Frodsham Life Discussion Forum
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Asbestos warning
from Colin Booth 26.2.07
I have just found your Frodsham on line site and found the article on a retirement village to be built on the site
of B.I.C.C. Helsby.
I worked at BICC during the 50's and early 60's and feel that the developers should be aware of the fact that there
will be a high asbestos contamination in the area of the extrusion dept as the pipe lagging asbestos was stored
in the cellars below this Dept for use by the pipe fitters.
Also there is probably a high lead contamination in the area where the lead presses were installed and also in the
built up ground in the area of the old Salvage Department.
By the way it is good to find up to date news about my old stomping ground of many years ago.
Regards,
Colin Booth
cbooth@bigpond.net.au
Looking for mum
from Adam Ross 01.2.07
Hello,
I'm trying to get in touch with my Mother, she moved to Frodsham around 1981.
Her name is Sandra and I think she married John Pickles.
They had something to do with the squash club in there spare time and I think he was a doctor.
wasuprossy@hotmail.com
Seeking info on
Shepherds Houses
from Ann price 27.3.06
Hi hope you can help me. I have just discovered that my Grandfather was born in Sherpherd Houses in Frodsham.
Do you know if they still exisit, or where the location of them would have been? This is going back to 1901
I'm afraid.
Many Thanks
Ann Price
ann.price@plastico.co.uk
Problem youths
in Helsby
from Andy Webster, Helsby 14.3.06
JUST had to choke a little when I read the article about the problem of youths in Helsby.
My partner and I, both in our mid-20s, have lived here very happily with no problems for two years, even
though we live very close to the children's park.
However, over the past two months we have had HELL on Friday and Saturday evenings. We have attended meetings
but nothing is being done. We feel let down by the police.
Quite simply we don't see them until they show up to deal with incident. No patrols occur at the peak times
- ie 6pm-10pm! We are outraged as the damage to property is totally unacceptable (and expensive; we have
endured vandalism to our car and a broken living room window, which has been matched by our neighbours.
Every week there seems to be vandalism occurring and it must stop now!
I, no doubt, speak on behalf of countless other Helsby residents as well.
Flights over Frodsham
from Tony Jolly, Frodsham 12.3.06
A major part of Frodsham life is a comfortable atmosphere in which to live.
At the beginning of last year I noted an increase in the number of planes over-flying, not only my roof
(sometimes with landing beams full on!) but over the town in general.
I commenced communicating with LJLA in order to investigate the possibility of this being eradicated or
reduced to an absolute minimum before the sky simulated areas such as Kew Gardens in London where a
plane flew every 2 to 3 minutes.
I knew that LJLA were aiming to expand and this was an obvious possibility here - I learnt later that an
increase to 40,239 flights per year was envisaged.
I was told at first by LJLA that there was nothing to be done and that they had no control over the aircraft
except at certain points. Not satisfied, I preferred suggestions such as all arriving aircraft being requested
to pass over the fields to the south of Frodsham, which when passed, could turn north over the fields and
then turn west onto the runway at Speke.
This is what "instrument landing" aircraft already did as opposed to those carrying out "visual landing"
which made a bee-line across Frodsham to the LJLA.
I did receive an invitation to attend LJLA early on but, because of an impending knee operation had to decline
until February of this year. Meanwhile the LJLA Environmental Manager visited my house and an
informative meeting occurred but I still did not receive a definitive answer to my suggestions.
On visiting LJLA in February I was welcomed and was able to learn still more about the intracies of
local flight control .
It was when I was eventually introduced to the Head of Air Traffic Services that I was informed that my
suggestion was feasible but there would still be occasions when specific air traffic situations resulted
in the over-flying of Frodsham.
This therefore meant that the nightmare of routine mass over-flying of Frodsham in future would be avoided.
Hopefully Frodsham residents will all be consciously noting this aspect of their lives in the future.
Tony Jolly
Congratulations!
from Ginny Wood 17.4.05
Congratulations on the first edition of "Frodsham Life", and very many thanks for
giving us such a generous "spread."
It is really great to see a true "Community" service provided in such a proffessional
manner, and in a contempoary format which is instantly
engaging and relevant to peoples lives.
Before getting my own copy, several people had already stopped me to say they had seen
the article, so this shows that you are definately being "read".
For a new youth group such as ours, attempting to startup in what could have been
presented as contentious circumstances, we are extremely grateful for
the "positive" message portrayed, and indeed to have been included in such an all round
succesful project.
Very Many Thanks,
Ginny Wood
KU17s : Kingsley Under Seventeens
Where have all
the Flowers Gone?
by Derek Anthony Southworth 17.03.05
Dear Readers
I have visited your beautiful town of Frodsham and its surrounds on many occasions, and, indeed, have even resided there.
However, I now reside overseas. I still visit Frodsham as regularly as I can, but this time it is through the webpages
that I have located on the worldwide web.
The webpages are fascinating telling of your town’s history and locating sites of interest, yet, there appears to be a
part of Frodsham’s history that it always neglects to tell – Newton Hall!
Newton Hall (National Children’s Home) has, I believe, played a huge part in the history of your town and,
of course, to the children and staff who resided there. One can find information about the Methodist chapel that
stands in the grounds of Newton Hall to this day, but not one iota of information about the children’s home itself.
No commemorative plaque at the site of the home can be found nor in the town of Frodsham itself. As the home was in
operation for the best part of 100 years, gave gainful employment to the local populace and lent itself to the local
economy, I find this most disheartening and would expect to find some sort of recognition.
I know from firsthand experience that the townsfolk of Frodsham have warm hearts. In fact, one particular family
opened their heart and door to me. The Jones family of Weaver Crescent, Frodsham allowed me into their lives and
cherished me with love. This is in my view the spirit of the townsfolk of Frodsham. It is with this knowledge that
I once again reach out to you for your help and support. I ask the good folk of the town to join me in my quest for
a visual recognition of Newton Hall. I am not too sure how to do this, and it is here that your help is required.
I believe if we wrote to NCH Headquarters in Warrington en masse or to the local town council or towns guild
(if you have one) then progress could be made.
Frodsham townsfolk, please do not forsake the ex- children of Newton Hall now. In many cases, we were forsaken by
our own parents, yet you came to the rescue by allowing us to reside in your homes, villages and town. Join me
in my path for recognition of what is fundamentally a part of your history too.
If anyone has information about Newton Hall, or, indeed, knows me, then do get in touch.
Yours sincerely
Derek Anthony Southworth
derekissacs@hotmail.com
Notes from a
Small Town
by Vivien Shaw 16.03.05
I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few weeks gazing at peoples’ gardens and pathways and trees.
No, I’m not scouting for the next venue for “Groundforce”, nor touting for business as a tree feller, nor am I
a judge for the best kept garden competition. Not guessed what I’m up to? I’ll give you another clue.
Most of this house gazing, yes I look at them too, has taken place on Vicarage Road, Church Road, Red Lane and Fluin Lane.
Yes, you’ve guessed it. I’ve been sitting in a queue at temporary traffic lights trying to get in or out of the village.
So I spend my time admiring the gardens and houses that are around me, and they are lovely, but if I’m honest I’d rather
be on my way.
Now you may be asking, ‘Why doesn’t she just walk?’ A question I have asked my self frequently. And the answer is
children and times. Children: and their huge, varied and frequent social lives: Times; and the fact that everything
seems to stat and finish concurrently, so as parent of two children you literally have to be in two places at once.
I read in the paper recently that parents drive on average 40,000 miles in 20 years ferrying their children about.
20 years! They clearly don’t live in Frodsham, where I expect most parents feel like they get through that distance
in one year.
Of course we can’t blame our children for wanting to be so involved. Nor can we blame Frodsham for having so much
to offer. So I suppose we must blame ourselves, the parents, for that is our role in life. So whether its dance at
the Leisure Centre, or Football at the school or Rainbows at the Old Police Station (all starting at 6.30pm) we will
be there; a line of warm and safe chauffeur driven limos to deliver and retrieve our most precious packages.
So look out for me next time you are stopped in a traffic queue. I’m the one with a car full of Boy Scouts who is
gazing wistfully at that beautiful magnolia on Red Lane while I wait my time to rush to yet another of the week’s hectic
social activities.
Vivien Shaw
Miss Mills of
Newton Hall
by Derek Anthony Southworth 15.03.05
Dear readers
I am an ex resident of Newton Hall Children’s Home and would like to locate an ex member of staff.
I resided in Newton Hall from 1965 to 1971. I have fond memories both of the place, its residents and the staff.
During the 1990s I visited National Children’s Home northern headquarters in Warrington to retrieve my care files.
In doing so, I was able to reunite with staff from that era, mainly Sister Ruth who was in charge of the particular
flat I resided. However, there has been one lady that I have been unable to locate.
Her name was Miss Mills. She was the assistant to Sister Ruth; however, she did move on to be in charge of her own flat
within Newton Hall. I last saw her in the early 70s. It would be a dream fulfilled to be in touch with Miss Mills.
She was a compassionate lady who cared for the Newton Hall children beyond her call and duty.
I have thought of her often and still do.
Miss Mills (I am sure you have a married name now) if you are reading this, we are the
Southworth children - Gary, Julie, Tracy, Jillian and myself, Derek. Gary, Jillian and myself resided with
you at Sister Ruth’s while Tracy and Julie were at Sister Margaret’s.
If anyone has information of this incredible lady, then do pass this information on to her. If you yourself resided
or were staff at Newton Hall and recognise my siblings and me, then do get in touch also.
Hoping to find Miss Mills of Newton Hall.
Yours hopefully
Derek Anthony Southworth
derekissacs@hotmail.com
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