Councillor hits out
over “binge drinking”
by John Hendon
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A WARRINGTON councillor has condemned the culture of “binge drinking” that prevails in some parts of the town.
Coun Roy Smith (pictured) the Liberal Democrat spokesman on community matters, was commenting on reports – published by Warrington-Worldwide last week – that some pubs have refused to display posters depicting the effects of binge drinking.
He said: “I fully support the council in this campaign and I’m very disappointed with the response of some licensees. Binge drinkers are a nuisance to others, they place a burden on the police and the health services and they are a danger to themselves.
“Polite appeals have obviously not worked so these ‘shock’ posters have to be worth a try. I can only assume that the licensees who have objected to these posters are more interested in their profits than they are in the health and wellbeing of young people.
“The continuation of ‘happy hours’ and similar offers shows where their real priorities are – in encouraging as much drinking as possible.”
Choir bids for
Welsh title
by Gary Skentelbery
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THE town’s award winning Warrington Male Voice Choir is preparing to compete at the prestigious Llangollen National Musical Eisteddfod this weekend (Saturday July 10).
The 100 plus strong choir, with members aged 18-88, is hoping to go one better than recent years, after twice coming runners up at the event which attracts choirs from around the world.
Already this year the choir has scooped a first at a music festival in Northern Ireland, where they have performed numerous concerts in the name of peace, following the IRA bombing on Warrington in 1993.
One of ther songs they will be performing at Llangollen will be “River of Life” which was written in memory of the bomb victims.
Further concerts are planned throughout the year, including another performance at Strangeways prison, to entertain prisoners, wardens and staff.
Home grown
newt haven
by Gary Skentelbery
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A HOME made pond is now proving to be a popular place for rare Greater Crested newts.
The pond which has a unique “dipping platform,” is a central feature of a school’s award winning environmental project.
Thanks to a ?8,632 grant from the BTCV Peoples PLaces Grant, St Lewis’ Primary School at Croft near Warrington, has now completed its environmental project, which has previously been awarded “Green Flag” status.
Project co-ordinator Daphne Eastburn, said: “The work is now complete thanks to the grant.
“We have a new red shale path and edging on our nature trail. We have a superb dipping platform around our pond which is unique in Cheshire.
“It will make activities with children much safer. The path surface is now suitable for all weather and wheelchairs.”
Over recent years with the help of Daphne, her husband Bob and numerous other volunteers, including the children themselves, an area of the school playing fields has now been transformed into a wildlife haven and nature trail.
Pupils can now learnn about nature and wildlife “hands on” without even leaving the school grounds.
A central feature is the pond which is now home to numerous Greater Crested Newts and other wild life.
“We must be doing something right,” said Bob, “because the Greater Crested newts like it – and are breeding well.”
Dance extravaganza raises
?6,500 for good causes
by Gary Skentelbery
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A DANCING extravaganza at Warrington Parr Hall by the Lymm based Enid Wrigley School of Dancing raised a record breaking ?6,500 for local charities.
Enid, who puts on an extravaganza at the Parr Hall each year, presented the money to local good causes during a special event at Oughtrington Community Centre, where she holds her regular classes.
A total of 250 women and children took part in the event over two nights.
Groups to benefit were: Oughtrington Community Centre (?3,000), Kabuki Research (?1,000), Stroke Association (?1,000), Cystic Fibrosis (?500), Riding for the Disabled (?500) and Cotebrook Home (?500).
Enid, who is pictured handing out cheques to the benefactors, said she would like to thank “all the amazing loyal people” who had helped her with the event.
“All those who have received cheques helped out in some way,” she said.
Plans are already in the pipeline for another show next March at the Parr Hall.
Meanwhile youngsters from the dancing school will be involved ina dancing display at Lymm High School in October.
Enid is pictured handing out cheques to her chosen charities
Tories pledge not
to hog Chair!
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THE new chairman of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council is Coun Mrs Christine Rankin.
Her deputy is Coun Mrs Lillian Haughton.
At the change over meeting of the parish council Tory leader Coun Keith Bland, said although his group now had the majority on the council, they would not be “hogging” the chair, which would be rotated between the parties.
Morris Men tradition
looks set to end
by David Skentelbery
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ONE of Warrington’s more colourful traditions – the annual “Walking Tour” by the Thelwall Morris Men – is to take place for the last time next month.
The tour of Thelwall and Statham has taken place every August Bank Holiday for the last 24 years and the Morris Men have been dancing for more than 30 years.
But despite an extensive recruitment campaign over the last two years, the group looks set to fold up through dwindling numbers of dancers.
Thelwall Morris Men dance the Cotswold Morris, which requires a team of six men.
They now only have seven members and, with some unavailable, will not have a full team available on Bank Holiday Monday.
Andrew White, the “foreman”, or dance instructor said: “The few who are available will do their best to put on some kind of performance. But if there are any past Morris Men available that day, they will be very welcome.”
Thelwall Morris Men wear white shirts, white trousers or black breeches and blue shoes with bells worn below the knee. Their dances are described as “handkerchief dances, stick dances and hand-clapping dances.
They usually perform their art close to a pub and not infrequently take on refreshment before and after inside the pub.
Andrew said it its early years, the team had strong Thelwall connections other than its name. But now, none of its dancer or musicians live in the village and there has been no interest shown from residents in joining to keep the team going.
He added: “The team may survive another year or so, but without new members I can’t see it going on much longer.
“We need a minimum of six dancers and we have only seven, so a big responsibility is placed upon those few to turn out to perform. If more than one is unavailable, we are not a full team.
The Bank Holiday tour will start at 11.30am at the former Sharkey’s newsagents on Thelwall New Road and during the morning will move to the shops at Barley Road/Stanton Road, the junction of Dunmow Road and Barley Road, Parry Drive then The Pickering Arms.
There will be a lunch stop at The Star at Statham and then performances at the former Statham Post Office, Whitesands Road, then finally at the shops at Albany Road, Statham.
More details of Thelwall Morris Men are available from the website www.thelwallmorris.org.uk
