Clitheroe Advertiser and Times


EDITORIAL...............TEL. CLITHEROE 22324 ADVERTISING..........TEL. CLITHEROE 22323 CLASSIFIED................. TEL. BURNLEY 22331


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th, 1983


No. 5,071- Price 19p


A new experience for Class Five-


IF the children of Class 5 at St J ames’ s School, Clitheroe, are be­ ginning to speak with an American accent, it’s hardly surprising.


For their new


teacher this term is Mrs Dorna Allen, of S a n dw ich , near B o s to n , who has “ swapped” jobs with local teacher Mr Neil Robinson.


And the children


have already proved a hit with their new teacher.


“They are very well


mannered,” said Mrs Allen. “ In fact, every­ one at the school is


Firm’s new-, depot


nearly ready


THE Clitheroe haulage firm, A. J. A. Smith Transport, is set to move into a new depot at Salth- ill Industrial Estate next


month. The move should mean


the end of a long wrangle over land of f Woone Lane, which vehicle repair firm Steadplan made available to Smith’s for maintenance facilities. The Ribble Valley


Council served an enforce­ ment notice on the haul­ age firm, to stop it park­ ing vehicles on the land overnight. Smith’s has not had a


base in Clitheroe since it moved from Station Road


to make way for Booth’s supermarket. The firm is expected to


move into the new depot by the end of October. The Woone Lane site will continue to be used by Steadplan for the repair, manufacture and sale of commercial vehicles. The enforcement notice


on Smith’s has been with­ drawn by the council and a planned local inquiry cancelled.


very fr iend ly and warm.


pressed by the way children are treated in an individual manner here,” she added.


“ I’m extremely im­ Mrs Allen (50) ex­


changed job, house and car with Neil for a year.. Her visit is ar­ ranged by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges.


During her stay, Mrs


Allen, who is living in Fairfield Drive, in­ tends to show her pupils what life is like in Sandwich, with the help of slides and photographs.


And morning break


could take on a new meaning for the boys of St James’s. For


shouts of “ goal” could soon be replaced by


“ touchdown!” if they want to learn the basics of American football.


the boys are interested in learning the game, I’m willing to teach them what I know. But really I’m more of a spectator than a par­ ticipant!”


She has also brought


photographs of her Sandwich pupils and intends to set up a pen pal exchange between her two classes.


St James’s School is


also to receive a set of books written by Sand­ wich author Thornton Burgess, as a gift from the American town.


Mrs Allen says: “If This is Mrs Allen’s


seventh year in teach­ ing, although she worked in a school office for 10 years before gaining a degree enabling her to teach.


She has two sons,


Douglas (25), an engine officer, and Donald (22), a horticulturist. Both intend to visit th e ir mother in Clitheroe before next summer.


Mrs Allen says that coming to England is


just like coming home. “ It’s amazing,” she said. “I’ve only been to England for a week once before, about 30 years ago.”


Her first impressions of Clitheroe have been


Schools fight hots up with MP’s backing


VILLAGERS in Downham and Grindleton are preparing to appeal against the proposed closure of their schools . . . and on Friday they turned out in force to meet Ribble Valley MP Mr Davia Waddington to plan their campaign.


Mr Waddington quickly


arranged meetings with all four Ribble Valley schools recommended for closure by the County Council’s Schools Sub­ committee. If the Education Com­


mittee accepts the recom­ mendations, on Sep­ tember 20th, the schools then have two months in which to appeal against


the decision. Mr Waddington told the


villagers that they should start preparing a case for the Secretary of State for


Education, Sir Keith Joseph, and promised he would give them every


assistance. The next step is then


for Mr Waddington to meet Sir Keith and put forward the villagers’ case. ■ Grindleton School gov­


ernors have arranged to meet, on Monday to dis­ cuss what initial steps to take and the Downham action group held its first meeting last night. As well as having the


backing of Mr Wadding­ ton, Downham also has the support of Lord Clitheroe, whose ances­ tors built the first school in the village 400 years ago. Lord Clitheroe, who


hopes to meet Sir Keith to put forward a personal appeal, said: “We intend to do everything we can to save the school, and will fight this from every direction. It’s very impor­ tant that the school does not close.”


Important part Earlier on Friday, Mr


Waddington visited St John’ s CE School at Hurst Green, and SS Peter and Paul’s RC School, Ribchester. But until talks are held


between the Diocesan au­ thor ities over these


schools, there is little that can be done. The Schools Sub-Com­


mittee’s proposal to close four village schools was defended by Ribble Valley councillor Mr George Nickson (Billington). At a meeting of the


Policy and Resources Committee, Coun. Nick- son, who is also a county councillor, said the Educa­ tion Committee was not as naive as some people thought. The number of school


places was being reduced by only 25 per cent, he said, against the 40 per cent demanded by the Government. The committee decided,


nevertheless, to voice its object ions to village school closures in letters to the Department of Education, the County' Education Committee and local MPs, as part of the continuing campaign to save the schools at Dow­


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YOUNG adults in Wad- dingtori could soon have an extra activity, if a plan by rural youth worker Jan Foster goes ahead. She is trying to set up a


16-plus group and is look­ ing for accommodation for


it in the village. Waddington Parish


Council has suggested that she contact both Sunday Schools to see if they can help.


nham, Hurst Green, Grindleton and R ib ­ chester. Coun. William Bowker


said schools were an im­ portant part of village in­ frastructure. When they were closed, people began to leave, young couples did not move in and vil­ lages gradually became little more than retire­ ment places. Much was heal’d about


inner-city problems, but nobody seemed to be con­ cerned about the rural community.


Fears


Villages were entitled to the same consideration


as inner-cities, he de­ clared, adding that it would have been better for local children if the Ribble Valley had been made an education author­ ity in its own right. Coun. Leslie Nevett


said the amount of money saved by closing village schools would be insig­ nificant compared to the £lm which a town like Blackburn was about to' spend on sports facilities. Coun. Leo Wells de­


scribed as “disappointing” the fact that the County was not willing to keep open one school in every village and Coun. Geof­ frey Ainsworth voiced fears that the County would go ahead with school closures even while considering suggested mergers. “ They act like big


brother and are heart­ less,” he said.


Champagne day for Betty’s bus


BETTY'S BUS, the Ribble Valley’s most friendly transport service, celebrated its fifth birthday in style on Tuesday. For driver Mrs Betty Gray, of Bolland Prospect,


floivers, chocolates and lucky white heather from her “regulars.” From Betty to her passengers there ivere spe­ cial birthday cards to mark a memorable miles­


Clitheroe, who is synonymous with the country bus, there were “birthday” gifts of champagne,


tone in the bus’s history. And regulars on the afternoon anniversary run


from Clitheroe received slices of a birthday cake, decorated in icing with a likeness of the btis that provides a lifeline for many villages. Betty’s Bus is also a tourist attraction, known


Back in town with the local CID


A POLICEMAN who started his career in Clitheroe in the mid-1970s has returned for a second tour of duty in the town. He is Det. Con. Martin Small, who transferred to


the local CID on Monday. Born and educated in


Bolton, he spent two years as a police cadet b e fo r e coming to


Clitheroe in 1976 on un-. iformed duties. Three years later he


for such delightful quirks as stopping to alloiv a passenger to buy farm mushrooms. Regular Mrs Zelma West (67), of the Manor


House, Hairop Fold, who was one of Betty’s first passengers five years ago, summed up the passen­ gers’ feelings. “It’s like a family bus,” she said. hi our picture with Betty are Ribble’s Clitheroe


district superintendent Coun. Leo Wells and a group of regulars.


transferred to CID and served at Barnoldswick, Nelson and Colne. Until his return to Clitheroe he was attached to No. 1 Re­ gional Crime Squad in Blackburn. Married and living in


Colne, Det. Con. Small lists fishing as his - main


hobby. He replaces Det. Con.


Ian Bennett, who has moved to St Annes.


ADULT COURSES FILL UP


PLACES on this winter’s adult education courses in the Ribble Valley are being snapped up quickly, according to tutor in charge at Whalley Adult Centre, Mrs Pat Murray.


Postal enrolment forms have been flooding in, and


some courses are almost full already. People interested in


taking a course will be able to discuss the details with the tutor at special enrolment sessions being held next week at the two main centres. The sessions are at Rib-


blesdale School, Clitheroe, on Monday and Tuesday, from 7 to 8-30 p.m. and in the Old Grammar School, Whalley, on Thursday from 1-30 to 3 p.m. and from 7 to 8-30 p.m. In the villages, it will


be possible to enrol at the first meeting of the class.


Observing an old tradition


favourable, and she especially enjoys look­ ing at gardens, the te le v is ion — and having her milk deli­ vered!


the A t la n t ic , the Robinson family is settling into its new surroundings and Mrs Allen has been keeping in touch with Neil.


Meanwhile, across


seems to be adjusting to the noise of crickets, but that will stop with the first frost,” she said.


“His biggest problem “He was also looking


forward to trying some lobster, but he went off that idea when he heard you had to boil them alive!”


Top-level talks sought on


hospital delay


SO concerned are Ribble Valley councillors at the delay in bringing the Clitheroe Community


sources Committee, on Monday, also decided to send a letter to the Black­ burn, Hyndburn and R ib b le V a l ley Area Health Authority for con­ sideration at its meeting yesterday. The committee heard


Hospital into use that they are asking the Minister of State for Health, Mr Kenneth Clarke, to receive a deputation. The Policy and Re­


Warning on theft


that Clitheroe Town Council had declared its strong opposition to any further delay in the hospi­ tal scheme and Coun. Mrs Myra Clegg said everyone was dismayed. A letter from the area


health authority telling of the delay had been re­ ceived with great regret. Coun. John Cowgill,


Mayor of Clitheroe, won­ dered why money, which must have been made av­ ailable in the first place, had now been withdrawal. A community hospital would be the greatest boon to the area for many years. The delay wras a great shame. Coun. Ber t Jones


(Clitheroe) said it was the considered opinion of


North West Health Coun­ cils that the services av­ ailable to authorities north of Birmingham, were not as good as those below the line. . He went on: “ We


should write to our MP p r o te s t in g in the strongest terms and re­ minding him that we were told that public services and the National Health Service would not be at­ tacked.” Urging the importance


of bringing the hospital into use, Coun. Jones said travel to hospitals in Blackburn, for example, was difficult for those without cars. How many villages were there where there was a bus after 7 p.m.? Coun. Fred Green


(Wilpshire) was another who called for a strong protest. At his suggestion it was


agreed to ask Mr David Waddington MP to ar­ range for a delegation to have an interview with the Minister. “We must go to the top,” said Coun. Green. In the delegation will


be the Mayor, Coun. Ted Boden; Coun. Mrs Sheila Maw, committee chair­ man; or Coun. Green, deputy chairman; Coun. Cowgill, and Coun. Miss Agnes Melling, who is a member o f the Area Health Authority.


Mobile office ordered


THE Ribble Valley Coun­ cil’s new mobile office will take the form of a trailer pulled by a Land-Rover. The new unit should be


on the road in the next three weeks. Meanwhile a hired vehicle is being used. At a council meeting it


A TRADITION dating back centuries recalling the times when churches had mud floors covered with rushes was celebrated by youngsters at Whalley.


The children were at the Parish Church’s


annual rush-bearing thanksgiving, in which 10 Sunday School members decorated a large mat with heathers, flowers and rushes and carried it


through the church to the Garden of Remembr­


ance. . The ceremony, accompanied by the rush-bear­


ing hymn, brought a taste of the olden times to a Communion service attended by about 150 parishioners. The Whalley church is one of only a handful


in the country which celebrates rush-bearing. The tradition was revived some 30 years ago.


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had -been suggested that some of the work of the mobile office]could be di­ verted to sub-post offices. But Treasurer Mr Gordon Onslow told the Finance Sub-committee on Monday that practical problems made this impossible.


’ ■ ' ■ ' *•<


CLITHEROE CID has warned elderly people to keep a careful watch on their homes following the theft of a handbag from an 85-year-old woman. The woman wras in the


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—Fresh date arranged for the


Castle fete


SATURDAY’S Clitheroe Castle fete was called off two-and-a-half hours before it was due to start, as autumn arrived with a vengence in the Ribble Valley. Organisers of the ex­


travaganza waited as long as possible hoping for an


improvement in the weather, before finally having to concede to the gales and squally showers. More than six months


of preparation had gone into the event, now rear­ ranged for September 24th.


The organisers, Trinity


Youth and Community Centre, incurred a loss of about £50 in promotional costs as a result of the postponement. But they hope to recoup this from the rescheduled fete and raise about £500 towards the cost of major exten­ sions at the centre. Area youth worker Mr


Geoff Jackson, one of the organisers, said of the postponement: “With the summer we have had, it was sickening for this to happen.” Not even a fortune


teller, who was one of the fete’s attractions, had been able to forewarn of the postponement, he quipped, and organisers spent a hectic morning telephoning the disap­ pointing news to those taking part. It is intended to pre­


kitchen at her home at St Ann’s Court, Low Moor, when the intruder took the bag, containing £70, from her living room. He apparently dis­


and shoes and a sweater patterned with black checks on a w’hite back­ ground.


turbed another resident before the snatch and is described as being in his mid-twrenties, about 5ft. 7in. tall, with dark hair. He wore white trousers


sent the same programme in two weeks’ time — in­ cluding an unusual pets competition, five-a-side football, netball and a “mini marathon.” But this time there trill


be an extra attraction — a Caribbean evening at the Calderstones Ballroom to round off the day’s fun.


In arrears


A TOTAL of £1S,485 is owed to the Ribble Valley Council in mortgage ar­ rears, the Housing Com­ mittee was told. This compares with £19,504 in July last year.


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