Friday Folk

JANET O'Malley has just become a university graduate - without going to university.

Nursery nurse Janet, who works at Longshaw Infants School, Blackburn, has achieved her BSc Honours degrees after four years of hard study, mostly at home, with the help of the Open University.

Mother-of-three Janet, 42, of Cherry Tree, is now hoping her degree will take her on to a full-time teaching post.

"Anyone thinking of doing a degree should just go for it," said Janet. "It's worth it in the end and you get full encouragement from the Open University.

"I went to tutorials about once a month and the rest was home study."

Other new Open University graduates in the county range from former machinists to police officers and retired company directors. Details about studying for an OU degree are available by ringing 01908 653231.

Open University graduates in East Lancashire include:

David Allen, 45, Aysgarth Drive, Accrington, MSC in Man- ufacturing Management and Technology (MMT); David Ball, 46, Helvellyn Drive, Ightenhill, Burnley, BSc Honours; Stephen Barnes, 34, Petre Crescent, Rishton, BSc (Open); Stephen Barnes, 51, Bouldsworth Road, Pike Hill, Burnley, BSc (Open); Margaret Bennett, 49, Blackburn, BSc Honours; Karen Casson, 29, Mill Brook Court, West Bradford, Clitheroe, BA Honours; Jacqueline Dwyer, 45, Blackburn, BSc (Open); Carole Entwistle, 40, Clitheroe, BSc Honours; Kathleen Ferguson, 53, Marlton Road, Blackburn, BA (Open); John Griffin, 63, Partridge Drive, Baxenden, BSc Honours.

John Hocking, 51, Blenheim Close, Blackburn, BSc (Open); Neil Howarth, 31, Accrington, BSc (Open); Pat Jones, 61, Bridgefield Street, Hapton, Burnley, BSc Honours; Beatrice Livesey, Clitheroe Road, Whalley, Clitheroe, BA Honours; Arnold Marsden, 32, Clitheroe, MBA; Louise McVety, Blackburn Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, MA in Education; William Morrissey, 36, Buttercross Close, Burnley, MBA; Janet O'Malley, 42, Cherry Tree Lane, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, BSc Honours.

Richard Roberts, 49, Haywood Road, Accrington, BSc Honours; Carole Scholes, 47, Balladen, BSc Honours; Ann Sharple, 43, Rochester Drive, Marsden, Burnley, MA in Education; Nick Walmsley, 36, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, MA in Education; Peter Weetman, 65, Pendleton Road, Wiswell, Clitheroe, BA Honours.

Here we snow again

HISTORY repeated itself when Hyndburn MP Greg Pope and other dignitaries weathered a blizzard at the unveiling of a commemorative stone to celebrate the centenary year of Accrington Victoria Community Hospital.

A similar snowstorm hit 100 years ago during a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the hospital.

Mr Pope, who unveiled the stone, said: "I'm really proud of Accrington Victoria being 100 years old.

"It has a special place in our hearts because it was built entirely by public subscription.

"We feel very strongly about its future and I'm delighted, after going through a very difficult period with closures like the maternity unit, we are now seeing extra services being placed there.

"I'm confident it's going to have a very good future with the CommuniCare NHS Trust now running it."

He added: "It is also the 50th anniversary of the NHS and it is nice to be able to celebrate these two things together."

Sights set on Jason's new studio

A YOUNG photographer who started his business in the front room of his parents' terrace house has moved into his own studio in Accrington.

And Hyndburn MP Greg Pope was delighted to do the honours by officially opening the premises of Jason Broadhurst Photography, in Washington Street.

To date, the 23-year-old professional photographer has specialised in corporate work for company magazines and annual reports. Following the move to fully-equipped premises, in a former wholesale tobacconist, he plans to expand into studio portraits and wedding photography.

The business already employs a full-time production assistant, as well as a couple of part-time staff.

And the cameraman is confident of taking on another two full-time photographic staff by the end of the year.

Jason, who lives in Oswaldtwistle, said: "I'm very optimistic things are going exactly in the right direction, but we never get complacent when we get busy."

The former Moorhead High School pupil studied photography on day release courses at Accrington and Rossendale, and Blackburn Colleges.

In the frame are, Jason, left, with MP Greg Pope at the studio's official opening.

Moment of tooth

DENTAL receptionist Nicola Baron is in the running for a top award, but she will miss out on her moment of glory if she wins.

Nicola, 23, pictured,will be on holiday abroad when the winner in the dental receptionist of the year competition is announced at a glitzy award ceremony in London. She is one of just nine receptionists from around the country shortlisted and staff at Antley Villa Dental Practice, Accrington, did not tell Nicola they had nominated her.

Nicola, of Duke Street, Oswaldtwistle, said: "It was a bit of surprise, but I am chuffed."

Dr Jamal Johnston and dental nurse Emily Ferguson put Nicola forward for the award. There were glowing references from patients.

Emily will step in for Nicola at the awards at the Dorchester Hotel on Monday.

Nicola, who has been at the Blackburn Road practice for more than seven years, is determined not to miss out on hearing if she has been named number one. She said: "I will be ringing up from my hotel."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.