2 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, December 23rd, 2004


INSIDE YOUR CLITHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES H Valley Matters .................


www.clilheroetoday.co.uk ^ ■ ! a'v V ■


'cmtmroe'4223M


Burnley 422331 (Classified) r n


6,7 H Village News......................... 9,10,11,36


B Letters .............. ; .............................16 H Festive TV.................... ............23 to 34 B Weekendplus.........................38,39,40 H Family Notices. . . . . ................. . 36,37 fflJobs ........ ...................... ........... 41,42 HMotorsplus ............................. 47 to 51 HReadersplus................ ..................... 52 H Sport ....................................... 53 to 56


AT A GLANCE... Raids lead to drug arrest - page 4


Valley wedding album - pages 8 and 9 Festive party pciture special - page 40 New moves on youth cafe plan- page 35


INFORMATION


Duty chemist; Christmas Day: No service; Boxing Day: Buckleys Chemist, 4 Railway View Road, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m.; Monday: Boots the Chemist, 15- 19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: noon to 1 p.m.; Tuesday: Boots the Chemist, 15-19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 08001954141.


Gas: 0800111999.


Water: 0845462200. Councils: Ribble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe 425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722.' Hospitals: Blackburn Royal Infirmary: 01254 263555. Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn: 01254 263555. Airedale General Hospital, Steeton: 01535 652511. Clitheroe Community Hospital: 427311. Alcohol Information Centre: 01282 416655. Aidsiine: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline; 01282 4220^. Cruse Bereavement Care: Blackburn, Hyndbum and Rib­ ble Valley 01254 207999. Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Ribble Valley Talking Newspaper: 01200 428604. Samaritans; 01254 662424. Monthly Volunteer Helpline: 01200 422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation service); 01254 358095. Ribble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966. CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


Advertising; 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331 Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, ext. 410 Fax: 01200443467 editor e-mail: vivien.mcath@castlancsncws.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@castlancsnews.co.uk sport e-mail: cdward.lec@eastlancsncws.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE B


I SLAIDBURN BGISBURN ICHATBURN


CHIPPING H U CLITHEROE B


LANGHOB


BWHAUEY 'bread


B BURNLEY BACCRI BLACKBURN I


WEEKEND WEATHER:Forecasters predict Saturday will remain wet, with the possibility of snow, while by Sunday it should have cleared to produce a brighter day.


SUNRISE: 8-26 a.m. SUNSET: 3-51 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 3-51 p.m.


ACCRINGTON m


Breathalyser doubt keeps boss on road


A COMPANY boss who crashed his £175,000 Ferrari after drink­ ing, escaped a driving ban when his lawyer exploited a legal techni­ cality. Solicitor Mr Nick Freeman


brought proceedings to a sudden halt by submitting that the pros^ cution had not produced any evi­ dence to show that the breathal­ yser machine had been correctly calibrated. He told magistrates in Black-


bum that, in highlighting an omis­ sion in the prosecution, he had “seized upon an opportunity”. A charge of driving with an alco­


hol level of 54 compared to the legal limit of 35 against Christo­ pher Chambers (34), of Whins Lane, Read, was dismissed by the magistrates. Defence costs will be met out of public funds. Chambers (pictured) is the chief


Bridge Club


THE winners at Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday were: NS Mr and Mrs R. Ward, Mr and Mrs R. Atkinson. EW Mr G. Capstick and Mr W. Wol- stenholme, Mr J. Bowker and Mrs K. Higson. On Thursday, the win­


ners were: NS Mrs J. Mar- tindale and Mrs D. Blake, Mr G. Capstick and Mrs A. Peddar. EW Mrs I. Park and Mrs K. Higson, Mrs B. Pollard and Mr R. Bailey. Winners at the pre'vious


week's Monday meetng: NS Mrs J. Martindale and Mrs J. Taylor, Mr and Mrs R. Atkinson. EW Mrs E. Wood and Mrs F. Porter, Mr W. Wolsten- holme and Mr G. Cap­ stick. The club held its Christ­


mas party at Waddow Hall, when thanks were expressed to the club com­ mittee and staff a t the hall for an enjoyable evening. Winners of the George


and Beryl Pollard Vases for the after-dinner bridge: Mrs J. Martindale and Mrs F. Porter, Mr and Mrs R. Ward were run­ ners-up. EW Mr K. Ged- des and Mr P. Hargreaves, Mr G. Wharfe and Mrs K. Thompson were runners- up.


Wishing all members a


happy Christmas and good cards in 2005. Bridge nights will be as normal over Christmas and New Year.


WMJ


Leader’s plea The leader of Ribble Val­ ley Borough Council, Coun. John Hill, has appealed for local residents to “get their facts right”. • See Letters - page 16


executive of Accrington-based coach travel and holiday company, Fraser Eagle. Mr Paul Garner (prosecuting)


said that shortly before midnight Chambers crashed his Ferrari into a dry stone wall on Whalley Old • Road, Blackburn, an unlit country road. The badly damaged car was across the road when it was hit by a car driven by taxi driver Mr Kevin Singleton who was making his way home to Great Harwood after finishing his shift. Mr Singleton, of Gleave Street,


Great Harwood, told the court his attention had been drawn to debris on the road and he only saw the unlit Ferrari 575 Marinello at the last moment. He said that Chambers was still


in the Ferrari. He got out and said he had lost control of his vehicle after hitting a pothole.


Brother and sister are in ‘Grange Hill’


IT is fame at last for Clitheroe brother and sister Luke and Lauren Pissochet, who have landed themselves a role in BBCl’s “Grange Hill”. Bitten by the showbiz bug are the duo,


(pictured), who -viewers will see appearing in a few episodes of the hit teenage series by Mersey TV as French exchange stu­ dents. Although during the auditions none of


the chosen candidates were required to speak French, the director was delighted to discover that both Lauren and Luke were bilingual, as they were bom in France and still speak the language at home. The pair are no strangers to television


as former Rihblesdale High School Tech­ nology College pupil Lauren has done photo shoots for Muller desserts and was first reserve for another role as a French exchange pupil in the popular children’s film “Harry Potter”. The talented 16-year-old, who is study­


ing A-levels in performing arts, dance and French at Blackburn College, has recently returned to Mersey TV for extra work to act as a Year 11 pupil in the teen soap “Hollyoaks”. Lauren has also modelled for pupils


studying photography at Blackburn Col­ lege and was recently selected to model in a large catwalk event, which will take place early next year. Likewise Luke (12), who is a pupil at St


Augustine’s RC High School, in Billing- ton, has done some work for Channel 4’s “Hollyoaks” and has undertaken a num­ ber of modelling jobs, including appearing


AN advertisement in the “Christmas Church Services” section on page 24 of last week’s Clitheroe Advertiser and Times might have led to confusion among some readers. The advertisement for “Christmas at St


im m .


on the front cover of the “House of Stir­ ling” catalogue. Speaking about the duo’s big break,


their mother Mrs Lisa Pissochet, of Hawthorne Place in Clitheroe, said: “I’m just delighted for them. 'They have worked very hard to get this far and enjoy their work very much. “Both children have the opportunity of


working with stylists, make-up artists, set builders, photographers and cameramen - giving them an insight into a whole array of possible careers they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. “Their experience is also a message to


others that if you want-something in life, go for it. Sitting at home wishing you could do something won’t get you any­ where.” ® Viewers will have to tune into BBCl


when the new series of “Grange Hill” is screened in January.


Advertisement - to clear up any confusion Beneath that second listing, in smaller


print, the advert stated: “Tickets avail­ able on the'door. Suggested donation of £8 per ticket.” The church has asked us to make clear


James Church” listed two events last weekend. The first was a “Classics by Candlelight” concert by The 'Wellsprings Ensemble, on Saturday. The second was the church’s annual “Candlelit Service of Carols, Readings and Songs”, on Sunday.


that the smaller print referred to the Well- springs Ensemble concert on Saturday, not to the carol service on Sunday. The Rev. Mark Pickett stressed that


the church would not issue tickets or seek suggested donations for any of its regular services.


Mr Singleton said he told


Chambers he would have to call the police because the situation was dangerous and Chambers said: “Fair play.” “He seemed upbeat, not too


concerned about it,” said Mr Sin-' gleton. “He didn’t seem devastat­ ed like I was because it was my liv­ ing. I only had third party insur­ ance and I was probably out of a


job.” The prosecution called two


police sergeants to give evidence, one who arrested Chambers at the scene and the custody sergeant who carried out the breathalyser procedure, and the statements of three other officers were read. Mr Freeman said the defence


case was that the prosecution had not induced any evidence of what the reading in breath had been. “Sergeant Yates tells you that


reading was 54, but for that to be valid you would need to have evi­ dence of calibration checks on the device,” said Mr Freeman. “The Crown have not produced


any evidence of that. You can’t be satisfied the machine was working correctly.” The magistrates agreed that no


evidence had been submitted by the prosecution that the machine had been calibrated and asked Mr Gamer if he agreed this was fatal to the case. Mr Garner said he had no


advance notice of the submission and had been “non-plussed” by it. Mr Freeman replied that it had


been a trial situation. “I go into a trial with a plan, but


things transpire during the course' of a trial. I wasn’t anticipating th a t it was going to be ah issue until the trial.” he added.


Results from


Pendle Club SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club were: B. Wood, S. Holden, R. Hart­ ley, Mrs J. Thornton, D. Grant, Mrs E. Lofthouse, R. Knight. New players are welcome every Mon­ day at 7 p.m. Bridge winners at the


Pendle Club were: Mrs Doris Blunt, Mrs Kim McDonald, Mr Ernest Manning, Miss Pat Harg­ reaves, Mrs Eileen Wood. New members welcome


on Mondays at 1-30 p.m. Domino winners were:


Mrs G. Capstick, Mrs M. Davies, joint 3, Mrs R. Kiddie, Mrs M. Wood, Mr C. Wiseman. New mem-, hers are welcome every Friday at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing is held


every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line dancing every Thursday a t 1-30 p.m. New members always wel­ come. ® SOLO whist winners at the Pendle Club the follow­ ing week were: Mrs K. MacDonald, Mr S. Hold­ en, Mr A. Hartley. Domino winners were:


Mrs F. Cooke, Mrs S. Barker, joint 3, G. Berry, F. Giles and Mrs P. Oddie, Mr P. Metcalfe. Booby R. Seed.


Sequence dancing is held


every Tuesday at 7-30 p.m. and line dancing every Thursday at 1-30 p.m.


Theft at pub POLICE are investigating the theft of £800 worth of alcohol from The Assheton Arms, in Downham,


MARK THOMPSON with his wife, Caroline, and daughter Natasha (s)


I r


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Adyertising), Burnley 422331 ^Classified)


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times^ December^23rd, 2004 3 i


Man drove off with severed foot of biker wedged in car bumper


A MOTORCYCLIST was le f t sc re am in g in agony after his left foot was ripped off by a car crashing into


\


him. Blackburn magistrates heard


that the car driver, a 23-year- old Read man, stopped and got out of his vehicle, seeing and hearing the injured man, before getting back in and driving away. He only contacted the police


after stopping on a pub car park two miles away when he discovered the biker’s foot still embedded in his bumper. Defendant Peter John Dear-


ing (pictured), of Read Old Bridge, Read, pleaded guilty to drmng without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident, dri-ving other than in accordance with a provision­ al licence, without insurance, and with defective brakes and defective steering. The magistrates adjourned the case for pre-sentence


i t spraying on the road. “I thought my time was up and I was about to die. I know the people who stopped that night probably saved my life,” said Mr Sholl. He told how he still lives


with constant pain two months after the crash, which had com­ pletely changed his life. “Some­ times it feels like someone is drilling into my leg, but most­ ly it feels like my toe nails are being pulled out with a pair of pliers,” he said. “The person I have to blame


reports ■with the option of cus­ tody for the “extremely seri­ ous” offence of failing to stop. Earlier the court had heard


the victim’s own harrowing account of the incident and the impact it had on his life. In a statement, Mr Richard


Sholl (37) told how, as he lay in the road, he could feel blood pumping from his leg and hear


for all this is a selfish, stupid, illegal driver who left me in the road to bleed to death. I feel so angry. My left leg has gone for­ ever, it won’t grow back and I have only got the prospect of a false leg to look forward to.” Mrs Sophie Lorimer (prose­


cuting) said that the incident happened in Yew Tree Drive, Blackburn, on October 22nd, as Mr Sholl was riding home from his work as an after-sales


manager with a motorbike dealer. The Institute of Advance


Motorists qualified rider was overtaking a vehicle on the dual carriageway when he noticed a Volvo reversing out of a drive on to the carriageway. His initial thought was;


“What’s this clown doing ?” As the Volvo set off, it veered


into the outside lane immedi­ ately colliding with Mr Sholl’s machine. “He was left lying in the road screaming with pain,” said Mrs Lorimer. “The Volvo carried on for a


short distance before stopping and Bearing got out of the car. He could see and hear Mr Sholl screaming in pain, but got back into his car and left the scene. “He eventually stopped on


the car park of the New Inns, and on getting out of his vehi­ cle he realised he still had Mr Sholl’s foot embedded in his bumper and his front number plate was missing. At this point


Former Valley pupil dies after shark attack horror


by Andrew Greaves


A FORMER pupil of a Ribble Valley high school has died after being attacked by a shark in Aus­ tralia.


Mr Mark Thompson


(38) was with two friends at Opal Reef, 75kms from Cairns, when tragedy struck. The shark, believed to


%


be either a black whaler, hammerhead or bullshark, attacked him while he was spearfishing. Reports from Australia say th a t Mr Thompson, who was a for­ mer pupil at St Augus­ tine's RC High School, Billington, was dragged from the water by his friends, but is believed to have died soon afterwards after suffering a massive heart attack due to shock. Mr Thompson moved to Australia in 1988 from


Padiham,'with his wife, Caroline, whom he met during his school years at Billington. The couple were in the same class and, prior to leaving Britain, Mrs Thompson had qualified as a hair­ dresser. They returned to Padiham to be married in 1996 and have an 11-year- old daughter, Natasha. The Thompsons built


up and ran a successful upholstery firm in Clifton Beach, Queensland. Mr Thompson was a


popular member of the community. Police and lifeguards have said that his death is the first they have had at Opal Reef.


Red light for hotel extension plan if | s? Anyone who witnessed ^


the theft, between 11 p.mA i Sunday and lO ^.m. Mon­ day, should contact Clitheroe police on 01200 443344, or Crimestoppers


on'0800 555111.


PLANS to build a two-storey bed­ room block at Mytton Fold Farm Hotel, Langho, have been refused. Members of Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council’s Planning and Devel­ opment Committee deemed the application to pro'vide 10 en-suite bedrooms and a two-bedroom self catering unit would be of visual detriment to the area. One letter of objection was


received and this expressed concern about the scale and positioning of the extension. However, a spokeswoman for the


hotel said similar schemes had been wholeheartedly supported by the council and enough weight was not being placed on the economic bene­ fits of the scheme to the local tourist ■ industry. Coun. Ian Brown agreed with the


spokeswoman’s sentiments, adding that the hotel’s golfing facilities were a popular tourist attraction. He pro­ posed the application be approved. Coun. Stephen Sutcliffe asked for


clarification from planning officers on why the application had been rec­ ommended for refusal. He said it


seemed to be a “relatively small development against a background of relatively large buildings”. Planning officer Mr John


Macholc responded by saying the proposed development could be “tucked away” better into the site, rather than jutting out at such an angle. He added that it could be linked better to existing buildings. “I think we can get a better solution to this,” he added. The proposal to approve the


application was defeated by six votes to five. ■


Making quality windows, doors and conservatories for over 21 years. Always providing first class service and guaranteed world class products. Approved by the Guild of Master Craftsmei


he decided to contact the police.” Mr ShoU’s foot was recovered


by police and taken to hospital, but no attempt was made to re­ attach it. Mr Sholl was initially taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary before being trans­ ferred to Wythenshaw Hospital for specialist treatment. Mr Paul Schofield (defend­


ing) said that nothing he could say could turn the clock back or reduce the impact of the ter­ rible accident. “Nor can I convey my


client’s immense sorrow at the effect this has had on Mr Sholl,” said Mr Schofield. He revealed th a t Bearing


had been a hcensee in the Stoke area for three years prior to returning to East Lancashire just three days before the inci­ dent. He had been visiting a friend on Yew Tree Drive and was driving the Volvo, which he had bought for just' £400 in Juiie.


He said that although the


collision had “terrible and extremely unfortunate” conse­ quences, it involved careless driving and not dangerous driving. He said the more serious


aspect was the failure to stop, which Bearing could not fully explain. “He accepts that he got out


of his car and then got back in and drove off, but he did not at that stage know the extent of Mr Sholl’s injuries,” said Mr Schofield. “He initially intended mov­


ing the car to the side of the road, but he then made a grave error and carried on driving. He describes himself as being in a state of shock and panic and made the foolish decision to leave the scene.” He said Bearing had called


the police before he got out of the car and saw Mr Sholl’s foot and that the defects to the car had no bearing on the accident.


15'


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