46 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, May 17th, 2007


www.ciitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


Ciitheroe 422324 (Editoriai), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


f If® @


approached with an open mind, not knowing what to anticipate. Any e.xpectations I did have, of a small, simple


O


place with not much to do, were shattered almost as soon as I arrived. After a rather funny train journey from the airport into town, with the locals not knowing quite what to make of us and our huge backpacks, Ella and I checked into yet another hostel around 7 p.m., then wasted no time getting stuck into what Singapore has to offer, as we only had two short days to spend there. Our first stop was the highly recommended


night-time safari at the Singapore Zoo. It offered an amazing opportunity to see nocturnal ani­ mals from five different continents roaming and flying freely around the fantastic safari park. I thought it was brilliantl We were in for a hectic day on our second in


!>■


Singapore. There really was so much more to fit in than I thoughtl By flicking through all the different maps and guidebooks we had accumu­ lated, we decided on a route through the city, beginning with a trip to the Arab street market and the Masjid Sultan Mosque. I t’s easy to see why “pride of Singapore Muslims” is what this fantastic building, with its glass-adorned dome, is locally known as. In fact the whole of Arab Market Square, where the mosque stands, was very architecturally attractive, as all the market stalls and cafes were housed in 1920s colonial buildings, with gorgeous facades. Another short train ride after this and we


arrived in the city centre and headed to the Asian Civilizations Museum, where I learned a little bit more about the history of Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles founded the city in 1819


and was largely responsible for its growth from a fishing village to the huge metropolis that we see today, until it regained independence in 1965. Being colonised by the British Empire has no doubt helped the Singapore economy and it is now one of the wealthiest countries in Asia. After an enjoyable insight into Singapore’s


history, Ella and I hopped aboard another train and visited the districts of China town, which was very colourful and busy as it was decorated for the new year celebrations, and then Little India, where I had one of the best curries I have ever tastedi That night we headed out to the world famous, luxury Raffles Hotel and enjoyed Singapore Slings in the long bar; a welcome treat for two backpackersl A chaotic third day followed. We headed out to the Macritchie nature reserve, in order to see


FTEN regarded simply as a stop off for long haul flights between the UK and Australia, Singapore was a city I


Our Ribblc Valley gap year student •


SARAH HARDY brings some delightful Auslrailian sunshine to our pages as she sends us the latest news on her world­ wide travels


a different side to Singapore than the city. We had heard lots about this national park and reservoir and knew, as well, that there was a tree- top walkway through the gorgeous Asian flora. Unfortunately, we didn’t realise just how big the park was and ended up on an 11km trek through the rainforest and were nearly late for our flightl However, we managed to make it and we bade goodbye to our short, but wonderful stay in Sin­ gapore. For me, this is where the excitement of the


trip began! All my life I have dreamed of com­ ing to Australia, seeing Ayers Rock, the outback and the Great Barrier Reef for myself and as the plane touched down on Aussie soil, at Perth International Airport, tired as I was, I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. The Australians are renowned for their friend­


liness and good humour. It would seem that this does not apply to those working in immigration though! Quarantine is extremely strict in Aus­ tralia and all goods have to be declared or you can face huge penalties and fines. Granted the environment is delicate and needs preserving, but the regulations were so severe, I felt as though I was being accused of harbouring illegal immigrants. After searching my bags and realis­ ing that I was not smuggling anything untoward after all, I was alloived into the country. Minus the bedbugs that were rumoured to


infest all the rooms there, the Swan Barracks in Northbridge, just north of the small city of Perth, is one of the best hostels I ’ve stayed in so far. It had brilliant facilities and was in a gor­ geous old army barracks building. From here our adventure in Australia began. We wasted no time in discovering what Perth


had to offer and on our first few days there this simply meant finding the best beaches! Gottesloe was a small seaside village just 10


minutes’ train ride away from where we were staying and the beach there was gorgeous, after our frantic three days in Singapore, it was nice to have a bit of a break by the beach and enjoy the sea. Perth is the capital of Western Australia and


there’s no end of things to get stuck into. The historic town of Fremantle makes a lovely day out and allovys you to learn loads about the fas­ cinating convict history of Australia, as this is


IN between top­


ping up her tan on some of the most


speclactilar beach­ es in the world, below, Sarah is


/ r J


treated to a little bit of rough jus­ tice, left, in the slocks in Perth.


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


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


WERE you in form Lower 3 Alpha at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School for Girls, starting when the present school was first built in 1958?


If so, then Penny Winterburn wants to hear from


you. Penny, who now lives in Nuneaton, is working with other CRGS “old girls” to organise a class reunion at The Moorcock Inn, in Waddington, in September. She said: “We have traced all but seven of our class


and we wondered if any of your readers would know these ‘girls’ or their families, or know of their where­ abouts.


Were you an ‘old girl’ from CRGS in 1958? We are still looking for Elaine Barnes, Diane


Hutcheon, Susan Wetherley, Audrey Cherry, Janet Burr, Janet Hargreaves and Gail Ashworth.


Unfortunately we only have their maiden names,


but we would be really pleased to hear from anyone who could help us to trace these people.” Anyone wiio can help should phone Penny on 01455


212946 or e-mail her at: penny_winterburn@yahoo.com Q Turn to page 25 for this week’s pictures from past


schooldays or visit www.cIitheroeadverliser.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, May 17th, 2007 47 Transport issues on the agenda


TRANSPORT is the subject of a public forum in Clitheroe on Tuesday. Members of the public are invited to


attend and have their say on local trans­ port issues, such as fares, reliability, punctuality and services. Lancashire transport bosses, repre­


sentatives of community transport providers and councillors will attend the event from 2 p.m. in the Ribble Val­


ley Council Chambers, Church Street, Clitheroe. Speakers will include Richard Watts


of the East Lancs Community Rail Partnership and Donna Atkinson of Ribble Valley Community Transport. Everyone is welcome and further


information is available from Ribble Valley Borough Council planning offi­ cer Phil Dagnall on 01200 414570.


Urgent need for foster carers...chance to make a difference


IF you have always w'anted to make a difference to a young person’s life by providing them with a safe and loving home, then fostering may be for you. Fostering Solutions, an inde­


pendent fostering agency, is looking for carers in the Burn­ ley, Nelson and Clitheroe areas, which it says are urgently need­ ed, to give young people the chance of a positive future. In conjunction with national


campaign Foster Care Fort­ night, which is running from this week, the agency is working to attract more people into fos­ tering. Fostering Solutions prides


where the first fleet of convict ships landed in the mid 19th Century. The Roundhouse was originally built to serve as a jail and is now West­ ern Australia’s oldest surviving building. Con­ sisting of eight different cells positioned around a central courtyard, the Roundhouse makes a wonderful museum, with each celkconverted to represent one period of its history. Saved by Aus­ tralian Heritage in 1992, it still stands today and is open to the public seven days a week, run by extremely enthusiastic volunteers. Also well worth a visit and a good follow-up to


the Roundhouse tour was a trip to Fremantle Prison. As the Roundhouse had been too small to house all the convicts, the Western Australian Government wasted no time in ordering the British immipants to build a new, larger prison. I found it quite ironic that they were ordered to build a prison, and then on its completion, ordered to be inmates! The popular term “pommies”, which we’re all


too familiar with, from dodgy Australian accents on television, began in this institution, as the convicts were ordered to wear uniforms with “POM” on them, to distinguish them as “Pris­ oners Of the Motherland” from the other Aus­ tralian inmates. Jus t off the coast of Perth lies Rottnest


Island. Known locally as “Rotto”, this small island is renowned for superb snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing, and swimming in crystal bays. The best, and most fun, way to get around is


by hiring a bike for the day, which Ella and I had a great time doing.


All roads lead to Bowley for celebrations


SCOUTS from all over East Lancashire will converge on Bowley Scout Camp, near Great Harwood, for a major Centenary Celebration Camp over the spring bank holiday weekend of May 25th to 27th. Nationally, the Scouts will be staging


similar Centenary Camps - marking 100 years since the birth of Scouting - all over the UK, with the aim being to get as many of its 500,000 members under canvas at the same time The theme for the camps will be “Scout­ ing through time; Past, Present and


Future” and the idea is to celebrate the essence of what to many people Scouting is all about - camping and adventure. Locally, East Lancashire Scouts are


expecting more than 1,600 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from all over the county to converge on Bowley Camp Site for a weekend of fun and celebration. County Commissioner Louise Cooper explained; “This is-one of the key events for our centenary celebrations. We’re hop­ ing that we can give our members a camp they’ll always want to remember.”


Plans for the weekend include a spectac­


ular opening ceremony as well as all the tun events that Scouting is known for, climbing walls, aerial runways, tent pitching compe­ titions, crafts and games. There will also be many displays from numerous guests who will be helping the Scouts with their cele­ brations, including Lancashire Police, Rossendale Mountain Rescue and The Kings Lancashire Regiment. Also joining the Scouts and helping them kick off their centenary celebrations will be Mayors and civic leaders from throughout the county.


itself on giving children and young people the best care, with 98% of its charges attending school or college. It also boasts a highly profes­


sional service and carers are provided with a strong 24-hour support network as well as com­ prehensive training to prepare


We also hired snorkels, which proved invalu­


able as some of the fish and sea beds were out of this world and could surely rival the Great Bar­ rier Reef.


Another trip that I had a great time doing


was, believe i t or not, the Swan Valley wine tour!


Well regarded across Australia as one of the


premier wine counties, I was very excited to get stuck in and was not disappointed! All day we were treated to free samples of delicious wines and cheeses all made locally in the valley. I t was a lot of fun doing Jilly Gouldoen impressions too, swinging the wine round the glass and com- menting'on its “apple-like bouquet”! In the city centre there was an abundance of


galleries, museums, markets and wonderful shopping malls to keep us occupied, in fact the


whole of Perth and the surrounding districts was beautiful. After our eight days there, I was more than


ready to find out what else the vast and exciting Australia had to offer!


9 Catch up with Sarah’s adventures so far by


clicking on to our website at: www.clitheroeadverliser.co.uk.


Time for a cupboard clear-out


FAMILIES are being asked to clear out their cupboards and turn unwanted nursery items into cash to help support the


National Childbirth Trust (NOT). The East Lancashire branch


of the NOT is holding a nearly new sale of quality, used nurs­ ery goods on Saturday, May 26th, at St Mary’s Centre, Church Brow, Clitheroe, from 10 a.m. to 11-30 a.m. Anyone wishing to sell items


should register now for a sell­ ers’ information nack. Regis­


tered sellers, who can bring their goods on the morning of the sale and receive the pro­ ceeds later, will receive 70% of the price of the goods sold with the remaining 30% going to theNCT. ' All the funds will go towards


the training of local volunteers in breastfeeding and post-natal support as well as the running of ante-natal classes. Anyone wishing to sell items


should contact Hazel Dewhurst on 01254 822707 or Tina Cunliffe on 01254 824207.


■f 1 0 [


ADVERTISING FEATURE


them for fostering. Fostering Solutions is encouraging carers from all backgrounds to get involved regardless of marital status, sexual preference or reli­ gious beliefs. Anyone over the age of 21 can


apply to be a foster carer and prospective carers receive three full days intensive training in disciplines such as promoting a sense of identity among young people, managing difficult behaviour and where possible, working in partnership w’ith parents. Foster Solutions carers are


also taught how to deal with cultural and religious diversity in relation to each individual case and are encouraged to pro­ mote a healthy lifestyle in the home.


Spring Bank .29th‘May to 1st June, Ages 8-13


> £,12 for, 9am-5pm' £17 for 8am-6pm


: Enrol youfichild on to this superb holiday activities playscheme. Rock.Climbing,; , ' Foptball. Switpming,-. Dodge ball, Badminton, Basketball and Arts and Crafts just to name a few.'


« On the hour groups rotate from one activity to another, enspring variety, and,, interestc Qur established playscheme offers you the parent peace of mind.in: • the knowledge that your loved ones will take part in a well organised ahd safe playscheme. In fact all you need to concern yourself with is .to remember to , pack their lu n ch ^ and swimwear.


*)i I * u t * 9 sj uv .■4 A duty social worker is on call


24 hours a day to answer any queries and mentoring and bud­ dying schemes set up by the agency give support from expe­ rienced foster carers. Fostering Solutions boasts


prompt payments to carers, who receive around £400 per week per child and substantial


tax-free allowances. There are various types of foster care, from emergency overnight stays to permanent placements and respite care - to give another full-time foster carer a short break. Mary, a Fostering Solutions


foster carer, was 56 years old and single when she began fos­


tering. “I'm sorry I didn’t do fostering years ago,” she said. “I t is the most amazing thing


that I have done in my life.” And Mary said she highly val­ ues the support she gets from her Fostering Solutions team. “They are always there to


talk to, 24 hours a day, as well as having my own supervising


social worker who supports and guides me.” If you are up for a new chal­


lenge, have at least one spare room and feel you could make a difference to a young person’s life through foster care, call 08453 700 500 or log on to the Fostering Solutions website a't www.fosteringsolutions.com


I© ro*


There are lOOO's of young people in desperate need of a loving foster home.


O Around £400 per week per child Nth substantial tax free allowances! = 24 hour local support from our qualified social workers Full training to nationally recognised standards


tit'your life. Your local independent fostering agency


www.fosteringsolutions.com Call for an information and application pack


S©LUTI MS 08453 700 500


'4^3 .


V m ’ V.-. A, kv-*' ‘\Uul m C ) ! ’ '- i : , 1 1 - " ^ ^ " A . % 1 01200 442188 www.roefield.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38