Friday Folk

THE wide open plains of the USA beckon for a Rawtenstall woman who has given up her job because she's got the travel bug.

Denise Hatton, 29, has fulfilled every workers' dream by leaving her job at Asda in Grimshaw Park, Blackburn, after having worked there 10 years as a customer services manager.

And globetrotting Denise says she already feels like she's got the whole world in her hands as she packs her bags ready to fly to Boston.

She said: "I have no specific plans as to exactly where I am going to go and what I want to see. I'm going to stay with friends in Massachusetts at first and then I'll just go where the fancy takes me.

"I'll have no money and no job when I get there but my head is buzzing and as long as I've got enough money to keep me going I'll be happy. I don't even know if I'll stay in America or not.

"I've been to the States before and I've enjoyed it every time I've been there. The only problem I've had is getting the Americans to understand my Lancashire accent.

"It's something I've been planning for a while and I know there are a lot of other people who have wondered about doing something similar. My message to them would be to go for it.

"I am, of course, sad to be leaving Asda because there are a lot of good people who work there, and throughout my time the customers I have dealt with have been great. "But I'm just looking forward now. I don't know whether or not my move will be permanent because, as I say I've got nothing specific planned."

Paul answers the call

A TRAWDEN man has landed a top job with national care charity The Samaritans.

Paul Gauntlett has been appointed full-time Director of External Affairs for the organisation he has served as a volunteer in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale for more than 20 years.

His voluntary roles have included being director of the local branch in Nelson, representative for the North West Region and vice-chairman of the Samaritan organisation.

Paul is currently regional appeals director for the NSPCC, based at Leeds.

In his new role he will deal with fund-raising, publicity and relationships with outside bodies.

He said: "It is a tremendous challenge and I am looking forward to helping to maintain the long-established service which Samaritans provide while at the same time taking on board new ideas to meet the changes which are taking place in our community." Paul, who aims to spend his weekends at home in Trawden, added: "Although I wasn't born in the area, my roots are firmly based here and I intend to maintain my local connections.

"The new position is a dream job as far as I am concerned."

Music to her ears

IT was music to the ears of Accrington student Joanne Studholme when she was told she'd won £100 in a prize draw.

For the Hollin High School pupil, who won the money in a prize draw run by the East Lancashire Training and Education Council, spent most of her cash on compact discs.

She was one of a number of students entered in the draw after reading ELTEC'S new XTEND prospectus, which shows young people how the scheme can help them achieve their career ambitions.

Joanne is currently studying for her GCSE's but in her spare time the keen singer is recording her own single with the Colne based Rockenbay recording studio.

She said: "Although I will be going to college to study photography, I found it useful to find out what else is available.

Chance to chat over the old school days

THREE former pupils from Darwen Vale High School are trying to trace their old classmates.

Douglas Turnbull, Gary Neville and Alan Lawson are organising a reunion for pupils who attended the school 20 years ago from 1971 to 1978. A total of 70 out of 203 pupils from the school intake year are already attending the reunion.

Douglas, of Cemetery Road, Darwen, said: "We thought it would be great to meet up after leaving the school 20 years ago this year. A lot have already heard about the reunion through word-of-mouth but we want to inform the rest."

Tickets are £2.50. Anyone interested should contact Douglas on 01254 773105, Gary on 01254 670419 or Alan on 01254 582905.

Scaling the heights

A TEAM of East Lancashire adventurers are preparing to conquer the three highest mountains in Britain in just 24 hours. Phil Ainsworth, Bob Sutcliffe, Jan Ainsworth, Rhona Jackson and Sue McGregor have spent the last few months reaching the peak of fitness for the feat, which involves scaling Scafell, Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

The friends have been sponsored by Blackburn Rotaract, Blackburn Borough Rotary Club, Farley's Solicitors and Ainsworth Jewellers, Blackburn.

The event, called the National Three Peaks Challenge, is in aid of ASPIRE - Association for Spinal Injury, Research, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. The group hope to raise £1,000 by taking part.

"It's going to be fun but the worst element will probably be the travel between the peaks." said Sue.

"We will also have to walk up Snowdon in the dark, so we will have to carry torches, luminous jackets and a good compass."

To promote the fund-raiser the team will stage a balloon race in Blackburn town centre on June 27.

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