16 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, April 6th, 2006


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) vmw.cIitheroetoday.co.uk - | Write to: The Editor, Clill.croc Advertiser and Times. 3 Kinj; Strccl, Clitl.croc BB72EW Editorial e-mail: vivien.mcalli@casllancsnews.»^ A miserly reward


for our old folk “HEE Hi Addeo we won the war!” Italians have a weekly whopping


pension of £341.13, Germany pays its pensioners a reasonable £267.15. What do we pay our heroes? A miserly £84.25 pension. This scandalous state pensions


decline has happened during both red and blue watch. Shame on both your


houses! Meanwhile pensioners in Scotland,


together with their free health care will, from this month, be able to travel anywhere in Scotland for free - good luck to them - but why do pensioners in England have to wait until April


2008? I t seems tha t Brown and Blair


would sooner spend our taxes helping imported voters, foreign aid and an illegal war against Iraq. When both Brown and Blair are


retired and living in their respective “haggis nest” in the Scottish High­ lands and both are asked - “Hey Grandad what did you do in the war?” could their reply go something like this? “Which war was that grandson?


The war against the Italians and Ger­ mans, the one against the Iraqis or the ‘war’ against the English?” “A land fit for heroes”. How shallow that sounds today.


BERT HARDWICK, Queenswaj', Waddinglon


NHS - the other


side of the coin I REFER to the letter written by Mr Diack concerning the distressing expe­ riences of his late mother and of him­ self at the hands of the NHS. He has written of such experiences


as he has encountered them. It would be a pity if only the adverse


experiences of the NHS were high­ lighted. My own experience and th a t of


many of my friends is one of great sat­ isfaction. I have had several operations in recent yeare and have found the hos­ pital staff - from consultants to clean­ ers and sisters to students - to be kind, helpful and cheerful. My experience of Clitheroe Health Centre is similar, with conscientious


doctors and dedicated nurses and help­ ful administrative staff. Mr Diack points out the flaws which


he sees in the NHS. I would like to state that there is


another view as well.


HOWEL .TONES, Warwick Drive, Clilheroe


Thanks a million


for nine great years MAY we express our thanks to all who have supported us in our work during the last nine years. We are grateful to all the kind


donors who have given generously of furniture and household goods, bed­ ding and so on. I t has been over­ whelming to receive so many excellent donations without which we could not have helped anyone. To our “clients”, we send our thanks


also. So many of you have become our


friends and we thank you for enriching our lives and for all you have taught us.


We have had years of fun, hard


work, problems and joys, but especial­ ly years of privilege. We are sorry it has all come to a sudden end. Any remaining funds will be shared amongst churches in Clitheroe. To the United Reformed Church we


give special thanks for the use of your building, for the support and for being


“home”. Lastly, we thank our wonderful God


who has supplied all our needs.


CUTHEROE CHURCHES furniture STORE, United Reformed Church, Clilheroe


Could you help me


trace war friends? I AM writing to inquire if you or your readers can assist in tracing any sur­ viving members of the 156 L A A Bty. (Light Anti-Aircraft Battery) who fought in the Second World War. Three Batteries - 154,155 and 156


from Church, Burnley and Clitheroe respectively - were joined to form one Battery in 1941 following losses in Greece, North Africa and Crete. It was this 156 Battery that I joined with


‘Moment of madness’ leads to prison term


A FAMILY man who sexually assaulted a stranger in a "moment of madness" has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Father-of-two Martin Woodend, pictured,


had initially gone to the drunken 17-year-old girl's help after she collapsed on the pavement. But he later went on to indecently touch her. The judge at Preston Crown Court said drink had removed the defendant’s self-control


that night. Judge Jonathan Foster QC told him: "You


must know and the public must know that ran­ dom attacks on stiangers will not be tolerated". CCTV footage of the defendant and the stu­


dent in the street at Clitheroe was played at court. It did not show the offence being com­ mitted. Woodend, a self-employed 43-year-old, of Hayhurst Street, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to


sexual assault. The offence arose in April last year. The vic­


tim had been on a night out with friends in Clitheroe town centre. She went to the Key Street Bar and ended up feeling unwell. While she was in the toilets the club closed,


resulting in her becoming separated from her friends. Miss Judith McCullough (prosecuting) said


the girl's friends searched for her, but to no avail. She left the club and sat on a window ledge in Lowergate. At that point the defendant was walking


along the street. Woodend had been out visit- ing pubs in Clitheroe and he found her lying in the street. Miss McCullough said: "According to his


interview and the teenager's recollection of what occured, he asked her why she was there and invited her back to his home. “At that stage, it seems she formed the view he was attempting to help her and being nice


to her.” The girl remembered later telling Woodend


i-


to stop. She said he replied: “You want it”. She also told police she had tried to push him away, but that he kept coming back. The student flagged down a passing newspa­


per delivery van. She said she thought she had been raped and asked the driver to telephone the police. As a result of CCTV in the town centre, Woodend was identified. The prosecution said: "A lot of the informa­


tion in the Crown's case came from him." Woodend admitted to police having found


the girl on the ground. He said he had invited her to his home and picked her up, thinking she did not look safe and he felt she needed help to walk. The defendant went on to tell officers they


had kissed and he had touched her. She had been in and out of consciousness and his recol­ lection was unclear whether she shouted at him to go away.


"He said what had happened was wrong, he


should have looked after her, but he did say in his view he had not taken advantage," added Miss McCullough. The victim had made a personal statement


outling the effects of what happened. She is now receiving counselling. The defendant had no previous convictions


or cautions. Mr Mark Stephenson (defending) said that


the case was an unusual one in many ways. It had had a catastrophic and disastrous impact upon people on both sides. There would be reverberations that would go


on for a considerable period. Alcohol had played a major part in what happened. That night Woodend had apparently drunk more than 10 pints of beer and had been walking home. Mr Stephenson said: "His first and primary


concern was to help her. Clearly something changed. "It is to his eternal remorse he cannot


remember why the incident changed. A kiss was exchanged betw’een a drunken man kissing a drunken woman. “Clearly, matters went beyond that. In


truth, no one knows why this changed from his assistance to an offence. If he had been walking home sober this would never have happened." The defendant was a married man with two


daughters. He was described as being wracked with remorse and someone who no longer drank as he used to.


Mr Stephenson added: "In a foolish, idiotic


• madness. "He is struggling to come to terms with this." Judge Jonathan Foster QC told Woodend:


and drunken moment he misread the circum­ stances through drink. It was a moment of


"This is a case for an immediate prison term. You and the public must know that this sort of attack will not be tolerated. It gives me no pleasure to pass this sentence on you.”


For the attention of


Harassed Resident COULD “Harassed Resident” of Clitheroe contact us again with their full name and postal address. Correspondents are reminded that


letters must include these details. Those sent with noms de plume are only accepted for publication if the editor agrees that there is a valid rea­ son for the writer’s identity to be with­ held. Letters can be sent by post to the


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, 3 King Street, Clitheroe, BBT 2EW, via e-mail to vivien.meath@eastlanc- snews.co.uk, via fax to 01200 443467 or texted to 07799696447.


Chernobyl children are promised an Easter egg treat


FAMILIES are invited to join an “Easter Egg Trea­ sure Hunt” to raise funds for the 11th visit to the Ribble Valley by children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The Clitheroe branch of


the Friends of Cher­ nobyl’s Children charity has organised the treasure hunt for Easter Saturday, April 15th, at Clitheroe Castle between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Giant Easter eggs will


be presented to the win­ ners.


Those wishing to take


part can collect treasure maps from the entrance to the Castle grounds on Castle Street. Entry is just £1 per child with adults going free. This year marks the


20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disEister. The shocking incident


happened on April 26th, 1986, when the number four reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power station sit­ uated in the Ukraine overheated and exploded. The deadly cloud blew


northwards and 80% of the fall-out covered the Republic of Belarus with intensive radioactivity. Residents were exposed


to radiation 300 times greater than released by


the explosions of the atomic bomb at Hiroshi­ ma and Nagasaki. I t will be another


24,000 years before the land is deemed safe. Since the mid-nineties


Ribble Valley residents have been opening their hearts and homos to chil­ dren from the Belarussian city of Mogilev, an area th a t was hugely affected by the fall-out from the


accident. The annual trips to the


Ribble Valley give chil­ dren from Mogilev, who stay with local foster fam­ ilies, the chance to escape their home city’s contam­ inated atmosphere and improve their immune


system. Just a month breathing


“ clean” air and eating good food during their visits to the Ribble Valley has been found to improve their health dra­


matically. The treasure hunt is


just one of the events the group is holding this spring to raise funds for th is year’s month-long visit by 18 children and two interpreters in June. Other events include a


Spring Ball at 'The Moor­ cock Inn, Waddington, on April 28th, with enter­ tainment from the Siving


Commanders. For further information


about the local group or any of the events contac fund-raising co-ordinator


Louise Barrett on 0774( 470131.


mainly Clitheroe lads in Egypt, myself having been from the 155 Burnley Battery, following orders from Major Drew. I should be very pleased to hear from anyone regarding those years.


JACK O’HARA Crabtree Cottages, Back Lane, Wiswell


Golden couple mark 50 years of marriage


_____ by Natalie Cox


IT has been a golden week­ end for Clitheroe couple Mr Patrick and Mrs Mary Shepherd. Celebrating 50 years of mar­


riage, the couple were joined by many members of their extend­ ed family. Mr Shepherd, who is origi­


nally from Kent, met his wife- to-be, who hails from Wimble­ don, on an outing to the Tower of London. They w'ere married six


months later on April 2nd 1956 a t Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon. Mr Shepherd, who is known


as Pat, worked as a schoolmas­ ter, while Mary was an insur­ ance actuary. To gain promotion Mr Shep­


herd went on to teach in every different kind of school - sec­ ondary modern, grammar, girls’ convent, boys only and mixed. After her wedding Mrs Shep­


herd did not work again until 1975 when she became a labo­ ratory assistant and typist at Stonyhurst College. Iii 1966 the Shepherds and


their seven children moved to the Ribble Valley after Mr Shepherd successfully applied for a job at Stonyhurst College as head of the craft, design and technology department. He retired from the college in 1986 after teaching there for 20 years. The couple’s f irst Valley


home was in Eastham Street in Clitheroe, before they moved to Throstle Nest at Stony­ hurst, returning later to


Clitheroe and settling at their present home in Park Avenue where they have lived for the past 30 years. After moving to the Valley


the couple went on to have three more children - making a total of six boys and four girls. To date their extended fami­


ly includes 24 grandchildren, ranging in age from 32 to two, and this year saw the arrival of their first great-grandson. A special Shepherd email


network keeps everyone in touch with all the family news. Shortly after his retirement


Mr Shepherd was elected as a Ribble Valley Borough council­ lor and a Clitheroe Town Councillor. Together with his wife he was the town’s first citi­ zen on more than one occasion.


He became Mayor of


Clitheroe for tw'o years from 1989 and the couple stepped in again in 1991 after the mayor- elect failed to win his seat in the local election leaving the town temporarily without a leader. Mr Shepherd now keeps


busy with his many hobbies. He enjoys spending time in his workshop, using the computer and is an amateur radio enthu­ siast. Mrs Shepherd, who along


with her husband enjoys cara­ vanning, also enjoys embroi­ dery and needlework and is an avid collector of family photos. At the w'eekend her picture col­ lection was extended with a special gift from the family, a photo montage featuring every


member of the family. To mark their marital milestone the Shepherds enjoyed a meal out on Saturday and a surprise family party on Sunday, the actual day of their anniversary. This get-together was also attended by close friends Chris and Joan Leeming and Horace and Elaine Hudson. They also received a special


blessing at SS Michael and John’s RC Church in Lower- gate. Reflecting on their 50 years


together, Mr Shepherd said their secret ingredient was love and never going to bed without making up. Pictured celebrating their


golden wedding are Mr and Mrs Shepherd. (CR040406/1)


Tributes pour in for former bobby Ron


TRIBUTES have been paid to a former village policeman who has died aged 77. A service of remembrance


was held for Mr Ronald William Kay - known as Ron - a t Whalley Methodist Church, on Tuesday. Born in Liverpool, the


police constable re-located with his late wife, Ruth, and their three sons to Whalley in 1965, where he was one of four officers working in the village station. In 1967 Ron (pictured) and


' l l : ^ 8 '


his family moved to the police house in Chatburn w'here he took over the role as the vil­ lage bobby until he left the police force in 1968, after 14 years of service. Remaining in Chatburn, on


Robinson Street, Ron spent the next few years as the vil­ lage odd-job man, before join­ ing Moorland School as the caretaker. After a couple of years he moved to Brockhall Hospital


as a night security officer where he remained for about eight years before taking a position at William Blyth Chernical Works at Church, near Accrington, as a shift security officer. There he stayed until his early retire­ ment, aged 63. Moving back to Whalley,


Ron spent his time again as an odd-job man for the people of the village, which mainly included painting and deco­ rating. In 1994 he became a member of Whalley Methodist Church, where he made many new friends, including his partner Irene. Described as a smart and


helpful man, he was said to be in his element w'hen doing anything associated with gar­ dening. A supporter of chari­ ty events, he also enjoyed many holidays both abroad and in the UK. He is survived by three


sons, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.


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. .M ' - Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, April’6th, 2006 17 Mayor’s charity event


RIBBLE VALLEY Mayor Coun. Mary Robinson hopes to hit the high note for charity by hosting a fund-raising concert in Chipping. The Longridge Band will take to the stage and enter­ tain audiences at Chipping Vil­ lage Hall tomorrow.


The concert is in aid of the


Ribble Valley Mayor’s charity, which supports the Brair. Research Trust, Cancel Research and the Life Educa­ tion Trust. I t starts at 8 p.m. and for tickets call the Mayor's secretary on 01200 414408.


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We also make pine wardrobes, Welsh


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13 Duck Street, Clitheroe (next to Tesco’s) Tel: 01200 422222


M E iSI? I J \ I / ,y A' < < . \


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