Archive
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A treat from the Bard
ONE of Shakespeare's funniest plays, Twelfth Night, is set to have audiences in stitches at a local theatre. Tickets are selling out fast for the classic production, by Leyland's C'est Tous Theatre Company, who perform at the Marsden Theatre in the picturesque
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In a spin for great ballet
AFTER sitting centre stall for Saturday's staging of Coppelia, at Preston's Charter Theatre, I decided youth ballet audiences were by far the best fun. Families laughed, gasped and clapped with joy throughout the classical French choreographed production
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WHAT'S ON: A look around Preston.
COMEDIAN Duncan Oakley will be appearing at Stand and Deliver, the University of Central Lancashire's comedy club, in Fylde Road, Preston, on Friday, October 12. Duncan Oakley will be joined in his musical comedy routines by Trevor Locke, Mrs Barbara
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Children must be protected
THE disclosure today that nearly 90 per cent of 'at risk' children on Lancashire's Child Protection Register are not being visited by social workers is appalling. Nor is it any comfort that Social Services in Blackburn with Darwen do better, with 63 per
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Dressed for the part...
READ all about it! Pupils and teachers at St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School on Newton Drive, Blackpool, dressed up as characters from favourite books as part of their special book week last week.
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Freshers Fayre a success
NEW girls and boys at Blackpool and The Fylde College were invited to the annual Freshers Fayre last week at the Bispham Campus. The day was a huge success, with students taking advantage of freebies on offer and signing up for their all-important NUS
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They're tops in hospitality
BLACKPOOL and The Fylde College's school of tourism, leisure and hospitality is celebrating the soaring success of its HND course in Hospitality Management. The college has been running the HND programme for more than 20 years and it has advanced over
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JUST JAMIE: This is hard to swallow
I'VE been chewing for the last 10 minutes and - unlike Leicester City - there's not much chance of this morsel going down. I got over the first stage comfortably enough, actually putting it in my mouth, but I'm finding the last hurdle nigh on impossible
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Birds killed for male vanity
AS the pheasant shooting season gets under way, the image participants seek to evoke is one of gentlemanly conduct, self-discipline and respect for the 'quarry.' But pheasant rearing and shooting is now a massive business built on greed and excess, where
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Lethal error nurse 'may keep her job'
THE nurse who mistakenly gave a patient a lethal dose of the wrong medication is "unlikely" to lose her job. Craig Richardson, aged 37, from Tyldesley, suffered a massive heart attack when the incorrect fluid was put into his intravenous drip. As revealed
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NHS reshuffle has not been thought through
AS Liberal Democrat spokesman for Social Services on Blackburn with Darwen Council, I have given strong support for the integration locally of social services, primary care, acute and community trusts for the benefit of patients. Such matters as rehabilitation
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Victimised prison officer set to receive thousands
A PRISON officer is set to receive thousands of pounds after suing the Prison service over a hate campaign against her. Nina Mold, aged 49, successfully took out an action for sexual discrimination after suffering months of victimisation from male colleagues
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Scout bosses meet at town hall
SCOUTING chiefs from throughout Greater Manchester did not need a compass to find their way to a top level meeting. For it was staged at Bury Town Hall which welcomed officials to the annual meeting of the Greater Manchester County Scout Association.
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Hanged woman: Not foul play
FOUL play has now been ruled out by detectives in the case of a young woman found hanged from a window latch in her flat at a Bury hostel, an inquest was told. Stacie Ashworth, aged 24, was found in her bathroom at the charity-run homeless people's hostel
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Tortoise "MOT" sessions a big hit
PET owners were not slow to come forward to a special health check for tortoises in Bury. The "weigh-in" attracted 27 tortoises to the Wilkinsons store, The Rock, where experts gave a free examination. Mr John Thorpe, northern regional chairman of the
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Pupils with drive
CONEY Green High School pupils got behind the steering wheel and experienced the feel of driving without actually going anywhere. Youngsters were given the chance to sample life in the driving seat when the British School of Motoring's roadshow called
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Pill bottles found beside man's body
EMPTY bottles which had contained tablets for epilepsy were found next to the body of a man in a caravan in Radcliffe, an inquest heard. Deputy District Coroner Matthew Cox opened the hearing into the death of unemployed labourer John Darren Hayes. The
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Children are in danger
HUNDREDS of "at risk" youngsters on the Child Protection Register are being put in danger because they are not being visited often enough by social workers. Vulnerable children placed on the register -- which include possible victims of physical or sexual
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Clock tower rings council alarm bells
TIME has caught up with Bury's Whitehead Clock Tower and sounded a financial alarm at the town hall. Council bosses will have to spend £60,000 on urgent repairs to the 1914 structure, with perhaps much more to come. Engineers were called in after one
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Amazing Amy's 114th birthday
AMAZING Amy Hulmes celebrates her 114th birthday today (Fri Oct 5). Amy and her family will be able to reflect on a momentous year which saw the former weaver declared Europe's oldest person. But today's celebrations will be a quiet affair. Although staff
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Pupils tuck into poster challenge
MAKING a meal of it! That's prize-winning pupils from St Peter's Primary School in Bury. For they were winners of a competition to design posters for the WRVS to help recruit meals-on-wheels volunteers in the area. The idea came from the local WRVS meals-on-wheels
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Supporters pack 'city' streets
CITY bid supporters hit the streets on Saturday as part of a special roadshow. The event, on Preston's Flag Market, aimed to raise awareness and encouragement for the town's upcoming bid to become a city. Special City windmills and stickers were handed
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Fears allayed over BNFL
BOSSES at British Nuclear Fuels' Springfield site in Preston say a bomb or high-speed plane would NOT cause a nuclear disaster at the plant. It follows fears that nuclear centres such as Sellafield, in Cumbria, and Heysham, near Morecambe, could be potential
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Goodbye to Mr Clegg!
THE principal of Preston College, Michael Clegg, will retire at Christmas after more than 30 years' service to education. For the past 15 years Mr Clegg has led the St Vincent's Road college from strength to strength and it is now one of the largest teaching
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Rush is on for flu jabs
PRESTON'S over-65s and other vulnerable folk are already rushing to get their free flu jabs as winter starts to loom. And they're beating much-loved former boxing champion Sir Henry Cooper to the punch. For Henry, aged over 65 himself, is being used by
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Wait for youth centre is over
THE wait is over for dozens of youngsters in Penwortham, near Preston, who are finally to get their own youth centre. The centre has been in the pipeline since 1997, when South Ribble Borough Council bought a disused pub -- the Kingsfold Arms, in Kingsfold
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Wine lovers corking plot
AN award-winning off-licence manager is so passionate about wine that he is set to start stomping the grapes himself, at a vineyard he has bought in Italy. David Gilson, owner of the Oakdene Service Station, Southport Road, Ulnes Walton, near Preston,
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Creating healthy interest
HEALTH workers have been encouraging people to visit a special Job Shop in Preston to learn about careers in the NHS. The Job Shop, being held at Royal Preston Hospital, is part of a new drive to encourage people to work for the struggling Health Service
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Gala day aat swimming club
THE CHAMPIONSHIP 50M Sprint Gala 200 at West View Leisure centre was a new event for Preston swimming club, created to fill a gap created by a change in format of the main club championships. This will follow the bagcat formula and contains more distance
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Not so "rapid"
CERTAIN of our, so-called, "European allies" are refusing to commit any military forces to the "fight against terrorism". It doesn't bode well for the make-up of the planned EU Rapid Reaction Force does it? T. R. MILES (Mr)
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Support is appreciated
WE in America are grateful for the support your country has shown us in these hard times. Disasters such as the ones in New York and Washington are extremely difficult to deal with, and I am continually amazed at the generosity and kindness that has come
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Sax man Snake is ready to bite
A LEGENDARY saxophonist, who has performed with some of the world's biggest music stars, is set to appear in concert in Leyland. Snake Davis, or Chris to his friends, is widely recognised as one of the country's leading saxophone and flute players, and
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MellowDrive on road to success
A PRESTON rock band are set to hit the big time after finishing recording their debut album. MellowDrive have spent the last year and a half putting the finishing touches to '...and everything after', and have been snapped up by a Lancaster-based promotion
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Pub fighters were friends
THREE men involved in a fight which ended in tragedy were all good friends. Violence erupted outside the Bonnie Lasses pub in Hindley, Manchester Crown Court was told. Prosecution witness Lee Webb said Paul Akister, aged 30, was very angry after he was
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Police urge speed limit after another biker fatality
POLICE are calling for safety measures on a road which has claimed the lives of a number of motorcyclists over the years after the death of a biker who collided with a bus. They are asking for a 30mph limit on the A682 between Nelson and Gisburn to be
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Bonjour Audrey!
A WARM welcome is assured for the borough's new French ambassadress. Audrey Carret from French twin-town Angers will be working in the Leigh district for the next 12 months as the 15th ambassadress to come to town. Although she is swapping the delights
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Atherton war heroes' club is taken over
MONDAY brought the end of an era for the war heroes of Atherton. The Discharged Sailors' and Soldiers' Club in High Street, sinking under debt, was wound up 82 years to the day of its formation. After a tough struggle for survival it was finally turned
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Companies will be flying the flag
A CLUTCH of Bury companies will be flying the flag for the borough at a glittering awards dinner a week today (Fri Oct 12). They are among 100 entries across the 15 categories in the Bolton and Bury Business Awards 2001. A total of £41,000 in prize money
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Hats off to Paul
IT'S hats off to Paul Greenhalgh who is returning to his northern roots. He's just been appointed head chef at the newly-opened £12 million Village Hotel and Leisure Club, Heap Bridge, Bury. Paul, who originally hails from neighbouring Bolton, had latterly
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Pure and simple!
NEWLY-FOUNDED PR outfit Pure Marketing Communications has got off to a flying start. For the company has landed one of the UK's fastest growing tour operators as its first client. Bury-based Pure has been appointed by CT2 to handle a trade and consumer
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Council approves controversial Gardens sell-off
CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish Ashton Institute and sell off part of Ashton Gardens have been finally rubber stamped in a full Fylde Borough Council meeting on Monday night. Building firm Newfield Jones Homes has been given the green light to erect 60
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Illuminations on air
VISITORS to Blackpool will soon be able to hear the sound of Blackpool Illuminations as well as see them when a new radio station takes to the air. A new radio station, 106.3 Illuminations FM, has been granted a special 28-day licence by the Radio Authority
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John's a champion - again!
JOHN Heathcote is the Leigh and District Bowling Champion of Champions for a second year running. The Leigh Miners player proved too good for the rest of the field to take the trophy for a third time in four years. He opened by beating St Joseph's Brian
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Light up a life
LIGHT up a Life, the campaign by which Bury Hospice helps you to remember loved ones and support the Dumers Lane hospice at the same time, is once again being staged. Hospice staff have invited all the people in the borough to join with them in remembering
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Suicidal man threatens to ignite gas
RESIDENTS were evacuated and a street cordoned off after a suicidal man fuelled by drink and pills threatened to ignite gas bottles in the loft of his home. The one-hour alert at the terraced property in Kilburn Road, Radcliffe, came to an end when police
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Cash will divide schools
EDUCATION bosses have criticised Government plans for specialist schools as divisive and indefensible. They fear that Bury's prized "family of schools" will break up, as some scramble to win the financial jackpot that comes with such status. And Labour
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Help needed for young offenders scheme
MEMBERS of the community in Prestwich and Whitefield are being urged to play their part in a new approach involving young offenders. For Bury Youth Offending Team (YOT) has launched a recruitment drive for volunteers. They must be willing to be part of
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MellowDrive on road to success
A PRESTON rock band are set to hit the big time after finishing recording their debut album. MellowDrive have spent the last year and a half putting the finishing touches to '...and everything after', and have been snapped up by a Lancaster-based promotion
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Glamour and glitz all the way
GLITZ, glamour and guffaws, this show has them all and it certainly was a glittering spectacle. From the moment Danny La Rue emerged through sparkle-encrusted doors and on to the stage, bedecked in a gown with more sequins than a busload of ballroom dancers
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A look at what's on around Preston
COMEDIAN Duncan Oakley will be appearing at Stand and Deliver, the University of Central Lancashire's comedy club, in Fylde Road, Preston, on Friday, October 12. Duncan Oakley will be joined in his musical comedy routines by Trevor Locke, Mrs Barbara
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Come and get me - Sukur
TURKISH striker Hakan Sukur today insisted he's on the verge of a move to Blackburn Rovers. Sukur is currently struggling to hold down a regular place at Inter Milan and has recently been linked with moves to both Liverpool and Bolton. Now, however, he
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Souey's Swede swoop
GRAEME SOUNESS today said Nils-Eric Johansson has the potential to become a smash-hit in the Premiership after finally snapping up the 'Super Swede' on a four-year deal last night. Rovers have agreed to pay an undisclosed fee -- believed to be in the
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Cash hold-up for prefab scheme
A SCHEME to replace prefabricated flats on the Staghills Estate in Newchurch with bungalows has hit a financial snag. Rossendale Council is planning to sell land off Woodside Crescent to West Pennine Housing Association, which would pay to build 13 bungalows
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Citizens of the future
FROM a childhood in care to a fully fledged future in the community -- that's the achievement of some youngsters in Blackpool. The annual Care Leavers Civic Awards took place for the second year running last week at Blackpool Town Hall in recognition
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Welcome to the fire cadet
HOLY smoke! A new youth organisation set up by the fire service is up and running in the Fylde. The Young Fire Fighter Cadet Unit aims to help youngsters develop their communication skills and self esteem, and trains them in basic aspects of fire safety
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Winning battle of the bones
BLACKPOOL doctors are leading the way with a trio of appearances at top health conferences across Britain this month. Bloomfield Road Medical Centre GP Dr Amanda Doyle is to speak at the National Osteoporosis Society's advisory forum on October 9 to confirm
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Care is very intensive!
CRITICALLY ill patients and their relatives will be the latest to benefit from re-vamps at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as a new state-of-the art intensive care unit opens. The ICU, with the most modern intensive care facilities in the country, opened
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Local man's view of tragedy
THE Citizen this week can bring you a first hand local view of the day that changed American history. Shaun Walsh from Bispham is vice-president of Relief for Food for the Hungry International (FHI) and has previously sent reports from the Gujurat earthquake
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'Islamic scum' hate mail sent to mosques
MUSLIMS in Lancashire have held emergency talks to discuss security after a handful of mosques reported receiving hate mail in the wake of the terrorist attacks on America. Lancashire Council of Mosques did not reveal where the letters had arrived but
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Wait cut from 18 months to 6 weeks
A DRAMATIC cut in waiting lists for occupational therapy is just one of the ways doctors from Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust made their mark in its first year of operation. The trust, which celebrated its first anniversary this week, managed
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Going to war with Cataclysmic robot
AN ENGINEERING firm from Great Harwood has helped to construct one of the mean fighting machines for BBC Choice's Robot Wars Extreme. Cataclysmic Variabot was designed by a team of open university Phd students including John Barker, who asked his former
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Help for poorest areas from cash boost
EAST Lancashire's poorest areas have been awarded more than £15million to tackle deprivation -- but one council claims the award is not enough. Burnley, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn Councils have been included in the Department of Transport Local
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LOCAL SOCCER: Striker crisis
NELSON manager John Bailey has a striker crisis ahead of tomorrow's Worthington Trophy clash at holders Formby with Kiko Rodriguez and Jon Irvine both still out. They missed the 2-2 draw at Darwen on Tuesday. Andy Bannister, Nigel Coates and Lee Coleridge
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LOCAL SOCCER: Stand-in needed
COLNE, who have won three games already this season - only one less than they won all last year - go to Leek Town in the Worthington Challenge Trophy tomorrow. Boss John Lister keeps the same squad that almost got all three points at Bacup's West View
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LOCAL SOCCER: Dale target Burns
ROSSENDALE United are in talks with Accrington Stanley's Paul Burns about a move to Dark Lane. Dale manager Jim McCluskie said: "I made an enquiry but Paul is injured at the moment. I spoke to him last night and we decided to wait a week or two. "We have
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LOCAL SOCCER: Stand take First Division test
STAND get the chance to test themselves against higher-league opposition tomorrow when they meet Great Harwood in the Worthington Challenge Trophy at Haslingden's Ewood Bridge ground (ko 1pm). Manager Nick Davis, who has won the manager of the month award
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Transport needed
COULD anyone please assist by transporting a knitting machine and accessories from Blackpool to Sevenoaks, Kent, where a Christian charitable organisation working in Eastern Europe is helping families to become more independent? Please call (01253) 592707
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Bid to trace relatives
I AM home on holiday for the first time in 41 years and am trying to trace some relatives in the Blackpool area. Their names are Alberta, Rita and Duncan Henderson, born in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland of parents Duncan Henderson and Alberta Handley.
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You got it wrong, councillor
I WRITE in response to the offensive and inaccurate letter from Coun Ian Fowler (Citizen, September 20). If Coun Fowler bothered to look he would see that there is indeed a bus shelter on Westminster Road. To describe the streets of Blackpool as being
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What is happening to market?
IT has come to my knowledge from a very reliable source that the St John's Market in Blackpool is to be coverted into a hostel to accommodate the influx of police etc who come to the town to police the conferences etc. I have strong reason to believe
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Zoo is financial drain
ON September 13 you printed a letter from Emma Bailey stating that Blackpool Zoo was run for the purpose of "generating profit" and was a "commercial business". What a laugh! How mistaken she is -- Blackpool Zoo has never turned a single penny profit
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'Preserve at all costs' is zoo's policy
ONCE again it seems Blackpool Zoo are desperate to have us believe they are working at the sharp edge of conservation (Citizen, Sept 9). Mrs Banks' letter highlights the incongruity of using words "zoo" and "conservation" in the same breath. She informs
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World better for Thatcherism
I WOULD like to agree fully with Mr T L Entwistle in his letter to this paper of July 19. The Socialist movement has provided the biggest block on progression in this country. If it was not for the will of Mrs Thatcher in the early 80s this country would
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One point gained, but two lost...
GIANLUCA Vialli was given a lesson in football yesterday as his team struggled against a resurgent Preston North End. The former Chelsea boss, now firmly ensconced at Vicarage Road, devoted part of matchday programme notes to discussing the fact his current
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Poetic justice
A POETIC charity worker has helped her staff win a coveted award. Age Concern shop manager Janet Wilson, (pictured, centre) who runs a store on Golden Hill Lane, Leyland, near Preston, wrote a poem to nominate her staff in a national competition to find
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Police going for "easy target"
ON Friday, September 28, I drove down The Haymarket in Bury, following several other cars. Unknown to me this route has limited access between 10am and 4pm. A police officer waved me in outside Yates's Wine Lodge and informed me that I would be issued
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Trust the USA to do the job
WHATEVER the Americans decide to do in retaliation for the terrible events in New York it will inevitably provoke criticism. Whilst I acknowledge the need for caution as does correspondent P. Kaiserman one must also realise the need for an effective military
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Right to be concerned
RAY Honeyford (Yours Truly, Sept 27) refers to the Alice in Wonderland state of race relations in this country when anyone who opposes any more mass immigration is classed as a "racist". Geoff Brown of the Anti-Nazi League welcomes the "wave upon wave
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Councillors knew it was nonsense
IT was with some dismay that I read the letter headlined "Build The Crematorium" (Sept 27). I notice it was written by someone who does not even live in Radcliffe. So, Mrs Dickinson, would you like the route to a busy crematorium directly in front of
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Some people are so rude
I WAS involved in a touch of supermarket aisle rage on Wednesday. I was examining packs of bacon when an old dear physically pushed me further and further away from the spot. I moved out to let her pass in front of me and she shoved my trolley away with
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Hello, hello, I can see you
I WAS talking to a neighbour on land behind his home when his mobile phone went. I couldn't believe it was his wife ringing from the house, not 20 yards away. He was only outside the back gate. That's when the usage of the things annoys me. However, I'll
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A holiday they won't forget
A TYLDESLEY family on the holiday of a lifetime witnessed the horrors of September 11 in New York. They were just blocks away from the World Trade Centre, which they were due to visit the afternoon that suicide terrorists guided hi-jacked planes into
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Leyland Warriors round up
A LOOK at the junior rugby scene. Pendle & Keighley U15s Girls 30 Leyland Warriors Girls 16 EARLY tries from Steph Boardman and Fran Cooper were converted by Charley Naylor but the opposition pulled back to 12-12 by the break. The second half stayed
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Chorley tempt Tim to play on
TIM Street is being tempted out of retirement by NFP strugglers Chorley Lynx. The veteran prop who hung his boots up at the end of last season, is in talks with Lynx officials Graeme West and Peter Farrell. They see him as the ideal type of person to
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Police plan new HQ to replace Irwell St
BURY police have announced plans for a new multi-million pound headquarters. The present Irwell Street HQ, opened in 1970 and employing more than 300 police and support staff, could either be drastically refurbished; or demolished and rebuilt on the same
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Pool crash to Tranmere goal blast
TRANMERE Rovers won 4-0 at home to Blackpool as the Seasiders suffered their first league defeat in six outings. Rovers were ahead after only two minutes and had the game virtually sewn up by half time when they were three goals to the good. Blackpool
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Mock interviews test students
STUDENTS at a Fylde independent school have been getting a grilling as they prepare for university. More than 100 A-level students at King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, Lytham, have been practising their interview skills ahead of their university
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Today's the day
1880: The earliest ballpoint pen with its own ink supply and retractable tip was patented by Alonzo T. Cross. 1914: The first air battle took place between the French and German forces during World War One. 1954: Marilyn Monroe applied for a divorce from
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This week in 1976 25 years ago
THE BIG SLEEP: A shoe shop owner told how cool raiders walked into the bedroom of his Bury home where he and his wife were sleeping, before helping themselves to cash and jewellery worth more than £2,000. It was the second time that year the family had
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Drug battler left legacy of hope
I EXTEND my deepest sympathy to the family of Michelle Hilton who lost her fight against breast cancer (LET, October 2). I admired her spirit in successfully campaigning for Herceptin, a drug which could have extended her life, but which was denied to
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More heritage bites the dust
REGARDING the remarks of Mr L Lawes (Letters, September 26) about many thousands of pounds being spent on the renovation of the Pavilions in Church Street, Blackburn, while the ornate block of Victorian buildings in Preston New Road is to be demolished
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Council's hands are tied
WHILE Roy Davies (Letters, October 2) is correct in stating that new lighting has occurred on Mincing Lane, Blackburn, unfortunately the funding the council received for this scheme was part of the town centre action plan, and could not be spent on improving
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Talent shines out like a Diamond
ALL RIGHT Our Jack! Vera Duckworth took a quick break from Roy's caff recently to drop in on her old friend Jack Diamond. And to help judge the glittering final of Mr Diamond's talent competition at Cleveleys British Legion. Although none of the six finalists
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Glamour and glitz all the way
GLITZ, glamour and guffaws, this show has them all and it certainly was a glittering spectacle. From the moment Danny La Rue emerged through sparkle-encrusted doors and on to the stage, bedecked in a gown with more sequins than a busload of ballroom dancers
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Man stood naked at his front gate
A MAN was arrested after he was seen standing naked at his front gate in daylight. Bury magistrates were told Ronald Proudman, aged 54, was spotted by a woman who was walking to the bus station in Whitefield. The court was told she was in a state of shock
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Don't miss annual fireworks in the park
BONFIRE Night comes early again in Radcliffe this Saturday (Oct 6). As is the custom, Radcliffe Round Table will hold its traditional bonfire and firework display a month early to ensure it does not clash with other celebrations. Close Park is the venue
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Spate of arson attacks
A BURY nightclub was partially smoke-logged during a series of early morning arson attacks in and around the town centre. A firebug piled up refuse bags against a rear door of Sol Viva in Rochdale Road and ignited them. The heat and flames severely damaged
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Have your pets blessed
PEOPLE and pets of all shapes and sizes are welcome to the annual blessing of the animals at Bury Parish Church this weekend. All creatures great and small will be blessed by curate Tony Roache in the hour-long service. The annual ceremony is organised
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Go-ahead for mental health trust
A NEW specialist trust will be set up next year to provide mental health services in the borough. The Government this week gave the green light for the establishment of a mental health NHS Trust covering Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside and Glossop. It
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Pupils' homework goes high-tech
BLACKBOARDS could soon be a thing of the past and leading the way in the technological revolution in the classroom is Radcliffe High School. It launched its Information Computer and Technology (ICT) out-of-hours club last Thursday (Sept 27) , and it is
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Warren left gutted at theft
WHEN nine-year-old Warren Leith learned he had a brain tumour, one of the few things that kept his spirits up was the joy he derived from his PlayStation. And during the many months of convalescence after the major operation it was his games console and
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Cash windfall a 'disappointment' for town
EAST Lancashire's poorest areas have been awarded more than £15million to tackle deprivation -- but Burnley Council claims the award is not enough. Burnley, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn Councils have been included in the Department of Transport
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Cash snatch at bank
DETECTIVES are hunting a raider who robbed a security guard of a cash package inside a Prestwich bank. The man ran off on foot after the robbery at the NatWest Bank in Bury New Road, Prestwich. Detectives say the offender struck as the security guard
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Trip provides hospice boost
PENSIONER Iris Webb gave a boost to Bury Hospice after building up a head of steam with her railway trips aboard the prestigious Northern Belle. Last year, Iris (75), of Fusilier Court, Bury, organised a trip on the train to Belvoir Castle for members
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Race hatred thugs target Afghans
THUGS hurled a brick through the window of a house where Afghan asylum-seekers were living. The attack was one of four weekend incidents around the borough which police are treating as racially-motivated. An Asian taxi driver was also threatened at knifepoint
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New look school celebrates silver jubilee
CAMS Lane County Primary School will stage a double celebration today (Fri Oct 5). Although the school was 25 years old last year, extensive improvement work meant it was impractical to mark its silver jubilee. So headteacher Mr Gerald Ashforth waited
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Crafts and cars go down a storm at fair
THE huge effort that went into Radcliffe's Giant Crafts Fair and Classic Car Show certainly paid off. The hundreds who swarmed into the town centre on Saturday (Sept 29) were spoiled for choice as to what to do. They could pick up a unique gift at the
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RMI look for fans boost
FRIDAY night football comes to Hilton Park today when Leigh RMI take on Hereford United with officials hoping for a significant increase in the size of attendance. With average gates so far this season of little more than 400 it is hoped that a Friday
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Pooch saved by firemen's prime cuts
FIREFIGHTERS used a succulent steak to tempt a trapped dog out of a crevice at a Bury quarry. Officers battled against fading light and the threat of a possible rock collapse to free the pet, which was trapped close to Lowes Park Golf Club. After struggling
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Johnson looking at options
ROVERS winger Damien Johnson today hinted he may have to leave Ewood for the sake of his career. Johnson, who is out of contract in the summer, has failed to pin down a regular place over the last couple of seasons. And, with no new offer currently on
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Sukur not on Souey hit list
ROVERS have rubbished reports claiming Hakan Sukur could be about to sign from Inter Milan. Sukur was quoted yesterday as saying he was close to a move to Ewood after losing his place at the San Siro. However, though Rovers boss Souness is clearly among
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Souey's Swede swoop
GRAEME SOUNESS today said Nils-Eric Johansson has the potential to become a smash-hit in the Premiership after finally snapping up the 'Super Swede' on a four-year deal last night. Rovers have agreed to pay an undisclosed fee -- believed to be in the
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Blazing saddles!
BIKERS turned out in force to the annual Hoghton Tower sprint over the weekend. The race, now in its 22nd year, saw more than 140 competitors take turns to race every sort of motorbike -- including one from 1928 -- along the Tower's steep driveway. Despite
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Cash windfall a 'disappointment' for town
EAST Lancashire's poorest areas have been awarded more than £15million to tackle deprivation -- but Burnley Council claims the award is not enough. Burnley, Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn Councils have been included in the Department of Transport
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It all fits together!
PRESTON Grasshoppers Squash Club has pieced together a shirt sponsorship deal with Jigsaw Training as they start this season's campaign in the North West Counties Squash League. Players from the club's five teams will each be provided with shirts. If
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Hoppers stun Bedford
HOPPERS progressed to the third round of the National Senior Cup thanks to a combination of dogged defence and devastating counter attack. A brace of tries at the end of each half stunned the hosts who had enjoyed their fair share of possession. Early
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Preston thwarted
PRESTON began their league campaign with a draw but ultimately they will be disappointed not to have taken all three points against some ordinary opposition. And despite dominating large periods of the game Preston's inability to kill their opposition
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Fans are now losing interest
WHAT is wrong down at Gigg Lane at the moment? I am writing this letter prior to the Wycombe home game, were I am predicting a very poor crowd. The reason the crowd will be poor is that most of the fans are fed-up with the delay in the takeover and the
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Punished enough for one day!
YOU would think that watching Bury FC was enough punishment for one day, but not so! On returning to my vehicle after the Stoke match I found that someone had made the sacrifice of missing the match to do some "electrical work" on my vehicle, removing
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Hopes for more playground cash
RESIDENTS in Earby have been told they will be consulted when it comes to deciding how to improve the Rushton Street Play Area. They are also keeping their fingers crossed that the council's decision this week to bid for more funding for the work will
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Supermarket pair in court
TWO men appeared at Wigan Magistrates Court charged with conspiracy to commit robbery following an incident on Monday afternoon at Somerfield's supermarket in Tyldesley. James Daniel Achebe and Darren William Dunn, both from Manchester, were arrested
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Robbed woman, 86, speaks out
AN elderly woman who had more than £100 stolen from her at a funeral says she has refused to let the thief's actions get her down. The 86-year-old, who asked not to be named, was attending the funeral of a former neighbour and friend at St James Church
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Woman took own life - inquest
A WOMAN who was suffering from depression hung herself while she was a patient on Leigh Infirmary's psychiatric ward. An inquest at Leigh heard how Jean Simm was found hanging by a dressing gown cord shortly before her 66th birthday. Mrs Simm, of Elm
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Primary schools get top marks
PRIMARY schools within Leigh Education Action Zone are celebrating a staggering success story. Statistics just released show soaring achievements in attainment - towering above local and national target figures. The dramatic development in both English
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Family escapes from New York horror
A FAMILY from Tyldesley were just a mile away from a planned trip up the twin towers of the World Trade Centre when terrorists struck New York. Town centre shopkeeper Lynda Hilton, her husband, Geoff, their 13-year-old daughter, Amanda, eight-year-old
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Pit pony may come 'home'
LEIGH'S pit pony sculpture could be returned to Leigh - if a suitable indoor space can be found to exhibit it. News last week that the life-size sculpture had been banished from Leigh Market Hall and adopted by the Red Rose Steam Society at Astley Mining
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More than just a bobby's job
TWO dedicated St Annes bobbies have scooped top awards for outstanding community police work. PC Martin Taylor, who has been the Heyhouses community ward beat officer for the past three and a half years and has served in Lancashire Constabulary for 22
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Grant aid to promote rural events
ORGANISATIONS and businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak are invited to apply for funds from Lancashire-based Enterprise plc. The company will give out grants for small events under the Lancashire County Council and North West Development
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Tourism 'Oscars' go to hotel and inn
A HOTEL and inn in East Lancashire have achieved silver success in the 'Oscars' of the tourism industry -- the prestigious North West Tourism Awards. The Inn at Whitewell, near Clitheroe, won silver for the best small hotel award, as did the McDonald
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King's squad challenge
THREE games in eight days will provide a major challenge for King Edward and Queen Mary School 1st XV in early October. Captain Tom Eastham is calling for more consistency from his squad. "We played well against Liverpool College and Wilmslow," he said
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Leaders crash to Scorpions
SCORPIONS put up their best performance of the season in toppling league leaders Ashton. They took the lead after five minutes with a Chris Pearson penalty, which was the only score in the first 30 minutes as both defences held firm. But the pressure
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Paul does himself justice!
CERTAINLY doing himself justice! That's solicitor Paul Warburton who has completed his law degree and his two-year training contract with Woodcock and Son. He is now to join the company's commercial litigation department after working at Woodcock's offices
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It's looking good
ON the pitch things appear to be turning the corner for Blackpool FC. Saturday's first home league win this season against highly respected Wigan was an enjoyable, exciting match crowned by a "miracle goal" from the ever-improving Danny Coid. The fans
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Pool crash to Tranmere goal blast
TRANMERE Rovers won 4-0 at home to Blackpool as the Seasiders suffered their first league defeat in six outings. Rovers were ahead after only two minutes and had the game virtually sewn up by half time when they were three goals to the good. Blackpool
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New jobs at "green" plant
AN environmentally-friendly Ramsbottom company is poised to create new jobs with the opening of a key waste recycling unit. ISM Waste Services Ltd has unveiled its new extended materials recycling facility at its Kenyon Street base. The unit will be responsible
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Dimitri's fan club
THE vast majority of the fans at Ewood Park will be roaring England Under-21s on tonight against Greece. But, without being unpatriotic, there will be a small knot of support for Burnley's Dimitri Papadopoulos, led by Clarets boss Stan Ternent. "I'll
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I was wrong about Sven, says Stan
WHEN the FA turned to Sven-Goran Eriksson just under a year ago, there were plenty of dissenting voices, upset that he was not English. But it is harder to find the critics now and Clarets boss Stan Ternent is one of those to have been won over. And he
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Fireman goes out in blaze of glory
A BLACKPOOL fire boss put the finishing touches to a career of saving Fylde lives on Friday. Assistant divisional officer Dave Waywell, formerly station commander of Blackpool's Forest Gate station, attended the Blackpool Tower fire on September 28 with
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Seductress Sam on Temptation Island
A YOUNG temptress from Blackpool is getting pulses racing and passions soaring -- by posing as a sultry seductress in the raunchy fly-on-the-wall documentary Temptation Island. Sam Hearn from North Shore applied to be on the show after seeing the advert
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Redford drops in for East!
Skirlaugh 18 Leigh East 19 MICK Redford doesn't drop many goals. But he won't forget Saturday's cheeky effort which guaranteed a memorable Leigh East victory on Humberside. But the victory wasn't just about Redford's one-pointer. It was centred on a superb
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Miners win battle of the Rangers
Leigh Miners Rangers 36 Saddleworth Rangers 8 LEIGH Miners Rangers made it three wins on the bounce as they cruised to their biggest win of the season against the National Conference Premier Division's basement side. A strong first half performance, where
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Doorstep disasters
TRADING standards staff are warning householders to beware of people touting for business on their doorstep. They say they have had a string of complaints in recent weeks from residents who have been charged exorbitant prices for minor repairs. Councillor
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Charity work leads to marriage for Ian
RADCLIFFE charity worker Ian Siddall embarked on another mission on Saturday (Sept 29). This time it was to wed his Romanian bride. Ian (55), of Haworth Street, has made 39 mercy missions to Romania and eastern Europe. And it was as result of his humanitarian
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Challengers rewarded for life-saving skills
SAVING the lives of road accident victims is all in a day's work for Bury's 999 challengers. And the efforts of the borough's young "lifesavers" have been honoured during a presentation evening in Bolton to thank all the teams who took part in the Greater
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A treat from the Bard
ONE of Shakespeare's funniest plays, Twelfth Night, is set to have audiences in stitches at a local theatre. Tickets are selling out fast for the classic production, by Leyland's C'est Tous Theatre Company, who perform at the Marsden Theatre in the picturesque
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Las Vegas comes to town
AIN'T No Mountain High Enough to stop a spectacular show full of soul coming to town direct from Las Vegas. And the Arena at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is set to be the venue for the Tribute To Motown show before it embarks on a major concert tour of the
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Bringing back memories of the terrible 20s
A FAMILY business in Bury may have gone on to become a household name, if only builder William Byrom had been born a few years later. In a new book he hopes to have published, William (88) remembers his own life and times in Bury and wonders what might
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In a spin for great ballet
AFTER sitting centre stall for Saturday's staging of Coppelia, at Preston's Charter Theatre, I decided youth ballet audiences were by far the best fun. Families laughed, gasped and clapped with joy throughout the classical French choreographed production
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Sax man Snake is ready to bite
A LEGENDARY saxophonist, who has performed with some of the world's biggest music stars, is set to appear in concert in Leyland. Snake Davis, or Chris to his friends, is widely recognised as one of the country's leading saxophone and flute players, and
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Talent shines out like a Diamond
ALL RIGHT Our Jack! Vera Duckworth took a quick break from Roy's caff recently to drop in on her old friend Jack Diamond. And to help judge the glittering final of Mr Diamond's talent competition at Cleveleys British Legion. Although none of the six finalists
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Shock for St Annes
AFTER a good start to the season in Division Three of the Lancashire GMC Superleague, St Annes travelled to Rochdale fully expecting to return with a convincing victory. But they underestimated their opponents. Jon Fish got the match started with a 3-
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Moyes stands by his skipper
PRESTON boss David Moyes has vowed to stand by skipper Sean Gregan despite his relatively poor start to the season. As well as conceding the unnecessary corner which led to Michael Jackson's own goal on Sunday at Watford, Gregan has already had a one
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Nelson races back to fitness
By Steve Canavan of the Bolton Evening News MICHAEL Nelson has astounded doctors by announcing himself fit and ready to play football again. The young central defender suffered a horrifying injury in an accidental collision with goalkeeper Paddy Kenny
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Cut-down conference worries
CONFERENCE fever will be short-lived next week as the Conservative Party cuts its stay in Blackpool to two days. The attacks on America and the looming war on terrorism means the Tory conference at the Winter Gardens will last only from 1.45pm on Monday
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Hall's well...
A THORNTON landmark threatened with closure is to enjoy a new lease of life. Thornton Lecture Hall, Four Lane Ends,is to be extended following a Wyre Borough Council decision to press ahead with refurbishment. Doubts hung over the future of the venue
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Snowdrome idea gathers support
SUPPORT is growing for a proposed town centre leisure complex in central Blackpool. Members of Blackpool's 1st Alliance Group, who promote non-party local politics, have announced they are backing plans for a new snowdome and leisure park project. The
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Coffee is too hot!
TALK about getting all fired up for a good cause. Blackpool Tower bosses got a bit hot under the collar last Friday (September 28) as the "World's Biggest Coffee Morning" for the Macmillan Windmill Appeal was held up for more than an hour as fire broke
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Unroadworthy!
POLICE mounted a surprise operation to check on the roadworthy condition of taxis in Blackpool town centre -- and found defects in every cab they stopped! Police randomly checked 17 vehicles on Friday night and as a result ten of the taxis were found
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Debt puts vicar under threat
A CHURCH built more than 160 years ago is losing so much money that its congregation could be in danger of losing their vicar. St Paul's Parish Church, Croston Road, Farington, is losing around £100 every week and the coffers from the collections are
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Apex open day
A LEADING provider of health and social care training, which has an office in Prestwich, is staging an open day today (Fri Oct5). Apex Training and Development was established in 1995 to supply mandatory training courses for its parent company, Apex Nursing
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Trust thanks staff with a day off
STAFF at Queen's Park Hospital and Royal Infirmary in Blackburn have worked so hard that bosses have decided to reward them with an unlikely gift -- a day off. The Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS trust heard last week that it had been awarded
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Research shows cut in the risk of further attacks
STROKE patients from across East Lancashire have taken part in landmark research which could save thousands of lives. Patients from Blackburn and Accrington were among 6,000 patients worldwide and 720 in the UK who took part in the Progress study over
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The pies have it for Red or Dead Wayne
WHEN it comes to pie Olympics, dedicated bar regulars have proved they are pastie masters! And their unusual event was given some upper crust support when East Lancashire design guru Wayne Hemingway, founder of the Red or Dead fashion label, turned up
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LOCAL SOCCER: Need to be on form
BACUP travel to Oldham Town tonight and boss Brent Peters wants his side to show what they are made of. "Unless they prove me wrong, I don't think this squad is the one to take us where I want to be," said Peters after Tuesday's disappointing 1-1 draw
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LOCAL SOCCER: 'We can win this'
DARWEN manager Steve Wilkes takes his players to Holker Old Boys in the Worthington Challenge Trophy tomorrow - and then on to a pub to watch the England game! "Hopefully we can get the right result and then go on and see an England victory," he said.
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LOCAL SOCCER: Fear nothing
RAMSBOTTOM United manager Mike Kelly has signed Curzon Ashton's Stephen Shiel. The defender, who can play at centre half or left back, may be thrown straight into the team for tonight's game against league leaders Mossley at the Riverside. "I thought
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LOCAL SOCCER: Moving on up
CLITHEROE travel to Abbey Hey tomorrow (ko 1pm) looking for their sixth consecutive win in NWCL Division One. Manager Lee Sculpher has a 100 per cent record since taking over from Dave Burgess and he is keen to see that continue. "I didn't expect we'd
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LOCAL SOCCER: Poaching storm
GOAL-MACHINE Lee Chambers was 'tapped up' by his new club Kendal Town, says Padiham boss Graham Howarth. Howarth is furious that his 30-goal-a-season man has been snatched from under his nose by the UniBond First Division side. And the Storks are ready
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SOCCER: Platt's young guns ready to deliver
YOUR guide to who's who in the England squad to face Greece at Ewood Park this evening MICHAEL CARRICK Position: Midfielder Club: West Ham Utd Under-21 Caps: 5 (1 goal) Made five appearances for England Under-21s last season, winning his first cap in
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They're just animal prisons
AS we are on the subject of zoos again, may I say that they can give one another awards till kingdom come, but it won't alter the fact that they are prisons, where animals are deprived and where many become surplus to requirements, ending up in lots of
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What week it's been!
WELL it wasn't to be, the hoped for hat-trick didn't happen but oh what a week! Birmingham beaten at St Andrews, Norwich trounced at Deepdale and a very good draw away at Watford. Yes, PNE are now looking more like the side of last season and long may
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PNE issue 'hands off' warning to Leicester
NORTH End take a break this weekend -- the match against Bradford has been postponed - just as they were starting to get back into the swing of things, taking 10 points from a possible 15 recently. The next game is a week on Saturday, away at Crewe -
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Moyes stands by his skipper
PRESTON boss David Moyes has vowed to stand by skipper Sean Gregan despite his relatively poor start to the season. As well as conceding the unnecessary corner which led to Michael Jackson's own goal on Sunday at Watford, Gregan has already had a one
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AGAINST: It's vital the drug is properly considered
THE National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the government's cost-effectiveness committee. Herceptin was referred to the panel over a year ago so members could make the difficult judgement of whether it is necessary to add the drug to the
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FOR: The government should provide the drug on the NHS
AMERICAN research proved that Herceptin could help reduce the spread of cancer by 10 per cent. The treatment targets an overactive gene -- HER2 -- and is effective for 20 per cent of women. Herceptin is freely available in many countries but, even though
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Drugs raid success
BLACKPOOL police revealed this week that a drugs raid in which 29 people were arrested had produced a haul of heroin with a street value of £3,000 along with £4,000 in cash. And the operation, codenamed Tarifa, was hailed "a great success" according to
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Now America knows what real terror is
NO one could possibly remain unmoved by the recent appalling loss of innocent lives in America. But this latest world disaster must surely send some sort of message to the American Government. After all the carefully orchestrated hype about an attack
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A bit extreme?
lA FARMER murdered his younger brother in Egypt because he kept leaving the toilet seat up! I thought it was only women who felt like throttling men for their awful habit.
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Loose change
WEMBLEY stadium could be built seven times over with all the spare change left lying around people's houses. More than two billion pounds is said to be languishing in jars and tins across the UK, according to a finance website survey. That must be true
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Birds should be free
LIFE in Afghanistan can only be called an existence. The fanatical Taliban regime bans most pleasures including playing cards, musical instruments, videos and cassettes, fashion, statues, volleyball, greetings cards, chessboards, fireworks, lipstick,
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Pets are part of the family
ALL my cats were named Tibby and my first dog, Rover. How times have changed. An RSPCA survey shows the top 10 dog names now have the human touch. The hit parade is Ben, Max, Bonnie, Sam, Jack, Toby, Ellie, Meg, Poppy and Rosie. For cats its Tigger/Tiger
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There's something funny in the air
DRIVERS passing through Tyldesley to Atherton -- and vice versa -- the other Friday found themselves in a massive tailback because of piddling road works and lights. Workmen were digging a channel just a foot wide on one half of the main road near Green
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England World Cup star rejoins Centurions
INTERNATIONAL hooker Paul Rowley is coming home! The England World Cup star has been unveiled as Leigh Centurions' second Super League capture in as many weeks. Rowley has re-joined his hometown club on a three-year contract following Huddersfield Giants
