The Clitheroe utwero /piursday,'June 17th,,2004 j.No^ k1 5 ^


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Inside today


by Duncan Smith


“IF not for the smoke alarm fitted at that house I am sure we would have been dealing with a fatality.” Those were the words of Clitheroe


fire chief Dave McGrath this week fol­ lowing an incident that should serve as a stark reminder to anyone who has not yet fitted potentially life-saving smoke alarms to their home. The incident happened shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, when residents in


Standen Road were woken by the sound of a smoke alarm. Initially unsure of its source, they tracked the noise to a neighbouring property where, peering through a window, they could just make out a figure slumped in a chair in a smoke-filled room. They immediately dialled 999 and


police officers, who were first on the scene, forced entry to the semi­ detached house and brought out a young man. They also managed to turn off the cooker, which was the source of the potentially lethal smoke.


Firefighters were able to treat the


man for the effects of smoke inhalation and shock, and carry out a full safety check on the house. Speaking this week, Mr McGrath


praised the residents, who were quick to investigate the alarm and alert the emergency services. Describing the all-too-familiar sce­


nario, he said: “I t ’s an equation we’ve seen a hundred times before. Alcohol plus hunger plus tiredness equals disas­ ter.” He explained that people, usually


Parents’ further anguish by Faiza Afzaal


THE grieving Clitheroe parents of a 19-month-old toddler, found dead at a childminder’s house in Sabden, are now facing the ordeal of a second funeral to bury the organs of their child. Sadness gripped the town’s close-knit


community last month as more than 150 mourners attended the funeral of little Joshua James Massey-Hodgkinson. But now, a month later, his parents


Simon Hodgkinson (33), and Emma Massey (24), are having to face the heartache of another funeral. Police released Joshua’s body for burial


last month, but because the first post­ mortem carried out at Pendlebury Chil­ dren’s Hospital, proved inconclusive, his organs were retained for further tests and investigations Earlier this week, both Simon and


m m


Emma revealed to the Clitheroe Advertis­ er and Times, the agony of losing their son. “The whole incident has just not sunk


in,” said his mother, Emma, who is at Blackburn College training to be a teacher and worked part-time at the Emporium, in Clitheroe. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to


Joshua the first time following his death. “The pathologists removed his organs


before I could see him. “By holding this funeral, hopefully in


the next few weeks, it will give Simon and I, and the family members, a chance to say goodbye.” ■The couple have been visiting Joshua’s


tiny grave at Clitheroe Cemetery every day since he was buried. Both Emma and Simon are planning to


hold a series of fund-raising events in memory of their son The couple are also planning to return to work in the next few weeks.


Come on, England!


ONE look at the pair of semis on the corner of Lime Street and Tower Hill leaves no doubt which team they are backing to win Euro 2004. Both houses are


draped with flags, bunting, cardboard cutout team shirts and a full-size copy of the European Cup. There was even a


replica Wayne Rooney - but his head fell off! Donna Parker and


Jason Foulker live at 1 Lime Street with chil­ dren Daniel (11) and Lauren (seven), while next door- at 1 Tower


Hill live Lynn and Phil Wilson and children Les­ ley (16), April (15), Toni (13), Lauren (nine),


Gareth (four) and two- year-old T.J. Other local children who helped to decorate the houses are


Vicky Smith, Adam and Michael Pinder, Chris Scott and Tom Nichol­ son. (CR150604/a)


FAMILY NOTICES..; PAGES 22,23 ■ AT YOUR SERVICE ...PAGES 8,9 ■ VILLAGE NEWS ...PAGES 11,12, I | j ; .


Latest 2004 range in stock at


men, get home after a night out and, feeling hungry, put something on the stove. They then fall asleep while wait­ ing for the food to cook. The worst cases involve chip pans


setting alight, but just the smoke from a cooker fire is enough to kill. He added that the smoke alarm - and


the neighbours’ reaction - had undoubt­ edly saved the young man’s life. “Let’s make it a mission to have


every home in the Ribble Valley fitted with working smoke alarms,” said Mr McGrath.


P*M **Mtfc)<»*;M 04 Smoke alarm saves man’s life The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Ser­


vice now has a freephone number (0800 1691125) which people can ring and leave their details. Fire officers will then follow up with


a call to that person’s home to give fire safety advice and, if necessary, install a smoke alarm. • Clitheroe Firefighters were called


to Kemple View at Langho shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday after a grass banking was deliberately set alight. They spent 30 minutes putting out the fire and making the scene safe.


t-3 King Lane, Clitheroe Tel: 01200 443340


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