Jail ? for breaching
order within hours
by court reporter
A 45 year old Warrington man was arrested by police for breaching an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) within hours of it being served.
Cyril Maher, 45, of no fixed address, was issued with a two year ASBO by Warrington Magistrates on September 19 and was served with the order a day later.
Under the terms of the order, Maher was prohibited from drinking, or being found in possession of alcohol in an open container, in any public place.
But within hours of the ASBO being served Maher was arrested and charged by police for breaching the order by being found in possession of alcohol in an open container in a public place.
As a result, he appeared at Warrington Magistrates Court and was sentenced to four weeks in prison.
PC Mark Smith, of the Warrington Community Action Team, said: ?ASBOs are taken very seriously by police and the courts and once again we have taken positive action against Maher to protect members of the local community.
?As a result of breaching the strict conditions imposed upon him he was arrested and charged and will now spend a number of weeks behind bars. If he breaches the order again in future we will not hesitate in taking the appropriate action.”
Volunteers walk over
hot coals for hospice
by Gary Skentelbery
BRAVE volunteers took part in a sponsored “fire walk” raising nearly ?6,000 for St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington.
A total of 25 people took part in the event at the Dog and Partridge pub, Woolston, walking over 15 feet on hot coals at temperatures of 1235 Fahrenheit.
Walkers braved the hot coals after a two hour training session which examined the mind/body connection and explored comfort zones, expanding them to overcome limiting beliefs. The St. Rocco?s supporters walked over the coals, watched by family and friends. One of the walkers, St Rocco’s fund-raiser lesley Groome said: “We had to think happy thoughts and believe that to walk over hot coals was ok. If you tell that to your brain, then you can do it. We also got really excited and concentrated the mind, which was part of the training we did as a team. I can remember every step that I took ? it felt like walking over fine pebbles or cornflakes.
“You could hear the crunching sounds under your feet but I couldn?t feel a thing ? no heat, nothing! It was unbelievable. And the sense of achievement afterwards was great.
Lesley added: “Everyone had their own reasons for doing it, most because they wanted to support the hospice because they knew someone who has been at St Rocco?s. For some it was a real personal challenge. For me, it was both of those reasons.”
Everyone who completed the challenge received special certificates and together they raised ?5,800 in sponsorship for the hospice.
Public urged to help
“call time on crime”
by Lesley Wilkinson
POLICE are urging residents of Warrington to help tackle crime by joining in a new campaign – Call Time on Crime.
People are being asked to contact police or the confidential Crimestoppers service on 0800 555111, if they have information about crimes.
Posters throughout the borough will carry the slogan ?CALL TIME ON CRIME?, with contact details for Crimestoppers.
This intelligence gathering campaign is the prelude to the police’s ?Crackdown on Crime? autumn initiative aimed at putting more criminals behind bars.
Police will work with partner agencies on a number of initiatives to tackle crime particularly involving drugs, burglary, car crime and trouble hotspots.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “People know who the bad guys are in their area. They know who is spending money they haven’t earned. They know who is committing the crime in their community.
“Information from the public is essential if police are to target criminals effectively. The force works very closely with Cheshire Crimestoppers which allows people to leave information anonymously,” he added.
He urged to public to help by providing information.
“You may think that the information you have is small and insignificant, however it could be the vital piece in the puzzle that solves an investigation or puts a criminal behind bars,” he added.
Tony Molloy, co-ordinator of Cheshire Crimestoppers said that for every seven calls made to the service, police make one arrest. He said it is a great help in crime solving.
“This success is largely due to the quality of information provided by callers. People are phoning with information that is not readily available to the police because for whatever reason they wish to remain anonymous. The number of arrests is due to a combination of factors but particularly the quality of the information the callers pass on to us,” he added.
So far this year 972 anonymous calls have been made to Cheshire Crimestoppers, resulting in 131 arrests.
Men of League honour
town’s Aussie legend
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON’s Australian legend Harry Bath is to be honoured at a special ceremony in Australia today (Wednesday) in recognition of his outstanding career – which included helping Warrington to Championship and Challenge cup successes in the 1940’s and 50’s.
Harry, who spent nearly a decade at Warrington before truning to a successful coaching career in Australia is set to become an honorary member – a special charity launched in Australia to help players who have fallen on difficult times.
Harry will be attending the star-studded dinner with his wife Gwen.
The idea of forming the Men of League gfollowed concerns legendary back-rower Ron Coote over former players he had discovered who were going through difficult times.
One of those was his hero Doug McRitchie, physically weak in a hospital on the South Coast of New South Wales. Touched by what he saw, Ron with former players Jim Hall and Max Brown, set up a meeting.
At this meeting 140 players, officials and referees joined up to become the founding members.
Ron became the first President and another former player and past Premier of New South Wales and retired Cabinet Minister in the Federal Government, the Honourable John Fahey AC was asked to become the Patron.
In a very brief time a committee was formed and the first major fund raising event was organised.
This was the Men of League Ball a black tie affair attended by over 700 people. The Ball was held in October just a few months after the first meeting and proved to be an outstanding success. It is now a fixture on the social calendar in Sydney and is held the Wednesday before the Grand Final. At this Ball greats from the past are honoured.
Over the last two years the Men of League has grown to over 2000 members, and has formed branches of the organisation in Brisbane, Illawarra and Tweed/Gold Coast. Further branches will be formed in the future.
Campaign to protect
town from ‘flu bug
by John Hendon
A MAJOR campaign, aimed at protecting Warrington people from winter influenza, gets underway on Monday (October 3) and runs to the end of the year.
Health chiefs say that ?flu is a serious illness for older people as it can lead to long-lasting complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and even death.
So every autumn local GPs work alongside Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) to offer free ?flu vaccination to over 65s and other people whose health condition places them at risk of serious complications should they catch the ?flu.
Kerry Broadhead, health improvement assistant director for adults at Warrington PCT, said: “The vast majority of deaths related to ?flu are among the over 65s or people who have an underlying health problem which places them at risk of developing serious complications should they catch ?flu. In the Warrington area alone, 374 deaths were attributable to ?flu or pneumonia between 2001 and 2003.
Those eligible for a free ?flu jab inclu
de people who have long-term lung, heart or kidney disease, have diabetes mellitus or have lowered immunity due to a disease (such as spleen problems) or medical treatment (such as chemotherapy). Others with a serious medical condition qualify, as do those who live in a nursing, residential or long stay home.
GPs will write to those who qualify asking them to attend their surgery for a free vaccination.
The PCT said that people of all ages with asthma are at risk if they catch ?flu and advises that they contact their surgery to discuss having a ?flu jab. People with chronic liver disease and those who care for elderly or disabled people should also discuss their eligibility with their GP.
Kerry said: “On average 5,000 lives are saved every year as a result of the jab. Contrary to any myths surrounding the ?flu jab, it is safe and effective. The vaccine cannot give you ?flu and most people experience no or only very minor side effects.”
In addition this year, Warrington GPs are also able to offer free pneumococcal jabs to anyone aged over 65. Previously only available to over 75s, the pneumococcal jab helps to protect against pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis (inflammation around the brain). These conditions are caused by a pneumococcal infection that is spread by coughing, sneezing and close contact with people.
Millennium Volunteer award
for Claire House helper
by Gary Skentelbery
A PADGATE woman who gave up her free time to work in a Warrington charity shop has achieved a Millennium Volunteers Award of Excellence.
Sue Cawley gave up her free time to volunteer at Claire House Charity Shop in the Cockhedge Centre and following six months of service, clocking up 200 hours, she was presented with the award by the Mayoress of Warrington.
Shop Manager Rachel Murray said, “Sue has proved to be very reliable and extremely enthusiastic. She is dedicated, works very hard and is a valued member of our team.”
Millennium Volunteers is a national volunteering project to encourage young people aged 16 to 24 to convert their interests, skills and talents into voluntary work of benefit to the community and their own personal development.
Claire House is a children’s hospice providing specialist respite and terminal care for children and young people from the Warrington area and throughout Cheshire and Merseyside. As a registered charity the hospice relies entirely on donations from the public and the charity shop in Warrington is a vital source of income. If you would like to volunteer and have a few hours each week to spare please contact Rachel on 01925 577967 or phone Claire House on 0151 343 0883. Good quality donated goods are always welcome and can be dropped off at the shop in the Cockhedge Centre between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Picture shows Claire House volunteer Sue Cawley and shop manager Rachel Murray.
Victoriana will mark
library’s “birthday”
by Lesley Wilkinson
VICTORIAN ghost tales and the chance to pose for a silhouette portrait from that era, will be among the attractions at a celebration at Warrington Library and Museum on Saturday October 8.
Visitors will be transported back to the Victorian period in an event, from 11am to 3pm, to celebrate the laying of the library’s foundation stone in 1855.
During the Victorian family fun day guests will have the opportunity to tour behind the scenes of the old building, with all events being free.
There will be ghost tales in the library in the morning and a museum time tunnel in the afternoon. There will be the chance to make Victorian toys, including traditional peg dolls, the chance to try writing with a quill and displays of Victorian books.
There will be sessions on family history, opportunities to dress up in Victorian clothes and find out more about the Lewis Carroll character Alice in Wonderland. There will also be Victorian prizes on offer.
Further details are available from the museum on 01925 442733.
Charity group’s
annual meeting
by staff reporter
CHARITY group the Relationships Centre (formerly known as ARC) holds its Annual Meeting at The Gateway, Sankey Street, Warrington, on Friday October 14.
The Relationships Centre offers support to people affected by unhealthy relationships, by offering information and advice, emotional support, counselling and mediation.
The meeting starts at 2.30pm, and anyone interested in attending should contact the charity on 01925 246910.
