Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 4 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, March 8th, 2007 m www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


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Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, March 8th, 2007 5


A rainbow bringing sunshine into the lives of special tots


by Faiza Afzaal


L IK E any toddler, Oliver Lee loves to play, crawl and roll. With his sweet face and endearing


smile, the three-and-a-half-year-old enjoys the excitement of discovering new and stimulating fun challenges each and every day. But the fun-loving youngster can­


not do many things toddlers normal­ ly do, like walking or running. Oliver was born with a condition


affecting his brain. His condition, diagnosed at a young age, means he has poor muscle tone and his general development is slower than other chil­ dren his age. But much to the delight of his par­


ents, Nick and Jane, who live in Whal- ley, the brave youngster continues to defy the odds and gain a good level of independence - thanks to Rainbow House. Founded in April 2001, the Chor-


ley-based charity helps disabled chil­ dren to help themselves through the provision of conductive education. This is a unified system of rehabilita­ tion for children with neurological dis­ orders like cerebral palsy (and can also help some types of genetic and meta­ bolic conditions). The organisation last year celebrat­


ed the opening of its new outreach centre in Clitheroe. Based a t the town’s Trinity Community Partner­ ship Centre, in Wesleyan Row, the move has enabled local children to


benefit from the expert services offered without having to leave Clitheroe. T h e ,c en tre ’s founder, Joanne


Mawdsely, who herself has two dis­ abled sons, said: “We have wanted to provide conductive education in East Lancashire for some time. We have children travelling to Chorley from Blackburn and Clitheroe to access our services and so we wanted to bring the services to them.” Rebekah Wilkinson, one of the spe­


cialist teachers (known as a conduc­ tor) runs the outreach service, assisted by early years educator Kim Skilton. Describing the work they do, she


said: “Conductive Education aims to help children with physical disabilities learn to overcome their movement problems in order to become more active and independent in their daily lives. At Rainbow House we offer services for children of all ages. We help children to undertake lots of dif­ ferent activities that cover all areas of their development such as potty­ training, playing, eating, dressing, turn-taking, crawling, walking and rolling. “When helping them we encourage


them to do as much of the activity as they can by themselves. We also show them lots of different ways in which to do different things. By doing this the children are learning to try things for themselves.” Rebekah added: “The services we


provide are aimed at helping disabled children become as independent as


possible. When the children attend the sessions, they all have their individual aims. We like the youngsters to work in groups so they can recognise peo­ ple, work together and build on their social as well as physical skills. The environment we provide helps them to develop skills and enjoy experiences, usually denied to them, through a regime to enhance mobility, speech, self-help skills and social ability. “Since the opening of the Clitheroe


centre in spring last year, we have had a lot of positive feedback from parents in the Ribble Valley and the sur­ rounding towns and villages. They are pleased to have a local facility as they previously had to travel to Chorley or Burnley.” Although little Oliver only attends


two two-hour sessions a t Rainbow House every week, according to his mother he is doing remarkably well. “Since starting the sessions, Oliver’s


general trunk and head control have improved greatly and he is beginning to weight-bear too,” said Jane, who runs Toby Jug Tea Shop, in Whalley. “He is a happy child, really enjoys


attending the centre and the sessions have definitely allowed him to achieve things we never thought possible.” Oliver is not alone to benefit from


the excellent services provided by Rainbow House. Mrs Louise Sumner, whose three-year-old daughter, Katie, has cerebral palsy, said expert staff at Rainbow House have transformed the toddler from a “quiet, shy little girl, into a very outgoing, mischievous and fun-loving child.” She commented: “When Katie was


initially diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it felt like we had entered a whole new world in which we were stumbling around and waiting for someone to switch the light on. “We felt that the lack of services


offered by the NHS meant that we needed to find alternative ways in which to stimulate Katie in order to provide her with the best quality of independent life possible. “Rainbow House provides a safe,


Z Z Z = 37/ / ' '' * —•


secure and fun environment for Katie to thrive. “The dedication of staff is out­


standing. Katie attends the outreach sessions in Clitheroe twice a week and is reaching tiny little milestones regu­ larly.” Rainbow House is not government


PICTURED are mums with tlieir children having fnn al Rainlmw House. {A2S110(>/2c)


funded and relies entirely on small contributions from parents, fund-rais­ ing events and donations from sup-


PHIL SUiMiN'LR, Irom the Electrical Contractors Association Central Lancashire Briinch, hands oter a clietitte for £4 It) to the charity (A28110G/2a)


Plans to build affordable homes in picturesque Ribble Valley village


A PLANNING application has been submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for five two- bedroom affordable houses. Comments on the proposal, which relates to the Old Village Hall, Chipping, (number 1009) must be made to the council by tomorrow. Other applications include: Chipping: Erection of ceremonial gazebo and


fountain pavilion at Ferrari’s Country House Hotel, Thornley (0126). Erection of octagonal summerhouse in rear


garden of Chipping Post Office at 20-22 Talbot Street (0140). Erection of toilet facilities for dis­ abled people including washing facilities and con­ nection ot existing drainage facilities. Disabled access ramp to e.xisting track at The


Showground, Longridge Road (0161). Clay(on-le-Dale: Erection of three stables at


land adjoining Moor View, Showley Road (0158). Gishurn: Community park for Gisbum and sur­


rounding area comprising three areas for children to be screened from road by trees/shrubs. Play equipment to include sports area and cycle track at field off Burnley Road adjacent to Gisburn


Festival Hall (0145). The siting of a Portakabin to be used as temporary office/classroom accom­ modation and the siting of two steel storage units to be used for stpring tools and equipment at Jig­ saw Environmental, Main Street (0151). Change of use of former Duckworth Coach Depot to become a furniture retail showroom using exist­ ing buildings at Mill Lane (0157).


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OUR picture shows young Oliver with mum Jane and Katie with Rcbckuli (A28I10G/2b)


porters. Anyone wishing to pledge support for the charity is asked to call 01257452511. Clitheroe’s outreach facility offers a


range of services including parent and child groups, early years groups, school-aged group and individual ses­ sions. Services are run on Mondays


and Tuesdays from 8-30 a.m to 3-30 p.m. at Trinity Community Partner­ ship. If you think that you or someone


you know may benefit from conduc­ tive education, then contact Rainbow House by calling 01257 452511 or log on to www.rainbow-house.com


i' 7 - V ■ '■ '■ r r r ~ i ^ - w Mi


Interchange will close as a mark of respect to boss


by Faiza Afzaal


MANY people have been sad­ dened to hear of the death of a much-respected local personality and the longest serving member of Clitheroe Interchange. Mr Ralph Mattinson, pictured,


who had been working at Clitheroe Interchange since it opened in 2000, died a t the Royal Blackburn Hospi­ tal last week after a short illness, aged 64. Born in Westhead, near Ormskirk,


Mr Mattinson was educated at Orm­ skirk Grammar School. He met his wife, Christine, at Skelmersdale Development Corpora­


tion in 1965, where they both worked.


The couple married a year later


and celebrated the birth of their son, Paul, in September 1967. A year later, the family moved


from Wigan to Leyland, where Mr Mattinson worked for Lancashire County Council in the county archi­ tects’ department, before moving to Clitheroe, where he worked at Rib­ ble Valley Borough Council between 1974 and 1978. His next move was becoming a,


sales representative for a local bulid- ers’ merchant.


In 1983, the family moved to


Billington, where Mr and Mrs Mat- tinsori ran the local village store and


off-licence. A few years later, the family decided to move to Clayton- le-Moors. While here, Mr Mattinson


worked as a driver for Hyndburn Transport, la te r becoming a driver/inspector. He remained working as a driver


when‘bus company “Stagecoach” took over Hyndburn Transport in 1997 and was promoted to depot trainer. In 2000, Mr Mattinson took up a


post of a service co-ordinator at the newly-opened Clitheroe In te r ­ change. His day-to-day work included


dealing with the public with the sale of rail tickets, providing rail and bus


All set for marathon day


RATHER than ready, steady, cook, it will be ready, steady, go, for one Ribble Valley chef, who will take part in the London Marathon next month. Steven Stretch (34), pic­


tured, who is head chef at Eaves Hall Country Hotel in West Bradford, will be raising funds for the Elimi­ nation of Leukaemia Fund in his first attempt at the 26.2 mile race. Other Valley runners who


will take part in the April 22nd race are Royal Navy serviceman Steven Back­ house (26J, of Waddington, who is raising funds for Rainbow House. His inspiration is the


daughter of fellow villager Richard Bater, the landlord ot the Waddington Arms.


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Four-year-old Erin has global development delay and a ttends Rainbow House. Mrs Heather Windle


(32), of Main Street, Gis­ burn, and Miss Claire Har­ greaves (33), of Whalley Road, Clitheroe, are also raising money tor good causes. Fund-raising for SENSE


UK Deafblind Charity and the Encephalitis Society, they have organised a fund­ raising event next Saturday, March 17th, at Clitheroe Cricket Club. There will be entertain­


ment and a raffle will also be held. Tickets at £10 each are available from Claire on 07887 997034 or Heather on 07841024431. (B060307/1C)


1 ) K S h r ^ V t


information and dealing with gener­ al counter and telephone queries. He was well-liked by his col­


leagues, passengers and bus and train drivers. A funeral service will be held today


a t 9-30 a.m. a t St Joseph’s RC Church, in Accrington, followed by cremation. As a mark of respect, Clitheroe Interchange will be closed today from 8-30 a.m. to 2-30 p.m. and staff have opened a book of con­ dolence allowing local people to pay their tributes. Mr Mattinson is survived by his


wife, Christine, son, Paul, daughter- in-law Wendy and grandchildren Elizabeth, Christopher, Samantha and Joseph, (s)


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