Young soldier gunned
down on patrol
by Gary Skentelbery
A 21-year-old soldier from Warrington has been killed while on duty in Basra, Iraq, after being hit by gun fire.
Kingsman Alex Green, was shot when he briefly left his armoured vehicle during a patrol.
The soldier was from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and was returning to base when he died.
An MoD spokeswoman said: “He was shot by small arms fire and died later from his injuries despite being medically evacuated and receiving the best possible treatment.”
She said it was “quite normal” for soldiers to leave armoured vehicles during routine patrols to gain better visibility.
His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Hutchinson said: “Kingsman Alex Green was one of our most promising young soldiers. He loved what he did, and everyone respected how he did it.
“His determination, friendly nature and enthusiasm were a real inspiration.”
He leaves behind a two-year-old son Bradley.
John faces up to
his biggest challenge
by Gary Skentelbery
COMPANY Director John Duggan is facing the biggest challenge of his life when he bids to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain and the highest ‘free standing’ mountain in the World.
John who runs Four Seasons air conditioning in Lymm will be starting his trek on January 25 and has already received more than ?3,500 in pledges and hopes to raise ?6,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice.
He had been planning to tackle the mountain last year but had to postpone the expedition for 12 months to recover from a back injury.
The challenge will involve trekking for six days at high altitude, covering 50-60 miles, through all of the geographical zones on earth. The trek will start in the lush rain forests of the lower slopes, taking him through increasing amounts of vegetation, finally ending on a barren and windswept ice cap summit at 19,340 ft.
John said: “This expedition will be the most physical and mental challenge I have tackled in my life – taking me through arctic conditions with little oxygen, having to endure sub-zero temperatures of up to -20 degrees at night, and trekking in blisteringly hot temperatures, with little atmosphere to protect me from the sun’s radiation during the day.”
By paying for his own travelling costs every single penny John raises will go to Claire House Children’s Hospice – which cares for children 0 – 18 years with life threatening or life limiting conditions, providing respite care for their families from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man.
Claire House is a registered charity and relies entirely on donations for all its income and running costs. They need to raise ?2 million a year to provide respite care for terminally ill children and their families.
To help raise funds John has set up a website at http://www.justgiving.com/johnduggan Donating through the site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor him: Claire House Children’s Hospice will receive the money faster and for UK taxpayers, an extra 28% in tax will be added to the gift at no cost to the donor.
Work starts on
park revamp
by David Skentelbery
WORK has started on a major revamp of an inner area park at Warrington.
Contractors acting on behalf of the borough council have started thinning out woodland planting beds in St Peter?s Park, Howley and removing dense shrubs against Battersby Lane and Chorley Street.
The works have been funded through monies secured from the nearby housing development on the former Carrington Wire site and are seen as an essential first step in the rebirth of the park.
A working group convened by local councillor Yvonne Fovargue with representatives from St Peters Area Residents and Tenants Association (SPARTA), the borough council’s Landscape Section, Ranger and Youth Service and the Scott Street Carnival Committee have been drawing up improvement plans for the park over the last 6 months.
Coun Fovargue said: “The park is an area of much needed open space in a built up inner area of the town. The first phase of works will seek to address the poor visibility lines across the park as well as seeking to reduce the anti-social activity which has been reported by local residents.
“Over the course of the next year we will consult with local residents on what further improvements they would like to see. This could take the form of a kick about area, new play equipment, fencing, better lighting or park benches. We have ruled nothing in or out – we welcome any ideas that local residents may have.”
“Confident” pupils praised
by school inspectors
by John Hendon
PUPILS at St Matthew?s CE Primary School, Stretton are caring, confident and responsible members of the community, according to school inspectors.
It is a good school with some outstanding features and is successful in helping pupils achieve their academic potential.
Teachers are singled out for developing very good relationships with children and having a positive approach to learning which motivates pupils to do their best.
A report by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) hails the rich, varied curriculum and good quality teaching for standards of achievement at St Matthews, noting that the pupils are making progress in national tests that are significantly above average.
Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural well being is also good, since the school places a strong emphasis on helping pupils to understand their feelings and place in the wider world.
Healthy eating and exercise is strongly advocated and pupils know what healthy choices to make.
The report praises headteacher Mrs Mary Cummings, for leading by example in setting clear values and aspirations and having a strong focus on ensuring that each child is doing as well as possible.
However, there are several areas for improvement. Work for more able pupils should be made more challenging to maintain high standards. However, Ofsted are confident of this, as the school has been successful in raising standards in a number of aspects of its work” Mrs Cummings said: “The school is very pleased with our OFSTED report. We are all delighted that the pupils here at St Matthews have been commended for their contribution to the school and the wider community. They and their parents should feel very proud of this.
“Similarly, the teaching staff here should also take credit for continued hard work and commitment to maintaining achievement and raising standards at the school. We are all looking forward to continued success and improvement for the future.”
MP slams power giants
over bills to bereaved
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has slammed power giants Scottish Power Manweb over their ?blatant? policy of trying to obtain money they are not entitled to from the grieving relatives of recently deceased people.
She says the company should initiate a more compassionate policy when dealing with bereaved relatives.
Ms Jones has tabled a Commons motion calling on the company to take action as soon as possible.
The MP personally experienced the way the company currently operate after a recent bereavement and is asking people to let her know about their own experiences.
Scottish Power Manweb continue to forward quarterly bills to the relatives or executors of deceased persons even when the company has been notified of a death and told that the property is empty. Their policy is then to send out quarterly bills based on the last known usage of the deceased person.
They expect relatives to ring and argue against bills before they will take action.
Ms Jones said: “I believe that Scottish Power Manweb’s policy is a blatant attempt to obtain money for electrici
ty which has not been used. Relatives and executors are not obliged to pay for electricity which has not been used.
“It took me three or four telephone calls arguing the case with various people before they accepted that no charge should be made when I faced this problem recently. I believe that many bereaved relatives, particularly the elderly, would simply pay the bill rather than going through the process of arguing with Scottish Power Manweb.
“The company are securing what amounts to a free loan, which they are not entitled to, from relatives at a very distressing time.
“I was told by one of their representatives that Scottish Power Manweb do not have a policy for dealing with bereaved relatives other than to demand money from them via their quarterly bills. It is about time that a large company like this had a more compassionate policy.”
Sneak previews of
store for new staff
by staff reporter
NEW staff for the flagship Debenhams store set to open in Warrington?s Golden Square Shopping Centre in March have been given a sneak preview of their new workplace.
Staff were recruited as part of a project designed to give local unemployed people a helping hand back into work.
People from Bewsey and Whitecross, Fairfield and Howley, Latchford East, Orford, Poplars and Hulme, and Poulton North, as well as Incapacity Benefit claimants and lone parents on Income Support from across the borough, have been offered positions in sales, stock movement and food service.
Applicants were given tailor-made training to help through interviews and were given additional support by Jobcentre Plus, Children’s Information Service, Warrington Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Warrington Disability Partnership.
They are currently on a job-specific training course prior to the store opening at the end of March.
The project is part of the North West Development Agency’s “Maximising Opportunity in Warrington” scheme, which aims to ensure that local unemployed people will benefit from the job vacancies arising from the Golden Square and other developments in Warrington.
Further retail recruitment projects, aimed at other new Golden Square stores are now under way.
