4


Clitheroe Advertiser and. Times, August 17th, 1972 HIRE


CARAVAN and CAR AUGUST Onwards


VACANCIES EXIST FOR


A complete Package Deal — CAR WITH CARAVAN OR HIRED SEPARATELY


Ring now for full details


R. F. PARKER Telephone Clitlieroe 2838


Encounter with a stoat


IT WAS late afternoon when, returning on the road over Champion, east of Slaidburn, we were confronted with a most unusual occurrence. Just ahead ii> the centre of the road a fully grown stoat was heading in our direction. It was accom­ panied by an alarmed curlew and several sky­ larks all fluttering and calling to warn all and sundry of the dangerous beast.


Not knowing what to ex­ pect we halted and my first


thoughts were of the camera and a photograph. I fumbled in my case and by the time everything was fixed the wee thing was passing within a few inches of my feet. Quite frankly I was flabbergasted and to get a better angle raced a


yard or so ahead and waited. The


appeared to be absolutely ignorant of my actions or presence. Slowly it moved on and during a brief halt as I took a couple of shots the fascinating creature went on


a n ima l


gress carefully I could detect the semblance of a limp. Obviously there must be an explanation for tills utterly foreign behaviour but who could say? Only a fool would attempt to take a closer look or an examination.


its way. After following its pro­


sion it had received some damage. Of one tiling I


So I came to the conclu­


am sure, had that coura­ geous beast which knows no fear, been normal then it would have been impossible to kneel in its path to get a photograph. In common with most


beasts of the countryside. Again I refer to a recent experience concerning the house martin a common and . welcome addition to the summer scene. As you know the house


martias, after wintering in Africa, return to town and


villages and farmsteads throughout Ribble and Hod- der valleys in April. A couple of weeks later they


i i i l P mtM


trapped by the breast, but still found to be in good healthy condition. Mention of the courage of


forelegs in a trap was later


people I must confess to a peculiar feeling when in the presence of stoats or weasels. I do not dislike them but I


have the greatest respect and also revulsion when con­ sidering their ways particu­ larly at close quarters. Whatever your opinion


regarding their place in the


scheme • of things we must admit that the stoat alone


in the animal world shows little or no fear of man. In courage and determination


attack and defend ...itself against dog and master and show exceptional fortitude when gravely injured. They will recover from in­


it has no rival. It has been known to


are recorded of a stoat which, having lost both


juries which would be fatal to humans, and instances


of its achievement and desiring to show its prowess


the stoat or weasel in rela/- tion to attacking dogs or cats at once brings to mind a true story which took place at a farm on the fell above Waddington. The farm cat having cap­ tured a stoat was very proud


and weasels let me turn to another item in no way con­ nected with these ferocious


and apparently devoid of life for so long the cunning beast at once sprang to life and fled to the astonishment of all—including the cat. From the subject of stoats


farmers haverft time to


Poultry be eggheads


le t ’s face it. You’ve enough to do coping with the everyday practicalities of running a complex business for profit. Much as you would like to, you don’t always have time to keep up with •


market trends, or even with the latest market-winning ideas.


That is why, like many thousands of other people an poultry farming and egg production, you will find it pays to take Poultry World. Packed with up-to-thc-moment news and features on everything from breeding to feeding, Poultry


almost a blueprint on how to stay competitive in one of Britain’s fastest-moving industries.


World also contains a special section on future trends and new marketing approaches. It’s


Y ou haven’t time to be an egghead—but these days who can afford to be an ostrich?


Start taking Poultry World - today. POULTRY


THE BRIDAL


BOUTIQUE 63 KING WILLIAM ST. BLACKBURN. *


Next to fo rm e r E ssoldo Cinema


(now the Classic)


Free wine . . . Sara has to pick the grapes!


picking in the Beaujolais district of France she may have changed her mind!


AT the moment Miss Sara Dent, a 19-year-old University student, of Whalley, likes wine but by the time she has finished several weeks of grape


Anthony Hopkins, the emi­ nent musicologist, composer and conductor. Mr Malcolm Doley, county senior schools music adviser, is the course director.


musicians, include Mr


On Sunday, Mr Hopkins will conduct the full Schools


girl friends who are from Keele University.


harvest have been organised by the Camp Agricole later- national which they levied about through the National Union of Students. Working on the harvest is


Their jobs on the grape


certainly hard . . . seven days a week starting at about 7 a.m. and continuing until the evening. But they have free board


Sara left for France on Sunday accompanied by two


Busy bees


ADVICE against cutting hedgerows and grass verges


Fisheries and Food in a handbook entitled “ Insects and Crop Pollination.”


has been, given by the Ministry 0f Agriculture,


and lodging with local farmers, free wine and about £2 pay a day. So Sara is not too worried about the thought of hours of non-stop work. She is hoping for lots of sun and heat as she does


Smith, of Mitton Road, Whalley, h a s recently received a copy of the pamphlet from the Minis­ try.


Bee-keeper Mr Harry


harvest and the CAI tries to mix as many as possible of them in the various farm­ houses.


nationalities go on the grape


not bum. Many students of all


First time iop weekly


French but is not too worried about understand­ ing all the different lan­ guages she will come across. The aim of the CAI is to


in France Sara speaks only school


L a rg e selec tion o f Brides* and Bridesmaids* Gowns f r om Stock o r persona lly tai lo red to y ou r specification. P a g e B o y Outfits* Beautiful Veils and Headwear.


Wedding Stationery*


Wedding Gowns from as little as £14.


*


FIRM FOR PERSONAL VISIT THE FAMILY SERVICE


Spain and Yugoslavia. Sara has not been to France be­ fore So she was looking for­ ward to the trip very much. She hopes to stay until October 10th, two days be­


promote international rela­ tions and good will. Although she has visited


V '. v^' .JiiiilPliilSi!


......"" SARA DENT . .


the grapes. A coach will take them from Marseilles to the Beaujolais district. Sara, who is the eldest


going to Beaujolais. Young


daughter of Mr and Mrs L. M. Dent, of Clitheroe Road, Whalley, has been at Keele University for a year. She


is studying for a BA in Eng­ lish and American studies,


a four year course. She was educated at Penrhos College, North Wales.


Promoting


fore the autumn term starts at university. What­ ever happens, the students have to stay on the harvest for at least 10 days; if they do not like it they may leave after the time limit. But Sara is hoping that


once there, she won’t want to come home until the har­ vest is gathered.


8 CARPETS CARPETS8 LUXURY QUALITIES


THOUSANDS OF YARDS OF IN ALL THE LATEST DESIGNS NOW IN STOCK —


TO BE SOLD AT THE MOST COMPETITIVE PRICES IN THE WHOLE OF CARPETLAND


See these Axminstcr and Wilton Carpets and let us quote. Estimates free and under no obligation


I


S TWELVE DESIGNS IN WILTON BROADLOOM — ^ USED IN PUBLIC ROOMS FOR HEAVY WEAR — S


- *12.75 TER SQUARE YARD.


^I WE SPECIALISE IN QUALITY AT THE LOWEST S PRICES — PLUS SATISFACTORY WORKMANSHIP


BE CARPET WISE — WE-SPECIAL1SE 1 “ TAPSELL & WEST


THE BELMONT CARPET HOUSE, 57-59 SWADFORD STREET, SKIPTON — Telephone 29G0


Also at 89 LEEDS ROAD, NELSON — Telephone 62816 Staying


in villa However her French trip


will not be all hard work. She and her two friends, who come from Lincoln and Leeds, are also combining the harvest with a holiday. They travelled across the


valley CHAIRMAN of the Ribble Valley Tourist Association working party Mr Anthony


Perry, is going to Benelux next Tuesday to promote the Valley to travel agents. Mr Perry, who will be


artist AN exhibition of futuristic abstract paintings at Whal­ ley Library are greatly im­


pressing visitors to the library — and even more so


when they hear that the artist is a mere 13 years old.


been created in the last three years, using felt tip pens of various colours, by Peter Stevenson, of Whalley Road, Wilpshire. Peter and his family are regular users of the library’, and it was his mother who sug­ gested that the paintings be put on show.


The 70 paintings have all “Of course, we were pleased


travelling by boat, will see agents in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxem­ bourg, and will be over there for two days. In Octo­ ber, he leaves for four days in New York where he will sell the area to travel agents and hoteliers. Mr Perry will be travel­


various parts of the coun­ try.


ling on both occasions with a group of hoteliers and tourist businessmen from


with about 13 other students in a villa for about two weeks. From there they will move to Marseilles where they hope to stay with a


Channel from Ramsgate to Calais by hovercraft hitch­ hiking to the Dordogne where they will be staying


to accept them,” said libra­ rian, Miss Beryl Craven, “ The paintings are fantas­ tic — he is almost a second Picasso.” She added that a great deal of interest had been shown in the pictures, and many comments — all of them favourable — bad been made.


member of his family with artistic talent, one of the


But Peter is not the only


pictures on show bears the signature of his sister, Linda — who is just nine years old.


show until the end of this month at the library, which has been featuring regular exhibitions for a number of years.


The paintings will be on


friend but if the worst comes to the worst they will


Making


have sleeping bags with them, ready for camping. While in Marseilles they


definite date can be given until about 10 days before the start of the harvest be­ cause much depends on the weather and the ripening of


expected to start work. No


will receive word from the CAI about when they are


TONY PERRY . off to America.


music YOUNG musicians studying full-time are taking part in a residential music course at Whiteacre School, Whal­ ey . this week under the auspices of Lancashire Edu­


cation Committee. The tutors, ah professional


Company


secretary NEW company secretary and group accountant of


Hillards Ltd, which has a store in Clitheroe, is Mr David Fleming, ACA, of Leeds. He succeeds Mr J. Cousin, who is retiring after l l years as a director and 23 years as company sec­ retary.


Mr Fleming, 31, is married


with two children. His hob­ bies are history, football, chess and collecting antique glass, Hillards, the Cleckheaton-


based supermarkets and self- service stores group went public this week.


m m m p y ..;-V • MARGARET McKENNA


Serving Sister A C L I TH E R O E woman


who has been an active member of the local branch of the St John Ambulance


for 20 years is to be made a serving sister of the order in recognition of her services. She is Mrs Margaret


McKenna, of SalthUl Hoad, who will travel to London later this year for the investiture, made by a mem­


ber of the Royal family. Joining in 1952, Mrs


McKenna trained at Accring­ ton Victoria Hospital, and


at Blackburn Infirmary, and


has now readied the rank of divisional officer. She is the brigade’s representative, on the ° ld People’s Welfare


Committee, and Clitlieroe Hospital’s League of Friends,


and has been active in help­ ing these and other causes.


- *• *


Mr Smith sent a “ Don’t mow the grass ” plea to local councils in an effort to save millions of bees from starvation. After the bad summer, with, the sunshine . and warmth a month ago, clover growing along the edges of roads was finally ready for the bees to collect nectar, but council workmen started to mow the grass


It is only four weeks since


before the bees were able to gather it.


Ministry deals with insects and crop pollination and it says that the present agri­ cultural practice of growing


In the pamphlet, the


crops in large fields provides nectar and pollen for a short time only each year, and this probably has an adverse effect on the native population of pollinating


Symphony Orchestra at Lancaster University.


MR PAUL WEBSTER and family.


Relaxing in Whalley away from heat and humidity


FOR the first time since they went out to Zaire, formerly the Congo, Mr Paul Webster and his family have been back in England, staying in Whalley and having a relaxing holiday away from the heat and


accustomed to living away from England. He spent three years in America and now he and his wife Brenda


humidity. Mr Webster <,30).


is


and daughter Caroline have been living in Kinshasa, Zaire’s capital city, for the past nine months. He and his family have


been spending a three-week holiday with his parents, Dr


and Mrs Reginald Webster, at their home in the grounds of Calderstones Hospital, where Dr Weoster


is on tile staff. Zaire, he says, is probably


one of the best places to go to get a full impression of Africa. In Kinshasa. a city about the size of Man­ chester, Mr Webster works for the American firm Good-


year Tyre and Rubber Co., where he manages pro­ grammes in training and plant safety.


a half, .attends a British school. A lot of her friends speak only French, but this makes no difference when it comes to playing, and she is gradually picking up some French words.


Caroline, who is five and French only


insects. The destruction of hedge­


French is the only language understood besides the language of the country, so Mrs Webster is quickly learning all the various words she needs when shop­ ping. Buying a turkey once


In many of the shops,


flowering plants that help to provide beneficial insects with food when agricultural crops in the area are not in flower.


rows, banks and rough verges, it says, has reduced available nesting and hiber­ nating sites and also lessened the number of


contrary, it is important that flowering plants should be allowed to grow on road­ side verges and other suit­ able sites, to help provide forage for pollinating insects throughout the season.


It advises that unless there are strong reasons to the


paraded before the family with the stoat held firmly within its jaws This con­ tinued for some time until, having made its point, the cat laid the stoat on the ground as a final display of triumph. Alas, after remaining limp


streamer-like tail in com­ parison to the stubby out­


begin nesting. The bird is often confused with the swallow but an easy way of identification is the shape of the tail. The swallow has a long


line of the martin. The martin also has a very con­ spicuous white rump. So. when seen from below the tall is the best guide and when you are at eye level then the white rump speaks for itself. A most outstanding


weighing about half an ounce can undertake to gather mud from a. con­ venient wayside patch of ground; form it into small pellets and then by display­ ing enormous patience and determination stick them to a rough surface, say a beam or eave, to form the base of the nest. On these initial pellets is '


amount of toil these birds undertake first speculate on the physical problem. Consider how a tiny body


constructed a miniature ball­ like building of considerable weight. I have often watched the martins and swallows as they alight on uplifted wings and aided by much wing beating they gather up small portions of mud. This is then conveyed to


feature about both these birds is the amount of work and building construction which goes into the building of their homes. Interesting examples may


minutes two youngsters thrust forth out of one of three nests. They were hungry and as I watched they appeared to be intent on getting out of that small


nest. A handy ladder in the


nearby hay loft when placed against the wall near the nest brought me within a couple of feet. I then waited with camera focused on the nest and finger on the release button.


rung I was soon rewarded as the parents flew in to feed. As they clung for a few seconds to the rim with the chicks bursting out I took my picture hoping that my dithering limbs had not adversely affected the camera.


With one leg through a


be found in any farm build­ ing by Ribble or Hodder and if you want to check then you have plenty of time as many of this year’s nests will be in position next summer. A favourite spot is just


the selected farm building or house. After what must eventually add up to thou­ sands of trips the sphere­ like nest—about the size of a turnip—is completed with a few whisps of dried grass as a lining. At the top of the nest, where it meets the wall, a small hole is left as an entrance. It is also in­ teresting to note that as sparrows are usually on the lookout for a ready-made nest the martins make the entrance very small so as to deter the squatters. Once again, my admira­


above the main door where the beams are exposed. In these places you will find perhaps two or even a dozen


examples of wonderful architecture. To fully appreciate the true signi­ ficance and the enormous


but


r o u n d & a b o u t


tion was aroused on visiting a barn in the upper Hodder. Hearing the familiar ‘chirup.’ ‘chirup’ coming from a nest just above the barn door I paused to watch events. I was sdbn accepted and in less than a couple of


nest on the upper lintel of an upstairs window. My friend told of the difficulty these martins had when trying to get the mud fixed to the glossy surface of the stonework. The task was not easy and they struggled for several days before the foundations were established. They were also hindered


Later we were shown a.


by a rainy period which ren­ dered the mud unsuitable. Being of the wrong consis­ tency they had to delay and in the second week of August they faced a doubt­ ful future. Bad weather can have feeding problems and insects are not very plenti­ ful when the days are coo'er. The late young are often deserted when the parents feel the instinctive urge to migrate.


proved quite a problem as she tried to make herself understood. The Websters expect to stay ;-i Zaire for about two years. At the moment it Is winter over there but the


temperatures are still in the 70’s. In summer they climb into the 80’s and 90’s. The climate is also very humid, which makes air-condition­ ing a necessity rather than a luxury. Of course all sorts of fruit


are widely available such as grapefruits, bananas and oranges, but other items which we take for granted, such as cornflakes, arc not on sale in the shops.


Law degree


son of Dr and Mrs Webster. He was educated at the Dc La Salle College, Man­ chester. and Stonyhurst Col­ lege. While over here, he went back to Stonyhurst for a visit and to see the priest who taught him. Alter leaving school, he


Mr Webster s the third


went to the Case Western Reserve University, Cleve­ land, in A..'-erica, where he took a masters degree basically in law. From there he went into


took a law degree at Man­ chester University, and then


business and joined the Goodyear company at their Ohio headquarters. After that he returned to England and spent three years with. Goodyear at Wolverhamp­ ton. Mrs Webster comes from Middlesbrough. The Websters are hoping to return again next summer.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14