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The Clitheroe


CALL TO MOVE DAUBER BUS STOP p a g e s


Police issue a warn­ ing after a woman alleges that she was assaulted in a taxi.


• page 3


A popular Clitheroe market stallholder retires after 51 years.


....page 14


A local vicar sets the record straight on his views on adoption by gay couples.


page 8


Cricket protege Richard Lamb (18) hopes to hit them for six Down Under.


■ page 36


A new event in the Ribble Valley social calendar is a big hit and raises £6,000


for charity. ■ page 16


There are four times as many applica­


tions as places at a p r e s t i g i o u s


Clitheroe school. • page 15


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND WEATHER: A settled weekend, which should stay dry, sunny and mild.


CALLUS


News: 01200 422324 Advertising: / 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Fax: 01200 443467


Editorial e.mail: rcbccca.smith@rim.


co.uk f Mr Johnson


says thanks for help with ordeal


Alistair writes from his hospital bed after serious injury from angry cow exclusive story by Ben Carlish


A POPULAR local postman, left wheel­ chair-bound after being attacked by a cow, has written from his hospital ward thanking members of the community for helping in his bid to come to terms with


the ordeal. As th e C l ith e ro e


A d v e r t ise r and T im e s r ep o r ted in July, Mr Alistair Johnson, of the Grove, Whalley, suffered sev e r e sp in a l in ju r ie s when he was butted by an angry cow while on his rounds in the village. He was crossing a foot-


is growing up!!! NOW STOCKING


I path in a field in the vil­ la g e a t L aw so n s te a d s farm, B rook s L an e, when the cow which had a ca lf , la u n ch ed th e


attack. He was a irlif ted to a


sp e c ia lis t u n it a t the Northern General Hospi­ tal, Sheffield, after X-rays confirmed he had su s ­ tained severe spinal


injuries. While, Mr Johnson (41)


has made good progress, it now seems likely that he will remain paralysed from the waist down at least for the foreseeable future. His mother, Mrs Barbara


Johnson, Whalley Parish Church warden, told the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, that her courageous son is determined not to let the shattering blow over­ shadow the rest of his life. He is undertaking an arm exercise regime and has even played hockey in a wheelchair with other patients at facilities at the


1


Huge selection of fashion accessories gj for all ages at pocket money prices


The latest


hospital. Mrs Johnson remarked


that the messages of sup­ port he had received have been a tremendous boost to


his morale. She said: "He is coping


very well and adopting a very positive attitude. It is typical of him — he always seizes a challenge and he is determined to remain as independent as possible." In a letter Mr Johnson


sent to the Clitheroe Adver­ tiser and Times (see Letters


page), he thanked pupils n


and teachers at Brookside r>ruuis.aiuc


and sent to him. In the letter he went on


to write: "I was both very heartened and overwhelmed by the response - it's great to know that so many friends are thinking of me." Dog lover Mr Johnson,


who set up the Clitheroe and District Dog Agility Club, was also full of praise for members of the parish church and others who had drawn up a rota to take it in turns to walk his two dogs which he dotes on, "Lady" and "Casper." Messages of support too


have poured in from many people Mr Johnson has befriended on the national dog agility circuit and he has written also to "Agility Eye" magazine thanking them for their solidarity. Mrs Johnson said he has


missed his beloved pets and was elated by a brief reunion with them on a bal­ cony at the hospital. Because he was bed-


bound until a few weeks ago, he was unable to leave the ward and dogs were not allowed inside. Now though, with the help of a body brace and following an extensive programme of arm exercises, he is able to go outside the hospital m a wheelchair to see his doggy


pals. "Ilis dogs are everything


to him. They have really been missing him. They seemed really puzzled when he suddenly wasn't in the house anymore," recalled


Mrs Johnson. Mr Johnson, a former


Whalley CE Primary School and CRGS pupil, has been a postman for the last 10 years and has won many rosettes for his dog training skills. .


- -----—-------------


School for two giant get well TH E la te s t exhibition a t th e f la t - c a r d s they had all signed | form Gallery certainly gave viewers


time to reflect a t it s opening recent-


ly*For the "Face to Face" exhibition fea­ tures clocks and mirrors made by some of the region's brightest artists, in addi­ tion to textiles and metal work. Works on display are of all shapes and


sizes; some of the textiles are in normal materials, while others have been worked


in gold and silver leaf. Local artists Nigel Aspin from Gnndle- .


ton, Jackie Cardy from Chorley, Berme Blackburn from Preston and Mark Chamley from Padiham all attended the launch of the exhibition, which attracted


an enthusiastic and sizeable crowd. Gallery organiser Katherine Shoesmith


reported that the preview evening attract­ ed art lovers in their droves, demonstrat­ ing just how popular the gallery is over a


wide area of the region. A mirror-making workshop is being


held by Mark Charnley at Bashall Village Hall on October 16th, costing £15, includ­ ing materials and tuition, and is open to people aged 14 and over. Another one on clock-making is to be held at Sawley Vil­ lage Hall on October 23rd, priced £18. For more information, contact Katherine Shoesmith on 01200 443071. "Face to face" runs until the end of the month and


admission is free.


Man escapes with his life in fire sparked by chip pan


A SMOKE alarm could have saved the life of a Clitheroe man as a fierce blaze engulfed the ground


floor of his home. The drama happened in


the early hours of Tuesday, when nearby people had to be evacuated. Mr Wayne Cox (33) was


wakened by the alarm at his home in Kiln Close, opposite Clitheroe Royal Grammar School’s Chat-


burn Road site, early on Tuesday morning. A chip pan is believed to have caused the blaze. The lower part of the


__ . . . ___l _ _ ____L n n o n I i r o c v i r f i m l l l


house was virtually burnt out.


house was engulfed in flames, but Mr Cox was able to get out, though he sustained burns to his hands, neck and face. Smoke alarms alerted


neighbours and some had to leave their homes for a time. The ground floor of the


Mr. Cox was detained in.


Blackburn Royal Infir­ mary, where his condition yesterday was comfortable. A fire service spokesman


said that the incident was a classic example of the dan­ gers of chip pan fires - many of which lead to death - and the reason for a national campaign warning


people. Top-flight visit from NFU chief


FARMERS' union president Mr Ben Gill will be talking to Ribble Valley farmers today about the economic crisis


facing the industry. Last week, Agriculture Minister Mr


1 Nick Brown announced details of a multi­ million pound package aimed at helping the agriculture industry, but local N 1' U leaders voiced concern that only a small portion of the cash would reach the Ribble


Valley. Today farmers will be able to put for­


ward their views on the aid package to Mr Gill when he visits Gisburn Auction Mart


v r i i m ADVERTISER AND TIMES f it


r r .Y L l ***•&* — *1 t «


Open 6 days 9.30am - 5.30pm Visit our Web site:


www.saras.zuunet.co.uk. & r t


is n


V: ■ / — - i r - I . r H- v *-St /rr*xrxr%»>t»?- < : h , - : . , .


32 King St • Clitheroe Tel 01200 442434


between 11-30 a.m. and 1-30 p.m. At 7-30 p.m. he will also be holding an open meet­ ing in the main ring at Skipton Auction


Mart. Mr Tim Palmer, group secretary lor tnc | . |


Skipton branch of the NFU which has planned the visit, said: "He is coming to see first hand the state the industry is getting | into. He well understands the situation, but talking to people is what the visit is all | about and getting in among them to find out what is going on on the ground. Mr Gill is a very important person fighting


extremely hard for farmers." N o v a S co t ia M i l ls


M a y fs cM Street) O i l B o l to n Koacl. B la c k b u rn .


Tel. 0 1 2 5 * 59123


INDUSTRIAL FOOTWEAR; & CLOTHING


Beautiful furniture to complement your home.


lepsons has a wide choice to suit every taste and budget.


, -


Isn’t it time you treated yourself?


ARTISTS Bernic (le f t ) and Mark show the bright face of talent, watched by Katherine Shoesmith (230999/7/18)


&


Ultraframe identifies top man to lead go-ahead firm to Millennium success


by Vivien Meath


THE identity of the man chosen to lead Clitheroe company Ultraframe into the new Millen­


nium was revealed this week. Civil engineer Mr Ian Mills (50) has


been appointed group chief executive and will be joining the company from


tomorrow.


Previously the chief executive of Graham Group pic, during seven years at the helm he successfully trans­ formed it into the country's second largest builders' merchants. Graham Group had a turnover of £520m., with


' .


180 branches and 3,400 employees. The group was recently acquired by


_____ _____


Meyer International pic. Mr Mills, like his predecessor, Mr


Ian Robinson, is a civil engineer and Ultraframe will undoubtedly be look­ ing to benefit from his vast experience in the construction and building prod­ ucts sector, in terms of distribution, marketing and manufacturing of metal and plastic products. During his career he has also been involved in negotiating and integrat­


ing a wide range of acquisitions. Educated at Bacup and Rawten-


stall Grammar School, he graduated from Leeds University with a BSc Hons degree in civil engineering. He


lives in the Keighley area. Following Mr Robinson's departure


tured), Mr Lancaster paid tribute to the company's employees for their extra commitment during the absence


in May, company founder Mr John Lancaster has been overseeing devel­ opments alongside acting managing director Mr David Moore. Welcoming the appointment of Mr Mills (pic­


of a chief executive. He said: "I would like to congratu­


late all the employees at Ultraframe, and especially our directors, under the leadership of Mr David Moore, for the extra work they have had to undertake during the period without a chief exec­ utive, ensuring the company has main­


No action y in E.coli pub scare


tained its market-leading position." Mr Lancaster commented that it


was widely acknowledged that the builders' merchant industry was very


competitive. "We, the directors, believe that Mr


Mills's background will be very bene­ ficial to Ultraframe and are convinced that he will be found to be a real peo­ ple's person, charismatic, with the vision and ideas to take Ultraframe


into the future.” Earlier this year, Ultraframe


announced the establishment of a 50- 50 joint venture with Royal Group Technologies Ltd, one of North Amer­ ica's largest extruders of pvc building products.


lief letting on artistic talent


NO action is to be taken against the Ribble Valley pub linked to th e sum­ mer outbreak of E.coli, which almost claimed the life of a young Padiham


woman. Having undertaken


extensive investigations of the premises, including t; analysis of food and envi- ' ronmental samples, environ- ■ mental health officers from Ribble Valley Borough Council found no trace of j the potentially fatal bug. During the investigation, /


the pub landlord voluntari­ ly closed the restaurant part of his business for five days to co-operate with council


| officials. I ; Now borough Chief Exec­


utive Mr David Morris has contacted the three people struck by the illness follow­ ing their visits to the pub in July to tell them that the council will not be taking the matter any further. ' Of those who became ill, the most seriously affected was Padiham graduate Miss Stephanie Hawke (21), who spent two weeks in Burnley General Hospital, including one in intensive care, fight­ ing the infection.


Teacher is suspended


i A teacher was suspended,


AN inquiry was launched at Clitheroe Royal Gram­ mar School this week after an alleged classroom inci­ dent.


but a school spokesman emphasised that the facts had to be properly estab­ lished. If they showed that any action by the governors was required, it would be


taken. It is understood that the


■police" are not involved in the inquiry.


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