Masked men in raid
on drive-in restaurant
by David Skentelbery
THREE masked men got away with a large quantity of cash after raiding the Burger King drive-through restaurant at Winwick, near Warrington.
They smashed their way into the building with a sledgehammer, threatened staff with the hammer and a wooden stave, and forced them to hand over the cash.
No-one was hurt, but staff were left badly shaken by the incident last on Sunday evening (May 6).
Police are appealing for witnesses, in particular people who may have visited Burger King between 8.30 and 10.30pm on Sunday, or people who visited the nearby B&Q store during the same period.
The men struck around 10.30pm by smashing their way into the restaurant through a glass door fronting onto the access road to B&Q.
There were no customers in the restaurant at the time, although the drive-through section was operating. The raiders all wore dark clothing and had their faces concealed – possibly with balaclavas. They all spoke with Liverpool accents.
They left the building through a fire escape door, also facing the B&Q access road.
A police spokesman said: “IT is not known if they had a vehicle, but it seems likely they did.”
Anyone who can help police is asked to call DS Ged Bibby on 01244 615859.
Borough plans to give
more power to parishes
by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington are studying proposals to give more power to parish councils across the borough.
They want to devolve management to parishes where possible ? and where parish councils are prepared to take on more responsibility.
Already a half-day seminar has been held, attended by representatives of most of the parishes in the borough.
Borough council leader Ian Marks said: ?I think some of the parishes were understandably a bit apprehensive. But once we had talked most people were reassured.
?One issue, of course, is funding. Parish councils will want to know who is to pay for work they take on.
?The ball is now in our court. We have to come up with ideas of responsibilities the parishes could take on.
?We are looking at various options and will probably start with a few pilot projects.?
Winwick walkathon
by Gary Skentelbery
FOLLOWING a successful London Marathon run last year by a governor at Winwick School which raised in excess of ?1,500 for school funds, the rest of the governing body has now organised an equivalent ‘Walkathon’.
The event takes place on May 12 when the governors of Winwick CE Primary school and members of the local community and beyond will walk from Liverpool Cathedral to St. Oswalds Church in Winwick, a staggering 26.5 miles.
Some will walk all the way and others will take part in any variation of the organised walk (e.g 13 miles or 6 miles or even just a couple of miles through Sankey Valley).
They are looking for as many people to take part in this event as possible and raise much needed funds for the School to be able to build a new extension and urgent renovations.
People can register through Caroline Jenkinson on 01925 629038 and she will be happy to give more details and maps etc, and the all important sponsor forms.
Students to join national
debate on climate change
by Gary Skentelbery
DELEGATES from Lymm High School near Warrington are to debate Climate Change at the 2007 Global Student Forum (GSF) in London on July 2 and then return to the school as peer educators to run assemblies and lessons.
The day conference, which exists to enable school students, of all faiths and none, to think carefully about the spiritual and moral issues underlying global citizenship, will run under the title ‘Dying for a Drink?’.
Held in association with Stop Climate Chaos, the day will help teenagers reflect on three key issues:-
that water is a universal human right
why climate change is a justice issue, and
how our actions can improve the lives of the poor. The conference is designed to fit in with the school curriculum and delegates will be given a Peer Educator book with an integral DVD that will enable them to teach PHSE and/or Citizenship lessons for many of the younger students at the school in the autumn term.
Speakers at this year’s conference include the Bolivian Ambassador, Maria Souviron, representatives of aid agencies, such as Christian Aid, and young people from developing countries.
Nick Pollard, director of GSF said: “Over 800 students packed the conference centre for GSF last year. This is the only event of its kind in the UK where students can debate and even interview key decision-makers and leading experts in the fields of the environment and politics, and then return home with a Peer Educator Book to share their newfound knowledge with younger pupils. The peer education approach means their enthusiasm for Global Citizenship is given an outlet as soon as the conference ends.”
Nicole Harris Global Citizenship Co-ordinator of Lymm High School said: “The benefits of using peer educators to focus whole school attention on global projects such as this is immense. Not only do they benefit by up-skilling themselves but their positive role model means that the younger students not only engage but also aspire to be like them. This is the third year we have been involved in GSF and every year it just gets bigger and better. Our students gain a valuable insight into global issues other than the role of charity, and are able to link cause and effect in world issues.”
For more information about GSF 2007, visit www.globalstudentforum.org
Tragic PC started
career in Warrington
by John Hendon
PC Richard Gray, the hero PC shot dead in Shrewsbury on Sunday, started his police career in Warrington.
Cheshire Police revealed today that PC Gray joined them in 1997 and was initially stationed in Warrington before joining the force’s armed response unit. PC Gray qualified as a firearms officers with Cheshire in 2000.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “He will be sadly missed by all who knew him in Cheshire Constabulary.”
PC Gray, aged 43, was shot dead as he tried to save two unarmed colleagues being held at gunpoint.
It is believed a pest control officer, Peter Medlicott, 33, shot PC Gray with a .222 calibre rifle he used for shooting rats – and killed himself with the gun.
Dog walkers to raise
money for charity
by Lesley Wilkinson
DOG-lovers are invited to take a stroll in the countryside and help raise funds for charity by taking part in a Wag-A-Tail-Walk.
The walk for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) takes place on Sunday May 27 to help the charity’s fight against the UK’s biggest killer, heart and circulatory disease.
The sponsored dog walk at Walton Hall Gardens in Warrington will set off from the main car park at 11.00am. The two and a half miles route is through the gardens, the surrounding countryside and Hill Cliffe area.
Organised by BHF volunteer Joanne Buxton the walk aims to raise ?1,000 to help fund pioneering research into the causes and treatment of heart and circulatory disease.
Shirley McNally, community fundraising manager at BHF, said: “Every two minutes someone has a heart attack – and sadly only half will survive. Furthermore, around 2.6 million people are now living with coronary heart disease – and these figures are rising.
“Our need is urgent, so we’re calling people to get active and join in the fun of the Wag-A-Tail Walk to help hearts in crisis.”
Anyone interested in joining the walk should contact Jo Buxton on 07989 435982 or email [email protected]
Drama spells out story of
survival against the odds
by staff reporter
A DRAMA telling the tale of survival in the face of “impossible odds” is staged at the Pyramid, Warrin
gton, on Friday May 11.
New work The Endurance tells the story of two old men hauling their broken piano along rusty train tracks. Their energy is spent and a “faceless entity” is pursuing them, so somehow they must keep going.
Al Seed and Ben Faulks, who have both received drama awards, collaborate in the work. They say it draws on the tradition of the travelling player and the expeditions of Scott and Shackleton, to tell a tale of survival in the face of impossible odds and a friendship glued together by tea and mint cake.
Countdown to bigger and
better Lymm Festival
by Gary Skentelbery
LYMM village is set to explode with activities at the end of June, beginning of July with the annual Lymm Festival.
More than 50 events taking place over 10 days will include all kinds of music (including classical, choral, jazz, folk, blues), through to art , drama, dance, comedy, poetry and prose, photography, scarecrows, storytelling, exhibitions, open gardens and much more.
The friendly festival atmosphere provides a warm welcome to newcomers and many local patrons alike and there really is something for everyone ? regardless of age!
Starting with The Street Fun & Food Fest – a giant street caf? in the village with both food and entertainment – and continuing with many of the regular events such as the Festival Picnic at Lymm Hall and Art in the Garden – the organisers have included some new performances/acts to ensure the programme continues to develop and offer variety.
Festival director, Honor Giles says: ?There are too many wonderful events to list here, but some new additions to the programme include a Spanish Night with Tapas, two stand-up comedy nights, piano master classes with a very eminent professor and a song-writing competition at the folk club.” There are also two new completions both of which are sponsored by Warrington-Worldwide’s sister publication Lymm Life.
Every household in Lymm will shortly receive a copy of the programme and these will also be available through traders in the village. It will contain full details of all the events along with booking details. If you wish to go online for all the latest information, check out www.lymmfestival.org.uk Tickets may be booked from Saturday June 2, using the booking form in the programme and the box office will open on Saturday June 23 and ? many of the events are expected to be immediate sell outs!
Meanwhile the committee is anxious to attract members for the Friends of Lymm Festival . Anyone interested can call 01925 758676 or email [email protected] or via the festival website http://www.lymmfestival.org.uk
Gripping thriller
by John Hendon
THE next performance by Culcheth Players is Night Watch by Lucille Fletcher which runs from May 16-19 at 7.30pm.
This gripping thriller begins when troubled heiress Elaine Wheeler tells her husband and the police that she has seen a dead man in the building across the way. The police are sceptical. Is Elaine imagining things, or is there a murdered man? As the plot thickens and Elaine’s agitation increases. Can she prove she is not crazy? The suspense builds throughout the play and holds the audience until the chilling climax.
Rosemary Powell plays the besieged Elaine. She was recently seen in “Cinderella” playing Dandini.
Elaine’s good-looking husband John Wheeler is David McManus, who last played an ugly sister in Cinderella.
Penny Kirby is Elaine’s nurse and best friend Blanche Cooke. Penny made her debut in “Cinderella,” as Prince Charming.
Phil Ratcliffe plays Appleby, Elaine’s slightly sinister neighbour. This is Phil’s first performance with the group.
Julie Lee portrays Helga, the irritable German maid who knows too much or not enough, this is Julies debut performance with the group.
Mark Taylor, plays Lieutenant Walker, the sceptical detective. Mark is also directing the play.
Kerry Chapman is sympathetic psychiatrist Dr. Tracey Lake. Kerry made her players debut as Cinderella in the February pantomime.
Ken Proctor, plays put-upon neighborhood grocer Sam Hoke.
Tickets for “Night Watch” are ?5, and ?4 for seniors, available from the Culcheth Sports Club Bar.
Details of Culcheth Players can now be viewed on their web site at www.culchethplayers.co.uk
School wins top
ICT award
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SCHOOL in Birchwood, Warrington, has been awarded a prestigious technology accolade.
Fox Wood School has received the ICT Mark following an assessment by BECTA, the government-funded body responsible for promoting the use of the standard in schools.
It recognises the school’s success in developing the use of modern technology by pupils and staff.
Pinaki Ghoshal, head of school improvement services at Warrington Borough Council, said: “Fox Wood should be congratulated on this wonderful achievement. This demonstrates the excellent ICT management and teaching that is taking place in local schools.”
Head teacher Lesley Roberts said: “We are delighted to be awarded the ICT Mark. It recognises our positive approach to ICT and the benefits it is bringing to our pupils. We believe that ICT can be used in every aspect of learning and that it is essential our pupils are equipped for the modern world.”
