I VI


\ - i t cfitheroe’Advertiser &Times,’Triursday,'June 23rd, 2005


M EYdURlCUTHEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES I Valley Matters ...........


www.ciith'eroe'to'day.co.'uk • Ciithd^be 4^2324 tMitoda6,^23g3 (AdmtUinlg) Sportsman dies in 6,7


1 Village N ew s .............................. 11,12,13 I Letters ..............................................24,25 1 Weekendplus ............................ 36,37,38 I Weekend TV................................. '• .34,35 I Family Notices.................................22,23


I Readersplus ....................................... IJobs


........... ............ . . .4 2 -4 4


I Propertyplus.................................3 9 -4 2 I Motorsplus ....................... I Sport ............


AT A GLANCE..: Guides stage VE day jamboree - page 8


New forum is voice for older people - page 16 Plea to end cruel fur trade-page 20 Blues boss hunt hots up - page 72


INFDRMATldN


Duly chemist: Boots the Chemist, 15-19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m.


Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 0800 1954141. Gas: 0800111999. Water: 0845 462200. 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. Aidsline: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: Ribble Valley 01200 429346. 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: 01282426161, ext. 410


Fax: 01200443467 editor e-mail; vivien.nicath@eastlancsncws.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smilh@castlancsnews.co.uk sport e-mail: edward.lec@eastlancsnews.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE


CHIPPING I


I SLAIDBURN ^ ■


i GISBURN


5 0 -6 8 6 9 -7 2


Throughout his life, Mr Mmonti’s


A FORMER pupil of Moorland School, Clitheroe, has died in a tragic motorbike accident in


Thailand, aged 39. Keen sportsman Mr Richard


Almonti (pictured), who is the son of Mrs Sylvia and the late Mr Rocco Almonti, of York Street, Clitheroe, was involved in the fatal crash in Bangkok in the early hours of Sun-


day. Thai emergency crews attended the


scene and Mr Almonti (pictured) was rushed to hospital. He later died from


his injuries. I t is understood that the circum­


stances surrounding the accident are being investigated and the condition of the pillion passenger is unknown. Born in Somerset, Mr Almonti


spent his early years in County Durham where his parents opened Lumley Castle - a 14th century ancestral home - as a luxury hotel. Mr Almonti arrived in Clitheroe at


the age of seven when his parents took over the Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green, which they later bought. Mr Almonti attended Moorland School, Clitheroe, before going to Giggleswick School, near Settle. On leaving school, he spent several


years travelling and three years ago moved to Thailand where he worked as an English teacher and met his wife, Osi. The couple have a 10-month-old


son, Reggie.


first love had been scuba diving and ^ in his spare time he enjoyed taking , part in outdoor activities, especially diving. He also enjoyed listening to- music. He had many friends in the Ribble Valley and abroad and accord­ ing to family, he left a lasting impres­ sion on everyone he met. Mr Almonti’s heartbroken mother


is finding it hard to come to terms with the tragic loss of her only son, who she described as “adorable” and someone who brought great joy into her life. She is being comforted by


friends and told the Clitheroe Adver­ tiser and Times; “He was always lote


of fun and very popular with his friends. He was a gentle, caring and


loving son, husband and father. “He was my only son and I adored


him. He will be sadly, sadly missed.” Arrangements are being made for a


funeral service to be held in Thailand. He leaves behind his mother, wife and


son. Celebrating Margaret’s 90th birthday


FAMILY and friends gathered to wish Clitheroe woman Mrs Mar­ garet Mavis Dawson a happy 90th


birthday. Mrs Dawson (nee Riley), who is a


resident at Clitheroe Care Home, in Eshton Terrace, celebrated the mile­ stone birthday surrounded by cards and flowers from well-wishers. Born in 1915, in Ahmedabad,


India, Mrs Dawson a ttended St Mary’s Convent School in the city of N a in ita l as a boarder un ti l her return to England at the age of 12. On arrival, she attended Sacred


Heart RC School, Blackburn. On leaving school at the age of 14, she worked as a seamstress for a firm in Blackburn. During the Second World War she worked as an inspec­ to r a t an ammunition factory in


Chorley. She married Mr Herbert Dawson


a t Sacred Heart RC Church, in Blackburn, and the couple continued to live in Blackburn until Mrs Daw­ son became a resident a t the carC'


home in 2003. The 90th birthday celebrations


consisted of a celebratory lunch at the Calf’s Head Hotel in Worston, where she was joined by relatives from as far as Cambridge. Her daughter, Mrs Margaret Rice, who


lives in Clitheroe, also joined in the


celebrations. As well as presents, cards and flow­


ers from loved ones and friends, Mrs Dawson, whose main interests have been sewing, knitting and reading, was treated to a lovely cake made by staff at the home. At the birthday


party, entertainment was provided by Langho resident Mrs Eileen White, who played the mandolin. Our photograph shows Mrs Daw­


son with friends and staff a t the Clitheroe Residential Home cele­ b ra t in g the milestone birthday. (A130605/3)


Money is handed over in Cate’s memory


CHEQUES totalling £4,600 have been handed over to two life-saving charities in memory of tragic Whalley


policewoman Miss Cate Sutcliffe. Over 100 friends and colleagues of Miss Sutcliffe (34),


I READ' ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON


who collapsed while on duty last August, donned trainers and tackled a 10k run in aid of the North West Air Ambu­ lance and the Brain Research Trust - a medical research charity to support work at the Institute of Neurology. Miss Sutcliffe, of Waddington, had been attending a


W'EEKEND WEATHER: Saturday looks set to be cloudy with possible showers, while Sunday will turn


brighter. SUNRISE: 4-39 a.m. SUNSET: 9-44 p.m. l ig h t in g u p TIME: 9-44 p.m.


routine, non-confrontational incident when she collapsed and was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary by ambu­ lance, later being transferred to Royal Preston Hospital. However, after undergoing extensive surgery she died a few days later. One of the organisers of the sponsored run and Miss Sutcliffe's close friend. Miss Annabella Wallberg, has this week been paying tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in raising the vital funds. She commented: "Cate was a highly respected, well- liked member of the local community and is missed dear­


^assified) | Appeal X l l f t i lH ' l lC l l3 ik G € F 3 .S l l 1 decision


I t is understood that Mr Hitman has since lodged an appeal against that decision. When planning permis­


sion was first granted in 1994, for the redevelop­ ment and reuse of Brock- hall Hospital to forma mixed village, it was on th e grounds i t mixed employment with homes. ■That planning permis­


sion was revised in 1999 to provide for more housing, e a tin g away a t the employment part of the site. Mr Hitman contends


th a t there is little or no demand from employers keen to “set up shop” at Brockhall, while the coun­ cil in s is ts employment uses must be found. The developer’s latest offer of free land and cost price buildings is being widely interpreted as him calling the council’s bluff. In terms of employ­


ment uses, the site boasts Blackburn Rovers Foot­ ball Academy and Brock- hall Nursery. However, Mr Hitman


wants to see an end to the long-running Brockhall saga. “One way or another,


we have to resolve the problem of the last five acres of land and it is sim­ ply not fair to the 1,200 residents at Brockhall to leave them derelict and undeveloped any longer," he added. • Work has already


s ta r te d on a £5.5m. scheme to build 38 homes a t the Brockhall Village site. Plans for the develop­ ment, which also include a village hall, formal gar­ dens, an open space, a kick about area for young­ s te rs and space for employment uses, came before Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council’s Planning and Development Com­ mittee last week. Despite objections from Billington and Langho Parish Coun­ cil, local planners decided to approve the scheme.


Latest bridge club results


WINNERS a t Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday were: B. Guha and Use Park, Deanna Atkinson and Robin Atkinson, Chri£


Polland and Doreen Blake, Ralph Bailey and Pat Col-


man. On Thursday evening


ly by a lot of people. We are pleased to have honoured her memory by raising much-needed funds for the charities. From the left tireless fund-raisers PC Alison Harg­


reaves, Lynda Brislin from the air ambulance. Miss Wall­ berg and PC Catherine Towler. (B150605/3).


winners were: NS Jean Martindale and Janet Bai­ ley, J. Pawlicki and Michael Jeffery. BW Dean­ na Atkinson and Doreen Blake, Sue Johnson and


. Ernest Ormand.


Tycoon puts deal on table


By Faiza Afzaal


PROPERTY tycoon Gerald Hit­ man is offering free land and cost- price buildings for employment use at his exclusive Brockhall Vil­


lage site. Mr Hitman, (pictured), who has


been developing the luxurious site since the mid-1990s, exclusively revealed to the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times the next phase of his con­ troversial development, which he hopes will end a long-running plan­ ning and employment dispute and finally see the completion of his “dream” development. Under the fresh proposals, he is


calling an urgent meeting \vith Ribble Valley Borough Council’s planning officers, offering to build 60,000 sq. ft. of conventional employment space on the land allocated for employment. Earlier this week, the millionaire,


said: “I am offering to build 20,000 sq. ft. of offices, 20,000 sq. ft. of work­ shops and 20,000 sq. ft. of residential institutions such as a psychiatric unit, secure accommodation or similar. “I am going to seek the council’s


help in finding buyers for the build­ ings at cost price with the land pro­ vided absolutely free.


A # / - SSS^.j,


major firm of commercial Estate Agents from across the Ribble Valley confirming that there is a ready mar­ ket for the proposed building from actual employers and that I will be able to sell them a t cost price when


they are built.” In response, director of develop­


ment a t Ribble Valley Borough Council, Mr Stewart Bailey, said: “I haven’t yet seen the proposals, but our regeneration team will give what­ ever assistance they can to help Mr Hitman find suitable users to provide employment on the site.” The latest proposal follows the


“I will leave my offer of cokt-price


buildings and free land open for three months and if people fail to take me up on the offer, I will re­ apply to the borough council for per­ mission to build the ‘live/work’ units, which will see the creation of 50


jobs.” Mr Hitman added that he will be


writing to every member of the bor-


■ ough council and Billington and Langho Parish Council asking for the names of people who may be interest-,


ed in the proposal. He added; “Before starting the


building, I MU, however, ask planning officials to get me a letter from a


rejection of a scheme in January this year to build two apartment blocks, each with flats and 14 “live/work”


units. At th e time, th e scheme was


described as a “completion of the exclusive village” and would have cre­ ated 50 jobs. The project also includ­ ed a swimming pool, complete with sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and sun


terrace. However, councillors refused per­


mission fearing the project would encroach further on to land ear­ marked within Brockhall for employ­


ment use. • continued on page 2


€ Ascot for ladies who lunch! A TASTE of Ascot came to the Ribble


Valley on ladies day. Mitton Hall Country House Hotel


held a fund-raising luncheon to coincide with one of the racing calendar’s top


events. About 50 ladies converged on the Val­


ley venue helping to raise £500 for the Derian House Children’s Hospice. After a Champagne and Pimms reception with canapes, a five-course


lunch was enjoyed. The races were shown live and the


ladies invited to place their bets using


“funny money”. At the end of the afternoon Mrs King, the lady who had amassed the


most winnings, won an overnight stay in the hotel’s King Suite, together with dinner and a bottle of xvine. A raffle of flower arrangements added


to the funds and a prize was also award­ ed to Mrs Emmott who was judged to have been the best-dressed lady. General Manager Rachael Smith said


everyone had enjoyed the event, adding th a t she hopes to make i t an annual event and th a t she looks forward to inviting the men to join in the fun next


year. Our p hotograph shows Rachael


Smith and other ladies having fun at the Ascot Ladies Luncheon. (B160605/1)


FflimiLY MOTICES-PAGES 22,23 ■ AT YOUR SERVICE... PAGES 6,7 ■ VILLAGE NEWS... PAGES 11,12,13 FREE i


selected transport


oh selected holidays


bookea in June


20 King S t r e e t CLITHEROE


ss 01200 427136 - WWW. althams ,cb) uk.


2006 «& 2007 P&O,


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OCEAN VILASE & CUNARD ^ : r u i s e s


vertiser an imes including Barrow, Billington, Langho, Calderstones and Brockhall


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