SPRING flowers must have been a godsend to our ancestors who did not have the advantage of a friendly neighbourhood chemist. I explored my favourite wood and listed plants which were once collected and used. A favourite was the primrose but I also found
A FAMOUS hairdresser made his way into town with a champagne-filled evening a cut above the rest. Joshua Galvin, famous for styling the locks of celebrities took time away from his busy schedule to give a show to remember at Scholars Restaurant, Blackburn
THE barbaric sport of hare-coursing continues despite Labour's promise to ban all forms of killing animals with dogs for entertainment. Never mind tradition; hare-coursing has no place in a civilised society. We can't call ourselves a nation of animal
THE closing of care homes has meant unfortunate old folk have spilled over into our hospitals -- through no fault of their own -- where the old and frail do not belong. For their own well-being, they need far more attention and supervision than already
LIKE hundreds of other people, I am disgusted at the care home closures on the cards for our old people. I have been a Labour voter all my life -- not a natural one; my family were Tories -- and I cannot believe the party I have supported and argued for
REGARDING Councillor David Pearson's comments (Letters, March 18) on the Labour budget, setting a 4.5 per cent increase in Blackburn with Darwen's council tax, he says that this is the fifth highest of all unitary councils. I have not seen a full list
IAN SINGLETON's 'Pub Grub' description (LET, March 9) of the Hapton Inn bore little resemblance to the place we know. One wonders, perhaps, if the "bottle or two of wine" that he had enjoyed the night before had somewhat blinkered his view of this establishment
UNFORTUNATELY I did not read Neil Yates Whistle Blower column last Tuesday, but quite a few people have commented to me about what he had to say about my last column about refereeing attitudes. Steve Tinniswood gave me a brief insight over the phone.
JAMIE Connelly hit two wonderful goals as Villa caused a cup upset against close rivals Ossie Juniors. Juniors may have been missing a number of key players but, having put 10 goals past Villa in their two league meetings, they were firm favourites to
CLITHEROE United are too good to be classed as underdogs. And after another mauling of a Division One side, United are definitely the side to avoid in the President's Cup. Having already disposed of high-flying Colne United and cup holders Worsthorne,
WORKERS at a plumbers merchants were celebrating today after scooping £1.3million on the National Lottery after playing the game for just three weeks. The 16 lucky workers at James Hargreaves in Todmorden Road, Burnley, won £84,101.62 each after matching
BLACKBURN Rovers received a major boost to their survival fight with the news that David Dunn is free to resume training. The England Under 21 midfielder limped out of Monday's 2-0 victory over Southampton with what looked to be a serious knee injury
BURNLEY police are appealing for the safe return of a hospital van containing £3,000 worth of hospital equipment. The white Ford Transit diesel van with the registration number N162 FFV is marked with the Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust logo. It was taken
ALCOHOL is to be banned from the streets of Burnley town centre and the roads leading up to Turf Moor in a bid to crack down on violent assaults. Members of Burnley Council executive were presented with a report highlighting a rise in violent crime during
THE first board meeting of the new Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust was held in Nelson yesterday, marking a new era in the local NHS. The 302 new Primary Care Trusts covering all parts of England will control health care locally, with
ONE of East Lancashire oldest residents has died peacefully in her sleep aged 104. Great-grandmother Jessie Graham had lived in Oaklands Nursing Home, Briercliffe, after moving in just a few months before her 101st birthday. She previously lived in Briercliffe
FOOTBALLING legend John Connelly has scored another hat-trick after celebrating the birth of three grandchildren in one day. Former Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United and England star John, now 63, of Sandy Hall Lane, Barrowford, learned of
A TIPPER driver is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to causing the death of a little boy by dangerous driving. Stephen Crossley, 42, of Lower Draugh Gates Farm, BurnleyRoad,Trawden, denied causing the death of seven-year-old Gary Lee Ormerod on
"IT'S a marathon," they say, "not a sprint." And if that's the case, Burnley resemble a runner hitting the wall half a mile from the end of the race. They are stumbling toward the finishing line rather than coming home at a canter. And whilst the Clarets
1913 Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst was sentenced to three years for inciting supporters to place explosives at the London home of David Lloyd George. 1981 Mobs of youths went on the rampage in Brixton, south London, throwing petrol bombs and looting
THE Accrington Info Centre is to hold a travel open evening aimed at widening the horizons of local young people. The event on Thursday is for anyone who is thinking about travelling, working, studying or volunteering abroad. Other young people who have
CONSERVATION Group English Heritage is set to award almost £350,000 in regeneration grants to two East Lancashire towns. The bulk of this investment, totalling £282,000, will go to Hyndburn Council to regenerate an historically important area next to
BLACKBURN, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Trust has been awarded winner of the NHS category for the Health Challenge Awards 2002. A representative from the Trust was presented with the prestigious award by Olympic silver medallist, Steve Smith. The award
FIREFIGHTERS today appealed for people to report any smells of gas immediately as a family-of-four recovers in hospital from severe burns. Station Commander Kevin Murray, of Burnley fire station, revealed that six residents had smelled gas the night before
NERVY Lancashire scrambled to a two wickets win over Western Province in South Africa to clinch a place in tomorrow's triangular final under the Newlands lights. Graham Lloyd was the hero with a superb 64 as Lancashire chased a rain-reduced target of
HOPES remain high that India's scheduled tour of Pakistan will go ahead in April next year despite current political unrest. A delegation to Pakistan led by Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi have returned home pledging their backing
BLACKBURN Rovers received a major boost to their survival fight with the news that David Dunn is free to resume training. The England Under 21 midfielder limped out of Monday's 2-0 victory over Southampton with what looked to be a serious knee injury
MEMBERS of Darwen's First Sunday Rambling Club are to walk around three miles of the Great Harwood nature trail. They will meet on Sunday at Upper Market car park, Darwen, at 12.30pm, or All Springs Drive, Great Harwood, at 1pm. Anyone interested should
DARWEN Junior Youth Club at Darwen Community Centre will be participating in the creation of an all-year-round garden. It will include window boxes with seasonal plants for a blooming garden throughout the year. The event will be on Tuesday June 18 from
ORGANISERS of the annual Darwen Gala parade are appealing for owners of unusual vintage cars to take part in this year's event. Owners are being urged to sign up in time for the event which on Saturday, August 17. The organisers of the gala are determined
CHARITIES, schools and individuals have been invited to take part in this year's annual Darwen Tower Trudge. The event had to be cancelled last year because of foot and mouth so this year organisers are hoping to boost entry levels. People of all ages
A WOMAN was punched by a robber as she resisted attempts to snatch her bag. The force of the blow made the victim, 49, drop the bag and give up her struggle in Tythebarn Street, Darwen at around 12.30am on Easter Monday. Det Sgt Ian Critchley, of Darwen
A TEENAGER died after suffering a stroke while playing football. David Graham, 16, of The Old Co-Op in Waterside, Darwen, died in Royal Preston Hospital after he collapsed during a game against a team from neighbouring village Hoddlesden. The Darwen Moorland
IN partnership with Rossendale Swimming Development Forum the Lancashire Youth Games swimming team trials will take place at the Whitworth pool on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. School year five boys and girls swim on Saturday from
A 40-year-old man is alleged to have telephoned and called at the house of a Ramsbottom woman, breaking a court-imposed restraining order. Robert Hodkinson, from Fern Street, Ramsbottom, appeared before Bury magistrates accused of breaking the order after
THE first board meeting of the new Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust was held in Nelson yesterday, marking a new era in the local NHS. The 302 new Primary Care Trusts covering all parts of England will control health care locally, with
THE guns roared and the cannons blazed as members of the world famous Sealed Knot Society went into battle. The group staged a mock clash at Hoghton Tower, near Blackburn, turning the country grounds into a "bloody" battlefield. The visit was one of many
BLACKBURN, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Trust has been awarded winner of the NHS category for the Health Challenge Awards 2002. A representative from the Trust was presented with the prestigious award by Olympic silver medallist, Steve Smith. The award
WORK is set to begin on creating a new £1million 'penthouse' suite of offices at County Hall as councillors refuse to back down on plans to shut 35 care homes in Lancashire. County councillors will authorise work to start on the top floor of their building
A MARRIAGE guidance counsellor today reminded high-profile people that they have a responsibility to their families in the wake of the Garry Flitcroft affair. And Denise Knowles, a counsellor and psycho-sexual therapist with Relate, said the healing process
Will he, or won't he? Should he get the call? Our very own Figo, a magician with the ball Runs past oppositions as if they aren't there Look out, Steven Gerrard and 'Scholesy' beware Dunn in an England shirt, mine and his dream come true Call him up,
A TEENAGER who donated money from a bravery award to help pay for a new play park watched as it was unveiled and said: "I just hope people enjoy it." Faizan Awan, 15, was guest of honour at the official opening of the new play area in Corporation Park
THE headteacher of a school destroyed in a £2million arson attack has spoken of her hopes for the future after two teenagers were sentenced for starting the blaze. Vivienne Clark said the effects of the fire had been 'catastrophic' not only for the 200
NELSON and Darwen will battle it out tonight as each side bids to finish as the top dogs in East Lancashire in the NWCL Division Two. Steve Wilkes' side make the trip to Victoria Park on the back of a run of three games without a win after earlier harbouring
JOHN Coleman was full of praise for his star man Simon Carden after a stunning performance helped Stanley chalk up their seventh win in eight games. Midfielder Carden's tricky run took him past a number of Bamber Bridge players before he set up Paul Mullin
A BLACKPOOL man was rushed to hospital with serious burns after a blaze tore through a house in Layton on Sunday teatime. Around 40 firefighters on seven fire engines battled fierce flames and thick smoke to reach a man trapped in his terraced house on
MORE than 70 police officers today raided homes in the Whitefield and Salford areas and arrested 14 members of a car-jack gang. This is a culmination of Operation Heroes, which has targetted a team of offenders who are believed to have committed crime
PLANS are afoot to trade in the scrapyard image of Pimhole for something cleaner and greener. A draft action plan has been drawn up to tidy the neighbourhood, and make it a centre of good practice in the vehicle breaking business. Residents in the area
A FULL day of top classic bike racing, at the 23rd annual Hoghton Tower Sprint will be held at the Tower this Sunday. Inquiries on 01282 694140. Information about trade stands on 01254 852986. Admission is £7 adults, children under 14 (accompanied by
A VAUXHALL Cavalier worth £3,000 was stolen after after burglars at the owner's house lifted the keys. The car, registration N334CEM, was stolen from Barker Lane, Mellor, between 11.40pm on Monday and 4.50am yesterday. The thieves also stole £80 in cash
WHICH committee, or public-spirited plank came up with the ludicrous idea that old people's homes now need en-suites, telephone and computer points in every bedroom? They cannot have the foggiest idea of the day-to-day running of residential homes, most
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy with learning difficulties who was missing since Saturday is back home today. Anthony Carter, of Norfold Road, Atherton, was last seen in Gloucester Road, Atherton, at 2.30pm on Saturday. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said
I SAT in the gentleman's lounge of my local club listening to the thoughts of a man who I knew to be the chairman of a nearby football club. "Tha knows what's ruined football don't you? Women of course. They've even got em reffing now. I ask you. One
A TEENAGER died after suffering a stroke while playing football. David Graham, 16, of The Old Co-Op in Waterside, Darwen, died in Royal Preston Hospital after he collapsed during a game against a team from neighbouring village Hoddlesden. The Darwen Moorland
ROVERS Reserves crushed Leeds United at a muddy Bootham Crescent last night. Jimmy Corbett and Egil Ostenstad grabbed two each and Jon Douglas one as a young and inexperienced side containing only goalkeeper Paul Robinson with first team experience, were
TWO Burnley schools have been taking part in a national project aimed at promoting the three Rs -- reduce, re-use and recycle. Children from Barden Juniors and Stoneyholme Community Primary schools have been discovering how they can play a part in reducing
A BOOK of condolence has been placed in the reception arera of Burnley Town Hall for messages on the death of the Queen Mother. The book can be signed between 8.40am to 5pm. The town hall flag has also been lowered to half mast. The Mayor of Burnley,
SERVICES and events at St John's Church include a programme of events on April 7 -- the second Sunday of Easter. Family Eucharist is at 11am, followed by the Sunday School school in church and Evensong at 6.15pm. Ladies of the Mothers' Union group will
A BURNLEY councillor has been appointed chairman of Lancashire County Council's Health Equalities Committee. County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, who represents Padiham and the West of Burnley, hopes the role will help him address inequalities in health
THE chairman of Lancashire Police Authority has renewed calls to the Government asking for the repeal of the Riot Damages Act in the forthcoming Police Reform Bill. Ruth Henig, also chairman of the National Association of Police Authorities, says the
FIREFIGHTERS today appealed for people to report any smells of gas immediately as a family-of-four recovers in hospital from severe burns. Station Commander Kevin Murray, of Burnley fire station, revealed that six residents had smelled gas the night before
WORKERS at a plumbers merchants were celebrating today after scooping £1.3million on the National Lottery after playing the game for just three weeks. The 16 lucky workers at James Hargreaves in Todmorden Road, Burnley, won £84,101.62 each after matching
GARDENS in Fence will become a public attraction for two days this summer when the village holds its third open garden weekend. It will take place on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday 30 and is open to the owners of gardens small or large. Anyone wanting to
THE first board meeting of the new Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust was held in Nelson yesterday, marking a new era in the local NHS. The 302 new Primary Care Trusts covering all parts of England will control health care locally, with
A PENSIONER celebrating his 100th birthday today revealed his secret to a long and happy life. But family and friends who gathered to wish Allan Lord a happy birthday wouldn't have guessed it was women and wine, as he is tee-total! Allan, of East Bank
Hoppers shocked Kendal by enjoying the better of the opening exchanges. Paul Bailey's weaving run was ended inches short of the line. Chris Glynn's 4th minute penalty then opened the scoring. Kendal looked dangerous when they released the ball to their
ALASKAN Wildlife will be the subject of a talk at the meeting of the East Lancashire Ornithologists' Club on Monday, April 8. It will take place at St Anne's Church, in Fence, at 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome to attend.
CONSERVATION Group English Heritage is set to award almost £350,000 in regeneration grants to two East Lancashire towns. A Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes grant for £60,000 has been awarded to Barnoldswick in order to renovate historical buildings
PENDLE people are invited to attend a service and vigil in memory of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The service at St Philips Church, in Leeds Road, Nelson, will be on Monday, April 8 -- the day before her funeral at Westminster Abbey. It will start
MEMBERS of Dyers and Finishers working men's club in Stanley Street, Accrington, were shocked after bailiffs stripped the joint to recover council debts of £3,000. Chairs and dart boards were hauled away and the club was expected to remain closed indefinitely
BREAST cancer patients were dealt a major blow as funding for two specialist staff was withdrawn. The £26,000 funding needed for nursing staff Wendy Birtwistle and Hazel James, who gave advice in GP surgeries across the county, was stopped by East Lancashire
THANK heavens for small mercies. Saturday's unacceptable display against doomed Leicester was followed by a much more solid performance against Southampton, which keeps our head above water. "It looks like they're still on their holidays," remarked the
BLACKBURN, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Trust has been awarded winner of the NHS category for the Health Challenge Awards 2002. A representative from the Trust was presented with the prestigious award by Olympic silver medallist, Steve Smith. The award
A MAN who underwent a life-saving bone marrow transplant has celebrated something which many people see as a chore -- going back to work! And while it may take five years before doctors confirm he is clear of the killer cancer leukaemia which has blighted
A TERMINALLY-ill man has been granted his wish as a council agreed to pay for an extension to his home which will allow him to die with dignity. Barry Pinder, 55, of Queen Street, Clitheroe, said he was "elated" at hearing Ribble Valley Borough Council's
CLARETS chairman Barry Kilby is optimistic that a solution will be found to the problem of the Nationwide League's television deal with ITV Digital. And he has warned: "We are going to come out fighting on all fronts, the moral arguments and the legal
THE Clarets reserves take on Huddersfield at Turf Moor tonight with Robbie Blake determined to show what he can do. The £1million striker has struggled to break into Stan Ternent's team and was not even on the bench for either of the games over the Easter
IF the NHS never has enough money, what on earth is it doing shelling out £250,000 to subsidise bus services in East Lancashire? I'm sure sufferers waiting months on end for operations will be staggered by these priorities. NHS money, which could buy
WHAT possesses these council bosses who order the unnecessary chopping down of trees and flowers? Are they not accountable to anyone? For hard on the heels of another spring of deliberate daffodil destruction in Blackburn with Darwen's roadside verges
THE Clarets reserves take on Huddersfield at Turf Moor tonight with Robbie Blake determined to show what he can do. The £1million striker has struggled to break into Stan Ternent's team and was not even on the bench for either of the games over the Easter
PRESTON set themselves up for a do or die battle against Coventry by failing to give relegation fighters Barnsley a going over. Dean Gorre scored on his first start under Steve Parkin and Bruce Dyer added a second to give the Oakwell outfit a chance of
SHAKERS starlet David Nugent could have played his way into Bury's starting line-up for their vital final three matches writes Chris Hall The 16-year-old striker made his second substitute appearance against Brentford on Monday and proved the inspiration
A PRIMARY school will be the next beneficiary of a free makeover from INEOS Acrylics and Akzo Nobel. A classroom at St Joseph's RC, in Limes Avenue, Darwen, will be re-decorated on Monday. Every five weeks, INEOS, of Blackburn Road Darwen, the former
A CHARITY is gearing up for its annual five-day stay in Darwen. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) will be in a charity shop in in Bridge Street from April 8 to 12. It will be open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 4pm, and on Tuesday from
TO celebrate the Queen's Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games, Rossendale's carnival this year will have the theme Flying the Flag and will take place on Sunday June 23. The procession leaves Stacksteads at noon and makes its way to Bacup for an afternoon
IT will be party time in Ramsbottom to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee now the council has agreed to waive street closure fees for the weekend of June 1 to 4. Organisers can also take advantage of a special insurance rate which has been negotiated
YOUNGSTERS who have been working hard at an Easter youth theatre project will be taking to the stage to perform for family and friends this weekend. The Horse and Bamboo Youth Theatre is enjoying its ninth season of activities and was started out of a
AN unlikely twinning link between the former thriving cotton mill town of Bacup and the highly sought after Utah city of St George has been cemented in stone. The sister cities, as twin-towns are known in the States, became connected nearly two years
TWO mobile phone companies have applied to erect antennae and dishes in Blackburn town centre. Hutchinson 3G Ltd and Orange both want to put the equipment on a rooftop in Jubilee Street. It will be used to support the third generation mobile phones, due
EAST Lancashire will be one of the first places in the country to reap the rewards from a new one-stop shop approach to job hunting and benefit payments. By spring next year all job centres in the region will be part of the new Pathfinder Jobcentre Plus
NATASHA Kelly signed up for the Commonwealth Games after hearing about a volunteer scheme from a friendly taxi driver who, knowing she was anxious to find work, suggested she apply. The 19-year-old of Lytham Road, Blackburn, enlisted on a 30-hour training
LORD Square is officially full -- thanks to a new bargain shop and a training project. The rundown part of Blackburn, which owners Standard Life are refusing to refurbish despite growing demands from across the town, will be full for the first time in
THE outburst (LET, March 26) by Great Harwood chairman Bill Holden aimed at woman referees officiating in soccer leagues was, I feel, over the top. Surely it's not the gender of the official that is the problem, but whether the referee and his or her
IN response to the remakrs of Mr Bill Holden, of Great Harwood FC, (LET, March 26), it was greatly disappointing in these days of equal opportunities that someone who is chairman of a football club -- albeit only Great Harwood -- should state that women
