Prince Charles
to visit town
by staff reporter
THE Prince of Wales is to visit Warrington on Friday November 18.
Prince Charles, who is Colonel in Chief of The King’s Regiment and The 22nd Cheshire Regiment will attend a parade and present medals to TA soldiers from The King’s and Cheshire Regiment, at Warrington Town Hall, Clarence House has announced.
At the same time, the Duchess of Cornwall, who is president of the National Osteoporosis Society, will visit the Bone Densitometry Unit and open the new Department of Clinical Biochemistry Automated Laboratory at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
The couple will later link up to visit Liverpool Football Club to celebrate 10,000 young people having been helped by The Prince’s Trust Football Initiative at the club.
Councillor’s call
for firework safety
by Lesley Wilkinson
A BID to stop louts “terrorising” communities with fireworks during the bonfire season is being made by Warrington councillor Yvonne Fovargue.
She is urging people to be “safe not sorry” and hopes to see a reduction in national figures of almost 1,140 people being treated at accident and emergency departments for firework injury in the UK during 2003. Many of the injuries occurred at private parties.
Coun Fovargue said she is passionate about firework safety because as a child she suffered a burn to her leg, which is still visible, as a result of firework misuse.
She has welcomed tough new measures brought in by the government to tackle firework misuse and crack down on anti social behaviour.
“I want to stop louts and vandals using fireworks to terrorise communities, making this year’s firework season safer and more enjoyable for everyone,” she said.
“The new rules include a curfew, a ban on under-18s having fireworks in the streets and a maximum noise limit on certain fireworks.”
Coun Fovargue said police now have the power to issue on the spot ?80 fines with more serious offences carrying a risk of a fine up to ?5,000 and/or six months in prison.
“Fireworks are fun when used properly, but evidence shows that people can and do forget to follow the basic safety rules, particularly if they are fairly used to letting off fireworks,” she said.
“If people do become complacent, the results can be disastrous – so I am urging them to think of the consequences before someone is seriously injured. It is important to remember to be safe – not sorry.”
Man arrested after
woman beaten up
by David Skentelbery
POLICE at Warrington have arrested a 30-year-old man following a serious assault on a woman in the town centre.
He is currently being held in custody on suspicion of assault and is assisting police with their enquiries.
The 21-year-old woman was taken to hospital with several broken ribs after being attacked in Academy Way, Warrington, outside the China China takeaway shop.
Police said she was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked by her attacker.
The incident was reported fully in Warrington-Worldwide yesterday (Tuesday)>
Artist labelled “genius”
at the age of 21
ARTWORK by Chris Boyd, a 21-year old Warrington artist already labelled as a ‘genius’, is currently on show at Pyramid, Warrington’s Centre for the Arts.
It is part of a new exhibition that brings together work of four superb artists, the others being Caroline Blackburn, Julia Peat and Clare Eccles.
Last year, Chris won Channel Five TV’s Big Art Challenge UK Art Prize, a six part series on Channel Five aiming to seek out the next Damien Hirst or John Constable with a prize of ?10,000.
Other distinctions include a Priestly Prize and the FACT (Liverpool) Microwave Award. Labelled a ‘genius’ by controversial art critic Brian Sewell, his is a name to watch.
Chris was born and still lives in Warrington. Currently an interactive arts student at Manchester Metropolitan University, he discovered his passion for video while at Warrington’s Priestley College.
Leonardo Da Vinci, Carl Jung and Bruce Lee are where Chris finds his inspiration, a diverse if not explosive combination that surfaces in his work. Despite his age, his achievements are vast and his recognition international.
“My greatest achievement was changing the mind of art critic Brian Sewell on video art, which he did not consider to be a form of art” says Chris. “Winning the Big Art Challenge UK art prize last year and being considered as one the Britain’s top 40 creatives by the Tate while in my second year as an undergraduate were equally rewarding.”
Swapping jobs
with volunteers
by staff reporter
PUBLIC sector staff in Warrington – from agencies such as the police, NHS and Job Centre – are swapping roles with volunteers for a week to mark the Year of the Volunteer.
Those taking part from the public sector include the patient services manager from Warrington Hospital, the operations manager from Job Centre Plus, and officers from the police, fire and Warrington Borough Council Adult Services, together with the Mayor of Warrington Coun Hans Mundry.
The unusual swap is being organised by The Local Compact for Warrington, a partnership between local statutory agencies and voluntary/community organisations aimed at improving services.
The role changes will involve volunteers from a range of organisations throughout Warrington, and is aimed at raising awareness between the two sectors and of the Local Compact.
During the week the public sector staff will spend time in the voluntary organisations, and then the chosen volunteers will spent time in the public sector role. Events culminate with a celebration lunch for all those involved, on November 7.
Search for the town’s
top young musicians
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS with a talent for music are being sought for The Warrington Competition For Young Musicians 2006, which is open to all under the age of 19.
Entry is divided into two categories – Upper and Lower Divisions. Upper is for those of Associated Board Grade Seven standard and upward or equivalent, and lower is for Young Musicians of Associated Board Grade Four to Six standard or equivalent.
Competition heats will be held in January and February next year and both finals will be on April 2. The competition is open to piano, any solo orchestral or brass band instrument, voice and classical guitar, all with piano accompaniment as required.
A variety of prizes ranging from ?15 to ?300, and trophies will be awarded.
The closing date for entries is November 21. Application forms can be downloaded from www.makingmusic.org.uk/northwest, and further information is available from the competition administrator at 103 Common Lane, Culcheth, Warrington, WA3 4HQ, telephone 01925 762517.
Police in new campaign
to crack down on crime
by staff reporter
A HARD-hitting campaign aimed at putting more offenders behind bars is being launched by police in Warrington in the run up to Christmas.
The Crackdown on Crime will focus on crimes involving drugs, arson, binge drinking, yobs, burglary and career criminals.
Campaign posters will be displayed throughout the town and there will be banners publicising it outside police stations.
The campaign runs until January and already there has been a crackdown on drugs in Warrington that resulted in the arrest and charge of seven men on conspiracy to supply cocaine.
There have also been crackdowns on shoplifting and binge drinking throughout the county.
Chief Superintendent Derek Barnett said: “Crime in communities has a serious affect on people’s quality of life, whether it be drug dealing, anti-social behaviour or drink driving.
“This campaign will use significant intelligence to target all these areas and more, which serves as a warning
to offenders that crime will not be tolerated in Cheshire.”
Future plans involve a series of night-time initiatives to tackle drink-related crimes.
Further details about the campaign are available on the website www.cheshire.police.uk which features CCTV images of people police need to speak to in connection with outstanding crimes.
