Peace Trust’s new
international initiative
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’S Tim Parry-Johnathan Ball Trust – the peace initiative launched after the IRA bombing atrocity in the town – has announced a five-year plan outlining its ambitions for the future.
The Trust – named after the two boys killed in the outrage – has set up an International Peace Commission (IPC) to help it refine and strengthen its existing work and develop new initiatives to meet future challenges.
Aim of the IPC will be to provide ongoing policy direction advice and monitoring to ensure that programme initiatives make a sustainable and lasting contribution to conflict resolution – particularly on an international basis.
The IPC will hold its inaugural meeting in London on Saturday October 1 and before that a dinner is being held on Friday September 31 with invited international politicians.
IPC members* will bring their different disciplines and experiences to the work of the Trust and will be key voices in determining the future of Trust’s work. The IPC is critical not just for our work and development but we believe it can make a fundamental contribution to peace policy development internationally.
The remit of the Commission will include:
Bringing learning and wisdom gained from successful (and unsuccessful) processes of conflict resolution to a place of debate and shared learning where they can be discussed by people of leadership from around the world and from very different traditions.
Identification of proven conflict management strategies and recommendation of new policy, practice and developments for adoption by the Trust.
Influencing and steering research and programme development to achieve the above. In addition, research papers will be published and assistance will be provided to the Trust in the commissioning of specific research programmes.
The Tim Parry-Johnathan Ball Trust was set up by Colin and Wendy Parry following the death of their 12-year-old son Tim and three-year-old Johnathan Ball after the IRA bombed Warrington in 1993. Wilf and Marie, Johnathan’s parents, have given their full support to the organisation.
Prayers answered after
missing bear found in pub!
by Gary Skentelbery
A VICAR’S prayers have been answered after the church teddy bear she feared lost on her holiday travels was found safe and well – in a pub!
Now Rev Elaine Hall from Warrington has been reunited with her missing “Bobby the bear” who disappeared after posing for a picture on the seafront at the holiday island of Guernsey.
Bobby is regular traveller with Elaine, who is vicar at St Matthew’s Church, Stretton and her husband, Peter. The couple take the toy with them on holiday and use the photographs of him in various locations to teach the youngsters in the church Christian lessons.
Unfortunately the bear?s morals appeared to have lapsed for a moment and when their backs were turned, he headed for the nearest boozer.
Salerie Inn landlady Annette Blows said the cheeky teddy had become a hit with the regulars. “He has been having a whale of a time,? she said.
?With his shades and clutching a cigarette, he has been looking a bit of a cool dude at the bar.?
Bobby has travelled to France, Scotland and Ireland and it was feared his recent holiday to the Bailiwick might have been his last.
But his pub fun came to an end when Elaine and Peter launched an appeal in the local Guernsey press and Bobby was soon found propping up the bar.
“We thought he had gone for good,? said Elaine. “One minute he was in our bag and the next he was gone.”
“We retraced our steps and couldn?t find him anywhere. Now we have discovered he has been in a pub all this time while we were searching for him.”
Fortunately Elaine and Peter still had friends on the holiday island who were able to escort Bobby back home to Warrington.
Thieves target
local homes
by staff reporter
OPPORTUNIST thieves are targeting people living in the Warrington area who leave their properties insecure.
In particular, the scheming raiders, have raided homes in the Croft and Culcheth areas Police are appealing for the public to remain vigilant and ensure their properties are left secure at all times when left empty.
They are also requesting that garden sheds are also secured properly.
Over the past few weeks there have been a number of house burglaries in the area, including garden sheds being broken into and valuable tools and other property stolen.
A police spokesman said: ?Householders should keep windows and doors closed and locked in unoccupied rooms and especially when they leave their property empty.
?Burglary can be extremely distressing for the victim and just a few moments thought can prevent the heartache of having your home broken into.?
Anyone with information about recent crimes can contact Warrington East Neighbourhood Policing Unit on 0845 4586390, or inform Crimestoppers, anonymously, on: 0800 555 111.
Golfing boost for
Claire House Appeal
by staff reporter
LYMM Golf Club’s past captain (2004), Les Jones, presented a cheque for ?4,488 to Janet Croker from Claire House, the children’s hospice for Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales and the Isle of Man.
Members, friends and guests at a whole variety of events, including raffles and auctions, raised the money during the year.
Les said, “I am pleased to be supporting such a worthy cause as I know they will put the funds to good use.”
Janet who presented Les with a special thank you plaque, said: “There are many children from Warrington and the surrounding area that attend Claire House for specialist respite and terminal care and it means a lot to us to have support from local people as we receive no government funding at all.”
For more information about Claire House please contact Janet Croker on 0151 343 0883 or email [email protected]
Local man given
two-year ASBO
by court reporter
A 45 year old Warrington man has been made the subject of a two year Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).
The ASBO was granted at Warrington Magistrates Court following an application by Cheshire Police.
The court heard evidence that Cyril Maher, 45, of no fixed abode, had acted in a disorderly manner, been abusive, intimidating and threatening and that the Order was necessary to protect local people from further anti social behaviour by him.
PC Mark Williams, of the Warrington Community Action Team, said: “Maher’s behaviour was totally unacceptable and had been affecting local residents and shopkeepers in Stockton Heath and Warrington town centre over a number of months. The conditions attached to this Order will help to curb his behaviour.
“This ASBO should also serve as a warning to others that anti social behaviour will not be tolerated and reassure members of the local community that together with our partner agencies police are taking positive action to reduce anti social behaviour not only in Stockton Heath but across the whole borough.?
Breaching the conditions of an ASBO is an arrestable offence.
A chance to quiz
town’s health chiefs
by John Hendon
MEMBERS of the public are being invited to quiz health chiefs on issues affecting the health of the borough at the annual public meeting of Warrington Primary Care Trust.
The meeting takes places at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, in Winwick Road, Warrington on Wednesday, September 28 at 6pm.
There will be a number of short presentations including ?Improving the Health of Older People?, ?Living Longer, Living Better? and ?The Health of the Population of Warrington?.
In addition, copies of the PCT?s annual report will be available.
The meeting will be open to questions from members of the public who will be given an opportunity to share their experiences of the town?s health
services. Those who would like to submit a question in advance are asked to contact Ben Knight on 01925 843633 or email [email protected] PCT chairman Robin Brown (pictured)said: ?We would encourage patients, carers and other Warrington residents to raise issues with us so that we can improve services for people living in the town.?
Warrington PCT is a local organisation that commissions, provides and manages healthcare services in the town.
MP supports campaign
for working parents
by staff reporter
MP Helen Jones is visiting a Warrington school today (Friday) to promote a campaign highlighting the rights and benefits available to parents of school-age children.
The Warrington North MP will meet headteacher Anne Hudson and some parents at Burtonwood Primary School ? and leaving copies of a guide for working parents produced by the shopworkers union USDAW.
Ms Jones said: ?Many working parents breathe a sigh of relief when the summer holidays are over as it is a time of stress and financial hardship for them when they need to pay for expensive childcare or take unpaid leave.
?Many parents tell me that they also struggle with their work/life balance during term time as well – particularly if they work evenings and weekends.
?That is why I am supporting USDAW in their campaign for the right to request flexible working to be extended to all working parents of children up to the age of 16. Currently, only parents of children under six have this right. The Government are looking at including more parents and I hope they will do so soon.
?I would like to hear people?s views about what should be done and would ask working parents to contact me at my constituency office.? Ms Jones can be contacted at Gilbert Wakefield House, 67 Bewsey Street, Warrington ? phone 01925 232 480 ? fax 01925 232 239 ? or by e-mail at [email protected]
Information is also available from the USDAW web site at www.usdaw.org.uk
