Archive

Westleigh 136, St Paul's A 142; Cricket Club 167, Gardeners 112; Leigh RU 137, Botanical Gardens 136; Tyldesley 119, Lowton Village 149; St Paul's B 124, Golborne Cons 142.

SHE'S successfully stepped up from tarts 'n' vicars parties to tea dances, negotiating a few tricky cha-cha steps along the way. Actress Linda Broughton has played roles in comedy films alongside Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones's Diary and Gwyneth Paltrow

ANOTHER hard fought maximum points victory over Rawtenstall put Ramsbottom in second spot in the Lancashire League table eight points behind shock leaders Church. Skipper Richard Hevingham asked the home side to take first knock and the decision soon

THE Northern Alliance Individual competitions take pride of place this week. The Tameside Club's staging of the event at their temporary home at Stockport, proved to be something of a benefit for the members of Bury-Pedalsport. A total of five trophies

That was the precise time Dave Senior became the sixth batsman from the village side to trudge disconsolately back to the Heaton dressing rooms. In boxing terms they were dead on their feet. At 22 for 6 it looked odds-on a humiliating defeat was on the

SOMETIMES, no matter what you do it's never enough, and that was the case on Sunday when Radcliffe entertained Oldham at the Racecourse. The home side never scored enough runs and paid the price - defeat. Home openers Hayes and Cruse made a promising

Youngsters show the way WITH the club's first team languishing at the foot of the Central Lancashire League table, Stand CC's under 16s have helped to redress the balance a little by winning the Salford Education Trophy. The team plays in the Salford

COASTGUARDS in Scotland have come under fresh criticism for their part in the rescue attempt of a Leigh dad and two sons who died in a boating tragedy 12 months ago. Leigh MP Andy Burnham is calling for a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Shaun

FAIRFIELD'S Special Care Baby Unit has received the gift of a new scanner despite the plans to close it. As reported in last week's Bury Times, Mrs Pam Walker, of Nuttall Avenue, Whitefield, donated the scanner to the unit using part of the cash legacy

A BURY telecoms saleswoman certainly saw the funny side of a challenge to launch a company as part of a business simulation exercise. Joanne Koroma helped put together a joke book on CD-Rom which has already raised more than £1,200 for Cancer Research

BARBADOS beckons after the Siddle family's luck came up to scratch. The family, of Fir Street, Ramsbottom, could choose a holiday anywhere in the world after they picked up a winning National Lottery scratchcard. Dad Philip (53) had already won £2 with

TRANSPORT bosses have stepped in to save a bus route linking Bury and Prestwich with North Manchester General Hospital. The intervention comes after bus operator JP Travel decided to re-route its 152 service. Now, a new 154 service, funded by Greater

YOUNG musical maestros from a Bury high school have displayed their prowess during a week-long visit to Italy. Musicians from Unsworth's Castlebrook High School took to the stage during a concert in the Lake Garda region which was watched by more than

DETECTIVES investigating the gruesome discovery of a man's badly-burned body in a secluded area of a Whitefield park believe the death is not suspicious. A post mortem was being held late yesterday (Thursday) into the death of the 22-year-old who was

A BURY chef is set to wow judges with his innovative use of the garden pea in this year's Great British Pub and Restaurant Challenge. Christopher Hull, resident chef at the Swan and Cemetery pub in Manchester Road, is one of eight regional finalists to

GREATER Manchester Police is continuing to make the streets safer. Figures for April to June released this week showed there were 11,517 fewer victims of crime in the county. This equates to an 11.7 per cent reduction compared to the same period in 2003

THE hospital trust which runs Fairfield General Hospital has been awarded a two star rating -- one more than last year. The assessment by the Health Care Commission found that the Pennine Acute Trust met or beat the national average in 11 out of 12 key

GREAT grandmother Elizabeth Worrall died less than two days after she was targetted by pickpockets. Sisters Michelle Meecham and Beverley Pollitt say the anguish caused to their mother by the thieves was to blame for a massive heart attack she suffered

EWOOD Park will become an international venue again next season. Blackburn Rovers are will stage England's England Under 21 European Championship qualifier against Wales on Friday, October 8. Rovers secretary Tom Finn said: "It's a privilege and we are

FORMER Liverpool defender Markus Babbel last night thanked Graeme Souness and Blackburn Rovers for helping to resurrect his career. Babbel returned to his native Germany earlier this week after sealing a free transfer move to VfB Stuttgart. But he'll

BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today called on Paul Gallagher to prove he has the desire to become a regular in his starting line-up next season. Gallagher has been in red-hot form on Rovers' pre-season tour of Germany, scoring three goals in his two friendly

A PLAN to turn the former Whitefield Town Hall into a 50-bed residential care home has been submitted. Lemonpark Construction Ltd has applied to Bury Council for a renewal of consent for the building on Pinfold Lane.

LOVERS of the great outdoors are invited to a countryside fun day in Drinkwater Park, Prestwich on Sunday, July 25 from 11am to 3pm. Organised by the borough's Countryside Rangers service, activities include pond dipping, environmental art and a chance

YOUNG firebugs are being blamed for targeting a disused outbuilding at Philips High School in Whitefield. A quantity of rubbish within the boarded-up building was set on fire on Monday (July 19). Two fire crews tackled the blaze in the timber-framed outbuilding

THE headteacher of St Mary's CE Primary in Hawkshaw said goodbye to staff and pupils to take up a new position...as the head of St Mary's CE Primary in Prestwich! Mr Alan Scott has been at the village school since 1998, seeing pupil numbers grow from

AN estate group is appealing to residents to get stuck in and help make the second community festival a roaring success. Higher Folds Residents' Association members are also seeking a band to lead the parade on Sunday, August 22. Chairman, Jacquie Farrington

ONE of the first playgroups set up in the north west has been celebrating its 40th birthday. St Margaret's Playgroup in Prestwich was founded in 1964, opening for one morning a week, with a fee of two-and-a-half pence. Now the playgroup in St Margaret's

THE battle between two Prestwich schools for a prime piece of land is still being fought out. Park View Primary School and the Manchester Jewish Grammar School both want the former adult education centre in Thorndyke Walk, which is moving its services

STAFF at Prestwich Community High School are mourning the sudden death of their popular head caretaker. Mr Dennis Fendlen, of Rupert Street, Radcliffe, died in Fairfield Hospital on Thursday of last week (July 15). He had been ill for some time. The 63

THOUSANDS of people turned out to make Leigh Carnival a huge success last weekend. Drizzly rain did not put off the crowds on Saturday as revellers flocked to Bedford High School to enjoy a host of attractions and activities. Carnival-goers got the best

WHEN miracle baby Rachel Broadhead was born her parents feared she wouldn't live to see her first birthday. The battling Atherton youngster was born three months premature, and weighed just 1lb 12oz, before her weight dropped to a worrying 1lb 9oz and

A DOCTOR who has been forced to hold his GP practice in a portable building in Leigh because of a funding crisis has handed in a petition to health chiefs. More than 600 people have signed the petition calling for money to be made available to complete

CAMPAIGNERS have demanded answers to questions which still hang over plans to start mining coal again on the Atherton and Tyldesley borders. Councillors hope soon to meet with UK Coal which wants to resurrect an opencast mining project at Cutacre which

I WAS surprised to receive a new vehicle registration document, to replace my identical existing one and to harmonise documents across the EU". Why? It smacks of "1984" and "Big Brother". STANLEY D. PARR

BUSINESSES in Bury and elsewhere in the north west have been issued a waste warning by the Environment Agency. The Agency has alerted companies to the imminent changes to the way national hazardous waste is managed. This will affect the entire region

MAY I, on behalf of the Prestwich Co-op Camera Club, send our best wishes for a pleasant retirement to former Guide photographer Dave Butterworth (Guide, July 16). He is well-known to our older members and was the photographer who attended on several

RAMSBOTTOM businesswoman Sarah Crompton's shop is anything but inferior when it comes to interiors! And it's only fitting that her thriving Country Chic outlet should be set in the heart of rural Ramsbottom. Last year, in a complete change in career direction

PEOPLE power has forced developers to do a U-turn on plans to make Fairfax Road in Prestwich a one-way route. Town Hall bosses have refused the request from Carillion to close part of the road for 18 months while it built the Radius apartments complex

STEVE Cotterill hailed new signing Frank Sinclair after handing the former Leicester City defender a surprise Burnley debut. Jamaican international Sinclair became Cotterill's fifth summer signing when he joined the Clarets on a 12-month deal just one

BURNLEY 1 EVERTON 1 IN the week when Steve Cotterill turned 40, he unwrapped a belated birthday surprise in the form of Frank Sinclair. Few Clarets fans set off for Turf Moor last night expecting a third debutant to make his bow alongside Danny Coyne

VOLUNTEERS who learned the ground rules in a selection of new sports have notched up a good result. Youth Works Whitefield, gave a team of ten young people, residents and community workers the chance to learn more about community activities. With support

A PRESTWICH teenager had his bike stolen after being targeted by two thugs on a motor scooter. They passed the boy in the town's Scott Road before one of the offenders got off the scooter. He ran towards the 15-year-old boy, pushed him against a parked

FAIRFIELD'S Special Care Baby Unit has received the gift of a new scanner despite plans to close it. As reported in last week's Guide, Mrs Pam Walker, of Nuttall Avenue, Whitefield, donated the scanner to the unit using part of the cash legacy left her

TRANSPORT bosses have stepped in to save a bus route linking Prestwich and Bury with North Manchester General Hospital. The intervention comes after bus operator JP Travel decided to re-route its 152 service. Now, a new 154 service, funded by Greater

CHERIE Blair's "lifestyle guru" Carole Caplin has become the new patron of the Willing Hands charity after a successful Ladies Evening at Bury Town Hall. Carole, best known for her connections with the Prime Minister's wife Cheri Blair, was the special

DARWEN look to build on last weekend's success over Leyland and put pressure on the Northern Premier League leaders. But they will not have the easiest of tasks as they take on a Preston side who are just one place behind them in the league. A win from

DETECTIVES investigating the gruesome discovery of a man's badly-burned body in a secluded area of a Whitefield park believe the death is not suspicious. A post-mortem was being held late yesterday (Thurs July 22) into the death of the 22-year-old who

I AM writing in response to the letter from Martin Thomas (July 16) in which he clearly outlines the access problems faced by disabled people. Mr Thomas describes access across the borough as "good to downright poor", and asks when equality of access

TO close a long, hard season, Leigh East Mustangs U8s were invited to compete in the rugby festival in Oldham. Teams from Saddleworth, Waterhead, St Annes and a mixture of all three teams took part. The Mustangs showed up well, winning four, losing one

BOOTHSTOWN Methodist Primary School held its first football tournament for boys and girls. Previously the school has run boys-only tournaments but, from this year, the separate girls tournament will become a regular annual fixture. Boys played seven-a-side

ATHERTON CC closed in on Bolton Association leaders Elton thanks to a quickfire derby win and the league rules. Elton were docked 14 points from their win over Golborne a month ago after the Association committee decided that the match had started after

THE Howarth family have rewritten Leigh Harriers' Club records. In the space of one hour, three records tumbled to the Howarth power competing at Stretford's Longford Park. Fourteen-year-old Lauren Howarth ran in her last race before she competes in the

IT sounds like a dodgy scene from Eastenders, but from next month, the two will spearhead Leigh RMI's quest for Conference survival. That's after former Barnsley and Scarborough striker Karl Rose penned a deal to play at Hilton Park next season alongside

Tues 13th July: Div 1 - A & T "A" 206 Brunswick 105; Bed Libs 215 St Pauls "B" 183; Cricket "A" 179 Westleigh "A" 195; Gardeners "B" 202 Liberals 161; Miners 210 Gardeners "A" 166; Tamar 143 Bowling "A" 198. Div 2 - Ath Cons 122 A & T "B" 202;

ANYBODY looking forward to watching two highly talented batting line-ups in opposition at Beech Walk on Saturday would have been greatly disappointed as the weather caused Leigh CC's match against league leaders Bootle to be abandoned without a ball being

Leigh Centurions 42 Hull KR 14: IF history repeats itself Leigh will be in Super League next season. Huddersfield and Salford have set the precedent in the past two seasons with the Arriva Trains Cup winners going on to win the Grand Final to join the

HUNDREDS of smokers who work for Bury Council have just one week left to enjoy a cigarette indoors. From August 1, their employers are banning smoking in all local authority buildings, entrances and even adjoining car parks and land. Visitors, contractors

HEALTH officials in Bury have endorsed radical plans to change maternity services at Fairfield Hospital, which would mean the closure of its special care baby unit. The recommendations were supported by Bury Primary Care Trust (PCT) board at its meeting

DAVE Challinor wore the skipper's armband against Manchester City on Wednesday evening - and that's the way it's going to stay. The dominant defender who signed from Stockport County in the summer has been handed the captaincy for the new campaign, taking

SATURDAY was a good day for Brooksbottoms, after the frustrations of the previous week, the rain became their best friend. With all other games in the division washed out, Brox's visito to the relative outpost of Warrington fo face struggling Rylands

A BRILLIANT 5-3 away win at the Welcome Inn A means Derby Hotel A move out of the bottom three and up the Premier League. Swan A (Rad) had an impressive 6-2 victory over Hamers Arms and have a three-point gap at the top, their nearest rivals Staff of

SOMETIMES, no matter what you do it's never enough, and that was the case on Sunday when Radcliffe entertained Oldham at the Racecourse. The home side never scored enough runs and paid the price - defeat. "It could have gone either way," said Radcliffe

IN front of a bumper gate of 1,001, Boro proved the recent victory over neighbours Bury was no fluke, although the extra class of Bolton's premiership Wanderers eventually shone through. In truth, the 3-1 scoreline would have been different, had Danny

STEVE Cotterill hailed new signing Frank Sinclair after handing the former Leicester City defender a surprise Burnley debut. Jamaican international Sinclair became Cotterill's fifth summer signing when he joined the Clarets on a 12-month deal just one

BAG Lane Methodist Church has a two day celebration planned. The Atherton church's Flower Weekend starts on Saturday at 2.30pm with a strawberry tea dance and follows with services on Sunday at 10.45am and 2.30pm. Admission to the dance is £2.50, children

SCHOOL pals who left Fred Longworth High School 25 years ago will get the chance to reminisce about their past classroom days when a school reunion takes place next week. Students from the class of 1979 have been invited to attend the reunion at TK's

PRESTWICH Community High School bade farewell to 70 years of teaching experience when two long-serving teachers decided to call it a day. Assistant headteacher Brian Worthington (55) took early retirement after 34 years at the Heys Road school and his

AN organisation working towards a brighter future for families celebrated two years in Tyldesley with a fun day bash during Sure Start Month. The event at Shakerley Fields gave parents and carers of under four year olds in the area the chance to meet

TYLDESLEY Little Theatre took an end of season bow after scooping yet another honour. Actress Winnie Evans was awarded a certificate of merit for her performance as Joyce in the comedy classic "Last Tango in Whitby" at a one act play festival in Glossop

LEIGH'S World War Two veterans wanting to make a commemorative trip to places where they served could be eligible for funding support from a new lottery scheme. The Big Lottery Fund's 'Heroes Return' scheme provides grants to veterans to travel to former

BICKERSHAW Parish Church is currently celebrating its centenary year. To mark the occasion, the church is holding an open weekend next year where pictures, memorabilia and registers will be displayed showing the church's history. Centenary mugs to celebrate

CHILDREN are being urged to be vigilant after a man followed a trio of young girls and exposed himself. The children were playing near Wigan and Leigh College, Marshall Street, Leigh last Wednesday evening when a man jumped out of a bush and dropped his

HOSPITAL bosses in Leigh are celebrating after they were recognised as being one of the best performing hospitals in the country. Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust retained its three star rating after the Government's Healthcare Commission announced

PATIENTS in Prestwich and Whitefield with minor ailments or in need of medical advice will be able to make use of a new nursing service. In the run-up to the opening of the new NHS Walk-in-Centre in Prestwich, a nurse practitioner will be working from

A FUNDING boost will enable the Creative Living Centre in Prestwich to run until August, but only with a reduced service. The holistic centre for people suffering from mental health problems has received a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater

AN OUTDOOR production of one of Oscar Wilde's most famous plays, The Importance of Being Earnest, will be staged at Samlesbury Hall, Preston, on Wednesday, August 4. Professional theatre group, C'est Tous, based in Eccleston, near Leyland, are certain

ACCRINGTON STANLEY 4 PRESTON NORTH END 2 THE battle for who will be Accrington Stanley's leading goalscorer this season is already on - even before the campaign has got underway. While manager John Coleman had gripes with the two goals conceded, he was

THE proposed closure of the highly regarded special care baby unit at Fairfield General will come as a major blow to many families in Rossendale, as well as those in Bury. News that children requiring emergency specialist care will have to be transferred

I AM sure that there has been plenty of response to the article (July 16) about the closure of the special care baby unit at Fairfield, but I just had to recount my story. I gave birth to a baby boy seven weeks ago by caesarean section. He had breathing

WE read with great concern about the proposed closure of Fairfield neo-natal unit and feel angered at the manner in which the proposals have been put forward just one month after the local elections. These proposals have been on the cards for well over

WHAT ever happened to the good old "binmen", the sort who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty? These days there is no throwing the metal bin on their shoulder, carrying it to the wagon and tipping it. No, they just wheel it and machinery does the

THE spirit of courageous Isis Naomi Shaw has lived on after a Leigh schoolboy walked away with a prize for bravery. Gilded Hollins Primary School pupil Harry Barnett became the first person to win the award for showing bravery and bringing joy to the

THE big red book came out for teacher Maureen Sutton, whose life in teaching was celebrated at St Thomas's CE Primary in Bury. Mrs Sutton, who retired from the Pimhole Road school after 34 years, was treated to a This Is Your Life themed party. Past and

BURY has a well-established medical, surgical, out-patient and special needs service and it is utter folly to suggest that our sick children will "benefit" from having to travel to other towns to obtain treatment. If need be, why not provide a service

Family Indoor Archaeology Mini Dig, Helmshore Textile Museums, Holcombe Road, Helmshore, 2pm-4pm. Clitheroe Area Women's Institute Handicraft and Produce Show, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Chatburn Road, 10am-4.30pm. "Freebird," Ranken Arms, Hoddlesden

Open House, with BILL JACOBS FORMER Blackburn MP Barbara Castle's legacy lives on, rising government star Hazel Blears has revealed. She helped the late baroness when she was a Euro MP for the North West in the 1980s. She used to drive her around and

WOLLASTON - Seven members sent 133 birds. Mr & Mrs Jones 949.89; Farnworth & Grant 937.57; G.Grundy 931.12; K &E Shaw 920.59; K & E Shaw 915.15; Mr & Mrs Dickens 905.73; Mr & Mrs Jones 898.40; J.K. O'Connor 820.07; W.Craighead

BEST known for playing straightlaced mothers in costume dramas alongside Maggie Smith and Richard E Grant, Gilian Cally has finally got the chance to make a break from the corsets and play a much-married, man-chasing bawd -- and she's loving it. As one

IN the fourth part of the Evening Telegraph's investigation into the drinking culture in Blackburn town centre, chief reporter DAVID HIGGERSON talks to transport operators about the problems of getting up to 6,000 people - many of them the worse for drink

AS more and more employees start to work from home, chief reporter DAVID HIGGERSON looks at the advantages and pitfalls of turning your back on the office. . . FOR anyone who has ever been caught in a traffic jam, struggled to find a parking space near

THE First Division National Championship was held on the River Trent on Saturday with 62 teams participating. The river fished patchily but produced a record National weight. Steve Clark, fishing for A4 Oxford MG, hauled out 28 bream and eight barbel

ELTON'S scheduled BOLTON ASSOCIATION league game against Edgworth at the weekend did not get underway because of rain, however, there was glorious sunshine awaiting the Lancashire Knockout quarter-final on Sunday. The Leigh Lane side had to square up

Deadly Dion at the double WITH Dion Taljard unable to play in the first meeting between Unsworth and his former club Royton, this was an interesting encounter. Royton, batting first, soon lost opener Harding (1) caught behind off Taljard. But a stand

Stand go down despite Seedle century AFTER winning the toss and electing to bat, Stand make a shaky start, losing three wickets to Wilson in the first 10 overs, for only 35 runs, thanks to Ferguson (10) and Moorhead (16). However John Seedle and Dave

FOR a little club from North Manchester, Sedgley Park have big plans, both on and off the pitch. The club is now in the initial stages of discussions with Philips High School about the development of a multi-sports, full-size all-weather pitch on school

PRESTWICH REMAIN TOP DESPITE DEFEATS A double defeat left leaders Prestwich in the doldrums - until they learned the chasing pack had failed to cash in. The Heys side is still eight points clear at the top of the Lancashire County League, despite being

The ANDY LOCHHEAD column. . . I FINALLY found time to meet up with Steve Cotterill ahead of last weekend's game. It's been a long time coming due to my recent illness, but I have to say it was well worth waiting for. Steve's enthusiasm really shines through

HOLCOMBE Army camp is not to be "de-mobbed" under sweeping military cutbacks announced by the Government. Yesterday, an Army spokesman gave a categorical assurance that the Holcombe training area and camp would remain open. But it has been disclosed that

A WHITEFIELD couple have been disqualified from holding directorships after their gift distribution business crashed with debts totalling £710,000. Nigel Warren Gordon (52) was banned for five years and his wife, Michele Gordon, (50), was disqualified

A £27 MILLION windfall to bring Bury's council houses up to scratch is one step closer. The Government has welcomed Bury's bid to set up an ALMO -- Arm's Length Management Organisation -- to run its housing estates. Ministers have also promised that Bury

CLASSIC cars will be given an ideal platform this weekend to celebrate the centenary of the Rover marque -- courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway. The Bolton Street station in Bury is the venue for this Sunday's (July 25) event which will feature more

OUTSTANDING results have secured Bury's two big colleges a place each in the premier league of further education. Bury College and Holy Cross College are two out of only seven colleges in Greater Manchester to receive premium status in recognition of

A BURY mother-of-two has become the first-ever graduate at the town's Holy Cross College. Naghit Akhtar received her BSc Combined Honours degree in health studies and IT after completing a full-time course at the Manchester Road college. The degree was

THE party's over for Leigh Centurions. While they celebrated their Arriva Trains Cup victory long into the night on Sunday, it was quickly back down to business for Darren Abram and his side. Coach Abram promises that there will be no sign of any cup

A BURY man is striving to bring pharmacy services into the heart of the community. Mr Ian Strachan wants to break the town centre stranglehold on such facilities by setting up his own pharmacy in Walmersley Road. He has already been given the go-ahead

BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Barry Ferguson today said he's got a hard act to follow after taking over the captaincy from ousted skipper Garry Flitcroft. Ferguson has admitted he was surprised to be given the armband by Rovers boss Graeme Souness earlier

POLICE cordoned off an area of Bury Old Road near the Cheetham Hill-Prestwich border after a man was discovered with serious stab wounds. The 29-year-old was found in the street at around 1.55am on Monday (July 19). He is recovering in hospital after

FOUR thugs are being hunted by police after they tried to rob a man. The 29-year-old was confronted by the gang in Albert Avenue, Sedgley Park, Prestwich, at 4.40pm on Saturday (July 17). One of the gang demanded money from him before something was thrown

LOCAL groups have a chance to become fully-fledged members of Prestwich Area Board at a special informal meeting on July 29. The board is keen to hear from existing co-opted members and prospective members about how the community can be helped, what works

BURY'S pre-season preparations have received a massive knock with the news that Danny Swailes will miss the big kick-off. The dominant central defender has had a scan on a niggling thigh injury which has hampered him in training since returning from the

A FORMER Leigh rugby union player has muscled his way into the final of a prestigious national body-building contest after placing second in his first ever competition. Personal trainer John Heaton was runner-up in the novice section of the Northern British

A MAN had to be rescued by a passing canal barge after he fell 20 feet off a bridge and into a canal in Leigh. The man, believed to be in his mid-twenties, plunged from Mather Lane Bridge and landed in the Bridgewater Canal last Sunday. Police, firefighters

PRESTWICH Business Forum's next meeting is scheduled to take place in the town on Tuesday, August 3. The event is being billed as a "network, chat and chill affair". August's meeting will be held at the Village Hotel & Leisure Club in George Street

WHEN Judith Sherwood was deciding what to buy her husband for his 50th birthday, she was stuck for ideas. But, with Mick being a racing fanatic, she came up with the perfect surprise. The Mick Sherwood 50th Birthday Handicap was listed in all the national

HEALTH and social care recruitment specialists Celsian have been successful in securing a contract from Outreach to provide 24-hour care to Jewish clients in Prestwich and Whitefield. The company, part of the Carlisle Group, will now operate as sole provider

RADCLIFFE-based chartered accountants Wilds have launched a new web site that places the company at the forefront of on-line client business information services. Clients who log on to the Blackburn Street company's web site will find more than 6,000

HAVING read key statements from the Butler Report I can only conclude that, in the broadest terms, the BBC criticism of the Government over the justification for going to war, was clearly true. Therefore can we now look forward to a public apology from

THRIVING business advisory group DTE is leading by example when it comes to producing record corporate results. The Hollins-based company has reported a 37 per cent growth in turnover from £7.1 million to £9.7 million for the 12 months to April 30. DTE

WE all hear about anti-social behaviour and suffer it to some extent these days. In the Whittaker Lane area of Prestwich we suffer perhaps more than others, so I was greatly pleased to see a police patrol dealing with several unruly girls on Saturday

WITH Saddam Hussein in prison, Bush declares the war is over and won, and now that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has been set up, Blair asks us to draw a red line under the war. He should add "if only we could". How can we dismiss the killing

THE new mothers and young babies of Prestwich and Whitefield deserve better than to have their special care baby unit closed (Guide, July 16). Many such departments have hard-working charitable organisations raising money for much-needed life-saving equipment

A FLOURISHING Prestwich-based design and communication specialist has developed a new range of literature to help ensure youngsters get on the right road to a successful career. Appleby Bowers has worked in collaboration with the Manchester 14 to 19+

IF you can sing, dance or even pull a rabbit from a hat, you can audition for a variety show set to wow audiences this September. The Talent Forum is presenting Perform for Keystone Haven at Bury Met Theatre, on September 9, with a special preview show

A PRESTWICH woman campaigning for improvements on Metrolink's Bury line is "devastated" by the rejection of its phase three expansion. Mrs Maria Fuller fears the shock Government decision not to approve the Rochdale, Oldham, and South Manchester extension

THE hospital trust which runs Fairfield and North Manchester General Hospitals has been awarded a two star rating, one more than last year. The assessment by the Health Care Commission found that the Pennine Acute Trust met or beat the national average

The SIMON GARNER column. . . NOW that Andy Cole has gone to Fulham and Dwight Yorke will soon follow him out of Ewood Park, the question is do Rovers have the fire power good enough to do a job in the Premiership. Personally, I think we do. Jon Stead,

YOUNGSTERS from a Lowton primary school became stars of the stage for a day when they performed Shakespeare's Macbeth to packed audiences - including a BBC playwright. The Year Six pupils at St Catherine's donned elaborate costumes and professional microphone

WORDS penned by a world-famous Leigh author live on in Cambodia. James Hilton was born in a terraced house in Wilkinson Street, Leigh in 1900 and died in Long Beach, California on December 22, 1954. His utopian novel "Lost Horizon" - about the search

DEAN Pickard won the ELGA Junior Championship at Rishton yesterday. The Nelson golfer set the standard early as he was in the fourth group of the day to go out in a field of 73 entrants. But after posting a gross score of 71, nobody could get near, with

July 14: Atherton Park A 164, Lilford 145; Morgan's 151, Botanical Gardens 155; Rugby Union A 166, A&T 151; Butts Park A 131, Leigh Bowling 155; Leigh Cricket Club 148, Butts Park B 176; Leigh Miners 152, Atherton Park B 137; Brunswick 117, St Paul's

GLAZEBURY CC seconds won by 38 runs at Liscard after a cavalier innings of 70 from Andy Durrington. Put in on a damp wicket, Glazebury batted well to reach 162 with Durrington getting good support from David Acton who made 26. The game was in the balance

THE sister of a teenager who died after suffering an adverse reaction to a curry has dedicated her university degree to him. The family of Phillip Heywood (19), a former Bury College student, are still coming to terms with his death last month. Sister

HARD work and intense training are paying off for young trampolinist Nicole Short. The 11 year old Radcliffe lass quit gymnastics a year ago to concentrate on her chosen sport. Once a recreational trampolinist at the Bury Trampoline Club - run by her

BOTH Holcombe Brook men's and ladies tennis teams have made the grand finals of the KIA National Club League in Bournemouth in September. Away against Scotland's Stirling University, the men pulled off a 2-0 tie break shoot-out victory after the score

BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today called on Paul Gallagher to prove he has the desire to become a regular in his starting line-up next season. Gallagher has been in red-hot form on Rovers' pre-season tour of Germany, scoring three goals in his two friendly

With a new CD and firmly established as a festival favourite, Gone Beggin' are spreading the word about World Music as JOHN ANSON discovered. . . THEY'VE probably been seen by more people in East Lancashire than any other local band this summer. It seems

BURY...0 MANCHESTER CITY...0 ACCORDING to Shakers' manager Graham Barrow, Bury didn't just draw with Manchester City once on Wednesday night, they did it twice - back-to-back - in front of a bumper 7,412 crowd. "Credit to City and Kevin for bringing such

lA FORD Escort car was destroyed on Arley Way, Atherton, after it was set alight by fire bugs in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

nA PORTABLE toilet and a stack of UPVC windows were set alight at a builders' cabin in Spa Road, Atherton last Sunday. No one was injured in the blaze.

THE New Garrett Theatre are reprising the best of a decade of shows to celebrate their 10th year. Rehearsals are well underway for the spectacular "Ten Years...And the Show Goes On!" which will have a four night run at the Formby Hall, Atherton, next

A BAND of school pupils ended their school year by performing 20 concerts in two days - to help sick children. Eleven Freddies' students got together to play at primary schools, retirement homes, churches, hospices and in the streets of Tyldesley and

JUNIOR poet Duncan Boyter helped his school to a prize winning double when he scored top marks in a big contest. He was awarded the overall prize in the primary section of Wigan Council's Poetry Competition to add to the overall prize his school, Leigh

HOLIDAY stay-at-homers will find life's a beach at an Astley pub tomorrow (Friday). Staff have organised a party at the Boars Head, Manchester Road, to raise funds for charity. They will get into the party mood by dressing up in shorts, 'loud' shirts,

THREE schools in the Leigh area are celebrating a boost of cash from the Big Lottery Fund for good causes to develop new and improved sports facilities. Fred Longworth High School, Lowton Specialist Sport College and Culcheth High School received grants

ATHERLEIGH resident Derek Higgs is at his wits end over an eyesore near his Croydon Avenue home. A neglected Vauxhall Chevette sits idly outside a cornershop on Leigh Road gathering rust. The car has been parked there for several years but the owner,

DOZENS of people braved the rain last weekend to enjoy a sailing open day in Leigh. Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club opened its doors for people to test their sea legs and have a go at sailing at Pennington Flash last Saturday. People aged five to 50 enjoyed

GOLBORNE and Lowton Township Forum future meetings have been set. These are: July 27, 7pm, Lowton Civic Hall; August 31, 7pm, Heath Street Methodist Church Hall, Golborne; October 5, 7pm, Lane Head Methodist Church, Lowton; November 16, 7pm, Golborne

RADCLIFFE and Whitefield Lions are roaring to go on Sunday, July 25 with their car boot and gala event. The Black Knights MCC Bike Display Team will be in top gear as a major attraction at Red Bank playing fields, Radcliffe. There will be a wide variety

PAUL Gascoigne will definitely be in the Radcliffe Boro line-up for the friendly against a Manchester United XI. The former England star will be flying in from Munich for the latest game in Boro's prestigious pre-season schedule. Also in action on the

EVERTON legend Neville Southall is making a special trip from Ireland to play in Jamie Speare's testimonial at Accrington Stanley tomorrow. The former Welsh international goalkeeper is currently on location with the Wales Under 19s squad but is cutting

Thwaites East Lancs Premier Bowling League COLNE Cricket put themselves back in pole position in the Thwaites East Lancashire Premier League, courtesy of their neighbours Colne Legion. In a Federation-hit weekend, with many top players representing East

I HAVE lived at this address for 26 years and brought up a family here, so I was astounded to find that the council have put up a "No Ball Games" sign right in the middle of our "green" on Bankfield Close, Ainsworth. No-one asked the residents for their

AS secretary of Bury Agricultural Society I must make critic Cath Hyla (July 16) aware that we are a registered charity which raises money for local causes. This year we will be donating money to Bury Hospice, Pets in Need, Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Riding

IT was with horror that I read of the proposed closure of the special care baby unit at Fairfield. Giving birth rarely goes according to the text book. In my case it was a long and painful process, even with painkiller help available. Complications can

HAVING had three of my children delivered in Fairfield, I found Saiqa Chaudhari's excellent report (July 15) on the proposed demise of the special care baby unit to be of great interest. Surely the decision to close the unit has effectively already been

BURY councillors on a health scrutiny panel were gagged from discussing proposals to close Fairfield's special care baby unit. Members of the council's Healthier and Safer Communities scrutiny commission met on Tuesday to give their views on plans to