Shannon’s memory lives
on with new charity
by Mark Hemmings
A FUNDRAISING group set up in memory of a tragic Warrington girl who captured the hearts of the nation has become a registered charity.
The Shannon Bradshaw Trust has already raised more than ?20,000 in memory of the seven year old from Great Sankey who died four years ago from a form of leukaemia known as Aplastic Anaemia.
But her mum and dad, Patti and Alan Bradshaw, believe becoming a charity will enable them to raise even more money for children suffering from life threatening diseases.
Later this month, Shannon?s former school, Sacred Heart Primary, is to unveil a mural depicting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in memory of the plucky youngster.
Shannon died after a heart-rending search for someone with matching bone marrow.
More than 6,000 volunteered to be tested and eventually a perfect match was found.
But by then Shannon was too poorly to receive the life-saving bone marrow and a few days later she died.
After suffering the trauma of losing Shannon, Patti and Alan decided to set up the trust to help other children and their families in similar situations.
They have been raising money, working with charities such as the Anthony Nolan Trust, Ronald McDonald House in Liverpool and The Butterfly Project.
Patti said: “Thanks to the generosity of Warrington people and the help and support of celebrities such as Steve Arnold, who plays Ashley in Coronation Street and former Atomic Kitten, Kerry Katona and all of our fund raising co-ordinators, we have been very successful in our efforts.
“Now as a registered charity, The Shannon Bradshaw Trust can more effectively continue to make a difference to sick children’s lives.”
Crime writer shorlisted
for top national award
by Gary Skentelbery
A solicitor who writes crime novels for relaxation in his spare time has been shortlisted for a national award alongside international best sellers.
Crime novelist Martin Edwards from Lymm, near Warrington, has seen his latest paperback shortlisted for best crime novel of the year.
His novel, “The Coffin Trail,” a “who dunnit” based in the Lake District, has made the final six for the Theakston’s prize.
It is competing against novels by international best-sellers such as Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, Kate Atkinson and Lynda La Plante.
Martin, who is a partner in a firm of solicitors specialising in employment law and equal opportunities, writes about crime in his spare time.
Inspired as a child by Agatha Christie, he has already enjoyed some success with seven novels featuring the fictional character “Harry Devlin,” a shady solicitor character who solves murder mysteries.
Meanwhile Martin has also had 700 legal articles published on a variety of topics, and seven legal books used by his profession throughout the country. He finds writing a good way to relax after work.
He said: “One of the many exciting things about this nomination is that it is open to public vote. I am thrilled to be in such famous company.
“I fell in love with Agatha Christie novels as a child and always wanted to be a crime writer.
“But my parents were not convinced and wanted me to have a ‘proper job’ and study to be a solicitor. When I qualified writing was still my real passion and it still a thrill when I see one of my novels in a book store, or meet someone who has read one of them.”
Closing date for voting is July 13 and voting details can be found at www.ottakars.co.uk
Police hunt gang
after street robbery
by John Hendon
POLICE are hunting a gang of four men who beat up three youths in Warrington town centre in the early hours of the morning.
The three youths were walking along Mersey Street at about 4.15am after a night out when they were passed by a silver car containing four men. The car stopped and an argument developed with the four men, who all had short hair.
In a bid to get away, the three youths ran off and climbed a fence leading to a car park at the rear of Mersey Street.
But the men followed them and attacked them. During the attack, one of the victims was robbed of his mobile phone, although the offenders returned his SIM card.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or saw the silver car is asked to contact DS Ian Hampson on 0845 458 0000.
Student pilots see
history in the sky
TAKING part in the most important event in the Royal Air Force calendar, student pilots from Warrington?s Priestley College visited RAF Waddington, near Lincoln – to see top display pilots put on a day of flying for a crowd of more than 100,000.
This year?s show marked the 70th anniversary of Britain?s most famous fighter ?plane – the Spitfire.
Three of the veteran aircraft gave a flypast, joined by the famous Lancaster bomber. However, topping the bill were the world famous Red Arrows and the new Eurofighter Typhoon.
The day was tinged with sadness as it marked the last public display of the Canberra, the world’s first jet bomber that has been in service with the RAF for more than 50 years.
Student pilot Dominic Slater said: “Although I intend to train as a civil airline pilot, I learned a great deal about advanced flying from the RAF display pilots. Their skill and professionalism are outstanding and it was awe-inspiring to observe the formation flying and aerobatics from the Red Arrows.
“I found the display given by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 transport plane very interesting as this is the type of aircraft I wish to fly at commercial level.”
The student pilots are preparing to take their first solo flights at Shropshire Aero Club, along with Civil Aviation Authority Ground School examinations. Their next visit will be to the Farnborough Air Show, where they have been invited to the International Youth Day for Aviation along with 1500 young people from all over the world.
Smoke alarm saves
sleeping family
by David Skentelbery
A SMOKE alarm sounding in the small hours saved a Warrington family from possible disaster.
They had gone to bed leaving an automatic washing machine at work – and an electrical fault caused the machine to burst into flames.
The machine was completely destroyed, along with a worktop in the kitchen at the house in Conway Avenue, Dallam. The whole house suffered smoke damage – but the alarm aroused the family who escaped unhurt.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the 2am blaze. A spokesman said: “The smoke alarm proved its worth – but the real lesson to be learned from this is that washing machines may be automatic but they should not be left unattended.”
Council’s lasting
tribute to clerk
by Mark Hemmings
LYMM Parish Council provided a lasting memorial to its former clerk, Geoff Atkinson ? by planting a tree at the “Life for a Life” Memorial Forest in Lymm.
Mr Atkinson, a long serving clerk to the council, died earlier this year.
The Forest, sited near to Sow Brook and the Trans Pennine Trail shares borders with Lymm Golf Club. It offers people the opportunity to plant a tree in memory of lost loved ones, family, friends, etc.
Lymm Memorial Forest is part of an expansion into Cheshire by the “Life for a Life” charity which seeks sites where memorial trees can be planted and provide habitats for wildlife.
News in brief
Talent show
LYMM Rugby Club is staging its own two-day version of ?Stars in Your Eyes? tonight (Friday) and tomorrow in aid of the Grass Roots Sports Appeal. Anyhone wanting to perform a song or sketch can still call Simon Plumb on 01925 755590.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 6, 9 and 10. There was one winner of the ?214 jackpot and the consol
ation prize was won by “Liz”. Next week’s jackpot is likely to be around ?200.
Traffic ban
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order temporarily banning driving in a passageway between Orford Lane and Houghton Street from July 24 for about two weeks while a major water main is installed.
Wall rejected
PLANNERS have thrown out proposals for a wall to a balcony area at the Viper Lounge in Victoria Square, Stockton Heath, Warrington.
Plan withdrawn
DEVELOPERS have withdrawn a planning application for residential development on the Thomas Locker site, Farrell Street, Warrington, with access off Farrell Street.
