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20 Clitheroe Advertiser &Times, Thursday, February 16th, 2006


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Ciitheroe 422324 (Editoriai), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Ciassified) » ^ am ILami m!


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


www.ciitheroetoday.co.uk


Viitheroe Advertiser iSt Times, Thursday, February 16th, 2006 21


Two first-class schools to cater for all village needs


by Tracy Johnson


THE importance of education is a fundamental feature of Langho - hence the need for two primary


schools! An unusual characteristic for a small


' village; St Leonard’s CE Primary •School and St Mary’s RC Primary School may be of different denomina­ tions, but their objectives and values reflect the same principles. With a strong emphasis on extra


curricular activities, balanced with academic success, it is clear to see why both headteachers are very proud of their schools. Dating back to 1873, the original


building of St Leonard’s has been extended over the years to cater for the increasing number of pupils opting to attend it. Currently overseeing 226 pupils,


headteacher Mrs Anne Pickup, believes the school’s popularity and


success is down to the its ethos, which


promotes learning as fun and stimulat­ ing. “The most important thing is that


the children enjoy what they are doing,” said Mrs Pickup, who has been head at the school for almost nine years. Open to all faiths, the school has a


wide catchment area, so includes pupils not only from Langho and the surrounding villages, but as far afield as Rishton and Blackburn. Striving to achieve the best out of


every child, the school focuses on the development of the whole child through various academic and extra curricular activities, such as extra music lessons, a wide range of sport including golf lessons, drama groups and a gardening club. The school is also linked with Kaba-


lye Settlement Primary School in Uganda.Pupils correspond with the children in Africa via letters and pic­ tures, which enables them to learn


about other cultures and form friend­ ships.


, When asked to describe what they


liked about the school, pupils replied by saying they liked the kind and help­ ful attitude of the teachers, the friend­ liness of the children and the interest­ ing lessons and fun activities, such as the band from the Lancashire Music Service who performed at the school. Further along Whalley Road is St


Mary’s RC Primary School, with 250 pupils.


Described by Ofsted inspectors as a


happy school, headteacher Miss Felic­ ity Watson said the emphasis on their teaching' is to encourage each pupil to aim high. With their school motto being


“reach for the stars”. Miss Watson, who has been at the school for five years, said their focus is on helping pupils to try their best and give their best to others. Serving two parishes, the school has been extended to cater for the increas­


ing number of pupils after its reloca­ tion from the original site, the 19th Century Petre Lodge building, now an eight-bedroomed hotel. Representing its Catholic values,


the school strives to achieve a balance of excellence and enjoyment through its educational activities. As well as a strong musical and


sporting tradition, the school is involved with the Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council Recycling Scheme and


■ has just completed a positive play­ ground scheme with Blackbum-with- Darwen Borough Council, which teaches and trains Year 6 pupils to interact and supervise infants. Coupled with a recent glowing Ofst­


ed inspection report, which said the school had made outstanding progress since 2000, it is clear to see why Miss Watson is pleased with the school’s performance.


' “We feel valued by the Ofsted find­


ings and look forward to the future with excitement,” she said.


iCiieery Cockneys provide a varied and useful service


ties are a reflection of its popularity. Blending a mixture of old and new, it has been unfairly described as a thoroughfare, due to the lack of a prominent centre. Located after Billington, a few miles from


Whalley, its name dates back to Saxon times. Believed to have been derived following a battle in 798 AD at nearby Billangohoh - the early spelling for Billington - Langho emerged as a shortened spelling of it. To the north-east is the original village, known


as Old Langho. A small hamlet, it is home to a pub and the first Church of St Leonard’s, which dates back to 1557 and was built using stone from Whalley Abbey. After it was deemed too far away for the


parishioners, a new church was built on Whalley Road in 1879. The old church, which is now under the care of the Redundant Churches Fund, is only used once a year. The area, which formal­ ly housed the large institution of Brockhall Hos­ pital, has now become home to the training


The community ’s welfare is vital


COMMUNITY welfare is high on the agenda of one long-time resident of the vil­


lage. Coun. Stan Taylor (pictured), a familiar


face around Langho, has now become one of its local ambassadors. A member of the Conservative group on


Ribble Valley Borough Council, he is one of two councillors representing the ward of


Langho. Sharing it-with Coun. David Eccleston,


Coun. Taylor has been representing the party for just less than three years. Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny


Committee for Resources, which includes finance, personnel and health, he is also a member of the Planning and Development Committee and became involved in politics after he was approached by a former council leader. Originally from Blackburn, Coun. Taylor


is an active member of the community. A school governor for St Mary’s RC Primary. School, he has lived in Langho since 1959, \vith his vdfe, Jean, and four sons. A grandfather to seven children, soon-to-


be eight, he owned a pet products business before his retirement in 1998. Specialising in animal accessories, it is now run by his youngest son.


An ever-popular meeting place


BILLINGTON and Langho Community Centre has been serving the needs of resi­ dents for more than 15 years.. , Located behind St Leonard’s Church, in


Whalley Road, the centre was opened in 1991 after a 10-year battle by the Billing­ ton and Langho Community Association. Now extremely busy and a popular meet­


ing place, it is used daily by a variety of groups, from Brownies and Guides to exer- . cise and sporting classes, while also catering for parties and private functions. Consisting of a main hall and meeting


room, the centre has a manager in Langho resident Mr Dave Hollands, who laughingly


' agrees it is so popular he has difficulty find­ ing time to clean it!


CUSTOMERS who visit one of the village’s most vital services are greeted by two friendly


Cockneys. Tony and Rita Micallef, who run Langho Post Owners for the past 15 months, the East End , ,, t-, t . j


PUPILS at S( Mary's Primary School, Langho, have fun during a claj pWK iiorkshop at the school (from left) Emma Sedgley, .Toseph Mayman, ' clay artist Haliina Cassell, Molly Marsland and Aidan Carr (B0fi02(16/lb)


The building,' which dates back to the 1 JoU s was originally a cobblers before being trans­


, , , inoni„


formed into a post office. Now a busy one, it also serves as a newsagents


r i t> ^


Office, aim to cater to the changing needs of the community.


couple, helped by assistant Rhona Nicholson pro­ vide an essential service which attracts young


and old.


shop and is equipped with banking facilities. . “You have to diversify to keep the business;


going,” said postmaster Tony who added that the. usage of the postal service has seen an increase by young people due to the popularity of e-Bay. A former tanker driver, he and his wife had .


always fancied having their own small business,, so jumped at the chance when previous owners, M r and Mrs Cooper called it a day after 18 years. “It was really hard work at first, but we have


got used to it now,” said Rita, who previously worked as a senior home help. Living at the Whalley Road premises with their children, Gary (16) who attends Oldham


FC under-16’s academy and Victoria (10), a pupil at Barrow Primary School, the couple moved to Lancashire in 1973 and had been living in Barrow prior to their new business venture. •Realising the important role the post office


plays within the community, Rita^^id-she was overwhelmed by the support they received from customers who value the service. ■ “The people who use the post office are lovely,”


she said. ‘They are very friendly and really nice and have made us feel very welcome.” • - Our picture shows Rhona, Tony and Rita out­


side the post office. • , (B060206/lg)


THE village church, at the heart of Langho’s bustling community (B06020G/lf) ' - -


w irn i iT n T n n ir f


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