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Frodsham Life Discussion Forum
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Village children raise
money for Ethiopia
by John Hendon
PUPILS at Kingsley Primary School have raised moneyto buy desperately needed equipment for a charity school in famine-hit Ethiopia.
The children baked cakes and sold them during break time to pay for pens, pencils and colouring books that will be delivered to the school by teacher Sarah Biles.
Sarah, 34, who teaches at Kingsley is flying to Ethiopia to deliver the equipment over the Bank Holiday weekend. The school is in the capital, Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian school has 40 pupils and is one of the poorest in the community, with no real resources or equipment.
Sarah was inspired to go by a friend who lives in Addis Ababa and works in an infant school near to the charity school Sarah will be visiting.
Sarah is no stranger to travel and has already been to Africa. But this time the purpose is to create a link between the two schools and offer as much help as possible.
She said: “The trip has been planned for two months. I am hoping the pupils in Ethiopia will benefit from the equipment that I will be taking over.
“It would be nice for them to gain an insight into the lives of English children and for me to gather information that will give the children at Kingsley an idea of what life is like over there.”
The children in Sarah’s class have written letters about themselves and have also taken photographs of the school and where they live.
They have been studying Ethiopia in recent months and have drawn up a list of questions which Sarah hopes to get answered.
Police seek witnesses
after fatal crash
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are seeking witnesses after a man died following a car crash at Helsby.
The crash occurred in Towers Lane, Helsby at about 10.30am on Thursday, May 26.
A black BMW careered off the road and went into a field. The driver, a man aged 67, from the Chester
area was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital where he subsequently died.
Police have no indicated if any other vehicle is believed to have been involved in the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Sgt Blair Wilson, of the Special Investigation Unit, on
01244 350000.
Town Clerk's
shock resignation
by staff reporter
ATTEMPTS are being made to persuade Frodsham’s Town Clerk, Gill Birch to think again following her shock resignation.
New Mayor Coun Nigel Griffiths is to call on the Town Council to pass a vote of confidence in Miss Birch at its next meeting on May 31 in the hope she will reconsider.
Coun Griffiths was notified of her decision to quit at the end of her current contract in August just three days after he had been installed as Mayor.
He has already attempted to persuade Ms Birch to withdraw her resignation without success.
Ms Birch became Town Clerk in 2003 after serving as Deputy Town Clerk for two years and working as a clerical assistant for the council prior to that.
She has given no reason for her decision.
Charity workshop helps
people re-build their lives
by David Skentelbery
BUILDER Geoff Prince was devastated when he was struck down by a severely disabling disease at 49.
It seemed at first the father of two from Frodsham would never work again after mysteriously contracting
encephalitis - inflammation of the brain caused by a virus.
He was confined to a wheelchair for six months and could not walk. But his condition gradually improved and
attendance at the occupational therapy unit at Halton General Hospital brought back his confidence - and gave him
the glimmerings of an idea.
Why not set up a unit where disabled people could carry on working, learning new skills and building new lives after
their hospital treatment ended?
Helped by his wife, Norma, family and friends, Geoff set up the Will to Work workshop, based at Frodsham's
Lady Heyes crafts and antique restoration centre.
Now, nearly four years on, the workshop - a registered charity - is providing work, training, new interests and
companionship for stroke victims and others who have suffered sudden, disabling illnesses.
Geoff, now a cheerful 55-year-old grandfather of two, is walking again, with a little help from a stick and is
learning new skills all the time in the unit he founded.
About 10 people use the workshop three afternoons a week - Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays - doing workwork, wood
turning, gardening, learning computer skills, etc.
In addition to the workshop, Will to Work have three greenhouses and a garden at Lady Heyes.
Goods such as bird tables, garden seats, benches, tables etc are turned out using off-cut timber and other materials
donated by local firms and sold to help meet expenses. This year, for the first time, the group are to enter their
produce in vegetable shows at Frodsham and Norley.
They also have a small aviary which is cared for by users, who find the bird song therapeutic.
Said Geoff: "I have had wonderful support from everyone, including the hospital, who now refer people to us as a sort
of half-way house on the road back to employment. We have fund-raising events and we have plenty of able-bodied
volunteers who help us.
"I felt terrible when I was first taken ill. I felt I just didn't want to go on. But the workshop has helped me
personally and I know it is helping others.
"It has proved marvellous for learning new skills, helping people to regain confidence and enabling them to
face up to their new circumstances."
Picture shows Geoff Prince (2nd left) with Dave Saunders, Joe Jones and Vince Hopley.
Daniel heads
for Gold
by Gary Skentelbery
Frodsham student Daniel Shaw is setting off on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the summer of 2006 to complete his
Gold Award.
After finishing his exams Daniel (Pictured) will be going to Ecuador for a month with twelve other members of his year from
The Grange School, Hartford.
A major part of the trip is the Community Project, where the group will be working with schools in a small remote
part of Ecuador. The team will spend their time teaching, building new facilities or doing repairs to existing buildings.
There will also be the chance to take on one of the World's great challenges; to climb Mount Cotopaxi, the highest
active volcano in the country.
Commenting on his forthcoming adventure Daniel said: "The Duke of Edinburgh scheme aims to allow young members of our
society to go out and learn new things about the world, while being able to put something back into the community.
For example, in the second part of our expedition we are currently considering either teaching basic English to students
in schools not assisted by the Ecuador government funding, or helping build accommodation for poorer areas around
the eastern flank of Ecuador."
He added: "It will also help us gain invaluable experience through our group by having to raise all the funding
ourselves and plan and organise the trip."
Daniel is currently organising events which he hopes will help him raise the £2800 he needs for the trip.
So far he has planned a games evening, a Stars in Your Eyes; featuring the locally well known Village People and a non
uniform day at his old primary school: Frodsham Church of England School.
Daniel is active member of the Frodsham community, both as a successful rower and a member of Frodsham Players;
yes that was him 'Lost in Yonkers' and murdering Nancy in 'Oliver Twist'.
If you feel you would like to help Daniel in his fundraising please contact him on
danielgshaw@btinternet.com
Ghost stories wanted!
HELSBY author named Jeffrey Pearson is looking for ghost stories.
Jeffrey, who wrote the book, Cheshire Tales of Mystery and Murder, has now been
commissioned to write a book of 'Hauntings of Cheshire'.
He needs tales of hauntings in Helsby and Frodsham areas.
Any one with ghost stories can contact Jeffrey via Helsby Library
on 01928 724659, or they can bring their tales in person!
Lend your head for business
to a young entrepreneur
by staff reporter
THE Princes Trust is looking for business people in the Frodsham and surrounding area to help young
business entrepreneurs of the future.
Guidance, sound advice and moral support from a mentor is equally important as any financial backing.
You can help guide a young Prince’s Trust-supported entrepreneur during the touch-and-go
stages of business start-up.
What you'll do
commit 3-6 hours each month
form a professional relationship with the young person
meet regularly to provide business advice, guidance, monitoring and counselling
help with progress forms
attend Trust area meetings
What you'll need
professional and business expertise
good communication skills, patience and non-judgemental manner
strong rapport with young people
Anyone interested in becoming a business mentor, please contact the Chester office of the Princes Trust
on 01244 403067 or email offches@princes-trust.org.uk
Summer concert
Frodsham & District Choral Society held a concert at St. Lawrence Church during April when the choir
sang well and the soloists were "brilliant."
Unfortunately they could have done with a larger audience.
They are hoping for a better turn out at their next concert which is on July 2
in the Methodist Church (Kingsley Rd).
The summer concert starts at 7pm with Lighter Pieces Conducted by Ken Fayle.
For more information visit the website www.fdcs.org.uk
Police probe robbery
bid outside bank
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are investigating an attempted robbery outside a Frodsham bank.
The raid occurred when a security van was unloading cash at the NatWest Bank in Main Street at 10.50am on Friday May 6.
At least two men used a silver Peugeot car to ram the security van but then fled empty handed in the direction of Kingsley. The car was later found abandoned in Station Road, Kingsley.
One of the offenders is believed to have been injured during the raid, but no one else was hurt. But a woman at the scene was badly shaken and required treatment for shock..
One of the raiders was described as aged 30-40, of large build with cropped hair and clean shaven. He was wearing a white and black sweater.
The other was between 5ft 8 inches and six feet tall with greying hair and spoke with a Liverpool accent.
No weapons were used during the raid.
Anyone who witnessed the raid or saw the car being dumped at Kingsley is asked to contact DC Owens at Chester CID on 01244 613165.
Claire prepares
for adventure
by Gary Skentelbery
A FRODSHAM teenager is preparing for the experience of a lifetime as part of a volunteer project in
Sri Lanka.
Student Claire Murphy, aged 17, who is currently studying for her A Levels at Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College, is planning to embark on her
mission to Sri Lanka to work in a school, or a disabled woman's home with the education charity Project Trust.
She needs to raise nearly £4,000 to fund the project and has already raised over £1,300 from a number of fund-raising initiatives,
including a Christmas Chocolate Tasting Party, producing a calendar of her own art work and selling Christmas cards.
Project Trust sends school leavers to over 25 countries each year, to provide young people with an educational experience
working and living in communities very different from their own.
Claire said: "I am looking forward to what will be both an amazing expewrience and challenge."
During her visit she will be based in central or Southern Sri Lanka, living in basic accommodation.
Claire who is studying A Level Art, Textiles, English Literature and Theatre Studies, added: "Art is a very important
part of my lifeand an apsect I am keen to share and develop with the people I meet in Sri Lanka.
"Living there for a year will give me a much clearer picture of living in another culture and I am extremely interested to explore what part
Art and Textiles can play in this."
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by posting cheques payable to Project Trust to Clair C/O Glastonbury, Bradley Lane,
Frodsham or by emailing her at clairenia@msn.com
A Wiz production!
by Gary Skentelbery
Frodsham College was alive to the sound of 'The Wiz' - an updated version of the old favourite 'The Wizard of Oz.'
The show was staged by the music department and directed by Claire Stamper with costumes by Val Edwards and scenery by
Lyndsay Parnell.
What made it particularly enjoyable was how all the different years in the college were involved, from Teresa Eastwood
who played Dorothy and is in Year 11 to Richard Stanley, Year 7, who played The Wiz.
Another Year 7, Jonathan Harrison played The Lion, Hannah Turner Year 9 was the Tin man and Ben McLaughlin played The Scarecrow.
Each member of the cast mad a little contribution to the programme.
The funniest was Matthew Lambert who playing the narrator at 13 described himself as "the youngest grumpy old man in
the world".
Players stage 'happiest
days of your life'
by staff reporter
FRODSHAM Players are pictured at their production of the John Dighton comedy "The Happiest Days of your Life"
which they staged at Frodsham Community centre.
Set in the 1940's at a boys boarding school the play revolves around the boys being told another boarding school will be
billited with them.
The fun begins when it turns out to be a girls school!
The Cast pcitured are : Mike Harvey as Mr. Pond, The Headmaster, Joe Kenyon as Hopcroft Minor, The Pupil, Mike Arnold as Rainbow, The Caretaker
Gill Burd as Miss Whitchurch, The Headmistress and Gail Newbold as Barbara Calhoun, a pupil.
For further information of the Frodsham Players contact secretary Derinda Watson on 0151 425 3868.
Market traders
blocking footpath
by David Skentelbery
TRADERS on Frodsham Market are causing obstruction by blocking footpaths with their stalls.
Pedestrians are having difficulty getting passed because of the enroachment, members of the Town Council were told.
Coun Nigel Griffiths told the council: "Traders are putting their stalls up against the houses and because some stallholders are getting away with it, others are doing the same.
"I don't try to walk by on the market side of the street any more."
The council was told some residents were charging stallholders to use the frontage of their houses.
Coun F. Pennington said market vehicles were parking in taxi ranks - including some which were not displaying tax discs.
It was agreed to write to market organisers Northern Markets drawing attention to the problem and also to inform the police and the county council.
Coun Dennis Taylor commented: "Two years ago Northern Markets promised to stop this sort of thing happening. Things improved for a few days and then it was as bad again."
Lacemakers celebrate
21st birthday
by staff reporter
THE Helsby-based North Cheshire Lacemaking Group celebrates its 21st birthday this year - and two special events have
already been arranged.
An exhibition of members' work will be held at the Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham from May 1 to June 11 and a
Lace Fair will be held at Frodsham Community Centre on Saturday June 11.
North Cheshire Lacemaking Group was established in May 1984 when around 90 lacemakers met in Helsby Community Centre
and decided to set up the group.
Since then, the group has continued to meet once monthly in Helsby Community Centre.
It now has a membership of 124, of who 15 are "founder" members.
Membership secretary Margaret Nash said: "We are a very active group, organising workshops in Frodsham Community
Centre, speakers, demonstrations, competitions, visits, etc.
"Seventeen of us spent a weekend in Bristol recently at the annual general meeting of the Lace Guild of Great
Britain."
Although the majority of members are from the Frodsham and Helsby area, others travel from Lancashire, North Wales,
Merseyside, Shropshire, Cambridge, Stafford and Reading as well as other parts of Cheshire.
The Lace Fair will include demonstrations, raffles, Refreshments and stands for suppliers of lacemaking equipment.
Further details from Margaret Nash on 01244 381286.
Town Council alarm
over wind farm plan
by David Skentelbery
MEMBERS of Frodsham Town Council have expressed alarm at proposals to establish a wind farm with four giant 375 ft high turbines in the Weaver Valley.
Coun Graham Bondi told the monthly meeting of the council: “It would be huge - absolutely massive.”
Coun Lynn Riley added: “We have to keep an eye on this proposal. These wind farms can bring lots of health problems.”
Members expressed general concern at the likely visual impact of four wind turbines on farmland at Aston Grange and decided to seek more information. Coun Denis Taylor said: “We should object.”
Vale Royal Council has yet to consider a planning application for the development, but last June granted temporary permission for a 160 ft high anemometer at Aston Grange Farm, despite strong local objections.
Weaver Vale MP Mike Hall has already pledged to "vigorously oppose" the wind farm.
He said the turbines would have "a hugely damaging effect" on the valley's beautiful setting.
"They would be truly out of character with the countryside environment and be unacceptable in the designated green belt of Vale Royal.
"When the planning application comes forward, I will vigorously oppose it.
"I and a number of others objected to the anemometer because we feared it would pave the way for a wind farm application in the Weaver Valley.”
Up and Away!
by Gemma Rathbone
Visitors to the Lady Heyes Craft Centre in Kingsley are often lucky enough to catch an
impressive air display courtesy of the Runcorn Model Association flying club, which
attracts members from a wide area, including Frodsham, Helsby and Kingsley.
Affiliated to the British Model Flying Association, the club takes pride in its
growing membership, the high quality of aircraft and their members' remarkable
flying skills. Beginning its formative days at Wigg Island in the 1970's the club
has grown into a thriving group of enthusiasts who build and fly a wide range of aircraft.
From the striking size of the Fokker Triplane (pictured with owner Alan and members of
the club) to smaller sport models, the club caters for all tastes, although at present
all members fly fixed wing aircraft (i.e. not helicopters).
Many members enjoy building their planes from scratch, but the huge timescale
involved often restricts even the most dedicated enthusiast.
Mark's newest model, a red and yellow 'Pacer' took six months' worth of evenings
and weekends to build! However model shops now stock planes that are almost ready
to fly, requiring just a few additions and fine-tuning.
New flyers benefit from instruction by the more experienced members and cannot
fly solo until they have gained their certificates. For many members of the RMA
the appeal of model aircraft comes in the challenge and excitement of building the
aircraft and seeing them fly, experiencing the freedom and excitement that comes along
with that. Prospective members with a genuine interest are asked to get in touch via
their website to arrange a meeting at the field.
Junior members are also welcome and of course, all members must stick to the strict
set of guidelines and safety rules. But if you prefer to watch, ice cream in hand,
just go down to Lady Heyes and enjoy the show! Secretary Graham Pile suggests it's a
great way to keep the men and boys entertained while the ladies can shop to their
heart's desire! A Fun Day is being organised for Sunday 4th September where there
will be displays, light hearted competitions and much more!
Information and lots of photos can be found on the website
www.rmamodelflyingclub.co.uk
Many thanks to Graham, Jeremy, Ron and Mark for taking time out from flying to talk
to me.
Student puts hospital
history in the picture
by Gary Skentelbery
A student who has been carrying out research on the 100-year-old Crossley Hospital building is looking for feedback from
local residents.
Ian Cooper, currently a first year Graphic arts and design student at Leeds Metropolitan University visited the hospital
to take photographs for a college project.
He said: " Since then I have been intrigued by such an old building being left to the elements and I plan to document
the site extensively both externally and internally before it is re-developed.
"This will help my current university project and help out on doing some much needed research for the community on the
hospital. It is important I do this as soon as possible before it is redeveloped and before the site decay's further.
This would be a great benefit to our local history as there are very few photographs of this listed building.
"I have now become interested in a relatively new past-time known as Urban-Exploration which is very popular in the south
of England where "explorers" gain access to a site and document it using photographs of a site in decay, sometimes
uncovering forgotten clues to its past, as many such places have been untouched for years.
" I find this fascinating as it then becomes very much a living time capsule. I hope my work will perhaps pioneer this
activity in the north of England. Hopefully permission will be granted for myself to photograph the site officially by the developers and then I plan to exhibit my work at the Castle Park art gallery so that everybody can drop in and view my work, and the photographs will be passed over to the local history group as the only extensive photography pieces of the site."
"I recently found fragments of graves dating back to 1950’s and 60’s in the grounds of the hospital and I am hoping
someone can shedsome light on this."
Crossley Sanatorium/Hospital was part of two developments built in the early 1900’s at Kingswood, just outside of Frodsham.
Crossley Hospital East was built 1903 and was for TB patients funded by Sir William Crossley, part of the Crossley Carpet/Motor family from Manchester.
It was able to accommodate 90-100 patients, and was officially opened on the 31st March 1905 (100 years old this year)
and was then known as The Manchester Sanatorium. It was set in 66 acres, 480 feet above sea level.
The hospital was quite far away form Manchester because the clean air and woodland it was set in was believed to have
aided the treatment of TB. After advances in the treatment of TB, it became an elderly care hospital around 1960 before
finally being used as a nursery under than name Kingswood College.
Crossley Hospital West was built by Liverpool City Council and was used for similar purposes but has now been
unfortunately demolished to make way for executive housing. Only Crossley Hospital East remains now since
being closed around 12 years ago and considering the amount of time that has passed the hospital is in a
general good state of repair.
Ian can be contacted on Mobile: 07743446691 or e-mail: wine_rack@hotmail.com
Hats off to
Helsby Station
Report and pictures by Mark Vallely
Helsby Signal Box has won a national award for best restored listed building on the railways at the prestigious
National Railway Heritage Awards.
To mark the achievement a special plaque unveiling ceremony took place at the signal box.
Following years of neglect, the Westinghouse Signalling Award was the result of Network Rail's substantial
refurbishment of the Signal Box built in 1900, with the aid of a £17,000 grant from the National Railway Heritage
Trust. The entire project was carried out by Serco and took 6 months to complete at a total cost of £146,000.
Although the Signal Box itself is not listed, the Station building is Grade II listed and the box is located within a
conservation area, so all work was carried out in accordance with listed building consent.
Originally Railtrack planned to refurbish the box with a metal staircase and UPVC windows and without obtaining
listed building consent. But after the North Cheshire Rail Users Group got RailTrack and Vale Royal Borough
Council talking to each other, a revised design was prepared adhering closely to the original plans used when
the box was built.
After it was discovered that the main steel supports on both sides of the platform were badly eroded, new concrete
beams were designed and installed.
Ian Watson of North Cheshire Rail Users Group, who has been involved from the start of discussions, said:"There have been
lots of little improvements too. The timber staircase has been renewed and the loo on the end has now got
a proper slated roof which marries with the main Signal Box. There's been a complete refurbishment both
inside and out. Inside it's been brought up to modern working conditions. It used to be very draughty in there!"
One man who knows just how draughty it was is Graham Hughes, Signaller in the area for 30 years, the last 15 at Helsby
and now taking early retirement due to poor health.
Graham said "It's a heck of a difference. The conditions weren't exceptional. No, they were bad and nothing had
been done for years with no money allocated. Now looking forward to his retirement Graham, who loves his job,
says he won't miss the 5 o'clock alarm call but he'll keep in touch with his friends.
"Oh aye, they always make a good cup of coffee at Helsby Station" he added.
Pictures show Retiring Signaller Graham Hughes (Right) with the current Duty Signaller Dave Siddall inside
the Signal Box and Helsby Signal Box after completion of the refurbishment works.
A potted history of
Frodsham Recorded
Music Society
In the late 1970's a group of Frodsham music lovers met regularly in each others houses
to listen to an evening of recorded music presented by one or other of them.
This group called themselves the Music Circle and in 1986, before the Castle Park Arts Centre (as we now know it)
was even officially opened., Colin Walker gave a demonstration therein of the Hi-Fi equipment used by the group.
Shortly afterwards the first meeting of the now named "The Recorded Music Group" was held on Tuesday the 1st September
1986. The speaker was George Hooley and the title of his presentation - "Comparison of live and recorded music"
wherein those present were asked to shut their eyes and say when a sound emanated from him or a speaker -
no one was able to get it right !
Attendances rose and varied from as low as 7 to as high as 41, the average today being just below 30 and
on 3rd May 1994 the name officially changed to what it is today.
The presentations over the years have been given by members and guest speakers; amongst the latter have been many
internationally known personalities such as Jeffrey Lawton the opera singer, Bryce Morrison the tutor and judge of
the piano, Andrew Keener the record producer, Gerard Schwarz the conductor, Roger Fisher the organist as
well as John Crabbe the late editor of Hi-Fi News and author of many acclaimed books and Peter Spaull a
broadcaster and independent reporter and interviewer.
The subjects have ranged from so-called "classical" music (Palestrina to Penderecki) to jazz and categories
in-between. Apart from presentations devoted to musicians or to a composer (or part of his/her compositions) there are "specials" such as "Musical Memories" (when a particular member recalls his/her life by music connected with it) and "Desert Island Discs" ie 8 favourite recordings.
Meetings are still at CPAC and start at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of the months of September to May inclusive.
Would you like a "potted history" of your society to featire in a future issue of Frodsham life. Send us your details to
Frodsham Life c/o New Media Centre, Old Road, Warrington WA4 1AT or by email to
Frodsham Life
CRICKET
Rain hits local
cricket programme
by our sports staff
THE weather had a big impact on local cricket at the weekend.
Frodsham entertained Glazebury in their Cheshire Building Society Cheshire Alliance game. The visitors batted first and were reduced to 124-9 before torrential rain put an end to all further play.
Kingsley hit a fine 175-9 before declaring in their game against Aston. Kieron Ollier hit a superb 96 but fell just short of his century. Alex Hatt contributed a useful 29 late on in the innings.
Rain interrupted play and although the match was able to resume, Aston were 103-2 at the close. Andrew Storey took the two wickets for a cost of 31 runs.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire County League, Alvanley reached 113-2 against Lindow before the weather won the day.
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