“Enemies” get together to
write book with a message
by Lesley Wilkinson
TWO men previously “enemies” – an ex-alcoholic and a former court clerk – have written a book together following a chance meeting.
John Hayes, 62, was a senior legal adviser to magistrates at Warrington for 38 years.
For much of that time, alcoholic John Cartledge, also 62, was a regular “customer” – charged with various drink-related offences.
He grew to hate the smartly-suited man who sat in front of the magistrates, advising on sentencing – mainly because he usually ended up being fined or even jailed.
Drink was destroying his life. During 30 years of alcoholism he gave up his wife and family, a business and even a lucrative career in football – at one time he was on Manchester City’s books.
He slept on park benches, mixing with other alcoholics, and spent time in prisons, mental hospitals and other institutions.
Then he sought help for his addiction, was freed of it and went to Bethesda Evangelical Church at Stockton Heath, Warrington – and again came face-to-face with John Hayes, an elder and musical director at the church.
He became a committed Christian, a missionary in Africa and now runs a Christian bookshop which he built at Tamale, in Ghana, where he now lives with his second wife, Akua and their son, Sean.
Over a period of 18 months he has collaborated with John Hayes on their book “Alcohol – Thriller or Killer”.
Tee-totaller John Hayes, who retired from court two years ago, said: “We have written this book out of a great love for people, particularly those who are struggling with an addiction to drugs and especially alcohol, but also to all who are unsure as to what attitude they should hold towards the drink and drugs.
“We speak from a wealth of experience, one of us having ‘been there, done it all, got the T-shirt’ – the other having seen what it does to those in its grip.”
The book focuses on “the slippery road to alcoholism,” problems for families and the risks of social drinking as well as on the lives of the “two Johns”.
It is published by Ambassador International and can be obtained from CLC Christian bookshops, other book retailers or direct from John Hayes on 01925 637706. It retails at ?7.99.
Pupils chosen for new
business initiative
by James Parr
PUPILS from a Warrington school are celebrating after being selected to take part in a new national business initiative.
Birchwood High School, which is partnered with the Warrington Chamber of Commerce, was one of only 51 schools nationally chosen to take part in the programme.
?Young Chamber? has been established by the British Chamber of Commerce to give young people aged between 11 and 19 a greater understanding and involvement of the world of business and enterprise.
The scheme builds on existing programmes and networks available for students and employers to work and learn from each other, by partnering schools with local businesses via their local chambers of commerce membership and associated business networks.
Supported by then Chancellor Gordon Brown in this year?s budget, Young Chamber will also facilitate a wide range of enterprise activities for students.
Head teacher at Birchwood High Anne Bright said: ?I am absolutely delighted that our school has been chosen to be involved in this new initiative. It is a very exciting project which will bring real opportunities to our learners in terms of leadership, enhancing life skills and developing business understanding.?
Warrington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Colin Daniels added: ?Business is concerned that despite the continual improvement in students? exam results, many youngsters are entering the employment market without the necessary soft skills that businesses require. We hope the Chamber of Commerce can play a crucial role in helping students to gain a better understanding of the world of work and help them develop some of the essential skills employers are looking for outside of the national curriculum.
?We also hope some of the students taking part in Young Chamber will gain enough confidence to consider starting their own businesses and become successful in their own right.?
Funded by the Department of Education and Skills, Young Chamber is delivered by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
Councillors may be
given honorary titles
by Lesley Wilkinson
LONG-serving councillors with distinguished service to Warrington may be given the title of Honorary Alderman.
At extraordinary meeting of the borough council next week will be asked to agree to a protocol for conferring the title.
The title confers the right to attend and take part in civic ceremonies, including Mayor Making, but offers no additional rights to that of a member of the public to attend council meetings.
Honorary Aldermen receive no allowances or payments, but the council can spend a “reasonable sum” on presenting a gift to an appointed Alderman.
The title can be offered to those who have given eminent service to the council as past members, but are not currently councillors. An extraordinary meeting of the council must be called to consider the matter, and a two-third majority is needed for the title to be given.
The council will be asked to agree that former members, who are no longer councillors may be nominated by the leader of the council, in consultation with the deputy leader and leader of the opposition. Only those with a minimum of 10 years continuous and “eminent” service can be nominated.
Those receiving the title will receive a medallion to recognise the title.
Boys killed in
motorway tragedy
by staff reporter
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a tragic accident on the M56 near Warrington in which two boys, aged six and seven, were killed.
The accident was on the westbound carriageway of the motorway, between junctions 11 and 12, at Preston Brook.
Police say the youngsters were attempting to cross the carriageway with two push scooters when they were struck by a lorry.
Both boys died at the scene.
Altogether three vehicles were involved in the incident which took place at about 7.20pm last night (Wednesday).
Police are asking anyone who saw the accident, or who has any information about it to contact them on 0845 458 0000.
The two boys are from the Murdishaw area of Runcorn.
Motorist gave school
pal’s name to police
by James Parr
MOTORIST Frank Baker gave an old school pal’s name when he was stopped by police and asked to produce his documents.
As a result, the other man was sent a summons and actually attended at court before it became clear he was not the defendant, Warrington Crown Court heard yesterday.
Baker, 35, of Redruth Close, Brook Vale, Runcorn, admitted perverting the course of justice and driving without insurance.
He was given a six month suspended jail sentence, banned from driving for six months and ordered to carry out 30 hours unpaid community work.
Joanne Parsons, prosecuting, said Baker gave the name and address of Anthony Gandy, a former school mate, when he was stopped. It was only when a police officer saw him at court that it was realised he was the wrong man.
The officer checked a description he had written in his notebook at the time and the defendant was traced.
Brian Jones, defending, said Baker had problems with dealing with everyday situations and had been going through an extremely traumatic period when he was stopped. He had entered a guilty plea from the moment he was arrested.
Recorder Richard Talbot said really Baker should go to prison for six months. But he been held in custody for 17 days for failing to appear for the original court hearing and had shown signs of remorse.
Soccer memorabilia
on sale in town
by James Parr
FANS attending Liverpool FC res
erve games at Warrington?s Halliwell Jones Stadium will now be able to take home a special momento as Reds? memorabilia will be on sale at the ground.
Supporters attending tonight?s game against Newcastle will be able to pick items such as replica shirts, polo shirts, key rings and scarves from the Wolfware store.
About 3,400 fans attended the first reserve fixture at Warrington earlier this month and tickets have been selling fast for the Newcastle fixture. They are available from Wolfware priced at ?5 adults or ?2 for concessions.
Alternatively there will be cash turnstiles in both the North and Martin Dawes stands.
Walk for water
to help village
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SPONSORED walk is being held in Culcheth next year with the target of raising ?3,000 to help provide clean water for an East African village.
The event follows a successful Walk for Water held in the village in February when 41 people completed the half marathon or 8.5 mile power walk and raised ?3,000 for WaterAid.
A similar event is planned for Sunday February 17.
Organisers say the walkers echoed the long distances walked by women to collect their families’ water.
WaterAid provide safe water and sanitation for the poorest people in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region. Since being set up in 1981 WaterAid has helped over 9.5 million people and now works in 17 of the world’s poorest countries.
The aim of the walk is to raise ?3000, which is sufficient to pay for a pumping station in Tanzania providing clean water to 5,000 people.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact [email protected] or Amy Driver on 01925 766550.
Chapel welcomes
new minister
by staff reporter
ONE of Warrington’s oldest churches, Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel, has a new minister.
The chapel, the second oldest church congregation in Warrington, founded in 1662, held a special service for its new Minister the Rev Lynn Readett.
She succeeds the Rev Don Beaudrealt who has returned to America.
The Unitarians were the first church to have female ministers, but Lynn is only the second woman minister at Cairo Street the first being the Rev Judith Walker in 1964.
Lynn is a member of a long line of Unitarians and before entering the Minister was a member of Chowbent Chapel, Atherton.
The chapel has a long history and previous members have included scientist Joseph Priestley, writer Anna Barbauld, prison reformer John Howard and Frederick Monks, who presented the Golden Gates to Warrington.
Car crashes
into living room
by John Hendon
EMERGENCY services were called out when a car careered off the road and ploughed into the living room of a house at Appleton, near Warrington. The car driver and a woman in the semi-detached house in Parkland Close suffered minor injuries and were treated by paramedics.
Fire crews from Stockton Heath also attended the incident and help release a woman trapped in the badly damaged car.
It is understood no other vehicle was involved in the incident.
