Changing face
of Warrington!
by Gary Skentelbery picture:Nick Giles
THE changing face of Warrington is now becoming one of the up and coming cosmopolitan areas of the North West proving to be a popular back drop for fashion models.
Local photographer Nick Giles is discovering increased demand to carry out photo shoots in the town, including the town centre with its famous skittles! He said: “It is easy to take for granted the town that we live in and how many of us really do look at the changes and improvements made over the last few years.
“The spectacular new rugby stadium and its facilities, the improvements to the town centres paved areas, the plethora of new quality homes and flats at an affordable price or the incredible prospects and opportunities that the extension and refurbishment to the Golden Square will bring us, the new look Cultural Quarter, the list could easily go on,” he added.
Model Dani Davies and some of the North West fashion houses are just two of many being attracted to the town.
Dani aged 16 is from London but her mother was originally a Warrington girl and has relatives still living in the town. She is planning to move to Warrington as this will put her closer to Manchester where she has just been granted a lucrative deal with one of its top model agencies.
Readers of various glossy magazines may have seen Dani previously as she is regularly published in lifestyle features. Dani says, ” I have modeled for quite a few photographers from the Warrington area and the town provides an ideal backdrops for photography.
Warrington photographer Nick Giles, who has photographed Dani on several occasions, said. “She’s a lovely natured and talented young model with a fantastic commercial look. I always look forward to her and her mother’s visits for shoots. She always works hard and never fails to deliver a different style and constantly shows her adaptability for every occasion.”
Dani added: “Like all girls of my age I just love shopping and am really looking forward to the new Golden Square when it is finished. I am going to spend, spend, spend especially if its colour is pink. Nick has christened me “The Panther” after the cartoon character The Pink Panther. But shoes are my real passion for buying I have hundreds. I also love rugby so hope to go to as many home games as I can. Do you think the team would change their shirts to pink ones next season for me!” she added.
Work experience
with a difference
by Gary Skentelbery
A FORMER college Principal teamed up with one of his ex-students to provide some unique “work experience.”
Having formed mutual respect at the negotiating table as Principal and Student Union President, North West Development Agency Chief Steven Broomhead was delighted to provide a “job shadow” experience for former student John Heritage, now Director of Development at leading mental health charity Making Space.
John said: “Seeing the CEO of one of the Region?s leading public sector agencies go about his daily business was hugely interesting, giving me a unique insight into the workings of the Agency and their wider role in the region.
“The day also enabled me to gain a fascinating insight, for my own self development development, into the leadership style of one of the region’s biggest names.”
John has known Steven since he came to Warrington in the mid-90?s as Principal of Warrington Collegiate. As President of the Student’s Union and a student governor, they met at the table on numerous occasions and developed a mutual respect.
They kept in touch when Steven moved on to become Chief Executive at Warrington Borough Council, where John had offices during his role as chief fund-raiser with the Price’s Trust.
Steven said: “I was pleased that John could shadow me for the day. It was an opportunity for us to discuss key regional economic issues and priorities, for him to meet some of our key external stakeholders and for him to understand the opportunities and pressures in my daily routine.
“I also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the excellent work of ‘Making Space’ which I know is a ground breaking charity which has grown in status to become one of the nation’s leading mental health charities.”
Soldiers prepare for
African adventure
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON soldiers will be among a group preparing for an extraordinary African adventure.
They will be trekking across an uncharted mountain range to reach the rarely visited wreck of a British cargo vessel and passenger liner, which ran aground in 1942.
Thirty-two soldiers from across the North West, under the command of the Army’s 42 (North West) Brigade, along with two specialist guides, have been chosen for Exercise Northern Strandloper in Namibia.
The team is drawn from a wide mix of army backgrounds. Ranging in age from 21 to 53, there are soldiers from the Regular Army, Territorial Army as well as an Adult Cadet Instructor. The civilian “day jobs” of the TA personnel include a GP, a nurse, a gas engineer, a teaching assistant, surveyors and students.
Trekking in the Baynes Mountains and conducting the first-known survey of the routes, it will include an attempt to climb the 7,900-foot high Mount Omavanda.
Continuing onto the Northern Skeleton Coast and the Khumib River Gorge, the soldier will finally reach the wreck of MV Dunedin Star. Access to the area is strictly controlled by the Namibian Government, which has granted permits to the British Army team, enabling its two qualified civilian surveyors to carry out a full survey of the wreck site.
Leader of the expedition, Lieutenant Colonel Les Webb said: “We have been planning this exercise for over a year and it will be a tremendous adventure for all of us. The whole team knows this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“This area of Africa has the most bizarre and unique eco-system – it is the point where the freezing cold Benguela current, which flows from the Antarctic, mixes with the red hot Namib desert. So on the one hand, you have killer whales in the sea catching seals while on the other, lions are prowling along the beach! Further inland, we are then likely to come across the likes of elephants, black rhinos and snakes.
“The last British military expedition to this area was in 1952. The idea for us to go there came from reading into the wreck of the MV Dunedin Star, which is the most famous shipwreck in Africa.
“The ship has strong connections to us here in the North West as it was built in Birkenhead. There is a lot of folklore about it and it is our intention to find out the truth – to discover what actually remains there.
“Previous expeditions have tended to focus heavily on the wreck itself, but we are more interested in the cargo – which is known to spread 30 miles from the site. That is why we have called the exercise Strandloper – we are going to lope the strand.”
The group will be setting off on October 22nd and returning around November 11.
Drivers in hospital
after two-car crash
by staff reporter
TWO men are in a serious condition in Warrington Hospital today after being injured in a road accident in the town.
A 21-year-old car driver is said to be “poorly” and a 35-year-old is also seriously ill.
Two cars were involved in the accident on the A57 Manchester Road near its junction with Holly Bush Lane at Rixton.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the crash and anyone who can help is asked to called PS Mike Jones on 01244 613813.
Pupil strikes gold!
by Terry Johnson photo: John Cobb
TALENTED runner Martyn Corcoran has struck gold in a Living for Sport programme organised by the Youth Sport Trust and BskyB.
The William Beamont Community High and Specialist Sports College pupil received the Team Player Gold Award from national school sport champion, Dame Kelly Holmes.
The award was given at a Lo
ndon ceremony of Living for Sport, which motivates 11-16-year-olds.
The Warrington specialist sports college was presented with a bronze ‘Sustainability Award’ by Dame Kelly.
A spokeswoman said: “Martyn excelled in the practical elements of Living for Sport. He is now gaining in confidence and taking an active leadership role”.
Family affair
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON-based charity FamiliesTogether will be taking part in this year’s National Parents Week.
The charity’s project team will be available for consultation at Fun2B Children’s Indoor Playcentre in Warrington on Sunday October 22 between 10am-4pm.
Families Together, a national service based in Warrington offers support to parents who have little or no contact with their children.
Anyone finding it difficult having limited contact with a child and would like help then call the help line on 01925 246922 or visit www.familiestogether.co.uk
Gateway to career
in medicine
by Terry Johnson
A gateway to a career in medicine was opened for students of Priestley College, with a visit to their Warrington campus by Dr Gill Vince, Lancaster University’s admissions tutor.
A pre-medical enrichment course operates at Priestley, outside the normal curriculum. This gives students from a scientific background the chance to explore potential careers in medicine – from nursing to surgery, drugs rep to paramedic.
Dr Vince gave valuable tips about pursuing medicine studies at University.
Priestley offers other ‘enrichment’ courses, designed to support students in their career paths.
Prom Night
THE Children’s Adventure Farm Trust near Lymm is to hold a charity 1950’s-style Prom Night at Mere Golf and Country Club on Saturday, December 2.
The event includes four-course dinner, DJ and live music, games and dancing till 2.00am.
Seats,?60, can be booked on 01565-830053 and Email [email protected].
Based in Millington, The Adventure Farm has brightened the lives of hundreds of special-needs and disabled children with a programme focused on developing friendships.
