Swing band looking
for new members
by Gary Skentelbery
CULCHETH High School Swing Band are on the look out for new recruits after a highly successful five day European tour taking in Holland and Luxembourg.
A total of 47 members of the Warrington school band made the trip – and for 13 it was their last performance as they are now moving on to colleges and universities around the country.
Under the musical direction of music teacher Mark Peacock, the band performed a total of three concerts in Valkenburg, Holland and Luxembourg.
In their spare time they visited a theme park and an American war grave cemetry.
Drummer Ewan Collier was on hand to capture a photographic record of the trip.
He said: “It was a memorable occasion but sadly 13 members of the band will be leaving because they are moving on to colleges and universities around the country – so we are on the look out for new members.”
Band members must be pupils at the high school and anyone interested can attend practice sessions which take place in C Block on Thursdays during term time from 3.20-4.20pm.
Dance veteran Beryl
nominated for award
by Mark Hemmings
A WARRINGTON woman who has given more than 50 years service to dance has been nominated for a top award.
Beryl Rigby of Birchdale Road, Appleton is hoping that she will soon be following in the footsteps of names such as Victor Silvester, Ray McVay and Peggy and Frank Spencer – all of who have received a Carl-Alan Award in the past.
Mrs Rigby began dancing at the age of three, and was trained in all theatre subjects. One of her earliest highlights was winning the Junior British Tap Championship at the age of 12.
Opening her own stage school when she was 18 she has spent 30 years teaching, adjudicating and examining dance all over the country on behalf of the Allied Dancing Association. Her students have gone on to appear in professional theatre productions in the West End or open their own stage schools.
Mrs Rigby has served for 16 years on the committee of the Allied Stage Branch where she has organised and presented major stage festivals and lectures, including the North East Championships, the English Championships and the World Stage Championships.
She is an active and long serving member of Warrington-based Centenary Theatre Company, where she has been both a performer and choreographer.
Mrs Rigby said: “I am delighted the Allied have put me forward as a nominee to receive a Carl-Alan Award. I hope my achievements throughout my career emphasise my love of dance.”
College curtain marathon!
by Terry Johnson
FOUR amateur seamstresses worked fingers almost to the bone to complete a curtain marathon.
Friends Betty Little,66, Eileen Tinker,69, Elice Cody,60, and Carol Palmer,51, made FIVE MILES of curtains in eight weeks.
The mature students at Warrington Collegiate used their nimble skills to curtain the college’s new hair and beauty training salons.
They broke off craft and card making studies to volunteer for the Herculean task.
Deputy head of creative arts Lorraine Rawlinson, who worked alongside the students, said: “It was a gruelling, but rewarding task. I never want to see another pair of curtains again”.
In return for their efforts, the four seamstresses expect to be offered some pampering and manicures at the new beauty department, which opens in September.
Management student drums
up a new line of business
by staff reporter
PROFESSIONAL musician Vincent Pearson may not be a typical business management student, but he says he has found his degree course extremely valuable.
Vincent, from Orford, Warrington has worked on cruise ships, in shows and recording studios during his 27-year musical career.
Having survived as a self-employed musician all those years, he decided four years ago, at the age of 40, to take a more business-like approach to his work.
Vincent had identified that there was a gap in the market for percussion workshops for schools and other community organisations and wanted to learn how to make the most of it by running his business more professionally.
He enrolled on a part-time Business Management and IT course at the Warrington campus of the University of Chester and has now graduated with an Upper 2:1 BA (Honours) Degree.
The fact that he was able to study part-time was vital to Vincent who has a family and had to keep working at the same time.
He said: “My family have been behind me all the way, which is great when you are balancing work, study and home life.
“The skills I have learnt on the course are helping me in so many ways – even the time management module helped me to juggle work and studying in the most efficient way.
“The presentation skills module helped me to improve my workshops, the IT skills help with administration and the marketing skills have helped me specialise in African and Samba drumming and gain lots of new work.
“From a personal point of view the course has given me greater self-confidence.”
TV’s Real Deal”
comes to town
by Terry Johnson
PERMA-tanned David Dickinson brings his new TV show, ?Real Deal? to Warrington’s Parr Hall on Saturday, August 5.
Townspeople are asked to bring their antiques for filming, between 9.00am-5.00pm.
They will be able to sell items to a dealer – or put them into auction.
Earlier this year ITV’s ‘Flog it’ was filmed at Parr Hall.
Spokesman Phil Slorick said: “This latest production demonstrates again what an important and adaptable amenity the hall represents for Warrington”.
The Pyramid and Parr Hall’s new autumn season, to be announced shortly, will see one of the country’s biggest and most popular stage shows coming to the town, along with household names in music and comedy.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1, 6, 8 and 15. No-one picked up the ?220 jackpot which will be “rolled over” to next week when it will be ?300. The ?25 consolation prize was won by “Karen.”
School expansion
PLANS to enlarge the reception classroom at St Peter’s RC Primary School, Hillock Lane, Woolston, Warrington have been submitted to the borough council’s planning department.
Takeaway plan
AN industrial unit at Craven Court, Winwick Quay, Warrington could be given a new role – as a hot-food takeaway. Plans for a change of use of the building in Mill Lane have been submitted to Warrington Council.
Dogs home facelift
THE Cheshire Dogs Home at Grappenhall is set to get a facelift. Plans have been put in for the demolition of kennels at the Knutsford Road animal welfare centre and the building of the most up-to-date units.
