Archive

  • Back to front trams and candy floss balls

    GOOD Friday! Be you a Methodist, Catholic, or whatever, years ago it was always fish. When we were kids, my mum would catch the tram at the Cherry Tree terminal. That was a place where the trams stopped, the conductor took a long pole, unhooked the long

  • Curtain call for chaos

    THE amusingly chaotic life of Alec Partridge, manager of the Thurlow Playhouse, is depicted in Curtain Call -- a comedy by Bettine Manktelow, being performed by the Darwen Library Players this week. Curtain Call will play at the Darwen Library Theatre

  • Man who ran amok in digger was feeling depressed

    A 29-YEAR-OLD man depressed at being made homeless climbed into a compound at Blackburn College and ran amok with a mini-digger causing approximately £8,000 worth of damage. Blackburn magistrates heard that Philip McAlary rammed walls, doors and windows

  • Choice for a comedy

    A TRUE Lancashire comedy will be performed by St James' Players, Burnley this week. Hobson's Choice will be staged at St James' School, Lanehead for three nights starting on Thursday. The play directed by Brian Wellock, will star Ken Horsfield as Henry

  • Why wasn't a warrant issued?

    REGARDING the story (LET, April 9) about the police officer who did not turn up at Burnley Crown Court for the trial of the three men from Blackburn on charges of affray and racially-aggravated destruction of property, why was this officer not suspended

  • Budget went almost unnoticed

    I'M sure we all want to know what is happening in Iraq and to our brave soldiers. However, I also want to know what is happening in Britain. I'm sure no Budget in history had so little publicity as that of April 9 -- with a very brief report on TV and

  • Hawaii bride heartache

    A MAN who flew across the world to marry a woman he met on the Internet is fighting to get her home after she was banned from entering Britain. Stewart Hindle married his cyber sweetheart Tina Evans in Hawaii last month after a whirlwind romance on the

  • Centurions win earns a week off

    Leigh Centurions 19 Whitehaven 12 by Mike Hulme: THE Centurions made it an Easter double to kick off their National League One campaign in encouraging style. A second successive win over another side expected to push for a play-off place gives Leigh the

  • Form guide...

    THE key stats and moments from the game against Bolton. FRIEDEL: A comfortable afternoon in the sun for the Rovers keeper who was only called upon to make one serious save of note.... 7 NEILL: Neat and tidy defensively and also contributed to the cause

  • Cliviger weekly column

    A LETTER was sent to Lancashire Education Authority by the parish council on behalf of parents who have expressed concern regarding the allocation of secondary school places to children from Cliviger. A representative from the authority will attend the

  • Rescue hero gives mayor helping hand

    A RESCUE hero who saved the life of a seven-year-old schoolboy who was being savaged by a pack of dogs today revealed he would use his civic award to raise money for charity. Robert Ashworth, 56, of Tunnel Street, Burnley, was presented with the honour

  • Croquet club waits

    MEMBERS of Pendle Croquet Club are today facing a nailbiting wait to find out if the club will be able to move home. The club has embarked on the mammoth task of trying to raise up to £100,000 for a new home after it was asked to leave its current base

  • Lions help Guide Kezia on her way to Canada

    DARWEN Lions have donated £50 to a Girl Guide who will make the trip of a lifetime this summer. Kezia Atkins will fly to New Brunswick, Canada, in August, after she was selected from hundreds of Guides throughout the North West to join an international

  • Friends group praised by David Bellamy

    TOP TV zoologist David Bellamy has praised the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood for their hard work over the past three years. The professor, who visited the wood in 2000 and identified 96 species of animals and plants, was quick to congratulate the Friends

  • Fresh face takes reins as Youth MP

    BLACKBURN'S new Youth MP today urged fellow teenagers to prove that young people can be a credit to society. Declan Maguire, 15, a pupil at Our Lady and St John High School, in North Road, Blackburn, was elected to the position after a vote held at schools

  • Banim returns

    ONCE again former Rossendale favourite Jody Banim returned to inspire Radcliffe Borough's bid to secure a place in the UniBond Premier Division. Chances were limited in the first half but Craig Sargeson went close as he cut in from the right, beat three

  • Help for addicts deserves support

    Whether low self esteem is a product of drug addiction or one of its causes, it would certainly seem a condition that goes hand in hand with the self-hurt that drug abuse ultimately amounts to. And in view of the curse that it brings to so many lives,

  • Double bill of comedy

    THERE'S a double bill of comedy next week when Blackburn Arts Club puts on its latest production. Appropriately enough, the two one-act comedies The Last Bread Pudding and Melons at the Parsonage both revolve around the world of amateur dramatics. Written

  • Evidence supports evolution theory

    HOW can the Rev Kevin Logan (Letters, April 9) or any person say that it is easier to believe that God created life than to believe in the facts of evolution? Mr Logan says that he does not believe in evolution simply because there are not millions of

  • Will Branchy be our number one this season?

    USUALLY around this time of the season, the Clarets are either fending off relegation or, more recently, mounting a promotion challenge. But for the first time in a long while, Burnley supporters have experienced a quiet Easter. On the plus side, this

  • Vision for town

    A NEW blueprint for the future of Radcliffe has been drawn up. The draft strategy concentrates on four main themes, encompassing the economy of the town centre, the environment, housing and social regeneration. On Thursday April 17, at 6pm in the Radcliffe

  • Scarecrows will shuffle to village

    VILLAGERS are hoping their scarecrows will attract visitors when Waddington hosts its annual spring fair weekend next month. The event begins on Saturday, May 3, and scarecrows should be standing by noon on Saturday. Anyone wishing to take part should

  • Fact file...

    A LOOK at the key moments from the game against Nottingham Forest. NIK MICHOPOULOS Had an early sighter from Jess and looked comfortable until his late howler gifted Forest the points... 5 MARK McGREGOR Got a booking for a strong challenge but worked

  • Clarets suffer a twist of fate

    FOOTBALL is a simple game. Take your chances and don't give the other team soft goals and you have a chance of winning the game. Sadly, Burnley have found out time and time again this season that the opposite invariably means you will end up with nothing

  • He sang for Cliff

    NEW management at an Oswaldtwistle club have lined up a top singer who performed at Cliff Richards' 60th birthday bash. Bill Mayers will take the stage at the James Street Club at 9pm on Friday, April 25. Billy, who Cliff is a big fan of, is good friends

  • Pub Idol pulls in the punters

    A PUB Idol contest has been pulling in the crowds at The Intack Inn, Blackburn -- but landlady Lynne Hall has proved not everyone is a Gareth Gates in the making. The karaoke contest at the pub has been a major hit with punters since a £35,000 makeover

  • Clarets injuries pile up

    MORE injuries, a sixth successive away defeat and another goalkeeping blunder all added up to a miserable Easter Bank Holiday for Burnley boss Stan Ternent. Both Drissa Diallo and Dimitri Papadopoulos went off in the first half, the latest additions to

  • Hospital radio's public airing

    VISITORS will be able to find out more about the workings of hospital radio next month during an open weekend in Rossendale. Hospital Radio Rossendale will be open to the public between 1 and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11. Visitors will be

  • Crash victim out of intensive care

    DOCTORS are delighted with the progress being made by a 38-year-old Haslingden man who suffered serious head injuries in a road crash. The man, who has not been named, is out of intensive care and has been moved to a neurological ward at Royal Preston

  • Crowds flock to pub for Easter weekend

    A RAMSBOTTOM pub is celebrating a thriving Easter weekend which saw thousands of people enjoy a drink at the bar. The Hare and Hounds in Holcombe Brook has held events over the break for a number of years -- with the busiest day being Good Friday when

  • Sports hall dream set to come true

    ROSSENDALE could soon benefit from a new £1.3million community sports facility if plans get the go-ahead today. Whitworth Community High School has submitted plans to Rossendale Council to erect a sports hall for school and community use and build a single-storey

  • More homes are marked to topple

    MORE than 100 former council homes are set to be pulled down as part of the latest demolition plans in Blackburn and Darwen. Housing association Twin Valley Homes has applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council to pull down 128 surplus properties. The firm

  • 7-up for Clitheroe

    CLITHEROE finished off their campaign at Shawbridge with a magnificent seven-goal performance. They now have to hope that Prescot lose their last game at Atherton Collieries on Saturday but even then there's just the small matter of 15 goals to make up

  • Magpies must rely on results to make play-offs

    A BATTLING Bamber Bridge performance at Irongate last night severely dented Chorley's UniBond First Division play-off hopes. Nothing went right for the Magpies, who had too many individuals performing below par, whereas Bamber Bridge worked tirelessly

  • ERIC WHALLEY

    Other local sides start celebrating THE biggest thing about the past week is the reality of Accrington Stanley getting promotion to the Conference has really hit me. We're only one more promotion away from the Football League so we need to concentrate

  • EVENTS taking place in East Lancashire on Wednesday, April 23:

    A LOOK at events, from amateur theatre to rambles through our beautiful countryside. Blackburn Ramblers meet Mind Centre, Regent Street, Blackburn, 8pm. Puzzle Quiz. 50/50 ballroom dancing, Village Hall, Knowle Green, 7.30pm. Clitheroe Ramblers meet 7pm

  • Extra funds at others' expense

    COUNCILLOR Dave Hollings (Letters, April 8) is to be congratulated for exposing the Tony Blair Government's fiddling of the figures by imposing taxation by the back door --on Council Tax instead of national tax. Yet, the councillor is guilty of gilding

  • Huge increase for many on some bus fares

    THERE is a desperate need for an integrated transport network for East Lancashire, as outlined in David Higgerson's article about the planned new bus and rail links (LET, April 10). Last summer, Burnley and Pendle Travel, one of the area's major bus companies

  • Mum and child canal rescue

    A MOTHER and child were plucked to safety from a canal by a passer-by today. Police are still mystified as to how the woman and child ended up in the water. Officers said the woman was refusing to speak to them and the youngster -- described by an eyewitness

  • Cole looks for finishing touch

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness leapt to the defence of Andy Cole after the Rovers striker saw his nightmare continue in this derby stalemate. The former Manchester United star has now gone 13 games and almost four months without a goal in the Premiership

  • 'Stay put' scheme helps vulnerable

    VULNERABLE people in Burnley have been made to feel more secure in their homes, thanks to a pioneering local initiative. The Burnley Security Scheme, run by Anchor Staying Put, in Plumbe Street, is celebrating its first year of providing practical help

  • Police bid to avert soccer war of roses

    POLICE in Burnley are preparing for potential trouble in the weekend roses match with division one rivals Sheffield Wednesday. High profile patrols are planned for Saturday's match at Turf Moor and the kick-off time has been moved forward in a bid to

  • Hawaii bride heartache

    A MAN who flew across the world to marry a woman he met on the Internet is fighting to get her home after she was banned from entering Britain. Stewart Hindle married his cyber sweetheart Tina Evans in Hawaii last month after a whirlwind romance on the

  • Hundreds up for the cup!

    FOOTBALL fans turned out in force to celebrate Bury FC winning the FA Cup -- 100 years ago. The trip down memory lane was organised to mark the centenary of the club's memorable FA Cup win in 1903 when they beat Derby County 6-0 -- the biggest win ever

  • Shakers fail to deliver again

    Bury...0 Scunthorpe Utd...0: IT WAS another case of home discomfort for the Shakers as they failed to produce the goods once again at Gigg Lane. Bury have won just eight of their 22 home games to date and they let this one get away from them after dominating

  • First all-post poll set to bring close contest

    HYNDBURN'S first ever all-postal election looks set to be a closely-fought contest. After snatching control of the borough by just one seat last year following ward boundaries changes, Labour will be hoping to stave off the challenge from the Conservatives

  • Hegg salutes moral victory after four-day slog

    LANCASHIRE were recovering today after an exhausting four days at the Oval, and with another big game coming up tomorrow when they take on Notts at Old Trafford. It's a situation which underlines the concerns of players who believe too much cricket is

  • Farewell to man who helped shape town

    THE surveyor behind some of Darwen's most famous developments is hanging up his hard hat after more than 30 years. Gordon Holden, 59, of Lyndhurst Road, will leave Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council on Friday. Gordon, who worked for Darwen Council

  • Fly back Jack, we're in a flap!

    A NEW dad has left a Darwen family in a flap after flying the nest just moments before his two spring chicks were born. Police are now on the lookout for Alexandrian parakeet Jack who fled the family cage, leaving partner Jill and the two new young birds

  • Sports hall dream set to come true

    ROSSENDALE could soon benefit from a new £1.3million community sports facility -- if plans get the go-ahead today. Whitworth Community High School has submitted plans to Rossendale Council to erect a sports hall for school and community use and build

  • Teachers to vote on scrapping national testing

    EAST Lancashire teachers will be balloted on abandoning the only national primary school tests. The National Union of Teachers will ballot its 250,000 members -- half the work force -- on sabotaging the SAT tests on basic Maths, English and Science, in

  • Bid to cut out learning red tape

    THE Lancashire Learning and Skills Council has launched a new bid to cut red tape out of business. Under the leadership of Sir George Sweeney, the bureaucracy task force will focus on consulting and cutting bureaucratic burdens put on business in the

  • Roof fall mechanic loses fight for life

    A MECHANIC who fell 30 feet from his garage roof has lost his fight for life. Family and friends today paid tribute to Wayne Pablo, 35, who they say lived life to the full and will be greatly missed. Wayne, who lived with his retired parents in Preston

  • Coleman's blast after Stanley miss chances

    FURIOUS Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman blasted his side after failing to nail down three points against lowly Lancaster. The Reds bossed the game virtually from start to finish but either missed gilt-edged chances or were denied by goalkeeper

  • Up for t'cup!

    FOOTBALL fans turned out in force to celebrate Bury FC winning the FA Cup -- 100 years ago. The trip down memory lane was organised to mark the centenary of the club's memorable FA Cup win in 1903 when they beat Derby County 6-0 -- the biggest win ever

  • Leigh look elsewhere for survival lifeline

    Leigh RMI 1 Northwich 1 by Martyn Hindley: LEIGH RMI's Conference destiny lies in five different stadiums on Saturday afternoon after they failed to polish off the challenge of Northwich at Hilton Park. Victory over their Cheshire rivals would have almost

  • Tickets still left

    THERE'S still time to get tickets for Bolton-by-Bowland drama group's Allo Allo style comedy Business Affairs at the village hall from Thursday, May 1 to Saturday, May 3. Uproar descends as a couple of businessmen try to sell their company to two Europeans

  • Rooftops singing

    OPEREA lovers from Greenbrook Methodist Church, Burnley, will be singing from the rooftops in their next production. For the amateur operatic society will be staging the timeless classic Fiddler on the Roof, once made into a memorable film, between April

  • Girl in can explosion drama

    A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was taken to hospital after being hit in the stomach by an exploding canister from a rubbish fire. The girl was with a group of youths playing near the fire in the garden of a derelict house at Hulme Road, Leigh, at 8pm on Monday night

  • Clarets tribute to tragic fan

    BURNLEY Football Club captain Steve Davis handed over a floral tribute before yesterday's match with Nottingham Forest as a mark of respect to Nathan Shaw. The 17-year-old died outside a Burnley town centre pub after an incident before the club's game

  • Support officer Dave is bowling along

    POLICE Community Support Officer Dave Johnson will be accompanying youngsters from Briercliffe Volunteer Youth Group to AMF bowling in Burnley. The Brierfield Volunteer Youth Group meets at the Community Centre, Jubilee Street, Harle Syke, every Friday

  • 5 years ago today...

    THE memory of cup-winning Blackburn Rovers captain Harry Healless was honoured with a plaque at the house he owned close to Ewood Park. The plaque was unveiled at the house in Top o' th' Croft.

  • 10 years ago today...

    BUTCHER Norman Wilkinson spent six weeks training butchers in Tanzania. Norman, from Tower Road, Blackburn, said he helped promote the beefburger and was selling 50 a day by the end of his Africa trip.

  • Hunt for gas blaze vandals

    FIREFIGHTERS are investigating after vandals wrecked allotments and set fire to a shed containing gas cylinders. Crews had to fight the blaze at allotments off Hollins Lane, Accrington, from behind a dry stone wall until they had got it under control.

  • History set to come alive on the internet

    EAST Lancashire's history is set to be brought alive on the internet thanks to a £115,000 grant. The money, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will pay for more than 12,300 catalogue pages from the Lancashire Record Office to be created digitally. An additional

  • Pals honour death tragedy team-mate

    FRIENDS of a 35-year-old who died of a heart attack are to remember him with a pool tournament in his name to mark his first wedding anniversary. Fun-loving Gerald 'Ged' Slevin, of Lincoln Court, Church, collapsed on Sunday, but shocked friends are already

  • Objections to tip route plans

    A COUNCIL is set to present objections to plans to re-route traffic via a new one-way system to a controversial tip this week. Hyndburn Council has been asked for its views on the global scheme submitted to the county council by Preston-based waste management

  • Protest against merger hots up

    CAMPAIGNERS are today drawing up plans to protest against being adopted by a neighbouring authority in a local government shake-up. Councillor Frank Dyson, shadow leader of Ribble Valley Council, has called on voters to fight any merger of the borough

  • Bacup will take some stopping

    BACUP were always going to be the team to beat in the Lancashire League this season, and Sunday's opening game confirmed that. It is the only game I will be playing in the league this season and it went very well as I took five wickets, and we dismissed

  • Spotlight on mild

    AN under-rated and often overlooked tipple in East Lancashire pubs is to be celebrated in the coming weeks. The Campaign for Real Ale is promoting mild throughout May and celebrating National Mild Day on Saturday, May 10. Look out for up-coming events

  • Souey guns for Amo

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a summer move for Rangers star Lorenzo Amoruso. Ewood chief Souness wants to bolster his defensive resources by landing a top class centre-back. And as I understand it, Amoruso is the name at the top of his

  • Friends combine to raise £700 for park

    FRIENDS of Bold Venture Park raised £700 from a special night at the Darwen Library Theatre. Lancashire dialect poet Jim Atherton and retired parks manager John Firth combined to provide an evening of local entertainment. The history of Bold Venture Park

  • Fire woman is overcome

    A WOMAN who tried to tackle a kitchen fire herself was given oxygen by firefighters after being overcome by smoke. The fire broke out at the house in Kent Street, Leigh, after the woman had fallen asleep after leaving pans on the cooker. She was alerted

  • New police chief in charge

    A NEW police boss has taken over the Eastern Division, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. Chief Superintendent Dave Mallaby, 44, succeeds John Thompson, who has retired. Mr Mallaby, who comes from Blackburn and was Mr Thompson's

  • Change of super hospital plans scrapped

    HEALTH bosses have cancelled a planning application asking for alterations to the design of their £90million super-hospital after being told councillors would reject it. Balfour Beatty, the developer of the single-site project at Queen's Park Hospital

  • Peak performers stride forth for funds

    THREE hardy walkers are planning to don their backpacks for the three peak challenge to raise funds for Blackburn's Broadlands School. Tony Murdoch, bar manager at The Black Bull, Old Langho, will join forces with friends Ray and Ryan Price for the challenge

  • Mum and child canal rescue

    A MOTHER and child were plucked to safety from a canal by a passer-by today. Police are still mystified as to how the woman and child ended up in the water. Officers said the woman was refusing to speak to them and the youngster -- described by an eyewitness

  • First turf dug for new community centre

    WORK on a new £800,000 community centre started this week -- with councillors promising that everyone in their area will benefit. Councillors Mohammed Khan, Maureen Rishton and Ronald O'Keeffe dug deep to mark the start of building work for the centre