Town’s key role in fight
to combat bird ‘flu
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON is to play a key role in a new strategy to help prevent the spread of bird flu.
Residents are being asked to take part in a surveillance strategy by reporting any dead wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans.
The new, updated strategy to screen wild birds has been announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Experts will be look for the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, working in conjunction with the borough council?s environmental health team.
Warrington ? which attracts a large number of wintering wildfowl – is one of a number of areas across the country that is involved in the surveillance strategy, which is a precautionary measure.
The strategy will involve sampling for the disease in areas which have higher numbers of migrating waterfowl and larger poultry populations.
The programme, being introduced in time for the autumn migration of water birds from more northerly latitudes, will have three main elements:
Testing of live birds (which are then released)
Testing shot birds (shot as part of normal legal wild fowling activities)
Testing certain species of dead wild birds found in designated areas.
Residents can play their part as additional reporting of specific species of birds is necessary.
Anyone who finds dead wild gulls, waders, ducks, geese or swans do not approach them but contact the DEFRA helpline 08459 33 55 77 and choose the Avian Influenza option, which will be open from 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday.
Callers will be asked for details of the finding and its location. Anyone who finds any other single dead birds, including garden birds, should not call the helpline.
Divers wary of close
encounters with sting rays
by Terry Johnson
DIVERS from Warrington avoided close encounters with sting rays during a wrecks and reef search expedition to Egypt’s Red Sea.
Their wariness followed the tragic death of Australian broadcaster and wildlife expert Steve Irwin, who was speared through the heart by a ray’s barb.
The Red Sea diving party explored the wrecks of WW2 supply ships sunk by German bombers in 1941 as they prepared to enter the Suez Canal.
One wreck – the Thistlegorm – provided an eerie snapshot of war, with the divers able to see tanks and locomotives ready for battle still strapped to its deck.
The Rosy Muller, sunk the next day, also provided a time-capsule experience for the diving team.
They explored Egyptian vessels which had foundered on reefs and shared the world of marine creatures, including a Moray Eel with a fearsome head the size of an alsation, sting rays and a six-foot Eagle Ray.
“We are normally quite comfortable with Rays, but are now keeping our distance”, said Warrington Sub-Aqua Club member, Peter Holbrook, who filmed the dive.
Twin town party here
for a long weekend
by staff reporter
A PARTY from Hilden ? Warrington?s German twin town ? spent a long weekend in town as part of the ongoing series of exchanges between the two towns.
Gunter Scheib, Mayor of Hilden, was greeted by Warrington?s Mayor, Linda Dirir and the German party enjoyed a packed programme of events.
Among these was the launch of an exhibition of photographs by the celebrated German photo-journalist Volker Kramer, who was assassinated in June 1999 while attempting to cover the end of the war in Kosovo for the magazine Stern.
Kramer first came to international reputation with his pictures of the violent suppression of the ?Prague Spring? in 1968.
He said of his work: ?I?m not specialised, unless to reality. By moving in the thick of the normal course of life and looking through the lenses of my camera, I see how absurd and partly quizzical things are.?
The exhibition, entitled ?Encounters? is at the new Warrington Bus Interchange until November 21.
While in Warrington, the Hilden party visited the Town Hall, the Padgate campus of Chester University, the Rylands Retirement Village, Arley Hall and Gardens and were present at the launch of the Big Idea, community internet TV channel. They also had a theatre trip to Liverpool.
Twenty years of
success for rugby club
by Gary Skentelbery
Lymm Rugby Club’s Annual Adult Panto celebrates 20 years of unprecedented success this Christmas and is already a guaranteed sell out in December!
The show has developed legendary, worldwide fame in that time, with a massive following.
The tickets sell out in a matter of days and there has been talk of finding a bigger venue. But Simon Plumb, Panto impresario and scriptwriter, who runs Lymm-based PR company Communicado, explains why the show must stay at the Club.
“Lymm Rugby Club needs the cash and through The Grass Roots Sports Appeal, has a target of ?500k over the next five years. This fund, which will help buy land adjacent to the Clubhouse, is to be used for rugby, hockey, tennis and possibly even football and netball, making it a true sports club.
“But the Panto is a victim of its own success. Demand for tickets far outstrips supply and I really would like to apologise to those fans who cannot get hold of tickets. It’s a great show and well produced and while the cast love to perform, and have tremendous fun doing so, we are only amateurs. We can only cope with seven nights.
“This year’s show is ‘Aladdin Lymm’ and over the years the Panto has made celebrities out of the regular performers. We are delighted to welcome back Jane Rigby who recently won ‘Best Actress in a Drama with NODA North West area. She provides the love interest for Aladdin as Princess Nymphomania,” added Simon.
But what is the secret of the show’s success?
“We are a community-based club and it’s an inclusive show with high levels of audience participation. You could be visiting from Australia and still have a great night. In fact our overseas guests are increasing as the Panto’s world fame spreads!
“I also believe it is the cheeky, rugby club-style humour, combined with live performance, which seems to hit the spot for so many people, no matter what age or social standing. The audience know they can come along and really let go.
“The talented local comic performers, live band and earthy, music-hall bawdiness combine wonderfully, to give a night of almost constant laughter. It’s a phenomenon really!” added Simon.
A road safety message
for “brighter” children
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CAMPAIGN for “brighter” children during the winter months is launched today in Warrington and Cheshire.
As the clocks go back on Sunday the THINK! road safety campaign launches its “Be Safe Be Seen” message.
They are reminding parents and children of the danger of accidents in the darker nights.
Campaign leaders say that last year more than half of the accidents involving child pedestrians in the North West happened between 3pm and 6pm. Forty five child pedestrians were killed and seriously injured on roads in Cheshire – including 12 in Warrington.
The campaign is urging children to be safer by being more visible. That means wearing fluorescent clothes by day and reflective clothing in the dark.
The Cheshire campaign will be officially launched in Widnes where youngsters will have a preview of a new karaoke-style road safety advert featuring Think!’s popular cartoon road safety hedgehogs.
Campaigners are advising youngsters to wear bright or fluorescent clothing in the day and reflective material, which shows up in car headlights, at night. They advise that reflective tape on coats or school bags helps safety.
They remind youngsters not to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back.
Youngsters are warned to cross roads in a safe place and to choose well-lit routes at night. Where there is no pavement p
edestrians are advised to face oncoming traffic.
A civil way to
say “I do” again
by staff reporter
ROMANTICS at Warrington can renew their wedding vows in a new way ? at the Register Office.
As part of a modernisation of services, superintendent registrar Jane Briscall and her team are giving couples the chance to say ?I do? a second time.
It?s the first time the service has been available in the town ? although it has been available in the rest of Cheshire for several years.
Another service being offered by the Register Office is a ?baby naming? ceremony, which is a civil celebration of a child’s birth.
The Register Office is also looking to expand their Sunday marriage and Civil Partnership programme throughout the borough over the next 12 months at all licensed civil venues.
At present, marriages can only take place on six Sundays in the year, but as the programme is expanded, almost all Sundays will become available.
Ms Briscall, who only took over as superintendent registrar three weeks ago, said: ?These services are very popular in Cheshire so I thought we should make them available to the people of Warrington.?
Coun Peter Walker, the borough council?s executive member for Corporate Services, said: “The new services at the Register Office are great news for Warrington, and we do hope that residents take advantage of them.”
As part of the modernisation, the Register Office is also being redecorated and revamped.
