y | v ■ S'


im e s T h u rsd a y , A p r i l 11th, 2 002 No. 6,040


Owl finds Safety in iSabden


page 2 . AT A GLANCE


A popular Whalley villager and father of three is found dead near his home.


page 2


A Clitheroe man is to front an internationally-acclaimed rock band.


' page 3


An error in setting up bus fare machines has left passengers fuming.


'■ page 9


A man is cleared of theft from his employers.


' page 3


Pedalling 1,500 miles for charity is Brian Davies (left), who is cycling back from Belarus to Blackburn.


page 3


A student is looking for sponsor­ ship as she leaves for St Lucia on a work placement.


ii page 9


Three 100-year-old looms have been rescued and are on their way to Staffordshire for restora­ tion so they can be re-used.'


ii page 13


FOGGITT’S WEEKEND , WEATHER:;; Becoming colder, with the chance of showers.


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Hats on for VIP visit frtim a duke


page 5


An exclusive peep at proposed arts centre for town


by Vivien Meath


AFTER three years of set­ backs, plans have been lodged for the redevelop­ ment of Clitheroe's Grand Cinema as a Youth Arts


Centre. This time, the Lancaster Foun­


dation is hoping th a t the new- look York Street building will find favour with planners and resi­ dents alike. English Heritage is already said to be "very positive" about the latest ideas. If permis­ sion is forthcoming, then i t is anticipated th a t work could be completed mid-2004.


The innovative £3m. scheme,


externally a far cry from the spec­ tacular twin-towered glass-front­ ed s t ru c tu re firs t revealed in December, 2000, features a new main entrance with a pagoda style canopy. . ' The plans, drawn up by


Clitheroe a rch i tect Mr Steve Burke, are felt to represent an exciting new concept in creative arts and music facilities for young people at a time when concern has been'widely expressed about increasing juvenile nuisance and anti-social behaviour in the town.- The proposed facilities will


consist of a new spacious mod­ ern reception, accessed a t street level; cyber cafe, disc jockey


facilities and a dance and per­ formance venue; a high-tech stage routed to recording s tu ­ dios facilitating recordings for live events and a dance studio and four sound rehearsal/record- ing rooms with a digital record­ ing studio and control room.


Gas blast victim Andrew dies


Now school friends rally round to send ‘get weir messages to brother Steven by Julie Frankland


"HAPPY pictures" in crayon and poster paint Have been sent to. the hos­ pital bedside of six-year- old Clitheroe boy Steven


Marsden.' Sadly, Steven’s brother, Andrew (eight) has died in hos­


pital. The pictures are intended to


remind Steven, who is recover­ ing from burns in Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, of his classmates a t St James' CE Primary School, and also of the fun and carefree times he enjoyed a t his Standen Road home, where he lived with his parents, John and Lynn Mars­ den and big brother Andrew. While the children's handi­


work may bring some comfort, Steven's world was literally ripped apart on Easter Monday morning when a gas blast rico­ cheted through the downstairs of his home. The last time the family was


together was in a local ambu­ lance after they had fled to the back garden to wait for the emergency services. • Brother Andrew, initially


thought to be the least poorly of the boys, was taken by ambulance to Booth Hall Chil­


.On Monday, staff there con­ firmed Andrew had died of his injuries following the onset of


dren's Hospital, Manchester.


complications. ■ : Mum and dad are on a spe­


cialist burns ward a t the Royal Preston Hospital, but in sepa­ rate sections. Part-time secre­ tary Mrs Marsden was said to


be "coming along" with injuries that are understood to include severe bums to her arms. Quar- ryman Mr Marsden, who i t is understood has been sedated since the blast and has a severe foot injury, was described as "satisfactory". The boys’ headmaster, Coun.


Paul Adnitt, on Monday had the sad task of telling assem­ bled pupils and staff of the blas t, Andrew's death and Steven's injuries. He said: "The school is a fam­


ily and, as such, we are all deeply shocked and upset. "Everyone was very quiet in


assembly. Even the children who were really too young to understand what had happened knew there was something wrong. We said prayers for both boys and their parents." Added. Coun. Adnitt:


"Andrew was in Year 4. He was a likeable, lively lad who will be sadly missed. He was hard working, but always fun. He was too young to play in the


Empty streets as the Valley pays its respects


THE streets of Clitheroe and the surrounding villages were empty on Tuesday morning as residents paid their last respects to the


Queen Mother. Shops and businesses closed, some for


the entire morning, others for a couple of hours, to allow their employees to watch the royal funeral in their own homes. The Union Flag was a t half-mast on


Clitheroe's Castle and a book of condo-' lence was opened by Clitheroe Town Council last week. The number signing so' far was said to be "disappointing", with only 30 people visiting the Town Hall. Coun. Mrs Gwen Pye, Ribble Valley


Mayor, said the Queen Mother's funeral had displayed the feelings of the British people for the Monarchy. "The display of affection yesterday shows that everybody is behind the Monarchy," she said.


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: had finished for football prac- ;tice.'.'v-v


want to do whatever they can , to', help. Steven’s classmates , have painted and drawn happy pictures for him and these we have sent to the hospital via one of his relatives. We all want him to make a speedy recovery and to be back with us." Neighbours on the Standen


"All the children and staff


Road estate, which the family moved to from Hall Street just las t year,- have been equally devastated by the holiday hor­ ror. Already they have raised more than £80 to buy bedside flowers and gifts for Steven and his parents. Since the blast, they have


also been fearful for their own safety. Residents claim to have smelt gas frequently prior to the explosion and voiced con­ cerns about gas pipe repairs, which have been an on-going feature of estate life for the past two years, according to some of the Marsdens' neighbours.. Of , gas supplier Transco,


which is working to replace gas mains throughout the North- West, one of the injured family's neighbours said: "I have been told by a Transco workman that corroded pipes and a number of leaks have been detected."


school football team, bu t he, still stayed behind after school


.. •-


THOUGHTS and prayers arc- with Steven and his parents


confirmed th a t the company was working, with the Mars­ dens' insurers and legal repre­ sentatives and helping other family members with expenses incurred hospital visiting. She said: "It is standard prac­


A spokeswoman for Transco


tice following an incident such as this for us to carry out a sur­ vey of the whole area. "I understand that some resi­


dents may be concerned by the sight of our engineers and their detection equipment, which is much more sensitive than the human nose at detecting gas. I t can detect gas at levels that pose no danger, but we would make good even such minor escapes. "There has been some dig­


Lifts will link the two floors. The Youth Arts Centre's digital


recording studio will be dedicated to the memory of the late Ken­ neth Macmillan. The developments are part of a


long-standing vision shared by Ultraframe founder Mr John


Lancaster, his wife, Rosemary, and Mr Geoff Jackson, of Trinity Partnership. They feel th a t the plans represent a superb invest­ ment for young people and the local community considering the ideas th a t have been proposed, the physical re s tra in ts of the


existing building, the need to meet health and safety require­ ments and the need for full access for those with special needs. The cinema will have to close


for work to be carried out, possibly as early as spring next year, and


• story continues on page 2 School closes to x •- - -5 A *-


mourn popular maths teacher


A SCHOOL in the Ribble Valley will be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to a popular teacher who was found dead in the River Ribble last week. All the colleagues o f , most successful team.


Saints, Church, Clay- ton-le-Moors, funeral,


a t 11.15 a.m. Father -of- three Mr


Ormerod, aged 50, had only joined the staff in September after spend­ ing the first part of his career a t Moorhead High School, Accring­ ton. But in his short time


at Bowland High he had made many friends. Head teacher Mr


ging near to the family's house, which is p a r t of an on-going investigation involving our­ selves, our sister technology company, Advantica, the Health and Safety Executive and Ribble Valley Borough Council. However, should any­ one still feel concerned, they can telephone our freephone 24- hour helpline on 0800111999."


• Residents express safety


fears following the gas blast - see page 16


‘Born and Bred* all set for April launch


by John Turner


SUNDAY night, April 21st, could be a night to remember


for the village of Downham. That is the night, the Clitheroe


Advertiser and Times can now reveal, for the screening on n et­ work television of the Downham- filmed series "Bom and Bred".;' . There are hopes and fears that, if


the series proves to be a big hit, it will also b ring i ts rewards and


drawbacks. A ratings hit for the six episodes


means th a t the popular picture- p ostcard village, alread y busy with countless trippers, particular­ ly on fine days, could become over­ run with sightseers, eager to see


where the new series was filmed. But it also means another series


being filmed in Downham, bringing in much-needed revenue to an area h it badly by last year's foot and mouth epidemic. One person hoping for good view­


ing figures is Clitheroe author and grandmother Mrs Anne Musson. Her book, "My Beloved Down-


hood, a childhood memory", was first published last year. She said: "It is selling extremely


well) and I am hoping for even bet­ ter things when the television series is broadcast." . "Born and Bred" s ta rs James


Bolam, the droll character from "The Likely Lads", and Michael French, a former star of "EastEn- ders".


Maurice Graham this week paid tribute to Mr Ormerod. "He made an amazing


contribution to the school. He was a fine teacher and he was well respected by the chil­ dren. He was firm and friendly and he threw himself into the life of the school." Keen sportsman Mr


Ormerod, who tau g h t mathematics and PE, started up a girls' soc­ cer team which has become th e school's


Woman charged with £70,000


thefts is missing


POLICE said this week that there was increasing concern over the safety of a Whalley woman who lias been missing since last


week. Villager Mrs Mary Vera Fishwick


(39), of Gardener's Cottage, Whalley Abbey, was la s t seen when she left home in her car on Wednesday, April


4th. Police p u t o u t an appeal seeking


information about the whereabouts of Scottish-born Mrs Fishwick, who is described as being 5ft 2iris in height and stocky..


magistrates a t Blackburn facing 12 charges of stealing a total of £70,000 from her employers, Optical Direct. ■ She had been granted bail and was due


Mrs Fishwick has appeared before • ' ■ •


to appear before the court again on April 25th.


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Mr Peter Ormerod a n d , ' "He was a perfect gen- many of th e pupils of tleman who loved the


Bowland High School school.' I t was an p la n to be a t th e All absolute tragedy," added


tured) died after going fishing with his son, Mr Thomas Ormerod. His son returned


Mr Graham. M r : Ormerod (pic­


home, b u t when Mr Ormerod sen. did not, return in the evening, his son returned to the Rib­


ble at Mitton and found him in the water. • , Police said they did


not believe there were any suspicious circum­ stances.


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page 15


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