Sweet success
for Daresbury!
by Gary Skentelbery
A WORLD changing invention created at Daresbury Laboratory near Warrington is celebrating its 25th anniversary today (Friday Sept 16).
For the last quarter century the ?Synchrotron? has had a huge impact on all aspects of our lives ? in ways we didn?t even realise.
It has helped make chocolate consistently delicious, given space to store thousands of tunes on iPODs and has hugely improved aircraft safety.
It looks extraordinary: a hundred-metre ring tunnel through which particles are fired at the speed of light. This allows photographs to be taken of the atoms and molecules inside things, including chocolate!
The cocoa butter inside chocolate has six different crystals and seriously delicious chocolate has its very own special crystal formation. By photographing the crystals scientists can tell how good the chocolate is going to be. Chocolate makers have used the Synchrotron to do just that ? and improved chocolate?s texture, taste and appearance.
From sweets to sounds, what about the iPOD? Even the Queen has one, and like her, most of people probably don?t realise that without the Synchrotron they wouldn?t have been in digital download heaven for so long. iPOD discs contain thousands of tiny magnetic fields. With the help of the Synchrotron, these have been made much smaller, making more space to store tunes.
Professor Tony Ryan, from the University of Sheffield, said: ?The iPOD is just the beginning. Information technology will become smaller and cheaper as we move to plastic electronics. Synchrotron light is vital for this.?
The Synchrotron has also played an important part in advances in air safety. Like chocolate, metal has its own crystal formation and as metal fatigue sets in, the crystal formations change. By photographing them, the Synchrotron allows airlines to see whether metal fatigue is setting in, thus allowing dangerous planes to be taken out of service.
And the technology also plays a vital part in research into the human genome: the Synchrotron is used to reveal the three-dimensional structures of proteins in the genetic blueprint, helping scientists to develop effective drugs.
The Synchrotron ? the first machine of its kind in the world ? though there are now 60 in existence, was developed at The CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory by British scientists.
Some amazing facts about the synchrotron
Electrons in the Synchrotron travel at 99.99997 per cent of the speed of light
When travelling at this speed, particles are 4,000 times heavier than normal
The Synchrotron is a time machine. If you sat on a particle inside it, you would only experience 22 seconds for every 24 hours that pass
There is as little air inside the Synchrotron as found 500 miles above the earth?s surface
FairTrade celebrates
at the double!
by Gary Skentelbery
THE “Fair 4 All” FairTrade stall on Warrington Market has celebrated its third anniversary – by doubling in size!
Joining the birthday celebrations were TV Presenter Mark Olly, who has been giving guided tours of the Market to help celebrate its 750th Charter, Lord Hoyle of Warrington and local MP’s Helen Jones and Helen Southworth.
Other VIP’s included the Mayor and Mayoress representing the Borough Council?s support for the localFairtradeTowncampaign. The stall?s links with local churches was represented by Rev. Stephen Kingsnorth who is also a member of the Fairtrade Town Steering Committee, and Rev. Mavis Mc Donnell the Market Curate. Representing the stall holders was Mrs Hazel Naseem, Secretary of the Market Traders Federation and owner of the market?s Corner Caf?.
Chris Banton, one of Fair 4 All’s volunteer staff said.: “When people are on the look out for a unique, personal gift many come to us first because they have found we have ideas to suit all ages and tastes across a wide price range. “As well as this, an increasing number of customers are concerned that the producers of the goods they are purchasing have not been exploited but rather have been given a fair deal for their labour. Shoppers also comment on how reasonable our prices are, fair trade doesn’t automatically mean expensive, as cutting out middle men and large conglomerates helps ensure a fair deal for our customers too.” The people of Warrington are also showing they want to buy Fair Trade in many ways.
For example, local MP’s regularly receive hundreds of postcards and petition signatures urging them to do more to make trade fair. Also in the last few months Fair 4 All have sold over 1,500 white Make Poverty History wristbands and in the three years since Fair 4 All opened on Warrington Market, sales have increased year on year.
Now the not for profit business, owned and staffed by volunteers, has under gone a revamp.
“There is such a huge range of desirable and affordable fairly traded goods available now that we’ll have no problem filling the extra space,” said another staff member Hilary Thomson. “As well as a continually increasing range of delicious Fairtrade foods, beverages and chocolates, many of which are organic, we’re enjoying ordering new and extended craft ranges. Our present range includes, incense, wooden toys and games, unusual musical instruments from around the world, jewellery, hand made paper cards, mobiles and wind chimes, cushion covers, rugs, handbags and purses, gifts for house and garden in a wide range of styles and also lots of individually crafted ornaments – our cat range is especially popular.”
Volunteer Ruth Earnshaw added: “Since the Make Poverty History events and Live 8 concerts that were held all over the country; including Warrington, even more people understand and support the part Fair Trade plays in efforts to eradicate world poverty. We are passionate about spreading the word, explaining the huge difference that buying Fair Trade can make to the lives of overseas producers; lifting them out of poverty and giving them dignity and hope for their family’s future. In support of this aim we always have a good range of information leaflets available at Fair 4 All and we also provide talks and sale or return stalls to local schools and organisations “
Eleven golds
for rowing club
WARRINGTON rowing club collected an impressive haul of eleven gold medals in the North of England Sprint Rowing Championships.
Warrington sent a team of 31 crews, comprising 15 senior boats and 16 junior boats.
In the final results Warrington came 2nd out of 20 clubs in the junior section and 4th out of 25 clubs in the senior section.
There was an outstanding performance from Olivia Oakes who entered four different events and won four gold medals.
The Men?s Novice race culminated in a Warrington v Warrington final, Graeme Atherton and Gareth Williams raced Gareth Atkinson and Jack Richardson with Atherton and Williams finally won by half a length (see pictured above).
There were 11 gold medals awarded during the day to Warrington.
Celebrity trainer
gets workers in shape
A WARRINGTON company is leading the field in creating a healthy workplace.
Strand Technology has hired a personal trainer to ensure its 15-strong workforce keep at the peak of fitness.
Trainer to the stars Adam Francis, who has worked with celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, footballers, and TV soap actors, has been busy putting the Strand software development team through their paces.
Even Strand?s Managing Director Graham Phillips has got involved ? losing five and a half stone in just six months.
?This sort of training increases endorphin levels in the brain which raises your self esteem, sharpens the mind and increases your energy levels,? said Adam, who has devised individual nutrition and exercise plans for each staff member.
?The Strand team have thrown themselves into the programme with true determination ? and they are already feeling the benefits,? he added.
Graham added: ?
We are working closely with the NHS and believe we should be leading the way with healthy lifestyles and incorporating exercise into the office culture.
?And it?s worked ? we?re all feeling in great shape?and have lost a combined weight of 12 stones!?
Adam is based at the Alive and Well gym in Birchwood.
MP receives
traffic petition
RESIDENTS campaigning for a reduced speed limit on a country lane have presented a petition to Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
People living on Delph Lane, Houghton Green, are concerned that the National Speed Limit (60 mph) is in force in the narrow lane, even when it bends sharply and goes through the residential area close to the junction with Myddleton Lane.
The local residents are concerned about speeding cars in this area as many families have young children. In addition parts of the lane flood in heavy rain making speeding traffic and even greater danger.
Myddleton Lane and Southworth Lane leading into Croft are 40 mph zones and as Delph Lane merges with Mill Lane in Houghton Green the speed limit reduces even though there is no residential area on that stretch of road.
Mrs Anne Buckley and other residents presented helen with the petition calling for a 30 mph limit on the stretch of lane running through the area.
New season for
concert band
NORTH Cheshire Concert Band, Warrington’s award-winning brass band, is launching its third season at Pyramid with an unforgettable brass performance on September 24 featuring a guest appearance by clarinet soloist Linda Merrick, from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
This extraordinary band will stage several performances in Warrington this season and hopes to attract music lovers from the entire region.
[ 21.09.2005, 17:44: Message edited by: Gary ]
