Boxing ace stays
silent on future
by Gary Skentelbery
TEENAGE Olympic boxing sensation Amir Khan was remaining tight lipped about any plans he may have to turn professional when he was on hand to help launch the Big Lottery Fund’s new ?200 million “Young at Heart” fund at Warrington.
The 17-year-old who became an international celebrity after gaining a silver medal at the Athens Olympics, refused to answer any questions on whether he was going to accept offers to turn professional as he helped unveil the new lottery funding initiative, which could help fund future Olympic stars.
He said he was “delighted” to be able to launch the lottery, which had given him “great support” and funding to help him achieve his Olympic dream.
“It would have been impossible to fly to other countries and take part in international competitions without the support of the lottery,” he said.
“I am still finding it difficult to believe what I have been able to achieve – and the lottery has played a big part.”
He said he was enjoying being in the limelight although he was struggling to get any work done at college as fellow students were eager to have his autograph and picture.
At the launch he teamed up with Warrington’s junior Sports Personality Luke Scott, aged 16, from Birchwood, who is already a senior national champion at his sport, karate – which is not yet an Olympic event. But he was high hopes that it will become an Olympic event, particularly if London’s 2012 bid to hold the games is successful.
Now Luke is hoping to be able to tap into the new funding, ?77.6 million of which is being made available to individual young people, small groups of young people and voluntary community organisations.
John Gartside OBE, a Lottery Fund Board member and trustee of the Warrington Peace Centre which has previously benefited from lottery funding, said: “The aim of this programme is to benefit young people.
“Organisations that apply to us will need to demonstrate that they have put young people at the centre of their applications.”
The aim of the Young People’s Fund is to help deliver projects which will achieve health and well being, staying safe and making a positive contribution to local communities.
Information on applications for funding can be made by calling 0845 4102030.
Charity ball in aid
of paralysed player
by Gary Skentelbery
A CHARITY ball is taking place in Warrington to help raise funds for a rugby player who tragically broke his neck while playing in the town.
John Blower, 44, was left paralysed from the neck down after suffering the injury while playing at Warrington.
Now Warrington Sports club in conjunction with Warrington Rugby Union club are holding a Gala Dinner and Charity Ball this Saturday (September 25th) in a marquee in the grounds of the Sports Club at Walton Lea Road.
The sole purpose of the event is to raise funds for John Blower who tragically suffered serious spinal injuries when playing for Northwich Rugby Union Football Club 1st XV against Warrington Rugby Union Club. More than 800 tickets have been sold for the event with entertainment provided by The Drifters and Cannon and Ball.
The event has been organised by Warrington coach Steve Riley and committee members.
John’s life changed dramatically through playing rugby, the game he loves. John broke his neck during a match last December and became Tetraplegic, paralysed from the neck down, for the rest of his life.
He was playing rugby at the Warrington Sports Club in the front row of the Northwich RUFC 1st XV against local rivals Warrington RUFC. Two minutes from half time, John, who was due to be substituted received the devastating injury when the scrum collapsed upon him. He was rushed to Warrington Hospital and from there to the specialist Spinal Injury Unit at Southport General Hospital where he remains to date.
He is fully conscious and mentally alert. The long term prognosis is that he will be permanently paralysed from the neck downwards, and he is currently fighting to become totally independent of the respirator that his keeping him alive.
Happily married to Julie, he is a committed family man with three children, a daughter Natalie, aged 20 years and two young teenage sons who are still in full time education, Christopher who is 17 years of age and Paul who is 14 years of age.
Both Christopher and Paul who, despite their father’s serious rugby injury, continue to play rugby within the Northwich Junior Section which John actively participated within as a recognised qualified Junior rugby coach.
John is a fanatical gardener, his garden at Winnington is a real treasure. He had just completed an extensive DIY modernisation and extension programme of his home which he will not be able to enjoy, as his home is totally unsuitable for his level of disability. Again, due to his disability, John has had to cease his ‘bird breeding’ hobby and sell his prize budgerigar (love birds -budgies).
Despite his injury John continues to be positive and is looking forward to leaving hospital and hopefully developing his considerable wine connoisseur’s expertise to the full.
Lorry driver stripped
and dumped in field
by David Skentelbery
A LORRY driver was attacked as he slept in his cab near Warrington, kidnapped and then stripped and dumped in a field.
His trailer and his load – trainers, tee-shirts and other property worth thousands of pounds – was stolen and is still being sought by police.
The man suffered serious face injuries and was badly shaken.
A police spokesman said: “The offenders used considerable violence on the victim, particularly as he offered them no resistance.”
The driver was awoken in his cab at the Poplar 2000 truckstop when the passenger window was shattered.
He was attacked by about five masked men, dragged from the cab and beaten to the ground.
Police said he was then taken to a white Mercedes van on the nearby A50 and driven to an unknown location. Later he was driven to Wrightington near Wigan where he was stripped, robbed of all his possessions including his passport, and dumped in a field.
His cab was later recovered at Chesford Grange, on the Woolston Grange industrial estate at Warrington.
Police are still searching for the green Leyland Daf trailer. They are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the attack at Lymm, or the white Mercedes van or the victim being dumped at Wrightington.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact DC Mark McManus at Warrington CID on 01244 613836.
Parish to fight
phone mast plan
by staff reporter
PARISH councillors at Appleton have decided to lodge strong objections to a plan to erect a mobile ‘phone mast in London Road, near its junction with Birchdale Road.
Parish planning committee chairman Coun Alistair Day said the mast would be in the middle of the side walk and would be unsightly.
It could also establish a precedent for telecommunications masts on public highways.
Mobile ‘phone company O2 (UK) Ltd are seeking permission for the 40ft high mast which would be designed to resemble a lamp post but which would have three concealed antennae and an associated equipment cabinet.
Coun Ray Hancock said: “This would be a very high mast.”
Coun Dot Edwards added: “It would look really terrible – and it would be in a nice area.”
Coun Day said if the mast was allowed it would set a precedent.
“Mobile ‘phone companies would not need to look anywhere else for sites – they could just use the public highway,” he said.
Thorn Cross may get
more older inmates
by David Skentelbery
MORE older offenders may be introduced at Thorn Cross Young Offenders’ Institution, near Warrington, if the juvenile unit closes.
The possibility of introducing an “older age group” of young offenders is being considered to replace the 60 inmates aged 15
-17 in the unit, the prison authorities have informed Appleton Parish Council.
But there would no change in the category of prisoner held at the Appleton Thorn centre, the council has been assured.
Clerk Peter Briggs told the council he had enquired exactly what age group was being considered but had not received a satisfactory response.
Currently, the institution has up to 316 inmates, 180 of who are convicted offenders aged 18-21. There is also a high intensity training unit housing up to 60 inmates – the so-called “Boot Camp.”
The Prison Service is considering closing the 60-place juvenile unit, although the move has been criticised by the centre’s Independent Monitoring Board, who say it would be a “most retrograde step.”
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 10, 13 and 15. There was no winner for the ?775 jackpot which means next week’s top prize is likely to be around ?1,000. The ?25 consolation prize was won buy M Headicon.
Pot holes
APPLETON Parish Council is to complain to Warrington Borough Council about pot holes in Dingle Lane, Appleton.
Driving ban
WARRINGTON Borough Council is to make an order introducing a temporary driving ban on Warburton Bridge Road, near its junction with the A57 Manchester Road from October 23. It is expected the closure will last about seven days, while structural maintenance work is carried out.
Regimental Sunday
MEMBERS of the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment will parade along Church Street, Warrington to St Elfin’s Parish Church on October 3 as part of the annual Regimental Sunday celebrations. The road will be closed to traffic for the duration of the parade.
