffernan Trophy to be played at Canal Street on Sunday, May 14, kick-off 12pm, will be between First Division side Union Street, who defeated Con RAOB 2-1 after the game went into extra time. Union

  • MOND STAY IN PREMIERSHIP

    Trafford 1 Mond Ladies 2 MOND Rangers Ladies travelled to Trafford Ladies for their final league game already assured of a place in the premiership again next season but still wanted to finish on a winning note. The home side threw everything at Mond