Battle to save
school from closure
by David Skentelbery
A BATTLE has started to try and save one of the smallest primary schools in the Warrington area.
Little Bollington CE Primary is actually just outside the borough, close to the boundary with Lymm.
But it takes pupils from Lymm and is well known and respected in the area.
Cheshire County Council is considering proposals to merge the school with High Legh Primary ? on the High Legh site.
If the plan goes ahead it would mean closing and, presumably, selling off the Little Bollington school where two new classrooms have been built in recent years.
The school also has a memorial garden dedicated to Hannah Scales, a pupil who died of meningitis after her system had been weakened by a rare genetic condition known as Kabuki.
Pupils have helped raise thousands of ?s for research in Kabuki.
A spokeswoman for the school governors said: ?We don?t need to say how big the impact of this would be, not only for our school, its staff and pupils, but also the wider community.?
The school is asking villagers to write or email decision makers objecting to the plan within the next three weeks.
Masonic donations
to hospice top ?38,500
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S St Rocco?s Hospice has received an early Christmas gift from Freemasons.
A cheque for ?1,750 was presented to Matron Beth Eccles at the hospice by Dennis Rudd, Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
This latest donation means that in the seven years that the Warrington Group of Masonic Lodges has been supporting the hospice more than ?38,550 has been handed over. Freemasons were the first group to give ?10,000 to endow a room at St Rocco?s when the new hospice was built.
Mr Rudd said: ?It is impossible to put a price on the dedication of the staff and the work carried out at St Rocco?s Hospice. It plays a vital role for the people of Warrington and Freemasons are delighted to be able to give some financial support to such a worthy cause.?
Beth Eccles said: ?There has been constant support from Warrington Freemasons for the hospice and we would like to thank each and every Freemason for the financial support they continue to give. To have donated more than ?38,500 in seven years is tremendous. Without such financial support St Rocco?s Hospice would not be able to do the work that it does.?
In addition to donations made to the hospice by the Warrington Group of Lodges and individual Masonic Lodges in the town there is also an annual donation from Freemasonry?s Grand Charity.
New TV channel puts
Dickensian Day
in the picture
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM village’s annual Dickensian Day was broadcast around the world for the first time thanks to a new groundbreaking TV channel in Warrington.
The community event was captured on camera by www.warrington.tv the new web based Tv channel for the town – which is part of the Warrington-Worldwide brand.
In another first for the village the event was also broadcast on Radio Lymm, a community based station which was set up by Lymm Roundtable and the Rotary Club of Lymm, with a one week temporary licence.
Huge crowds gathered in the village centre to witness the annual event which has now been a tradition in Lymm for more than two decades.
Town Crier Peter Powell launched proceedings, starting the parade from outside the Lymm Hotel.
Local school children and community groups entered the spirit of the occasion wearing Christmas and Dickensian costumes. Organisers were delighted with the turn out and the fact the event had the benefit of some sunshine and helped raise hundreds of pounds for local community groups.
If you missed out on the event you can see the highlights being broadcast online at www.warrington.tv together with numerous other events and news items being covered on a regular basis, featuring presenter James Balme.
Top picture shows pupils from Cherry Tree Primary School entering into the spirit of the occasion.
Library in search for
town’s 10-best albums
by John Hendon
MUSIC lovers across Warrington are being asked to vote for their top 10 albums of all time.
Anyone fed up with the TV music polls that never include their favourite tune can visit Warrington Library where staff are compiling the town’s definitive top 10 album chart.
Staff have been busy researching previous national polls and have come up with a list of top 100 hundred albums.
This collection will be touring libraries across the town to provide some inspiration and ideas. Anything and everything is included so there is something to suit all tastes – from The Beatles to Beethoven and The Sugababes to Elvis!
People can then cast their votes at the library or on the website and once they are counted, Warrington’s top 10 will be bought and made available for rent.
Multimedia librarian Matthew Entwistle says: “We would like to find out if the list based on national polls ties in with what the Warrington music lover likes best.
“Anything that comes out of the voting that isn’t already in stock at the library will be purchased so people can listen to exactly what they want.?
Museum lines up
festive attractions
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Museum has lined up a series of exhibitions and other events to keep children occupied during the Christmas holidays.
The following events are taking place during the festive season ? and some continue afterwards. All are free.
A new blockbuster exhibition, Natural Curiosity, is organised in conjunction with the Natural History Museum and explores all themes of the natural world, with particular focus on Warrington. It runs until next May.
The Meadowlands show – a series of beautiful pressed flowers, created and exhibited by artist Ruth Moillet ? runs until March 2007.
A workshop to help children create decorations for the Christmas tree this year will be held on Thursday December 21 from 10:30am – 3:30pm. Museum staff will be on hand to provide materials and help visitors make a red robin pom-pom to take home.
On Friday, December 22, there will be ?Warming Winter Tales? between 10:00am – 11:00am, 12:30pm – 1:30pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm. The museum story teller will fire the imagination and brings classic Christmas tales to life.
A craft session on Thursday December 28 will bring in the New Year and gift an opportunity to create greetings cards between 10:30 am – 3:30pm.
Rock musician’s concert
for diabetes victims
by staff reporter
AN up-and-coming rock musician has lent his support – and his guitar – to a live music event for young people with diabetes at Warrington.
When Al Blackmore, of the Z-list Tears, was diagnosed with the condition nine years ago, only one other boy at his school had diabetes. This presented him with few opportunities to meet others experiencing the same challenges.
Like many other people aged between 17 and 25, Al now regularly attends social events arranged by Susie Prestt, Diabetes Nurse for Young People at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The events provide an informal setting in which to share knowledge and give advice.
In a bid to generate greater interest in this month’s event, Al has agreed to perform some of his own songs at the Bank Quay Sports and Social Club in Green Street, Warrington, on Wednesday, December 20.
The 23-year-old, whose band recently played to more than 200 fans at the Manchester Academy, said: “These events are so important as they provide an environment where people with diabetes can meet others with the same condition and discuss issues and solutions.
“When I was at school, only one other person that I knew had diabetes. Obviously we talked about it – but it is useful to hear a number of diff
erent opinions and ways of coping.
“This is the third event that has been organised. They have gradually been attracting more people – but we thought a bit of live music would generate more interest.” Reflecting upon his diagnosis, Al added: “It was terrible – especially due to the fact that I was terrified of needles. My nan, a former nurse, was able to give me some advice and I very quickly overcame my fear of needles.
“I now control the diabetes rather than it controlling me. I cannot say that it has prevented me doing the things that I want to do, as long as I am careful about what I eat and drink and monitor my blood sugar levels.” The event, which will take place between 7pm and 9pm will also include a performance by local band The Soul an informal quiz with prizes, free food and drink.
Susie said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to get key messages about diabetes across to young people. This event is a very effective way to do that while having a bit of fun at the same time.
“In an informal setting we will be able to share knowledge and give advice relevant to the individual.
” She has issued letters to 140 of her patients welcoming them to attend the invite only event.
Anyone wishing to attend the event should call Susie on 077969 38152.
Warehouse
blaze
TWO fire engines were called to a two-storey carpet warehouse at Great Sankey, near Warrington after a smell of burning was reported.
The incident was at Westbrook Carpets, on the Gatehouse Industrial Estate.
Fire crews used a thermal image camera and discovered a small fire in a plywood mezzanine floor, caused by a halogen light, had burned itself out.
