The Clitheroe


vertiser andTiimes ■^The paper that champions the.Ribble Valley cause Thursday, October 22nd, 1998 No- 5,859 Price 45p


,S P l i t tE I FORFSRSTIOfl


READERS n i 3'


A Clitheroe teenag­ er has been found not guilty of sup­ plying cannabis to others.


WM W1HMMMm page 6


There is top sport­ ing success for swimming superstar Rebecca Wrigley.


...................page 34


A plan to build’a wind farm in the shadow of Pendle Hill ignites MPs’ fury.


There is good news for outdoor enthusi­ asts following a £1.8m. Lottery boost for an impor­ tant bridleway.


A headteacher in­ troduces a novel way of improving school discipline in Whalley.


A n d , f in a l ly , d o n ’t fo rg e t to p u t y o u r c lo c k s b a c k th i s weekend.


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND WEATHER: Blustery winds, blowing from the west, will bring wet but milder weather.


CALLUS


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E.muil: Editorial.easllancs ncws@blinlcrnet.com


by Julie Frankland


C L IT H E R O E is to h av e a fu l l 1 2 -m o n th c a le n d a r of events to m a rk th e Millenni­


um. I t will run from September


next year through to Septem­ ber 2000 and is being co-ordi­ nated by new Town Clerk Mr J o h n Wells. H e h a s b e en charged with responsibility for helping to a c t io n a d ia ry of a c t iv i t ie s , d raw n u p b y Clitheroe Town Council’s Mil­


lennium Sub-committee. The committee, which compris­


es six town councillors and a mem­ ber of Clitheroe Rotary Club, has already sanctioned the previously reported torchlight procession and firework display, which will launch local celebrations on September


11th, 1999. It will be followed by a fun day


on September 12th to be held in Clitheroe Castle grounds, the unveiling of a newly-commis­ sioned town sign, which will even­ tually sit at the junction of Moor Lane and Lowergate, and a cere­ mony to reveal a Millennium


Dramatic car smash claims


young life


Paramedics battle to save Melissa (21) during hospital ^


A LOCAL family a n d a wide circle of friends wer ■ p lu n g ed in to s a d n e s s th i s week w h en an o th e r , young member of th e community was killed in a d ram a tic road crash. Popular Miss Melissa


Whiteoak, a member of a well-known family in the Billington and Whalley


area and a former Ribbles- dale High School pupil, received fatal injuries as her estate car struck a coach head-on on the Whalley- Longridge road. She was driving alone


towards Whalley at about 8-45 a.m. on Tuesday morning when the tragedy happened a little way on the M itton side of the


bypass bridge Police are appealing for


/AWSON'S Tel: 01200 425151


56 ICING STREET, CLITHEROE


witnesses - they believe th a t low sunlight causing dazzling conditions may have been a factor. Miss Whiteoak, the


daughter of Mr and Mrs Ernest Whiteoak, of Chapel Rise, Billington, celebrated her 21st birth­ day only recently. A spokesman at Ribbles-


dale High School yesterday expressed the sorrow of everyone there at her death, "Although it is five years


since she left, Melissa is well remembered for her keen support of the school. She played for the sports teams and also took part in theatrical productions, and everyone recalls her keen interest in animals, espe­ cially horses," he said. The school has another


connection with the family Miss Whiteoak's sister,


THE location of the acci- d en t in Mitton Road, Whalley (201098/6/16a)


Gail, is a frequent visitor due to her police communi­


ty affairs work. ' Traffic officers were yes­ terday continuing th e ir investigations into the crash. I t is understood that Miss Whiteoak's Sierra was passing a parked car when it struck the coach head on. The estate car then spun


along the road, and struck the parked car. Numerous emergency


service vehicles and crews and the police helicopter converged on the area. Paramedics battled to save Miss Whiteoak at the scene and in the ambulance, which was used rather than the helicopter for transport to Blackburn Royal Infir- mar. However, all their efforts were in vain. The coach was empty


and driver Mr Alan Percy (43), of Preston, escaped with shock. 9 Police urge anyone who


can help with inquiries to contac t them on 01254 353715.


A CONCERNED resident observes the crash scene (201098/6/2b)


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Crown court hearing for headteacher accused of three indecent assaults


M A G IS T R A T E S d i r e c te d t h a t th r e e c h a rg e s of in d e c e n t a s s a u l ts a g a in s t a h e a d te a c h e r sh o u ld be h e a rd a t crown


c o u r t . . In th e meantime, he m u s t keep a t least


three-quarters-of-a-mile from his school. Robert Francis O'Brien (56), of Fellside


Farm, Kemple End, Stonyhurst, appeared in court a t Blackburn.


He is headteacher a t St Mary's Hall, the


preparatory school for Stonyhurst, where he has worked for many years. Monday afternoon's hearing was adjourned until December, when committal proceedings


will take place. O'Brien, who was represented by Mr Paul


Schofield, is charged with indecently assaulting a boy in 1972 and two indecent assaults between September, 1997, and June of this year. The recent charges both relate to the same boy.


The bench granted bail, subject to five condi­


tions. O'Brien must live at his home address, not go


within three-quarters-of-a-mile of Stonyhurst College or St Mary's Hall, not make contact with any member of the staff, not make contact with any present or former pupil at the college from 1970 onwards and not enter into any organised activity or employment involving juveniles.


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stained glass window, which will be fitted at Clitheroe Library. The window design has yet to


be selected, as it is the subject of a competition for local secondary schools. Budding classroom artists are being invited to compete for prizes of £100, £50 and £25 with drawings and paintings of how they believe the window should take shape. I t will then be repro­ duced by Mr Peter Knowles, of Castle Stained Glass. Local primary schoolchildren


will receive an extra Christmas gift in the form of a Millennium mug, with senior citizens aged 80


NEW ATTRACTION FOR TOURISTS : :


Countdown to the Millennium


or over, who live alone, also having mugs and commemorative spoons added to their traditional mayor- delivered festive parcels. Other events already in the


diary include a civic service a t Clitheroe Parish Church on Janu­ ary 2nd, 2000, and, later th a t year, a flower festival.


’■-V


■ Said Mr Wells: "We intend to add more events so that there is something for everyone, but, to make our calendar work success­ fully, we need to know now what other groups and organisations are planning to do. This way, we can all work to complement one


another and expand celebrations for everyone in the town." All sub-committee meetings are


open to the public, and anyone with a planned event or a proposal to suggest to the committee can particip ate. Sessions are held monthly, with- Mr Wells con- tactable on 01200 424722 for fur­ ther details. An essential aspect of the sub­


committee’s work will be raising funds from donations and spon­ sorship to finance celebratory activities. Advice and help oh this front, according to Mr Wells, will also be appreciated.


Bonfire event will definitely go with a bang


HIGH-LEVEL pyrotechnics set to pulse-racing music will make Clitheroe's


bonfire night go with a bang. O rg an ise rs p la n n in g manned from 10 a.m. on


th e November 5 th spec ta c u l a r a re c o n f id e n t th a t townsfolk, having missed o u t on th e ir t r a ­ d i t io n a l b o n f i r e a n d f i rew o rk d is p la y la s t


e v r ‘


the day, with volunteers available to accept wood for th e fire. F o r s a fe ty reasons, no other materi­


als will be burned. - Visitors are also being warned not bring their own


yeaf, will now enjoy th e fireworks, including


b ig g e s t a n d b e s t -e v e r sparklers. This is in line with fire brigade advice, but t o add extra colour to the


C a s tle g ro u n d s a t 6-30 rainbow wands is planned, p .m ., i t is being org an -


Clitheroe, th e R o ta ra c t Club of th e Ribble Val­ ley, Clitheroe Lions and Round Table, with spon­ so r sh ip from C a s t le Cement. The bonfire site will be


To be held m Clitheroe -nj ht the ^ 0f fluorescent jn addition, there will be


ised by the R o tary Clubs refreshments stands selling of R ib b le sd a le : a n d hot and cold drinks, burgers


and hot dogs. Entry to the bonfire and


firework show is by dona­ tion, with any profits from the extravaganza to be shared between the organis­ ing clubs for their chosen local charities.


Shadow minister at mart


SHADOW Agricultural Minister Mr Jim Paice will be in Clitheroe tomorrow. As a guest of Ribble Val­


ley MP Mr Nigel Evans, he will attend Clitheroe Auc­ tion Mart, where he will witness th e bidding in a sheep sale and lunch in the .on-site cafe. The delegation wilTalso


include Mr Robert Atkins, the Conservative P a r ty candidate for the forthcom­ ing Euro elections. - Explained Mr Evans,


who has also issued an invi­ tation to Government Agri­ cultural Secretary Mr Nick Brown,, urging him to address a public meeting of Ribble Valley farmers: "We want action now from the


Government and we want a package of emergency aid which helps farmers in the Ribble Valley to cope with th e effects of the worst slump in 30 years. "Farmers are desperate


and can't wait much longer. The whole In d u s try has been in crisis for several months as a result of this Government's policies and it is high time that it acted. We have heard sympathetic


views from Mr Brown, but he must show th a t he means what he says." While a t the auction


mart, Mr Evans and his party will be canvassing the opinion of others there to take back to Westminster.


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