NEWS FLASH
Mike Gregory dies
MIKE Gregory, the former Warrington Wolves loose forward and ex-Great Britain skipper has died after a four-year battle with a neurological disease.
The 43-year-old, born in Wigan, had been confined to a wheelchair for the last 12 months.
He lost consciousness on Sunday night and passed away today (Monday). He leaves a widow, Erica and two sons, five-year-old Ben and nine-year-old Sam.
See tomorrow’s Warrington-Worldwide for full story.
Four arrested after
fatal stabbing
by Gary Skentelbery
FOUR people have been arrested following a fatal stabbing in Manchester Road, Warrington, early yesterday (Sunday) morning.
Police were called to an address near the junction of Salisbury Street where they discovered a seriously injured 20-year-old local man with severe stab injuries, which proved fatal.
Police are keen to hear from any one who witnessed an altercation in the area between 7am and 7.45am, in particular from anyone who saw a small black vehicle driving away from the area.
Four men are currently being held in custody helping the police with their enquiries and a Home Office pathologist will be performing a post mortem on the victim today.
Anyone who witnessed anything taking place in the area should contact the police on 01244 4580000 quoting incident number 226.
Golden ball raises
impressive ?32,000
by staff reporter
A STAGGERING ?32,000 has been raised for Warrington charity St Rocco’s Hospice thanks to a special Golden Ball.
Sponsored by the Golden Square, the Golden Ball at Mere Golf and Country Club attracted 370 guests, all of whom were competing for the star raffle prize of a trip to Barbados.
Around ?3,000 alone was donated by Craig Whittaker of Hexel Computers to get his hands on the luxury vacation.
The money will now help the charity provide loving care for its patients over the Christmas period.
Major boost in the fight
against domestic violence
by James Parr
DOMESTIC abuse victims have been given a lifeline as O2 Communications answered the call from the Relationship Centre in Warrington to donate nearly ?800 for the cause.
A cheque for ?750 was donated to the Centre, which will now mean they can use SMS technology and replacement SIM cards to ensure their clients will be safe at all times.
The Relationships Centre is a charitable organisation that provides a wide range of service to those affected by domestic abuse throughout the Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes and St. Helens.
Spokesperson for the Relationship Centre, Marissa Hankinson said: “The use of technology is a great way for those affected by domestic abuse to keep in contact with us and to have an effective way of communicating. The replacement SIM Cards will be handed out to clients who are classed as ‘high risk’ and the SMS service will be used in a more practical way such as re-enforcing support available, providing reminders around safety, confirmation of appointments and to act as a lifeline.
Independent Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Work, Lindsay Bowker said: “Clients who will benefit include people who may not have access to a phone or are being harassed by their ex-partner through text messaging.
“We have had cases where domestic violence victims have been forced to go out onto the street to find a phone box following incidents where they’ve required immediate help, or, who are continually being harassed by their ex-partner’s family and friends to drop charges. It’s a boost that we now have these SIM Cards available, that will help to stop such harassment as well as mobile phones enabling our clients to make emergency calls and summon help straight away.”
The Relationship Centre dealt with more than 2000 calls about domestic violence last year, with one in four women, and one in seven men, experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime.
Anyone who has been affected by domestic violence should contact The Relationship Centre on 0800 783 9636.
Summer success
by James Parr
SUMMER activities for children in Warrington were a huge success according to a recent Borough Council report.
Various play schemes were set up across the borough to entertain children throughout the long summer break.
These activities included things like sports camps, mobile play teams and play schemes.
Children participated in all things active, from parachute games to arts and crafts, thanks to the specially assembled events by the Play Development Service from the council.
Vast numbers of children and young people aged between five and 13 flocked to the sites, with 470 of them signing up for sports camps, 638 for the mobile play teams and an incredible 1245 for the play schemes.
Feedback from organisers and parents showed many positive aspects of the activities including artists participating in play schemes, the use of school fields and recreational facilities, and a range of craft activities and team games.
It is now hoped the events will take place again next summer, with council hoping to improve on the activities for older children who attend the play schemes and the behaviour management training for staff.
Youngsters keep
tradition alive
by Lesley Wilkinson
TWO Lymm youngsters are celebrating Kung Fu success following in the footsteps of martial arts actor Jet Li.
Proud mum, Veronica Nobel, of Albany Road, Lymm, said she wanted her children to follow the lead of her brother, who took up the sport for self defence.
Her children Lauren, 10, and David, seven, are members of the Dragon Wushu Gym in Bank Quay, and have recently started competitions and are already doing well.
Lauren joined the gym in May last year and David in April. Both are pupils of Statham Primary School.
Veronica said the children are studying the type of Kung Fu practiced by International martial arts actor Jet Li. The acrobatic form features fluid, graceful movements, and no shouting as associated with other types of martial arts.
The youngsters took part in the Welsh Open martial arts competition in Colwyn Bay in August both in the Chinese Forms Under 16s, when Lauren came joint third and David fourth.
They took part in the same category in the English Open in Sheffield in September, when Lauren came second and David third.
Veronica and her husband David are proud of the children’s achievements.
She said: “We are made up with their results. They did well in the competitions and it gave them the chance to compete against others.”
Builders donate fence
to charity
by James Parr
WORKERS from a Manchester based firm have given up 50 labour days to build a sound proofing fence for a children’s charity near Lymm.
Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, based at Millington, just outside Lymm, provides holidays and adventure breaks for disadvantaged children.
They needed a fence around their adventure playground site in order to secure the location as it is situated near the M56. Thankfully for the charity, Manchester firm Cargill volunteered 50 man-days of labour in aid of the fence building project.
The result is a new fence eight-foot fence, which has provided the children with a safer, more soundproof environment.
Senior Trust Fundraiser at CAFT, Helen Crowther said: “Contributing 50 man-days of labour over the course of a week to build us a strong, 200m long, eight foot high boundary fence was a really practical way for Cargill to support the Trust by improving its infrastructure. The fence has provided valuable soundproofing from the M56 motorway and has also meant that we can give more freedom to the kids when they are using our Countryside Activity Trail.”
Supply Planner with Cargill UK, Paul Franklin added: “It was a really enjoyable and gratifying experience helping to build the fence. It m
ade me feel a part of something really worthwhile.
It also gave all of us who were involved the chance to do some physical work in the fresh air and get to know people from different departments within Cargill Manchester.”
Volunteer call from charity
by James Parr
WARRINGTON charity the Relationship Centre is issuing an appeal for volunteers in order to keep up the good work already done by the charity.
Offering support to young people with unhealthy relationships in the town and surrounding areas, the charity have set themselves the objective of raising funds to push the Centre forward and require the help of volunteers in order to do so.
Spokesperson for the Relationship Centre, Marissa Hankinson said: “Fundraising is becoming a more and more important role to the sustainability of the charity but we cannot do it alone, we need volunteers to help us achieve our target. We are looking for volunteers to assist us in organising of events, gaining support from the local community and fundraising on our behalf.”
Pam Arnold, Director of Services added: “Our volunteers are invaluable to us and the people they help. The organisation plays a vital role within the Warrington community through helping children, young people, women, men and families through addressing a wide range of issues such as domestic violence and much more. Fundraising can be challenging and rewarding and can make a real difference.”
Anyone interested in joining the Relationship Centre as a volunteer should contact them on 01925 246 910.
Theatre tour comes
to town
by James Parr
ECLECTIC Riding Lights Theatre Company are coming to Warrington on their whistle stop tour of the UK to show their ground breaking production of Salaam Bethlehem.
This latest production has been produced after the company went to visit the dwindling Palestine Christian community in Israel.
Now they are laying on the production based on what they experienced in Israel from the people who’s message was “Pray for us, visit us, tell our story.”
The performance itself is compelling and inspirational, with the hope that a profound and enduring relationship can be established between audiences in the UK, Bethlehem and other parts of the Holy Land.
It comes to the Salvation Army, on Academy Street on Thursday, November 22, anyone wishing to book tickets can do so on 01904 613 000.
