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; Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) i ^


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Key town figure who recorded local life dies at the age of 84


A KEY figure in the area's business and social life for decades, Mr Ronald Pye has died aged 84. Well known for his straight­


forward approach, meticulous a t ten t io n to detail and keen sense of humour, Mr Pye was


• 16 when he joined the photog­ raphy and printing business


e stablished by his fa th e r in 1919. He served his apprenticeship


as a printer with his father and was well known for his artistic flair, not only in colour and black and white photography but as a


water colour painter. He had exhibited a t the Harris Art Gallery, Preston. Mr Pye was an expert on his­


toric as well as more modern cameras and was well known in the photography and printing field over a wide area. He keenly recorded life in the Ribble Valley, both on historic


public occasions and in commer­ cial and professional spheres as well. In former times, Mr Pye had


active connections with several local organisations. He was a sidesman a t Clitheroe Parish Church, a playing member of the


former town operatic and dra­ matic society and an official of the cricket, bowling and tennis


club. Mr Pye had recently been


made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Clitheroe. He joined in 1960, and had held sev­ eral official posts, including the presidency. Mr Pye expanded the business


over the years, and it has been both printers and photographers to many leading companies. Numerous local people were employed in the York Street premises at one time or another. Mr Pye retired some nine years


John proves no ‘cracker’ for TV star Gemma


Nation watches as ‘Blind Date’ girl refuses Christmas kiss


ROMANCE is still something Clitheroe's Gemma Dawson can put on her Christmas wish list, after her TV "Blind Date" failed to be a Christmas crackerl


Viewers of the Saturday ' evening show saw law stu­


' who she had picked as her date on the previous week's ■ programme. But far from being a sea­


dent Gemma (20), of Kenilworth Drive, enjoying the paradise Philippine island of Davao'with John,


: a' disappointment, accord­ ing to Gemma, who refused to even give him a Christ­ mas kiss for the cameras. Said Gemma (pictured


sonal Prince Charming, John (20) turned out to be


by Julie Frankland


probably support John. This worried me as I didn't


want to come across as hor­ rible." Despite her reservations


about John and her refusal to exchange home address­ es and phone numbers,


’ Gemma has no regrets about appearing on the show. She explained: "It.


during Saturday’s show: "To have given him a kiss would have been hypocriti­ cal as I just didn't like him a t all. We had absolutely nothing in common. " Although it maybe did­ n't come across on the show,


John was really laddish. All he was interested in was beer and looking at other


. wbmen. I t was like going on a date with the Martin Clunes character from •'Men Behaving Badly'. He!


' was very immature!" Determined to stick to


her guns, Gemma was warned by programme bosses that because the stu­ dio audience was predomi­ nantly female, sympathy was more likely to go to John) a sports science stu­ dent at Bradford Universi­


ty. This turned out to be the


case, especially after John described Gemma as his ideal woman. Added Gemma: "I was conscious th a t the audience would


was an amazing experience. Everything was first class.


We were treated wonderful­ ly and I've had loads of support from my family and friends." Gemma, a former pupil


the tiny island, they had their own private beach and were able to enjoy a


range of water sports, including water skiing, which Gemma had mas­


of Clitheroe Royal Gram­ mar School now studying a t Leeds University, and John flew first-class to Davao, a 15-hour trip. On


tered on a previous holiday to Spain. They were also guests of


honour at a reception for local dignitaries, for which John eventually turned up 30 minutes late.


Travel firm owner admits gross


indecency charge


A TRAVEL boss who committed a sex act with a 15-year-old. boy has escaped being sent to jail.


r George L an ca s te r


(58), of Coates Lane, Barnoldswick, and the owner of C lith e ro e Travel, was introduced to the schoolboy by a man who had made con ta c t w ith th e boy th rou gh a ch a t line. Lancaster arranged for the boy to have a bank account, Barclaycard and mobile phone. Burnley Crown Court


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heard how Lancaster, a divorced man w ith no previous convictions, had seen his life shattered by th e case. His counsel described th e case as a "real tragedy" and said Lancaster had had to face em b a r ra s sm ent and humiliation. Lancaster was placed on


probation for 12 months after admitting one count of gross indecency. Judge David Pirie told


Lancaster th a t had he been facing more than one allegation, he would proba­ bly have gone to prison. He went on: "This involved a boy of 15, what­ ever may be said about him. The public are con­ cerned that people of this age should be protected and if necessary protected from themselves." Mr Joe Boyd (prosecut­


ly-respected member of the community and was known for his generosity and kind­ ness. Mr Janner said Lancast­


er met the teenager, who was no doubt impressed by his generosity, in Novem­ ber, 1995. But for the youth's pestering and con­ sent, it was highly unlikely that Lancaster would have taken part in homosexual activity. Mr Janner went on: "It


is not the case of Lancaster being the predator. The ini­ tial contact and subse­ quent visits were a t the behest of the youth, who saw him as a soft touch - a lonely man who had recently been divorced." He said Lancaster had


ing) told the court the boy had been travelling from his home to visit Lancast­ er. Another man had made contact with the youth through a chat line. He was then introduced to the defendant. Lancaster paid the boy's train fare and arranged for him to have a bank account, Barclaycard and mobile phone. Mr Daniel Janner


(defending) said Lancast­ er's life had been shattered. He had led an exemplary life and before his divorce in 1993 had been married for nearly 20 years. Lancaster came from a


respectable farming family and in 1968 bought


Clitheroe Travel. He had worked hard to build up the business and now had two shops. He was a high­


spent between £2,000 and £3,000 on the boy and there was also unautho­ rised use of credit cards. Mr Janner added th a t


the relationship had cost Lancaster dearly financial­ ly. He had also had to face the humiliation a t work and of the case being reported in local newspa­


pers. The case had taken its


toll on Lancaster, who had been depressed and wor­ ried. Lancaster regretted what he had done. He went on: "Custody would have momentous consequences on him and there is no need to protect the public." Mr Robert Mitchell, of


Elm Close, Salterforth, and a business associate of Lan­ caster described the defen­ dant as "very generous" and said he had helped a number of people.


Fast police chase


after farm worker gets‘wound up’ in pub fight


A FARM worker who was "wound up" after a pub fight led police on a country road chase which covered five miles in five minutes. The 2-30 a.m. chase


ended when he spun


' Alan Clinton Newhouse, of Bentlea Road, Gis- bum, admitted dangerous >driying, driving when over the alcohol limit mid hav­ ing no insurance. The case was adjourned


round and smashed the car into a banking. In court a t Blackburn,


Gisbum at 60 m.p.h. The vehicle eventually


' in, five -m in u te s , -M r ;■ Standage^told'the bench: ' He explained that New­


failed to negotiate a bend, spun completely round twice, hit some fencing and both verges and came to a halt, badly damaged, across the road. "The pur­ suit had’covered 5.2 miles


until January 12th for a pre-sentence report and an interim driving disqualifi­ cation was imposed. Mr Neil Standage (pros­


the car turned on to an unclassified road with severe bends and a hump­ back rise - where the wheels left the road due to its speed. "On this narrow country


the car and swerved on to the verge, then across the centre line before driving on at speeds of 80 m.p.h., said Mr Standage. At the Coronation Hotel,


road, the driver of the Escort tried to negotiate bends at speeds which were patently unsafe" went on Mr Standage. "On three occasions he lost control and skidded sideways and his wheels left the road at both sides." The Escort then turned


on to the Settle road, and was chased back towards


MOTORISTS in the Rib­ ble Valley are being offered the opportunity to become safer drivers in 1998.


Safety Association is run­ ning a six-week better dri­ ving course from January 6th to help people cope with the winter hazards of


Blackburn Area Road


ecuting) said th a t New­ house was seen driving an Escort, which had two pas­ sengers, at a fast speed out- of Gisburn. The vehicle accelerated away and did not stop although the police operated flashing blue lights. The driver lost control of


(defending) said that at the time, Newhouse had left the family home and was living with his girl friend in Earby, trying to keep up with a new set of friends. During the evening,


house failed a breath test and was found to be five micrograms above the limit of 35. Mr Michael Blacklidge


was dangerous. Fortunate­ ly neither he nor his pas­ sengers were injured," said Mr Blacklidge. He emphasised that the


Newhouse and a friend had been involved in a fight at a pub in Earby. He decided to drive back to Gisburn, but was wound up by the fight and was driving faster than he should have been. When he saw he was being followedf, he did not realise it was the police at first. When he did, he thought it was something to do with the fight. "He accepts his driving


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ago, but continued following his hobbies of motoring, visiting the Isle of Man and keeping in touch with his wide circle of friends. However, he had been in a retire­


ment home for some years. The funeral service was a t


Clitheroe Parish Church, fol­ lowed by interment at Clitheroe Cemetery. Mr Pye leaves a son John, who has run the business for many years, daughters Mrs Catherine Lancaster and Mrs Elizabeth Scholcs, and his sister Mrs Mabel Crabtree, who also has had a long connection with Pye's.


1 A N U A R Y S A L E


STARTS 27th DECEMBER


H f iN M E R T O N B E D C E N T R E Tel: 01282-420324 (opposite Marks & Spencer)


6-8 Hammerton Street, Burnley . K; :


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, December 24th, 1997 3


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driving ban would be felt very keenly by Newhouse, who had not driven since the incident and no longer had access to a vehicle. But a young man living in Gis­ burn without transport was going to find things difficult.


C h a n c e to b e b e t t e r d r iv e r


fog, snow and icy roads. The first session will


take place a t Blackburn Northern Sports Club, Pleckgate Road, at 8 p.m. Lectures will then take place on Tuesday evenings, with practical driving ses­ sions on Sunday mornings. Twelve-month member­


ship costs £20 and £15 for students. For more details ring 01204 852605 or 01254 51777.


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