Iw^eekendplus
COMEDY BONANZA JUST GETS BETTER
review by Marcia Morris
Comedy Bonanza 2000; Grand Theatre, ^ Blackpool
have been joined by a cousin and the 19- year-old daughter of one, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the blonde aunt she has replaced. The quartet's stylish, white, shiny out
fits added a special elegance to the show and their medley of old favourite songs were beautifully sung. It is worth visiting the Grand Theatre, if only to experience the coziness of the
IN the words of the song "It can only get better" and it did, following a slow start. Star of the Comedy Bonanza
2000, a t th e Grand T h e a tre , Blackpool, was, without doubt,
Billy Pearce. With his quick-fire jokes, his power
ful singing voice and his overall enter taining talents, he soon had the audi ence rocking in their seats. The appearance of the Nolans, albeit
only in the second half, was another highlight of this comedy show, which will run for 16 weeks throughout the summer. However, two of the original sisters
Victorian auditorium, which is still in the early stages of being restored to its origi
nal finery. The staging, lighting and sound, how
ever, are bang-up-to-date and every sylla ble could be heard from the back row seats in the dress circle, from where my husband and I watched the show. Special guest star Jimmy Cricket was
excellent with his simple Irish humour and his famous "Letter from his
mammy". The finale was worthy of the London
stage or Broadway, expertly done and the costumes of the showgirls were an extrav agance of feathers and glitter. TV personality John Inman threads
himself through the show as compere- cum-clown, and is still a firm favourite among the older generation.
what’s on in the Ribble Valley compiled by Marcia Morris
IT is not a case of blowing one's own t rum p e t , b u t since the Clitheroe Town Band was formed it has received many requests to play at different venues and events. On Saturday, the band will play at
Whalley Abbey during the afternoon and it also has a d a te to play a t Clitheroe Castle Bandstand a week on
Sunday. There are 42 registered members of the
band, ranging in age from seven to 76, and the musicians are looking forward to further concerts throughout the remain
der of the summer. For a different kind of music, visit
ICnowle Green Village Hall tomorrow night at 8 p.m. for a folk evening featur ing "Whisky in the Jar". Admission includes supper. EVENTS - JULY 21ST TO 27TH Ghost walks with Simon Entwistle
from Clithcroe Castle Gates and in Whalley. Inquiries, tel. 01254 245657 Clitheroe Library, an exhibition of paintings - acrylics and pastels - by Mr
Philip Buller, of Billington. Platform Gallery, a ceramics and
metals exhibition 10 a.m. to 4-30 p.m. 21st - Knowle Green Village. Hall,
folk evening with "Whisky in the Jar" at 8 p.m. Inquiries, tel. 01254 878447. 22nd - Lan c ash ire Co u n try s id e
Events, Bowland Visitor Centre, learn about badgers from Lancashire Badger Group between 11 a.m. and 3-30 p.m.
Inquiries, tel. 01995 640557. 22nd - Clitheroe Town Band will
play a t Whalley Abbey in the af ter
noon. 22nd - Clitheroe Ramblers’ Associa
tion, meet Chester Avenue car park at 9-30 a.m. for a "Journey to the Centre of the Kingdom" (Whitendale Hanging Stones from Dunsop Bridge). No dogs. 25th - Forestry Commission presents,
Wildlife Detectives, a two-hour walk through woods to track down evidence of different creatures, a t Whinlatter Forest Park, near Keswick. Inquiries, tel. 017687 78469.
Ail entries for inclusion to be on a listings form, a vm la b le fromthe Tourist Information Centre in Market Place, Clitheroe, and handed in by the ,10th of the month prior to the event ,
, 25th - Swan and Royal Pub, curry
club from 5 to 7 p.m. 26th - Clitheroe Ramblers' Associa
tion, meet 7 p.m. for Mellor (village hall car park). 26th - Swan and Royal Pub, quiz
night at 9-30 p.m. FORTHCOMING EVENTS - JULY
2ST11 TO AUGUST 3RD
29lh - Clitheroe Naturalists' Society meet 10 a.m. for Heaton P ark .
Inquiries, tel. 01254 824507. 30th - Charity five-a-side football
to u rn am en t a t Shawbridge, with Clitheroe FC, Accrington Stanley, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley FC, in aid of East Lancashire Hospice. Kick-off 2- 30 p.m. Inquiries, tel. 01200 427958. 30th - Clitheroe Castle Bandstand,
an af te rnoon concert by Clitheroe Town Band.
AUGUST 1st - Discover the secrets of the Lake
District’s wildflowers and butterflies at Whinlatter Forest Park, near Keswick. Inquiries, tel. 017687 78469. 1st - Clitheroe Ramblers' Associa tion, meet 10 a.m. Chester Avenue car
park for Chipping. 2nd - Clitheroe Ramblers' Associa
tion meet 7 p.m. Barker Brow car park. Also B walk (Ribchester Road, Ribch-
ester). 3rd - Lan c ash ire C o u ntrys ide
Events, join local guide Colin Cooke for an evening walk round the beautiful Sabden Valley, starting a t 6-30 p.m. Inquiries tel. 01995 640557. Further details of some of the above
events can be found in ad ja c en t "Lifestyle" advertisements. ® A booking service for theatres and
events throughout the region is avail able from the Tourist Information Cen tre, Market Place, Clitheroe on 01200
425566. Letters to the Editor J EHi,nr. Clilhcroc Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street. Clithcme BB72EW Editorial e-mail: clUh^-cditorialfe' r im . c ^ Chemical smell
j report on the Castle Cement pros- ecution, and the headline, "Castle Cement is ordered to pay £119,000", led me to believe that the fines had been substantial — and rightly so. But, reading further, 1 see that
on most days I WAS interested to read the
£15,000 on each of three breaches was the fine, while £74,000 was Environment Agency costs. So the fines were nowhere near high enough in my opinion. I was not present at the hear
ing, so can only go on the reported comments. Mr Andrew Gilbart
QC, defending, stated th a t air quality in the area was very good. I wonder if he knows the area and has compared the atmosphere with elsewhere? My relatives live elsewhere in Lancashire and in Cheshire, close to industrial devel opments, some chemical. When 1 stay with them 1 smell "fresh air , but in Chatburn the air is tainted with a chemical smell on the
majority of days. Mr Sutheran's comments
included a reference to "the small number of local protesters" and 'is pleased that the judge urged
them to note that the breaches posed no threat to health whatso-
ever . I t may be th a t only a small
number of people make formal complaints to the Environment Agency, but a very large number of people object to what they see as the pollution of the area by
Castle Cement. Does Mr Sutheran not realise
that it is often left to the few to take action to try to improve things for the many who remain silent officially, but complain bit terly among themselves? And I wonder on what basis the judge was able to state that there was no risk to health whatsoever? Did he know whether asthma suffer ers, for example, had severe attacks during the time of these breaches? Of course he did not, and I am surprised that he felt able to make such a statement. Mr Sutheran's comments are
complacent, but I hope that he will now ensure that the plant is managed and monitored positive ly; the matter rests in his hands, but, if he takes action only after complaints, I hope that the Envi ronment Agency will use the stronger action of a prohibition notice on the plant — perhaps shutting it down until manage ment shows willingness to comply on a day-to-day basis is the only way to get proper action by them.
DETERMINED, Chatburn.
I Harm to health and it’s legal
ICASTLE CEMENT pleaded guilty to creating a persistent
j odour on March 4th, 1999, along I with two other guilty pleas. Both sides blamed sulphur
| dioxide for the odour. I enclose photographs (one of
I which is reproduced above) from
j a video my son took of the plumes that morning, as I took both of my children over Waddington Fell, on the way to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. I did not leave them to breathe in those
Environment Agency lawyers if any health risk was involved. They said most definitely not, and this was agreed by Castle Cement’s lawyers. The seriousness of the offence was therefore assessed simply on the basis of harmless odour which was of no risk to anyone's health whatsoev-
1 believe that neither the Envi
ronment Agency nor Castle Cement acted properly. I have the proof. The NW
Regional Director of the Environ ment Agency, Justin McCracken, confirmed in a letter dated 20th April, 2000, that most people can not smell sulphur dioxide below 450 ppb. The air quality regulations
July 20th, 2000 15
require the concentration of sul phur dioxide in the air to be below lOOppb as a 15 minute average for
99.9% of the time. This standard takes into
account the known effects on health of sensitive individuals. The agency is aware of the
above, but totally disregards the health damage which can be caused at concentrations of sul phur dioxide in the air between lOOppb and 400ppb, that is when odour is not detectable at all. The agency also ignores com
plaints which it records as faint or transient, but which residents
identify as strong. This discrepan cy is dismissed as residents having become "sensitised" - as though that does not matter, even though a faint odour indicates a strong presence of the gas. Residents have repeatedly complained of health effects caused by the plumes. Many have been when no odour was identified. Who gave the Environment
Agency permission to ignore Air Quality Regulations? I brought this matter to the
attention of the Environment Agency inspectors and solicitor in the recess before the judge came back in to sum up, and before sen
tence was passed. I brought this matter to the
attention of the junior barrister of the prosecution during the same recess. He told me he could only act on the instructions given to him (by the Environment Agency). 1 understand that his first duty is to the court. No one told the judge. Surely it was important for him to know about the true relevance of the health issue, before he summed up and passed sentence? Will the Government instruct
A HORNER family video still of Castle Clement p[lumcs
range was one of the most com plete of the abbey buildings; indeed, even in its present state it remains one of the most complete examples of a Cistercian Lay- Brothers' dormitory in the coun try.
us that this building needs exten sive work doing on it to make it
11 is now being pointed out to
s;ife and usable once again. About 14 years ago, I wrote to
your paper about the same sub ject, hoping that somewhere it might create some interest and concern, but obviously it achieved
nothing. A few months ago, I attended a
meeting at Whalley Village Hall, where the villagers of Whalley were asked for suggestions for a way of celebrating the Millenni um in the village. I took the plunge and suggested that a fit ting way of celebrating this spe cial event would he to apply for a grant to fund the restoration of the west range of Whalley Abbey
to its former glory. I was told that this problem
was already under review and so it was not considered. The article in your June 15th
Castle Cement to stop using kilns 5 and 6 now, immediately, or will they allow this predictable harm to continue? No future prosecu tion can surely be brought under a clause which by definition allows harm to health before it is
breached? Castle Cement said themselves
th a t kilns 5 and 6 were to be mothballed - will tha t happen now with immediate effect?
MARY V. HORNER, Heights Farm, Bollon-by-Bowland.
Save building
Turner painted THE June 15th edition of the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times ran a front page article about two historic buildings that have been placed on an "at risk" register
|| back home again. It was complaints from many
fumes, b ut took them s t ra igh t published by English Heritage^ One of these buildings is the
jlresidents on Green Drive, adja cent to the school, and the video,
| which resulted in the prosecution of March 4th. I understand that
theatre ROSIE AND J IM.
Lyric Theatre, Manches ter. Thursday, July 27th, to Sunday, July 30th. Box office: 0161 8762000. ROMEO AND JULI
ET. Barrowford Park, Barrowford. Tuesday, August 1st. Box office: 01282 661701 or 661234. THE HISTORY OF
PLANET EARTH. Burnley Mechanics. Wednesday, August 2nd.
Box office: 01282 664400. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
POSTMAN PAT. Palace Theatre, Manchester. Thursday, August 10th to Saturday, August 12th. Box office: 0161 2422524. DON QUIXOTE.
Williamson Park, Lan caster. To Saturday, August 19th. Box office: 01524 66645.
music RADIO ONE DANCE
ITALIAN SERE
NADE. Lyric Theatre, Manchester. Sunday, July 23rd. Box office: 0161
8762000. LU N C H T I M E
ORGAN RECITAL WITH LINDA CAR RINGTON. King George's Concert Hall, Blackburn. Friday, July 28th. Free
admission. MAHLER AT THE
MILLENNIUM. Bridge- water Hall, Manchester. Saturday, July 29th. Box office: 0161 9079000. BANDS IN THE
PARK. Queen's Park, Burnley. Saturday, July 29th to Sunday, July 30th. Box office: 01282 664400. THE TALONS - A
TRIBUTE TO THE EAGLES. Marine Hall, Fleetwood. Sunday, July 30th. Box office: 01253
771141. THE BEST ELVIS
PARTY. Prince's Park, Southport. Friday, July
21st.SUMMER SEASON ORGAN RECITAL WITH RONALD FROST. King George's Concert Hall, Blackburn. Friday, July 21st. Free admission.
Grand Theatre, Black pool. Sundays—July 23rd, 30th, August 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th, September 3rd. Box office: 01253
SUMMER SIXTIES. __ 290190.
SHOW IN THE WORLD. King George's Hall, Black burn. Saturday, August 12th. Box office: 01254 898000.
musicals ANNIE. Opera House,
Blackpool. To Sunday, August 5th. Box office:
01253 292029. THE PHANTOM OF
THE OPERA. Opera House, Manchester. Satur day, August 19th to Satur day, November 11th. Box office: 01612422524.
l pupils played rugby in the blue fumes that day on the grammar school field, adjacent to Green
comedy COMEDY MEETS
COUNTRY AT HE H O N K Y - T O N K
NIGHTS. Fort San Antone, Warton. Tuesday,
July 25th, Wednesday, July 26th and Thursday,
July 27th. Box office: 01772 633162 or 0191
3720311 JULIAN CLARY.
Grand Theatre, Black pool. Sunday, September 24th. Box office: 01253
290190. THE BIG BIG
LAUGHTER SHOW. North Pier, Blackpool. To Tuesday, October 24th. Box office: 01253 292029. HALE AND PACE. North Pier, Blackpool. To
Saturday, October 28th. B o x office: 01253 292029.
exhibitions: RAG RUG MAKING.
In Pendle aboard a canal
boat. Monday, July 24th and Wednesday, July 26th. Details: 01282
421986. DAY OUT WITH
THOMAS. National Railway Museum, York. Saturday, July 29th to Tuesday, August 1st. Information: 01904 686282. SHADOW CHASERS.
Mid Pennine Gallery, Burnley. Saturday, July 29th to Saturday, Septem ber 16th.
I Drive. The judge specifically asked the
Clitheroe Auction
Mart prices AT Clitheroe Auction Mart's weekly sale on Tues day July 11th, forward were 50 prime bulls, steers and heifers, 1,306 prime lambs, hoggs and ewes, and 38
calves. The overall average for
prime cattle was 93.65p per kg, and the top price was a Belgian Blue heifer (120p per kg) from T. L. Fell. Bulls: Premium made to
120p per kg (average 117.75p), prime to 102p (97.67p), commercial to 89p (83.55p). Steers: Prime to 97p (94p), commercial to 77p (73.l ip ) . Heifers: Pre mium to 117p (114p), prime lOOp (95.57p), commercial to 90p (84.71p). Top sale price for lambs
"west range" of Whalley Abbey, built between 1330 and 1380 and used as the lay brothers’ dormito ry for 200 years or more. In 1800, Turner painted a land
scape, "Distant Views of Whalley Abbey", a print of which can be seen in Whitaker's book on the history of Whalley. It clearly shows that the west
edition said that English Heritage chairman Sir Neil Cossons urged local authorities and other bodies to "act before it is too late". I think that's a bit rich when the article goes on to say that Fr Paul Dillon, of the English Martyrs' RC Church, Whalley, had said that the diocese had already been in touch with English Heritage in the hope tha t the organisation would take an interest in the building and come up with a her
itage plan. That was two years ago and he
has heard nothing since. Fr Dillon also added th a t the building might be suitable for conversion to a heritage and information cen tre, linked to the complex already
run by the Anglicans. I think that the suggestion is a
very sound solution to this prob lem, and could hopefully bring about the demolition of that mini "Berlin Wall" that has separated the Church of England side of Whalley Abbey from the Roman Catholic side for so long, and so open up the whole monastic site for everyone to visit and enjoy if
they so wish. In contrast to the RC side of
the Abbey, the Anglican side is flourishing and is a joy to visit. Most of the buildings are well maintained and are put to good use, which is a great credit to all the people involved in helping to
bring this about. 1 feel sure that, with proper
funding and a united effort, the west range of Whallcy Abbey can be restored and put to good use. Why is English Heritage not help ing? The National Lottery has millions of pounds to give to good causes. Why can't it help? If these fail, how about the EU? It seems
to have millions to spend through out its member countries, some times on obscure schemes; maybe it could ho persuaded by our local MEP to fund the restoration of this ancient building. There has got to be a way
before it is too late. In your column on July 6th,
Irena Zalasiewicz, of Bury, took the time to write a letter to you expressing concern for the condi tion of the west range and put it in a nutshell by pointing out that, once it crumbles away, it will be gone forever. Let's hope that can be prevented from happening.
G. HARDMAN, Milton Rood, Wlinllcv.
nerable members of our communi ties.
WRVS volunteers provide tea
bars in the magistrates' courts, the prisons and the hospitals, trol ley shops, luncheon clubs, clubs for older people and also deliver meals-on-wheels and books-on- wheels. The emergency services volunteers provide assistance at blood donor sessions, community events and can be called out at any time of the day or night in a
local emergency. WRVS volunteers really do deserve a very big "thank you".
LYNNE SNRAP, Volunteering and Communications Officer, Cumbria and Lancashire.
Our hospice still Work to end this
needs more help evil human trade AS was reported on July 1st, everyone at the East Lancashire Hospice is celebrating the news th a t our £l.3m. Day Therapy Centre Appeal has broken the
£lm. mark. This is due in no small way to
the magnificent support we have received from many local people and organisations; so on behalf of all at the hospice, thank you. However, we cannot lose sight
of two facts if we are to provide local patients living with life-
threatening illnesses a hospice ser
vice they deserve. First, we still need to raise
£196,000 to be able to finance the cost of the new building and upgrade of the existing hospice and, second, we will then need to raise £300,000 each and every year to maintain this vital service. There is no doubt that we can
TIIE discovery of over 50 dead Chinese illegal immigrants at Dover is a graphic reminder that the traffickers in human misery will stop at nothing to ply their vile, but hugely profitable trade. This tragedy brought memories
of a recent visit to a border post in Lithuania flooding back. That country wants to join the EU, but to do so it has been told it must make its borders watertight. And, thanks to help from Finland and Sweden, impressive new detection devices have been put in place which are deterring illegal immi
grants. 1 fully expected to be told that
the main source of illegal immi
not do this without the continued support of the local people. With this in mind, we would be delight ed to hear from any individuals, organisations, companies, etc., who are interested in helping us. I can be contacted at our appeals office on 01254 660900. Once again, thank you for your
STUAR T ANDREW, East Lancashire Fund-raiser, Park View Offices, Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.
Thank you to all
WRVS helpers THIS week is WRVS National Thank You Week and I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to all WRVS volun
teers. There are over 2,000 volunteers
working in local projects across Lancashire throughout the year. They provide regular, much- needed services to the more vul-
gration was neighbouring Belarus - a country with a harsh, oppres sive government - and other for mer Soviet Bloc countries. But, of the 57 illegals caught last year, I was shocked to find most were from the Far East. The Lithuan ian border post was merely a stop- ping-off point in a very long chain
of human misery. Illegal immigration is big busi
support, and here's hoping for future successes.
ness. People desperate to escape their poverty pay huge sums to cross the globe for a better life. But this vile trade so often ends up in dead bodies piled up in a lorry at Dover docks or washed up on Spain's Mediterranean beaches with people fleeing from North Africa. Standing on the Lithuanian
border brought home to me that illegal immigration is not just a British or Spanish problem. It affects us all. To combat it, we need closer co-operation between police and border control forces. That is why EU money is helping to train Lithuanian border police, often with the help of British offi
cials. We must all work together to
end this evil trade in human mis ery, rather than simply throw our hands up in horror - and do noth
ing. GARY T1TLEY MEP.
was £47.50 from J. R. Wade, of Ramsgreave and the top kilo price was 101.3p from G. R. and A
Foy. Lambs: Premium (25.5
35.9 kg) made to 85.Ip (85.Ip), premium (36 - 45.5 kg) to 101.3p (92.65p) prime (25.5 - 35.9 kg) to 83.3p (81.44p), prime (36 45.5 kg) to 86.7p (85.56p) prime (45.5 - 52 Kg) to 88p (83.33p), others to 80.2p (78.75p). Cast ewes and rams made to £30 per head (£11.46). In the sale of calves
Hoping successor will match up to Val ^
FOLLOW-MY-LEADER is something members of St Paul's Cub Scout Pack are hoping to do when they re group after the summer holi
Friesian bulls made to £15 (£9.10), beef bulls to £58 beef heifers to £35.
days. For th e boys, aged between
eight and 10, are keeping their
fingers crossed that someone will come forward to fill the gap left by Mrs Val King, who has just stepped down as their leader after more than 20 years' service. To celebrate Mrs King's leader
. . .
ship, present and past Cubs, par ents and Scouting officials gathered in the parish hall for a farewell
party. Grandmother-of-three Mrs King, of Newlands Avenue, pic tured with some of her p ar ty guests, was presented with an engraved chain, flowers, a cake, cards and a photo album by pack treasurer Mrs Jan Clarke. She also received the praise of
_i i.i iVAVo n ow KT5f-'Vin!«2rm in n s p r ip s oi ney Nicholson in a series of trib
utes. Anyone who feels able to follow
former district commissioner Mr Len Dickinson and the Rev. Rod
in Mrs King's footsteps and take on the pack of 20 youngsters, which meets weekly, should telephone Mr Dickinson on 01200 425350 as soon as possible. Full training for the role will be given. (K130700/6)
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