Clitlieroe Advertiser & Times, April 29th, 199S


Clithcroc 22-W (Editorial), 22328 (Advertising) Burnley \2233UCla^ificd)


THE York Street site of Clith e ro e Royal G r am m a r School looked more like the headquarters of MI5 than a centre for edu­ cational excellence an hour before the chief minister of the land arrived for a lightning


Story by Elizabeth Huffman Photographs by John Barry


packet of crisps in the m id s t o f a l l th e excitement. While the sombre sen­


tries and their brooding Alsatian Max seemed to recognise students after days of patrolling the building, they stopped


visit. Officers of the Lanca­


shire Constabulary dotted the school yard — empty except for the odd handful of pupils nipping out for a


history. Members of the public


were confined to the pave­ ment along York Street where, with children, dogs and much enthusiasm, they gathered to await the Prime Minister, Mr John Major.


anyone else. Even a group of teach­


ers had their handbags searched on one of the most memorable St George’s Days in Clitheroe


school included governors dressed in their Sunday best and head of politics Mr Eddie Murphy, clutch­ ing a wrinkled copy of the three questions the Prime Minister would later be asked.


Those entering the 1


Hudson, of Mellor, and Waddington’s Nicola Heyes, who were among the lucky few waiting for their version of Prime Minister’s Question Time,


Sixth formers Penny


explained that the size of the lecture hall meant only politics students and a handful of others could be present. The remaining pupils


holding open doors for him and sitting^in classrooms. Perhaps" even more


wanted her: two-year-old great-granddaughter,


Mrs Mary Ros tron


had to catch a glimpse of bought when the Queen the Prime.;Minster while -visited. Clitheroe..just-


Laura Houghton, to get an early start in meeting 1’the _


famous. Waving two fla,gs,


before her birth, Laura practised saying “John Major” , as . he arrived


excited th a n : students were the-Ribble Valley residents who came from all over in hopes of shak­ ing the hand that has greeted dignitaries around the world. A 79-year-old Clitheroe


lady had only seen one other Prime Minister in her lifetime — Margaret Thatcher — along with the Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Margaret.


Ribblesdale is not sligh ted


CHAIRMAN of Clitheroe Royal Grammar School’s "governors, Mr Jim Parker, greets Mr Major


spokesman for the Lanca­ shire National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teach­ ers, said: “Clearly we are pleased that the PM is at last showing interest in


THE headteacher at Ribblesdale High School has begged to differ with a statement criticis­ ing the Prime Minister for only visiting Clith­ eroe Royal Grammar School. Mr Martin W a t ts , the education service,


which is close to collapse, and that it is a Lancashire school he is visiting.” “What we are disap­


pointed with is that he can only find the time to visit a grant-maintained school — these cater for less than 10% of the nation’s chil­ dren — whilst s ta te . schools (such as Ribbles­ dale High) cannot be found the time to have their sterling efforts acknow­ ledged,” he concluded. Ribblesdale headteacher


Glynne Ward said she did not feel slighted in the least. “As far as I’m concerned


OVER the wall — members of the public stand in York Street, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Prime Minister


ENGLISH teacher Mr Garth Sutcliffe (left) shares a joke with Mr Major, Mr


Ted Carter* Mr Jim Parker and headmaster Mr Stuart Holt . 8 1


the grammar school is a secondary school in the Ribble Valley. We should all be treated alike. I have no objection to John Major going there. Hopefully, the next time a politician comes to the Ribble Valley he will consider visiting. Ribblesdale or Bowland,” she said.


THE so-called “grey man” of British poli­ tics, Prime Minister John Major, added a touch • of colour to an otherwise damp Fr i­ d a y a f t e r n o o n in Clitheroe. • - ; At Clitheroe Royal


PM b r igh ten s up a ‘g r ey ’ day Peter Devine joins the tour


Entwistle, asking them about their GCSE pro­ gramming projects. Then came an English


class where the pupils were studying poetry.


burn Road site, they w a i t e d in e a g e r anticipation. ' Headmaster Mr Stuart


Grammar School’s Chat- Jaguar which had' ferried. . ture of Blackburn Rovers; Peaa £ ,


Holt and deputy (lower school) Mr Ted Carter, greeted the PM as' he stepped 'from the green


T _____ . . . L l . t . L . J ’ f . __


him from an e a r l ie r engagement oh the Fylde coast. ' '


ogy teacher Chris Spencer waited in his classroom, saying nervously: “I hope the system doesn’t go down; we do have prob­ lems from time to time,” fifth formers seated in front of computer screens were valiantly attempting to ignore the television and press cameras aimed in their general direction. Mr Major spoke to


As information technol­ \ MR MAJOR answers questions from sixth formers in the school’s lecture theatre


Andrew L a n c a s te r , Matthew F earnhead, Simon Holt, Rebecca Goodbier and Vickie


on the back of a .music stand and asked: “Who’s the Rovers fan?’ Red-faced first former Peter Single- ton owned up.


fer?” asked Mr Major of 15-year-old Anna Cocker. Her reply: “Tennyson.” ‘ The spotlight shifted to the music room, where the PM was greeted by first year recorder pupils play­


“Which poet do you pre­


h a l l, Mr Major was whisked to the sixth form centre in York Street. Accompanied by Mr Holt and chairman of the gover­ nors Mr Jim Parker, he met the school governors in the library and signed the visitors’ book.


After a quick visit to the


ing “Go to Joan Glover.” Mr Major spotted;a pic-..f*aVShter.,


head girl?” Mr Major asked Jane Hargreaves. Before she could answer, the PM continued:


“How do you become


as he shook hands with office and catering staff members. Mrs Monica Dickinson,' Mrs Janette Brown, Mrs Marion McBride, Mrs Glenis Counsell and Mrs Shona Walsh.


in the technology depart­ ment gave him a glimpse of the outstanding skills employed by the pupils and staff involved in its


A half-built hovercraft


became head girl because pupils hope to test the she was a bigger bully completed machine by than anyone else!”


Philip- -Taylor,’! whose- June, and learning that it


“So nice to meet you — had a potential speed of nice to be here,” he said, about 70 m.p.h., he joked:


THE excitement vibrating through the corridors and classrooms of CRGS leading up to the visit from the Prime Minister, John Major, was barely contained. The identity of the “senior member of the Govern­


five-car convoy.. Mrs Sue Brierley opted


for a better yiew from the saddle by riding her horse, Archie, from West Brad­ ford to watch the Prime Minister wave and mingle with the crowd — and as an unexpected bonus was allowed inside the. school yard. There, were even two


Americans among the watchful audience. Border Terrier breeders Mrs Brenda Werbelow and


tion came from a few peo­ ple, booing and two plac­ ards held by Lancashire county councillor Ron Pickup and a Leylaml DAF protestor. Otherwise.it was cheers


bfeWnd seven noisy.motor ' w h en th e to d d le , cycles m the middle « a laUghed) Mr Major com_


and clapping all-round as Mr Major began shaking hands; even making a srn - prise foray into the crowd Among those greeted were- Mrs Werbelow and Laura.


mented: “I feel like that sometimes.”


has been painted as a rather grey character in the press, teenager- reacted to the ministerial touch as they might have to meeting a Rolling Stone, i Billington’s Joanna


And although Mr Majoi


Rowland shrieked with delight, , while Rachel Cai- roll, of Gisburn, quietlj boasted to her friends.


about President Bill Clin_ a™1 generally nice chap, ton’s counterpart.


The only hint of objec-


Mrs Nancy Hughes, of Los Like so many others Angeles ancf Chicago present they agreed the respectively, decided to P.nme Minister lived up to satisfy their curiosity his reputation as a poll e


MR MAJOR takes class, where fifth formers were working on GCSE projects' look at the .information technology


“Maybe I could use it to go down the Thames to the Commons!” He also tried 18-year-


old Carolyn Booth’s tennis ball throwing machine. After a quick look round


the typing and word pro­ cessing skills class, accom­ panied by teacher Mrs Brenda McLaughlin, the PM walked to the lecture theatre for a private ses­ sion answering questions put by sixth form pupils. ■ Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, commenting on the


he would visit the . Ribble Valley and I am absolutely delighted that he could make it. The visit has been a great success.”


‘Inside’ report from CRGS Vlth former


ment” was supposed to be kept secret. By the end of Monday, when we were informed of the visit, CRGS’s grapevine had already delivered the news. By Tues­ day afternoon, politics students were informed that if they did not know who the visitor was, they should not be studying A-level politics! Three students had the opportunity to ask Mr Major a question. Many students submitted ques-


tions to the head of the politics department, Mr E. Murphy. The questions were then vetted and the chosen three were faxed through to the Prime Min­ ister’s secretary. . . so much for the impromptu questioning.


preparations for the visit. The school was invaded by a task force of policemen and women, who paraded through the grounds and subjected the unfortunate to bag searches. An army of cleaners also arrived to ' give the place a sparkle.


By Friday morning, CRGS was buzzing with final


and the A-level politics groups and students repre­ senting other study areas made their way to the lec­


By the afternoon, the door-keepers were in place


ture theatre. Mr Murphy briefed the congregated students on


7 DAYS A WEEK 1 0 AM -5 .3 0 PM


OFENING TIMES


BANK HOLMON; 1QAM-5.30PM LATE NIGHT SHOPPING


THURSDAY TIL 8 PM HAZEL MILL BIJVCKBU^ ROAOKASIJ^DEN.ROSSENDALE.TEL: 0706 227916 WINFIELDS ALL GOODS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY


INDIES PLATFORM SHOES


Choice of


MENS MOCCASIN SHOES


Genuine leather uppers^ various styles/colours WERE £9.99 NOWONLY


1 LADIES SHORTS \faxions colours & styles


FROM £ 1 * 9 9 IADIES VEST TOPS 'Various colours &


U s FROM £ 1 . 9 9 ______


LADIES DRESSES Various colours &


f r o u £ 9 . 9 9


LADIES T ' SHIRTS Various colours &


s t y J e s j o - i q q FROM


s m w j j -- - - - — : .4


Excellent quality Various cokmrs/styies


ONLY £ 1 4 . 9 9 MENS T ' SHIRTS Various colours &


___________ - £ 1 . 9 9


MENS TROUSERS MENS DENIM SHIRTS Stoneroashed ;


ONLY £ 1 0 . 9 9 CHILDRENS T'SHntfS Various coikrars/styfes


FROM 9 9 p BREAKFAST SPECIAL


ONLY £ 1 . 9 9 Served All Day'


_________ • in o ur CAFETERIA <


T I


MENS SANDALS R w m ln e le a th H r uppers


Tan or Brown


s i ze 6*8 t o 11*8 ONLY


ADULT TRAINERS Nykra/suedetteuppere


Choice of lace or velcro Choice erf colours size 6*s to ll 's


£4.99 ONLY DENIM JEANS


Choice of Black, Blue Black, or Stonewash Various Brand Names


CHILDRENS QT9 Q Q FROM


ADULTS O Q Q Q FROM


Various leg widths Various styles


i k k-


where Mr Major would walk in and when he would leave. After an hour, the students were getting rather.boisterous in their excitement, all wondering whether Mr Mqjor really looked like “that” in real life. At this time I began to wonder whether I would be able to deliver my question, which had been vetted and approved. When Mr Major was seen heading in our direction,


the rabble of students became hushed. A few minutes later, Mr Major walked in. “Well, isn’t this nice!” he exclaimed. . Mr Holt guided the Prime Minister in the direction


of Mr Murphy. After the handshake and greetings, proceedings got under way and Mr Major started the third Prime Minister’s Question Time of the week. Lower sixth former Shamaila Quereshi asked why


the British Government was holding back from inter­ vention in Bosnia. Mr Major gave a good answer to this question,


a speaker. His answer to my question, unfortunately, was


explaining many points left unclear by press reports on the subject. He seemed confident in his manner, though he sometimes left sentences uncompleted if he felt he was waffling. I rate him highly on his ability as


crime and how this could be prevented. I was also informed that the lawyers who drew up the Criminal Justice Act were the same ones who were moaning about it.


unsatisfactory. I wanted to hear what changes he proposed to make to the legal system, so that “crime no longer pays and sentences fit the offence.” I gained a lot of information on his view of juvenile


views on tougher sentencing or sentences that fit the crime; as a politician he seems very skilled at skirting around the issues, especially in view of the fact that he had two days to prepare his answer. Lower sixth former Jenny Hartley questioned Mr


However, I did not discover any of Mr Major’s . . .


. student grants “in real terms.” Mr Major’s answer was again informative and well delivered, but sadly did not give the exact answer. Though an interesting speiaker,' it is a shame that


Major on why the Government; wishing “to encour­ age students to continue their education,” had cut


Mr Major’s ability to answer questions was marred by a tendency to miss the issue at hand. John Major’s reply to Mr Holt’s proclamation of-


never wanting to be Prime Mnister — “I don’t blame you!” — gave students a unique opportunity to dis­ cover that our Prime Minister is not as'dull and grey as some people would lead us to believe. . The round of applause John Major received on


leaving the lecture theatre indicated that his visit was appreciated by all who attended. Overall, I believe that CRGS has been honoured


by the Prime Minister’s visit and I am proud to have been one of the selected three to ask a question. I also believe that the many students who were able to meet him and hear him talk felt that their time had not been wasted.


Caroline Poultcr K


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  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26