Wolves hit back in row
over World Cup poster
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Wolves have been criticised over a poster contrasting the ?family sport? of Rugby League with violent scenes of World Cup soccer fans rioting in front of giant TV screens.
Wolves issued the poster ahead of Sunday?s engage Super League fixture with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
As a result, the club came in for some media criticism from outside the town.
But Wolves defended the poster, which they said contrasted the unique and friendly atmosphere of Rugby League with the violent scenes from across Britain last weekend when soccer fans rioted in front of giant open air TV screens showing England?s World Cup opener.
As a result of the trouble ? caused by a minority of fans ? city authorities in Liverpool, Manchester and London have decided not to show World Cup games on the big screens again.
Dave Hutchinson, Wolves? director of commercial development, said: “We want people to know there is a more family friendly option than the World Cup this summer.
?Warrington Wolves are a community club in a family sport with a state of the art stadium. It’s a safe place to watch first class sport for people of all ages.
“The poster isn’t intended to offend, it’s been produced to catch people’s attention.”
Sunday?s game kicks off at 3pm.
Noddy walkers
raise ?6,000
by Gary Skentelbery
Noddy walkers raise ?6,000 One of the nation’s favourite characters, Noddy, visited Walton Hall Gardens to greet and meet approximately 300 children and their families as they walked 3 miles to raise money for research into childhood arthritis.
Noddy waved off the hundreds of families as they set off for their three circuits around the gardens.
Local and visiting families came out in their droves to meet Noddy and raise funds for the Arthritis Research Campaign’s (arc) Noddy Appeal.
As arc’s Area Appeals Manager, Ruth Owen, said: “It was a beautiful day and it was lovely to see so many people support our appeal. It is expected that over ?6,000 has been raised through the walk and we are all very grateful for the local support we have received.
It will be such a terrific help to our research to find the cause and a cure for arthritis which affects an estimated 10,000 children throughout Britain, including youngsters from Warrington.
I was so pleased to see both Siobhan Gray and Stephen Hankinson, two local six year olds from Warrington who suffer from the childhood form of arthritis. They both managed to walk the whole three miles, which was not easy for them.”
Village gala forced
to axe procession
by David Skentelbery
THE annual Glazebury Gala – the village’s main outdoor event of the year – has been forced to scrap its procession this year.
Gala organisers were faced with a ?2,500 bill from Warrington Borough Council for a road closure following a police decision not to provide traffic supervision at the event.
The gala is the latest of a number of fetes, walking days and festivals which have had to change format because police will no longer provide supervision.
But the show will go on. Gala secretary Jeff Chambers said: “We won’t be able to have a procession, but we will be carrying on with the gala on Saturday, July 8.
“We hope to get a horse drawn carriage to carry the gala queen through the village to the showground.”
The gala raises money for Glazebury Church and Glazebury Primary School. It will be held on the school playing field.
Traditionally the gala has started with a procession of floats from the Raven Inn, through the village to the field.
Second man charged
after motor cyclist death
by John Hendon
A SECOND man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fatal road accident at Lymm, near Warrington last Saturday, June 10.
Motor cyclist Darren Perkins, 30, from Partington, Manchester, died in the crash which involved a collision between his motor cycle and a vintage Morris car.
Earlier this week, a 28 year old Manchester man was arrested on suspicion of a drink driving offence and was released on bail pending further enquiries.
Now another man, aged 32, from Manchester has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has also been released on police bail.
The car driver, aged 53, from Warrington suffered slight injuries in the incident.
A police spokesman said it was believed Mr Perkins was one of a group of three motor cyclists at the time of the crash. They were anxious to speak to anyone who had witnessed the incident or who had seen three motor cyclists shortly beforehand. In particular they were anxious to speak to a woman pedal cyclist who was seen in nearby Stage Lane.
Anyone who can help is asked to call PS Mike Jones on 01244 613813.
Police warning over
“flasher” in park
by staff reporter
POLICE have issued a warning to women walking alone in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington, after a man indecently exposed himself to an 18-year-old girl.
The girl was walking in the park when she heard a man call out to her. She turned to see him exposing himself.
A police spokesman said the offender was aged 35-45, about 5ft 9 inches tall and was wearing a blue and red tee shirt, dark jacket, blue jeans and was of scruffy appearance.
Anyone who saw a person answering the man’s description in or near the park is asked to contact PC Neil Gallagher on 0845 6390.
News in brief
Flats plan
THE site of the former Kingsway pub in Kingsway South, Warrington – which stood derelict for years – is to be redeveloped for residential purposes.
Plans have been approved for 39 one and two-bedroomed apartments, with associated car parking and landscaping.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 5, 8 and 15. The jackpot went unclaimed and will be “rolled over” to next week when it will stand at about ?900. The ?25 consolation prize went to J Savory.
Kennels refused
AN application for planning consent for dog kennels at Brookside Farm, Lady Lane, Croft, near Warrington has been thrown out by planning bosses.
Sun salon
PLANS for a sunbed and manicure salon above an existing hairdressers in Chester Road, Warrington have been given the go-ahead.
[ 20.06.2006, 08:23: Message edited by: DS ]
