Friendship abounds as Soroptimists meet ...... ■■ " '■■■■....... 1 IJ


Rod licences go on sale at local post offices


FISHING rod licences for the 1999/2000 season are now on sale at local post offices. Post Office Counters


Mad Hatters are sure to head for this charity ball


TWO years ago, five bedraggled children and their five donkeys struggled up the long drive to


the Stirk House Hotel in Gisburn. They were taking part in needed to open such a huge


a gruelling coast-to-coast walk raising much-needed funds for the Michael Elliott Trust. Wet through and very tired, they never forgot the welcome they received on arrival at the hotel. The donkeys were stabled at the rear in sump­ tuous stables and the five 13-year-olds were treated to a real Stirk House evening of luxury, preparing them for another 14 miles the next morning. T h at special night an


association was built between proprietors Mr Malcolm Weaving and his wife, Karen, and Mr John Stirling, trust administra­ tor, which has proved suc­ cessful and beneficial to both over the last two years. Through a great deal of


hard work, kindness, gen­ erosity, creativity and a genuine belief in what the charity does, Stirk House has managed to raise more than £12,000, much to the delight of the trust’s presi­ dent, June Brown, alias Dot Cotton from "Eastenders". June now relishes the


chance of a weekend at the hotel with her favourite hosts and to stay in the wonderful Ribble Valley, where she finds the people very hospitable and friend­


ly.On April 3rd, Stirk House is opening its newest jewel, the County Ballroom. Something special was


venture, so the hotel and the Michael Elliott Trust have put their heads togeth­ er and come up with The Mad Hatter’s Ball. I t will be a gala evening


hosted by June Brown and many of her friends. June is being escorted as Queen of Hearts by Coronation Street's eco-warrior, alias Martin Hancock. Other guests from TV and the the­ atre will be attending, with the North West champion ballroom couple invited. Musicians, cabaret, danc­


ing and a sumptuous meal will make the evening a memorable occasion and if the ball is as successful as June Brown's last party at Stirk House, to commemo­ rate her 50th year in show business, it will be a night to


remember. The Michael Elliott


Trust helps children with special needs who, through no fault of their own, have to accept help from others


all the time. Recently, the trust has


rescued two donkeys from Skipton and Elswick. One has been named Malcolm, after the hotel proprietor, and the other, after his wife,


Karen. © The hotel is to become


a member of the UICs largest hotel group follow ing the merger between Consort and Best Western


Hotels.


Election day looms for Ribble Valley


ELECTION day in the Ribble Valley is fast


approaching. The notice of election


will be published tomor­


row on the parish council noticeboards and in the offices and nominations must be su bm i tted between then and noon on


April 8th. The returning officer has


no power to extend the deadline. Potential council­ lors who have not yet obtained their nomination paper are urged to contact the elections office on Level C of the Ribble Valley Council on 01200 452411. Parish election candi­ dates will need a proposer


and seconder, both of whom must be registered as elec­ tors in the parish, in which they are standing. If the


parish is divided into wards, they must both be regis­ tered as electors in th a t


ward. For the election to the


borough council, a proposer, a seconder and eight "assentors" are required, all of whom must be registered as electors in the ward in which the candidate is


standing. Completed nomination


papers, together with con­ sent signed forms must be handed into the elections office to be checked. If there are errors in nom­


ination papers and they are not discovered until after the noon deadline on April 8th, the nomination will bo declared invalid. For more information


ring Kathleen Law on 01200 452411.


Shireburn expects European influx as part of group deal


THERE could be an influx of European visi­ tors to the Stony hurst area following a new deal involving the


Shireburn Arms Hotel. It has joined Minotel, the rapidly-expanding market­


ing group which is a consor­ tium of 200 carefully-select­ ed, small, proprietor-man- aged hotels throughout


Great Britain. Each maintains its inde­


pendence and character, but conforms to standards of cleanliness, comfort and


service. The general manager and


proprietor of the Hurst


Green hotel, Mr Steven Alcock, is delighted that the Shireburn Arms is to represent Minotel in this


area. Minotel boasts that all


its member hotels have a unique, local charm, indi­ viduality and a permanent offer of a warm welcome. Minotel Great Britain


co-operates with European tour operators in setting up fixed itinerary tours and "go as you please" voucher schemes throughout Britain for continental visitors. Minotel groups in Europe offer British tourists a selec­ tion of carefully chosen hotels.


Licensing policies are on agenda LICENSING hours policies for the area are to be discussed between the council and the magis-


fratfis Ribble Valley Borough Council officials feel that deci­ , .


sions about public entertainment licence times would be kss easy to challenge if they reflected a stated policy Refusal of a bid to have music a t the Dog and Par­ tridge, Clitheroe, until m i d n i g h t


on Thursdays was on the


casting vote of the chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee. However, now there is a request to reconsider


h as a letter from the pub's solicitors did not arrive view of the problems in Clitheroe town centre a


weekends council officials have discussed the matter of entertainment hours with the police Now there is to be a meeting with the magistrates, who deal with applications for alterations in the actual drinking hours. The chairman of the bench and the clerk have both said they would like


closer links with the council. j§Ssi23lf Juggling and acrobatics.


Easter Saturday 10 am -4pm in King William Square


H i


Good Friday 11am-4pm in King William Square


gA<%ftg® Giving away mini eggs to


young children. Good Friday. Good Friday llam -4pm


and Easter Saturday 10 am-4pm in King Willian M all.


BLACKBURN S H O P P IN G ‘ CENTRE


ItS l feitss Jt> S I


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FRIENDSHIP was top of the agen­ da at a meeting of Clitheroe Sorop­ timists, a women-only service organ­ isation similar to the Rotary Club


movement. Members hosted their annual friendship


evening to introduce themselves to col­ leagues in neighbouring branches. For their entertainment, Clitheroe presi­


dent Mrs Barbara Shaw introduced guest speaker Mr Frank Barnes, of the town's


Ethos Galleries. He presented a musical slide show and then helped draw a raffle. Our photo shows Mr Barnes with some of the members and guests present at the


event, held at the St Michael and St John Community Hall. Among the guests of honour were the Mayoress of the Ribble Valley, Mrs Lona Smith, and the president of the Soroptimists' North-West and Isle of Man region, Mrs Dorothy Greenhalgh. (110399/18/21)


Borough council is winning its battle against the Millennium bug threat


SIG N IF IC AN T progress has been made by Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council in tack­ ling Millennium bug


dangers. A report by Chief Exec­


utive Mr David Morris describes measures taken so far - critically important


systems such as financial computer programmes,


heating controls in the council's elderly people's homes and security alarms have all been investigated, and a testing programme is being developed. The investigations have now moved to items such as photocopiers, cameras and


fax machines. A documented disaster


recovery plan is to be pre­ pared, says Mr Morris. He emphasises tha t all


staff have been made aware of the potential for prob lems, and a small working group of officers is planning ahead.


Limited has been given the contract to sell the licences on behalf of the Environment Agency (EA) for the next seven years and, for the first time from today, Ribble Valley anglers will be able to buy their licences over the phone. The service will be operational from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week except Bank Holi­ days, with payments being made by credit or


debit cards. The licence will be imme­


diately valid as a licence number will be issued at the time of the sale. A 90 p administrative charge will be made. The telesales hot­ line is 0870 1662662. Last year over one mil­


lion licences were sold nationwide on behalf of the EA. Failure to produce a rod licence when asked by an EA bailiff can result in prosecution and a fine up to £2,500. The EA uses funds from the sale of the licences to improve fisheries for salmon, trout, coarse fish


and eels. Anyone over 12-years-old


who fishes must buy a rod licence, which runs from April 1st.


v‘ V V


• Alien Adventure While Knuckle Ride • 20 Sealer Bubbling Hot Tub • Junior Shipwreck Slide • Lagoon Cafe • Waves every 20 minutes • Full disabled facility


EASTER


OPENING TIMES March 29th to April 9lh MorvFri 10am to 9pm


Sat & Sun & Bank Holidays 10am to 5pm


Tel: 01254 51111 Town Centre Blackburn Junction 31 MG / Junction 5 or 8 IVi65 ( Follow Brown Tourist Signs to Waves )


Rod licence duties for


this year are: Coarse and trout; full


£18, concessionary £9, eight-day £6.50, one-day £2.50, Salmon; full £57, concessionary £28.50, eight-day £16.50 and one- day £5.50.


HAVE YOU HEARD? RACHEAL JEFFERSON


is Now ^cr z


(Previously from Clitheroe Salon) Give her a Call 01282773778


It ’s G o o d to T a lk ! 65 WHALLEY ROAD, READ.


LANZA, FUDGE,VEROGOLOR, ICE.


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Easter &sSdtenjenU (S A M Sg Good Friday 11am-4pm,


Easter Saturday 10am -4pm ‘ in Victoria Court


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Good Friday 1pm-2pm, , .Easter Monday


lpm-2pm in Victoria Court Our doors will spring open at


5pm on


9am until 5 .30pm on Good Friday and Easter Saturday -11am until Easter Monday •Eree parking Good Friday, Easter Monday and every Sunday too -13 00


parking spaces plus Shopmobility « Remember we te now open on Sundays a l l year round.


tISjew?


On display. Easter Monday llam-4pm in Victoria Court


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