Super sleuth Peter
traces family tree
back 11 generations
by Gary Skentelbery
RETIRED police officer Peter Wroe has now become a super sleuth tracking down his distant relatives who include votes for women campaigner Emily Pankhurst.
The “suffragette” who went to prison 11 times was the great aunt of Peter, who through his detective work has become addicted to researching his family tree.
He has now traced his family back 11 generations to 1565 and is hot on the trail of others going back in time to the 1100’s.
Peter from Warrington said: “As a young family we were always told that Emily (Emmeline) Pankhurst was our great Aunt. I can only just remember my grandmother Elizabeth Pankhurst who married into the Hendy family and then my mother married into the Wroe family.
“Tracing the male line is easier. The first step for anyone starting off is to obtain as much information as you can from your senior relatives, in my case this was not possible.
“The Internet is a very useful source of information, as is local libraries. I purchased a copy of the 1881 census and paid for the services of a researcher at the records office at Kew. I also became a member of the Manchester and Lancashire Family History society and slowly, generation by generation, I was able to pick my way backwards. There have been many sticking points and still a lot of mystery but I have traced back to a Robert Wroe, who I know died in 1565.
“On this fantastic journey, you find interesting people. I have traced thousands of the Wroe family. Quite a few were killed in the Wars. My father was a Lancaster bomber pilot but never talked about the war at all and now its too late!” Another of Peter’s infamous relatives was Richard Wroe born 1641 at Radcliffe, the same birthplace as Peter! The family for many generations had owned land at Heaton Gate at the north end of Heaton Park. He went to Jesus college Cambridge and eventually Graduated as a Doctor of Divinity. He quickly rose though the church ranks until he became Warden of Manchester collegiate church (Later to be Manchester Cathedral). He married Dorothy Kenyon of the famous Kenyon family of Peele Hall. During his life he made speeches in parliament.
In 1685 he preached a sermon on King James ll inauguration and then in 1691 presided at the funeral of Mary Countess of Warrington.
In 1694 he presided at the funeral of The Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Warrington & Baron Delamer of Dunham Massey and Lord Lieutenant of County of Chester.
Then there was John Wroe, born 1782, at the other end of the religious spectrum. He founded the ‘Christian Israelites’ a breakaway church which is still flourishing in Australia.
He was said to have had several visitations and was declared a prophet. A Blue plaque, is placed in Church Street, Ashton in memory of him and a film, Mr Wroe’s Virgins, was made of his life. Whilst preaching in a field at Ashton it is recorded that he said, “A light shall break forth from this place where I stand which shall enlighten the whole town, with a light also to enlighten the gentiles.” It was a few years later when they built Ashton gas works on that very spot and gas lights were invented. When he was banished from the town he predicted a ‘grievous plague’ in Ashton – and Cholera arrived on cue.
Then there was James Wroe, born 1788, who became involved in Manchester local politics. He started up a radical newspaper, Manchester Observer and was the first editor and it soon became a popular paper for peoples rights. He was the first person to report and print the facts of the Peterloo massacre, when the army massacred protesters. He published the names and addresses of the army officers, was charged with two counts and was sent to prison for 12 months. On his release he set up business as a book seller in Great Ancoats street.
Peter added: “Getting further back than 1500 is very difficult, piecing the jigsaw together is a matter of gathering everything and keeping it in some kind of order. One day another piece joins on and so-on. But a word of warning – once you start something like this, you can’t stop. It is very addictive!”
Paramedics treat baby
after flat blaze
by staff reporter
A SEVEN-month-old baby boy was treated by paramedics after being suffering the effects of smoke in an arson attack on flats in Bowman Avenue, Latchford, Warrington during the night.
The offenders smashed a ground floor window and threw lighted paper into a bedroom starting a fire which wrecked the room and filled two adjoining flats with smoke. The baby was in an adjoining flat where his parents were alerted by a smoke alarm.
Fire crews wore breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.
A spokesman said: “Seventy per cent of the bedroom was destroyed by fire and smoke penetrated two adjoining flats – one where the baby was sleeping. Fortunately a smoke alarm was fitted and the parents were able to carry him to safety.
“He was treated at the scene and did not need to go to hospital.”
The flat which was the target of the attack was unoccupied, but may have been used by vagrants.
Pensioners told they
deserve big pay rise
by Terry Johnson
CAMPAIGNING Warrington pensioners have been told they ‘deserve’ a hefty pay increase.
Racking up their pension would bring them into line with the State payment, in percentage terms, when launched nearly a century ago.
Pensions have fallen from 25 per cent of average pay to less than 15 per cent.
Coun Ian Marks, Liberal Democrats prospective Parliamentary candidate for Warrington South, told the local branch of the North West Pensioners’ Association that his party planned to give the over-75’s an extra ?25-a-week and similar-aged couples ?33-a-week.
“At a stroke this would lift nearly a million pensioners out of means-testing”, declared Coun Marks. He added: “Old age should be a time of dignity – not the financial struggle it is for many”.
Pensioner payments in Britain were much lower than many European countries and latest Government ‘pension credits’ were failing many of the poorest people, he claimed.
“A Citizens Advice Bureau study says a million people are missing out on State pension cash”, stated Coun Marks.
“The problem arises because of excessive reliance on means-testing and a telephone claims system”.
Conservatives broke the link between pensions and earnings in 1980 and Labour ‘had badly let down pensioners.’
Pensions should be up-rated in line with average earnings so everyone shared in the nation’s wealth.
“We would call this a Citizens’ Pension and pay it to everyone who has lived here for a number of years, regardless of their National Insurance contributions. This would particularly benefit women who had taken time off work to look after children”.
Pensioners would further benefit from Lib-Dem plans to replace council tax with a local income tax, free personal care and free off-peak travel on local public transport.
Good wishes –
by the box full!
by staff reporter
CREATIVE Warrington residents have sent positive messages to bring a smile to the faces of hospital patients suffering mental stress.
People in the town were invited to help decorate a huge box before posting their message inside.
Hundreds of messages were posted into the 5ft X 4ft box which was donated to Warrington Hospital for patients to open as a boost at a time when they may be experiencing some stress.
Messages included:
“The world is a better place because you are in it”.
“No matter how alone you think you are, someone out there loves you”.
“I am 13. The world has scared me and will carry on doing so, but think positive and the world will be with you”.
Kerry Broadhead, assistant director of health improvement at Warrington Primary Care Trust, said: “We wanted to show how easy – and quick – it can be to give something positive to someone else. We were
really pleased by how many people took part. We have hundreds of messages, some of them extremely touching.
“Mental health is something which affects us all, but we don’t tend to talk about it. We are hoping this project will contribute to getting people thinking about how important mental health is.”
Anna Alexander, deputy director of nursing at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is a very imaginative way of bringing a positive message to hospital patients when ill-health is causing them concern. Warrington Hospital is very pleased to receive these messages and hope they help to brighten the day of our patients.”
The box was decorated by shoppers in Golden Square Shopping Centre.
Hospital to receive
?100,000 “reward”
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON Hospital is to get a ?100,000 ‘reward’ for speeding up its emergency patient flow.
The incentive money comes as the general hospital hits a Govt. target of at least 96 per cent of accident and emergency patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.
The improvement was notched between July and September.
And the hospital is in line for a further ?100,000 if it pushes the figure to 97 per cent of patients seen between October-December and 98 per cent between January-March next year.
Warrington North MP, Helen Jones, welcomed the hospital’s achievement.
She said: “The award reflects further improvement at our hospital. It is good news for patients”.
It was due, she said, to the ‘continued hard work’ of hospital staff.
Traffic at standstill
after serious accident
by staff reporter
TRAFFIC was brought to a standstill in Warrington early today after a serious accident resulted in A busy main road being closed.
The accident – involving a pedal cyclist – occurred in Cromwell Avenue, Great Sankey.
Police closed Cromwell Avenue to its junction with Sankey Way and long lines of vehicles quickly built up as early morning commuters were held up.
A police spokesman said it was believed serious injuries had been suffered.
It is understood at least one other vehicle was involved in the collision.
AV specialists land
government contract
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based audio visual specialist Tiger AV has been commissioned to supply and install equipment to the Government Offices North West (GONW).
The GONW, one of nine regional government offices in England, including Manchester and Liverpool and represents central government in the region.
It is responsible for gathering views from business and communities, which it then feeds back to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in Whitehall.
Tiger AV were approached by GONW Liverpool who felt that the existing technology in their conference facilities, seminar rooms and boardrooms was in need of a revamp.
Technical Director at Tiger AV, Tony Crossley said: “GONW felt there was a need for AV technology that could not only be used by those wishing to make presentations with the aid of modern audio visual equipment, but that would also present the right impression of the organisation.
“The installation comprised wall mounted plasma screens, and bespoke veneered equipment cabinets manufactured in-house at Tiger AV. Each storage build contained amplifiers, DVD, VHS and a computer input, all of which will provide sound AV support for these facilities.”
Paul Avis, Communications Officer at GONW Liverpool said: “Technology today is a fast paced world and it’s key that we are able to offer modern equipment to our visitors.
“Tiger AV enabled us to get back on track and to offer a modern, efficient and reliable AV environment for our training purposes and for external visitors. The feedback from our visitors has been extremely positive.”
