Kiwi connection as fan
goes down memory lane
by Gary Skentelbery
FORMER Warrington resident Gerard Flaherty took a trip down memory lane as he made his final planned trip to his home town.
During his visit to see family, Gerard, now aged 80, who moved to New Zealand more than half a century ago discovered a Kiwi connection when he met up with Warrington Wolves stars, Toa Kohe-Love, Logan Swann, Henry Fa?afili and Paul Rauhihi.
He then watched the Wolves first team train ahead of their winning clash against Wigan and recalled memories of his time watching the “Wire” as a child at Wilderspool.
Gerard started watching in 1934-35 at the age of eight, and he used to go down to Wilderspool to the Railway End where the men watching used to lift him over the fence for free. He recalls that the coal trains used to stop and the workers would sit on top of the wagons to watch the match.
When he got a little older he used to go down and train with the players on a Wednesday night. ? If you turned up to watch you used to get dragged on to the pitch to train with the lads? he said.
He also recounts his time watching the world record try scoring legend Brian Bevan.
?He was a funny looking man ? bald head and bandy legs and he used to run with his head right back, a bit like the sprinter Johnson. He was unbelievable fast and a marvel to watch in action.?
Gerard moved to New Zealand in 1951, when the Government made passage to Australia and NZ affordable or, as in Gerard?s case, ?it didn?t cost a thing?. He became a post office line man and worked there for 36 years before retiring. When he first moved there it had its perks ?there was plenty of food, which in a time when rationing was in place was a godsend.?
Rugby Union is the sport of the South Islands in New Zealand and Gerard has been missing his League, but has travelled up to Auckland to watch the game and has travelled over to Australia to experience a State of Origin. But he has never forgotten his memories and enjoyed his time back in Warrington following the “Wire”.
Hooded gang get
away with cash
by David Skentelbery
HOODED raiders broke into a Warrington business, attacked a member of staff and escaped with cash and other property.
The 64-year-old victim required hospital treatment for head injuries after the robbery in Golborne Road, Winwick.
Three men took part in the raid, a few minutes before midnight. All wore dark clothing and were wearing hoods which concealed their faces. They spoke with local accents.
Police believe they escaped in a white Volvo estate car.
The raiders gained entry to the premises by forcing the locked front door using a crow bar.
They attacked the 64-year-old and then took a cash box containing money and other items.
Police believe the men left in the direction of a car park at the rear of the premises.
Earlier, the white Volvo estate had been seen in the area with three men inside, acting suspiciously.
Anyone who can help police with enquiries is asked to contact DC Ian Hanson or DC Jackie Daniels on 01244 613845.
Students seize chance
to launch video company
TWO Warrington students have set up their own video production company after producing a successful DVD of a top band.
Dawn Cundy, of Penketh, and Bryan Lomax, of Woolston, both recent graduates from the University of Chester have set up Cundy/Lomax Productions.
They produced the DVD of top Nashville Bluegrass band Hayseed Dixie, which is on sale at music stores throughout the country.
Dawn graduated with a TV Production with Performing Arts degree with honours, and Bryan graduated in TV Production, both from the university’s Warrington campus.
They seized their chance after being given a chance to film Hayseed Dixie ?just to practice.?
Dawn said: “My course was fantastic as it allowed us to use the recording equipment for our own projects. We heard of the Hayseed Dixie gig at Liverpool Academy through a sound engineering contact. We then asked the record label if we could film their performance, simply to practise our filming skills.
“The band was planning a live DVD and asked us if we could produce 90 minutes of finished footage for them. The DVD has now gone on sale in music shops worldwide so we are very excited. We want to continue doing what we enjoy, so we have set up a company that specialises in all aspects of video production,” added Dawn.
Dawn is also returning to the Warrington campus to begin a Master’s in TV Production, at the same time as developing the business.
“All the skills I have gained through my course will aid me practically in the media industry. As for Hayseed Dixie, their record label have said they will definitely be using us for any future projects of theirs,” she added.
Massive opposition to
youth centre plan
by Lesley Wilkinson
PLANS to build a youth centre at Warrington have attracted massive opposition from nearby residents who fear unruly behaviour from youths, vandalism and extra traffic problems.
Nearly 60 people have lodged objection with Warrington Borough Council and Rixton Parish Council also opposed the plan after receiving 40 letters of objection – despite evidence that there is shortage of youth provision in the area.
The outline application for a youth facilities building with parking on the recreation field off Manchester Road, Hollins Green, is being recommended for refusal.
Hamilton Davies Trust, want to build the centre on an area of green open space close to the boundary of Hollins Green CE Primary School.
Planners say the land has recently been a granted “village green” status, which reinforces its importance as a community resource.
Residents living nearby say it is the only land in the village not built on and the development would spoil the recreation field.
They say the site is too narrow and extra traffic would mean a danger to children in the playground. The area is already congested and the development would block access by emergency vehicles.
Other objections include removal of woodland, loss of the village green and the risk of disruption to residents.
The parish council is concerned about the impact of the proposed development on neighbours. It supports further youth provision in the village, but claims the site is unsuitable and it means a loss of green space.
Members were concerned about the proposed car park near the infants school and children’s play area, and that it could add to street-parking in Birch Road/Manchester Road.
Planners report a consultation exercise showed 180 people in support of the proposal, 11 against and five undecided.
They say the area does not have any real facilities for youth, as the community hall is fully booked and mainly for adults. The proposal is to build on the council’s recreation ground, not on the village green.
But the benefits to the community have to be weighed against the adverse impact on the area and on balance they recommend refusal of the development.
Education chief says
goodbye with strawberries
by Lesley Wilkinson
A STRAWBERRY tea was held at Paddington House Hotel to mark the retirement of Warrington Borough Council education chief Malcolm Roxburgh.
Representatives of the council, schools and other partners attended the event.
Malcolm was appointed when the unitary authority was preparing for incorporation in 1997.
Officers said that through his leadership, education in Warrington had gone from strength to strength. He had shown his commitment to children throughout a long career as a teacher and local education authority officer in a number of councils.
He led the council through its Ofsted inspection, which recognised the part his leadership played in making Warrington a good council. He was well liked and respected by colleagues.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, executive member for children
‘s services, said: “We owe a great deal to Malcolm for creating the high achieving education service that our children deserve.
“He will be sadly missed by all who worked with him. We would like to thank him for the excellent work he has done in Warrington and wish him a very long and happy retirement,” she added.
Police deliver “crushing
blow” to knife crime
by John Hendon
POLICE in Warrington have delivered a ?crushing blow? following the end of the national knife amnesty.
Officers took more than 2000 knives, weapons and blades ? including many handed in to police stations in the Warrington area to be destroyed.
They watched as the blades were put into a crushing machine and turned in to metal blocks.
Assistant Chief Constable David Baines said: “Seeing 2000 potentially life threatening weapons taken off our streets and rendered harmless is a fitting end to the national knife amnesty. To see dangerous weapons turned into a useless lump of metal must offer some reassurance to the public and to the countless victims and their families who have suffered a knife attack. I truly believe that any one of the weapons handed in could have, in the future, been responsible for taking someone’s life.
“Recently following a vicious knife attack on another man in his own home, a 31 year old man was sent to prison for a minimum of six years with no maximum term being imposed by the court. This sentence sends a clear message to those people who believe it is perfectly acceptable to carry a knife that it is against the law. Anyone who uses a knife to cause harm and injury will be severely dealt with by the courts. Carrying a knife for what ever reason is not behaviour we will tolerate on our streets.” The knives were lifted from the ground by an industrial magnet and dropped into a mechanised crusher before being shredded. They were then encased in a steel container and compressed into a metal block.
ACC Baines said: “The end of the amnesty marks the beginning of our crack down the knife carrying culture some people have adopted in Cheshire. Over the coming months we will be out on the streets enforcing the law relating to knives. We will be actively targeting policing operations at areas where our intelligence suggests there is a high risk of knife crime.
“Officers will be using stop and search powers to prevent incidents from escalating to the point where serious injury and death happen because an individual has a knife.?
Pictured?the industrial magnet lefts the knives for dumping in a crusher.
