Tragic police officer
was due to marry
by David Skentelbery
THE Warrington police officer killed while on a mercy mission in Thailand was due to be married later this year.
This has been revealed in a statement issued by his grieving family.
PC Kevin Brinkman was to have married his long term partner, Diana, in September.
The couple have a two year old daughter, Chloe.
In a statement, released through Cheshire Police, the family said: “Kevin Nicholson, known to his friends and colleagues as Kevin Brinkman, originated from Scotland.
“He moved to Cheshire where he served as a Special Constable in the Crewe area before becoming a regular officer ll years ago.
“He was a loving and committed family man and father and a hard working and conscientious officer, respected by his colleagues.” PC Brinkman, aged 33, a member of the Warrington Community Action Team, was part of the British Police response team sent to Thailand to help with relief work in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami disaster.
He was killed in a road accident in which two other Cheshire officers were injured. Both suffered broken limbs.
PC Brinkman had previously has served in Warrington and at Stockton Heath as a uniformed patrol officer. He had more recently been a member of the Warrington Community Action Team.
In 2002, PC Brinkman received a Chief Constable’s commendation for bravery when he arrested two armed robbers who had held up a jeweller’s shop in Stockton Heath.
Village walking
day is back on
by David Skentelbery
THE traditional Stockton Heath Walking Day – cancelled earlier this year when police revealed they were withdrawing from marshalling such events and supervising road closures – is back on again.
Bridgewater Churches Together – the umbrella group for churches in South Warrington – has been informed by the borough council that the level of support for the walk from the council and the police will be similar to that of last year.
A special meeting of church representatives agreed immediately that the Walk should go ahead on July 9.
Another meeting will now be held to sort out the details of the event, which may still have to be altered slightly from previous years.
Leading the procession will be Bethesda Church.
Stockton Heath Walking Day – arguably the biggest after Warrington Walking Day – is one of the longest established in the borough.
Church leaders decided in January that it would have to be cancelled this year after police announced they would be unable to provide marshals or supervise road closures.
Cost of providing adequate cover was put at ?2,000 and around 50 volunteer marshals would have to be found and trained. The churches decided they could not afford this.
Although plans were afoot to try and revive the event in an amended form next year, this year’s Walk was not expected to take place.
Stockton Heath Parish Council clerk Peter Briggs said: “This is very good news. It would have been a sad day for the village if the Walking Day did not take place.”
Birthday celebrations
are a piece of cake!
by Gary Skentelbery
CULCHETH Library celebrated 40 years of service to the public with five days packed full of fun and fond memories for all ages – including a giant cake created by youngsters from Newchurch pre-school.
Since its opening on March 24 1965, the library has been a vital feature of Culcheth, both as a learning and information resource and for books for residents.
Staff at the library worked together to help promote the library and its celebrations with a varied programme of activities.
Children from Newchurch Pre-school entered the spirit of the occasion, helping create a giant birthday cake which went on display on the library wall.
Events included 40 years of books – Discussions about favourite titles or authors from the past 40 years. Displays of books to look at and borrow all day, children’s craft activities, including T-shirt painting for 7-12 year olds, “Remembering the 60’s” and an official Birthday Party!
Society seeking to put
their work in the picture
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S 129 year-old Photographic Society, which is still looking for suitable premises to exhibit their work, celebrated their achievements during their annual exhibiton at the Quays Community Centre on Thelwall New Road.
The awards were presented by the Mayor of Warrington Coun Ted Lafferty, who congratulated the Society on the standard, presentation and quality of their work on display.
Entries consisted of work from all photographic medias of the day, including digital imaging, which is superseding all the methods of yesteryear rapidly.
This year’s main recipients were Malcolm Tavlin, Bill Clayton, Matthew Tavlin, Ken Barrett, Bob Robinson and Norman Cuthbert, who were all highly delighted with their achievements in 2005.
The Society was founded in 1886 by a group of enthusiasts and the original President was Mr T.J.Downs, who at the time was the Managing Director of Greenhall Whitley’s Brewery and a man of great artistic talent. He was followed by many more local names.
Current President Bob Robinson, who considers it a great honour because of the society’s past history, said: “In the society’s time we have moved from the original meeting place at The Old Academy, Bridge Street (60 years) to The Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and then The Library, Museum Street, Warrington, to where we are now at The Quays Community Centre, where unfortunately we do not have the space or facility to house a prolonged exhibition.
“We continue our quest to find exhibition space to exhibit our annual exhibition of competitive work because it would be good for the local community to see what we do and possibly develop an interest themselves.
“The Warrington Photographic Society are a modern forward thinking group of individuals – male and female – sharing a wealth of photographic talent and great enthusiasm for photography and we would welcome anyone who has an interest in this subject, who would like to further their knowledge even more, by joining us.”
The society meet at the Quays Community Centre, Thelwall New Road, Latchford, Warrington (opposite Latchford Locks) every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm September to April. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Society should contact either The President, Bob Robinson on 01925 831699 or the Secretary, Sean Brierley 01925 232495, or visit their website at www.warringtonps.co.uk
Mother obtained benefit
through false claims
by court reporter
A MOTHER of three who falsely claimed more than ?12,000 in benefits from Warrington Borough Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been sentenced to 100-hours community service and ordered to refund the overpayment.
Joan Connolly, (34) of Evelyn Street, Warrington, pleaded guilty at the town’s magistrates’ court earlier this year to offences relating to defrauding Income Support and Housing and Council Tax benefits totalling ?12,102.
Now she has been sentenced at Warrington Crown Court.
The court was told she claimed the money by declaring she was a lone parent when in fact she was living at Marsh House Lane, Warrington, with her partner who was working full time.
Between July 2002 and June 2003, Connolly defrauded the council of ?5,529 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and the DWP of ?6,573 in Income Support.
Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities. This case is a clear demonstration of our determination to tackle benefit fraud. Cheats will be caught – and we are reducing the amount of money lost through fraud and abuse.”
Fraud Operations Manager for the
DWP Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help. Tough action against benefit crooks is paying off, but we can’t do it alone. People around Warrington can play their part by telling us about alleged fraudsters.”
Youngsters campaign
for skatepark
by John Hendon
NEARLY 100 young people have signed a petition calling for a skate park at Burtonwood, near Warrington.
The petition, organised by Jordan Lee, of Weymouth Road, with his sister Chelsea and friend Daniel Blanco, was handed to Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
The MP said: “Jordan and his friends have thought hard about this proposal and have gone about raising the issue in a very professional way.
“I promised to forward the petition to the borough council and to ask them to investigate the possibility of providing a skate park or other youth facilities in Burtonwood village.”
A major skatepark has been opened in Victoria Park, Warrington and a smaller one at Culcheth.
Youngsters in various parts of the borough are calling for skateparks on the grounds the Victoria Park facility – built to international standards – is too far for them to travel to.
Car fire
FIRE crews were called to Europa Boulevard, Warrington, during the night when a stolen car was dumped and set alight.
The heat caused the petrol tank to rupture, starting a fierce blaze which required the use of foam.
A fire service spokesman said the car had apparently been abandoned by thieves who then started a fire in the interior. The fuel tank rupturing complicated the operation. But no one was hurt.
