England rugby star
returns to his roots
by Gary Skentelbery
ENGLAND rugby union’s brightest new star Dave Strettle has not forgotten his grass roots as he returned home to support his first club Lymm RFC at their annual Sportsmans Dinner.
Dave, from Thelwall near Warrington was joined by his childhood sweetheart Ellie Halloran, to collect a cash prize for Lymm, who were winners of a Royal bank of Scotland (RBS) 6 Nations competition, which included a party for 250 people at the club, a 42? flat screen TV for the clubhouse, new sporting equipment and a ?2,500 donation to a community project.
The couple met at Lymm High School where they were both pupils.
Dave?s former club was picked from over 1000 clubs across England by the selection panel, which included rugby legends Ieuan Evans, Andy Nicol and Jeremy Davidson, and representatives from the BBC and RBS. In total over 8,000 nominations were received from all over England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The England, Harlequins and former Lymm player said: ?I owe Lymm RFC so much for my career in rugby and I am proud and delighted that they won the RBS 6 Nations Party competition. They deserve it! The Club runs the Lymm Grass Roots Sports Appeal which is all about creating a legacy for youth players and this ?2,500 donation will further strengthen their commitment to youth sport.?
Dave started his rugby career as a five-year-old at Grappenhall Griffins, where his dad was Coach. His first game on the wing was at Oldham against a team fielding two girls!
He now spends much of his time in London but his family still live in Thelwall and Dave has certainly not forgotten his grass roots.
At the sportsman?s dinner he teamed up with England and British Lions legend Jeff Probyn, who was guest speaker.
Council backs move to
protect tenants’ deposits
by David Skentelbery
A NEW national scheme to resolve disputes of deposits between landlords and tenants has been formally welcomed by Warrington Borough Council.
Members voted unanimously in support of a motion put by Coun Yvonne Fovargue, welcoming the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) and committing the council to raising awareness of the scheme across the borough.
Coun Fovargue told the council the scheme had been introduced to resolve problems which often happened at the end of a tenancy when a landlord would not return a tenant?s deposit.
She had been made aware of one such case in her ward where a landlord had retained a ?700 deposit on the grounds it was needed for cleaning the property.
Coun Fovargue said when she intervened, the landlord agreed to return half the money.
?I would urge the council to do more to advise tenants of their rights,? she said.
The council noted that all deposits taken by private landlords in Warrington must in future be protected by a tenancy deposit scheme.
Members heard the average deposit in England is more than ?650 and that it is estimated that more than ?1 billion is currently held by landlords across the country.
The TDS provides an alternative dispute resolution service to the courts.
In 2004-5, almost 30 per cent of deposits held by landlords were returned only in part or not all and 77 per cent of tenants felt their landlord had been unjustified in withholding the money.
Coun Roy Smith, executive member for community services, said the council was happy to support TDS. It was a pity, he said, it had taken the Government 10 years to introduce the scheme.
Brave Matty loses
battle for life
by Gary Skentelbery
A 13-year-old boy who swam with dolphins in his battle to gain the power of speech despite a rare illness has lost his battle for life.
Little Matthew Ellis from Old Hall, Warrington, was diagnosed with “Angelman’s Syndrome” when he was just 10 months old but with the support of his parents and family battled on with the condition which distorted messages between his brain and body.
He clung to life on numerous occasions and despite suffering from epilepsy and a severe lung condition he even flew to Florida with his parents Jan and John to swim with dolphins.
The experience enabled him to say his first word at the age of six.
His mum Jan said: “He was the bravest little boy I will ever know. He was sprinkled with magic dust from the day he was born and we are so proud of the way he was such a little battler who gave us every joy a parent could wish to have.”
Jan and John set up their own Angelman’s Trust to help fund research and treatment for Matthew, helping raise thousands of pounds over the past decade.
In recent months Matthew had been in and out of hospital with a serious lung condition caused by scarring and eventually lost his battle for life at Claire House Children’s Hospice.
He was an inspirational character in his home town winning a Local Heroes award.
On numerous occasions his parents thought they had “lost him” but he always defied the odds. But his latest battle proved one too many.
Jan added: “He has never once moaned and never cried unless he was in real pain.”
He clung to life until his family, including 23-year-old sister Katie could be at his side.
His family are now asking for any donations in memory of Matthew to be sent to Claire House Children’s Hospice www.claire-house.org.uk.
Heartless thieves
steal from woman, 91
by John Hendon
CRUEL thieves tricked their way into a 91-year-old woman?s home at Warrington and stole her handbag.
After leaving, they threw the bag away near a railway line.
Police are hunting the callous pair who conned their way into the woman?s home in Mullen Close, Warrington, posing as water board workers.
While one kept the woman talking, the other stole her handbag.
One man was about 5ft 10 inches tall, wearing a blue baseball cap, a pink shirt and black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe on them. The other was about 5ft 4 inches tall, stocky and wore blue leather gloves and a yellow top.
The men made off along Hawleys Lane, walking towards Longshaw Street.
Police found the handbag ? minus its contents ? some time later.
Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 0845 458 0000.
Colleges compete
in “mock trials”
TEAMS from three local colleges took part in a ?mock trial? competition organised by Warrington Magistrates.
Competition was keen and magistrates were impressed by the high quality of individuals students from Warrington Collegiate, Priestley College and Fearnhead College.
Chairman of the magistrates Peter Laycock said: ?The competition was characterised by the high quality of individual performance in a competitive but mutually encouraging atmosphere.? Judge Stephen Clarke, senior Crown Court judge on the local circuit, presented shields and certificates and medals to all competitors.
He expressed his delight at both the success of the competition and its importance in raising the profile of the law among young people.
Winners, by a narrow margin, were the Warrington Collegiate ?B? team, with Priestley College runners up.
Tania Royle, of Warrington Collegiate, won the shield for the best individual performance on the day.
News in brief
Phones mast
A 50ft mobile phone mast will be erected in Witherwin Avenue, Grappenhall, Warrington, if plans submitted by telecommunications giant T-Mobile are given the go-ahead.
Bus shelter
APPLETON Parish Council has decided to spend ?628 renovating a bus shelter in Wood Lane, Appleton after being told the work should extend the life of the shelter by at least 10 years.
Care home
Plans for a three-storey building for a 50-bedroomed care home in Delenty Drive, Birchwood, Warrington, have been submitted to the borough?s planning department.
Farm plan
FARM
ER John Bryan has applied for planning consent for a new farmhouse on land off Firs Lane and Park Lane, Appleton.
