Peace centre charity
re-launches with pound
for peace campaign
by Gary Skentelbery
FOURTEEN years on from the Warrington bombing which claimed the lives of two young boys the charity launched in their memory has re-branded.
Based at the town’s pioneering peace centre the charity set up by Colin and Wendy Parry in memory of their son has also started a new “Pound for Peace” campaign to help with the ?500,000 a year running costs.
The newly named Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation, is abandoning its “Children for Peace” identity, as their peace work now extends across the world, working with people of all ages.
Formed in the wake of the Warrington bombing on March 20 1993 in memory of 12-year-old Tim and three-year-old Johnathan, when IRA terrorists planted two bombs in town centre bins on Bridge Street the day before Mother’s Day, the unique peace centre continues to widen its scope of activities.
During a special event to coincide with the 14th anniversary, Colin said: “Our unique activities now reach far and wide. “We are extremely proud of what has been achieved but we feel it is now time to move forward and away from the Children for peace theme.”
He explained how the charity had been working closely with South Leeds High School, attended by one of the London bombers, helping young people from different ethnic backgrounds work together. The peace centre had also hosted youngsters from Israel and Palestine.
Since its opening seven years ago following a ?1 million fund-raising campaign backed by former Northern Ireland Home Secretary, the late Mo Mowlam, the peace centre has now helped more than 15,000 young people and over 100 adults who have actively taken part in peace programmes.
Chief Executive Claire White said: “To mark the 14th anniversary of the bombing we are now launching a new appeal.
“Thanks to the hard work of Colin and Wendy and all those based at the centre we have achieved the vision of a living memorial and a safe place for people to visit and resolve conflict issues in a none violent way.
“We are now asking people to donate just ?1 a week in our Pound for Peace campaign to help maintain the work we are doing.”
Colin Bell, head teacher at South Leeds High School, said the charity had “worked wonders” helping bring children together from different backgrounds. More than 70 teenagers had taken part in a course on conflict resolution.
“Our school was the result of a merger between two different schools, one with mainly white pupils and heavily influence by the BNP and the other mainly black and ethnic minorities. The work carried out by the peace foundation has helped the school immensely and our students are learning how to help in the local community and to deal with conflict in none violent ways.”
Meanwhile the Foundation has launched a new website www.foundation4peace.org to coincide with the re-launch.
“Mini hospitals” plan
comes under scrutiny
by David Skentelbery
PUBLIC consultation meetings start this week on the controversial plans to transform primary health care in Warrington by building a series of five “mini hospitals” to be staffed by GPs, dentists, nurses and other health professionals.
The first meeting will be held at St Anne’s Church tomorrow (Thursday) at 6pm.
Further meetings have been arranged for Monday March 26 at 3pm at Winwick Leisure Centre and at the health facility at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on March 28 at 6pm.
The proposals unveiled by Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) early last month have angered many GPs across the borough and worried many members of the public – so much so that PCT acting chief executive Jon Tomlinson has issued an open letter to clarify certain points and keep patients informed.
He writes: “We propose to build a number of large ‘state of the art’ health centres strategically located across Warrington. We will pilot these in Orford Park and the town centre. These will be modern premises able to provide a much wider range of services open seven days a week.
“This will prevent patients needing to travel between multiple sites, therefore eliminating unnecessary delays. For example, patients could see their GP, be referred for an X-ray and see a consultant all within the same building. Services would be designed around patients’ health needs in each neighbourhood. Patients will be able to see a GP at these health centres.
“We are inviting GPs and other clinicians to manage all health services outside hospital from these health centres. This is our vision for a 21st century health system for Warrington where the patient is put first. We recognise this represents a significant change and that some GPs may wish to continue offering traditional services Monday to Friday in their existing premises.
“Should GPs choose to practise from the new health centres, we recognise that some patients may have to travel further – but others will have a shorter journey.
“We are working closely with the local authority to ensure the new health centres have free car parking and are on major bus routes. We feel that given the benefits to patients from these proposals, and our commitment to invest in major new facilities, the proposals represent the best way forward for the people in the town.
“We have produced a consultation document explaining our vision and we would like to hear everyone’s views. The document, ‘Improving Local Health Services’, provides more detail and is available from the PCT website www.warrington-pct.nhs.uk or by telephoning the PCT on 0800 389 6973. The consultation period is for three months until May 9.
Young stars rock
the night away
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNGSTERS from a Warrington music school rocked the night away when they performed before an audience of 200 people.
The budding stars from Clive’s Easylearn Pop Music Schools, which has a branch at Grappenhall Community Centre, gave an inaugural live concert at the Grange School Theatre in Hartford.
Taking part were 37 young musicians, singers and dancers, aged from six to 16, who performed 16 rock anthems.
Pop school manager Paul Stevenson said: “The night was a great success and the crowd was treated to an excellent night of entertainment by our young stars.
“All the students have worked incredibly hard and for many of them it is the first time they have played in front of a live audience, which makes it all the more special. We can’t wait for next year’s concert!”
For more than 90 minutes the youngsters performed songs by groups such as Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis and the Beatles to an appreciative audience made up of parents, family and friends.
Students’ trial in court
STUDENTS from Warrington Collegiate were judged the best when they took part in a variety of mock trials at the town’s magistrates Court.
The Public Service students competed against other groups of students to win the court’s Mock Trial competition, held at the Arpley Street courts.
The group included First Diploma and First Year National Diploma students, who between them won every prize, including Top Student Group, a Special Achievement Award and Top Participant of the Day, which went to Tannia Royle.
The day’s tasks were a mix of prosecution versus defence and each team had to put the best case for the magistrates to decide upon.
Judges included magistrates, a crown court judge and legal advisers.
Tannia in particular was praised for multi tasking and taking on a variety of roles on the day.
Jon Walsh, lecturer in Public Services at the Collegiate, said: “The achievement by the students was all the more remarkable as they were pitted against students from other institutions who were studying specific A-Level Law.”
Man attacked and
robbed in stre
et
by David Skentelbery
A MAN was attacked, knocked to the ground and robbed as he walked along the road at Warrington.
The 21-year-old suffered bruising and cuts to his face and body in the robbery in Hallfields Road, Orford.
Police are hunting two men who carried out the attack.
The man was walking along Hallfields Road towards Orford Green when he was approached by two men who asked him for a cigarette. When he said he did not have any, he was struck in the face and knocked to the ground.
As he lay helpless he felt several other blows to his ribs and also someone going through his pockets.
The attackers left, taking cash and personal possessions.
One of the men was about 5ft 11 inches tall, of slim build and wearing a white baseball cap, black tracksuit bottoms and black or dark blue top. The second man was about 5ft nine, of stocky build and was wearing jeans and black boots.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the attack at about 4.30pm on Thursday, March 15.
Anglo-German partnership
boost for regional park
by Lesley Wilkinson
A NEW regional park project pioneering Anglo-German links is being funded by Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA).
The two countries will carry out joint research on the economic development of regional parks for the project, which is led and part funded by Cheshire County Council.
It will be delivered by German partners Rhein-Kreiss Neuss who have experience in developing regional parks and are successful in submitting bids for EU funded projects.
It is hoped the project will attract investment for the Weaver Valley Regional Park.
David Horstead, director of strategy and intelligence at CWEA, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to create something exciting in the Weaver Valley, learning from our German colleagues who are a couple of years in front of us in terms of planning and development.”
Three threatened with
knife in alleyway
by John Hendon
TWO men armed with a knife robbed two women and a man in an alleyway at Birchwood, Warrington.
They got away with a handbag containing a mobile phone, a purse containing no money and a number of keys.
Police say the two women, accompanied by a man were walking along Dewhurst Road, Birchwood and turned into an alleyway leading to Woodhouse Close.
They were confronted by two men, aged 16-21, both of medium to stocky build and wearing scarves over their faces. They were threatened with a knife and the pair made off with the handbag, running in the direction of Woodhouse Close and Admiral?s Road.
Police are seeking witnesses of the incident which was at about 10.20pm on Monday (March 19). Anyone who can help is asked to call DC Gordon Wilson on 01244 613834.
Women’s cricket in
search for new players
by staff reporter
THE Cheshire Women’s Cricket League has undergone a radical overhaul – and is on the look-out for new players.
New sponsors have been announced and this summer there will be a new league format, a knock-out cup and a Twenty20 competition. Main aims of the changes are to develop the women’s game in Cheshire.
At present there is only one women’s team in the Warrington area – at Appleton Cricket Club. But the CWCL is hoping more women in the town can be persuaded to play and other teams can be formed.
The CWCL will be sponsored by The Tytherington Club, part of the UK Club Company, Golf and Leisure Group, which will not only provide funding but also the use of their facilities to help develop cricketers.
Lovelane Ltd, Manchester based manufacturers of framed prints, will sponsor the cup competition.
Key to the league’s plan is creation of a “Player Pathway” from school to local club.
Cheshire senior team manager Steve Douglas said: “Every year hundreds of girls are introduced to Kwik Cricket at school. However few make it to a local club, as currently there is no link.
?As part of the restructuring the league has appointed its own development officer, Sarah McCann.
?Sarah’s role will be to liase with the local schools, meet the young girl cricketers and then help integrate them into their local club.”
The league is to run five junior festivals this year, and next year will have its own eight a-side junior U13/15 competition. By 2010 it is intended that every women’s senior team will have at least one junior side and the long-term aim is to develop more women’s teams at senior level.
Structured coaching takes place at all clubs by qualified coaches and there is representative cricket at Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and senior age groups.
More junior and adult players are required, whether that is in the form of joining a local women’s team, playing mixed boys’ cricket, or even forming regional women’s teams.
Anybody wishing to receive more information about cricket for women and girls in Cheshire should contact Sarah McCann directly on 07867 978773 or by email at [email protected]
Laundry blaze
FIRE crews were called to Ryfields retirement village at Warrington early this morning when smoke and a smell of burning from a communal laundry wasreported.
They dealt with a minor fire in the laundry.
