Archive

  • Sculpture theft heartbreak

    A DISTRAUGHT artist is appealing for help after two treasured bronzes which were created for a dying man were stolen. Adrienne Seed created the unusual sculptures for Dr Brian Mercer, the founder of Netlon, as he was coming to the end of his fight against

  • Jansen: We did everything but win

    MATT Jansen summed up the mood in the Rovers camp after another night of frustration at Ewood. The England Under 21 international missed a host of chances against his former club as Rovers dominated the match from start to finish. But for all their pressure

  • BURNLEY RESERVES 1 ROTHERHAM RESERVES 1

    BURNLEY Reserves were held to a draw by Rotherham at Turf Moor last night. But following on from last week's win at Millmoor, the Clarets have taken four points from their two meetings with the Pontins' League Second Division leaders. So with home and

  • Rovers' woes don't surprise Royle

    JOE ROYLE peered down from the summit of the Nationwide First Division today and said he is not surprised to see Blackburn Rovers struggling at the wrong end of the table. The Manchester City boss was at Ewood last night to see Rovers scrape a 1-1 draw

  • Paralysed champ might walk again

    A FORMER demolition worker paralysed in a roof fall could become the first person in Britain to undergo revolutionary 'bionic' surgery to help him walk again. Anthony Knappett, 25, a champion wheelchair tennis player, is being prepared for the pioneering

  • Pupils on trail of The Hobbit

    PUPILS from St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, took part in a special workshop at the Manchester Opera House. The acclaimed fantasy novel, The Hobbit, was written by J R R Tolkien, whose son, Michael, taught ancient history and classics at Stonyhurst College

  • Web World - Valerie Cowan's internet column

    Net users are being served! SHOPPING on the internet has finally taken off, according to a new report. The study by Which? Online, called Are You Being Served? - The Growth of an E-Nation, found that internet shopping has more than doubled since 1998,

  • HOCKEY: Clitheroe and Hyndburn 1 Lancaster 3

    IF there is one thing for sure Clitheroe and Hyndburn Hockey Club are consistent. That's neither consistently good or bad but consistently short of players. It was the same story last season and the problem has arisen again this time around. The club's

  • RUGBY UNION: Newton-le-Willows 20 Calder Vale 6

    CALDER Vale infuriated their supporters and more probably themselves in a disappointing result in the NPI Cup at Newton last Saturday. Senior officials at the club could well remember visits to Newton before leagues were introduced that were often ill-tempered

  • BOXING: Stowe launches fight for one last title

    THE 'Burnley Bulldog' Warren Stowe makes his ring comeback next Thursday night with his sights set on landing another title before he hangs up his gloves. Stowe heads a seven-fight bill at the Turf Moor Leisure Centre when he will take on Midlands Area

  • YOUTH SOCCER: Blackburn Primary Schools six-a-side competition

    LAMMACK Junior School moved a step closer to a dream date at Wembley after winning the Blackburn Primary Schools six-a-side competition for the second time in three years. The super six beat the town's top mini teams to book a place in the Lancashire

  • ATHLETICS: Keep on running

    THERE was no rest for Jennifer Adams (Red Rose) or Sandra Snape (Blackburn RR). After their superb Manchester Marathon performances, both competed in the Langdale Half Marathon with Jennifer finishing second and Sandra winning the L35 division. In a rare

  • Blame mostly on parents

    REFERRING to L Bufton's remarks (Letters, October 11) about the canal being a killer, I am afraid I do not entirely agree. Although it is very sad that youngsters have drowned while playing, surely, the biggest part of the blame must go to the parents

  • TABLE TENNIS: Dan's the top man!

    DANNY Chamberlain was the main man with three wins when Division Three leaders Harlequins cruised through against Shahs Res. He was ably assisted in securing the points by the oldest dynamic duo in table tennis - Norman Robinson and Alan Schofield. Second-placed

  • No laughing matter

    LIKE many other readers, I used to chuckle at some of the things John Farrer wrote - especially the way he used to point the finger at 'Brother' George Slynn, the former leader of Hyndburn Council, although some readers' hair may well have curled. But

  • Be aware of treatments

    MANY readers will be aware that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month, with many cancer charities holding fundraising events. They may not be aware that money raised by certain charities will be used to torture animals in cruel and useless experiments

  • Council listens, but few turn up

    SILENCE was deafening when a town hall organised 'Your Listening Council' events for the public in Burnley, said Coun Gordon Birtwistle. He said people voted with their feet at the Democracy Week events he attended - by simply not turning up. He told

  • School celebrates its best-ever year

    A HISTORIC year of tremendous innovation and brilliant success, despite political interference in education, was reported by head David Hinks, at Towneley High School, Burnley, annual prize giving. Much of the innovation centred around the school's state

  • Teenage worker 'unlawfully killed'

    A DECISION not to bring criminal charges in connection with the death of a young labourer who was trapped in a dangerous factory machine is be reviewed. The move follows the verdict by an inquest jury that he was unlawfully killed. Coroner Michael Singleton

  • Mike's the e-man to halt GUS slide

    MAIL order group Great Universal Stores, which employs more than 500 in Burnley, has appointed an e-commerce expert to its board. The firm said the move was part of a major expansion of its internet services. Michael de Kare-Silver began work at GUS this

  • Lottery boost for hospice

    HOSPICE staff in Burnley and Pendle are launching their own lottery draw with the promise that the chances of hitting the jackpot are thousands of times better than the national game. Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle hopes the gamble on its own game

  • Paralysed champ might walk again

    A FORMER demolition worker paralysed in a roof fall could become the first person in Britain to undergo revolutionary 'bionic' surgery to help him walk again. Anthony Knappett, 25, a champion wheelchair tennis player, is being prepared for the pioneering

  • CYCLING: Clean sweep medal delight

    THREE East Lancashire schoolboys swept the board at the Lakes and Lancashire Division BCF Track Championships by taking gold, silver and bronze position in the 16 and under category. With an outstanding performance, 16-year-old Ian Ashworth, of St Wilfrid's

  • CYCLING: Pendle pedallers' uphill task

    On Sunday, the North Lancashire Road Club promote their annual hill climb on the 1,400-yard ascent of the Nick O' Pendle and organiser Mike Addis has received the entries from an interesting field of 35 riders. Numerically, the strongest club entered

  • ATHLETICS: Round and about

    FOR years local runners had to choose between two of the best races in the area, because the Accrington 10K and the Through the Villages race at Wheelton clashed. Once again you can enter both, as the Accrington race is on Sunday, October 31, with the

  • Man, 38, in bath death riddle

    POLICE launched a murder-style investigation after the body of a 38-year-old man was found in a Darwen flat. The dead man, Darren Shaw, was discovered around noon yesterday in the bathroom of his home in Holden Fold by a female friend. Police were called

  • New probe into works tragedy

    CRIMINAL charges could be brought after an inquest jury ruled that a young labourer who was trapped in a baling machine at work was unlawfully killed. Police, health and safety chiefs and environmental health officers will tomorrow meet the Crown Prosecution

  • Kidd must resist urge to rest stars

    Bramwell Speaks Out, by sports editor Neil Bramwell THE first step on the road to recovery from illness is not to find a cure, but to recognise the symptoms and assess their severity. The fact that Blackburn Rovers are suffering is no surprise diagnosis

  • World's a stage for high school

    A HIGH school is bidding to be the first in East Lancashire to be a centre of excellence for performing arts. Haslingden High School already offers students drama as a GCSE option and A-level performing arts and music and is looking to expand into offering

  • Porch battle ends in £20,000 fine threat

    A MAN who ignored a Pendle Council enforcement notice ordering him to take down a porch at the front of his home has appeared in court. Peter Alfred Caulfield, 32, of Colne Lane, Colne, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a local planning authority

  • College lecturer's £5,000 benefit fraud

    A FIFTEEN-pounds-an-hour lecturer at Burnley College claimed nearly £5,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Blackburn magistrates heard that massive debts run up while the media studies graduate was a student and doing his teaching diploma were

  • Form watch

    DAVIDSON: Played some excellent through balls in the first half which should have brought more from the forwards. Not his best game but he was as good as anyone in a Rovers shirt...7 WILCOX: Despite having to play on the 'wrong' side, his attitude was

  • Crews first to carry killer bug drugs

    AMBULANCE mercy teams in East Lancashire will be the first in the country to carry penicillin supplies for the rapid treatment of meningitis this winter. The ground-breaking decision means paramedics across Lancashire will be able to administer life-saving

  • Children sing as estate homes burn

    FIREFIGHTERS narrowly escaped injury as they tackled three blazing houses while youngsters danced in the street shouting "let them burn". Today residents told how they are desperate to leave their estate where homes are regularly set alight after two

  • Stan denies striker link

    BURNLEY are not among a clutch of clubs contemplating a swoop for Accrington Stanley's star striker Gary Williams. Stanley believe the Clarets are one of those interested in the 20-year-old goalscorer. But while Williams' potential is well known to Burnley

  • Troubles start to Crystal-lize

    Rovers 1 Palace 1 "WAKE up to reality" were the words of an old song that continually came back to haunt me at a depressed Ewood Park last night. In what must have been the most one-sided conflict since the Romans decided they might as well build an empire

  • What's on tomorrow, Friday, October 22

    Tea Dance, Mill Hill Community Centre, Blackburn, 1.30pm-4.30pm. An Evening with Sir John Mills, King George's Hall, Blackburn, 7.30pm. Junior Disco, Accrington Road Community Centre, Blackburn, 5.30pm-7.30pm. Festival Barn Dance, Barlow Institute, Edgworth

  • I'll leave the Dome alone, says MP

    TORY MP Nigel Evans has turned down an invitation to visit the Millennium Dome. He has told organiser Lord Falconer: "I will never set foot in the place, this century or next." The Ribble Valley MP said the £750million spent on the structure could have

  • BADMINTON: Fine style Fearns

    FEARNS A, the last of the Rossendale Badminton League Division One teams to open their campaign, did so in some style with a comprehensive 14-4 win at Blackford Bridge B who are already feeling the strain after four successive defeats. Also finding it

  • MOTORSPORT: Fogarty's Ducati team-mate dumped

    WORLD Superbike champion Carl Fogarty was today stunned by news that team-mate Troy Corser has been dumped by Ducati. His new partner for next season will now be former American superbike champion Ben Bostrum. Fogarty, who enjoyed working with the Australian

  • Ten years ago: Sewage protest

    MORE sewage was to be pumped into Lancashire's rivers, despite fierce protests by the county council. Leader Mrs Louise Ellman blasted the government's new green policy as a "sham" after Environment Secretary Chris Patten gave the go-ahead to increase

  • United bid to play Indian side

    BLACKBURN United are planning an audacious bid to play the Indian national team. The Indians are coming to this country next year to play Bury as part of the deal that saw Baichung Bhutia become Britain's first Indian player. Bhutia is scheduled to hold

  • ATHLETICS: Chinese take away

    TONY Hurn was training for his third crack at the Manchester Marathon when he had a late change of heart. Instead of making his way to Heaton Park on October 10, he was in Tiananmen Square lining up for the Beijing Marathon. Tony explained: "I am familiar

  • Five years ago: Match traffic fears

    TRAFFIC chaos looked set to hit Blackburn as 30,000 football fans hit town desperately lFibeooking for places to park. Police issued a "tow away" warning to Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United supporters as they admitted that there were not enough

  • Carram grand slam Millennium plan

    EAST Lancashire's biggest ever Carram tournament is just one event planned for a sporting extravaganza in the Millennium. The tournament, which was held in Blackburn for the first time ever last year, has been put back to January when organisers are hoping

  • Vale blow hot and Calder

    IT was certainly a game of two halves for courageous Calder Vale who came within a whisker of upsetting the odds. The under 12s side were apparently dead and buried after a torrid first half where the much fancied and stronger Sedgley Park stormed to

  • SOCCER: Red Rose Assurance Blackburn Youth League

    AT THE weekend the Under-14s representative side competed in the LFA's Inter-League competition but were comfortably beaten by the neighbouring Hyndburn League. Playing against a very strong wind, the Blackburn side were trailing by two goals within the

  • Our thanks to councillors

    AFTER experiencing a family problem and not knowing which way to turn, we got in contact with two local councillors, Peter Greenwood and Tony Humphrys. They took up the matter and what should have taken up to six weeks was sorted out by these two councillors

  • GOLF: Weekly round-up

    BLACKBURN MONTHLY medal and extra medal: 1 A Ingham (83-8-65), 2 M McGlynn (72-7-65), 3 C Hindle (86-20-66), 4 T Elmy (81-15-66). Best gross: A Harwood 73. Category 21-28: I Whittaker (93-21-72). Greensome: 1 G Roberts and S Bond 65.2, 2 P Conroy and

  • Resolve strengthened

    IF PEOPLE just personally attack the man instead of addressing the issues (any issue) then, in my opinion, they have either lost the argument or have something to hide. Everyone should please be assured that, as a retired police officer and now a Hyndburn

  • ATHLETICS: Dynamic duo

    EVAN Cook and Eric Wilson combined to give Blackburn Harriers first and second in the over 45 class at the Anderton Arms 10K at Fulwood. Both men finished in the top 10 in a field of over 300 runners, with marathon champion Evan recording 33.55 for fifth

  • Enough's enough

    REGARDING Hyndburn having a hung council with the departure of Councillor Adrian Shurmer from the ruling Conservative group. The Tories were quite happy to go into coalition with him after the last local elections - indeed they stood their candidate down

  • Women overtake men in workplace

    IT'S women who are bringing home the bacon in Burnley! Latest figures show that there is now a higher percentage of women working in the borough than men. A total of 50.1 per cent of women are in employment, compared to 49.9 per cent of men. In other

  • Time for Paddy to take unpaid role

    FORMER Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has joined fast-growing computer firm Time as a director. Mr Ashdown, who is MP for Yeovil, will not be paid for his part-time involvement with the Simonstone group. He will be responsible for looking into

  • Fury at housing chief's pay rise

    A COUNCIL officer may have doubled his salary by scooping a top job with Burnley's new housing company, it was claimed today. Independent councillor Harry Brooks, who is challenging the appointment of town hall men to top-paid posts with the company which

  • New probe into works tragedy

    CRIMINAL charges could be brought after an inquest jury ruled that a young labourer who was trapped in a baling machine at work was unlawfully killed. Police, health and safety chiefs and environmental health officers will tomorrow meet the Crown Prosecution

  • Head focusing on the future

    PREPARING pupils for the next millennium was the theme of a headteacher's speech at a high school awards evening. Alisdair Coates outlined challenges and action for the years ahead as youngsters at St Christopher's CE High, Accrington, gathered for prize

  • Kick start

    Sue Burns, of Boots, Blackburn, presented a £1,200 cheque to John Ball, Blackburn & District Enterprise Trust with a £1,200 donation to help its work with small businesses. Boots has continued its support for schemes to give fledgling firms a helping

  • Peake Practice: Food expertise by restaurateur Ray Peake

    THE best kebabs I have ever tasted were in Amsterdam. After a hard day washing dishes and plates - not hundreds but literally thousands - at the main international airport, I would treat myself to a kebab. Strangely, they don't call it a kebab in Holland

  • North West can beat rest

    A BID to make the region's workforce the best in Europe has been launched. The North West Regional Development Agency has published its strategy aimed at raising skill levels and encouraging improving education. It highlights the need to create a learning

  • Graveyard weed problem is grim for reapers

    A FOREIGN invader has transformed a churchyard into a jungle. Japanese knotweed is spreading faster than parishioners at St John's, Nelson, can cut it down, says church warden Lawrence Mutter. The weed, also known as Polygonum, can reproduce itself up

  • NON-LEAGUE SOCCER: Game off

    GREAT Harwood Town's friendly with Crewe Alexandra Reserves - scheduled to take place at The Showground last night - had to be cancelled at the last minute as Crewe were struggling with injuries and also had an unexpected FA Youth fixture to fulfil. "

  • ICE HOCKEY: Haig has a lot to learn

    Bobby Haig has a lot to learn about ice hockey coaching - just ask the man himself. The Blackburn Hawks player-boss admits he is still learning his trade as he aims to put Hawks back on the hockey map. "As a coach it's true I have a lot to learn," says