Archive

  • Events in East Lancashire on Tuesday, November 28th

    Opening of Sudellside Cyber Cafe, Darwen, 6.30pm. Friends in Bereavement, Day Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital, Leeds Road, Nelson, 7pm. AGM followed by Feng Shui talk. Blackburn Home Organists' Club, St Stephen's Conservative Club, Robinson Street

  • 'Wireless' favourite

    ADRIAN Grady's query (Letters, November 22) about singer Anne Shelton brought back memories. She sang on the wireless in the 1940s -- with, I think, Henry Hall's band or Ray Fox. Two of her favourites were 'Sailor' and 'Little Things Mean a Lot.' She

  • Bright idea on the bins

    I APPLAUD Mr H Robinson's idea (Letters, November 16) that people could empty their own wheelie bins while being supervised by the cleansing crews. They would then appreciate that if the bin lid is open more than 45 degrees, or thereabouts, the bin is

  • A vote for the kiddies

    THE NSPCC is campaigning for a Children's Commissioner. I feel it is something we should vote for, in order that the Government will make it a prime issue on their agenda. Children need to feel they can trust us to protect them from rape, abuse and murder

  • Where has tax cash gone?

    REGARDING the reply of Mr K Hargreaves (Letters, November 22) to my previous comments, should we compare the economy inherited by this government to the one inherited by the 1979 Conservative government? There is no comparison. When Tony Blair was campaigning

  • Phantom both chilling and cheeky

    MORE than one or two people hot-footed it to Blackpool Grand Theatre this week in the hope that the Phantom Of The Opera performance was, in fact, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular version. But when they sat down to Ken Hill's vibrant version of the famous

  • Alert over killer pill

    CLUBBERS and party revellers were today warned about a batch of Ecstasy tablets with a Versace motif after four people were taken to hospital suffering from suspected drugs overdoses. Three of the patients were left fighting for their lives after a series

  • Widow told divorce dead husband

    THE wife of a trawlerman believed to have drowned when his boat sank mysteriously 26 years ago today said she felt degraded after being told she would have to divorce him before she can remarry. Sheila Doone believes her husband, John, a radio operator

  • Souness disappointed

    ROVERS boss Graeme Souness was disappointed to see his side's eight game unbeaten run come crashing to a halt on Saturday. But he refused to lay the blame at the door of John Curtis whose own goal effectively cost Rovers the points. "When we win, we win

  • Alert over killer pill

    CLUBBERS and party revellers were today warned about a batch of Ecstasy tablets with a Versace motif after four people were taken to hospital suffering from suspected drugs overdoses. Three of the patients were left fighting for their lives after a series

  • Charity shop gets into festive spirit

    CUSTOMERS enjoyed a party atmosphere and Christmas music when they turned up for bargains at the Nelson Age Concern shop. Staff dressed up in glitzy partywear to promote the arrival of their Christmas stock, which includes more than 200 items. They played

  • Widow told divorce dead husband

    THE wife of a trawlerman believed to have drowned when his boat sank mysteriously 26 years ago today said she felt degraded after being told she would have to divorce him before she can remarry. Sheila Doone believes her husband, John, a radio operator

  • Unique record of changing times

    JUST as the huge demolition programme that was to rip the heart out of old Blackburn got under way, amateur photographer John Eddleston got busy. He spent the Easter of 1963 capturing its now-vanished town-centre streets and buildings with his camera.

  • Five years ago: Rush hour smash

    A HORRIFIC rush-hour smash caused motorway mayhem on the M65. The westbound carriageway was completely closed after firefighters and ambulance crews were called to the accident which involved a car and a pick-up truck.

  • College student scoops award

    A CONSTRUCTION and building student at Accrington and Rossendale College will this week scoop one of the industry's top prizes. The £5,000 UniBond Award is the biggest prize available to a construction student and this is the second successive year it

  • Pups cheat death in holdall

    A LITTER of tiny pups is lucky to be alive after being dumped in a holdall close to the RSPCA animal shelter at Altham. The seven were abandoned with their mother and another dog and RSPCA inspector David Anforth said if they had not been seen by a passer-by

  • Millionaire's quiet life with bride

    FLAMBOYANT millionaire John Wilman has vowed to leave his colourful lifestyle behind him -- after jetting back from Marbella to marry a woman 34 years his junior. And Blackburn-born John, who has built two wallcoverings empires in East Lancashire, said

  • Burnley's 'cheeky' bid

    BIRMINGHAM City boss Trevor Francis has labelled Burnley's bid for striker Dele Adebola as a "cheeky offer." The Clarets have offered £700,000 for Adebola as Burnley boss Stan Ternent looks to build from a position of strength and keep his side around

  • Managers back postponement

    BOTH managers backed referee Steve Tomlin's decision to postpone Saturday's game at Watford 15 minutes after the scheduled kick-off. A downpour in the 45 minutes leading up to the game left the Vicarage Road pitch waterlogged. And despite a 15-minute

  • Souness rules out Goor move

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today ruled out a move for Anderlecht winger Bart Goor. Souness has admitted Rovers have had the Belgian international watched on a number of occasions. But reports suggesting the club are ready to launch a £4 million bid

  • Burnley's 'cheeky' bid

    BIRMINGHAM City boss Trevor Francis has labelled Burnley's bid for striker Dele Adebola as a "cheeky offer." The Clarets have offered £700,000 for Adebola as Burnley boss Stan Ternent looks to build from a position of strength and keep his side around

  • An impressive debut

    FROM the opening seconds of Psycho Babble you realise you are not watching an amateur camcorder nightmare bundled together in a weekend. The directors have carefully chosen each detail-packed shot to please the eye or unease the viewer, depending on the

  • Chinese take away facts on growth

    THE Far East met East Lancashire as a group of senior government officials from China took part in a fact-finding mission. The delegation from the Liaoning province spent a week in Lancashire as guests of regeneration organisation Enterprise plc. They

  • Torment of brain bug boy's family

    THE family of a six-year-old meningitis victim today warned parents to be on their guard after revealing that he became seriously ill just hours after symptoms appeared. Michael Turner, whose friend at Abbey Village Primary School, David Merry, also has

  • Karimeh keeps eye on trouble

    AS the troubles continue in the Middle East, one councillor has more reason than many to keep a close eye on the current outbreak of fighting between the Palestinians and Israelis. Councillor Karimeh Foster started her career as a nurse in the Jordanian

  • Curtain up on facelift

    A GALA evening of entertainment will mark the re-opening of Todmorden Hippodrome Theatre six months it was devastated by floods. The Gala Evening on December 9 will be the first show to be staged in the newly refurbished Hippodrome building which has

  • Critic Winner takes the bait

    FOOD critic Michael Winner has taken up the challenge to visit an East Lancashire restaurant. Celebrity chef Andrew Nutter challenged Winner, also famous for directing films such as Death Wish, to come to his restaurant on the moors above Edenfield after

  • Woman, 92, hurt in bag snatch

    A 92-year-old bag snatch victim was left lying in agony in the road with a fractured hip. The victim, who lives in Stacksteads, is the latest of seven lone women to be targeted in bag snatch attacks in Rossendale this month. After hospital treatment she

  • Struck-off lawyer 'let me down'

    THE uncle of a man whose will was mishandled by a now struck-off solicitor today spoke of how he felt his trust had been broken. When Fred Stott's nephew John Bailey died Mr Stott was named as the executor of the will and he entrusted all the details

  • Crimebuster scoops award

    BLACKBURN MP and Home Secretary Jack Straw presented Blackburn with Darwen Council with a Safer Shopping Award -- one of only 10 so far in the country. The award recognises efforts by the council to combat crime in town centres. Measures include CCTV,

  • Regal rescued

    FIREFIGHTERS helped Thwaites shire horse Regal to his feet after he was stuck on his side for almost 17 hours. Four stable staff tried for hours to the seven-year-old one tonne giant before they called the fire brigade yesterday morning. Leading firefighter

  • Cyclist badly hurt as car spins

    A CYCLIST was seriously injured when a car lost control and collided with him, according to police. Paul Billington, 44, of Park Farm Road, Blackburn, needed hours of surgery after the accident on the A675 Blackburn Old Road, near Hoghton. Inspector Steve

  • Nursery school kiddies given a taste of Italian

    NURSERY nurse Raffaella Barbiere swapped Milan for Blackburn when she came to teach local youngsters. Raffaella was on an exchange visit to Kelsall Avenue Nursery School, which saw teachers Sam Bassett and Gill Booth spend a week at the Play English Bilingual

  • Hannah's so happy at last

    THEFT victim Hannah Thomas saw her dream come true when she met soccer star Matt Jansen -- thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Hannah, 11, was devastated when thieves stole footballs she had caught after they were thrown into the crowd by Jansen

  • Rugby league: Lynx lose friendly

    CHORLEY Lynx lost 24-20 in a competitive pre-season friendly against Workington. Coach Graham West said: "I was happy with the display because we have only been together for three weeks."

  • Non league: Derby game

    Darwen's game at home to Nelson in the Worthington Challenge Trophy, which was postponed on Saturday, has been rearranged for tomorrow night (kick off 7.45pm). Darwen's NWCFL Division Two match at Squires Gate, due to be played tomorrow, has been postponed

  • Non league: Farnell's hat-trick

    Ashton Town 0, Bacup Borough 6 STUART Farnell celebrated a three goal haul as Bacup sealed a first round tie in the Marsden Challenge Cup after a convincing victory at Ashton Town. Farnell took his tally for the season to ten and Brent Peter's side now

  • Soccer: Hughes shoots down North End

    West Brom 3, Preston 1 PRESTON hot shot Jon Macken was supposed to steal the headlines after signing a new four-year deal at Deepdale. Instead it was his West Brom counterpart, the £6million-rated Lee Hughes, who grabbed the glory at the Hawthorns and

  • Watchdog needed

    A CHILDREN'S commissioner in England is urgently required to help stop cruelty to children. The NSPCC is heading a campaign to establish the above post in government, a post which would act as watchdog for every child in the UK who currently have no one

  • Bus services going in wrong direction

    AT a time when the government is trying to reduce the amount of cars on the roads, particularly the school run, and encourage the use of public transport, why is Blackpool Transport intent on decimating its public service? I attended a display of proposed

  • We don't condone goad use

    I WOULD like to comment on the incorrect allegations made by Blackpool Zoo in The Citizen (November 17). Firstly, the Captive Animals Protection Society does not "actively finance an African location that admits to using electric shock equipment on baby

  • Remembrance Day a moving experience

    LAST Sunday I was honoured to share Remembrance Day with the people of Blackpool. For many years I have attended such parades with my family but I have never felt so moved and reflective at such an occasion as I did last Sunday. The ceremony was just

  • Five carbuncles just too much!

    WILL our Fylde councillors please arrange for the surgical removal of at least two of the five carbuncles that have appeared on one section of St Annes Square. Two or three which provide a useful purpose -- rented out as retail kiosks -- we can tolerate

  • No excuse for delay on city status

    EVEN though government bureaucracy may be notoriously ponderous, it is hard to understand why, two years after Blackburn with Darwen's bid for city status was submitted, it has still not come up with a decision. It was almost a year ago that a "winner

  • Flood victims need a hand

    I AM amazed that, given all the publicity on TV, newspapers and radio, no-one has started an official fund for the flood victims. How quick this country is to highlight disasters abroad of floods, famine, fires, etc, and then to open phone lines so we

  • Act now on homes

    WITH reference to your article about the closure of Brooklands residential home in Blackburn (LET, November 18). I would suggest that this situation is one which could be repeated a number of times in the future as a result of the policies of the Labour

  • Pop trio land Wembley Arena date

    TEEN pop sensations TKO are set to achieve their life-long ambition by appearing before thousands of people at Wembley Arena later this month. The Leigh-based trio will be supporting megaband Steps when they take to the stage before a screaming audience

  • Kids storm to top table

    ROVERS Academy Under 17s stormed to the top of the table after a crushing 6-1 win over Brian Kidd's Leeds United at Brockhall over the weekend. Jonathan Walters led the way with a brilliant four-goal salvo and there was also a goal apiece for Andy Bell

  • Dunn set for derby clash

    ENGLAND Under 21 international David Dunn will not miss the derby clash with Burnley on December 17 after seeing red on Saturday in the 2-1 home defeat against Gillingham. Dunn had feared he could be banned from the clash after getting sent off for the

  • Souness rules out Goor move

    BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today ruled out a move for Anderlecht winger Bart Goor. Souness has admitted Rovers have had the Belgian international watched on a number of occasions. But reports suggesting the club are ready to launch a £4 million bid

  • Curtis embarrassment

    IT might have been 'Ladies Day' at Ewood on Saturday but John Curtis was man enough to admit his embarrassment after commiting the footballing equivalent of hara-kiri to bring Rovers' impressive unbeaten run shuddering to a halt. Curtis's calamatous own

  • Arson attack on charity shop

    An arsonist struck at the Salvation Army charity shop in Harold Street, Burnley at 10.15pm on Saturday. Station officer Dave Jackson said: "It looks as though someone put some lighted material through the letter box and somehow swung it to one side so

  • Council poised to order demolition

    A DECISION on which homes will be bulldozed in the Burnley Wood and Accrington Road areas of Burnley will be taken on Wednesday. Two hundred residents attended meetings last month and gave a clear backing to the clearance of unfit and obsolete homes.

  • 'Fight for justice' pledge

    FUNERAL tributes were paid to former paratrooper Christopher Alder, who died in police custody, as campaigners vowed to continue their fight for justice. About 200 people gathered in Hull for the service for the father-of-two at Holy Trinity Church on

  • New centre for residents

    A GROUND-BREAKING community resource centre aimed at improving the lives of people in Pendle has been officially opened by a leading churchman. The Waterbridge Resource Centre, Rigby Street, Colne, includes office space, a training/meeting room and a

  • Ten years ago: Community car scheme

    A NEW transport venture for isolated villagers in Samlesbury and Cuerdale revved into action, offering a door-to-door car service for the local community. The community car scheme was the first of its kind to the area and was run by volunteers, who offered

  • Blaze threatens six homes

    SIX houses were smoke damaged by a fire in an unoccupied house after high winds fanned smoke through the loft space of the terrace row. 999 operators received several calls at 2am on Sunday as smoke detectors went off simultaneously in houses in Richmond

  • Youth had drugs

    A YOUTH spotted by a bouncer supplying a friend with ecstasy in a nightclub, has started a 12-month term of detention. Recorder Arthur Noble told Carl Williams, 18, he had been dealing on a social basis and was not in the business of making profit from

  • Home delivery service!

    TWO teams of paramedics had their hands full after delivering a couple of babies at home - within minutes of each other. The medics delivered babies at different addresses within the space of 35 minutes - the first in Richmond Hill Street, Accrington,

  • Novel takes a step into farce

    WHAT are The 39 Steps? Or the more relevant question is what is The 39 Steps? John Buchan's classic novel of mysterious spies and misinformation, The Thirty-Nine Steps, has been a hugely popular read since it was published in 1915. And it has been rehashed

  • Safety first plea to firms

    SAFETY conscious firms in East Lancashire are being given the chance to prove they are genuinely on top of health and safety matters by entering a national competition. RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, wants companies to enter

  • SHAKERS: Rain spells double trouble for Shakers

    TORRENTIAL rain dealt Bury a double blow on Saturday. The waterlogged pitch which forced the postponement of Bury's clash with Brentford not only hit the Shakers in the pocket but it means Steve Redmond's one match ban will be now be carried over into

  • 100th birthday party has style

    SURROUNDED by friends and family, birthday girl Ethel Wade celebrated 100 glorious years in style at the Whitehall Country Club, in Darwen. The grandmother and great-grandmother joined in the fun at her birthday party on November 9, making a speech to

  • Life is bliss after brush with death

    A MAN who cheated death when a bike crash left him in a coma for two months today spoke about his future with his bride-to-be. Stephen Ribchester says he has been to hell and back after a cycling accident in December 1989. For eight weeks Stephen, who

  • Boost for outdoor schooling

    A SCHOOL open day will attempt to paint a brighter picture of outdoor education, blighted by recent tragedies which have raised questions about the safety of children. Lancashire Outdoor Education, part of the County Council, believes outdoor activities

  • Shell sculpture makes school yard shipshape

    A SCULPTURE which pupils lent a hand to build has been unveiled in the school grounds. For the last two months staff and pupils of Our Lady & St John's High School, in North Road, Blackburn, have looked on as the new addition to the courtyard took

  • School praised for caring attitude

    A PRIMARY school has been given a glowing end of term report by schools watchdog, Ofsted. St Anne's Roman Catholic Primary in Blackburn is described as being committed to continuous improvement and having a clear view of the way forward. And the report

  • Hannah's so happy at last

    THEFT victim Hannah Thomas saw her dream come true when she met soccer star Matt Jansen -- thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. Hannah, 11, was devastated when thieves stole footballs she had caught after they were thrown into the crowd by Jansen

  • City status delay slammed

    A COUNCIL leader today hit out at the Government for taking 18 months to make a decision about awarding city status to Blackburn. Blackburn with Darwen first decided to bid for the title two years ago when it was announced a new city would be created

  • Rallying: Bateson's disappointment

    David Bateson's promising debut on the Network Q Rally ended in disappointment when the rear suspension of their Volkswagen Polo broke on Saturday's Resolfen stage. Bateson, from Barrowford, and co-driver Daniel Barritt, from Hapton, had been leading

  • Rallying: Bateson's disappointment

    DAVID Bateson's promising debut on the Network Q Rally ended in disappointment when the rear suspension of their Volkswagen Polo broke on Saturday's Resolfen stage. Bateson, from Barrowford, and co-driver Daniel Barritt, from Hapton, had been leading

  • Socccer: Trotters chopped by Blades

    Sheffield United 1 Bolton 0 BOLTON went the way of most visitors to Bramhall Lane but manager Sam Allardyce was very disappointed. Sheffield United clocked up their eighth home win of the season thanks to a goal nine minutes from time from veteran Lee

  • Non-league: Coleman's axe threat

    ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman threatened to axe his entire first team squad after their seventh defeat of the season at Runcorn. Liverpool-born Coleman was livid after his side gave away two 'daft' goals to gift the home side the points in the

  • Non league: Coleman's Red fury

    Runcorn 2, Accrington St 0 STANLEY went down to a second consecutive UniBond Premier Division away defeat in a disappointing performance at Runcorn. Boss John Coleman was furious at his side's lack lustre display which has hampered their bid to reach

  • Concern over home for boys

    IN early November the proposed closure of "Fylde Farm" was announced. The intention is to house the boys currently resident there in smaller establishments. At the same time, planning permission is being sought to convert an ex-nursing home at 106 Breck

  • Buy only cruelty-free products

    NOW that Christmas is on the horizon and our thoughts are once again turning to Christmas shopping, may I appeal to readers of The Citizen to choose carefully if they are giving cosmetics as presents. Despite the voluntary ban, cosmetics, perfumes and

  • Short-sighted gardener

    MUCH as I am averse to inflicting further trauma on that gentle, delicate soul Peter Crossley (November 2), I do think it fair to point out drawbacks in Blackpool which deserve to be addressed. I am condemned by him for being among so many who feel he

  • Not a crime to be political

    THERE has been a five-month campaign to protect the levels of care provided to the home residents. For most of that time we were advised residents had more legal rights than the staff. Some campaigners were advised by Labour Party sources to avoid being

  • You heard it here first!

    YOUR on-the-ball Citizen told you last week that Lee Hughes is the man Preston should fear when they travelled to take on high-riding West Brom on Saturday (November 25). Unfortunately for PNE, he proved us right! For although there may not be a lot of

  • Macken's staying put

    STAR striker Jon Macken has signed a new four-year deal with Preston North End which will see him at Deepdale until the end of 2004. The news ends speculation about his future following his goalscoring success last season -- culminating in being voted

  • Community leaders in emotional plea after taxi tragedy

    MUSLIM community leaders in Bury have pleaded for order and greater racial harmony following the killing of taxi driver Tariq Javed. The call was delivered to around 2,000 mainly Asian mourners who gathered in the town yesterday for the funeral of the