Chance for
stars to shine
by Terry Johnson
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A Warrington theme park is to help people with stars in their eyes to break into mainstream recording.
Gulliver’s Warrington has set up ‘Star Studio’ – a recording service for novice solo artists.
It will be managed by ‘Hitman’ Peter Tattersall, former owner of Stockport’s Strawberry Recording Studio, who has worked with a string of artistes, including million-record sellers 10cc, Herman’s Hermits and Neil Sedaka.
Peter, a former technical consultant for Granada Tours, joined Gulliver’s as general manager in 1997. Since then he has recorded all the theme park’s animated shows.
New digital equipment means the in-house recording services can now be offered to the public.
Said spokeswoman Tracey Garrett: “Star Studio offers studio time to artists looking to break into the music business – or for a birthday treat, a recording studio experience gift can be bought.”
This gift package includes choice of a backing track and Peter’s expertise to produce a personal CD recording.
Rugby ace joins
race to save Abbie
by Gary Skentelbery
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Former Warrington Wolves star and well-known Aboriginal artist Sid Domic has been so moved by a campaign to help baby Abbie Lilly Tinkley he has donated 50 prints of his painting ‘Min Min Light’ selling at ?50 each to a special appeal fund.
Little three months old Abbie from Orford, Warrington urgently needs ?20,000 to help fund life extending treatment for the condition Type One Spinal muscular atrophy that she has been diagnosed with.
Abbie requires radical treatment to extend her life which is only available in America.
The story behind the ‘Min Min Light’ is that it is a light that appears throughout North West Queensland and it is one that is seen floating above the bush, the heartland of the Kalkadoon tribe. The ‘Min Min Light’ is still regularly sighted today.
The prints are on sale at the club shop Wolfware, 01925 248880.
?1 million upgrade for
community centre
by David Skentelbery
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AMBITIOUS plans to upgrade a Lymm based Community Centre – at a cost of ?1 million – have been drawn up and local people are working hard to raise funds for the project.
Plans are to convert the former Victorian primary school at Oughtrington community centre into a thriving centre in a joint project with St Peter’s Church – which has a church hall next door.
Community centre regulars started work on the plans three years ago when a Westenders Committee was formed – so named as it aimed to tackle the unusable west end of the building.
One of the committee founders Duncan Scott said: “The west end of the building is not used and needs serious attention. We got outline planning permission to develop the whole of the building in conjunction with the church.”
The committee is hoping to add an upstairs and extend at the back of the building. Part of the church hall site will be used for access and parking. The new building will feature an improved main hall, six or seven small meeting rooms, an extended kitchen, glass foyer at the rear and a performance space.
Duncan said because of the new housing developments in the area more people are using the centre and groups such as the scouts and guides and pre-school need to expand.
A variety of fund raising events have been held in the past three years and so far more than ?30,000 has been raised. A hog roast in July raised more than ?1,000 and there are plans for a Las Vegas Ball at the Wolves Stadium on November 13.
The committee is applying for various grants has been supported by local businesses and organisations.
“At the moment we are concentrating on fund raising and in about 12 months we will make a decision on whether or not we will be able to go ahead with the full project, or a reduced scheme,” said Duncan.
“But the project would be an asset to the whole of the greater Lymm community, he added.”
Players stage a
courtroom drama
by David Skentelbery
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WHEN the Culcheth Players stage Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama “Witness for the Prosecution” at Culcheth Sports and Social Club next month, they really will be stretching their resources to the limit.
Not only will they have to transform the stage into a courtroom but they also face the problems of a very large cast and a great deal of backstage work.
Every member of the group will have a part to play, either on stage, backstage, front of house or brewing tea! In fact, one member plays two parts!
A Culcheth Players’ spokesman said: “As you would expect, the play has an excellent story line with a very dramatic ending.”
Members of the cast are: Ann Witter, George Barrett, Mark Taylor, Ian McLoughlin, David Hill, Ken Procter, Jack Beck, Margaret Fallon, Phyllis Longson, Ron Butler, Paul Catcheside, Alex Urmston, Milly Beck, Karen Morris, Alun Lewis, Allan Witter, Brenda Earl, David McManus and Jennifer Whipp.
The play runs from October 13-16 with the curtain rising at 7.30pm. More details are available from the club bar or from the ticket secretary on 01925 765136.
Sunny Siberia!
by Gary Skentelbery
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LYMM Rotary Club were given an insight into “sunny Siberia” by Russian Intern Scholar Anton Kotov while he was gaining work experience at Statham Lodge Hotel.
Anton, aged, 20 was visiting Lymm from his home in Irkutsk, where he expects to graduate from the local State University in May next year, majoring in Business Management.
During his visit Anton was looking to gain experience in marketing and public relations and spent part of his time working at Statham Lodge Hotel, which hosts Lymm Rotary Club.
After overcoming some slight technical problems (getting the over head projector to speak to the lap top) Anton gave members of the club a fascinating insight into Siberia and his home town, where the sun shines more than 300 days a year. But the tempreture goes from one extreme to the other, freezing cold in the winter and baking hot in the summer.
Anton was fluent in English thanks to his education at the Russian American University and does much of his studying over the internet with American tutors.
As well as his business studies he is also an accomplished pianist, composing music and songs and entertained a few wedding parties during his stay at Statham Lodge.
As an Intern Scholar, Anton arranged his own air fares and travel insurance and was hosted by his Rotary counsellor Ian Lawson.
Police open day
————————————————–Warrington Police are to open their doors to a special community event this Sunday, September 19.
There will be the chance to take part in a mock trial in the Magistrates Court, get an inside view of the traffic cops, see live pictures from the police spotter aircraft, visit the cell block and have refreshments in ‘The Bill’ canteen.
The day starts at 11.00a.m until 4.00pm.
