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Beryl is on the
campaign trail again
by James Parr
IF a title could be given for the most avid campaigner in lifetime, then it would surely go to Beryl Watson of Culcheth.
In earlier years, Beryl has campaigned for unleaded petrol, a swimming pool for Culcheth and improvements to the bus
service in the village.
Now she is at it again, lending her support this time to calls for Glazebury railway station to be reopened.
Beryl has written letters to Warrington North MP Helen Jones and Network Rail in the hope of making the station
functional again.
Since the station was closed almost 50 years ago trains have continued to pass through.
Beryl believes that reopening the station would not only be a benefit to Culcheth, but Glazebury, Croft, Winwick and
even Leigh as well.
She said: "The trains make a hell of a noise when they pass through Glazebury. I don't see why they just can't
stop for passengers. It would allow people from as far away as Leigh to get to Manchester and Liverpool a
lot more easily."
Reopening the station is estimated to cost somewhere in the region of £5 million, plus finding space on the timetable
and improving access for disabled people would also be huge considerations.
Beryl added: "I have written a number of letters over a period of time about the station and I have had a response from
Helen Jones who seems keen on the idea. I have read that the Government have given money to Runcorn for their transport,
so why not Glazebury?"
The campaigner wants to ease the traffic congestion eased and better provision for elderly people to travel.
She said: "I have done a lot of campaigning in my time for things like the buses, the swimming pool in Culcheth and
years ago for unleaded petrol. The buses for example come every half an hour and if there is lots of traffic it can
take even longer.
"I think there is a problem with congestion and the station and more buses would solve that. I have written to the
managing director of Warrington Borough Transport and he thanked me for my support. The people in this area deserve
better transport."
Restaurant wins
awards from MPs
by John Hendon
AN All-Party group of MPs has made an award to a Warrington Indian restaurant for the quality of its food.
The Parliamentary Tiffin Club has presented a medal and certificate to The Raj restaurant in Common Lane, Culcheth.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones, who lives in Culcheth, nominated the restaurant for this year’s Tiffin Cup – and award made by the club each year to applaud the quality of South Asian food and to raise money for charity.
MPs from across the country are invited to nominate a restaurant. The competition was launched two years ago and each year the winner is awarded the Tiffin Cup.
Judges secretly visited each nominated restaurant to sample menus and to take in
the atmosphere and service.
The competition was won by a restaurant from Romford in Essex – however, The Raj was highly praised and was awarded a Tiffin Cup Medal and a certificate, both of which were presented by Helen Jones.
Aimie's £2,000
boost for charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
A FORMER Culcheth High School pupil raised an incredible £2,000 for charity with an event held at Croft Memorial Hall.
More than 150 people attended the fundraising night organised by Amie Hadfield, 16, for the Tourettes Syndrome Association.
Amie contacted local businesses, friends and relatives to donate raffle prizes and received cash donations on the night.
Guests enjoyed a disco, buffet, raffle, picture quiz, stand-up bingo and a blind auction for an Everton shirt signed by Tim Howard.
Trustee of the association Mark Lincoln attended and gave a short presentation to raise awareness of Tourettes. And Mark was the winner of the blind auction with his bid of £80 for the signed shirt.
Pictured - fundraiser Aimie with proud Dad Michael and grandmother Barbara.
Teenagers set up
their own youth club
by John Hendon
A GROUP of teenagers from Croft have helped to set up their own youth club.
The youngsters - along with the help of Police Community Support Officer Stephen Dodd - spent almost six months researching their idea and securing funding.
Now their dreams have become a reality with the opening of the club.
It was just before Christmas that the issue of a lack of youth facilities in the area was raised at a community action meeting.
The teenagers attended the meeting and listened to the comments from residents before approaching PCSO Dodd to ask if he could help them set up their own youth club. Some of the residents also offered to help get the project off the ground.
Five of the teenagers - along with PCSO Dodd, two local residents and a local councillor formed their own steering group and have regularly met over the past few months.
In that time they have researched what funding is available and managed to secure about £7,000, which includes a grant from Warrington Youth Services.
Croft Parish Council also agreed to give then £2,000 to pay for a youth worker for the project.
he teenagers have taken the lead with the project but there has been plenty of help from Coun Meril Cummings, Karen Nash - the local brownie leader and Rev Chris Stafford from Christ Church in Croft.
"This is a great example of what can be achieved from our Community Action Meetings," said PCSO Dodd. "This has been totally youth led and shows what can be done by sitting down and working as a team for the benefit of the whole community.
"We have listened to the local youths to see what they want in the local community - rather than telling them what they can have and this has made a huge difference.
"Although Croft suffers very little anti-social behaviour I am sure this is a step forward in reducing it even further."
Picture shows police officers, councillors residents and young people at the opening of the club.
Garden centre backs
amazing Mia
by Gary Skentelbery
A Glazebury garden centre has discovered the perfect person to front its fundraising efforts for Alder
Hey Children's Hospital during 2007.
Three year old Mia Loudon from Warrington - who is one of only four people in the UK to suffer with the rare
CDKL5 condition - will be the face of Bents' fundraising campaign and she and her family will enjoy VIP
treatment throughout the year.
Following the huge success of Bents' 2006 charity of the year- raising over £4500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
- the Glazebury based garden centre has once again set itself a challenge and, with Mia's help, hopes to beat
last year's total.
Mia was born in July 2003 and in September 2005 was diagnosed with the extremely rare genetic disorder - CDKL5.
At the time of her diagnosis, Mia was only the 2nd child in the UK to suffer from this condition and only the
17th in the world.
This very rare condition means that Mia has severe and uncontrollable epilepsy and is unable to walk or talk.
Despite her own personal challenges, Mia is a very brave and beautiful little girl with 'smiley eyes' and is
already involved in fundraising initiatives.
Matthew Bent, Managing Director of Bents Garden Centre said: "We are delighted to be joined by Mia for our 2007
campaign for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. She's already had a lot of fundraising practice, raising money and
awareness for her condition and we hope her expertise will help us throughout the year! We look forward to
being joined by Mia and her family at our various fundraising events and hope they enjoy being involved with Bents."
Says Paula Loudon, Mia's mum: "Mia has been in and out of Alder Hey all of her life and we thought it would be
lovely to give something back to the hospital. By winning the competition to front Bents' 2007 fundraising
campaign Mia not only has the opportunity to raise awareness about the hospital but also help to boost funds
for the Imagine Appeal."
Alder Hey is the largest children's hospital in Europe, treating 200,000 young people every year. The Imagine Appeal
is the hospital's new charity, which helps to raise funds to continue the pioneering work that is carried out for
its young patients.
Picture shows Matthew Bent with Mia
School plans unveiled
by Gary Skentelbery
AWARD - winning architect firm, Building Design Partnership (BDP) have
revealed their visionary plans for the new £24m building at Culcheth High
School.
The international firm's winning design includes modern, state-of-the-art
learning spaces for all subjects including science, ICT, drama, PE,
technology and art. The school's Sixth Form wing will also undergo a modern
facelift with new private study areas and common room.
At the heart of the plans are facilities that can be used by both the school
and the residents of Culcheth. A key feature is a high-tech Humanities
conference centre that will become a valuable resource for both the school
and the community, as well as a sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite,
outdoor synthetic and grass pitches and meeting rooms that can be enjoyed by
all.
Innovative measures to ensure the school stays environmentally friendly
feature in the new build. A grass roof to provide natural insulation in the
winter and cooling in the summer school will feature, as well as a system to
collect rainwater and recycle it on site.
Work will start on the new build in January 2008, aiming to be completed for
the start of the academic year in September 2009.
Head Teacher Martyn Froggett said: "We are
delighted, following our successful inspection report and record breaking
exam results, that we will be able to provide our students with a first
class, modern, educational facility".
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, Executive Board Member for Children's Services, says,
"The plans for Culcheth High School are of a very high standard quality,
which is no less than what pupils, staff and the wider community deserves.
The project again reflects our constant investment and commitment to
children and their education in Warrington."
Details of the plans can be seen on the school website www.culchethhigh.org.uk
Joshua puts his
best foot forward
by Gary Skentelbery
A CULCHETH schoolboy has collected more than 150 pairs of old shoes - to help orphans in Africa.
Culcheth Primary School Year 6 pupil Joshua Smith single handedly collected the shoes for the Blue Peter "Shoe Biz
appeal" from children and families at school and his own family.
He was inspired after seeing pictures of needy orphans on the TV screen while watching his favourite programme.
Proud mum Lesley said: "He initially set out to collect 50 pairs and ask permission at school. He has been
overwhelmed with the response."
Joshua has special needs himself with a cleft lip and palate, for which he has undergone painful surgery.
His Head Teacher Craig Richardson said: "We do a lot of fundraising so the children already have that awareness of
helping those less fortunate than themselves.
"Joshua has taken things one step further and we are extremely proud of him. He is a very happy child who never
lets anything get him down."
The Shoe Biz Appeal will help thousands of poor children in Malawi, many of whom are orphans.
Blue Peter is raising money by recycling old shoes.
Health Minister impressed by
mental health charity
by Gary Skentelbery Picture: Martin O'Neill
HEALTH Minister Andy Burnham MP has been given a fascinating insight into the groundbreaking services offered by
local mental health charity Making Space.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health responsible for NHS reform and service delivery and former
Culcheth High School pupil, was given a tour of the independent hospital and residential unit Ashwood Court in Lowton
by Regional Director Paul Bradley.
He also visited the Buddies project at nearby Golbourne, where people with mental health conditions make and
refurbish equestrian supplies.
Following a tour of the facilities the Leigh MP said: "Both facilities were very impressive and provide a
valuable health resource in the local community. Making Space should feel extremely proud of their achievements."
Making Space's Director of Development John Heritage said: "We were delighted Andy was able to take time to visit
our services within his constituency and to meet residents who use our services as well as staff and commissioners
from Wigan MBC.
"Its is critical for Making Space to ensure that we can continually raise the profile of the quality services
we provide and what better way of doing this than the local MP and Government Minister taking time out of his very
busy schedule to see what we do."
Making Space is a registered Mental Health Charity, formed in 1982, which offers support and services to
all those affected by serious and enduring mental illness.
Their high quality service provision includes supported accommodation, carer and family support, employment
and education, carers' breaks, independent hospital, residential accommodation and advocacy.
Making Space is a national organisation with services across the country with the Head Office is in Warrington,
Cheshire.
Picture shows Mr Burnham with Maureen Quinn, Manager of Buddies.
Farmer's son who became
a bomb-disposal hero
by David Skentelbery
A FARMER'S son from Culcheth who became Britain's most decorated bomb disposal expert has died, aged 91.
Lt Commander John Bridge quit his job as a schoolteacher to volunteer for the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War 2.
He was a pacifist - but he knew his degree in physics could be put to use saving lives.
Within a month of being accepted into the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and having had only one week's training he defused his first German bomb.
Over the next five months the former Leigh Grammar School pupil, who lived at Culcheth, was involved in defusing more than 100 "UXBs" in the Plymouth-Falmouth area as the Luftwaffe pounded naval dockyards.
He was awarded The George Medal for making safe a bomb known to be fitted with a delayed action fuse, which could have exploded at any moment.
On two successive nights, he dealt with 15 unexploded bombs in Plymouth including a double-fused bomb designed to prevent handling which was ticking ominously when he reached it. For this was awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.
A few weeks later he defused a submerged bomb at Falmouth for which he received a Bar to his George Medal.
In August 1943, after the invasion of Sicily, he was instructed to clear Messina harbour of mines. A previous mine-clearing team had all been killed or seriously injured by depth charges fitted with a new unknown firing mechanism.
Bridge recovered one mine intact so that he could learn how to make the remainder safe and then made 28 dives over a period of 20 hours, often under enemy shellfire, to clear all the depth charges and 207 other explosive devices.
Two of his crew who had handled the cleared charges above water received the George Medal and Bridge was awarded the George Cross for his "conspicuous and prolonged bravery and contempt of death."
On D-Day+1 he helped clear the Normandy to of mines and other explosive devices left there and then, at the end of September 1944, he was called forward to the Nijmegen area where a daring German operation was holding up the advance of General Sir Brian Horrocks's 30 Corps over the River Waal.
An unexploded charge was lying against a bridge, under water when Bridge arrived. He was greeted by General Horrocks with an offer of breakfast, but declined, stripped to his underpants and made the charge safe.
After the war, Bridge returned to teaching and eventually became director of education at Sunderland where his funeral takes place on January 5.
He still has one more honour to collect. In February he was to have opened a new Royal Navy bomb disposal training centre to be named after him.
His nephew, also named John Bridge, of Moss House Farm, Glazebury said: "He was a truly remarkable man - but an extremely modest one."
Victorian extravaganza
by Gary Skentelbery
SHOPKEEPERS and villagers at Culcheth turned back the clock to Victorian Days with their annual
Christmas extravaganza.
Organised by Culcheth Lions and supported by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council, the event saw various
attractions, including the official switch on of the village's Christmas lights.
The event is organised each year to help boost local trade and attract visitors to the village, as well
as helping the Lions raise funds for local good causes.
Pictured entering into the spirit of the occasion are Three Lions! from left, Ged Southern (President), Tim Yates
and Mike Barnes.
More pictures can be seen by CLICKING HERE
Choir on song
at reunion
by Gary Skentelbery
A special a reunion of Culcheth High School Choir for members from 1998-2006 took place at
the school's drama studio.
The event was organised by former head of department and Choir Director Katrina Madden (née Murray!) and supported the school’s bid to achieve
humanities specialist school status.
Katrina said: "The Choir Reunion was a great success - it was a wonderful opportunity for ex-students to return
and celebrate their own achievements in the choir whilst raising money for the future achievement of pupils at
Culcheth High. The day was full of the enthusiastic chats and laughter of old friends as well as the more serious
business of singing and music-making!
"Some singers left the school as long ago as 2001 and others had travelled from as far as Leeds and Norwich to share
the day with us.
"Our informal concert was really well-received and raised even more money for the school's Specialist bid. It was a
real privilege to work with such talented ex-students of Culcheth High School Choir and we all hope to repeat
the experience with even more singers next year."
The event raised a total of £340 for the school funds.
Pete keeps
dream alive
by David Skentelbery
VETERAN Culcheth based biker Pete Williams is planning a comeback to the high speed world of drag-racing - at the age of 65.
Pete, from Mee Brow, Culcheth says he wants to compete with the "young guys."
He is hoping to buy a 180 mph bike which with some "tweaking" should be capable of speeds of more than 200 mph.
Pete Williams' whole life story is one of chasing the dream of becoming the fastest man on two wheels.
He was once among the top handful but his biking obsession has been hit by a series of disasters - not least suffering
a heart attack more than eight years ago.
At one stage he sold his home to fund a bid on the speed record and on another occasion he was evicted from his workshop.
Financial problems have also caused setbacks.
Recently Pete has been helping to run the Mee Brow Youth Club but now he has taken a back seat with that to
concentrate on his own biking projects while, as he says, he still can.
He is still running his 38-year-old 1,300cc double-engined Triumph drag-bike, which he calls "Two Faced" and which
was third fastest in Europe some years ago. But he also has a 1,500cc version.
"I run these mainly at classic events as people like to see them and I still enjoy riding them.
"However later this year I hope to buy a Suzuki Hayabusa. I want to compete with the young guys. For the first time
ever I shall be letting someone else do the engine tuning - a mate of mine, Wayne Little, is used to tuning these
engines and fitting Nitrous Oxide kits, so he will do the engine work.
"I will do frame modifications myself and, of course, I will be doing the riding.
"These bikes will do 180 mph standard, so with some tweaking well over 200 mph should be achievable - if I don't
loose my bottle. I want to be riding something up-to-date for a change!"
Pete has been invited to make a guest appearance on Channel 4's "Scrapheap Challenge" - the series in which
madcap characters create mayhem with their inventions made from scrap - later this year or early next.
But the irrepressible Pete joked: "This doesn't mean I am on the scrapheap."
Stalwarts open
new look store
by Gary Skentelbery
TWO women who clocked up more than 100 years of service between them working and shopping at Culcheth's CPS store were given the
honour of officially opening the new look Sainsbury's in the village.
Violet Amos and Melinda Brown performed the official ribbon cutting ceremony as the
supermarket giant moved into the village following the takeover of the well-respected family owned
CPS foodstore which has been at the heart of village for 42 years, as a third-generation family business.
Sainsburys have carried out a major makeover of the ground floor of CPS - enlarging the trading area and installing
windows along the side elevation so the 'new store' faces the main car park.
New store manager Neil Davison has pledged to carry on the good community work of former owner Stuart Nelson and
as part of the opening celebrations presented new football kits to Culcheth Under 11's, and Newchurch and Culcheth
Primary schools.
Sainsbury's have donated the kits as part of their community grant scheme. They will also be supporting the annual
Victorian Day organised by Culcheth Lions and the Culcheth Community Day organised by Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council.
Neil said: "It is our aim to carry on the CPS tradition of being a community store, supporting the local community."
As well as a major investment providing the store with a makeover a further 33 new jobs have been created, mainly for
local people.
CPS has its roots in Leigh where Stuart's grandfather bought Central Provision Stores. Stuart's father, Bill Nelson, acquired
a corner shop in Culcheth and CPS opened its doors in 1964.
Stuart has retained ownership of the CPS Centre, an umbrella for multiple businesses situated above the
Sainsbury's store.
Pictures show Violet and Melinda performing the official opening while manager Neil Davison presents football kits to
Culcheth Under 11's and Newchurch and Culcheth primary schools.
Agnes celebrates
milestone birthday
by Mark Hemmings
MILESTONE birthdays always give cause for celebration but none more so than reaching 100 years old!
Agnes Rogerson of Glazebury was originally born in Scotland but returned to her family's native Lancashire when
she was still an infant.
Educated in Platt Bridge and living in Abram, Wigan - Agnes left school at the tender age of 13.
Her first job was at "The Box Works" where she was employed making gift boxes and handkerchief boxes.
The fumes from the cauldrons of glue used there meant that under instructions from her doctor, Agnes
was advised to seek employment outdoors.
With the help of her sisters, Agnes found new work at the local Maypole Colliery. Here she sorted the
coal as it was brought up from the mine! Agnes worked there until she married in March 1929, only to return
in 1942 during World War II.
Meeting her husband, Herbert at Abram Methodist Church - Agnes gave birth to two daughters Doris and Jean.
Sadly Jean died at the tender age of three weeks old. Herbert passed away in September 1990 but Agnes now
happily lives with Doris and her son-in-law Arthur at Glazebury - where she received her telegram
from The Queen.
£20 million new
build for Culcheth High!
by Gary Skentelbery
CULCHETH is set to get a brand new £20 million high school due to open in September 2009.
Everyone at the school is "delighted" to have been selected by the local authority to be the lucky recipient of a
complete new build.
The project forms part of the government's massive 'Building Schools for the Future programme', which aims to re-build
85% of the country's schools over the next few years.
Plans at Culcheth are at an early stage. The broad aim is to plan and design the new building between now and the end
of 2007, and construct over an 18 month period starting in the spring of 2008.
The new school will be erected on the current playing fields. When the new school is complete, the plan is to
demolish all or most of the current building and convert that into playing fields. The working life of students
and teachers will continue uninterrupted until the summer of 2009, with no need for mobile classrooms or temporary
accommodation before the move into the new school.
School Business Manager Amanda Stevens said: "Clearly, while an exciting and dramatic new era beckons for the school,
the onus of designing and planning a new educational environment for the twenty-first century is a serious and
demanding one. The local authority and their architectural clients, while obviously committed to working closely
with the school, are keen to consult with local stakeholders, residents, community groups, primary schools and all
associations with a vested interest in the future of the school. At Culcheth High, we are keen that the new school
embraces the philosophy of 'Extended Schools' that we are currently developing.
"This is an exciting time for all at the school, and a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give the current and future children of the locality a facility in which their talents and skills can flourish. We fully intend to make the most of this opportunity."
Joan's poems will
help orphans
by Terry Johnson
FARMER'S wife and former community nurse Joan Patrick has written a book of poetry - to help her mission to help
orphaned children whose plight shames a continent.
The book "Titillating Nostalgia" recounts in verse the trivial and the funny incidents of her life.
The 72-year-old left her comfortable home in Warrington Road, Glazebury, with nine other members of Methodist churches
to see at first-hand the terrible toll of the Aids epidemic in South Africa.
For two weeks Joan and fellow Christians helped and made friends with grandmothers in Pinetown, near Durban.
The older women have been left to pick up the pieces of families torn assunder by rampant Aids.
The illness has claimed the lives of young mothers and fathers, with many children left without basic care or education.
Grandparents have stepped in to help - but age and abject poverty severely limits what they can achieve.
Joan and her friends assisted the grandmothers and sent a consignment of tools, wheelchairs, cycles and other equipment
- so the South African township can engage in self-help.
"We found lives overtaken by tragedy", said Joan. "While in South Africa we helped the grandmothers to cope.
Now the Government is going to donate to the education and care of these unfortunate children".
Joan has had the help of two local people in producing her book, Nora MacKinnon and Jim Salt. She is donating £1
from each book sold to two charities, Parkinson's Disease Research and the Phakamisa Project, which helps the
South African orphans.
Alan's book is
worth the wait
by David Skentelbery
FARMER Alan Sharpe's history of Croft village could be said to have arrived seven years late.
It was originally intended to coincide with an exhibition at Croft Village Hall in 2000 which was, in fact, first
staged in 1993.
But it has been worth the wait for the book, which Alan claims covers the period 2000 BC to 2000 AD, would have been
far less comprehensive if it had been rushed out for the Millennium.
It covers most things that have happened in the village at the churches, schools, pubs and shops. It provides a
fascinating insight into life in Croft during World War 2 when there were no less than four naval camps, a
searchlight unit on the site of Croft Primary School and a US Army Air Force radio station in Heath Lane.
Alan, 74, who has farmed at Southworth Hall Farm since 1974 was born in Millhouse Lane. Although he wrote most of
the 220-page book himself, there have been contributions from a number of others, including articles and photographs.
The attractive front cover picture of the old Croft School was painted by Pam Ellis.
For such a small village, Croft has a remarkable history. But it must be remembered that when the naval camps were
in existence, with their cinema, dance hall, rifle ranges, etc the local population was boosted by some 1,500.
The book costs £13.95 but for Alan it has been a labour of love, for if he makes a profit it will go to the village
hall fund.
Anyone who wants to buy a copy can find it at the Cottage Gallery on Lord Street, Dams Jams on Kenyon Lane, PPM
on Warrington Road, Culcheth or by calling Alan on 01925 762286.
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