Clithero'e 422324 (Editbrfal);'422323 (Advertising),'Burnley 422331 (Classified)


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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, July 22nd, 2004' 2


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified).


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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, July 22nd, 2004 27 Touching farewell


I HAVE received more than 400 signa­ tures against local government reform affecting six wards in the Ribble Valley being swallowed up by Blackburn. I fully support retaining the Ribble


Valley as a local authority area. If the people of the Ribble Valley wanted to live in Blackburn, then they always have the choice of moving there. People are quite rightly worried that


their local needs will be subsumed under the greater good, or need, of Blackburn. In essence they will end up paying more local taxes to Blackburn but receive a poorer level of local services. I have already pointed out my opposi­


tion to this lunacy to the Member of Par­ liament for Blackburn, the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP. I do not believe this plan will ever tran­


spire, but other threats to the integrity of the Valley still exist. The only way to really protect our local authority is to ensure we all turn out on November 4th and vote NO to the proposed regional assembly in the referendum. I entertained the Mayor and Mayoress,


Arden high quality leather sofa - 3 seater + 2 seater ", ' >


Charles and Ruth Warkman, and last year's first citizens, Alan and Susan Year- ing to lunch in the Commons on Tuesday. Charles proudly told me that he is the country’s most senior Mayor, somewhat like the father of the House. They were all on good form and were


gearing up ready to attend Buckingham Palace for a garden party. They were all dressed up in morning


suits and garden party dresses and hats (the men wore the suits!) What a wonder­ ful tradition the parties are, and isn't it great that people dress up for them. They were a credit to the Ribble Valley. The Royals come in for more than their


fair share of criticism and scrutiny: Prince Andrew seems to have taken the lion’s share of the brickbats. I was there­


fore delighted to learn from teachers at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School that HRH went down a storm on his recent visit. He spent a long time with the youngsters and even chatted animatedly with a pupil who has a lower golfing handicap than the Prince. I am proud of all my schools and the


enormous dedication of the staff. I wish Stuart Holt all the very best for his new future outside of CRGS. I know he will be keeping himself busy with other duties in the educational field, and I hope that he can use his magic on raising the educa­ tional standards of other schools in the country with his new role. Good luck Stu­ art. Tradition has been the theme of my


viewpoint today. Congratulations are due to the Grammar School on its 450th birthday.. . and no, Stuart Holt was not present at the foundation stone laying, but isn't it wonderful that not only does the school exist today, but also it still thrives. Tradition in education, in local author­


ities, in Parliament and in our daily lives allows us to shake hands with generations past. I t is on their foundations that we live and learn. It is by their mistakes that we should ensure we never repeat them, but it is by their wisdom and experience that we build and progress. Governments of any colour will pay a


heavy price if they forget this golden rule. Junking the past is easy, but costly. Improving on the past is difficult and rewarding. I am so privileged to represent the Ribble Valley in our Parliament. I will always cherish it and aim to fight anything which could damage our com­ munity or country. After all, an audit will be done by future generations of people who will never understand why it is that our generation let go of something which was priceless and precious.


by Tony Coppin


W H EN R ib c h e s te r P la y in g Field T ru s t’s chairman walked the few yards from his home to the Black Bull for his final meet­ ing after 40 years’ membership, he th o u g h t i t would be a straightforward occasion. But Coun. Brian Collis, chairman


for the past 25 years, reckoned with­ out the secret planning skills of his fellow committee members, and a large group of colleagues, family members and friends greeted him as he entered the pub. “I was expecting just a thank-you


for the services I had given to the village over the years,but not this amazing reception!” said Coun. Col­


lis. “Everyone was there, my family


including my mother, Elizabeth, from the National Playing Fields who is 95, Ribble Valley’s chief exec- Trust and Ribble Valley Borough


utive Dave Morris and recreation officer Chris Hughes. “There was a wonderful buffet,


and some wonderfully thoughtful gifts presented to me - I was very touched,” said Coun. Collis. His successor as chairman, Tim


Rainford, presented a painting by local artist Geoff Rollinson of the River Ribble, showing the stretch where the annual duck race is held. Two thousand of the small yellow


birds are made ready each year by being cleaned and re-numbered by Coun. Collis and his wife, Pat, and another gift was a blue “cleaning” box complete with duck signed by the committee, lighter fuel for effec­ tive cleaning and a wad of cotton


wool! “We have had lots of support


Council, and through them my name was put forward for the Torch Trophy, presented to me in 1996 by the Princess Royal,” added Coun.


Collis. This recognised his work for sport


and recreation in the area, which also involved Ribchester Football Club for 35 years. Although now relinquishing some


responsibilities - including gover­ norship of the primary school - he remains chairman of the parish council, a borough councillor - he was Millennium Mayor for Ribble Valley - and he continues as presi­ dent of the Tennis Club. Coun. Collis is pictured enjoying the well-deserved farewell party


with his family and friends. (B300604/13)


Royal Lancs Show is alive and kicking! by Rebecca Wright


OFFICIALS at the Ribble-Valley based Royal Lancashire Show have combated the traffic and weather problems faced at last year’s event - with £30,000 of improvements to the site. Fears that the historic 237-year-


old show may be cancelled were quashed as show organisers announced that it is very much


“alive and kicking.” New improvements include an


investment of around £9,000 on widening the access road to reduce the traffic congestion. There will also be a colour-code


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system in place, where horse­ boxes, show wagons and certain public vehicles can use the Ribch­ ester Road entrance - and public vehicles can use the Chapel Lane


entrance. There is a new £5,000 tempo­


rary road through the show- ground, which organisers hope will prevent the site getting too muddy in bad weather. This year’s show - to be held next week on July 27th to 29th - is


now ready to impress the crowds with a host of rural delights. Among the main arena high­


lights will be a display of "Chari­ ots of Fire” performed by carriage driving ponies, and Susie the cow and two rare breed sheep will "skil­ fully tackle" a variety of obstacles. There will also be terrier dog


racing, demonstrations at the Fishing Village, and a 10-year-old boy displaying his sheepdog trial skills - rounding up ducks as well


as sheep! Mr Andrew Thompson, the


show director, said: “It is a won­ derful site, and the show has some­ thing for everyone. “The main focal point is the


exhibition of livestock classes. We have been amazed at the resilience of our local farmers to come back from the foot and mouth epidemic and still support the show with


their entries. “Despite last year’s problems,


the Royal Lancashire Show is still very much alive and kicking. Last year, the final day of the


show was cancelled when health and safety officials deemed the


churned-up site unsafe for public


or animals. Mr Rennie Pinder, the chairman


of the Royal Lancashire Agricul­ tural Society, said: “Nobody likes cancelling a show. It was a difficult decision, but we had to think of the safety issues. “Every county show in the country experiences these prob­


lems. “We have spent around £30,000


to make the showground better. “We have also extended our


management committee to include four assistant show directors to organise the different segments that go into the show. “One is in charge of field duties,


another for livestock, one for the equestrian and one for the society sections including Ladies' Day. “There have been problems and


disagreements, but the outcome of the meetings has always been very


positive.” Mr Pinder said: “I think that


the Ribchester site is the most beautiful county show site in the country and we want to keep it here.”


THE showjumping arena is always a popular attraction for all ages (B300703/3d)


rnme and meet the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times promotions team at the Royal Lancashire Show. See Readersplus on page 18 for details or visit our website - www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


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