Parties join forces
over police shake-up
by David Skentelbery
ALL three political parties on Warrington Borough Council have joined forces in an attack on the Home Secretary?s proposals for re-organising the police.
Coun Mike Hannon, Labour, Coun Keith Bland, Conservative and Coun Ian Marks, Liberal Democrat, will move a resolution at next Monday?s meeting of the full council.
The motion will be seconded by council leader John Joyce.
Members of the council will be asked to approve a resolution that the council believes:
the primacy of locally-based and locally accountable policing must be enhanced and protected by any higher-level re-organisation of police forces.
the Home Secretary?s preferred options for the North West region will not enhance and may not protect locally-based and locally-accountable policing.
the opportunity for thorough and timely consultation and discussion of this vital subject has not been afforded.
it is therefore not possible for the council to make a considered judgement as to which proposal would properly reflect the legitimate interests of Warrington residents.
The council will be asked to instruct the chief executive to convey this conclusion to the Cheshire Police Authority as its response to the current consultation exercise.
Cheshire Police Authority has already informed the Home Secretary that it believes the timescale set for views to be sent to the Government on the proposals is ?absurd.?
The Home Secretary favours either Cheshire Police, including Warrington, amalgamating with Merseyside Police or, alternatively, amalgamating with Greater Manchester Police.
Cullen helps
launch new book
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Wolves Head Coach Paul Cullen was on hand to help launch a new Rugby League annual.
The newly published “Rugby League Journal Annual 2006” is sure to make a great Christmas present for fans of all ages – and especially those dads and granddads who like to reminisce about the characters in Rugby League in years gone by.
The “Journal” is published by Harry Edgar, the founder of the original “Open Rugby” magazine and is seen as the original spirit of that pioneering magazine. His wife Ruth Edgar is in charge of sales and subscriptions.
Packed with features, records, memorabilia and over 200 great photos of the stars and teams of both today and yesterday, this Annual has built on the popularity of the “Rugby League Journal” quarterly magazine, and combines coverage of the world of Rugby League in 2005 with a wonderful collection of memories of the players, teams and famous events of the past.
The Annual has an extensive foreword written by Warrington Wolves coach Paul Cullen which provides some fascinating insights, and there are plenty of other features of specific interest to Warrington fans, including a reflection on the legendary Brian Bevan’s farewell to Wilderspool, a spread on the days when Les Boyd and Andy Gregory both wore the primrose and blue together, a look back at the Wire’s Wembley side of 1975, including Parry Gordon and John Bevan – plus an exclusive on just how the current Wolves star Martin Gleeson could line up in the Australian State of Origin series.
This book is totally unique in Rugby League with its vast array of old photographs sure to thrill those who remember the game in years gone by. Among the historical features are those on the famous “Indomitables” touring team of 1946, the fierce “Battle of the Boulevard” and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Cups.
The new Annual has a full section on every professional club and ensures that equal billing is given to all the clubs, not just the current big guns in Super League – thus fans of every club will find something of special interest to them – and there are also in-depth reports on the Amateur game and Rugby League overseas in Australia, New Zealand and France, with Warrington favourite Andrew Johns heavily featured in he Aussie section. Among the present day players featured there’s a special tribute to the Great Britain captain elect Paul Sculthorpe, who first made his name with Warrington.
This Annual is a book guaranteed to bring endless hours of enjoyment to supporters everywhere – it is a real “Aladdin’s Cave” of Rugby League nostalgia and memorabilia.
Superb value at only ?12.95 and a unique book that all Rugby League fans will enjoy.
The “Rugby League Journal Annual 2006” can be obtained at all good bookshops. Available in Warrington at W.H.Smith and Waterstones (both in Golden Square), plus also at the Wolfware Shop at the Haliwell Jones stadium.
Available by mail-order, for details see: www.rugbyleaguejournal.net
Warrington-worldwide readers have a chance of winning a copy of the annual signed by Paul Cullen and Harry Edgar in a simple to enter competition.
Simply email us your details to [email protected] marked Rugby League Journal Competition and you’ll go into the draw. Closing date December 7th. Normal competition rules apply.
Students get close
to ?1,000 mark
by staff reporter
CHILDREN in Need was the latest charitable event to catch the imagination of the staff and students at Priestley College.
Following hot on the heels of Pretty in Pink Day and a recent Performing Arts showcase, which both raised funds for Breast Cancer charities, it was now time for Pudsey Bear to take centre stage.
During a fun filled day on campus students came to college in fancy dress, held raffles and sold cakes and also took part in the Playstation challenge which saw students gain sponsorship before fighting it out to see who was the top gamer/dancer.
As always the sense of light hearted fun was evident but the serious message was not lost on anyone with the college students now close to topping the ?1,000 mark for charitable causes inside the last month alone.
Speaking with regard to the day and the recent fund raising activities, Marketing Officer, Nat Ashurst said: “Children in Need proved to be a huge success and as a college we are always keen to promote activities which can aid those people who are less fortunate than ourselves.”
He added: “The students really do all in their power to help out with events such as this as has been shown in recent times with the amount of donations and sponsorship funds they have managed to generate.”
Parents to get a say
on future of schools
by John Hendon
PARENTS are being urged to have their say on the future of children’s services in Warrington.
The borough council’s Children’s Services Directorate together with partners in health, voluntary services and Connexions are working together to improve the outcomes for children across the town.
They are urging parents, and residents, to give their opinions on how every child can get the best out of their childhood to ensure five key outcomes: that they stay safe, are healthy, can enjoy life and reach their potential, make a positive contribution to society and have enough money to live on when they leave home.
These five outcomes are part of a National Government campaign called Every Child Matters and the results of the consultations will help feed future plans for Warrington’s services for children.
Residents can get involved in the consultations by filling in the questionnaire, which has been sent to every child at school or nursery, at pre-schools and carer and toddler groups.
There are also five fun events across the town for people to drop in and have their say:
November 29 – St Stephens RC Primary School – 3pm – 6pm
November 30- Sir Thomas Boteler High School – 1-3pm and 4-6pm
December 1 – Birchwod Tennis Centre – 1-3pm and 4-6pm
December 6 – Penketh High School – 1-3pm and 4-6pm
December 7 – Bridgewater High School – 1-3pm and 4-6pm
Coun Colin Froggatt, the council executive member f
or Children’s Services, said: “We really want parents from across the town to spend a few minutes at the events telling us how we can make the five outcomes a reality for all children. All of the suggestions will help us to write our Children’s Plan making sure that what is offered to parents and children in the future reflects the need of our communities.”
For more information about these events, ring the Children’s Information Service on 01925 443131.
Ready for 3,699-mile journey
A STOCKTON Heath, Warrington couple who are due to set out on Boxing Day on a gruelling 20-day 3,699 mile drive through nine countries, have been showing off their car to local scouts and schoolchildren.
Alan Jaques and Geraldine Murphy are taking part in the Plymouth to Dakar Challenge, a take-off of the famous Paris to Dakar Challenge, driving a 33-year old Mercedes 280.
The drive – which has been described as the world’s ultimate banger race – will take the pair through hundreds of miles of the Sahara Desert.
Their car, which had been standing unused for eight years before they bought it, will be one of 200 taking part in the challenge, which will raise money for a number of Gambian charities.
Alan and Geraldine plan to keep in touch with a number of local schools and the scouts via email, text and their website www.4weldingsandafunnel.com which they will update as the journey continues.
“We hope perhaps the trip will be some help educationally, in terms of geography, etc. The youngsters will be able to follow our progress on the map and learn something about the various countries we pass through,” said Alan.
At the end of the journey, the car will be auctioned off in aid of charity and the couple hope they may be able to get as much as ?1,000 for it.
They will have to make their home at their own expense as all money raised goes to charity.
After passing through France, Spain and Gibraltar , the couple take the ferry to Morocco and commence an itinerary of exotic sounding places such as Rabat, Marrakech, Agadir, Laayoune, Dakhla, Nouadhibou, Nouamghar, Nouakchott, Zebrabar, etc. They will camp overnight in the Sahara.
Each two-person team in the event takes a title and Alan and Geraldine have chosen “4 Weldings and a Funnel” – a play on words not unconnected with repairs necessary to their car.
The couple, are seeking sponsorship for the trip and any firm or individual interested in taking part can contact them on 01925 861771.
CCTV company
is a fast mover
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based CCTV manufacturer AD Group has been rated as the Fastest Growing Technology business in the North of England, according to the 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards.
As well as being the leader in the North, the company was ranked 2nd overall for the combined Midlands and North of England regions.
The Fast 50 rankings are based on the average percentage growth over five years, from 2000-2004 with AD Group growing by 4430 per cent during this period.
Group finance director Andrew Finn attributes the company’s impressive revenue growth to its ability to create and bring to market leading edge CCTV solutions on the ground, in the air and on the move.
He said, “We are pleased to have been recognised once again for the strength of our business, following on as it does from our leading position in last year’s Deloitte Indy 100 award for the UK’s fastest growing companies. As a Group we continue to grow both organically and through acquisition, with recent additions to our portfolio including US semiconductor manufacturer ChipWrights and Hampshire-based D-Tec (Detector Technologies Limited) which specialises in Video Smoke Detection.?
AD Group has a turnover of ?89.2 million in 2004. Its interests include CCTV systems for aircraft, transport, smoke detection, together with camera technology, digital video signal processors, and digital video recorders and multiplexers.
Children blamed for
play ground blaze
by staff reporter
CHILDREN are being blamed for a fire which caused extensive damage to safety surfacing in the play area in St Elphin’s Park, Warrington.
Blue wheelie bins full of waste paper were taken from nearby houses, pulled to the park and set on fire.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “There have been a number of incidents like this in the park. The kids seem to think it is a huge joke.” Firefighters were also called to Old Alder Lane, Burtonwood near Warrington during the night when a stolen car was dumped and set alight. The vehicle was completely burned out.
