Hollywood actress
sings with local band
by Gary Skentelbery
HOLLYWOOD actress Demi Moore was more than happy to show off her singing skills when she teamed up with cult Celtic roots band The Bogtrotters during filming of her latest movie.
During time off from filming Demi, who has starred in various blockbusters including “Ghost,” joined in singing with the Warrington band who are set to hit the big screen in March.
The Warrington based band, who have been appearing on the world stage for more than a decade appear in Demi’s latest movie “Half Light” which was filmed in North Wales last year and is now due for screening in the UK.
Demi plays Rachel Carlson, a successful novelist who moves to a small Scottish village to move on with her life after the death of her son. Strange things start to happen when she is haunted by ghosts and real life terror!
The “Boggies” as they are known by their cult following, are five musicians from a wide variety of musical backgrounds and include Tim Flaherty, vocals/rhythm guitar/whistle, Alex Johnson, lead and acoustic guitar/mandolin, Eimear Bradley, violin/whistles/vocals, Tony Greenhalgh, drums/vocals and Jim Hand bass guitar and vocals.
Their musical direction leans mainly towards their own arrangements of traditional Irish and Scottish music and a mixture of country and cajun along with modern material, combined with original songs composed by Tim Flaherty and other band members.
Lead guitarist Len, who lives in Great Sankey, Warrington, said: “It was a very exciting experience to work on a film set, and with such a well known Hollywood star, who didn’t behave like you would expect a star to.
“She was very pleasant with us and we even got her singing along with us during rehearsals for our scene. She was more than happy to have her photo taken with us and even thanked us for keeping her and the crew entertained on set during the day.’
Violinist Eimear added: “Being on set was fantastic. The cast and crew made us feel so welcome. Demi chatted to us about our music, she was very friendly and down to earth and more than happy to let us have a photo taken with her.”
The band will be playing at ‘the Bridge’ a new venue in Latchford village, tomorrow, Sunday January 29 starting around 5 pm.
More information on the band is available at wwwthebogtrotters.com
Just the job
as team expands
by Gary Skentelbery
LOCAL charity Warrington Disability Partnership has re-launched its pioneering Employment Team by expanding the service to help lone parents and people on incapacity benefits.
The service was first launched to help people with disabilities find meaningful employment but due to its outstanding success the service, based at the Independent Living Centre on Beaufort Street, Warrington, has now been expanded.
Warrington’s Mayor and Mayoress Couns Hans and Karen Mundry were on hand to help celebrate the launch of the new service.
WDP founder Dave Thompson, who helped launch the ground breaking service in 1990 after suffering a broken neck playing American Football; said: ” It only seems a blink of the eye since the disability service was first launched and it is amazing to see how it has grown.
“It has been an amazing journey since first being introduced to the world of basket making and wicker work and a world full of fear to what we have today.”
He said the new service had shown that disability “is not a sickness” and with the support of the Employment Team people were being found long term, meaningful employment.
Project co-ordinator Caroline Davies, said the Employment team had now doubled in size, from four to eight people. “We are here to help people achieve their goals and do the jobs they want to do.
“Now we have a bigger team we have been able to increase the service to help loan parents and those on incapacity benefits find meaningful employment.”
team member John Balshaw is one of those to benefit from the new service. After finding it difficult to gain full-time employment due to depression he is now a valuable member of the Employment Team. He said: “Thanks to WDP I have now been given the strength and confidence to get back into employment,” he said.
For more details on the Employment Team email [email protected]
Pupils enjoy taste
of college life
by Gary Skentelbery
PUPILS from Great Sankey High School took on the roles of plumbers, electricians and nursery nurses during a special visit to Warrington Collegiate.
The Collegiate staged a learning familiarisation day for pupils ready to make academic choices to shape their future careers.
Pupils were able to try their hand at building and construction, childcare and other vocational training courses.
More than 14,000 students attend the Collegiate, many studying business and work-related training programmes.
Tracy Abbott, tutor for the BTEC Diploma in Early Years childcare, said the day had been a great success and gave pupils an insight into what?s expected of them in different careers.
Healthy take-over
for technology firm
by business staff
WARRINGTON-based NHS software company Strand Technology has announced that it has acquired Prism Risk Management.
The move is an important step in Strand Technology’s expansion plans and will open up new markets within the NHS, as well as opportunities in other health care environments across the UK and globally.
Strand’s flagship care record software ‘CareNotes’ is already the market leader within the mental health care sector of the NHS – and now, Prism’s highly-developed risk management product will add a new dimension to the integrated IT technology available to clinicians and hospital management teams.
David Hannam, sales director of Strand Technology, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for us, and we believe NHS Trust’s across the country will benefit from the strides we are making with this technology.
“The two software packages – CareNotes and Prism Risk Management System (PRMS) – offer a perfect solution for healthcare organisations and will help many NHS Trusts save time, money and reduce the risk of costly litigation.”
Ladies chorus group
predict a riot!
by Gary Skentelbery
WARRINGTON based The Cheshire Chord Company, an award-winning, ladies’ chorus, has formed an unlikely musical alliance with Brit Awards nominees the Kaiser Chiefs to record a cover version of the band’s anthem “I predict a riot.”
The Chiefs came up with the idea of using a Gospel choir to cover their hit and one of the band’s roadies suggested the award winning Cheshire Chorus, because his mum was a member and he knew they would be up to the job.
Paula McEwan, whose son is a roadie with the band, said the call to record a pop hit came from a conversation the band were having over coffee.
In a matter of weeks Chorus Director Denise Lines completed the close harmony vocal arrangement; the chorus learned their parts and the band sent along their technicians to record it.
Following a chance discussion between the band and Scott Mills of BBC Radio 1, the recording was aired for the first time a few days before Christmas and caused a stir amongst listeners. It was subsequently featured on the Kaiser Chiefs’ website and played extensively on Radio 1, as well as Radio 2, 6 and Radio Merseyside. In addition, the chorus was featured on the BBC TV regional news.
Talking about the listeners after the song was played on his evening show, Scott Mills said, “‘(you) absolutely loved that! – the text response is immense”. Vic McGlynn, BBC Radio 6, said it was “rather special” and, about her listeners, “You are liking that – the feedback has been coming in en masse.”
The 75-strong chorus is astounded at the response and the feedback over recent weeks and is due to release its version of the track on a CD in the next few weeks. Ot
her covers are being considered – may be something by the Killers or Futureheads?
The all-female Cheshire Chord Company is based in Warrington and performs all over the UK and beyond, including Ireland, Germany and Holland. They have recently been invited to perform in the prestigious ‘Buckeye’ Convention in Columbus, Ohio in August 2006 and are trying to raise funds to support their expenses for the trip.
Their next outing is on February 12 when they will be performing at the first Warrington Wolves home game of the season against Salford at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The group rehearses every week at William Beamont School, Warrington. If you think you’ve got what it takes or would like to find out – go along, Thursday evenings (8 – 10:30pm). Or, you can check them out at www.cheshirechord.co.uk
Price rise plan
for car parks
by staff reporter
THE cost of annual contract parking at three of Warrington?s car parks is to be increased from April 1.
A 12-month pass on the Market Multi-Storey car park will rise from ?840 to ?861, a similar pass at the Town Hill surface car park will cost ?588, up from ?570, and an annual pass at the Old Road surface car park will rise from ?240 to ?246.
In addition, excess charges at the Winwick Street, Museum Street, Town Hall, Old Road and Forge (Stockton Heath) car parks are to rise.
Currently people who park without a ticket, or with an expired ticket, are subject to a ?40 ?fine? and this is to increase to ?50.
A council spokesman said: ?The increases are in line with current transportation strategy policy and it is not envisaged they will have any significant impact on general trading conditions.?
No change is proposed to the hourly rates at any of the borough council?s car parks.
News in brief
Garage veto
PLANNING chiefs have thrown out prop[osals to erect a replacement sales building at a petrol station in Lovely Lane, Warrington and change the use of an adjoining house for staff accommodation and storage.
Restaurant refused
A PROPOSED restaurant at the Post Office, in Church Street, Warrington, has been refused planning consent. The scheme also involved a two-storey rear extension.
Quiz night
WHITECROSS Residents’ Association, Warrington, is holding a quiz night at Whitecross Community Centre on Friday, February 3. Teams of up to six can take part and there will be a pie and peas supper.
Bishop’s visit
BISHOP David Jennings, Bishop of Warrington, will be leading worship at morning service at St Philip’s Church, Westbrook, Warrington at 10am tomorrow (Sunday).
Permitted development
PLANNING chiefs have ruled that a proposed agricultural storage building at Causeway Bridges Farm, Alder Lane, Burtonwood near Warrington, is permitted development.
