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"Sooty" and neighbours
in canal rescue drama
by David Skentelbery
NEIGHBOURS - including former TV puppeteer Matthew Corbett - rallied round in a dramatic rescue after a blind and deaf dog fell into the Bridgewater Canal at Lymm, Warrington.
Mr Corbett, who for 25 years was the man behind the popular television Sooty and Sweep glove puppets, was one a group of neighbours who got involved in the night-time rescue.
Local resident Mark Kerry was walking his two dogs Sally and 16-year-old Rosie along the canal towpath when Rosie, who is three quarters blind and virtually deaf, fell into the water near Lymm Bridge.
It was dark and although Mr Kerry had a torch he could not guide her back to the bank.
He said: "She was swimming in circles, going further away. Eventually she ended up on the far side, where there is no bank, just a high wall. Then she got tangled in some brambles and I could see she was losing her strength."
Office worker Debbie Hadfield arrived on the scene, saw Rosie's desperate plight and immediately ran to nearby houses for help.
Neighbours Chris and Colin Melrose joined in the rescue bid, together with a number of other nearby residents.
Debbie said: "I could see the dog's head getting lower and lower in the water. I started banging on doors and screaming: 'Has anyone got a boat?' Amazingly, someone said he had seen a canoe somewhere.
"Next minute two men arrived carrying a canoe and we rushed down to the canal. But none of us had ever used a canoe and didn't know what to do."
Enter Mr Corbett. He took one look at the situation and jumped into the canoe. Paddling across the canal, he was able to locate Rosie in the darkness and pull her aboard.
Safely ashore, the shivering dog was wrapped in a carpet from Debbie's car and taken home for a warm bath.
Later a relieved Mr Kerry said: "I am really grateful to everyone who helped. All the neighbours helped in some way. Rosie made a full recovery, but she would have drowned within minutes but for the way everyone helped. I can't thank them enough."
The drama had a comic ending when Mr Corbett remarked that the canoe was just like his own - only to find it was. His neighbours had "borrowed" it from his garden!.
Pictured are Mr Kerry with Rosie and (left to right) Chris Melrose, Debbie Hadfield, Colin Melrose and, in his canoe, Peter Corbett.
Power line plan nothing
short of desecration
by David Skentelbery
LYMM must wait to discover whether an overhead power line is to be permitted through one of its last remaining unspoiled
rural areas.
Borough planners have resolved to oppose the proposed 132kv line crossing the east side of Lymm through land north
of Wet Gate Lane to south of Higher Lane.
But the final decision will be made by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Borough council planning officers had recommended no objections be raised to the scheme which is said to be vital
to meet increased demand for electricity in Mid-Cheshire. But members of the development control committee decided to
object after hearing of objections from Lymm Parish Council and local residents.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt described the plan as "nothing short of desecration."
She said the proposals had first been put forward in March 2003 and at that time the line would have run through Spud Wood and Lymm High School playing fields. Amended proposals were little better, however.
"The proposed route runs through the middle of what is literally the last unspoiled rural area left in Lymm," she said.
"To run this line through open countryside is nothing short of desecration."
Coun Woodyatt said alternative routes were available but apparently been ruled out on cost grounds.
"But what price can one put on our precious rural environment?" she asked.
Residents' spokesman Paul Lockett said the posts carrying the line would be 49ft high, which was higher than local
tree tops. They would cross open pasture land, woodland and footpaths used by walkers and horse riders. It would also
run within 40ft of houses.
Stephen Edwards, for Scottish Power Manweb, said: "We wouldn't be doing this if we didn't have to. Last January there
was an incident when the supply to East Cheshire nearly broke down. We are running very close to capacity."
He said other routes had been examined, as had placing the cable underground. But all had technical problems and would
be more costly. An underground cable would have enormous maintenance problems. However, some lower voltage cables in
the Lymm area would be placed underground.
The cable would be 13 miles long in total, running also through parts of Macclesfield, Vale Royal and Trafford.
But Coun Celia Jordan said|: "None of the other areas would be affected as much as Lymm."
Residents act
to protect park
by Gary Skentelbery
A group of residents in Lymm have set up an association with the aim of protecting, preserving and enhancing the
Ridgway-Grundy Memorial Park.
The Park was created over 50 years ago when Colonel Thomas Ridgway, who lived on Eagle Brow, left a bequest of
land to the Lymm Urban District Council to provide a place of leisure for the people of Lymm.
In 1974, ownership of the land passed to Warrington Borough Council, but the purposes of the bequest remain the same.
In a village that has grown considerably, the Park is the main central green space – providing a pleasant place for
leisure and recreation.
But the Park has been sadly neglected for many years. The infrastructure needs a great deal of remedial work.
Some of the surrounding walls are crumbling; the lower side of the park urgently needs drainage work to be carried out.
The Park has long since lost its flowers and herbaceous borders, and the children’s play area is in desperate need of
renovation or replacement. It suffers from some vandalism and anti-social behaviour, especially in the evenings.
The new Association will urge Warrington Borough Council and Lymm Parish Council to uphold the original bequest,
and invest time and money in both maintaining the Park properly and in improvements.
Residents have already made a start by applying to Warrington Borough Council to have the Park given Village Green status.
They next plan is to gather people’s views on what needs to be done, and to meet with both local authorities to
develop an agreed plan of action with them.
The Chairman of the Association, Kieran Walshe, said: “The recent divisive and heated debate about installing a
skateboard facility in Ridgway-Grundy Park has made many people think about how the Park is used, which is a good thing.
But we want the Association to be open to everyone regardless of their views on the skateboard facility, and so
we think the Association should be neutral on this issue.”
There is more information about the Association and how to join it on its website at
http://rgmpa.bravehost.com, or
by calling Kieran Walshe on 01925 759687.
Donkey derby raises
£3,312 for good causes
by John King
A DONKEY derby organised by Lymm resident Alison Morton raised over £3,300 for two local good causes.
Alison (left) is pictured presenting a cheque for £3,312
raised from the event to Anne Scales for Kabuki Research and Paul Gibson of
1st Oughtrington Scout Group. The proceeds are to be shared between the two charities.
Lions treble tonic
by John King
LYMM Lions presented cheques for £200 each to three local charities at the
Bridgewater Club, Lymm.
The money was part of the proceeds from a Charity Golf Day.
Pictured (L-R) Ann Scales for Kabuki Research, Ken Scully, Lions Welfare Officer,
Joyce Ashcroft, Lymm Lions President, Lesley Groome of Appeals St. Rocco's Hospice
and Alistair Laing fund raising manager Children's Farmhouse Trust.
Poppy collection boxes
stolen in village
by David Skentelbery
TWO Poppy collection boxes have been stolen from Lymm village centre.
Both had been fastened down with cords - and in both cases the cords had been cut to enable the collection box to be removed.
One was taken from Barclay's Bank and the other from Lloyd's Chemists.
Royal British Legion president Raymond Massey said he was sickened by the thefts.
"It says something about the age in which we live," he said.
"When people will steal charity collection boxes without, apparently, any conscience, it makes you wonder what sort of a society we are living in."
Mr Massey said Poppy Day collection boxes had been stolen in previous years.
Last year they were stolen from Barclays, Lymm Post Office, the Village Greengrocers, St Mary's Parish Church and Lymm Baptist Church.
"This year we took the extra precaution of tying the boxes down with string. But the thieves cut through the cord.
"The people of Lymm are very generous in what they give. Last year we raised more than £8,000, with £1,212 being collected at the Somerfield supermarket alone.
"We don't know how much we will collect this year, but obviously it would have been more if the boxes had not been stolen.
The show must
go on!
by Gary Skentelbery
LAST year's annual Dickensian Festival was the last for the current organisers who have decided to call it a day.
Peter and Gill Critchley, along with Daniella Budd, after many years of organising the
festival have decided to relinquish the reigns of Dickensian and this will be their final year of organising the event.
Their thanks go out to the huge amount of support they have received over the years from many different people and
societies, too many to mention individually. At this stage there is nobody in the frame to take over the event for
2006 and as Lymm does not wish to see the demise of Dickensian a further volunteer or a group of volunteers are
required to contact Peter if they have a desire to be involved.
He said: "Whilst it’s a challenge to organise, the whole
experience has been fantastic and anyone taking over the festival will enjoy the enormous success of the event
and the feeling that you have contributed significantly to village life.
"It is with regret that we have to stop organising the event, but we feel that we have taken it to the maximum we can, and new ideas and change
would benefit to the growth and continued success of the Festival.
"Once again, a massive thanks for everyone’s support and we look forward to seeing you in the village on the December 10.
Meanwhile the festival has approached a milestone of 20 years since its inauguration in 1985.
The annual event has grown to an unrecognisable size and has probably been more successful than the original organisers
ever envisaged.
Any one interested in taking over or organising the festival should call Peter on
07939 198865 or email
petercritchley@bluemotorfinance.co.uk
Vikings and Saxons
brought to life
by Gary Skentelbery
PUPILS from Cherry tree Primary School stepped back in time reliving the days of the Saxons and Vikings.
The experience was "brought to life" with the help of the longship trading Company, led by warrior, trader
and story teller Bjarni Erikkson.
He explained where the Vikings and Anglo saxons came from while children enter into the
spirit of the occasion by wearing period costumes.
Eight-year-old Jospephy Waters is pictured together with fellow pupils Alice Selwood,
Kucy Hanrahan and Liam Kingston.
Crime writer nominated
for national award
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LYMM based solicitor, who writes crime novels in his spare time, has been nominated for
a national award for one of his short stories.
Martin Edwards, 49, of Baycliffe, is a partner in a firm of solicitors Mace and Jones
and works in Liverpool. He specialises in employment law and equal opportunities, but
finds writing about crime is his passion.
His story, "Test Drive," inspired by test-driving a car in Lancashire, is from the
anthology, "Crime on the Move," which he edits. It has been shortlisted for the Crime
Writers Association Dagger for best short story of 2005. The winner receives an ornamental dagger and a £1,500 award,
at a ceremony in London on November 8.
"It tells the story of a car salesman who bumps into an old school friend with calamitous results. It is a black comedy,"
he said.
"I am very excited to be nominated, and am looking forward to the ceremony," he added.
Martin's two latest mystery novels, set in the Lake District, "The Cipher Garden" (hardback) and "The Coffin Trail"
(paperback), have recently been published by Allison and Busby.
He has written since childhood and has had 700 legal articles published on a variety of topics, and seven legal books
used by his profession throughout the country.
Martin, who is married to civil servant Helena and has two children Jonathan and Catherine had his first novel called,
"All the Lonely People," published in 1991.
He said he finds writing a good way to relax after work. Many of his books are set in the Lake District and when
he needs a break he visits the area to do research.
Would you like to
help with Festival?
by Gary Skentelbery
ORGANISERS of next year's annual Lymm Festival are on the look out for volunteers
who would like to get involved.
The event will run from Thursday June 29 to Sunday July 10.
As well as many of the regular events, the Festival committee are developing
several new ideas, some of which are quite ambitious.
As the Festival has grown so much in recent years, the committee would like
to invite more people to become involved in an organisational capacity.
This does not mean that these volunteers would need to join the committee,
but they would be part of a team dedicated to various specific events.
For one event in particular, two or three reasonably fit people are needed with
one person acting as team co-ordinator.
The Festival already has many wonderful volunteers who act as stewards,
programme distributors, box-office staff and general helpers, and they are
highly valued and instrumental in helping the Festival run smoothly and
successfully.
If you would like to offer your services in any capacity, and
particularly as part of the special event team, please contact Festival
Director Honor Giles on 01925 758856. It is one of the best ways to feel
part of the community.
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