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Friday February 17, 2017

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No. 777

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TV DRAMA WAS A WHITEWASH Lack of racial diversity in BBC’s The Moorside, say critics banner walk through Dewsbury.

Former Dewsbury West councillors Karam Hussain and Naz Hussain were also at the front of the march.

Coun Hussain added: “When we were holding the banner and walking with the banner, they must have had all this footage, they must have known.”

Fellow Dewsbury West councillor Darren O’Donovan, who lived nearby and was present for the events of February and March, 2008, was also critical.

“When I witnessed what was going on there, there were a number of different communities involved in that search for Shannon

LOCAL councillors have hit out at the lack of racial diversity shown in the Shannon Matthews kidnap drama, The Moorside.

The second part of the BBC drama, which starred BAFTA-winner Sheridan Smith, aired on Tuesday night, portraying the investigation which led to Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan both being sentenced to eight years in prison.

Large numbers of the district’s Asian population were involved in different ways in the 24-day search for nine-year-old Shannon.

However, The Moorside’s cast was made up almost entirely of white actors.

Dewsbury West councillor Mumtaz Hussain, who was involved in the search in 2008, thought there should have been more Asian

Continued on Page 4 The search for Shannon in 2008. ... British Asian people were associated with the community campaign actors in the two-part programme.

“The Asian community played a big part and a lot of Asian people were working in this group,” he said.

“But when they showed the drama there were hardly any Asian people in it. They could have made it more diverse.

“At the end of the day, with the

information the BBC have, they never contacted me.”

Coun Hussain was pictured in a number of well-publicised images of the search, including the iconic

■ More of your reaction to The Moorside p4 ■ More stories surface surrounding Karen Matthews and co p4 ■ Ed Lines: I lost the plot with courtroom farce p6

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

CAMPONI Catherine (Cath)

Thornhill. Wife of Brian.

Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 24 February at 2pm.

MORRISON DONALD A memorial service will be held at Longcauseway Church, Dewsbury, Saturday 25 February at 3pm.

Deaths APPLEYARD LUCY (NEE WALTON) On 9 February, in Priestley

Care Home, aged 87. Wife of the late Jack. Service at The Salvation Army, Mirfield, Wednesday 22 February at 1.30pm, followed by committal at Dewsbury Crematorium.

BROWN JOHN On 2 February, formerly of Hightown. Husband of the late Mary. Funeral to be held in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, on 6 March.

BROWN KENNETH On 12 February, aged 87, of Mirfield. Husband of Margaret.

Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 February at 2.45pm.

CARNEY VALERIE On 1 February, aged 67, of Cleckheaton. Wife of John.

Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 20 February at 10am.

CHANDLER LESLIE On 6 February, aged 90, of Mirfield. Husband of the late Evelyn. Service at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Mirfield on Monday 27 February at 11.30am.

Place your family notices by calling 01924 470296

CULLING PATRICIA (NEE CASSON) On 3 February, aged 70.

Service at St Michael & All Angels Church, Thornhill, Friday 24 February at 12noon, followed by private committal at Dewsbury Crematorium.

FOGGIN RENEE (NEE MCCANN) On 30 January, aged 92, formerly of Heckmondwike. Wife of the late David. Funeral service has taken place.

FREER ROSA On 10 February, aged 96, of Selby, (former publican of Talbot Hotel, Batley). Wife of the late Bill. Service at St Wilfrid’s Church, Brayton, Wednesday 22 February at 1pm.

GOODLAD BARRY On 12 February, aged 80, of Dewsbury. Husband of the late Diane. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 28 February at 1.15pm.

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GRADY MICHAEL PATRICK On 9 February, aged 78, formerly of Thornhill. Requiem Mass at St Paulinus RC Church, Friday 3 March at 11am, followed by interment at Dewsbury Cemetery.

HURLEY MARCELLA (NEE HYLAND) On 8 February, aged 84, of Gomersal. Wife of the late Roy. Requiem Mass at St Paul’s RC Church, Cleckheaton, Thursday 2 March at 11am, prior to cremation at Dewsbury Crematorium.

JOHNSON MICHAEL ROBERT MIKE On 2 February, aged 74, of Gomersal. Husband of May. Service at UR Grove Church, Gomersal, Monday 27 February at 2pm.

LONGBOTTOM DONALD LEACH On 5 February, aged 94.

Husband of Jean. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 February at 11.15am.

MARSDEN FORMERLY DRYE NEE JONES ANN SHIRLEY On 8 February, aged 68, of

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OLDFIELD BARBARA On 1 February, aged 95, of Roberttown. Wife of the late Douglas. Service at All Saints Church, Roberttown, Monday 27 February at 1pm, followed by private committal.

OLDROYD DAVID On 25 January, aged 64, formerly of Middlestown.

Husband of Angela. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium today, Friday 17 Feb at 2.45pm.

ROBINSON NEE STEPHENSON EILEEN On 2 February, aged 81, of Dewsbury. Wife of the late George William. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Wednesday 22 February at 2pm.

RODWELL NEE WOOD JOAN On 14 February, aged 81, formerly of Thornhill Lees.

Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 February at 10am.

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On 10th February 2017, peacefully at Avery Mews Care Home, Heckmondwike, Joseph, aged 87 years, formerly of Mirfield.

Beloved Husband of the late Jean Vera, devoted Dad of Shaun and Chris, dear Father-in-law of Lesley and Denise also a cherished Grandad of Natalie, Vikki and Sam, Great-Grandad of Marcel, Brother of Tom and a good friend to all who knew him.

Funeral service takes place at St Mary’s RC Church, Batley on Tuesday 28th February at 1.15pm followed by committal at Dewsbury Moor crematorium at 2.00pm.

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Any enquiries contact Joseph Sheard Funeral Directors, 8 Nettleton Road, Mirfield WF14 9AA, Tel: 01924 492219.

TONG Norma

On 21st January, at her home in Spain, passed away peacefully aged 74 with her daughter by her side.

Ex-Stewardess of Dewsbury Rugby Club and ex-Landlady of The Royal at Ravensthorpe.

RUSHWORTH MARIE On 6 February, aged 86, formerly of Dewsbury. Service at St Peter’s Church, Earlsheaton, Thursday 23 February at 10.45am, followed by interment at Dewsbury Cemetery.

SCARGILL NEE DORAN SHIRLEY On 6 February, aged 71, of Whitley. Wife of the late Ronald. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 20 February at 10.30am.

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On February 2nd 2017 aged 83 yrs, loving wife to Geoff for over 63yrs.

Beloved mum to Sheila RIP, Stella, Angela and Shaun, loving mother in law to Helen and a much-loved grandma and great grandma. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Mary’s RC Church Batley on Tuesday February 21st at 11:00am followed by Interment at Batley Cemetery.

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SHAW OLGA VICTORIA On 6 February, aged 97, formerly of Mirfield. Wife of the late Herbert. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 21 February at 2pm.

SPEIGHT DOUGLAS On 10 February, aged 88, of Ravensthorpe. Husband of the late Lorna. Service at St Saviour’s Church, Ravensthorpe, Thursday 23 February at 12.45pm, followed

24 hour service.

Telephone: Cleckheaton 01274 852 885 Roberttown Residence

by burial at Dewsbury Cemetery at 1.30pm.

TALBOT RUTH PARKER On 14 February, aged 95, of Batley. Funeral enquiries to Eric F Box Funeral Directors.

Tel 01924 465402.

TURNER EILEEN DOROTHY On 13 February, aged 75, of Shaw Cross. Eileen wished her body to be donated for medical research.

WALKER BRIAN On 29 January, aged 79.

Husband of Joyce. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 28 February at 11.15am.

WEBSTER PETER On 10 February, aged 70.

Husband of Pauline. Service at St Paul’s Church, Birkenshaw, Tuesday 28 February at 12noon, followed by committal at Cleckheaton New Cemetery at 1pm.

Place ThePress your family notices by calling 01924 470296

Butterfield House, Bradford Road, Rawfolds, Cleckheaton, BD19 5LT

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Friday February 17, 2017 Issue No: 777

31 Branch Road Batley West Yorkshire WF17 5SB Tel: 01924 470296 Fax: 01924 472561

Telephone 01924 472178

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/ThePressNews Publisher: Danny Lockwood Editor: David Bentley Reporter: James Morris Graphic Designer: Craig Moore Sales Manager: Lucy Tissiman Sales Executives: Nicola Finch Janet Black Sam Gilbert Office Manager: Adele Latham The Press abides by the principles of the Independent Press Standards Organisation and at all times attempts to report fairly and accurately and correct mistakes or errors as soon as possible.

In the first instance, contact the editor, otherwise we will be happy to give details of the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Council tax up by 10% in the next two years Kirklees chiefs blame ‘local government’s biggest funding crisis in history’, as Tories accuse Labour of ‘fiddling while Rome burned’

By James Morris KIRKLEES councillors have agreed plans to hike council tax by 10 per cent over the next two years.

At the annual budget meeting on Wednesday the council also approved plans to slash millions of pounds from frontline services.

Kirklees has been sinking into a worsening financial predicament, with Government funding cut from £107m two years ago to just £17m by 2021.

Presenting the budget, Cabinet member for resources Coun Graham Turner said: “It’s clear that local government is having the biggest funding crisis in its history.”

Council leader David Sheard said: “We have cut £129m and we’ve got to cut another £65m by 2021.”

Conservative councillors claimed the cuts were being made as a result of the ruling Labour group’s inability to manage its finances.

Tory leader Coun David A Council-designed graphic Hall accused the Cabinet of budget balance. This need not resorting to panic and slashhave come about if the Labour ing services at the 11th hour.

He said “Given that there Party had approached the task over the last few years with has been a requirement to reduce spending and make drive and vision. They have fiddled while Rome burned.” efficiencies since 2010, it is He said that £10m of savings calamitous that the Labour group has allowed the coun- the Conservatives had suggestcil’s finances to reach a stage ed in the past five years had where over half the council’s been ignored.

Coun Hall added: “The remaining reserves have been Conservatives have suggested spent in one year.

“And now, panicking at the many other savings over the years and if these savings had 11th hour, they propose slashing cuts to services such as been made when they were libraries in order to make the proposed, the financial burden RATES for policing in Kirklees are set to make your council tax bill rise – but it should lead to more officers on the streets.

The precept rate is expected to rise by 3.43 per cent, an annual increase of £5 a year for Band D council tax-payers.

Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson says the increase will pay for the recruitment of 500 police officers – 300 to replace those retiring, plus an extra 200.

■

a a black bomber jacket which had a small logo, and darkcoloured trousers; a black or mixed race male, heavily-built, wearing a darkcoloured top; a white male, heavily-built, wearing a grey jacket; an Asian male, slimly-built and 5ft 6in tall, wearing a grey jacket.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Oliver Coates at Huddersfield CID, via 101, quoting crime reference number 13170068320, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

DEWSBURY: Two teenagers have been charged in relation to a shooting in which a man was seriously injured.

Hasnain Khan, of Carrington Street, Bradford, and Owais Ashfaq, of Gladstone Street, Bradford, who are both 18, appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court charged with attempted murder, robbery and attempted robbery. Both are due to appear at Bradford Crown Court on March 10. Three other men, aged 19, 30 and 31, have been released on bail pending further enquiries. The shooting occurred on Cemetery Road, Dewsbury on the night of February 1.

Roadworks misery BATLEY: Motorists will face disruption as Yorkshire Water repairs a sewer pipe on Bradford Road, between the junctions of Alfreds Way, near Aldi, and Cheapside, near The Mill Outlet.

Work will take place over the weekend from 7.30am until 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Workers will then return on Friday, February 24 and Friday, March 3, working through the night on the Friday and through the day over the weekend.

Ex-solicitor charged

explaining spending on frontline services in Kirklees now would have been millions of pounds lighter.

“Neither would Labour’s inflation-busting 10 per cent council tax rise over two years be necessary.”

The Liberal Democrat group said they did not put forward any amendments to the proposed budget as the implications of it are not clear.

Lib Dems leader Coun Nicola Turner, said: “It is difficult to amend this type of budget. We understand huge savings need to be made but we don’t know the detail of how the cuts will be implemented and exactly what that might mean for local people.”

The budget was passed by 37 votes to 21, with 10 abstentions.

Hunt for armed house-raid gang FIVE armed men wearing balaclavas forced their way into a house in Heckmondwike and demanded money from the terrified occupant.

The incident happened on Sunday between 7pm and 8pm on Bevor Crescent.

Police said the men stole keys to the victim’s Ford Transit van before using it to make their getaway.

Descriptions of four of the suspects are: A black or mixed race male, stocky, and 6ft tall. He wore

News In Brief Teens on attempted murder charges

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DEWSBURY: A former solicitor has been charged with fraud and theft offences amounting to more than £4 million.

Linda Box, 67, of Halifax Road, Dewsbury, was charged with one count of theft and ten counts of fraud by Wakefield District Police yesterday (Thurs). She was arrested in February last year after police began investigating allegations of fraud.

Box was the partner of the now-closed Dixon, Coles and Gill firm of solicitors, which was based in Wakefield city centre. She is expected to appear before Leeds Magistrates' Court next month.

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ThePress

Woman denies partner’s murder A WOMAN has denied murdering her partner at their home in Gomersal.

Michelle Spencer, 47, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the murder of David Butterfield, above, at an address on Shirley Terrace on January 13.

The 43-year-old allegedly died from a stab wound.

Spencer appeared at Leeds Crown Court via video link from New Hall prison.

Michelle Colborne QC, defending Spencer, said it was expected that the trial would last into a second week and a provisional date was set for June 7.

Simon Waley, prosecuting said six civilian witnesses had already been required to attend the trial.

Spencer was remanded in custody.

Friday February 17, 2017

Matthews ‘planning to start new life in Spain’ KAREN MATTHEWS plans to flee Britain and begin a new life abroad, according to national newspaper reports.

The disgraced mother has applied for a passport and has told a friend she wants to start a new life in Spain.

She had wanted to live on the Costa Blanca after being released from prison in 2012 but was barred by probation bosses because she was still on licence for four years following her release from jail, halfway through her eight-year term. Now she is free to travel.

A source revealed: “She knows she can never avoid her past and with this new drama programme on the telly she’s realised that living abroad might be a better option. She can probably get a job out there and enjoy a better life than always looking over her shoulder. She’s applied for a pass-

port and that’s the first step towards leaving the UK for good.”

The 41-year-old is living in the south of England but following the airing of The Moorside has been abused in the street, with one woman throwing a portion of peas over her head.

The source said Matthews was hoping to land a cleaning job on the Costa Blanca.

Meanwhile, Shannon Matthews has apparently been offered a book deal to document her ordeal at the hands of her mother and Michael Donovan.

A string of leading publishing houses have allegedly contacted social services to ask about the possibility of signing her up to write an explosive book about her days held captive.

A number of details about the case still remain a mystery.

Shannon turned 18 last year after being taken into care follow-

ing Karen’s arrest.

But under strict guidelines put in place after Karen’s conviction, she is not free to talk to the media until she is 21.

A source close to the family revealed: “Shannon could make a fortune and there isn’t a person in Britain who would begrudge her a penny of any money she received – well, maybe one person.

“All the money in the world can’t take away the horrible fact that her own mother thought so little of her that she had her drugged and hidden in a grotty flat just so she could try and get her hands on a few thousand pounds.

“That is something Shannon has to live with every day of her life, so if she can try and make her life a little better by writing a book and earning some money from it, she should grasp the opportunity with both hands.”

‘Lack of diversity in TV drama’ Continued from Page 1

Matthews ... Costa dream?

‘Emotional viewing’: More of your opinions on The Moorside Shaun Gardner: I genuinely think the truth of the whole sad charade came out in the meeting in the car. The whole so-called plot to kidnap the poor girl and then claim the reward is complete nonsense. Learning disabilities played a huge part in this case.

Neither Matthews nor Donovan had the intelligence to pull off such a scam. They had no idea

how to handle the enormous media interest. Let’s just hope that the little girl in all this goes on to live a happy and stable life.

Louise Thewlis: I found it quite emotional viewing; for Julie to care so much and go against the community when the truth came out, what a strong lady she is! A sad story all the same for Shannon and her siblings.

Susan Sayles Wilkinson: For whatever reason she did it, it still cost at least £3.5m of taxpayers’ money. Let’s hope the children are now in a happy family environment. All in all, it answered a lot of questions. Great acting from all involved.

Adelle Woodcock: If it was the truth about her leaving Craig and it escalating etc, why was

Shannon found drugged and bound?

jayne Heaton: Exploitation... that’s what I think of it! Continual unnecessary upset for poor Shannon! Sick world.

Linda Harrison: It’s been interesting viewing and answered a lot of questions.

Responses from The Press Facebook page

and that didn’t play out in the drama I saw,” he said.

“When I remember those few weeks there were more people from that south-east Asian background involved in that search than what was portrayed.

“I’ve not spoken to any of the producers of the programme to understand why they’ve represented it that way. They said they did their research but that was a notable omission.

“I’ve spoken to people who think it was a pretty fair reflection of the events, and others who don’t think it was accurate.”

He also said he did not think it was necessary for the show to be made in the first place.

“I think it’s brought the story back unnecessarily and, without mentioning a name, I hope certain people didn’t watch it,” he said.

“I also hope it will be forgotten about tomorrow. Dewsbury stands for a lot more than what happened for one month in Dewsbury Moor.

“I hope we can go back to being a town known for other more positive reasons.”

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PLANS to combat parking problems around Mirfield railway station are set to be forced through by senior councillors, despite objections from local residents.

Large numbers of commuters park on both sides of Hopton New Road and Back Station Road, narrowing the carriageway so that only one vehicle can drive down at a time. Police have been called to a number of incidents.

Proposals have been put forward by Kirklees Council to paint staggered double yellow lines down the road in an

attempt to solve the problems.

Three objections were lodged against the plans, but senior councillors look set to overrule the objectors and get the scheme under way.

One resident Brian Foster said he opposed the plan because he thinks waiting restrictions should be installed down the entire length of Hopton New Road, while another, John Sykes, said he believed the yellow lines would be ineffective.

All three of Mirfield’s Kirklees councillors support

the plan. One of them, Coun Martyn Bolt has also relaunched a petition for major improvements at Mirfield station, which is hampered by a lack of disabled access, has no ticket machine and no toilets.

He said: “We have over 400,000 passengers a year through Mirfield. It is a key link in the transport network for the region, servicing residents and businesses, and yet it is not prioritised by Network Rail and others.”

The petition can be found at www.Change.org.

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

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News In Brief

Man duped out of cash by ‘engineers’ HECKMONDWIKE: Detectives are appealing for information after an elderly man was deceived by men posing as solar panel engineers.

The incident occurred around 3pm on Friday, February 10, when two Asian men, aged between 25 and 35, called at the victim’s home on Fairfield Road.

They spoke to the occupant, a vulnerable man in his 70s, and told him he was due a refund. They produced a card machine and stole a large sum of money during the transaction.

Both were smartly dressed. The first one is described as around 5ft 8in with a stocky/athletic build. The second has been described as 5ft 11in, of slim build and aged between 26 and 28.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Rob Rutherford at Kirklees CID via 101, quoting 13170065347.

Royal visit to textile firm A BATLEY textile firm welcomed a member of the Royal Family to celebrate 250 years in business.

HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, visited the Joshua Ellis & Co site on Grange Valley Road yesterday (Thursday) to tour the site and meet the design and production teams.

Her Royal Highness, who is president of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit.

The firm, which began as a clothiers before diversifying into woollen textile manufacturing in the late 1700s, weaves luxury cashmere which it exports to 23 countries.

Belly-buster battle BATLEY: Food fans are being invited to take on a belly-busting challenge in aid of charity.

Smokey’s Original restaurant will host the event on Friday, February 24, when participants will take on the Rio Grand burger.

The first person to clear their plate will win.

Money raised will be donated to Batley Food Bank.

Pancake lunch Princess Anne meets with staff at Joshua Ellis & Co Ltd

CCTV footage of the men who were involved in the assault

Nightclub gang hunted after vicious assault POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted outside a Batley nightclub.

The incident happened outside the TBC club at around 3.35am on Saturday, January 28.

A 21-year-old man was hit in the head by a group of men, knocking him unconscious, at which point they stole his wallet.

Door staff came to assist the victim who received injuries to his head, nose and mouth.

Detective

Constable Chris Eglen said: “I am hoping to speak to anyone who has any information about this incident or can help identify the men in the pictures who we wish to speak with in connection with this assault.

“This was an unprovoked attack, which left the victim requiring hospital treatment.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Huddersfield CID via 101, quoting crime reference number 13170044509.

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MIRFIELD: Trinity Methodist Church are hosting a pancake lunch on Tuesday, February 28 (noon-1.30pm) in the Community Room on Trinity Street.

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Friday February 17, 2017

BACK IN PRINT Now on sale, the updated edition. Reserve a copy in office hours on 01924 470296, order via www.thepressnews.co.uk or call in at our office, 31 Branch Road, Batley

LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE Danny Lockwood

A taxing problem for the NHS DON’T mind paying taxes.

No, really – don’t laugh.

I’d like the bloke sawing into my guts to be using a super-sharp and sterile scalpel, not a rusty knife and fork.

And as and when I’m sat dribbling down my daytime jim-jams and clamouring for the commode (any day now, quite possibly) I’d like to think it could be in a clean and well-staffed elderly care home.

It isn’t so long ago that we could take such things for granted. I can still remember going into A&E and being home before I’d grown a beard. The sparkly-eyed lady my kids called Supergran – my grandma, Mary Lockwood – spent her latter years being wonderfully cared for in a council-run home in Batley.

It’s been demolished some years now.

I

Gordon Brown – perfected the Liar’s Budget Our hospitals are in crisis, elderly care is a national scandal, the two are inextricably linked – and yet all either seems to elicit from the people actually in a position to do something about it, is finger pointing.

I don’t care whose watch

this happened on, Labour or Conservative (and both are to blame, Blair and especially Gordon Brown every bit as much as the continued neglect of David Cameron and Theresa May).

I don’t care if mass uncontrolled immigration is a factor in the frontline pressure on the NHS. It’s not the point.

I don’t care that central and local government bodies can’t agree on who’s to blame or who has the responsibility to fix stuff.

Just someone, please, bang heads together and get something done.

Which brings us smartly back round to taxes, because the solution as ever in these cases, should be financial. It costs money.

So why are politicians suddenly so shy about even discussing income tax rises?

About how we pay for it?

Successive chancellors dat-

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ing back to Brown have become adept at the Liar’s Budget, at masking tax rises and revenue-raising schemes.

They announce grand gestures of generosity and bury their schemes to loot.

You’re paying as much or more than ever, but it is disguised. National Insurance rises mean combined rates are higher than income tax without attracting the same headlines.

Do you know what basic rate income tax is? Most folk probably do – 20% on everything above the earning threshold.

But NI? Any ideas? As an employee you pay 12% (meaning your effective tax is 32%) but employers have to pay £13.8% on top. An almost 14% tax for the honour of giving someone a job.

Some people probably still fondly imagine that NI pays for our universal health service, for elderly care and their

old age pension.

Dream on. It all goes into the exchequer pot so that we can give billions to countries like India, with their worldleading space programme, or fund Ethiopia’s equivalent of the Spice Girls in an idiotic attempt to promote female rights in Third World countries. Go fathom.

Time here, however, to give the Remainers their regular poke in the eye over the £350m a week (£200m nett) that we are still pouring down the bureaucratic black hole of the EU. The snowflakes still persist in wailing that the NHS still isn’t getting the Leave campaign’s promised £350m.

There’s a reason, petals – because whatever the real figure is, we’re still in the damn EU and haven’t got control of our money yet.

But again, not the point.

Ignoring the elderly care crisis will not cure it, and the

longer it endures the more it will back up and choke our hospitals.

Sure, I’d pay extra tax to help towards a solution, but I suspect the problem goes even deeper than money – this Conservative government has neither got a clue, nor the guts, to tackle the problem head-on.

They are rabbits in the spotlight, hoping that winter turning into spring might bring warmer weather and a temporary salve for the beds crisis. Wow, that’s a plan, isn’t it?

Where’s a strong opposition Labour Party when you need one?

Ahead of next week’s Stoke-on-Trent by-election at least, they were busy getting local mosques to whip the faithful into line, telling Muslims it’s their duty to vote Labour.

Now where have we heard that before…?

Moorside circus turned into a courtroom panto ’VE BEEN in a lot of courtrooms (for good and bad!) during a lifetime in journalism. I have never, ever, witnessed anything remotely resembling the kindergarten theatricals in part two of The Moorside.

When the Karen Matthews trial judge invited witness Julie Bushby to basically give a speech to the jury I thought I’d lost the plot, never mind the scriptwriters.

Unbelievable. But so was most of it – a tawdry platform for star turn Sheridan Smith, regardless of what actually happened. Talk about ‘don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story’!

But it wasn’t even that.

The entire plot could have been summed up in one ridiculous scene – Bushby and her “tree for Shannon” (when she planted a 10-bob sapling in a hole that looked like a bomb crater).

A march for Shannon, a balloon release for Shannon, posters and t-shirts for Shannon, a tree to welcome Shannon home. No, sorry, really not about Shannon – all about another attentionseeking moment.

I see serious critics are lauding it as a shoo-in for a raft of Baftas. Good grief, for what? For making an already unbelievable drama even more incredibly ridiculous?

I’m sure Ms Bushby is revelling in her latest brush with ‘fame’. And I note,

I

Sheridan Smith – literally unbelievable according to the final credits, she apparently kept visiting Matthews in prison. That says more about this pathetic affair and these people than any amateurish BBC drama.

And if you’re one of the many people who thought it was great, can I recommend you get a letter fired off to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing? Enjoy the regular community choir practices where locals gather to sing ‘Kumbaya’. FFS. The one moment that rang true was when Matthews confessed to the botched plan to leave Craig Meehan for Mick Donovan. It makes even more embarrassing the fact that at no point did the show attempt to explain the kidnap/ransom plan.

I make no wonder West Yorkshire Police wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole – too much of their own to explain, like how a nine-year-

old girl, having gone willingly with ‘Uncle Mick’ to his house and eaten junk food, sweets and played video games for three weeks, could be ‘found’ and a huge reward claimed, without giving the game away. I expect there are barristers who still blush over how that got past a jury.

In reality, Matthews and Donovan got eight years for wasting police time, money and making them look idiots into the bargain – which actually is fair enough.

I could stomach this farce if it had at least tried to get close to the real story, but it was a chick-lit cop-out – guilty parties all round, and not just off the Moor.

PS: It was quite surreal, sitting on a wall outside Donovan’s flat in the minutes after Shannon was found, chin-wagging with a couple of neighbours before Lidgate Gardens became a circus. At that point I nipped up to Moorside Avenue where the news was just getting out.

TV producers were arriving with bottles of fizz to use as props for the ‘impromptu’ celebrations, but I saw a couple of blokes walking past swilling cans of Special Brew.

I asked if they were celebrating, but they just gawped back through their alky mist, as if I had a screw loose.

Those locals were oblivious to what was going on.

Proper Moorsiders then…

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Behave...or Doorstep conman steals pensioner’s £1,000 go back to jail, car thieves told

By James Morris OFFICIALS at an amateur rugby league club have hit out at rising costs levied by the council.

Thornhill Trojans bosses have criticised Kirklees for the rates they currently charge the club to play at Thornhill Sports and Community Centre.

The Trojans were issued with a bill in excess of £1,850 for this year’s field hire.

This is made up of £326 per open age team – of which the club has two – plus charges for a women’s team and junior teams varying from £96 to £126.

The charges have been labelled disproportionate by Trojans volunteers.

Club trustee James Ratcliffe admitted the club was struggling to find the money before the season begins.

He said: “Our argument most definitely is: where does a not-for-profit community club find such money

James Ratcliffe...’it’s tough’ in an ever-decreasing world of sponsorship? And we believe the juniors shouldn’t be charged individually at all.

“The state of the junior field is a disgrace, with work which was promised this year seemingly not carried out.”

The club has teams ranging from children as young as three through to under 14s.

Mr Ratcliffe added: “We are providing a service for the community with so many youngsters playing, but the council are charging us so much money it is tough.

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He went into the kitchen and then made excuses to look elsewhere in the house.

He went upstairs and made an untidy search of the bedrooms before leaving the property with the money.

The suspect is a white male in his mid- to late-20s, 5ft 7in tall and of slim to medium build. He was wearing a black hat with ear flaps, a long

black coat and black trousers. He spoke with an English accent.

DC Simon Thomas, of Kirklees CID, said: “The lady has been extremely distressed and our enquiries are ongoing to capture this perpetrator.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Kirklees CID via 101, quoting reference 13170062798.

Rugby club fuming over rise in council charges

YOR K

TWO car thieves who targeted addresses in North Kirklees could be sent back to prison for five years if they re-offend when they are released.

Thomas Quinn, 37, and Gordon Hopkins, 39, are serving a combined 11-year sentence for stealing £238,000worth of cars in West Yorkshire, including properties in Batley, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton.

The pair have been handed a serious crime prevention order, the first ever given out by local detectives.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Bugg, of Wakefield CID, said: “Quinn and Hopkins were responsible for a string of high-value break-ins in West Yorkshire in 2015 and we are delighted to have secured the district’s first serious crime prevention order against them.

“If they re-offend on release from prison the order means they will face up to an extra five years in jail on top of whatever sentence they receive for the new crime.

“Those orders are intended to dissuade those who commit serious crime from being tempted to do so again.”

Quinn was sentenced to five years in jail and Hopkins received a six-year sentence in November after they pleaded guilty to 13 offences.

A BOGUS tradesman stole around £1,000 from a woman pensioner in Mirfield.

The incident happened between 11am and 11.30am on Wilson Terrace, when a male suspect claiming to be from the water board visited her home.

He told the victim a water pipe had burst down the road and he needed to turn off her water.

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“But wee have arranged a payment plan for this season.”

A council spokesperson said: “Rates for hiring a sports pitch are agreed by Cabinet and are directly related to the number of teams a club has.

“The money pays for the provision of goalposts, rugby posts and line marking, as well as contributing towards grass cutting and other site maintenance.

“The council has agreed a payment schedule with the Thornhill Trojans and are also working with them and local sports clubs to put in place a plan that enables us to carry out the required work on the junior pitch without interrupting the teams’ planned games and activities.”

News In Brief Police appeal after vicious assault RAVENSTHORPE: Police are appealing for information after a 23-year old man was kicked, punched and head-butted in an assault at 4.45pm on Saturday on Queen Street, Ravensthorpe.

Det Insp George Bardell of Huddersfield CID said three Asian men had assaulted the victim and stolen his cash.

He said: “The victim was walking from a ginnel when he was approached by three males. One got him in a headlock and he has been headbutted, punched and kicked. We appeal for anyone who saw the incident to come forward.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Huddersfield CID via 101.

‘Why I stole booze’ DEWSBURY: A man blamed his grandfather’s terminal illness for stealing alcohol from the town’s Asda supermarket.

Joseph Tolson, 31, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Kirklees magistrates. He was caught taking two miniature bottles of cognac and a bottle of wine.

His solicitor explained that at the time of the offence his grandfather was suffering from cancer. Magistrates asked for a probation report on Tolson, of Earl Street, Wakefield.

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

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Don’t tar us all with the same brush Dear Sir, In response to your readers’ letters concerning the Moorside TV programme, please don’t tar us all with the same brush.

It is such a shame that the only people it showed were the ones on benefits, and the small band of idiots.

It would not be able to show the decent and hard-working people that live on the estate, as they were too busy working and paying taxes.

Why, if these residents were fit enough to march and search for

No confidence in the system From: Adele Latham, Batley Dear Sir, Where’s the justice?

I refer to a court case in last week’s Press newspaper where a pensioner was found guilty of fraud for using his wife’s blue badge on a number of occasions, and for this terribly heinous crime was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £500, plus £115 victim surcharge – the government being the poor innocent victim, you understand!

Yet in the same edition a man pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images and one of extreme pornography, including young

Letter of the Week: ‘A Moorside resident’ Shannon (and, by the way, a lot of people began to ask if it was a scam because they did not have the brains to do this by themselves), were they not working?

The good people of Moorside are totally disgusted by all of this.

The documentary should have

children, and a woman and an animal, and was sentenced to a mere eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, plus 200 hours unpaid work!

Wow, that’s one mighty deterrent.

I could list more cases, but suffice it to say, in my opinion, our judicial system is a joke, and certainly gets a huge vote of no confidence from me.

Why should we pay for her?

From: ‘Tammy Anne Firth’, via email Dear Sir, After wathing The Moorside on Tuesday, I was disgusted with the part of Karen Mathews.

Not the part that was played,

been called ‘The Julie Bushby Show’, not The Moorside.

None of this needed to happen as the police would have found Shannon, as they did anyway.

This programme was partly based on input from one or two and, as a result of this, there was a lot left to be desired.

but, the way she reacted.

As a local (mother) I can remember being at work with the radio on waiting for any update that little girl was found alive and well.

It put Dewsbury in a bad light after what that woman put her daughter through to try and get money.

The sad thing is the Moor came through and did what any community would do, but they are getting slated because of the area.

Had this been an upmarket area in Kent for example, would the press be so unrelenting?

It is great that we can be shown what is hopefully the true evaluation of what happened. If this programme is based on the truth, then; well done Dewsbury Moor!

You were let down by the courts. Karen Matthews should

What a great community we have From: Tim Wood, Mirfield, on behalf of MRV & RBL Dear Sir, On this occasion I am wearing two hats, the Mirfield Rifle Volunteers and the Royal British Legion.

I would like to express my thanks to members of the MRV who attended the charity presentation evening where we presented two cheques of £1,600 each, to Ben Parkinson’s charity the Pilgrim Bandits and to Christ the King Church in Mirfield for their local luncheon club.

Once again MRV have raised funds beyond all expectations, so well done to one and all who have grafted all year round.

Secondly, a thank you night was held for volunteers who helped make the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Parade in Mirfield another outstanding success.

More than £16,200 was raised for the Poppy Appeal and the parade is now setting standards for others to follow. We are so proud of

have spent her life behind bars.

Why should we pay for her new lease of life?

Thanks to MP for answer From: Linda Harrison, Birstall Dear Sir, I’d like to thank Tracy Brabin for her informative reply to my letter about her appearing on a television advert while she is our MP. Tracy honestly admitted that she does not endorse the product she is promoting. Her response confirmed my suspicions.

I have always suspected that many of the high-profile actors who are seen pleading for our donations to charities have no real interest in such causes and are merely doing it for the fee or to further their career.

My personal view of such appeals by celebrities is this – put your money where your mouth is!

Working class families have a hard enough time providing for their own without the added burden of contributing to the welfare of those on a different continent.

Not giving a good impression From: R Spreadbury, Liversedge Dear Sir, Now retired, I have more time to get around our area on foot and by car, no more commuting for me.

As a downside to this, I am disgusted by the amount of rubbish strewn over any open green space.

I have no idea who the morons are who sling stuff out of their car windows or dump stuff on any bit of grassland, but surely it can not be beyond the wit of man (or council) to do something about it.

If it is, here are a few suggestions to our esteemed council to get the ball rolling:

Inter-faith school groups – adopt a street/area and keep it clean.

Young offenders in litterpicking chain gangs.

Councillors have half a day a month off from axing our services and destroying our local culture, and pick some litter, preferably outside of Huddersfield.

Teach civic pride in our schools.

Name and shame fly-tippers, litter droppers on a council Facebook page, and ASBO kids could be added to this.

Teach appreciation of the countryside, nature and our green spaces in schools. These are things to be cherished and not desecrated.

A lot of the world’s people are less fortunate or don’t care.

Anyone caught littering or fly tipping should be given a £2,000 fine and community service.

The latter involving litter picking.

Here are three areas of concern to get the ball rolling:

Continued on page 9

LATEST PLANNING APPLICATIONS

what we are achieving with the help of just so few and the wider generosity of the local population.

Not one of us is in receipt of any financial remunera-

tion for our efforts.

We are happy to volunteer and the locals seem to give and give.

What a great community, well done one and all.

P Terry, detached dwelling, 4 Echo Street, Roberttown.

Mr G Hussain, single-storey rear extension and formation of access ramp, 7 Woodfield Avenue, Staincliffe.

Kirklees Council Physical Resources and Procurement, outline application for residential development, land at George Street/William Street, Ravensthorpe.

D Parkinson, erection of detached garage, Six Lanes End Working Men’s Club, Leeds Road, Heckmondwike.

A Cliffe, c/o agent, outline application for detached dwelling, rear of 95 Shillbank Lane, Mirfield.

W Brook, discharge conditions 6 (ventilation) and 7 (car park layout) on previous permission 2016/93482 for change of use from electrical engineering to vehicle repair garage, 50a Valley Road, Millbridge, Liversedge.

Mr M Yousaf, work to tree(s) within a conservation area, 2 Moorlands Terrace, Dewsbury.

Mrs F J Nazir, work to tree(s) within a conservation area, 1 Moorlands Terrace, Dewsbury.

Mr M Akel, work to tree(s) within a conservation area, 3 Moorlands Terrace, Dewsbury.

A Dixon, certificate of lawfulness for proposed conversion of garage to office, 16 Solway Road, Soothill.

Mr Sutcliffe, c/o agent, non-material amendment to previous permission 2008/94430 for erection of two-storey office ancillary to industrial building with mezzanine area

and associated external works (use class B1/B2/B8), Chain Bar Road, Cleckheaton.

M Hinchliffe, four dwellings, 49 Brooke Street, Cleckheaton.

D Ramsbottom, work to TPO(s) 23/77, 66 Carlinghow Hill, Upper Batley.

L Ellam, change of use of part of land from private boat yard to buying and selling vehicles and erection of detached dwelling, 772a Bradford Road, Birstall.

Mr Cave, work to TPO(s) 36/92, 13 Leeds Road, Mirfield.

Beckside Properties, discharge conditions 4 (noise), 5 (land contamination), 6 (preliminary risk assessment), 7, (phase II intrusive site investigation) on previous permission 2016/93266 for alterations to convert vacant building to 6 apartments and 1 house, Crown Works, Staincliffe Road, Westborough, Dewsbury.

Mr Barker, work to TPO(s) SP2/70, 66 Latham Lane, Gomersal.

L Archer, outline application for erection of residential development (10 dwellings), Maple Mount, Chickenley Lane, Chickenley.

D Raw, single-storey rear extension, 5 Station Road, Earlsheaton.

Mr A Khan, two-storey side, singlestorey front and rear extensions and dormer to rear, 91 Victoria Road, Thornhill Lees.

Mr M Faraz, discharge condition 1 on previous permission 2016/93579 for prior approval for proposed change of use of the ground floor from offices (Class B1(a)) to 3

dwellings (Class C3), 3 Oldfield Lane, Heckmondwike.

N Christodoulou, detached dwelling with off-road parking, adjacent to 43 Mortimer Street, Healey, Batley.

Paul Pheasey, certificate of lawfullness for proposed erection of single-storey side extension, 160 Huddersfield Road, Liversedge.

M Parker, single-storey front, side and rear extensions, 4C Overthorpe Road, Thornhill.

Mr & Mrs R Mills, demolition of existing conservatory and raised platform, and erection of singlestorey rear extension, raised balconies and alterations to roof to provide additional accommodation, 4 Highfield Drive, Birstall.

Mrs Z Latif, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension. The extension projects 4.5m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maixmum height of the extension is 4m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 3m, 3 St John’s Close, Westtown, Dewsbury.

Mr M Ali, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension.

The extension projects 4m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 3.5m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 2.3m, 18 Spen Valley Road, Ravensthorpe.

E Daley, use of outbuilding to operate dog grooming salon, 26 Walkley Terrace, Heckmondwike.

Ravensthorpe Community Centre,

single-storey rear extension, part re-roofing of existing training centre and addition of A3 food preparation area, opposite, 24 Garden Street, Ravensthorpe.

Christopher Drake, certificate of lawfulness for proposed conversion of garage to living accomodation, 44 Mill Lane, Chickenley.

M Heylings, Listed Building Consent for erection of two blue plaques (within a Conservation Area), Dewsbury Railway Station, Wellington Road, Dewsbury.

Baig Shakeel, extensions, 36 Caldermill Way, Thornhill Lees.

Planned Contracts Ltd, discharge conditions 9-12, 15 and 16 on previous permission 2016/91997 for erection of 10 dwellings, 221 Leeds Old Road, Batley.

Mr H Hafeji, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension. The extension projects 4.7m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 4m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 2.4m, 5 Church Walk, Staincliffe.

Mr M Zaman, dormer windows to front and rear, 16 Tanhouse Street, Ravensthorpe.

Mrs Z Latif, single-storey front extension, 3 St John’s Close, Westtown, Dewsbury.

C Marney, non-material amendment on previous application 2015/92252 for erection of twostorey offices, production facility and warehouse, British Millerain, Calder Works, Thornhill Road, Dewsbury.

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

From page 8 1) The top car park in Heckmondwike, above the mosque.

2) Webster Hill in Dewsbury, opposite Harrisons Lighting.

3) The end of the Mad Mile.

Perhaps your readers could nominate some more locations.

This will save Kirklees Council staff from venturing outside of Huddersfield and save them the cost of employing a consultant, setting up a diverse interfaith assessment committee with a policy statement, developing a strategic litter plan and setting up an OFSTED-type supervising body to ensure everything is PC and nondiscriminatory.

After all, if North Kirklees is to become an investment hub for the performing arts, then we have to give any visitors a good impression.

Not the impression that we live in some sort of Third World litter-strewn enclave.

Why not start at the top for a change and give the £40- £60,000+ salary brigade a bit of a haircut? (the Kirklees boss earns approximately £200,000 per year) I have only ever heard one politician say that he would stop all ‘golden goodbyes’ for failure, and that was Michael Gove, who obviously can’t do it for a while.

It also happens in the NHS, where a chief executive who never leaves his office and knows nothing about doctoring matters, makes a mess of things and just slinks away quietly to take another jolly good number.

Does any reader know how to get these positions, and what qualifications they need?

paths and the noise nuisance created by barking dogs leads me to believe that dog ownership is becoming anti social.

I have yet to see someone offending, perhaps they sneak out under the cover of darkness or have trained the pet to look both ways before depositing a fresh steaming batch.

Anyway, perhaps it is time to reintroduce the dog licence scheme which could be used to fund dog wardens and give the courts a workable way of banning ownership for those who have offended.

So come on dog owners, stop this disgusting, selfish behaviour.

A big pay-off and Disgusting, a golden hello From: NK Braithwaite, Cleckheaton selfish behaviour

Speaker’s role is to offer guidance

Dear Sir, Councils in Devon are getting volunteers to mend potholes, pavements, cut hedges, and clear up weeds, without them receiving any reductions to all that council tax they are paying.

It is well known how councils waste our money – too numerous to list.

Even if they are complete failures, we never hear of any top people being sacked; they just seem to fade out of the picture with a big pay-off and pension, or miraculously land a top job at a neighbouring council.

Is it a case of ‘who you know, and not what you know?’

They cover their inabilities by blaming shortage of cash, and raise the council tax.

When they had more money they only blew it in on stupid ideology; they never mention the real reasons – their failures and over-population.

Dear Sir, John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, is coming in for criticism from some members of parliament (mainly Tories) for expressing his thoughts on US President Trump’s visit to the UK. Bercow’s role as Speaker is to not only to chair debates but to also offer guidance.

Since Theresa May’s visit to the US to meet Donald Trump some MPs have queried the wisdom of allowing the US President a state welcome to the UK. John Bercow has politely advised MPs that parliament is a democracy, in favour of equality, opposed to racism and sexism and a respecter of the law and the judiciary.

Trump struggles to meet that criteria, he also has a problem meeting the Government’s British values of respect and tolerance, something the

From: D Johnson, Mirfield Dear Sir, Following on from the letter by Kathleen Hodge last week regarding dog poo bags, I would like to widen the debate to dog ownership in general.

Twice in the past two weeks I have stood in dog excrement whilst walking the local pavements, so I would like to invite a response if possible through this publication as to why dog owners think it is okay to allow their pets to foul not only our public highways, but also parks, sports fields and grass verges?

It is bad enough behaviour to do this, however the cretins who collect the poo into those little black bags and then discard them into the hedgerows leave me speechless.

Add to this the smell of dog urine which permeates many public foot-

From: John Appleyard, Liversedge

Government has been banging on about lately in regard to immigrants coming to this country.

In his time as Speaker John Bercow has greatly increased the use of urgent questions as a way for parliament to keep the government on its toes, and finally a belated thank you to him for coming to Birstall with Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron the day after Jo Cox’s murder.

Tributes to a well respected man From: Mrs A Rawat, Batley Dear Sir, It was with shock and sadness that I read in your paper of the passing of Dr Glyn Powell.

My condolences to Sue his wife, and the rest of his family and friends.

I knew Glyn and Sue many years ago for a short time, and they always came across as outstanding people with good values.

In reading about the work that Glyn had been doing over the years, I can see that he carried on helping people, primarily with injustices in the workplace. He was obviously a man of high intelligence and good principles.

When I was fighting my injustice in the workplace, I found out just how unintelligent and unprincipled our politicians in this area are.

So, Amanda Stubley has been thrown out of the Labour Party, or she left of her own accord, whatever.

I wonder if she will find she has a job for life, now out of the Labour Party?

Many people, especially Asians, vote for the Labour Party no matter who is standing; so exasperatingly wrong. How intelligent are they?

How capable are they of representing us at all levels?

Never mind their principles, which I consider to be very feeble.

One thing I will agree with Amanda on is that the numbers of councillors should be reduced.

It will be a great cost-cutting measure, and we won’t even miss them.

9

How many times have you been to see a councillor; how many times have you been helped by them?

I have never been helped by them, even though I went to them and needed their help.

Groups of good community-minded people, with various expertises and knowledge, can far better represent their area than these people doing it for money and prestige.

I would love Councillor Sheard to explore this area of cost-cutting; no lives would be lost; no great work done now won’t not be done any more.

The money saved can be used elsewhere. Have costs been cut at the top of the council?

I used to work for the council with senior officers and from what I saw, believe me, no lives will be lost and no great work being done now would stop being done in the future.

Have you considered cutting councillors’ allowances?

Does your deputy really need to be paid all that he is being paid? What great work is he doing?

Have you considered this before making us pay even more in council tax?

Not all taxi drivers are like that From: M Aswar, Batley Dear Sir, I read on Facebook that an elderly lady and her two-year-old granddaughter were verbally abused by a local taxi driver, because the child had dropped a piece of chocolate.

The lady said she would clean the seat with wipes and a vacuum cleaner, but he made her pay £25 for the car to be valeted.

She was not used to travelling in a taxi and was in tears; she said she would never go in one again.

But let me tell her that not all taxi drivers are like that; my husband is one and was disgusted with him – he works for a different company.

10

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

News In Brief Coach bomb service BIRSTALL: A memorial service was held in memory of the victims of the M62 coach bomb that killed 12 people.

IRA explosives ripped through the vehicle carrying service personnel and their families on the motorway between Birstall and Birkenshaw on February 4, 1974.

The service was held at Hartshead Moor Services, which was used as a first aid station for those injured in the blast.

Among those paying their respects at the service were the Mayors of Kirklees, Calderdale and Oldham and members of the Royal British Legion.

Car theft denied DEWSBURY: A man has denied taking his uncle’s car before crashing it. Scott Ormsby, 26, pleaded not guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to taking the car without consent and a related offence of driving without insurance. Ormsby will be tried at the same court on April 3.

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Box-set of Bronte brilliance!

Local historian Mike Popplewell continues his look at some of the lesser-known aspects of Spen Valley history...

THE Spen Valley Civic Society rightly pays homage to the Bronte family’s connection with our district in their Fame Trail, despite their more specific links with Bradford and Haworth.

From Patrick Bronte’s curacy at Dewsbury Parish Church to the recently-defunct Red House Museum, North Kirklees is littered with literary connections to the Brontes.

Charlotte’s friendships with Mary Taylor and Ellen Nussey influenced her interest in this area and, in turn, her novel Shirley was influenced by it.

Birstall and Gomersal in particular feature names like Nussey Avenue and the Shirley Estate.

I recently came across a 12-volume set of books which comprised the novels of the Bronte sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne – and the biography of Charlotte by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Although damaged and annotated by a previous owner, the

books, The Thornton Edition, published in 1911, clearly demonstrate the enduring popularity of the Brontes. This collection was published 55 years after the death of Charlotte, the last surviving member of the family.

They had been bought in Lahore by a British Army officer and the current market price of this specific collection is £300-£400 in good condition.

In each volume there are photographic plates relating to the real places and people who

‘Drunk was armed with gun and ammo’ A MAN appeared in court after allegedly being found with a handgun and bullets in a Ravensthorpe street.

David Smith, 62, of Victoria Street, Ravensthorpe, appeared before Kirklees magistrates from custody after his arrest on Saturday.

He is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and a cartridge with a bullet designed for explosion.

The court heard that

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‘Briarmains’ (Red House, Gomersal) and ‘Rose Yorke’ (Mary Taylor)

police found Smith lying on Sackville Street, Ravensthorpe on Saturday. They said he was drunk and not making any sense.

When they searched him for identification, they found the gun and three live and two blank rounds of ammunition.

Smith gave no indication of plea to the charges.

Magistrates sent his case to Leeds Crown Court and he was remanded in custody.

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inspired the characters and places named in the novels.

It is interesting to see these places in pictures over a century old, but it is also sad to see some are no longer standing and the future of others remains in the balance.

Red House is pictured in 1911, when it was the home of Dr Richard Waring Taylor, a descendant of William Taylor, a farmer who had the house built in 1660, and was, of course, a distant relative of Charlotte’s long-time

friend Mary Taylor. The house became Briarmains, the home of the Yorke family in Charlotte’s novel Shirley.

With the future of Red House undecided since its closure in December, it is hard not to reflect on its demise without also bringing to mind local historian Mabel Ferrett, author of ‘The Brontes in the Spen Valley’ and the little red booklet on the house itself.

Mabel, born in Ossett, became a resident of Heckmondwike on her marriage in 1947.

This year marks the centenary of her birth on April 30, 1917.

She was a founding member of the Pennine Poets group, won countless literary awardsand published an autobigraphy, ‘After Passchendaele’, in 2003.

She died on January 28, 2011, shortly before her 94th birthday.

After retirement she spent many hours at Red House welcoming visitors and enthusing them with her vast knowledge of the Brontes and Spen Valley.

Historic rape man jailed A NORRISTHORPE man was jailed for four years after he was found guilty of raping a girl when he was a schoolboy.

Mark Cockroft, 32, was found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court of the historic offence and admitted three charges of indecent assault on the same girl.

Kate Batty, representing him, said that Cockroft had been abused as a child, which was likely to have contributed to what hap-

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She told Leeds Crown Court the fact he admitted those offences showed his remorse.

Ordering Cockroft to register as a sex offender for life, Judge Neil Clark said that at the time of the offences Cockroft was no more than 14 years old and the girl about six years younger.

He had accepted forcing her to perform oral sex but had denied rape during his trial.

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“As a child some desire or lust within you meant you caused her to do things she didn’t want to,” the judge said.

He added it was clear that Cockroft, of Norristhorpe, had built a normal life in recent years and was of “positive good character since”.

Judge Clark said: “It is very difficult to sentence somebody for offences a long time ago, particularly when they were a child at the time as you were.”

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

‘Do unpaid work’, thief told

News In Brief Man denies burglary BATLEY: A man has denied burgling a mosque.

Jonathan Furness, 37, pleaded not guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to breaking into the Makki Mosque in Victoria Street, Heckmondwike on November 12 and stealing £700 in cash.

Furness, of Cross Bank Road, Batley, is also accused of receiving stolen goods, namely a Mazda 2 vehicle, which he also denies. His trial will take place on March 27.

Woman hurt MIRFIELD: A woman was taken to hospital following a traffic collision in the town centre.

Firefighters were called to the incident on Huddersfield Road on Saturday morning after a heavy goods vehicle and a car collided at a junction.

Crews from Mirfield and Dewsbury attended.

Pre-school wins top accolade

A DEWSBURY MOOR preschool has been judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

St John’s Under 5s preschool was given the top rating in all the key areas looked at, including leadership, teaching, personal development and behaviour.

The report said: “Children

flourish in the highly inspiring environment and firstclass teaching helps children to solve problems and persevere.

“Staff provide a superb range of activities that embraces the diversity of children’s home lives and they teach children to value other

people and the wider world.”

A spokesperson for the preschool said: “We want to say a big thank you to our staff and committee of trustees for all their hard work and to the wonderful children and their parents and carers for making the pre-school the happy and successful place that it is.”

Somme talk BATLEY: Richard Wimpenny will give a talk about the Battle of the Somme at Batley and Dewsbury Probus Club on Tuesday, February 21, at the Older People's Centre, Upper Commercial Street (10am for 10.30). For further details call 01924 471337.

SOME of Kirklees College’s top-performing students, many from North Kirklees, were recognised at an awards ceremony. Those judged to be the ‘best of the best’ were selected as winners of the Armytage Awards after being nominated by tutors.

College principal Marie Gilluley told students: “Awards events are the best part of my job. I get to see the fruits of your labours, recognise achievements and get to meet talented learners and their friends and families. I am proud and

impressed at such a diversity of talent and effort within the college.”

■ AWARD-WINNERS from North Kirklees, who all received a £100 cash prize, included Aimee Thomas (health and social care), Amna Hussain (forensic science), Haroon Mahmood (Peter Jones Enterprise Academy), Haydon Hemingway (hospitality), Leah Firth from (business), Muhammad Naqash (public services), Shane Robinson (plastering), Shane Wood (business) and Ali Zamir (construction).

A THIEF who broke into two cars before crashing his own has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Kieran Rayner, 21, of Oaklands Drive, Batley, admitted two thefts from a vehicle, driving without due care and attention, using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

Jill Seddon, prosecuting, said that at 2am on August 4, Rayner crashed his Citroen Saxo into a Volkswagen Polo parked on Knowles Road, Batley.

She said: “The witness approached the car but it sped off and he followed the car, calling police. They came and the defendant and another male in the vehicle got out and ran off. The defendant was arrested after a short foot chase.”

Rayner was found with a bag containing all the items he had stolen from the two cars, the doors of which were bent back to gain access.

Sonia Kidd, mitigating, said Rayner’s head was “all over the place” due to the breakdown of his relationship and his benefits being stopped.

Rayner was ordered to complete 80 hours’ unpaid work and pay £450 in compensation.

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Snapper turns his focus on preserving Pioneer history

Bonus for bosses as care staff miss out BOSSES at a community healthcare provider have been awarded a bonus, despite other staff missing out.

Four executive directors of not-forprofit organisation Locala will receive a bonus worth 2.5 per cent of their salaries. One of them is chief executive Robert Flack, who last year earned £123,000.

Also in line for the bonus for achieving a financial surplus will be director of patient safety, quality and governance Tina Quinn; executive director of strategy, planning and partnerships Jim Barwick; and executive director for finance and business development, Sharon Lowrie.

Other Locala workers will get a one per cent pay rise in addition to an annual rise until they reach the top of their pay band.

Company chair Mark Sanders said: “The Nominations and Remuneration Committee reviewed their performance and, as a result of good performance, whilst also mindful of the current financial climate, awarded them half of their potential bonus.

“Locala’s executive directors have not had a rise in base salary for a number of years.

“Awarding performance-related bonuses is common practice in organisations and is an important part of ensuring we have a high-performing board leading Locala.”

He said a team fund to reward other Locala staff had been established.

By Steve Martyn THE TRANFORMATION of Dewsbury’s Pioneer House is to be documented in a photography project by a former Kirklees College student.

The iconic town centre building is being renovated as part of the college’s new Dewsbury Learning Quarter, due to open in 2018.

Photographer James Brook, who studied Level 3 visual communication at Batley School of Art, will be working with the college to showcase the changes.

Said James, who lives in Dewsbury: “I have kept in touch with the college and tutors as they really pushed me hard and opened my eyes to many different creative practices that now include my specialist area of photography.

“When I heard that the historic Pioneer House was to become the new home for creative art, I wanted to document the finer details in the building

that most people will not get to see once work is complete.”

Working with Oliver Boothroyd, the college’s programme leader for visual communication, the plan is to exhibit James’s work as part of the opening in 2018.

Dewsbury Learning Quarter is being developed in partnership with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Kirklees Council, and as part of the wider North Kirklees Growth Zone (NKGZ) regeneration programme.

The college is also creating a new building – the Springfield Centre – next to Lidl supermarket on Bradford Road.

James added: “Kirklees College has done a lot for me and for the creative world, changing lives including mine, as it enabled me to study for a degree.

“I am simply photographing the shell of building that holds many memories for people, as these are the things I don’t want people to forget with the passing of time.

“I hope the photographs will show this whilst also showing future students the building in an artistic, creative way. I hope the work is remembered for many years to come.”

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News In Brief Public meeting DEWSBURY & MIRFIELD: A public meeting of the District Committee will be held on Thursday, February 23 (7.0-9.0pm) at Northorpe Hall, Mirfield. There will be a police update, an overview of the Safer Kirklees Partnership and Kirklees Victim Support Initiative and information on the Kirklees Green Space Strategy and Natural Kirklees.

Booze theft denial NORTH KIRKLEES: A man has denied stealing more than £100-worth of alcohol from the Asda supermarket in Dewsbury. Tyrone Letremy, of Union Street, Heckmondwike, will appear at Kirklees Magistrates Court on March 31 for trial.

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ThePress

News In Brief Man faces charge of supplying cocaine RAVENSTHORPE: A man has appeared in court charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

The alleged offence occurred at the home of Adeel Amjaid, 22, on The Crescent, Ravensthorpe, on October 11, 2016.

He faces a further charge of possession of cannabis.

Amjaid gave no indication of plea when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

The case was sent to Leeds Crown Court, where he will appear on March 9.

Accused of assault DEWSBURY: A man has appeared in court accused of assaulting his wife.

Istavan Bogdan, 40, of Halifax Road, Dewsbury, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court where he denied the attack but pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a door pane and possession of cannabis.

His case was adjourned until February 21 so a Hungarian interpreter can attend court.

Cake stall BATLEY: The Central Methodist Church in Batley will host a Ladies Circle cake stall at their Friday coffee morning on Friday, February 24 at the Brimer Hall at the church between 9.30am and 11.30am.

Friday February 17, 2017

Needs of vulnerable ARE being met, say care bosses SOCIAL services bosses have hit back at claims that they are leaving vulnerable people for months without care.

In a report by ITV News, it was claimed that Kirklees Council was one of the 10 worst authorities in the country for leaving people waiting for help.

One person waited a reported 181 days for a permanent day package, although Kirklees said that the person in this case had been provided with interim care from day one.

Cabinet member for adult social care, Coun Viv Kendrick, said: “We cur-

rently provide care for everyone who is assessed as having care needs across the district.

“In the cases quoted, those waiting for permanent arrangements to be finalised are still receiving the care they need from short-term providers.

“But the person who has

waited 181 days is receiving temporary support until we arrive at a permanent care arrangement.”

Coun Kendrick revealed there were 22 other people who had waited over 100 days, but they had also been provided with temporary care.

She said: “While there

are sometimes delays in agreeing the best longterm care and support arrangements, nobody is left without the care they need while we reach those conclusions.

“Everyone who is assessed as having care needs has those needs met.”

Homes and leisure hub for derelict mill ‘the start of big things for Batley’

By Staff Reporters PLANNING officials have given the go-ahead for the latest phase of the redevelopment of Blakeridge Mill in Batley.

Some of the buildings will be transformed into new apartments, a gym and a swimming pool.

Binks Developments Ltd submitted the plans after budget supermarket Netto pulled out of a scheme that would have created 44 jobs.

The latest plans were approved at a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee.

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“The developers have taken what was at the end of the day a derelict eyesore and turned it into an amazing development that is benefiting Batley.”

Batley West councillor Shabir Pandor added: “The complex had been empty for many years and I am sure everybody in Batley will say they wanted it completely regenerated.

“It is really positive that the developer Richard Binks is doing this and doing something that will create housing, help to regenerate the town centre and bring in footfall.”

An artist’s impression of the new development mill on the 10-acre site employed 2,000 people in its heyday. Built in 1863, it was extended in 1913.

Andrew Marsden, chairman of the Batley Business Association, said:

“Blakeridge Mill is an amazing complex.

“It is bringing people into the town, which can only be a good thing from a trade point of view as it’s helping to regenerate the

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

1st prize: A £40 gift voucher for the popular Zucchini’s Restaurant on Bradford Road, Batley

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So whether it’s someone to come visit your home to fix something, whether it’s a new hairstyle or something to buy for your home, spare a moment to think if you can get it locally, rather than going out of the district. That’s how we build local business, local friendships, and strengthen our communities – by keeping it local!

• TO CELEBRATE how much we love our local businesses (and our readers!) we’re giving away a first prize of a £40 gift card for the Zucchini Restaurant in Batley, and a family ticket for four for any Batley Bulldogs home game as a second prize in our local quiz.

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Ossett

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or the back of a sealed-down envelope and send it to: Shop Local Quiz, The Press, 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB. Don't forget to include your name, full postal address and a daytime telephone number.

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Situation critical, warns campaigner FORUM EXTRA: A LETTER FROM SIMON ROADNIGHT, CHAIRMAN OF THE FRIENDS OF BATLEY LIBRARY

Tony’s back in business!

A TRADITIONAL fish shop has bounced back better than ever after a damaging blaze last year.

Tony’s Traditional Fish & Chips, on Fairfield Parade, re-opened just before Christmas following a major fire in the summer.

Previously and commonly known as Dale Lane Fisheries, the premises were stripped right back to the bricks to allow for a complete refurbishment that cost around £100,000.

A wall has been knocked down to create a larger preparation area and a new frying range has been installed.

Owner Tony Goodhind said: “We’ve had a complete refurbishment from front to back and it’s cost a lot, but we’ve made a lot of improvements.”

Almost all of Tony’s old customers have returned to the shop as news of his re-opening has spread. “I’ve got customers from all over the district and they’ve been delighted with the new look,” he said.

Dear Sir, The Friends of Batley Library group was set up in August 2015 to help further the cause of staving off the threat of closure to this magnificent building.

Since then, we, as a group have done our utmost to help to support the fantastic, friendly, hard-working staff and their small army of volunteers, as best we can.

We have held events and tried to think of ways to increase footfall into the library.

One of our current, ongoing projects is the Memory Lane Cafe. This was established in the hope of encouraging people experiencing short or long-term memory loss to come along and meet people going through the same experiences in a warm, friendly, environment.

Now, we face the very real threat of having to repeat the desperate fight to stave off that same threat of closure once more.

The council have announced that they will be slashing a further £1.9million from the library services budget for the financial year 20172018.

This will leave the entire budget for the whole service at a paltry £2.3million. Compare this with the budget being at £4.1million for the year 2016-2017 and you will see why this threat has emerged once more.

The total of £2.3million would have only covered the cost of running three library services across the whole of Kirklees last year, Dewsbury and Huddersfield amongst them.

Libraries were already forced to reduce staff and opening hours in order to stay operational, and how they are possibly going to be expected to adopt these further cuts is quite simply, anybody’s guess.

Perhaps it is worth pointing out that councils across the land have been granted permission to raise council taxes by a maximum of 5%, 3% of which is supposed to be earmarked to help cater for the crippling crisis in local social care.

The question I pose here is was the library to be closed as a result of these budget cuts, what

Simon Roadnight impact will it have on the more vulnerable members of society?

They rely on the library service as a vital source of information and education. After all, Batley does not currently have any sixth form provision in its schools, let alone a college to speak of. To many, the library is, quite simply, their only source of further education they have available.

Last week, there was much fanfare made of the renovation and investment being put into the former Taylor’s Mill complex, where a whole host of new apartments are being created, at vast expense no doubt.

Again, the question has to be what is the point of creating new living accommodation for people who will, quite simply, have nothing on offer to them in the town they are being encouraged to reside in?

Quite simply, the heart of the town is being constantly ripped out of it. We have already learned of the imminent ‘relocation’ of the job centre to Dewsbury and despite the efforts of a vast number of well-intentioned people, Commercial Street remains a barren, nigh-on derelict wasteland.

Last Friday, the library hosted an event simply entitled ‘Love Batley.

I had personally tried to encourage members of the public to come forward and say a few words to my camcorder in the hope of creating a short film to showcase at this event.

In total four people emerged, which meant I had to revert to my many hours of footage I have from my own ‘Pride of Place’ film.

I even ventured out on the day in the hope of encouraging shoppers on the market to come in and take a look, as well as enjoy a hot beverage and a biscuit or two.

Imagine my horror when I saw there was a grand total of two stalls there on the day with not a single shopper in sight to encourage in?

Admittedly the weather wasn’t too great but again, is this not another prime example of how far our beautiful town centre has been allowed to decline?

In total, a number of seven people came to listen to the talk we had organised from a delightful chap called John Rumsby.

Five of those were members of the Friends group and the other two were ladies that had attended the crochet class beforehand.

We will continue to do our very best to attract more people into the library and to use it more often than they are doing.

Unless they do start to use it, then the chances are that it will be an obvious target for closure once the council have finished with the undertaking of yet another review of the service.

We are well aware that the very same threat hangs over the heads of the libraries at Mirfield, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Birstall and I know how much effort their ‘Friends Of’ groups have put in previously to safeguard the future of their particular library.

Batley has to react and react now before it is too late. Commercial Street, the job centre, the market, the fire station, the library? Whatever next is going to be allowed to simply disappear without so much as a whimper?

Batley simply cannot afford another nail in its coffin and I for one refuse to stand by and watch things vanish one after the other.

Friday February 17, 2017

ThePress

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Students heading for the stars Whitcliffe Mount School’s production of ‘Fame’ Review by Matthew McKirgan UDIENCES were transported back to the 1980s this week as students from Whitcliffe Mount School donned their leg warmers for a production of the hit musical, ‘Fame’.

Based on the film of the same name, the stage production of Fame follows a group of talented students as they strive to graduate from the exclusive High School of Performing Arts as a route to fame and fortune.

Along the way, the diverse group of teenagers face a range of dilemmas – about relationships, image and talent – which are as relevant today and will be as familiar to the students playing the parts as they are to the characters they are portraying.

The Whitcliffe Mount cast brought such enthusiasm and passion to the show that the audience were swept along on the whole journey – dancing in

A

their seats to the familiar beat of 80s pop one minute, crying at the loss of a talented friend the next and shoulders juddering with laughter before the tears have had chance to dry.

The school’s ‘We Are Whitcliffe’ ethos was in sharp focus, with the entire cast working together to create something more than the sum of its parts, with each member bringing something special to the party.

Whether it was a strong vocal talent, dynamic dance moves or authentic acting, this cast had it all.

From the opening number to the final curtain call, the cast set the bar high and maintained an impressive level of energy which made the show flow from scene to scene, never letting up and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats throughout.

The comedy timing of Schlomo (Stanley Lawson) and Mabel (Hannah Hirst), the romantic tension between Nick (Aden Carter) and Serena (Ella Naylor), the cool moves of Tyrone (Joey Wilby), the irreverent adolescence of Joey

(Keiran Constable), the restless energy of Carmen (Emily Barker) and the passion and dedication of Miss Bell (Sasha Mills) and Miss Sherman (Naomi Ashforth) combined to produce a spectacle which went far beyond that of a school show.

Make no mistake that, like their fictional counterparts, these kids have serious talent and are heading for the stars.

The parallels between the story and reality didn’t end there either.

In the fictional world the students come to learn that they will be the last class to graduate from PA in its current dusty old building.

Likewise, Fame will be the last major Whitcliffe Mount production to be staged in the existing building as the school moves into new facilities on the same site this summer.

So as the curtain comes down on one stage, another is set to rise and those of us who have been fortunate enough to see the school’s shows over a number of years can be assured that the annual treat will continue to flourish.

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Friday February 17, 2017

ThePress

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Ramblers’ corner • FORTHCOMING walks with the North Kirklees Group of the Ramblers – non-members are always welcome. Please call the walk leader for more details SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18 OAKWELL Meet at 10.30am at Oakwell Hall bottom car park (WF17 9LF, SE217269) 8 miles – moderate Contact: Eddie and Andrea Tel: 01924 470091

SATURDAY MARCH 4 GOING NORTH FROM MIRFIELD Meet at 10.30am at Station Road, Mirfield, by Lidl (WF14 8NL, SE203195) 7 miles - moderate Contact: Annelis Tel: 01924 460 597 Email: a.griffin4@ntl.com

The cast of The After Dinner Joke

Action from Give A Little Love by Alan Stockdill

Spanning generations Review by Malcolm Parkinson DEWSBURY Arts Group presented an evening of plays to span the generations at the Artspace last week.

The Plough Mirfield es) Night Meet & Mingle (Sin19gl.3 0.

25th Feb @ ffle Free entry, games, raha d and lots of bfufornfurtothebe r details Contact the pu

with Spring Sale in conjunklcteeiosn Ambitions4Kir purchase

d Come and have a coffee an adults with handmade items created bydisabilities, learning difficulties and ch.

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Where possible we work with local suppliers, Haighs Farm Shop, Walkers Fruit & Veg, Mirfield Seafoods & Ossett Brewery to name a few. We have a wide range of Beers and Lagers at reasonable prices, such as, Theakstons, John Smiths, Guest Ale (Silver King from Ossett Brewery), Amstel, Birra Moretti, Hop House 13 (the new lager from Guinness) & Carling.

Support your local businesses

The Plough, Shillbank Lane, Mirfield Tel: 01924 480787

In ‘Give a Little Love’, written by Halifax playwright Alan Stockdill, four ladies of a certain age reflect on their teenage years played out to a soundtrack of the Bay City Rollers, whilst in ‘The After Dinner Joke’ by Caryl Churchill, the youth section challenged the idealism of charitable giving

through the eyes of adult cynicism.

Of the two, Give a Little Love was the more accessible.

The tartan-clad Christine Starmer, Lynne Stainthorpe, Susan Saville and Joanne Day delivered wry, witty, poignant monologues punctuated by the sort of handbag dancing only seen now on Top of The Pops Two. The so-called successful weather girl had lived an empty life of celebrity whilst the frumpy stay-athome had found content-

ment. The scatty nurse found her dream date with Derek Longmuire more pleasant than pulsating.

However, it was Susan Saville’s compelling and heartfelt account of getting “that” letter about her mammogram result that will live longest in the memory.

Written in 1977, The After Dinner Joke had more than a hint of Pythonesque subversion about it.

But, the reaction to Python can often be “what was that about?”

Celebrating a musical genius FORTY years since the untimely death of 70s glam rock superstar Marc Bolan, a legendary local drummer from the nostalgic T-Rex days comes to Wakefield on Saturday March 4.

Paul Fenton, a former drummer with TRex, Christie and Carmen brings his band T-Rex (the music of Marc & Mickey) to Warehouse 23 for an evening of 70s hits.

Paul, from Dewsbury, has been touring internationally with his band since 1997, re-forming T-Rex together with Mickey Finn and Jack Green to celebrate the music accredited to their genius former friend Marc.

The doors open at 7.30pm

with local support band 11 eighteen, followed by familiar songs such as Get it On, 20th Century Boy, Hot Love, Cosmic Dancer, Ride a White Swan and many more chart-topping hits.

The band today has seen the addition of Graham Oliver, the lead guitar player from rock band Saxon.

Teamed with top professional keyboard player Dave Major, backing vocal Linda Dawson, lead singer (and local lad) Jay Spargo and bass player Tony ‘Pirate’ Alday, the band is not to be missed.

Tickets priced £15 are available from Warehouse 23 by calling 01924 200162.

• THE DEWSBURY and District Rambling Club have planned a walk in the Mirfield area tomorrow (Sat).

Please meet David Banks at 9.30am at Link Road, Dewsbury, or 9.45am at Mirfield Library Car Park.

The club’s AGM is to be held at the United Reformed Church on Longcauseway, Dewsbury, on Monday February 20 at 1.30pm.

Everyone is welcome.

A walk is also planned for Wednesday February 22 called ‘Over to Overton’. Please meet Brenda Ayres at 10.30am at Rectory Park car park in Thornhill.

The youth section worked very hard as an ensemble to link the chain of sketches together.

At least the piece provided scope to showcase their talents to create a range of characters of style.

In the end, their performances were engaging even if the piece was not.

Next up at the Artspace is Time and The Conways

by JB Priestley from March 10-18.

Tickets are available now at www.ticketsource. co.uk/dewsburyartsgroup or call 03336 663366.

Collegians desperately seeking Sandy!

DEWSBURY COLLEGIANS are looking for one of their most important cast members for the upcoming production of Annie in June.

They need a well-behaved, good-natured, friendly dog that likes children and isn’t of a nervous disposition.

All breeds will be considered and the ability to bark in tune won’t be necessary...

Annie will be played by 12-year-old Anais Leedham. The orphans and a great cast are already lined up for the show, all that is missing is the canine character Sandy.

Anyone who has a four-legged friend who they think might fit the bill should contact Wendy Nuttall on 01924 452608.

New dojo’s open day A MARTIAL arts open day is being held to celebrate the opening of a new dojo at Woodkirk Valley Country Club.

The event, on Saturday February 25, has been organised by the Revolution Martial Arts Academy, a mixed martial arts club based at the Leeds Road venue that teaches kickboxing, taekwondo, jiu jitsu and MMA. Running from 10am until 4pm, the open day will feature a mixture of martial arts demonstrations, including weapons and swords, and visitors will be able to join in with mini taster sessions throughout the day.

Revolution’s team are also being joined by Joe G's Fitness Centre and Suzuku Martial Arts.

There will be a bar, food, raffle, tombola, various stalls, face painting and glitter tattoos available. If you are a martial arts enthusiast or have been thinking about joining a martial arts club than the open day is the perfect opportunity to get involved. All are welcome to attend.

For more information on the Revolution Martial Arts Academy call 07768 164865.

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

Hear Ann across the BBC radio network

Marketplace

Bucks Fizz’s Bobby G takes time Turn your unwanted items ‘making his mind up’ but says no into cash £££s UCKS FIZZ have turned down £1million to patch up their longstanding rift with former bandmate Bobby G for a TV reunion. Eighties icons Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston were given the astonishing offer by a top telly production company. Bobby G, who is still busy touring with a new lineup, tells me: “I now just want to move on and not live in the past so much. People enjoy our music, so let that be our legacy.”

B

ACTRESS Miranda Hart is getting the chance to fulfil her dream and star in the musical Annie. She is in the final stages of completing contract negotiations to play Miss Hannigan. But Miss Hart won’t play the full London run, because of prior commitments...

THE Great British Bake Off will be back on screens this year after the BBC ‘backed away’ from a bid to keep it off Channel 4 until 2018. A source revealed to me that the BBC feel they are being unfair to fans of the show, while another insider reveals: “They kind of think it will also flop, so why stop it?”

DID YOU know that one of the richest actresses in the world is not a movie star but Angela Lansbury, who stars in the often-repeated Murder She Wrote, which is still syndicated worldwide to over 70 countries? It’s shown here on the ITV3 and True channels, just in case you missed it...

ONE-TIME American TV star and singer David Cassidy has announced plans to retire at the end of the year, ending a career which spans 50 years. The 1970s teen idol, 66, revealed that travelling with arthritis had made performing difficult in recent years.

POP diva Kylie Minogue knows how to keep the cash rolling in. Kylie’s debut eyewear collection, exclusive to Specsavers, is now in its stores nationwide, but like all good celebs she fails to mention if she wears glasses herself...

FORMER Great British Bake Off co-host Mel Giedroyc has said that she still can’t fathom the show’s success, and that she initially doubted they would even make a second series. She said: “I think it’s just one of those things, because we all love to watch great food being made, and then think ‘oh I could do that’, but then we

1) Ring Adele on 01924 470296 (9.30am-4.30pm). Have your advert ready and you can pay by credit or debit card (30p surcharge).

2) Call into the office at 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB and pay by cash, cheque, credit or debit card (30p surcharge).

3) Post your advert and include your name and a contact number, along with cheque for payment.

ADVERTS must be no longer than 50 words.

(We cannot accept the following items: Motor vehicles, caravans, livestock. All listings will stay in marketplace for a maximum of two months. If you wish to amend your listing, or cancel when sold, contact or call 01924 470296.

Ann and Bobby G find we can’t.”

ANTON DU BEKE has addressed rumours that he is in line to join the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel, saying that whoever takes over from Len Goodman should be a “ballroom person”. Anton admitted to me he would “love the job, but let’s wait and see first.”

IT’S NO wonder children can’t spell – a new ITV show called Karaoke Kidz is coming in the summer. It’s another TV talent show in which, as the title suggests, children get to sing their favorite songs to karaoke tracks, and then a winner is announced.

Bet you can’t wait for that.

CORONATION STREET star Tina O’Brien has revealed she does not envy the younger actresses on the show today. She said: “When I started, and I know I sound like an old hen moaning on, there was less exposure and scrutiny, which is very hard when you start on a big show like this. But I think many of them cope very well with it all too.”

JOE PASQUALE, who recently appeared on ‘Sugar Free Farm’, admits he appears on the reality shows as “I don’t get offered anything else really. It’s that or nothing TV-wise for me, but some of them like the jungle are quite good fun.”

GUESTS on Desert Island Discs are abandoning classical music selections, in favour of pop music and ‘cheesy’ ballads, according to a survey marking the BBC radio programme’s 75th anniversary. A producer on the show tells me: “I think it’s just changing times, and of course at times a desire

Maycon Pictures to ‘fit in’ rather than what people really like.”

KARA TOINTON stars as singer Betsy Day in ITV’s wartime hotel drama The Halcyon. And she tells me she loved the show, as: “I adored the role simply because of the singing, and more so because the period it was set in was really so glamorous, and people made a real effort to look good back then.”

IF YOU’RE a fan of the brilliant Joe Longthorne, look out for a special date near us. TV and recording star Joe will be joined on stage by his sensational live band at the Kings Hall in Ikley on June 1. Be quick as this talent tends to sell out fast...

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Kristina Riananoff has admitted that she and husband Ben Cohen ‘very nearly’ did their own reality show, but had to pull out because she decided she wanted to retain some level of privacy in the public eye. “I do enjoy them myself, but we both had to agree and because of that we decided against it,” she said.

EMMERDALE actor Michael Praed tells me there is no shame as an actor working in a soap now. “I have worked in the biggest of them with Dynasty, but it’s tough work and there’s not much time to rehearse, so people who sneer have yet to experience it,” she said.

BRITAIN’S Got Talent judge Amanda Holden admits she would be terrified to actually enter the show. “I don’t think I would come out of it well at all, and I am amazed at how the young talent is so confident, but then again, I would give it a go,” she said.

23

NEW Black leather settee with light brown ribbed cushions, 146” x 36”, adapts to corner settee 96” x 72”. Includes separate footrest 36” x 24” and scatter cushions.

Excellent condition, first to see will buy £300 ono.

Tel 01924 407943.

(Buyer collects) (2093) Three-piece suite in light green fabric, 3 seater/2 seater/ plus recliner chair.

Reversible cushions plain/ pattern.

Excellent condition, first to see will buy £300 ono.

Tel 01924 407943.

(Buyer collects) (2093) Indesit front loader washing machine.

Good working order £50 ono. Tel 01924 407943.

(Buyer collects) (2093) Double wardrobe, two bedside cabinets, set of drawers, all in teak basket weave.

Good condition £60. Tel 01274 959373. (2094) Sofa bed, Clive Metel futon.

Black/red mattress £130, closed 183 cm (W) x 98cm (D) x 85cm (H), extended 183cm (W) x 135cm (D) x 30cm (H).

Excellent condition, tel 01274 871715 (after 5pm). (2095) Light oak cot, hardly used £25.

Two travel cots £5 each. Maclaren pushchair (grey & check) £15. Tel 01924 403625.

(2096) BEDROOM FURNITURE Stag dressing table, 6 drawers, 3 mirrors,

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ITEM bands

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to collect from local area. Tel 07580 135488. (2078)

Two metal guest beds with mattresses £10 each. Tel 01924 401729.

(2085)

FURNITURE Multi-purpose exercise bench, needs constructing, was £86, accept £25.

Buyer collects, Tel 01924 501770.

(2089)

Metal framed foldup occasional bed/mattress, £20.

Tel 07519 288925.

(2070) CHILDREN’S GOODS/ TOYS Large fur rocking horse, £30. Tel 01924 401729.

(2085) Three wheeler, rideon buggy with charger. £100 ONO. Tel 01924 467057.

(2072) COLLECTIBLES 1950s baby black doll, made by Pedigree, £50 ono.

Tel 07804 233073.

(2091) COMPUTING Medion (E1210) 10” everywhere netbook, complete, boxed, good condition £25.

Tel Mirfield 01924 491306. (2074) ELECTRICAL Breville electric kettle, modern dome shape, cream colour, good working order, £7. Tel 01924 444000.

(2079) FASHION Men’s Louis Vuitton black trainer shoes, size 8, boxed, worn only twice. Cost £500, bargain £200 ono. Tel 07804 233073. (2091) Two red ladies’ handbags (large), in red, 12” x 10” and 15” x 12”, both excellent condition, still in wrappers £20 each. Tel 01274 861904. (2071) FREE Baled, dry wood, ideal for wood burners/home use. Free

Cost per item

Comfortable, traditional 3pc suite in green fabric. Good condition, excellent quality by local craftsmen, only £300. Tel 01924 465533. (2090) Heavy, black, oval, cast aluminium garden table and 4 chairs, 2 of them carvers. Cost £700, will accept £300 ono. Tel 07804 233073. (2091) Five-drawer chest in antique pine £30 ono. Tel 07719 954892. (2088) Polished hall table £25. Tel 01924 401729. (2085) Dusky pink dralon winged fireside chair, good condition, £25. Also blue dralon winged twoseater sofa, good condition, £50. Tel 01924 472619.

(2080) Dark blue leather two-seater settee and two chairs; wood trim on arms, good condition, £150. Tel 01924 381651. (2076) GARDEN Greenhouse 7ft 6in x 6ft, aluminium frame, glass and foundation blocks.

Part dismantled, buyer takes away, £30. Tel 01924 475016. (2092) Hand Garden Groom with bag, new, cost £70, accept £30 ono.

Tel 07804 233073.

(2091) Black & Decker bat-

£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11

tery hedge trimmer, 20” blade, 18V, hardly used, £35. Tel 01924 430088.

(2084) Garden shed, 8’ x 6’, apex roof, very strong, never used, £280 delivered & erected. Tel 01924 278949. (2081) HOUSEHOLD 36-piece Royal Doulton ‘Yorkshire Rose’ tea service, £20. Tel 01924 264330. (2075) MOTORING Four alloy wheels from Vauxhall Astra.

16” 5 stud, bargain £20. Tel 01924 476964 (Birstall) (2086) MUSICAL Large keyboard with stand £25. Tel 01924 401729. (2085) PET GOODS Black cage for small dog (as seen in Argos book), cost £30, accept £15 ono.

Tel 07804 233073.

(2091) SPORTING/FITNESS Aerobatron exercise machine with instructions; cross country ski-steppereliptical. Computer counter calories/ strides/ mins & seconds. Sturdy machine, will fold, not lightweight. Set price £49. Tel 01924 503603. (2087) Exercise bike, full body workout, £25.

Tel 01924 480194.

(2082) Keep fit machine all the family can use, type used in gyms using vibration, several programmes, cost £150 as new, will accept £50. Tel 01924 469652.

(2083) WANTED WANTED: Timber to recycle for garden project. Tel 07790 568986. (2052)

ThePress

24

Friday February 17, 2017

Yes – our jokes are finally back!

By David Bentley

bwown wabby over there?”

Blushing, she puts her hands on her knees and leans forward.

She says in a quiet voice: “I don’t fink my boa constwictor weally givth a damn mithter ...”

He’s man’s new best friend A DEVOUT Christian lost his favourite Bible while he was mending a dry stone wall out on the moors.

Three weeks later a sheep walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth.

The man couldn’t believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the sheep’s mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed: “It’s a miracle!”

“Not really mate,” said the sheep.

“Your name’s written inside the cover.”

She’s cute and to the point AN ADORABLE little girl, all blonde curls and blue eyes walks into a pet shop and asks in the sweetest little lisp: “Excuthe me, mithter do you keep widdle wabbiths?”

The shopkeeper’s heart melts and he gets down on his knees, so that he’s on her level, and asks: “Do you want a widdle white wabby or a thoft and fuwwy bwack wabby or maybe one like that cute widdle

Purveyors of 2014

★ ★ ★

Legendary Ales

Top marks FINDING one of her pupils making faces at others in the playground, Ms Smith stopped to gently reprove the child.

Smiling sweetly, the teacher said: “When I was a child, I was told if I made ugly faces I would stay like that.”

The kid looked up and replied: “Well you can’t say you weren’t warned, Ms Smith.”

Make my day, officer A BUSINESSMAN in his 40s bought a new BMW and was out on the motorway for a nice evening drive.

The top was down, the breeze was blowing through what was left of his hair, and he decided to open her up.

As the needle jumped up to 80mph, he suddenly saw flashing blue lights behind him.

The copper came up to him, took his licence without a word, and examined it and the car.

“It’s been a long day, this is the

end of my shift, and I don’t feel like more paperwork.

“So if you can give me an excuse for your driving that I haven’t heard before, you can go.”

The guy thinks for a second and says: “Last week my wife ran off with a policeman. I was afraid you were trying to give her back.”

“Have a nice weekend,” said the constable.

The next morning when he awakens, she has already gotten up and brings him breakfast in bed.

The guy is amazed. “You know, you are the most wonderful and perfect woman.

“Are you this nice to every guy you meet?”

“No,” she replies ...

“You just happened to catch my eye.”

A night to remember

Quickies

A BLOKE is eating in a fancy restaurant and there is a gorgeous female eating at the next table.

He’s been checking her out all night, but lacks the nerve to go talk to her.

Suddenly she sneezes and her glass eye comes flying out of her socket towards the man. He reflexively grabs and snatches it out of the air.

“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry,” the woman says as she pops her eye back in place. “Let me buy you dinner to make it up to you.”

They enjoy a wonderful meal together and afterwards the woman invites him back to her home for a drink.

They go back to her house, and after they talk a while and get to know one another a bit better, she leads him into the bedroom and begins undressing him.

LIFE is all about perspective.

Remember, the sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the ship’s kitchen.

SPORT fact: Before getting the nickname ‘The Power’, darts legend Phil Taylor was known as ‘The Benefit’ because he never wears his coat indoors.

I’VE just paid £250 to join the National Reincarnation Society. I know it’s a lot of money, but heck, you only live once.

I THINK it’s really sad how Wile E Coyote is remembered for his violence, and not for his brilliantly realistic paintings of tunnels.

A RECENT study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.

t i a o g n i v T a a N v e e r h n T MIRFIELD ★★★ The Home Of Real Ale ★★★

Monday 20th February & Monday 6th March

Burning questions If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren’t people from Holland called Holes?

Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

If a pig loses its voice, does it become disgruntled?

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It’s just stale bread to begin with.

Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

Why isn’t 11 pronounced onety one?

And finally...

Police have arrested the world tongue-twister champion.

He’ll be given a tough sentence.

• Heard a funny one recently?

Send your jokes and pictures to david@thepressnews.co.uk and we’ll print the best.

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ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Resilient Albion snatch late win Evo Stik Northern Premier 1st Division KENDAL TOWN 1 OSSETT ALBION 2 OSSETT Albion got themselves a much-needed win last weekend as they came from behind to beat Kendal Town 2-1 away from home in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier First Division.

Matthew Dudley opened the scoring for the hosts as he netted four minutes before the interval to put Kendal ahead.

Albion levelled the scores through James Eyles with 64 minutes played before Robert Bordman snatched the vital winning goal three minutes from time to move Ossett up to 17th in the table.

Albion will look to build on last weekend’s win as they take on fellow relegation rivals Prescott Cables at home on Saturday afternoon (3pm).

OSSETT TOWN were given a rest at the weekend but will travel to Colne on Saturday (3pm), where they will look to continue their good run of form and solidfy their place near the top of the table.

LIVERSEDGE, who had their fixture with Retford Town postponed, will look to get their league season back on track as they travel to 11th placed Garforth Town on Saturday (3pm), in the Northern Counties East League Premier.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Rams battle in front but can’t hang on

SPEN VALLEY LEAGUE

Reds climb to second TWO games in the Spen Valley Trophy were postponed at the weekend, but in the ones that did go ahead Palestino notched a good 72 win over Dewsbury West Side.

Abdul Qayum got a hat-trick, with two for Zubair Khan and one apiece for Sana Ullah Nuskat and Jamie Chadwick. Amar Maqsood and Arbaaz Khan got Wests’ reply.

Lee Sykes and Olly Mitchell got the goals in George Healey’s 2-0 win over Inter Batley.

Howden Clough lost 6-4 at home to Marsh.

Goals from Shane Thornton, Jack Scott and an Andy Lawton pair were undone by Mark Wigley (3), James Binns (2) and Al Bolland.

Saville Utd v Athletico and Norfolk v Saville Town were lost to the weather.

Kingstone Press Championship

DEWSBURY RAMS SWINTON LIONS at Tetley’s Stadium

SWINTON LIONS took the points at a cold and wet Tetley’s Stadium, as the Lions bounced back from their opening day defeat.

Swinton scored a late try to put paid to any hopes of a Rams home win, while Dewsbury may feel they were unlucky not to get the points themselves.

For Dewsbury the defeat signals a disappointing start to the season with two defeats in two games. Boss Glenn Morrison will have to think about his squad selection long and hard before next Sunday’s trip to Toulouse.

The Rams head coach picked a much changed side for the visit of Swinton on Sunday afternoon.

He left out all of the players he had available to him from Wakefield Trinity, who Dewsbury are dualregistered with.

The game could quite easily have been called off and maybe should have been, but both teams battled hard in a mud bath of a pitch.

Both of these sides tasted defeat in their opening round of fixtures, although Swinton were narrowly defeated by London whereas Dewsbury were hammered by high flying Rochdale in their Championship opener.

Dewsbury started the better in this one, although they could not get the ball over the whitewash in the opening moments.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

RELEGATION LOOMING OSSETT TOWN and Battyeford SC are still looking favourites for relegation from the Women’s West Riding County League Premier Division despite much-improved performances in their last outing.

Town, joint bottom at the start of the day, were facing league leaders Leeds Medics and Dentists and, at long last, they showed some of the spirit that made them title challengers for much of last season and caused the upset of the day in taking a point with a 4-4 draw.

With Battyeford at fellow strugglers Brayton Belles a victory for the Mirfield side was needed as much by Ossett Town as it was for themselves, but even an improved performance was not enough to stop the Selby side clinching a 2-0 win to go six points clear of the bottom two, with two games in hand.

This week Town are going to have to pull out all the stops once again when they entertain second-placed Tingley Athletic who, with a game in hand, have not given up hope of closing the six-point gap between them and the leaders.

Third-placed Hepworth are similarly placed and that makes Battyeford’s task look all the more difficult as they play host to them on Sunday.

6 8

The weather put paid to the fixtures in the North East Regional League Southern Division last week but Ossett Albion go into Sunday’s game at Doncaster Belles with relegation fears slowly subsiding. In fact, a win at promotion-chasing Doncaster would put them just three points behind the home side with five games to play.

Dewsbury Rangers find themselves in fourth place in the Second Division but 11 points behind joint leaders Clifton Rangers and Leeds City.

Even with their games in hand Dewsbury now face an uphill task to overturn that deficit and a victory over visiting Skipton Town this week is absolutely essential if they are to keep those hopes alive.

At the other end of the table Ossett Town reserves, in second bottom spot, go to Silsden Development with the spectre of almost certain relegation hanging over them.

In Division Three Lower Hopton have almost made third place their own domain this season but, with only four games left to play, even a win over Ilkley Town this week is unlikely to help them secure a promotion place ahead of current top two Ripon City and Middleton Athletic with unbeaten Middleton still favourites to take the title.

The home side looked the most threatening but it was Swinton who scored the first points of the game with Chris Atkin taking two points from a penalty on the 19 minute mark.

Soon after, Aaron Brown went close for the Rams in the 23rd minute.

However some resolute defending from Swinton made sure it stayed at 2-0 for the away side at the break.

Both sides were sloppy in possession in a first half that lacked real quality.

The Rams seemed to be just edging it, with a dogged defensive display and looking to capitalize on any Swinton mistake. The Lions had a chance to stretch their lead by another two points in the 39th minute, referee Straw deeming Rams player Jason Crookes to have fouled his man.

Once again Atkin took the kick but this time he missed the target.

Even though the home side were behind, they would have gone in at half-time fairly happy with their performance.

It was again the Rams who started the second half brightest, however they made the same mistake over and over again, trying to penetrate a well-organised Swinton side down the centre of the field.

On the 56th minute the Rams scored the first try of the game, James Glover burrowing under a mass of Swinton bodies to give the home side the lead.

Skipper Paul Sykes missed his conversion.

The Rams worked hard to dominate the midfield battle and were duly rewarded for their efforts just

MATCH STATS: DEWSBURY RAMS 2. Dale Morton 3. Jason Crookes 4. Lucas Walshaw 5. Gareth Potts 6. Paul Sykes 7. Andy Kain 10. Mitch Stringer 12. Scott Hale 13. Aaron Brown 15. Robbie Ward 17. Dom Speakman 21. Hamish Barnes 24. Jode Sheriffe Subs: 8. Tony Tonks 16. Toby Adamson 18. Jack Teanby 23. James Glover Tries: Glover (56) Goals: Sykes 1/2

Skipper Paul Sykes - couldn’t convert only try

three minutes later, Sykes kicking over a penalty to stretch the lead to 6-2.

The game had turned into a war of attrition due to the bog-like conditions on a morass of a field.

Both sides were giving it their all in terms of effort with very little skill on show due to the mud.

However it would be late heartbreak for the Rams as Swinton pushed to get back into the game and finally broke Dewsbury’s resilient defence.

Liam Forsyth was the Swinton player who provided the decisive blow in the 76th minute by driving over the line.

With the scores all-square Atkin converted to earn the vital lead going into the closing moments. To their credit, the visitors hung on.

SWINTON LIONS 1. Jack Murphy 2. Shaun Robinson 3. Chris Hankinson 6. Grant Gore 7. Chris Atkin 10. Jordan Hand 11. Connor Dwyer 12. Matt Sarsfield 13. Andy Thornley 15. Andy Bracek 20. Sean Kenny 25. Liam Forsyth - Thomas Davies Subs: 8. Robert Lever 16. Anthony Bate 17. Oliver Davies 18. Ben Austin

7 7 6 7 7 6 7 6 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 6 7

6 7 6 7 7 6 7 6 6 7 6 7 7 6 7 7 7

Tries: Forsyth (76) Goals: Atkin 2/2 Referee: Half-time: Penalties: Sin Bin: Sent Off: Weather: Man of the Match: Attendance: Match Rating:

C. Straw 0-2 8-10 None None Rain Jode Sheriffe (Dewsbury Rams) 802 2/5

HEAVY WOOLLEN SUNDAY MORNING FOOTBALL LEAGUE ONCE again the wet weather took its toll on last week’s Heavy Woollen Sunday League programme with only five games surviving.

In the only game played in the Premier Division AFC Chickenley climbed to third place in the table with a 2-1 win at home to Navigation thamks to strikes from Shaun Doran and Michael Chadwick.

W e l l i n g t o n Westgate moved up to fifth place in the Championship after winning 11-3 at home to The Yorkshireman who finish the season in seventh place.

Scholes Athletic continue to set the pace in Division One after James Mortimer and Dean Commins both netted in a 2-1 win over Birstall St Patricks, who had Greg Churchward on target.

Roberttown Rovers lie in second spot

after Matthew Bolton, Dean Vernon and Reiss Brook all scored in a 3-1 win at Old Bank WMC, who replied through Sam Womersley.

The only game in Division Two saw two of the top three sides battle it out in a fierce game at Overthorpe Park.

Tom Hirst put Overthorpe Sports Club Reserves one up following a mistake by

Westgate 23’s keeper, but goals from Steven Swift and Jake Fawcett saw Westgate

lead at half time.

Swift was sent off early in the second half and Overthorpe capitalised through Matty Thorpe, Dominic Simpson, James Goodall and Michael Hutton.

Hirst bagged his second goal near the end to secure a 6-2 win and send Overthorpe three points clear at the top of the table.

Overthorpe Reserves’ Ryan Pickup is sent flying against Westgate 23

PHOTO: DAVE JEWITT

ThePress

Friday February 17, 2017

RUGBY LEAGUE

RUGBY UNION

Much-improved ‘Dogs notch win Pre-season friendly

BATLEY BULLDOGS 24 HALIFAX

6

at Mount Pleasant BATLEY registered their first win of the campaign by sweeping aside West Yorkshire neighbours Halifax in a gruelling encounter.

‘Summer rugby’ it certainly was not but Matt Diskin’s charges adapted to the horrendous conditions – which left shirt numbers scarcely legible – far better than their counterparts, who remain winless so far at this early stage of the season.

Despite attacking uphill from the off on their infamous sloping pitch, it was the hosts who bookended the half with tries.

They got off to an ideal start when scoring through Sam Smeaton after just two minutes. Half-back Dom Brambani poked through on the last tackle five metres shy of the tryline and an unfortunate slip by Halifax full-back Connor Robinson was seized upon by Smeaton to dab down the first score of the afternoon; Patch Walker added the first of his six points for the afternoon with the boot.

The team that made the fewest mistakes was always likely to prosper and, while the visitors’ poor handling was

understandable, it did nothing to aid their cause.

Midway through the first half, Diskin’s side extended that lead to 12-0 in controversial fashion.

Halifax’s James Woodburn-Hall was penalised for obstruction when fielding Brambani’s high bomb and the Bulldogs took their chance on the left edge with Alex Bretherton picking his gap after good build-up play by James Davey.

Diskin’s men ended the half on a high and made it a literal and metaphorical uphill task for Richard Marshall’s team just before the break when Brambani was the instigator once again. His scything flat pass found Dane Manning who couldn’t pass up the opportunity to inflict more misery on his former employers and make it 18-0 at the break.

The war of attrition continued in ever-worsening conditions and as legs tired, so did minds and for all their heart, Halifax did not have the quality, nor discipline to mount a fightback.

In a fairly level second half, it was the quality of Brambani that shone through and he contiuned to pull the strings with intelligent kicking in open play.

On the hour, a rare foray into an attacking position yielded another score for Batley when

Mud, glorious mud!

MATCH STATS:

substitute Joe Chandler nudged his way over from close range for a fourth try of the afternoon and fellow sub Cain Southernwood added the extras from in front of the sticks.

It was the simplicity, and adaptability of the hosts which proved to be the difference.

Over-elaborate plays from Marshall’s troops were regularly squandered. The epitome of this came late on when Woodburn-Hall was in a twoon-one situation and threw a wild pass without looking when it seemed as though it was easier to score.

The greater the pressure applied by the visitors, the more resolute Batley’s defence became.

However, they did avoid the ignominy of being ‘nilled’ when, with just five minutes remaining, Woodburn-Hall found James Saltonstall to dive over in the corner.

It was no less than the right winger deserved, as he was one of few bright lights in Fax’s ranks.

Steve Tyrer sumptuously converted from the touchline and the visitors will have taken far greater heart from a much improved second half showing, yet the damage had already been done.

BATLEY BULLDOGS 1. Dave Scott 25. Mike Hayward 3. Sam Smeaton 4. Macauley Hallett 5. Shaun Ainscough 13. Patch Walker 7. Dom Brambani 16. Tom Lillycrop 14. James Davey 27. Will Maher 19. Alex Bretherton 22. Dane Manning 11. Brad Day Subs: 6. Cain Southernwood 21. James Brown 17. Joe Chandler 18. James Harrison

7 6 7 6 7 6 8 7 6 6 7 7 6 6 7 7 6

Tries: Smeaton (2), Bretherton (21), Manning (35), Chandler (61).

Goals: Walker (3/3), Southernwood (1/1)

Johnny Karadzic looks for a way through

HALIFAX RLFC 19. Connor Robinson 23. Rob Worrincy 21. James Woodburn-Hall 3. Steve Tyrer 5. James Saltonstall 6. Scott Murrell 7. Gareth Moore 14. Ryan Boyle 27. Matthew Wilkinson 8. Mitch Cahalane 10. Adam Tangata 12. Simon Grix 13. Jacob Fairbank Subs: 16. Ed Barber 26. Alex Mammone 1. Ben Johnstone 15. Luke Ambler

AFTER emergency pitch repairs to remove standing water Ossett faced up to Hessle for the return match, having lost 29-13 last time out.

Hessle have some big units and there were some hefty physical encounters – conditions dictated this was going to be a forwards battle which suited Ossett.

The visitors scored first with a penalty, but it was to prove their only points. This spurred Ossett into action, much the same as the week prior.

A change in the back line saw Alan Grogan roll back the years at inside centre, with Danny Buckley moving to stand off and Jonny Karadzic at scrum half. Shaun Abson put in some good runs and defensive tackling while Ben Jennings and Mark Fisher rounded off a much-changed back line.

Man-of-the-match Leigh Learie made big inroads along with Joe Rotchell and Dale Burnley. Clinton North stood himself down from the squad

5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 5 6 6 5 5 6

Tries: Saltonstall (75).

Goals: Tyrer (1/1).

Referee: C Kendall Half-time: 18-0 Penalties: 11-6 Sin Bin: None Sent Off: None Weather: Sleet Man of the Match: Dom Brambani (Batley) Attendance: 1,000 (est) Match Rating: 2/5

‘Better team’ top Trojans The Trojans line-up included Liam Green, Joss HAYDOCK 30 Ratcliffe, Scott Dyson and Luke Carter for the first time THORNHILL TROJANS 20 this season. Luke Carter and Scott Dyson both made a at King George V Park good contribution. However, star performers for Thornhill THORNHILL Trojans came were George Woodcock and out second best in a pulsating man-of-the-match Danny Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie Ratcliffe. to a very well-drilled Woodcock always looked Haydock team backed by a dangerous with the ball and sizable home crowd that scored two tries. Danny made their presence known Ratcliffe led from the front throughout. and scored Thornhill’s openAt full time the Trojans ing try. knew they had been in a Roared on by the large game but there was little crowd, Haydock scored first. doubt that Haydock team The move started with a were worthy winners. break down the touchline The Trojans effectively lost and swift handling saw the game in the first half.

Danny Gee take the final Defensively they were sec- pass for a try which Jason ond best and some poor work Gibson converted. presented Haydock with too Thornhill replied in the many opportunities. best possible way. Danny Other than one occasion Ratcliffe intercepted a and when they were held up over raced 30 metres to score. The the try line, on every other goal attempt was off-target. occasion in the first half However, Thornhill lost the when Haydock attacked, they ball straight from the kick-off scored. and some poor tackling allowed Connor Smith to cross and leave an easy goal.

This end-to-end action continued with the Trojans pressing and Tuesday February McKenzie; George Woodcock 7th: 3 A Cooper and J crashed over in the cor1 J Tomlinson and Lodge; ner. Woodcock kicked a G Fishwick; 4 C Walker and G brilliant goal from out 2 L Sargent and P Bragg. wide.

Challenge Cup 2nd Round

DEWSBURY BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS:

George Woodcock – converted his own try in a top performance

Good work saw a Haydock player held up before Thornhill briefly took the lead. The ball was chipped forward and George Woodcock collected the ball perfectly then converted for a 16-12 lead.

Then came the critical spell as Haydock scored three tries in the run-up to half time. The first was by Dean

31

Dollen between the sticks, then moments later a high kick to the corner was read perfectly by Alex James.

On the stroke of half-time Haydock ran a penalty and Daryl Rotherham went over for an unconverted try for a 10 point interval lead.

The Trojans started the second half strongly, helped by the sin-binning of Scott Johnson for a professional foul.

Thornhill thought Jack Gledhill had scored off a great pass from Scott Dyson but it was ruled forward. The next one was good however.

Dyson made the initial break, Ryan Fenton, Joe Waters and Danny Ratcliffe combined and Liam Morley planted the ball down under pressure.

Both sides were now tiring and the clinching try came inside the final 10 minutes when another high kick was knocked back into the path of Danny Gee, who touched down to seal the cup win.

Thornhill Trojans: James Craven, Jack Gledhill, Ryan Fenton, George Woodcock, Joss Ratcliffe Liam Morley, Danny Ratcliffe, Tom Gledhill, Luke Carter, Anthony Harris, George Stott, Wayne Wilson, Luke Haigh.

Subs: Scott Dyson, Joe Waters, Liam Green, Jonathan Hellings.

Ossett RUFC Hessle

10 3

PHOTO: RON WHITE

to allow Jack Peat to start and he once again showed that he’s so handy at the breakdown and line out.

Ossett’s first try saw good link play but Hessle were holding up well until Leigh Learie forced his way over from close range. Ossett went into the break 5-3 up.

With Ossett kicking to Hessle Chris White chased well and forced an error, for Jack Peat to score straight away and make it 10-3. A serious battle of attrition followed on a pitch that was cutting up badly and a greasy ball saw numerous unforced errors.

There were moments of individual brilliance. Oliver Lightfoot managed to dance around a few players but was unlucky to slip and Ryan Fonquernie stole the ball and got through the ruck but he got bogged down in the heavy mud and was caught.

Paul Westerman, Rob Young, Elliot Gierula and Mark Stuart all scrummaged admirably considering the weight difference. With no further scores it finished 10-3.

Next up is York RI, away.

Defeat leaves Cleck near the drop zone

Ross Hayden scores

PHOTO: GERALD CHRISTIAN

Cleckheaton RUFC 10 Doncaster Phoenix 18 CLECKHEATON slumped to a disappointing home defeat against a team below them in National League Three North and were dragged back into the relegation mire.

It meant that Doncaster Phoenix completed the double over the Moorenders following their 26-19 win in October and a last-minute score by the visitors denied Cleck a muchneeded losing bonus point.

The win put Phoenix level on points with their hosts in the lower reaches of the league table on 31pts. With three clubs facing the drop, Morley find themselves in the last relegation spot but only two points behind this pair.

It all started well enough with Ross Hayden crossing in the first attack for Cleck and he converted to make it 7-0.

But in in wet and muddy conditions Phoenix dug deep and narrowed the gap with a 17th minute penalty goal from fullback Will Burden.

Burden gave the visitors a one-point lead when he touched down for the first of their three tries 10 minutes into the second half, but his missed conversion meant Hayden was able to give Cleckheaton the edge at 10-8 with his penalty in the 63rd minute.

That was as good as it got however, and prop Tom Bagnall ploughed his way over in the 69th minute to give Phoenix the lead for good.

As the game went into its last minute of normal time, scrum-half James Thompson raced over. The conversion was missed but the eight-point margin was enough to deny Cleckheaton the losing bonus point.

Celtic and Sharks celebrate memory of Ben DEWSBURY Celtic and Shaw Cross Sharks will go head to head at Crow Nest Park this Saturday afternoon (2.30pm), in the second Ben Restall Memorial Trophy.

The clubs met last year in a preseason friendly in memory of the Celtic youngster Ben Restall, who passed away from bone cancer at the end of 2015, aged 17.

Both clubs are eager to honour the memory of Ben and are aiming to make the game an annual event.

Last year the clubs raised over £1,000 for the Friends in Deed charity.

Dewsbury Celtic head coach Danny Thomas is glad that both clubs have decided to hold another fixture in Ben’s memory.

“We have four or five lads who played with Ben, they all grew up together and spent 10 years together at the club, it is an emotional day for them having lost their best mate,” said Thomas.

“It’s a great idea to have the game, we will play a lot of our young lads and give them a runout. If there is anything to raise some money and awareness of cancer then it’s a good thing.”

Shaw Cross head coach Brett Turner (pictured right) will be prepared for a fierce game on the field but says that the rivalry will be put to one side as the clubs come together to remember Ben. He said: “It’s a friendly in name, but it is a derby at the end of the

side, just like we have, so it should be a good spectacle, there is a unity between the clubs, it is absolutely tragic what happened to Ben. “Rivalries get pushed aside at times and hopefully this can be an ongoing thing for years to come, this is only the second year and hopefully it will be a good day for Ben’s family.”

day so everyone wants to win.

“They have a young enthusiastic

JUNIOR teams from Dewsbury Moor, Birstall Victoria, Shaw Cross Sharks and Dewsbury Celtic will all take part in an under-8s festival before the clash between Shaw Cross and Celtic.

The under-10 teams of both Celtic and Sharks will also be in

Old boy Manning stars in welcome win over Halifax

Diskin playing ‘underdog’ card

By Ben McKenna BATLEY BULLDOGS head coach Matt Diskin believes that his side will go into this weekend’s game with Featherstone Rovers as underdogs, despite their convincing 24-6 win over Halifax RLFC last Sunday.

Sunday’s win was Diskin’s first competitive victory as Bulldogs boss and he is hoping for more of the same as his side host Featherstone at Mount Pleasant this Sunday (3pm).

Batley ran in four unanswered tries in muddy conditions before a consolation score from the visitors five minutes from time.

Dane Manning, who was released

by Halifax at the end of last season, scored a try and was named man of the match.

“Dane was really solid, I thought he was really aggresive in attack and going forward with the ball,” said Diskin.

“The lads drew a line under the events of the week before, we needed to respond quickly and we delivered a very disciplined and controlled performance in tough conditions. I thought they showed good character as a group.”

Featherstone have won both of their games so far this season, beating Oldham and Halifax in two close games, and Diskin is ready for a tough test on Sunday.

He said: “I think Featherstone are very tough, they play with big middles and have a lot of experience with the coach and I think that they will go into this week’s game as favourites.

“So we have to make sure we are on the ball, that we prepare right and deliver what we practice to ensure that we put a good performance together.

“At the moment there is nothing that is needed to be said motivationally, the players are aware that they

JOB WELL DONE: Dane Manning proved a point against his old club Halifax

need to perform in order to get select- seven or eight things might start to ed in the 17.” take shape.

Diskin believes that his side need “At the moment it is really tough, to take their performances one game the division is very open, teams who at a time if they are to put together a were in the lower half of the table last run that is good enough to challenge year have recruited exceptionally for a top four spot for a second con- well, for us it is about taking care of secutive season. business week-to-week and hopefully “The players need to perform if we can do that on Sunday.” they want to put themselves in a similar position as they P W D L F A Dif Pts were last year in 2 2 0 0 68 14 54 4 competing for that Rochdale Hornets top four,” he added. Hull KR 2 2 0 0 82 46 36 4 “We are taking it Featherstone Rovers 2 2 0 0 40 32 8 4 week by week, you hear the cliché of Toulouse Olympique 2 1 0 1 58 38 20 2 one game at a time Oldham 2 1 0 1 32 18 14 2 and that’s what we 2 1 0 1 31 32 -1 2 want to do, if we do Swinton Lions that and take care Sheffield Eagles 2 1 0 1 42 40 -2 2 of business each 2 1 0 1 48 51 -3 2 week then we will London Broncos be in a good posi- Batley Bulldogs 2 1 0 1 30 50 -20 2 tion by the end of Halifax 2 0 0 2 32 56 -24 0 the year.

“You can’t read Dewsbury Rams 2 0 0 2 6 54 -48 0 anything into the Bradford Bulls 2 0 0 2 38 76 -38 -12 table at the minute, when it gets to week

KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP

action against each other on Saturday (11.30am).

There will be an auction held after the game to help raise money.

A Liverpool FC shirt signed by Ian Rush, a Leeds Rhinos shirt signed by the Rhinos squad and a Hull FC shirt will be some of the items up for auction.

Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams have also donated one set of family tickets for any Batley or Dewsbury game this season, while Castleford Tigers have also donated a signed kids shirt.

Anyone who wants one of the items but is unable to attend on Saturday can still bid by messaging the Dewsbury Celtic Facebook page with their highest offer.

Rams stuck in mud as Morro looks to defence DEWSBURY RAMS head coach Glenn Morrison will be hoping his players can produce another strong defensive performance as his side travel to take on French side Toulouse Olympique on Saturday evening (6pm).

The Rams lost in agonising fashion against Swinton Lions as they conceded a 78th-minute try to go down 8-6 at a cold and muddy Tetley’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Dewsbury led 6-2 after a James Glover try and Paul Sykes penalty gave them a narrow four point lead with 20 minutes left to play.

The heartbreak came for the home side when Liam Forsyth was first to react as a kick through stuck in the mud.

The conversion was successful, giving Swinton the narrowest of winning margins.

Despite the defeat Morrison was still proud of his players and feels that it was a good response to their 46-0 loss against Rochdale Hornets on the opening day of the season.

“We were after a reaction and it was good to see they really wanted to be there and wear the jersey for each other, I was happy to see that and was proud of their efforts,” said Morrison.

By half-time players’ names were almost unrecognisable as the mud covered their shirts, after the game some players needed heat lamps and foil blankets to stay warm.

Despite the quagmire conditions Morrison felt that his players performed admirably and that Dewsbury were unlucky to come away with nothing.

He said: “Conditions were appalling and we couldn’t play with the ball.

“I said at half-time it was going to come down to a kick and who gets there first was probably going to win the game.

“With two minutes to go a kick stuck in the mud, they got anoth-

Ex-American Football player and new Shaw Cross Sharks recruit Monte Gaddis has been training with the Rams er boot on it and snatched the win, but we didn’t deserve that.

“The boys really had a dig, they ripped in defensively and bashed them up and the energy was there.”

Morrison will be hoping for much milder playing conditions as they travel to the south of France to take on newly-promoted Toulouse.

The Rams have also welcomed Shaw Cross Sharks’ American recruit Monte Gaddis to their training sessions this week.

Gaddis, 24, is a former American college footballer and Toronto Wolfpack trialist who has moved to Dewsbury to play for Shaw Cross in the National Conference League this season.