Jungle queen at star
studded fashion show
by Gary Skentelbery
A host of stars from the world of sport, music, TV and entertainment, including Warrington’s very own “Queen of the Jungle” Kerry McFadden, are turning out to support a star studded “girls night out” charity fashion show in the town.
‘I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here’ winner Kerry from Padgate and her family, have confirmed they will be attending the event which is raising money for the internationally renowned Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Trust based at Warrington Peace Centre.
The event will include demonstrations from `This Morning’ extrovert florist Carl Wilde and celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford along with a series of fashion shows featuring a number of celebrity models including stars from Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings and St Helens, plus boxers Stevie Bell and World Champion Robin Reid.
The Centre offers residential accommodation for 40 people, a cyber-caf?, games room, 18 PC suite, classrooms, an arts and crafts room, conference room, counselling rooms, training rooms, sports hall, lounge and dining facilities and is open to children from all walks of life.
Offering accredited educational programmes and the `Children for Peace’ campaign, the Trust now runs a large number of courses including The `Tim Parry Scholarship’ cultural exchange, `The Johnathan Ball Tiny Steps for Peace’, Citizenship courses, `A Bit of Fun’ anti bullying programme, `Full On’ inclusion programme, in addition to offering a drop in centre and help and guidance to children and their parents free of charge.
Event organiser Wendy Parr, mother of 12-year-old Tim Parry who died in the Warrington IRA bomb attack on Warrington eleven years ago with three-year-old Johnathan Ball, said; “The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust relies on charitable trusts and individual donations. Events such as this is another way we can raise money to ensure that the work we carry deliver to young people at the Peace Centre can continue.
“The team at the centre have been overwhelmed by the response from all those taking part in event who have given their precious time completely free of charge. At the end of the evening we will be having a raffle and we cannot thank people enough for their kind donations of prizes including signed merchandise from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, rugby tickets, meals and much more.
“Everyone attending the event will have a fun filled night as well as helping us to raise money for the Trust.”
The sense of outrage felt throughout Britain, the whole of Ireland and beyond was immediate and immense following the Warrington bombing in 1993.
The creation of the peace centre in the year 2000 enabled a dream to come true and young people can now come together to work, learn and stay in a safe, unbiased environment to challenge ignorance, prejudice and the violet response to conflict.
Wendy describes the centre as `A functional building that offers a safe, unique haven where lives and attitudes are changed’.
The fund-raising event takes place at Warrington Parr Hall on Thursday September 23, starting at 7.30pm, tickets are now on sale priced at just ?10, which includes a drink on arrival. For tickets contact 01925 442345.
Man arrested after
assaults on girls
by David Skentelbery
A MAN has been arrested at Warrington following two allegations of indecent assault on young girls.
The 25-year-old, currently from Warrington but formerly a resident of Runcorn was questioned in connection with two alleged indecent assaults in the town.
He was freed on bail pending further investigations.
In one incident, a 12-year-old girl was fondled by a man in Winwick Street.
In the other, two 11-year-old girls suffered similar assaults in the town centre.
A police spokesman said they were anxious to speak to anyone in the Warrington or Runcorn areas who had any information about indecent assaults in recent months.
Anyone who could help should call PC Mark Naylor on 01925 652222.
MP urges dog owners
to “bag it and bin it”
by Lesley Wilkinson
MP Helen Jones is encouraging dog owners to clean up after their pets.
The Warrington North MP is backing the “Grab it, bag it and bin it” campaign run by The Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League).
She is also asking local pet owners to let her know about dog fouling blackspots that need to be cleaned up under new laws.
Under the campaign dog owners are encouraged to take a supply of plastic bags/poop scoop bags on every walk to pick up dog mess and dispose it in a “poop bin” or a litter bin.
The MP said: “This is not the kind of issue that necessarily grabs the headlines but dog fouling can be a serious issue. With some six million dogs in the UK it’s not difficult to see why. From parks to streets, dog mess can be a danger to health as well as to the quality of life.
“It is not only an extremely unpleasant and unwelcome commodity, it is also the perfect breeding ground for bacteria like campylobacter and salmonella and other forms of infection,” added Helen.
She said these may lead to serious illness for children including blindness, and that children are at greater risk during the school holidays as they play out every day.
“New measures are now in force which give councils the power to act against the small minority of pet owners who are irresponsible and do not clean up after their pets. Latest figures show dog fouling down by a quarter but more needs to be done which is why I am supporting the Dog Trust campaign and urging dog owners to clean up after their pets and to let me know were the blackspots are so the problem can be addressed,” she added.
Council urged to ban
smoking in market
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to be asked to consider banning smoking in the town’s market.
John Mulhall, an unsuccessful independent candidate in the council elections in June, is to put the issue to a meeting of the full council under the provision which exists for members of the public to put questions to the council.
Mr Mulhall, a smoker himself, believes the ban is required because of the risk of fire, for health reasons and, in the food section of the market, for hygiene reasons.
He said: “I have noticed an awful lot of people smoking in the market, including people who have obviously been drinking.
“There is an obvious fire risk, but in the food halls, also a hygiene issue. I’ve also noticed that many smokers walk through the market holding their lighted cigarettes at about waist height – in other words at about the same height as many children’s faces.
“I am a smoker myself, but I would like to see such a restriction placed on the market. There are plenty of exits where smokers could nip out to have a cigarette if they wanted.
“As a first step the council should consult market stallholders and also the public.
“I have no doubt I will be told that the Government is considering a smoking ban in all public places. But that will take more than a year to implement, if it ever happens at all.
“More and more pubs and restaurants are beginning to ban smoking, and I commend them for that. The council owns the market so it could introduce a total ban if it wanted.”
The next meeting of the council is on August 23, but as this is an extraordinary meeting of the council to consider a statement of accounts and the appointment of a chief executive, Mr Mulhall’s question may be put back to a later meeting.
School plans
golf tournament
by staff reporter
GRAPPENHALL Heys Primary School, near Warrington is holding a golf tournament on September 24 – the first of what it is hoped will become an annual event.
The tournament at Lymm Golf Club is primarily aimed at pupils’ fathers, but it is
believed a few Mums may also take part and give the Dads a run for their money.
The aim is to raise funds for the school and invitations have gone out to anyone who would like to enter a team of four at a cost of ?180. There is also an opportunity for local firms, organisations or individuals to donate prizes, trophies or sponsor a hole.
Campaign to persuade
children to branch out
by staff reporter
A FIVE-YEAR campaign to encourage youngsters out into the countryside organised by the Woodland Trust, is hoping to attract Warrington schoolchildren.
The scheme, Tree for All, is aiming to involve every child in the UK with planting a tree. It is hoped that 12 million trees will be planted across the country – one for every child under 16.
A series of events are being organised including school planting, public events and planting in private grounds.
Organisers say: “Recent news of growing childhood obesity, the decline of healthy outdoor play and an obsession with TV and computer games highlights a generation that is disenchanted and disengaged from the natural world.”
The trust is offering the chance to get involved in woodland to people of all ages. Details of the project are available by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 01476 581121.
