Historic monument
is back in town
by David Skentelbery
THE historic Forge monument which “disappeared” from the centre of Stockton Heath at dead of night is back in Warrington – thanks to the efforts of local campaigners who managed to track it down.
It is being kept for safe-keeping at Howard’s scrapyard, in Folly Lane, Warrington until it can be restored and a new place found for it.
The ?1,500 cost has been borne by local business Martin Caldwell – who originally donated the monument to Stockton Heath 30 years ago – and by Stockton Heath Parish Council.
Patrick Mullee, spokesman for the campaigners who traced the missing monument to a Merseyside scrapyard said: “It is entirely due to ourselves, Mr Caldwell and the parish council that we have got it back.
“We now have to organise for it to be restored and also find somewhere for it to be displayed.”
The monument – consisting of historic machinery once used to make the spades which dug the Manchester Ship Canal and World War 1 trenches – had stood at the entrance to Stockton Heath’s Forge shopping centre since it opened in 1974.
But it stood in the way of a major redevelopment of the centre and after months of wrangling over who was responsible for it, developers JBZ Properties arranged for contractors to remove it.
At first no-one knew where it had been taken and some people signed a petition calling for a replica to be provided.
But on Friday, July 14 – while names were still being collected – Warrington-Worldwide exclusively revealed on that it had been traced after detective work by Mr Mullee and fellow campaigner Julie Kueres.
Our cameraman was on hand to photograph its return to Warrington.
Mr Caldwell, of Stockton Heath Forge (Caldwell’s) Ltd., also visited Howard’s scrapyard to inspect the machinery, which has been disassembled.
He said: “It is a historic piece of machinery and should be preserved.
“It is a tourist attraction and something to be proud of. Hand tools have been made in the village since 1770.”
One option is for the monument to be re-erected on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal – on the Stockton Heath side.
Festive hit recorded – on
hottest day of the year!
by John Hendon
IT was the hottest day of the year ? in fact, in some areas, the hottest day on record ? but at a Warrington recording studio they were busy creating a Christmas record.
The Houghton Weavers, Warrington Male Voice Choir, Wingates Band and children from Appleton?s Broomfields Junior School got together to cut a specially written song ?What?s Christmas Without a Brass Band??
It was the second foray into the world of recording this year for the choir and band.
Bowing to public demand, they have produced the long awaited CD “Sounding Voices – Sounding Brass”, which will be on sale in September.
The new recording features the most often requested piece by Parr Hall audiences, the annual Christmas show-stopper “Schneewalzer”, and is sure to be a best seller.
Wingates Band will be performing “live” with the choir at a special “Brass Night at the Proms” on Friday September 22, at the Parr Hall.
This will be followed, the next night, by the traditional, “Last Night of the Proms” with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra.
Tickets, including special “Promenader” tickets, are now booking with John on 01606 42181.
Singer Sue in bid
for the charts
by Mark Hemmings
WARRINGTON singing sensation, Sue Quin will soon be hitting the charts.
Singing on the new Frisco track – “The Summer Is Magic” which is set to be released next month, the single is out on dance label “All Around the World” (AATW), home to artists such as Dannii Minogue and Liz McClaren (Atomic Kitten.
This won’t be the first time audiences will have heard Sue’s voice. In 2004 she reached number 10 in the UK charts singing the FHM Magazine single, a funky pop version of the Rod Stewart classic, “D’ya Think I’m Sexy” in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
In a career spanning 20 years, Sue has sung on thousands of TV ads and radio jingles and her lead and backing vocals can be heard on countless albums and singles.
This highly respected session singer has sung on number one hits in Australia and Japan and top ten hits in Europe and South America.
Sue was awarded a double silver disc for the Flip & Fill album Floor Fillers. This joins the silver disc she was awarded for the smash hit Kung Fu Fighting she recorded in collaboration with the same DJ duo, then more famously known as Bus Stop.
When not busy gigging, and appearing on stage at Wembley with Russell Watson, she teaches vocals on the Access to Music courses at Warrington Collegiate, where she is able to pass on her wealth of knowledge to other aspiring singers.
Sue said: “It would be great to have another hit single! The team at AAWR are amazing to work with and we are all good buddies so recording with these guys is always a lot of fun!”
Cabbie robbed
at knife-point
by John Hendon
A TAXI driver was robbed at knife-point by a man he picked up at the Turf and Feather pub at Locking Stumps, Warrington.
The 54-year-old cabby had driven a man in his 20s to Mallard Lane, Oakwood when his passenger produced a knife, threatened him and ran off after stealing a quantity of cash and personal possessions.
A 28-year-old man was subsequently arrested and questioned but police are still seeking witnesses of the incident or who saw the man being picked up at the pub.
The taxi driver suffered an injury to his right hand and was taken to hospital. Although he was subsequently discharged he will require further hospital treatment.
Anyone who can help is asked to call DC Laura Murray on 01244 613833.
Eco team
feel the heat!
by Gary Skentelbery
SWELTERING heat hampered a team of youngsters competing with the best in the world in a special eco-challenge.
Set with the task of seeing how far they could travel on one gallon of petrol, it was the fifth time pupils from Penketh High School, Warrington, competed in the Shell Eco Challenge at Rockingham Speedway, near Northampton.
They managed a creditable 723 miles to on one gallon of petrol – nearly 10,000 miles short of the record!
The 30th Anniversary Shell Eco-Marathon UK saw French team Microjoule topping the leader board with an astounding 10,128 miles per gallon (mpg) – Penketh had the dubious honour of sharing their pit stop!
The team from Penketh were hampered from the outset as their special vehicle had been fitted with a lightweight canopy, which created a greenhouse effect – this on top of delays arriving at the event due to traffic hold ups.
Head of Design Technology/Eco Marathon Team Manager Cliff Seggie said: “We were keen to try out our new full canopy. But when we sent our first driver he came back in all sticky and very hot after just two laps.
“The hot weather was making our canopy into a greenhouse and our driver was boiling under it. It was decided that we would send him out without the canopy to do a measured run, this being 7 laps totalling 10 miles.
“He was doing very well but then had to be returned to the pits by the rescue vehicles with a thrown chain!
On day two and after three different drivers the team realised they were not going to break any records – well aware that teams supported by international companies had previously achieved in excess of 10,000 miles to the gallon.
Cliff added: “We had to do all of our runs with the canopy cover off as the weather was so nice it was too hot in the vehicle to safely run for 40 minutes at a time under the cover. I am sure it would have helped to improve our mpg further.
“It is clear that although all drivers were of similar weight the manner in which the vehicle is driven greatly affects the overall mpg result. As well as building a new vehicle that is lighter for next year, we
need to concentrate a significant amount of time on driver training.”
Now Cliff is looking for sponsorship to help create a new vehicle for next year – minus a greenhouse canopy!
Site identified for new
centre for disabled
by Mark Hemmings
REPRESENTATIVES from organisations concerned with the needs of disabled people in Warrington are moving forward.
The Griffiths Court Foundation, named in memory of former Warrington headmistress Marjorie Griffiths MBE, have identified land at Birchwood which it is hoped will provide the ideal space to build a new multi million pound centre.
Griffiths Court will provide a source of high quality services for disabled people, their families and carers. The focus will be on respite and residential care services with the aim of promoting independent living and inclusion.
The Foundation?s secretary, Paul Harrison said: “Our mission is to provide a source of high quality services for the disabled which will assist in maintaining independent living.”
The group have recently begun an initial four-month consultation period, work is underway on the design of the building and the project is expected to take 3-4 years to complete.
Marjorie Griffiths was headteacher at the former Bewsey Girls? High School, a magistrate and a tireless worker on behalf of the disabled in Warrington.
Youth found
unconscious
by staff reporter
POLICE at Warrington are appealing for witnesses after a 17-year-old youth was found lying unconscious in Grasmere Avenue, Orford.
It is believed the youth, from Liverpool, had been attacked by a large gang of youths. One 17-year-old was been arrested and questioned.
A police spokesman said it was believed a large number of witnesses were in the area at the time and could have information about what happened.
Any potential witnesses are asked to call police on 01244 613833.
Bikers’ unique “cheque”
gives charity a boost
by staff reporter
MOTORBIKES and money for a worthwhile Warrington cause, joined forces as members of the Harley Davidson Owners Club presented a unique ?cheque? to the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Trust.
The ?cheque?, made out of half a petrol tank taken from a Harley, was presented to trust founders Colin and Wendy Parry. One half goes to the couple and the owners of the Ferry Tavern, where the event was hosted, will keep the other half.
The Harley Owners Club celebrated their 10th anniversary earlier this year with a bike show at the Ferry Tavern and raised money for the Trust.
News in brief
Carnival day
HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend Howley Carnival today (Saturday). A procession starts at 2pm and the carnival itself is on land at the end of Nora Street.
Fishing lakes
PLANS for additional fishing lakes, with car parking, disabled access and landscaping have been approved at Patridge Lakes, Glazier’s Lane, Croft near Warrington.
Objections lodged
APPLETON Parish Council has decided to object to a planning application for single storey extensions to the front and rear of a house in Ashberry Drive, Appleton Thorn.
Cafe plan
PLANS for a new cafe in Cockhedge Way, Warrington, involving a change of use of an existing premises, have been submitted to the borough council’s planning department.
