The press 17th march 2017 by Yorkshire Web

INSIDE:

• Mid Yorks Trust is ‘rock bottom’ • Terror tweet woman convicted ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley

Friday March 17, 2017

No. 781

50p

Special commemorative 15th Anniversary edition of The Press

CHEERS, WE’RE 15!

ThePress

15th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE

Newspapers are dying? Not here! IFTEEN years – doesn’t time fly when you’re having a nervous breakdown? The years seem to whiz by anyway as we get older, but in the fast-moving world of newspapers there’s rarely a dull moment. Here at The Press we race against deadlines every Thursday, pause briefly for breath, and then it’s full-on again, writing stories, taking photos, selling adverts, distributing copies around the district and doing the thousand-and-one jobs that are part and parcel of running a small business. That’s how it was in March 2002, and to be perfectly honest, very little has changed. Even the faces around the place are familiar. A few more laugh lines around the eyes perhaps, and the boss’s hair is a lot ‘shorter’, but beyond that the only thing that’s really changed is our address. After two homes in Dewsbury we’re now settled in Batley, but we still like to think we’re in touch with every town and village in the patch. If it’s happening, if people are talking about it, if it’s good news or bad, our job is to pass it on, to let your friends, family and neighbours know about it. Because that’s what newspapers do – or that’s what they’re supposed to do. Apparently the publishing industry in this country is dying out, with newspapers high on the endangered list – but I can’t say that we’ve noticed that at The Press. We’re as busy and buzzy as ever and in an area like the Heavy Woollen and Spen Valley

district, we’re never short of an issue to report on, an event to publicise, a story to tell. Certainly newspapers have changed radically since I first walked into the Reporter building in the autumn of 1978, bright eyed and bushy tailed, eager to start a career as a journalist. When I finally departed that building for the final time 21 years later as editor-in-chief, we had four offices, more than 90 staff and sold over 30,000 copies a week. I’m not sure what insanity was gripping me just a few years later when I thought we could compete with the might of one of the nation’s biggest publishing groups and decided to launch The Press. But I’ll let you in on a secret … just don’t tell anyone at The Reporter’s owners, Johnston Press. People are nosey – newsy, to use an old Yorkshire term. They like to know what’s going on. They might not like to be told what to think, but they’re interested to know what other people think. They like to be able to get things off their chest. When people in authority turn a blind eye or throw a deaf ear their way, ordinary folk need someone to listen and occasionally to stand up and fight on their behalf. And that’s what good newspapers do. Often we can get answers that members of the public simply can’t. Even if we can’t always get the solution they want, we can reassure them that someone cares, that their lives, their stories, are worth sharing. It’s a vital part of the glue that creates active communities.

Friday March 17, 2017

‘When people in authority turn a blind eye or throw a deaf ear their way, ordinary folk need someone to listen and occasionally to stand up and fight on their behalf. And that’s what good newspapers do...’ Publisher Danny Lockwood

Edition 1 from March 9th, 2002 ... we started life as ‘The Dewsbury & District Press’ but that title only lasted a few weeks

O WHY launch a small independent newspaper against a big, successful group that had at that time three proud individual titles in the Dewsbury Reporter, Batley News, Spenborough Guardian, editions for Mirfield and Birstall, and even a mass-distribution free newspaper? How could we possibly compete with that? Well, news was one thing. As a journalist, I didn’t think those papers were being honest with local people any more. The council, local politicians, the police … they were going unchallenged. Serious news stories were going unreported because it didn’t fit the ‘good news’ agenda of the local papers. If you hadn’t noticed,

Dewsbury and Batley particularly have some big issues bubbling away just under the surface. But back then you wouldn’t know it to read the local papers. As a newsman, I’ve always thought it important to be willing to be unpopular – to say uncomfortable things, to put people’s noses out of joint, especially people in authority who we have a duty to hold to account. I really don’t care about the colour of a politician’s rosette. Once they get the big job, they have to be scrutinised and made answerable. That’s democracy to me, just as much as the vote itself. And that was the founding principle of The Press – to ask awkward questions, to be the voice of a public that was too often deprived of one. Giving people something to read was one thing, but that wouldn’t make a business in itself.

The advertising monopoly that existed in 2002 meant that local companies were virtually held to ransom. Every year their advertising rates went up a few per cent. Like it or lump it. I take great pride in the fact that we have cost our competitors millions of pounds in profiteering. Tough. We based our business on giving customers good, flexible service, and being affordable. The big boys didn’t like it then and still don’t. Reporter Group advertisers to this day have their arms twisted up their back – do business

Continued on inside back cover

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Friday March 17, 2017

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No. 781

50p

ROCK BOTTOM Verdict on Dewsbury Hospital’s Trust after latest figures show that only 77% of A&E patients in January were seen within four hours By James Morris THE NHS Trust running Dewsbury & District Hospital was the worst-performing in the Yorkshire & Humber region for treating A&E patients in January. The Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust treated only 77.1 per cent of its 4,444 patients within four hours, although not a single Trust in Yorkshire hit the national target of 95 per cent. The Mid-Yorkshire figure was a drop from the 81 per cent of 3,589 patients who were seen within

four hours during January, 2016. The increased demand at Dewsbury Hospital during the festive period was well publicised – and local politicians have again demanded that any ‘downgrade’ plans should be shelved. Health bosses are planning on re-focussing serious emergency care to Pinderfields Hospital, with the A&E department at Dewsbury downgraded to an urgent care unit. Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin, whose seat includes Dewsbury Hospital, said: “These figures show a worrying decline in the service available to people in the Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust area. “That barely more than three

quarters of patients in January were treated in under four hours is quite simply not good enough and shows things are getting worse rather than improving. It is troubling to see that the underlying factor is the huge increase in demand, with attendances up by almost a quarter in the last year alone. “This points to deep problems in our health service – not enough GPs, not enough walk-in centres, a failure of the 111 system that was supposed to replace NHS Direct, and a crisis in social care. “The staff there are giving all they have, and I pay tribute to them, but they’re being placed

under completely unsustainable pressure. Under such circumstances, downgrading of emergency services in Dewsbury defies any kind of logic. “When patients are literally queuing out of the door, downgrading a service that is already over capacity is the opposite of what is needed.” The Press reported earlier this year how the A&E department at Dewsbury was pushed to its limits over Christmas, with reports of patients having to wait up to 11 hours to see a doctor. One person claimed to have waited 20 hours before a bed was made available and another said

they were denied a pillow as there were none spare. Matt England, interim director of planning and partnerships, said: “We have embarked on an ambitious programme of improvement which has seen a positive benefit to patients and reduced waiting times in February and March. “Additionally, the proposals for change to A&E services across the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust will improve patient flow and patient care. “The plans set out changes to the way specialist and inpatient care is provided to ensure people are seen more quickly by a clinician with the right skills.”

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ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

ThePress Friday March 17, 2017 Issue No: 781

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

Deaths ADDY NEE WILLIAMS CLAIRE On 5 March, aged 58, of

www.thepressnews.co.uk Dewsbury Moor. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 24 March at 1.15pm.

01924 470296

ADDY DEREK On 13 March, aged 84, of Staincliffe. Husband of Pat. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium , Friday 31 March at 2pm.

DUNWELL NEE RODWELL SUSAN On 5 March, aged 57, of Healey. Partner of Ernie. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 March at 10am.

BINNS JONATHAN On 18 February, aged 32, of Dewsbury. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 24 March at 12.30pm.

COLLINGS NEE LUMB NORMA On 13 March, aged 73, of Mirfield. Wife of David. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 March at 2.45pm.

CROWTHER WILLIAM (BILL) On 10 March, aged 83, of Mirfield. Husband of Shirley. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 21 March at 2pm.

EMBLETON MAVIS On 9 March, aged 86, of Earlsheaton. Wife of Derrick. Service at St Peter’s Church, Earlsheaton on Friday 24 March at 1.45pm, followed by committal at Dewsbury Crematorium at 2.45pm.

GARDINER MARINA On 2 March, aged 81, of Roberttown. Wife of the late Kenneth. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 20 March at 12 noon. Place your family notices by calling 01924 470296

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IDLE MURIEL OLGA

On 28 February. Wife of the late Leslie. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 21 March at 12.30pm.

On 9 March, aged 91, of Mirfield. Wife of the late Norman. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 28 March at 2pm.

GILLIBRAND NEE WOOLLAS ETHEL

LELLA NICOLA

On 13 March, aged 94, formerly of Gomersal. Wife of the late Clary. Service at St Mary’s Church, Gomersal on Thursday 30 March at 2pm, followed by interment at Cleckheaton Cemetery.

HARGREAVES MARY On 3 March, aged 91. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 24 March at 2pm.

HARWOOD KATHLEEN (NEE KILROY) On 1 March, aged 78, of Heckmondwike. Wife of Les. Service at St Joseph’s RC Church, Batley Carr on Wednesday March 22 at 10am, followed by committal at Batley Cemetery.

On 9 March, aged 83, of Batley. Husband of Olga. Service at St Mary’s RC Church, Batley, Friday 24 March at 11am, followed by committal at Batley Cemetery.

LETHAM JEAN On 7 March, aged 85, of Batley. Wife of the late Peter. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 27 March at 2pm.

PARKER ROBERT On 9 March, aged 70, of Batley. Husband of Yvonne. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 21 March at 1.15pm.

SCHOFIELD DAVID On 10 March, aged 69, of

Thornhill. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 27 March at 12.30pm.

SYMONS HARRY On 12 March, aged 92, of Roberttown. Husband of the late Doreen. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 23 March at 2pm.

TEALE DAVID RICHARD On 13 March, aged 70, of Norristhorpe. Husband of Audrey. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 31 March at 11.15am.

WALKER MAURICE On 10 March, aged 85, of Cleckheaton. Husband of Shirley. Service at Parkwood Crematorium, Monday 27 March at 11.15am.

WESTERMAN JOHN CHARLES On 9 March, aged 80, of Little Gomersal. Husband of Beryl. Service at Rawdon Crematorium, Friday 24 March at 11am.

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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.

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ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

Guilty verdict on ISIS terror tweet woman By Staff Reporters

A spider crane removes one of the old lock gates on the Calder & Hebble canal

‘Spiders’ key to locks project A £140,000 renovation programme on the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Thornhill has been completed. The Canal and River Trust have replaced six of the huge lock gates that form the Figure of Three Locks. The project, delayed by 12 months because of the 2015 Boxing Day floods, was completed by construction engineers who moved onto the site at the start of January with two specialised ‘spider’ cranes. Eric Walker, the Trust’s construction supervisor for the north, said: “There are always unfore-

seen problems with locks, given that much of the work required is hidden until we drain the lock and lift the old gates, even though we use divers to survey the work first. “Despite a few small difficulties and allowing for the inclement weather, which has been pretty kind to us, we finished the twomonth project on time and we’ll be ready for the boating season which gets under way in March.” Due to the inaccessible location of the locks, the new gates – built at the Stanley Ferry workshops in Wakefield – were transported to the site by barge.

A BATLEY woman has been found guilty of sharing a speech by the leader of ISIS online. Mary Kara, 57, was accused of re-tweeting a link to an audio clip by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to her 30 followers on Twitter. She was this week found guilty by majority verdict of distributing a terrorist publication likely to encourage people to participate in terrorism. The week-long trial heard that counter-terrorism police searched her previous address in Dewsbury when her husband was arrested in May, 2014. A computer was seized from the property and an investigation into her internet activity began later that year. Prosecutor Simon Davis told the court that Kaya’s Twitter account, called ‘Justice’ with the handle @GardenofGold, showed the link to al-Baghdadi’s speech, Even If The Disbelievers Despise Such, in November, 2014. Mr Davis said: “The message was aimed at encouraging anyone who listened to or read it to participate in terrorist activity.” The court heard the seized computer had been used to search for information about radical Islamic preachers, ISIS supporters, people who travelled to Syria and footage of explosions and attacks.

Councillors’ pay rise vote COUNCILLORS will vote next week on whether or not to award themselves a one per cent pay rise. An independent panel has recommended a one per cent increase in the basic allowance of Kirklees’ 69 councillors. If approved, the rise – worth £129 a year for each councillor – will cost taxpayers an extra £8,901 per year. Last year, 59 of the 60 councillors who were present agreed a 3.2 per cent rise following seven years of pay freezes. They will receive £13,099 a year if the latest rise is approved. The nine members of the cabinet are paid significantly more than that figure for their roles. Council leader David Sheard (Lab, Heckmondwike) receives an additional £25,155, bringing his total pay to £38,254. His deputy Coun Shabir Pandor (Lab, Batley

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Kaya told police the seized laptop and mobile phone would not contain any terrorist material and she only used social media “to see what was going on in the world”. The court heard that she said she was the only person with access to the account, so if any material was found she would be responsible. She will be sentenced on March 27. Detective Chief Superintendent Clive Wain, head of the North East CTU, said: “It is clear from the evidence presented that Kaya openly demonstrated support for Daesh (also known as ISIS) and their ideology by the posts made via her Twitter account. “The material posted included a message from Daesh leader AlBaghdadi and a particular speech which glorified terrorism and encouraged listeners to carry out terrorist acts. “Due to the vast reach and influence of social media, the implications of posting such material should not be underestimated; Daesh and other terrorist groups are continuing to use the online space to encourage support for their objectives and to provoke individuals to carry out attacks abroad and in the UK.”

News In Brief

Man arrested in sex assault inquiry MIRFIELD: A man has been arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted on Monday evening. Police are investigating the incident, which happened in a snicket near to Old Bank Road between 6.40 and 6.55pm. They have confirmed that a 27-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday morning and released on bail pending inquiries. Specially-trained officers interviewed the 46-year-old victim, who was left “extremely distressed” following the incident. A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Kirklees District CID would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the Old Bank Road area on Monday night to contact them. “The victim was unhurt but extremely distressed. Enquiries are ongoing.” Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kirklees Adult Safeguarding Unit via 101, quoting crime reference 13170116400 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Benefit fraud charge LIVERSEDGE: A woman appeared in court accused of committing £28,000-worth of benefit fraud. Elaine Robinson, 57, denied charges of dishonesty, making a false statement and failing to disclose information to make a gain of benefits including income support and housing benefit when she appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court. She allegedly failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions and Kirklees Council about her husband’s NHS pension. The alleged offences are dated between September, 1999, and February, 2016. Prosecutor Bill Astin said Robinson, of Hare Park Avenue, was entitled to some but not all the money she received. Her trial will be held on May 11.

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West) receives £18,866 on top of his basic allowance, bringing his total pay to almost £32,000. The seven remaining Labour cabinet members get an extra £12,274, bringing their total pay to just over £25,000. The vote will take place at a full council meeting on Wednesday evening.

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ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

Cig hoard hidden in shop wall

News In Brief Warsi book launch DEWSBURY: A book written by Dewsbury-born Baroness Warsi, examining what life is like for Muslims in Britain, will be published later this month. ‘The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain’ will be released on March 29. The book, to be launched at an event in London, draws on Baroness Warsi’s experiences of growing up in Britain as the child of Pakistani immigrants.

By Staff Reporters

Maypole parade GAWTHORPE: May Queen Nicole Ackroyd will take centre stage at the traditional summer festival in the village. She will be accompanied by her maids of honour Eleanor Stevenson, Molly Jackson, Eve Petch, Willow Gledhill and Olivia Garforth at the 141st Gawthorpe Maypole Feast and Procession on Saturday, May 6.

Frank Lodge and two of his photographs... now he’s judging the work of others

Pub’s funeral fate? GOMERSAL: Permission is being sought to turn an old pub into a funeral directors. The Shoulder of Mutton, on Oxford Road, is subject to an application submitted from Serenity Funeral Directors to Kirklees Council. Although planning permission is not required, a certificate of lawfulness for proposed use is needed.

Gas work shuts road

Judging role for snapper Frank

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THORNHILL: A road will remain closed until the end of the month while gas engineers complete essential work. Employees from Northern Gas Network will be working on Crosshill until March 31 to replace ageing gas mains.

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A MEMBER of a local photography group has been selected to become a judge on the Yorkshire Photographic Union’s circuit. Frank Lodge, a member of Dewsbury Photographic Group, has been recognised by the union for his outstanding work and will now judge photographers’ pictures at other groups. Frank has been a member of the group for 30 years and has played an active role, organising judges’ visits to Dewsbury. Giving advice to any budding photographers, Frank said: “Make sure the composition of the photograph is what you want to capture, make sure the exposure is correct and most importantly enjoy your photography.”

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A DEWSBURY shop worker appeared in court after thousands of pounds’-worth of unmarked cigarettes were found hidden in a wall. Sniffer dogs uncovered the haul when Revenue and Customs officers raided the Middle Eastern Mini Market on October 26. The store, on South Street, was previously searched in January 2014 as part of a huge police and trading standards operation. On that occasion, almost £100,000-worth of fake cigarettes and tobacco were seized from shops in Dewsbury. Shawan Hassan, 29, of Boothroyd Green, Dewsbury, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing

unmarked tobacco products. The court heard that HMRC officials found 19,040 cigarettes and 12.4 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco. None of these items carried the required UK duty paid fiscal marks. The unpaid duty totalled £8,696. Prosecutor Bill Astin said: “This problem is rife in England and Wales. “Organised crime is often involved and the loss of revenue is enormous. “Some of these items were hidden inside the walls and were only discovered by the use of a specialist dog.” Hassan said he had only been working at the shop for a couple of weeks but was evasive when asked who the owner was. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation.

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Secret stash... tobacco products found in the wall

Police step up hunt for flasher A MAN has indecently exposed himself several times in Heckmondwike in the past three weeks. The incidents occurred near the Spen Valley Ringway, off Vernon Road. The man is described as white, aged between 20 and 30 years old, of slim build and around six feet tall. He was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a grey hooded top which was dark on the bottom half. PC Philip Miller, of Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “These were distress-

ing incidents for the public who witnessed this man exposing himself and it is possible that there may have been other people who may have seen him who may have information. “This is a well-travelled path in the area and officers have been conducting increased patrols in and around the vicinity. “Anyone with information is asked to contact Batley and Spen NPT on 101, quoting 13170111567, or alternatively pass any information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

ACTION! TOWN HALL’S STARRING ROLE

Blue Badge fraudsters must pay up By Steve Martyn

Cameras zoom in for a bird’s eye view of Dewsbury Town Hall. DEWSBURY Town Hall has been used as a set for a new BBC drama. Love, Lies and Records, starring Ashley Jensen (well known for roles in Ugly Betty and Extras), tells the story of registrar Kate Dickenson, who is trying to juggle her personal life with the daily dramas of registering births, marriages and deaths. TV trucks and equipment have been outside the town hall for several days this week. The Victorian building has become a popular filming location, featuring on Emmerdale, ITV1 drama Eternal Law, BBC One’s

Five Days and Question Time. A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We are delighted to welcome the crew, and the filming will continue in the town hall and register office until early June.” The show’s writer, Kay Mellor, said: “The idea came to me when I was registering my mother’s death at Leeds Town Hall, closely followed by a friend’s wedding in the very same place. “I remember registering the birth of both my daughters there too and I realised that register office and registrars really are at the very heart of life ... it’s a place of laughter, tears and drama.”

MP’s praise for police LOCAL MP Tracy Brabin has praised West Yorkshire Police for their role in bringing violent robbers who operated in the area to justice. At a meeting organised by the Labour MP for Batley & Spen, attended by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns Williamson, left, they explained how ‘Operation Smokeland’ apprehended the criminals. Also present at the meeting was victim

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THREE drivers who fraudulently used blue badges to park in disabled spaces have appeared in court. Zsuzsanna Szammer, 28, Adrian Conroy, 54, and Mohammad Ugrader, 59, all from the Dewsbury area, pleaded guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to blue badge misuse charges. Hamza Soren, prosecuting on behalf of Kirklees Council, said: “The initiative is for the benefit of disabled people so that they can access facilities where needed, but it has to be used appropriately. “The cost of the blue badge misuse for one individual parking for 40 hours per week is £2,080. “This impacts on both genuine blue badge holders and the integrity of the scheme.” The court heard how Ugrader, of Pilgrim Crescent, Dewsbury Moor, parked in a pay and display space on Foundry Street on August 17. A civil enforcement officer asked him to produce the blue badge which belonged to his wife, who was not present at the time. During the altercation Ugrader became abusive and said: “I’m allowed to stay here for three hours – why are you hanging around the car?”

Ebrahim Dokrat MBE, alongside his children, centre, who were at home during the robbery. Ms Brabin tabled a motion in parliament, known as an Early Day Motion, to express gratitude on behalf of the West Yorkshire community, for the work the police do.

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He was ordered to pay a £100 fine, £430 prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge. Szammer, of Valley Drive, Thornhill, had parked in a pay and display area on Town Hall Way on August 10 but had displayed her disabled partner’s badge despite him not being with her. She told the enforcement officer he had left earlier to do some shopping but when she was asked to accompany the officer to where she had dropped her partner she declined to do so. Magistrates fined her £40 and ordered her to pay prosecution costs of £150 and a £30 victim surcharge. Conroy, of Wormalds View, Dewsbury, was approached as he parked on double yellow lines on Church Street, Dewsbury, on September 5. His wife’s disabled badge was on display but she was not in the car with him. He had with him his elderly mother, who is also disabled, but told the civil enforcement officer his wife was at home. The court heard he was issued with a fixed penalty at the time, which he has since paid. He was fined £95 and ordered to pay £450 prosecution costs plus £30 victim surcharge.

News In Brief Man’s ‘threat to stab and shoot’ partner BATLEY: A man appeared in court and denied threatening to stab and shoot his ex-partner. Mark Smith, 33, allegedly made threatening phone calls to Emma Ramskill between March 9 and 11. He is also accused of threatening to harm her ex-husband. Smith, of Princess Street, Batley, pleaded not guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to two charges of harassment. His trial will be held on May 11.

Towpath clean-up MIRFIELD: Volunteers will be grabbing their bin liners and gloves in an effort to tidy up a popular waterway. Members of the Mirfield Community Partnership and Mirfield Co-operative Retail Services will be participating in the Calder Towpath Clean Up on Monday (March 20) between 10am and 1pm. A spokesman for the group said: “Please come along and bring friends and colleagues. “Please wear sturdy shoes, clothes and gloves. If possible, please bring secateurs, loppers, spades, strong black bags and litter pickers.”

Table-top sale MIRFIELD: A campaign group opposed to the building of new homes on green space will be holding a table-top sale tomorrow (Saturday). The Save Mirfield Group will be holding the event at St Paul’s Church, Newgate, from 11am until 2pm. Tables must be booked in advance by contact Cheryl on 07572 158015 or 07866 496469. Refreshments will be available.

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Friday March 17, 2017

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LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE Danny Lockwood

Now nasty Nic is fighting dirty OW, the poison dwarfette has got her tartan knickers in a twist, running round like a headless chicken demanding a second independence referendum for Scotland. Calm down dear, calm down. At this rate you’ll scream yourself out of a job with your mad histrionics. (And I do think someone should check if wee Nicola Krankie’s been taking her Prozac. She’ll do herself a damage one of these days). With my equal opportunities hat on, woman or not someone should do the vile little crone a mischief, because nothing of this latest tantrum has anything to do with the well being of the Scottish people. Nothing whatsoever. Underpinning every fibre of wee Krankie’s being is her hatred of the English and her own increasingly margin-

Nicola Sturgeon would sacrifice Scottish prosperity just to save her neck and spite England

alised power base. The passing of the Brexit bill into law this week put her on the endangered list, which is why she’s desperate to get a second referendum before the Scots wake up to the political reality sweeping the EU. A strong, independent UK,

once unshackled from the yoke of Brussels, looks ever more likely by the day. It would sink the Scottish Nationalists because sooner or later their supporters will see they have no influence in Westminster while suddenly being dependent on our goodwill to keep funding them above the rest of the UK. Their free prescriptions and university education would be immediately under threat. We should end that disparity anyway, but the best prospects for a UK and not EU-tethered Scotland would be to vote in more Labour and Tory MPs. Krankie talks desperately about Scotland remaining in

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the EU even though they’ve said, unequivocally, they don’t qualify and wouldn’t take them anyway? Why would they when the Scottish economy is a basket case? Oil prices are on the floor, and as fond as Eurocrats may be of smoked kippers and malt whisky, that’s not going to bail out the broken economies of Greece, Italy, Portugal, France – yes France – and Spain. Scotland has four times more trade with England than the entire EU, but with rebel MPs and the Lords now falling into line on Brexit, wee Krankie’s being backed into a corner. In five years, with the UK (including Scotland) a thriving player on the world stage and with the EU in a spiralling economic crisis, the SNP will just be yesterday’s protest vote. The little ginger parasite will be a footnote of history. That’s why she’s happy to risk a civil war now, whatever it costs her countrymen and women – ego and hatred. She’d rather sink under the dictatorial governance of

My big police porky pie! TOLD a big, fat porkie pie last week – I insinuated that Kirklees Police have perfected their mass impersonations of the Invisible Man where local towns and neighbourhoods are concerned. I take it all back. Intrepid Plods literally hot-footed it to Ravensthorpe last week, determined to nail the social carbuncles plaguing everyone at the Diamond Wood Community Academy (Ravensthorpe CofE School, as was). To celebrate International Women’s Day, officers were apparently busy not massaging crime statistics for once, but massaging the feet of pupils’ mums. I kid you not – and I’d have loved to see the look on those mums’ faces underneath their niqabs. Sorry to say I can’t yet confirm that said Plods have thrown on the sick with athlete’s foot, or filed for early redundo owing to the bad backs they got figuratively kiss ar…, sorry, kissing feet. PS: Just a thought – I take it they were female officers.

Brussels than prosper while riding London’s coattails. A pathetic, selfish little woman. T’S a good job the driverless cars of the future (see below) aren’t modelled on politicians because you’d never get anywhere. U-turn after u-turn – you’d never get to work! I can’t believe how spineless the Government

have been over the selfemployed NI increases, how quickly they’ve collapsed in a heap. Grow a pair, Theresa! If every policy lasts all of 10 minutes before it’s shelved because of the predictable howls of protest we’ll never get anything done. This smacks of the people’s voice being taken rather too seriously. Just govern, will you.

Cars that drive you round the bend RIVERLESS cars were the talk of the Westminster town this week, with the House of Lords of all institutions worrying about ‘drivers’ falling asleep at whatever passes for a wheel. The House of Lords complaining about people falling asleep on the job? They earn £350 a day just for nodding off on their comfy red leather benches and waking up occasionally to try thwart the democratic will of the British public. Cheeky sods. Apparently in stringent tests driverless cars have racked up 220 million miles with just one fatality, which is far, far safer than the actual driver stats of one death for every 90 million miles driven. We’re not told if the bloke who died was injecting heroin when he should have been indicating to turn left, or had a seizure when he couldn’t get the terminally annoying Chris Evans off the radio. I was surprised to learn that some VW Golfs are already fitted with automatic emergency braking systems, but it seems they’ve been involved in 45 per cent fewer insurance claims. I’m not sure you can argue with that. I’d be happy to give it a go, mostly because too many of the people I’m a regular passen-

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ger of fill me with all the confidence of a football coach getting a thumbs-up from the chairman. There would be a couple of conditions to meet first however. I’m assuming this ‘machine’ comes with a voice to tell you what it’s doing. As such, can mine be Lewis Hamilton or James Hunt? I would really have a problem with a Nicola Sturgeon or Jo Brand telling me what’s what in my own car. In fact no offence girls, but I don’t want my car computer sending texts and putting lipstick on when it should be flipping vees and one fingered salutes at idiots in white vans. And that’s another point – road rage. If compucar is going to sign up for the full monty, I want Robocop or Arnie’s Terminator crouching in the back seats, ready to spring out and beat the living wotsits out of anyone cutting me off – which happens about three times a day on my regular commute. Driverless cars? I’d say it’s the future. F I asked you what Yoruba, Igbo, Telugo, Hmong and Chichewa were, would you have the faintest? Baddies from the next Star Wars film perhaps? Dishes at a new curry house? Nope. I’ll put you out of your misery. They are the languages of tribes from Nigeria, Ghana, India, pan-Asia and southern Africa. They are also just five among the startling 104 languages you can translate the website for Ravensthorpe CofE School (Diamond Wood Academy – see above) into at the click of a mouse. I know we have a cultural and ethnic mix in our local schools, but 105 lingos? Really? I think they’ve got all the bases covered there, with knobs on. Talk about future-proofing. I’m pretty sure this is a service Google (or someone) provides and hasn’t been a Kirkleesfunded project of some highly paid apparitchik for the past three years, so I’m really not knocking anyone here. I was seriously impressed. Watu nzuri sana (‘Very good folks’, in Swahili).

ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

Four teenagers in court over shooting

Police cordon off the area around Cemetery Road after the shooting

Mike Clark

ALL four teenagers arrested in connection with a shooting in Dewsbury last month are due to appear in court next week. Owais Ashfaq, 18, of Gladstone Street, and Hasnain Khan, 18, of Carrington Street, both in Bradford, are accused of attempted murder, robbery and attempted robbery. They recently appeared at Bradford Crown Court, where their case was transferred to Leeds Crown Court. They are expected to appear

there on Wednesday. Ibrahim Malik, of Headfield Road, Dewsbury, who is charged with conspiracy to murder, will appear along with a 17-year-old from Manchester who cannot be named for legal reasons, who is also charged with attempted murder, robbery and attempted robbery. It follows an incident on February 1 when a man was shot in Cemetery Road, Dewsbury. He was left with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Reaching for the stars ALMOST 150 young people from across the region took part in auditions for an upcoming musical in Batley. Les Miserables will be staged at Blakeridge Mill in August as part of a new youth theatre project, and youngsters aged 13-19 wanting to perform on the big stage showed what they had to offer in a series of workshops and auditions last weekend. Award-winning West End director Nick Evans led sessions at St Mary’s Social Club in Batley in search of his next professional-standard cast. Speaking after the weekend, Mr Evans said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to all those who came to the auditions and made them a great success. “As I discovered, there’s an enormous amount of talent in

150 audition for roles in Les Mis, with more opportunities to come West Yorkshire and I want to see as much of it as possible. “So I’m coming back next week to audition more people from across the community.” The project is being supported by Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin, who also attended the audition weekend. She said: “I knew the young people of Batley and Spen would grab this opportunity with both hands and that’s exactly what they did. “It was a privilege to see Nick and his team at work to squeeze every drop of creativity out of our exceptionally talented

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young people.” More auditions will be held next Wednesday and Thursday, March 22 and 23, at St Mary’s Social Club and Parochial Hall on Melton Street, for anybody who didn’t have the chance to try out last weekend. Participants need to bring a packed lunch and a drink. After that there will be an Easter course from Saturday April 8 to Thursday April 13, and a residential course for two weeks at the start of the summer holidays. There is no cost to any element of the programme, but youngsters must be available to attend all the sessions. To apply, email info@ hearthepeoplesing.com. For more information visit http://hearthepeoplesing.com.

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Prevention’s better than cure Dear Sir, Reading last week’s feature article and Danny Lockwood’s editorial, it brought to mind a question asked on BBC’s Question Time about preventative policing. Is it so out of the question to have police visible on the streets, instead of closing

Flaws in laws were missed From: D Johnson, Mirfield Dear Sir, Well the upper chamber has had their say on the Brexit bill, and as if to prove a point we saw just how impotent and useless these unelected freeloaders really are. Nevertheless, we were treated to the sight of Theresa May sat on the bottom step of the Royal throne, as is tradition, watching like a predatory bird as the embarassedlooking shadow leader in the Lords, Angela Smith, opened the debate on Brexit. Quite remarkably, Angela Smith opened by attempting to lecture the Commons on why the collective knowledge, experience and wisdom of the Lords should be listened to. She was speaking as if they never allow bad law to get past their scrutiny. As we all know, the Commons and Lords are past masters at waving through flawed legislation, the latest to come to light is the all-tooobvious flaw in the civil partnership act which only allows same-sex couples to be partners. Clearly this discriminates against heterosexual couples

Letter of the Week: Anthony Doyle, Birstall the gate after the horse has bolted? I am not so naive as to think we are still in the days of Dixon of Dock Green,

and a challenge was always going to be made. Not only was this missed at its inception, but again years later when Cameron decided to allow same-sex couples to be married, both chambers failed to see the injustice of giving more rights to samesex couples than to heterosexual couples.

Bronte drama opened a door From: John Appleyard Dear Sir, Anne Bronte was the youngest of the Bronte sisters and ‘Agnes Grey’ her first novel. I have never read the book so was pleased that BBC Radio Four serialised it last week over a five-day period. The book is set in 1845 and depicts a woman’s place in the world with no money, no connections and no prospects. The first part of Agnes Grey is based on Anne Bronte’s own experience as a governess at Blake Hall, Mirfield. Anne became a governess to prove herself and to contribute to the family’s coffers, but was given a hard time of it by the children she taught belonging to the wealthy Ingham family.

where the old-time copper gave you a clip round the ear when he caught you doing something wrong, but he was there watching and was a

Anne described them as little dunces who struggled to learn the alphabet. She found their spirit wild and uncontrollable, they spat in her bag and threw her writing desk out of the window. In Agnes Grey the heroine is plain and normal, which is how Anne Bronte regarded herself. In some books there are tales of women bailed out of poverty by a rich man, but not Agnes Grey, who meets the curate Mr Weston, a man of her own age and station. Anne Bronte was dismissed from her post at Blake Hall, but went on to become a successful teacher. Agnes Grey was published in 1847 and was mauled by the critics, but over time its sales increased and it was reprinted in 1858. Anne Bronte only wrote one more novel, The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall, a powerful book which supported women’s rights and is just as relevant today as it was then. Anne died in Scarborough, where she is buried, in 1849. I’m almost certain the BBC drama will have left much out of the Agnes Grey book, but it did open a door for those who would like to read more about the Bronte family and their books.

deterrent. If crime was prevented in the first place our police officers would not be lost in pointless admin, and could be out on the streets preventing crime and protecting people and property. We have lost track of the notion that ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Hope I’ve been a little helpful From: David Honeybell, Heckmondwike Dear Sir, Kim Leadbeater is very proud of her sister Jo, and quite rightly so. But she has to realise she is not Jo, and she has to live her own life. I met Jo on a few occasions, and I’m sure she would not want Kim to give up her ambitions in her own life. Yes, we all pay tribute to Jo, who was such a special person, and who had her life tragically cut short in a most horrifying and brutal way. And we’re all aware of how badly Kim, Jo’s parents and husband Brendan have been affected by her untimely death. Kim must stop thinking she has a moral obligation to do the sort of work Jo would be doing. If Jo was alive, she would be as proud of what Kim has achieved in her life as Kim is of Jo. She would want her to carry on with her own chosen career, and make her mark doing her own thing. Kim must remember that

Jo was Jo, and there is only going to be one Jo Cox. You’re Kim, and that’s who you should be – yourself. And Kim, I’m not in anyway meaning to be critical, but I hope I have been at least a little helpful.

The wrong idea From: Christine Hyde, Dewsbury (In response to a letter in last week’s Forum)

Dear Sir, I fear that whilst touting a fashionable idea, D Johnson of Mirfield has got the wrong end of the stick when it comes to my argument about the treatment of illegal immigrants on the NHS. You only have to drive to Mirfield to realise there are too many people. Liberal or not, my argument is to protect D Johnson and their friends and family from such diseases as airborne and possibly antibioticresistant TB, hepatitis, typhus and other less mentionable, transmissible disease, which can infect anyone, even in Mirfield, illegal or not. Prince Albert died of a transmissible disease! Surely it is better to improve border controls, port security, tighten factory checks and licences to oper-

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sion, 26 Wormalds View, Thornhill Lees. Mohammed Arshad, single-storey rear extension, 166 Headfield Road, Savile Town. A Brown, certificate of lawfulness for proposed erection of singlestorey rear extension, 37 Tetley Drive, Birkenshaw. Mohammed Motala, two-storey side and rear extension, 56 Manor Way, Staincliffe. Mr & Mrs Young, demolition of existing garage and erection of new garage, 35 Reservoir Street, Dewsbury. Abdul Razzaq, two-storey and single-storey rear extensions, 35 Chadwick Crescent, Dewsbury. Serenity Funeral Directors, certificate of lawfulness for proposed change of use of former public house (A4) to funeral directors (A1) (within a Conservation Area), Shoulder Of Mutton, 404 Oxford Road, Gomersal. Mr & Mrs Plant, conservatory, 309 Oxford Road, Gomersal.

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ate, rather than ensuring a spread of infections through fear of treatment. So called ‘health tourism’ actually only amounted to 0.1% of the NHS budget at the most, even in its heyday. It is likely that Ernst and Young, Deloitte and PWC etc collectively get far more out of the NHS budget. And what benefit did the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust get from their huge spend with EY? When you think that the British empire, in the space of 150 years, removed £74trillion of value from the Indian subcontinent and displaced or killed one third of the population there, what benefit did the lads of Dotheboys Hall, up the road, get from that? Nothing. In our way forward to the past it may be useful to remember such things. At present, the budget revealed tax cuts to companies amounting to £18 billion over the next five years, which is far more than any NHS spend on protecting public health would be. Let’s hope D Johnson does not choose to contract an illness. I am struggling to find a suitable label for D Johnson as a return for theirs of me. Hopefully ‘consumptive’ will not be appropriate.

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Brothers banned after rat infestation By Staff Reporters TWO brothers who ran a ratinfested Indian takeaway have been banned from ever running another restaurant. Magistrates shut down the Pioneer Restaurant, ran by Mohammed and Zishan Shafiq, last April due to the risks it posed to public health. Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard the pair were fully aware of the rat problem at the Nelson Street business. Both had previously been been prosecuted for selling beef curries advertised as lamb. They each pleaded guilty to six food hygiene breaches when they appeared before magistrates. The business was inspected by environmental health officials on April 7 following a report of rat droppings being found. Hamza Soren, prosecuting on behalf of Kirklees Council, said: “There was a very strong smell consistent with

rat urine as they turned down the steps to the basement and storage area. “Droppings were found in the main kitchen, under the sink and on shelves near the counter. “The level of cleaning was poor and there was evidence of smear marks near the rat activity.” Magistrates heard there had been a problem with rats in the business since 2014 and a pest control firm had made several recommendations to prevent them. However, Mr Soren told the magistrates’ bench this was a “box ticking exercise” and these works had not been carried out by the time of the inspection. He said: “Several large holes were still in the walls as well as internal holes which had a strong smell of urine coming from them. “These allowed rats to gain access to food storage areas and the food was not stored in appropriate conditions. “There was a significant risk of it being contaminated

Variety book launch A BOOK about the man behind the worldfamous Batley Variety Club is set to be released later this month. 'King of Clubs' is the story of James Corrigan, who brought some of the world's biggest stars to the town. Author Maureen Prest worked in promotions

by urine, faeces and bacteria carried by rats.” Following the inspection, magistrates were asked to grant a hygiene emergency probation notice and the takeaway was closed for a week for proper cleaning and maintenance to be carried out. Shahid Ali, mitigating, said that the business had been in the family for 25 years and had been passed down to the brothers. He said the problems with the building, which the brothers did not own, had since been fixed. Mr Ali added: “Their father was distraught that the business that he built up has now been tarnished by his sons. “This was a business way bigger than they could have envisaged running and they’ve fallen foul of that.” Magistrates made an order banning them from operating a fast food or restaurant business in the future and told them to pay a total of £1,566 in fines and court costs.

and public relations at the variety club - which would later become the Frontier Club - between 1967 and 1974. She was a close friend and confidant of Mr Corrigan and her book tells his life story. 'King of Clubs' will be launched at Batley Town Hall on Friday, March 24, at 11am. Broadcaster and writer Ian Clayton will host the event, at which Maureen will be present to sign copies of the book. All are welcome.

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News In Brief Drug user stole from supermarket BIRSTALL: A drug user stole from a supermarket to fund her habit. Rachel Anderson, 41, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court, where she admitted stealing baby food and detergent worth £50 from Birstall Co-op on December 3. She was monitored entering the store because staff recognised her from previous shoplifting incidents. She admitted that although she did not remember stealing the goods, she did steal to fund her drug habit. Magistrates sentenced Anderson, of Rochester Road, Birstall, to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for a year.

Man threw glass HECKMONDWIKE: A man who threw a glass, resulting in another pub-goer needing stitches to his face, has appeared in court. Jordan Farrell sustained a two-inch gash after he was struck outside the Dandy Lion pub in Heckmondwike on January 21. Gavin Andrews, 41, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. Magistrates sent the case to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing. Andrews, of Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike, will appear there on March 30.

Driver’s lager blunder BATLEY: A man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after he got out of his car with a can of lager in his hand. PCSOs from the Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Police Team were on mobile patrol on Wellington Street when they saw the male driver make a dangerous manoeuvre. He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 146 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – over four times the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Friday March 17, 2017

Gomersal ‘Sisters’ House’ is a lasting link to the Brontes Local historian Mike Popplewell takes readers on another journey into the Bronte connections of North Kirklees... THERE are a handful of names synonymous with the Brontes’ connection to the Spen Valley, like Charlotte’s friends Ellen Nussey and Mary Taylor. But one person more than any actually links them all – and that is Margaret Wooler, their teacher and friend. Margaret was born in Batley in 1792 and, though she lived in many different places during her long life, she died at 52, Lower Lane, Gomersal, in 1885. It is this house for which she is particularly remembered on the Spen Valley Society’s ‘Fame Trail’. Although one of many children, Margaret distinguished herself by establishing her own school, which she moved to various locations like Roe Head and Heald’s House, and she became a close friend of the Bronte fami-

ly, with Charlotte, Anne and Emily all studying and later teaching under her. ‘Miss’ Wooler, as she was known to the Bronte sisters, was a woman of

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But while she was independent in every sense of the word, she spent her last years in the company of two of her sisters in Gomersal. The ‘Sisters’ House’, as it has become known, looks down over an area of parkland that was once a medieval showground and site of horse fairs. As the land falls away toward the base of the Spen Valley, the Pennine hills beyond provide a view that must have been such an exhilarating sight to wake to each morning. It was Dr William Carr who actually owned the house and even he had a connection with the Bronte family, for it was he who had delivered Charlotte’s elder sisters, who died in infancy. Margaret and her sisters, Eliza and Katherine, moved to Gomersal in the late 1870s and though it had been more than 20 years since Charlotte had died, it is probable that the promise made to her widower Arthur Nicholls to ‘always grieve for her’ was fulfilled to the last. Charlotte’s marriage to Arthur Bell Nicholls was not met by universal approval amongst friends

‘independent means’. She was one of 12 children born to Robert Wooler and Sarah Upton at Rouse Mill, the corn mill owned by the prosperous Maltster Robert.

Marathon mission A SALES manager from Liversedge is training to take on the the country’s most famous race. Ian Johnson, 51, will tackle the London Marathon next month to raise money for the disability charity Sense. It will be his first marathon. Ian is running six days a week as part of a gruelling training regime and has set himself a goal of raising £1,500. So far, he has collected more than £800 through sponsorship from family, friends, colleagues and local sports clubs. Ian said: “I’ve been running for over a year now and am very lucky

to live in a beautiful area, which means I can train in the countryside. I’ve been battling a number of injuries and currently have a trapped nerve in my neck but I’m still hoping I’ll be able to complete the marathon in under three hours 45 minutes. “It’s bound to be tough but it’s wonderful to know that with every step I’ll be raising money to help Sense continue its fantastic work supporting children and adults with sensory impairments.” To support Ian, visit his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/Ian-Johnson43.

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and family. In fact, Charlotte’s father Patrick refused to attend the wedding and it was to ‘Miss’ Wooler that she turned to stand by her side at the ceremony and give her away. Because of her frequent re-locations it is not always easy to find Margaret Wooler on the UK census returns, but the sisters are certainly there in the 1881 Gomersal census – albeit misspelt as ‘Wooller’. Margaret (88), Katherine (84) and ‘young’ Eliza (72) were all described as ‘gentlewomen’, and living in the house with them were their 40-year-old unmarried niece Marian Allbutt, listed as a ‘voluntary lady help’, and 27-year-old domestic servant Eliza Hunter. And so it was that the five women lived together until Eliza’s death in the summer of 1884. Katherine then passed away in the November, leaving Margaret, the eldest, to live with her grief alone. On June 6, 1885, Margaret was buried at St Peter’s Church, Birstall, alongside her sisters. She was 93.

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Friday March 17, 2017

News In Brief Fire station day attracts recruits

They are our elected MPs, giving local people a voice in how the country is run. But what do our politicians get up to on a day-to-day basis during their time in parliament? Press reporter JAMES MORRIS recently spent the day with Dewsbury & Mirfield MP Paula Sherriff in the capital, to experience a little bit of life as an MP...

MIRFIELD: An open day at Mirfield Fire Station succeeded in attracting more retained firefighters. Four new recruits could be set to join the ranks. Andrew Coldrick, of West Yorkshire Fire Service, said: “This was the second event we held at Mirfield and overall the interest was very good throughout. “The event has been most successful in raising awareness and attracting potential new firefighters.”

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TRAVELLED to London on the day the Chancellor Philip Hammond announced his first budget, so Westminster was perhaps busier than on a ‘normal’ day. When I met Labour MP Paula Sherriff, she was preparing to meet members of the Kirklees Youth Council, who are visiting parliament for the day. She was joined by Kirklees councillor Baroness Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton), with both politicians talking to the students about their roles. Mrs Pinnock sits in the House of Lords. During the day, there was also a number of events and celebrations to mark International Women’s Day – a particularly important day in Miss Sherriff’s calendar, as she is the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. I was shown around the Houses of Parliament by the Dewsbury MP, who admitted

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Man denies abuse DEWSBURY: A man appeared in court where he denied threatening behaviour. Richard Knowles, 40, was before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court charged with causing Waqas Hussain harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. The offence is said to have taken place in the Dewsbury area on December 6. Knowles, of Wroe Street, Dewsbury, accepts being present at the scene but denies being abusive or aggressive. He will appear before Kirklees magistrates again on May 17 for his trial.

it took some time to get used to her new place of work. “I was like a kid on their first day of school when I started here,” she said. “It does take some getting used to and even now I sometimes take a wrong turning, but the majority of people here are really helpful and show you where to go. “The full-time staff here are very friendly and always point you in the right direction. “We spend a lot of time here – I don’t think a lot of

people realise just how much. Sometimes we can be here until 1am if there is a long debate.” As we walk around the halls and pass through the stunning Westminster Hall and Central Lobby, a number of fellow politicians and workers greet the Dewsbury MP, offering perhaps a friendlier view of politics than that we see in the media. “Inevitably there are going to be some people you get on with better than others,” she said. “There are some Tory MPs who I get on with very well. I don’t necessarily agree with their political views, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like them as people. “In the same respect, I don’t get on with every Labour MP who works here.” Miss Sherriff then had to leave to take part in Prime Minister’s Questions and then the budget announcement.

On leaving the House of Commons she described the budget as “unremarkable”. I was then shown around the small chapel hidden just off Westminster Hall, and it is here where a book of condolence in memory of the murdered Batley & Spen MP Jo Cox is still open. “It is so strange to think that we were here with Jo last year celebrating International Women’s Day and now she isn’t with us,” said Miss Sherriff. “A lot seemed to change when Jo was killed.” Other events were held to mark Women’s Day, including a group photo of all the current sitting women MPs. Miss Sherriff said: “I do love my job. It isn’t for everybody admittedly, as it is very much a life, not just a job. “But it is so rewarding being able to help people and really feel like you are making a difference, even if it isn’t something that seems particularly big.”

Dewsbury burglar is jailed A MAN has been jailed for a year for burgling a flat in Dewsbury. Michael Boddy, 26, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after he was convicted at an earlier date. He had gained entry to the property on Sussex Walk through a window which had previously been boarded up, and the wires to the intruder alarm had been disconnected. The jury heard that two mobile phones, jewellery and cash were taken during the burglary on July 3. He denied the offence and claimed that his fingerprints might have been present from attending parties there in the past. Jailing Boddy, of Hazel Avenue, Chickenley, Judge James Spencer QC told him: “You were convicted on the clearest evidence by the jury of this offence. Burglary is a serious matter.” He added there was no mitigation as Boddy had chosen not to admit what he had done.

Store cash for charities A DEWSBURY supermarket handed over £900 to three local charities nominated by customers. Customers at the Asda store on Mill Street West were given a green token with their shopping over recent months and were asked to choose one of three charities to whom they would like to see money donated. The Downs and Special Friends group received £500, while the Friends of Batley Station and Friends of Staincliffe

Park both received £200. Sharon Kingswood, the community champion at the store, said: “If you would like to nominate a

local good cause, pick up a form off the community board in store or email community_ dewsbury@asda.co.uk.”

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32 guns handed over in Kirklees weapon amnesty By Steve Martyn

The car which crashed into a lorry after being pursued by police

‘Good Samaritan’ helps police catch chase driver made off at speed, leading to a pursuit before he crashed into a lorry in Batley. He then ran off, leaving a passenger in his car. A spokesman for Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team, writing on Facebook, said: “After a lengthy foot pursuit over garden fences and walls a very tired driver was arrested, just before passing out from exhaustion. “The driver was initially detained by a member of the public who had seen officers chasing and had jumped out of his “We have advertised with The vehicle to assist.” Press newspaper from the very Both the driver beginning and are pleased to and passenger were arrested for offences say we have NEVER been including failing to dissatisfied with their customer stop, dangerous driving, possession with service or the response we intent to supply have had from our adverts. Class A drugs and Our customers can pick up driving document offences. their copy of The Press from Police have since our shop and they go so quickly thanked the man who helped and and are very popular.” added they had to clean the police car, after one of the suspects was sick in the back.

A GOOD Samaritan helped police officers catch a suspected drug dealer. Police were chasing the suspect on foot when a member of the public got out of his car and helped them. The pursuit began in Dewsbury after officers spotted a car with the occupant believed to be in the middle of a drugs deal. The driver spotted police and

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MORE guns were handed in to Kirklees police during a two-week weapons amnesty than in any other part of West Yorkshire. Police stations in Dewsbury and Huddersfield took in guns and knives as part of the annual West Yorkshire Police weapons surrender. Some 32 guns were handed in to officers across Kirklees, exceeding those in other police divisions, including Bradford and Leeds. There were also 34 other weapons surrendered – mainly knives – which was second only to Bradford. Overall, a total of 110 guns and 158 weapons were handed in across West Yorkshire. Police and crime commissioner Mark BurnsWilliamson said: “This is very positive and demon-

Asst Chief Constable Angela Williams with surrendered weapons strates just how valuable giving people the opportunity to hand in weapons is. “The weapons will now be disposed of safely, taking away any chance of them ever being used to commit a crime or ruin anyone’s life in the future.” Following the campaign, charity Crimestoppers is reminding people to report any information they might have on weapons. Regional manager

Gemma Wilson said: “People who have illegal guns and weapons have had the opportunity to surrender those items and help keep the streets of West Yorkshire safe. “Now we want to know who still has access to these weapons, where they are and what they are being used for. “Crimestoppers is here for you and we need you to help us make West

Yorkshire streets safe. “By contacting us anonymously, a single piece of information can make a huge difference.” West Yorkshire Police temporary Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams added: “We have had a good response to this year’s weapons surrender. It removes the potential for those weapons to get into the wrong hands on the streets of West Yorkshire and cause injury or even worse. “We also want to remove those who involve themselves in the illegal use of weapons from our local communities, which is why it is important that we continue to work with public and partners to identify, arrest and convict anyone who is involved in crime. “I would encourage anyone with information to contact Crimestopperson 0800 555111.

Spotlight on child sexual exploitation POLICE in Dewsbury hosted an awareness day to highlight the dangers of child sexual exploitation. The event was held at the town’s new fire station alongside children’s charity Barnardo’s, Kirklees Social Services and representatives from the local mosque. Tackling child sexual exploitation is a top priority for West Yorkshire Police. The force is working with a number of partner agencies to raise awareness in communities. Sergeant Chris Piggin, of Kirklees District Police, said: “We wanted to hold this event to help to raise awareness about this abhorrent crime and offer support and advice to the community on how we can tackle this issue

together. We have a dedicated safeguarding unit in Kirklees, which has specialist officers trained to deal with child sexual exploitation and will always put the needs of the victim first. “All reports of child sexual exploitation will be taken seriously and dealt with sensitively.

“We also want to reassure these young people that we are here to listen if they have concerns or any questions. “Any young person can become a victim of child sexual exploitation and no one will be judged or blamed for anything that has happened.” The newest addition to the

safeguarding unit is PC Chris Birkenshaw, who has taken up the role of child sexual exploitation perpetrator manager. His role will be to visit those identified through crimes and intelligence, to educate and deter those involved or suspected of this type of offence.

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The court heard he was already under a community order for racially aggravated public disorder involving the same victims. Walshaw had made threats against the Pitts family after he blamed them for calling the fire brigade to a bonfire

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party in November 2015 near flats on Sykes Close, Batley. Then on June 1 last year, he was heard making threats towards the same family after chasing one man away from his girlfriend’s flat. A window was broken at his girlfriend’s home later that night and hours later Walshaw was seen smashing the window of a Ford Fiesta and setting it alight. He then targeted another car associated with the same family on June 3. Craig Sutcliffe, representing Walshaw, said he and his girlfriend had also suffered abuse and threats in the feud and when the window was broken he felt aggrieved. He said that his client had not targeted places where he thought people might be present. Walshaw admitted two charges of arson Windows and two of affray.

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Back row: Mark Gledhill, Samantha Gilbert, Nicola FInch, Lucy Tissiman, Steve Hirst, James Morris. Front: David Bentley, Adele Latham, Janet Black and Danny Lockwood And not forgetting temporary absentees David Miller, Margaret Ellis and Craig Moore (with apologies to Grizzly Adams)

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Friday March 17, 2017

The birth of a rather NUMBER of people were instrumental in the creation of The Press and it took some strange twists of circumstance to change the news landscape of the Heavy Woollen and Spen Valley districts. In 1999 Danny Lockwood had been editor-in-chief of The Reporter Group for six years and the acting managing director during a year when the company made a record-breaking £1m profit on revenues of £3.4m. “I didn’t even get a bonus, and

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my salary was only £28,000 a year,” laughs Lockwood. “I remember my regional MD Steve Auckland asking me to ‘babysit’ a brand-new MD, a young accountant from the Midlands. Steve’s a decent bloke and even though he subsequently got the push, he’s done alright for himself. Anyway, I told him where to shove it.” Lockwood was offered the editorship of a group of papers based in the Cotswolds, with titles as far afield as Bath and Bristol. “Mrs Lockwood loved the idea of that,” he explains. “You can see why. Unfortunately the new group was in the middle of massive changes. I could see disaster looming and warned my new boss but he pushed ahead anyway. Sure enough it was a right ball of wax, he lost his job and his replacement and I didn’t see eye to eye. There went the wife’s thatched cottage!” After spells as a consultant on a national sports newspaper and golf magazine, the chief executive of RIM (Regional Independent Media – which then owned The Reporter) asked Lockwood to return and troubleshoot a publishing group Dewsbury based in Lancaster and Morecambe.

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THEY’RE HERE! The first edition of The Press “That’s a lovely part of the world and probably the happiest time I’ve had in editing,” he adds. “I had a great team and a great boss, we turned the business around and won lots of awards, but after 18 months I’d had enough of commuting to Lancaster from Dewsbury. “I’d been writing senior editorial training programmes for the group which I was due to deliver, but I’d been doing my own training and consultancy work as well, so I decided the time was ripe to go out on my own. “The day I left, RIM cancelled all of my courses and instructed managers not to use my services. I thought, ‘how bloody ungrateful – what am I going to do with these Apple Macs I’ve invested in?’ That didn’t take long to work out.

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2014

One of the founder owners Martin Shaw – a ‘great newsman’ arrives at our office in Victoria Road “I’d pretty much written the business plans for The Reporter Group since 1993. I knew their strengths, their weaknesses, and I knew they were holding local advertisers to ransom with their prices. So I thought ‘sod ‘em, let’s give them a run for their money’.” Former Reporter Group and Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Martin Shaw, from Ossett, was running the Huddersfield-based West Riding News & Sport Agency when he got a whiff of Lockwood’s plans. “Martin came knocking at

my door and said he had some money to invest. He’s one of the very best newsmen I’ve ever met, so I didn’t hesitate. I’d been looking around for possible backers, and one or two local businessmen sniffed around but wouldn’t commit. “We’ll be forever grateful to the late Jeffrey Burrows, one of this valley’s great businessmen, who gave us a peppercorn rent on empty mill offices he owned opposite his HSL showroom in Bradford Road. That was just the boost me and Martin needed. “I’d convinced Janet Black,

a former colleague from The Reporter, to come join us, and that was pretty much that. The very first edition actually made a profit – when we finally got it out. “I was working round the clock but hit some production problems and it was another old Reporter boss of mine, ex-MD Mark Ashley, who drove over from Wigan where he had his own independent newspaper, to help sort it out. “It was late on Friday when we finally got our paper printed on the Huddersfield Examiner’s presses. We’d recruited friends and family to help us run the paper around the district and I remember you couldn’t move for Reporter personnel, and dozens of promotions staff from their head office at Leeds out and about pushing their papers – and visiting newsagents, covering our copies up and generally bad-mouthing us. “I’d like to say that’s changed over the years – they still bad mouth us, but they’ve no one left actually working in the district. “My policy, my message to our staff, has always just been to do the best we can, to give the best, fairest service we can, and to trust our readers and advertisers to do the rest. And 15 long but very rewarding years on, they still are!”

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since – tackling the scourge of the criminal drugs gangs that were swamping the district with heroin. Publisher Danny Lockwood explains what was behind the newspaper’s investigations. “I lost my best friend from Wheelwright 6th Form College, Michael Preston, to a heroin overdose in the mid-90s. “Around the time we started The Press I was becoming more and more aware of other friends and acquaintances who had lost sons and daughters and even grandchildren to this killer. “And when I say ‘lost’ I don’t just mean they became addicts. I mean they died from overdoses. Yet so far as the local police were concerned there wasn’t Battye Street, Fieldhead Lane, a problem. No one Dewsbury, WF13 1PH Batley, WF17 9BH was talking about it. “All these years on it has finally been *Subject to T&C’s acknowledged why

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The Press took a huge risk by calling this Staincliffe flat a drugs den that should be – not so much here in Kirklees, but across the country on a wider basis, in Rochdale and Rotherham particularly. “There it was sexual abuse of young girls that was being covered up, ignored, specifically because of which community was doing it. “The same was here in Dewsbury and Batley. No one wanted to provoke confrontation with the Muslim community that was behind the wholesale import of industrial

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of our towns From page 20 levels of heroin. Young people’s lives were deemed an acceptable price to pay by the authorities. “I was told by a director of the drugs charity Lifeline that we had a worse heroin problem than inner city London, Liverpool and Glasgow, the main difference being that Dewsbury’s addicts were generally five years younger. “That was shocking. But no one was doing anything about it because of who was doing it. “Taking a tough approach to these issues brought us into direct conflict with not just the dealers and their financial overlords, but even the police at times. “At one point in 2003 or 2004 we provided police with details of the drug dealing activities based at the Hot Spot Snooker Centre in Batley. “When four men were eventually sent to prison in 2011 the police said it was the conclusion of a painstaking two year investigation. What had they been doing for the other five or so years?” After reports of a council flat being used as a drug den on Manor Way in Staincliffe, and violent incidents which saw a car fire-bombed and the flat’s windows all put through, Lockwood found himself inside the lair of

dealer Yunus Shaikh. Shaikh denied any wrongdoing but the sight of an emaciated young local girl, Sheena Kelly, under Shaikh’s control and in the advanced stages of heroin addiction, prompted The Press to risk ruin by publishing the story. “I discovered the police

‘It isn’t about the colour or the creed, it’s about the crime’ were well aware of what was going on there – it appeared that the community drugs team which has since been disbanded were merely harvesting the lower level buyers and pushers, keeping their arrest numbers up, while mayhem reigned on the estate.

“The week we ran that story we also had an inquest in the paper for a young man who lived nearby, another heroin death. I could see that Sheena Kelly wouldn’t be far behind.” The story spurred police into action, especially after councillor, former Mayor and Staincliffe woman the late Margaret Bates got involved. After charges and prison sentences were handed down, Sheena Kelly wrote to the newspaper from New Hall women’s prison in Flockton, saying that the intervention had saved her life. “I don’t want people to think there’s anything particularly courageous or noble about these types of stories,” added Lockwood. “It’s what newspapers should do, whether they are local like ours, or daily regional titles. “When communities are living in fear, when people feel that no one is on their side, and when real damage is being done to ordinary lives, it’s the duty of any selfrespecting newspaper to follow where the story leads. “I’ve lost count of the personal attacks accusing me and the paper of being racist, but that’s just diversionary rubbish from people grabbing a lazy excuse to criticise. “I’ve always said the same thing – it isn’t about the colour or the creed, it’s about the crime.”

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ThePress

What the politicians say... “Congratulations to The Press on 15 years of cutting-edge journalism. Best wishes for the next 15!” Coun Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) “On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of The Press, I extend my best wishes to its staff. Local businesses which employ local people should be encouraged by our community, and I therefore congratulate The Press on reaching this milestone.” Tracy Brabin MP, (Lab, Batley & Spen) “The Press has brought a radical edge reporting local news and been a refreshing challenge to Kirklees Council and those in other areas of Authority. Congratulations on reaching 15 and I look forward to you continuing to being a strong voice for North Kirklees in the years to come.” Coun Rob Light (Con, Birstall & Birkenshaw) “Local newspapers play a valuable role in our communities. I’ve been glad to see that, despite the challenges all local papers face - the rise of internet news and falling advertising revenues - The Press has succeeded in maintaining a strong focus on North Kirklees and the distinct towns and villages in our district.” Paula Sherriff MP, (Lab, Dewsbury)

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Walking a legal ISKING the wrath of the authorities and even being hauled before a judge is one of the regular hazards of being a newspaper editor or publisher. David Bentley joined The Press in 2002 and became editor in 2011, replacing one of the newspaper’s founders Martin Shaw, now a senior journalist at the Huddersfield Examiner. David, 35, who is married and lives in Cleckheaton, joined the newspaper from Sports Publications in his home town where he worked on the magazine National Club Golfer. He says that working on some of the news stories that ‘the boss’ brings in can have its moments. “As editor it is my call ultimately about what goes in the paper and yes, I do overrule the boss at times. “I think he sometimes tries to sneak something past me in Ed Lines and I have to tell him ‘no’. It makes for interesting debates, but it’s my name over the door.” Indeed, because the editor is strictly speaking responsible for any defamation – libel – that might be printed, it is a serious responsibility. An editor can personally be found liable, quite beyond the realm of the newspaper itself. “Once or twice we’ve had the situation where I haven’t been totally comfortable with something in a story and you really do have to make a judgment call. At that point if Danny (Lockwood) is convinced we should go with it, he says he’ll accept my resignation as editor at 5pm on a Thursday and I can have the job back on Monday if the roof doesn’t cave in with legal letters!”

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Former MP Shahid Malik As a former chairman of the Yorkshire Guild of Editors and a director of the National Guild of Editors who once made an industry ‘top 10’ for successfully challenging court orders, Lockwood has literally got – and worn – the proverbial teeshirt after 39 years in journalism. Not every judgment call has gone smoothly, however. After unpleasant scenes on voting day in Orchard Street, Savile Town, in 2006, when the police had to be called, both The Press and Dewsbury Reporter carried a letter from beaten Conservative council candidate Jonathan Scott. Scott described the threats and intimidation he received, plus behaviour at the polling station that he claimed broke the law. He also referred to the town’s Labour MP Shahid Malik being present. Although no public retraction was

printed by the Reporter, Malik took legal action solely against The Press, Lockwood as the then editor, and Scott. In November 2007 there followed a two week libel trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. “I won’t pretend that wasn’t a nightmare,” said Lockwood. “It cost the directors about £90,000 just to get the case to court. Malik was being represented for free by a left wing lawyer who had been knighted by Tony Blair.” The trial ended in deadlock with a hung jury, unable to even decide if the words Malik complained about, written by Scott, were libellous at all. Judge David Eady ordered a threeweek retrial the following year, after which Lockwood and Malik sat down, shook hands and agreed a joint statement putting the matter to bed. “You’d like to think that was that,” added Lockwood. “Far from it. Because we were all completely skint our lawyers did the trial on a Conditional Fee Arrangement like Malik’s. If they won they doubled their costs from the other side. “But when it was effectively a score draw and we settled things, they claimed it was a victory and sued me and Jonathan Scott for £120,000. That was another year of agonies, this time with us having to fight the case at the High Court in Leeds ourselves.” A judge threw out the lawyers’ claim. N ANOTHER occasion Judge Alastair McCallum halted a trial at Leeds Crown Court and summoned Lockwood to appear on

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Friday March 17, 2017

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ThePress

The family of Lee Massey – his brother Dave, exwife Lisa and mum Margaret, outside LGI where he was clinging to life

From previous page allegations of contempt of court, which carries a prison sentence. A weekend of violence in Ravensthorpe culminated in a large gang of Iraqi asylum seekers attacking a group of local men as they went into the Royal pub in Huddersfield Road, near its junction with North Road. When a brawl erupted one of the men, Mohsen Sadiq, drove a car directly at Lee Massey, leaving him with massive injuries and on a life support system. When the case finally came to trial more than a year later, nine of Sadiq’s accomplices were acquitted over identification evidence. The Press reported the fury of the Massey family and that of two other victims Danny and Darren Lee, who received serious stab wounds in the attack. Lockwood was summoned to court and accused by Justice McCallum of prejudicing the ongoing case against Mohsen Sadiq. “Indignant judges aren’t a pretty sight, and Mr McCallum was pretty much puce with rage,” said Lockwood. “He asked why he shouldn’t land me with the bill for having to abandon the trial. I think I was supposed to grovel and apologise, but that would suggest I didn’t know what we were doing. “The fact was that you couldn’t get a juror from our circulation area anyway, because the case had had so much publicity and it had taken the police so long to make any arrests. “I argued that whether the judge moved it to Bradford or not was moot, because we don’t circulate in either area. I said that, with respect, I didn’t feel we were in contempt.” Judge McCallum reported the editor to the Attorney General and staged a new trial in Bradford, where Sadiq was found guilty and jailed for 12 years. So far, The Press hasn’t received a bill from the Attorney General for the reputed £5million cost of the two trials.

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Award-winning news N 2005/2006 The Press won a raft of industry honours. Besides being named the Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper of the Year, it won the highest accolade from the UK Newspaper Society as free Weekly Newspaper of the Year for Yorkshire, the North-East and North-West. The paper was also shortlisted for a national award. Publisher Danny Lockwood thinks it’s the serious approach to news that sets The Press apart. “It helps obviously that we are in a very ‘newsy’ area,” he said. “People are understandably sick and tired of hearing about terror suspects and arrests, the whole Karen Matthews saga, and a wide range of other hot topics and issues that might not reflect well on the town or district. “Ignoring these as stories doesn’t make them go away however. If a journalist becomes aware of fraud and corruption and the people who should be tackling it not only aren’t, but are effectively encouraging it, then you have to make a decision – do we turn away, or do we get stuck in? “Our approach has always been the latter. I don’t think I could sleep at night if we walked away from a story that absolutely deserves to be exposed. Some

editors, sadly, can only sleep at night if they roundly ignore anything remotely smelling of trouble.” Coming into conflict with the authorities is a hazard of the job, as the corrupt local elections of 2012 were to prove. Dewsbury has been a hotbed of electoral fraud allegations for 20 years. Allegations of intimida-

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tion at the polling station have been commonplace, while abuse of the postal voting system has been endemic. In 2012, Labour candidate Abdul Patel ousted long serving and popular Tory Khizar Iqbal. During the campaign Mr Patel went door-to-door collecting postal votes, including one from Mrs Jean Wood. Mrs Wood told local sub-postmaster Patel that she wasn’t voting for him but he convinced her to hand over her postal vote anyway. Kirklees never received it. Members of Coun Patel’s family were investigated by police after a woman complained that she was being coerced. After Kirklees Police despatched a Muslim liaison officer to speak to the woman she destroyed the ballot paper and backed down. That notwithstanding, three people did receive police cautions – but the police refused to make their identities public. After The Press started investigating the case, it emerged that Coun Patel was running a pri-

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vate Muslim burial ground with former Batley Labour councillor Ghulam Maniyar. The men did not have a burial register, had never registered as either a company or charity, had no insurance, and even worse owed Kirklees tens of thousands of pounds in back rent. Bills sent by Kirklees were simply ignored and a later internal investigation found that the debts weren’t pursued because of “cultural sensitivities”. A meeting of local mosque leaders in whose name Patel and Maniyar were operating was reportedly told that they had more than £300,000 in the bank. Despite The Press submitting Freedom of Information requests, Kirklees Council refused to disclose whether or not Patel and Maniyar ever repaid the debts estimated as high as £50,000, citing “commercial confidentiality”. NVESTIGATIONS into that case brought the newspaper into direct conflict with the authorities again after we uncovered a network of fake community groups registered out of the Taleem Training and Community Centre which had raked in fortunes in public funds. Khalid Aziz, chairman of the Savile Town Community Association (the same body that runs the Taleem Centre) and its ex-treasurer and self-titled fundraiser Sajid Mahmood purported to be professional

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ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

A great night for The Press gang at the Newspaper Society Awards in 2006 ... perhaps we should start entering the them again!

fundraisers and their Comdel website boasted of getting sums between £5,000 to £360,000. Indeed Mr Aziz sponsored a cricket team and got it a £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to create a website amongst other things. It didn’t have a website. The men were also involved in the Taleem Youth Forum, a youth group based at the centre which Kirklees Council (and others) funded to sums of well over £100,000. When The Press approached Aziz, Mahmood and Taleem Centre manager Lubsir Latif, they could not agree who ran the group, and whether it had met in recent months or even years. The Big Lottery Fund declined Freedom of Information requests for the identities of people behind such groups as the Shawcross Women’s Forum, Westtown Women’s Forum, Thornhill Parents Forum, Dewsbury Drugs Forum and others, all of which received grants in the region of £10,000 and all of which were registered at the Taleem Training and Community Centre in Savile Town. The ‘Shawcross’ (sic) group, run by Hafeeza Razzak purported to promote healthy lifestyles for Muslim women. Its website featured pictures of semi naked white women and details of fitness classes held at Yorkshire House in South Street, Dewsbury – currently being developed into flats by its owner, Tahir ‘Terry’ Zaman. Despite The Press being unable to find anyone belonging to these groups, the Big Lottery Fund gave them a clean bill of health.

When The Press flagged up a number of discrepancies in the accounts and administration of the Taleem Centre and its management group, Kirklees appointed a senior officer to overhaul their accounts procedures and file a report. The officer sent his final report to the Savile Town committee for checking and approval before filing it to council directors!

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ThePress

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Sir David Jason reveals all to me about new exclusive book deal Shove off... A MAN and wife are fast asleep when they hear a knock at the door. The man rolls over and checks the time. It’s 3.30am, so he decides to ignore it. However the knocking persists, so the wife persuades her husband to answer it. He leans out the window and shouts: “What do you want?” A voice replies: “Can you give me a push?” “No chance, it’s four in the morning,” and with that he shuts the window. When he explains to his wife what the guy wanted, she says: “Wait a minute, remember that time it was two in the morning, pouring with rain, we had the kids in the back and our car broke down? Go and give him a hand.” With that, he gets dressed and goes outside. “Do you still want a push?” he shouts. “Yes,” came the reply. “Where are you? I can’t see you?” “Over here on the swings.”

IR DAVID JASON is to release a second autobiography following the success of 2013’s My Life, which has sold more than half a million copies to date. My Lives will be released in October this year, focusing on his much-loved television roles. He’ll tell us about backstage pranks which were funnier than the final episodes, and how he created his on-screen chemistry with other actors such as Nicholas Lyndhurst. He said: “Ann, people ask me so many questions about shows, so that got me thinking it would be great for a book.”

EASTENDERS’ Shane Richie is coming back to ITV show Benidorm when series 10 starts filming in the Spanish resort soon – and he’ll be joined by comedy duo Hale & Pace. Shane reveals: “I am thrilled as comedy has always been at the heart of me, and I love the show. It’s like a Carry On film on TV.” THE BBC is to broadcast a new documentary series about the history of opera, in collaboration with the Royal Opera House. Presenter Lucy Worsley tells me: “It’s an honour to film inside such a splendid opera house and bring opera out into the open. I really think people will enjoy the whole series as it’s of our time, in essence.” COULD Les and Janice Battersby be returning to Weatherfield? That’s from actress Jane Danson, who let slip in an interview that she was “hopeful as then we would have the full family back, and I do think it makes sense, and fans want it.” She added: “Why not? People do move away and then return, but there is an element of risk also...” THE ONE SHOW host Alex Jones has revealed that she took part in a Welsh nationalist student demonstration in Aberystwyth in 1995 during which eggs were thrown at the Queen’s car. This has not gone down well with BBC bosses, who despite her being on maternity leave want ‘a serious word with her’ about this revelation. BIG HEADS is yet another show hosted by Jason Manford. It’s a new primetime physical game show that sees members of the public donning enormous celebrity heads, and competing in a series of fun physical games in front of a live studio audience. Jason said: “It has all the hallmarks of a hit show.”

Mine’s bigger Sir David Jason and Ann EMMERDALE’S Lucy Pargeter tells me that playing Chas in the show is great, but: “You do wonder what is next for her, because so much as happened and yet they keep finding things that leave you shrieking with laughter at her exploits. I don’t want her to be boring though, that would be the end for me. Keep it fresh!” SATURDAY Night Takeaway with Ant & Dec may be going to Disney World for the final episode, but I can reveal this is simply because Disney are funding huge parts of the show. They will benefit from the exposure to millions of British homes, and hope that lots of us will then visit the attraction in Florida. A MUSICAL based on the life of Cilla Black is in the pipeline, and a nationwide hunt is on for an unknown actor to play the leading role. Produced by Bill Kenwright, the musical is based on the ITV drama which starred Sheridan Smith. Bill tells me: “I think her background will surprise many people, and Cilla herself was keen for this project to take off, so it is nice to make it happen.” DOWNTON Abbey’s Tom Cullen is the latest star set to join the cast of new BBC drama Gunpowder. Tom, best known for his role as Lady Mary’s unsuccessful suitor Viscount Gillingham in Downton, will play scheming villain Guy Fawkes in the new three-part drama, which follows the build-up to the notorious Gunpowder Plot intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. GARY BARLOW has predicted his Let It Shine winners could be bigger than Take

Maycon Pictures That, after the band Five to Five triumphed in the BBC talent search recently. Barlow, 46, commented: “My email is full of offers for these guys, I do think they will have a big career and I am hoping good things will happen for them.” THE OLD Coronation Street set is now derelict and partly destroyed. Sold by Granada TV for millions and soon to be turned into flats, a source tells me: “It’s such a shame as it holds a lot of memories for many people who worked there, and of course the millions of fans who have enjoyed the show for years.” I’M A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here winner Scarlett Moffatt has been given a primetime TV show following her stint co-hosting Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Scarlett, who found fame sitting on a sofa commenting on TV shows, is now being hailed as a ‘star’ by Channel Four. DAME Diana Rigg is to join ITV’s royal drama Victoria, playing the Duchess of Buccleuch. Best known for her 1960s TV roles in The Avengers, Diana plays the young Queen’s new Mistress of the Robes, who was said to be renowned for speaking her mind. Dame Diana tells me: “It’s a juicy role and that is all one can ask for as an actress, plus she was very naughty, which is also a wonderful gift.” BUFFY the Vampire Slayer star Anthony Head has put himself in the running to be the next Doctor Who. Admitting he would not turn down the job, he said: ‘I think the role and the show are great, and yes if someone asked me, why not? But no-one has asked...”

A TEXAN lands in Sydney, and is picked up by a taxi. After requesting a tour of the city, he starts into a tirade about the small-town airport and how in Texas they have larger runways on their ranches. They are soon crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the man is further unimpressed: “I have a duck pond bigger that that harbour, and an ornamental bridge to span it that makes this look like a toy.” The Sydney-Newcastle expressway also gets his scorn: “Is this a road, or a track?” So when a kangaroo jumped out in front of the cab, causing the sudden and severe application of the brakes, the driver couldn’t help himself ... “Bloody grasshoppers!”

Talk is cheap A BATLEY bloke and his mate from Dewsbury went to a restaurant. After a hearty meal the waitress came by with the inevitable bill. To the amazement of all, the Dewsbury man was heard to say: “I’ll pay for it!”, and he actually did. The next morning’s edition of The Press carried the story: “Batley ventriloquist found murdered in alley”.

Bigger problem IT’S the time of the Old West. A citizen of the town comes running into the saloon and screams: “Big Bad Bart is coming! Big Bad Bart is coming! We gotta get outta town!” Everyone gets up in a hurry and takes off as fast as they can, including the saloonkeeper, who when hopping over the bar slips on a beer and knocks himself unconscious. When he comes to, he makes his way outside to see the biggest, meanest man he’s ever seen riding down the centre of the town on two buffaloes, whipping them with a rattlesnake, screaming: “Giddyup! Let’s go, come on.” He makes his way over to the saloonkeeper, dismounts, and enters the saloon. Breaking both doors off the hinges while entering, he walks up to the bar, slams his fist down, breaking the bar in half and hollers: “Gimme some beer in a gallon jug.” After the saloonkeeper hands him the jug, he watches as the man drinks it in three seconds flat. When he’s done with his drink, the man turns around to walk out the door. The saloonkeeper couldn’t believe his eyes and wanted to see him do it again. He asks him: “Don’t you want another beer?” The man turns around and says: “Heck no, Big Bad Bart is coming! I gotta get outta town!”

Parrot price hike A MAN walks into a pet shop and says he

wants to buy a parrot. “Certainly,” says the owner, “I have African Greys in stock. Those in the bottom row of cages are £100 each and those in the top row of cages are £150 a month.” “Why is there such a difference in the price?” asks the man. “Because,” says the pet shop owner, “the parrots in the top cages are on higher perches.”

Not a chance THE SEVEN dwarfs went off to work in the mine one day while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their lunch. However, when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches she found there had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarves. Tearfully she yelled into the mine entrance: “Hello – is anyone there? Can anyone hear me?” A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine: “Dewsbury Rams will win Super League... “Thank God!” said Snow White, “at least Dopey’s still alive!”

Coast’s clear THIS guy sticks his head into a barber shop and asks: “How long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looks around the shop and says: “About two hours.” The guy leaves. A few days later the same guy sticks his head in the door and asks: “How long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looks around at shop full of customers and says: “About two hours.” The guy leaves. A week later the same guy sticks his head in the shop and asks: “How long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looks around the shop and says: “About an hour and a half.” The guy leaves. The barber looks over at a friend in the shop and says: “Hey, Bill, follow that guy and see where he goes.” In a little while, Bill comes back into the shop laughing hysterically. The barber asks: “Bill, where did he go when he left here?” Bill looked up and said: “To your house.”

Quickies WHAT’S worse than raining cats and dogs? Hailing taxis. I ALWAYS wanted to be a household name, so I’ve changed mine to 34 Rose Cottage. HOW many surrealists does it take to screw in a light bulb? A fish. THE Heavy Woollen District Clairvoyant Society has cancelled today’s meeting due to unforeseen circumstances.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US... “Batley IDLC have been advertising and promoting events with The Press for some years. We have a PERSONAL CONTACT which makes the process of placing our adverts simple and easy. Not to mention the cost against other competitors. We would definitely RECOMMEND.” Andrew Murphy Batley Nash Club Secretary

ThePress

Friday March 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 MARCH 18 BIRKENSAW CIRCULAR Meet at 10.30am at St Paul’s Church, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw (BD11 2DR) 3.7 miles – leisurely Contact: Mike Church Tel: 07776 077289

Players’ musical treat on until Sunday

Priestley classic at the Artspace

HECKMONDWIKE PLAYERS’ production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved musical ‘The King and I’ runs until Sunday March 19. The show – at Cleckheaton Town Hall – includes such memorable songs as ‘Hello Young Lovers’, ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘We Kiss in the Shadows’. Tickets priced from £12 (£10 concessions) are available from Cleckheaton Town Hall, Heckmondwike Electricals (07840 488036) or online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls.

DEWSBURY Arts Group’s riveting JB Priestley play ‘Time and the Conways’ runs until tomorrow evening (Sat). Time and the Conways is set in 1919, when the Conways are celebrating the end of the war and looking forward to a future of fame, prosperity and fulfilled dreams. Fast forward and we see a vision of that future – 19 years on. Returning back to 1919, we see how the seeds of their downfall were being sown even then. The play runs at the Artspace, on Lower Peel Street, off Bradford Road, Dewsbury until Saturday March 18 at 7.30pm. Book online at www.dewsburyarts group.info or call 03336 663366.

A walkers’ social DEWSBURY and District Rambling Club is holding a social evening and buffet supper tomorrow night (Sat). Everyone is welcome from 7pm at Ossett Community Centre. Tickets can be obtained from Joyce Bradshaw. A walk is planned for Sunday March 19 in the East Morton area. Please meet Margaret Mitchell at 9am at the Wellington Road car park in Dewsbury. A walk is also planned for Wednesday March 22 in the Emley area. Park on the roadside near the church in Emley and meet the leader Marjorie Hampshire at 10.30am.

Supper of sausages! A FUNDRAISER for the RNLI is to be held at the Old Colonial pub in Mirfield tomorrow (Sat). Organised by the Mirfield Lifeboat Committee, the SOS (Supper of Sausages) evening will consist of a quiz followed by a specially-themed supper, with all manner of sausages provided by Haigh's Farm Shop. Tickets for the event, which starts at 8.15pm, will cost £5 including supper, with all proceeds to the RNLI. For more information ring 01924 496920.

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Ad-libbing the laughs DEWSBURY Arts Group stalwart Richard Brook is putting on an improvised comedy show next weekend to help raise cash for the NSPCC. Richard has signed up to run the London Marathon in April and has the challenge of raising over £2,000 so he has a place in the race. “I had run a bit in the past but nothing over 5km,” he said. “After working with the NSPCC last year I decided to apply for one of their places but I never expected to get in ... it was all a bit of a shock to be honest.”

He quickly started a training plan to get into shape, and after months of running he’s starting to see the light. To help meet his fundraising goal, he’s got some of his theatre chums together and devised a comedy show. Called ‘Whose Show Is It Anyway?’, it comprises improvisation and spontaneous comedy. Richard and his friends will be given suggestions by the audience and have to improvise around several scenarios to comic effect. The show will be performed

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Saturday 1st April 7.30pm - 11.30pm

Tickets £5.00 www.facebook.com/AndyChapmansFund/ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/AndyChapman @AndyChapmanFund

L to R: Chris Fletcher, Richard Brook, Hugh Raine, Lucie Raine, Kat Brook on Saturday March 25 and Sunday 26 at Dewsbury Art Group’s Artspace venue on Lower Peel Street. Tickets are priced £9 and

THE LATEST show from a waterways theatre company is a hike through the history of hostelling – with a stop in Dewsbury. Now in their 46th year, Mikron Theatre Company bring their newest show, Best Foot Forward to The Leggers Inn at Savile Town Wharf on Tuesday March 28. Always a favourite with audiences, they tell energetic, fresh and original tales of our national institutions and the social histories of everyday people. And this year it’s the turn of YHA (Youth Hostelling Association) to get the Mikron treatment. Best Foot Forward will be performed at The Leggers Inn, Savile Town Wharf, Mill Street East, Dewsbury, on Tuesday March 28 at 7.30pm. No tickets are required, and a cash collection will be taken after the show. For more information call the Leggers on 01924 502846.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT US... “We are very IMPRESSED with the amount of work generated from this local paper Its also nice to deal with friendly, HELPFUL people….Thank you” Gary Heginbottom Artisan Fireplaces

available at www.dewsburyarts group.info or by calling 03336 663366. All proceeds will go to the NSPCC.

C&W fundraiser STAINCLIFFE Social Club is hosting a special country and western night to raise money for a local man’s vital treatment. Members at the club, on Halifax Road, will be moseying on down on Saturday April 1 for great country music, a raffle, games and an auction. The night is in aid of Andy Chapman, who needs life-saving cancer treatment in Germany. Originally from Dewsbury and now of Horbury, Andy was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma – cancer of the bile duct – in February 2015 and has begun treatment at the Hallwang Clinic, located in Dornstetten, which offers a different course of treatment to that available on the NHS in Britain. The Chapman family are footing the bill for the treatment themselves and a number of fundraising events have been held in recent weeks. At Staincliffe Social Club’s country and western night there will also be a pie and pea supper and DJ Bob Mumford playing top C&W hits from the likes of Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Shania Twain. Running from 7.30pm to 11.30pm, tickets priced £5 are available from the club, or on the door. All are welcome.

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Friday March 17, 2017

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Alterations

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Useful Numbers Citizen’s Advice Dewsbury Tel 01924 487860 Kirklees Council Switchboard Tel 01484 221000 Police (non emergency) Tel 101

Carpet & Flooring

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22 Blacker Rd, Birkby, Hudds 01484 513322 /

077150 55115

Business For Sale

Established Mirfield garden business for sale. All equipment, vehicle and safe lock up included. For further details contact

0749 4271517

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CLEANINGSPECIALISTS

Quality local butcher — see in shop for special offers

Why not come to Metcalfe’s & try our famous, award-winning pies?

128 Huddersfield Road, Mirfield Tel: 01924 492185

28 Northgate, Cleckheaton Tel: 01274 874373

Call Tim Riordan on

01924 490241 or 07770 462239

The Area’s Biggest and Best Car Boot Sale every Sunday at Dewsbury Rams, Owl Lane, Dewsbury OPEN AS USUAL DURING GROUND DEVELOPMENT WORK Price £12 per car, opens at 6.00am, ring 01924 465489 for further details

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Care Homes

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Email: tim@calderclean.co.uk www.calderclean.co.uk

Car Boot Sale

MPs Batley & Spen – Tracy Brabin Redbrick Mill, 218 Bradford Road, Batley, WF17 6JF Tel 07709 768901 Dewsbury & Mirfield – Paula Sherriff The Old Dewsbury Reporter Building Tel 01924 565450

Care At Home

AERIALS Sky / Freesat / Freeview / Multiroom

Health Services NHS advice (urgent but non emergency) Tel 111 Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) Tel 01924 542972. Walk in centre A&E, Dewsbury & District Hospital. Tel 01924 542695

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ANYTHING ELECTRICAL

ALARMS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS Electrical Cookers Repaired Supplied & Fitted, No Job Too Small, 35 Years Experience, Same Day Service Available Ring Batley:

SALE

Tel: 01274 681545

Electrical

0113 285 4563 or 07801 063911

VERTICAL BLINDS

BUFFET £12.95 Specialist in large group bookings OPEN 7 DAYS

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Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk Fabric & Haberdashery

£1 A YARD FABRIC SHOP

Creative Crafts

Wide Variety of fabrics in stock

Spring Yarns Now in Stock

12-14 Bond St, Dewsbury 01924 438966

Bond Street, Dewsbury 01924 469500

Farm Shops

BLUEHILLS FARM SHOP & PLAY BARN FRIDAY NIGHT DISCO! 4pm-6pm GROOVY MOVIES! Music & Dancing Every Wed & Friday 10.30am

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For Sale

FOR SALE Peugeot 308 in black, 2008 reg. 5-door, petrol, 53k miles, MOT to August, genuine clean cond. Lady owner, £3,000 ono. Telephone 01484 720989 or 07806 984349

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Funeral Directors

George Brooke Ltd

David Butterfield

A family business providing a complete and caring service for over 60 years.

INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND MONUMENTAL MASONS.

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01924 454476 or 497352 14 Sharpe Street Dewsbury

Garages

DENCROFT GARAGES Concrete Garages & Sheds Dismantle & Bases Garage re-vamps Garage Doors

230 Bradford Rd, Batley Tel: 01924 461996 dencroftgarages.co.uk

01924 441494

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Insurance Services

Proudly serving this area for 50yrs.

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FLAMES FIREPLACES Commercial Park, Horbury Bridge, Wakefield, WF4 5NW OPENING HOURS Mon-Fri 9.30 - 5.00 Sat 10.00 - 5.00

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Garage Doors

UP+OVER DOORS fitted, repairs,

01924 499182 704 Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe

remote supply only

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Any gas appliance serviced £45+VAT then £15+VAT for each of others. Combi boilers fitted with For All 7 year guarantee Your Heating Choose Experience & Plumbing T: 01924 689776 Needs M: 0758 1552797 36 Greenacres Drive, Birstall, WF17 9RA 11556

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from £295 PENSIONERS DISCOUNT AVAILABLE All major debit/credit cards available

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Any joinery work undertaken Kitchens supplied & fitted or fitted only Decking, windows & doors Kitchen & bedroom fitting Over 28 years experience For a free estimate call 01924 450325 07710 503538

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Call 07921 151177

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Property Repairs

Call Martyn 07703 858245

here for all your gas appliance requirements inc. boiler & gas fire servicing & breakdown Specialists in Gas Landlord safety checks Ex-BG Gas Safe Ref. 27 years experience

BUILDERS OF BEAUTIFUL HOMES

QUALIFIED & EXPERIENCED NO JOB TOO SMALL FREE ESTIMATES

CLECKHEATON

•Motor LawnsCompany & Hedges • Regular or One-off tidy 107 Bradford Road, Dewsbury• Weeding • Jet washing • Commercial & Domestic • Fully Insured Tel: 01924 461607

SERVICES

ROGER MIDDLETON PLASTERING

TELEPHONE:

01274 852 885

Green & Tidy Car body repairs Garden Maintenance Imperial

Heating

Plastering

www.ecoheatingyorkshire.co.uk

24hr Service

or 07860 754984

Fires and Fireplaces to suit all budgets!

New Home

Plumbing & Heating

Gardening Services

Tel: 0333 456 0333

Friday March 17, 2017

One of the area’s friendliest clubs. TOP-CLASS TURNS Low beer/lager prices! BINGO SNOOKER CONCERT ROOM FOR HIRE PRIVATE PARTIES WELCOME

‘Make great times with great people’ FIND US ON FACEBOOK 01924 402696

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THE HOME OF REAL ALE 6 Station Road, Mirfield, WF14 8NL T: 01924 492476

The MOST affordable advertising with The Press – no other local paper can touch us the MOST readers on advertising prices! in North Kirklees WEBSITE: www.harfordssecurity.co.uk

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Friday March 17, 2017

Roofing

SIMPSON DENNIS (Roofing Services)

All roof repairs. Insurance work Re-roofing, lead and chimney work – Reduction for OAPs All work guaranteed, free estimates Established 25 years Tel Mirfield

01924 497776 Mobile 07768 298739 www.simpsondennis-roofing.co.uk

Approved by leading insurance companies

ALLAN BELK

Mob: 07880 581977 Tel: 01924 468148 Roofing & property repairs, chimneys lowered, new roofs, strip and re-fix flat roofing. Free estimates. All work guaranteed

Pointing, guttering

The MOST affordable advertising with the MOST readers in North Kirklees Scaffolding

Prom dresses in stock from £99.00 105 Commercial St, Batley WF17 5DQ 01924 444814

RW Roofing & Property Repairs General Maintenance All insurance work undertaken 07901 750921 01924 485168

Wedding Dresses & Special Occasions

RE-ROOFS FASCIAS SOFFITS GUTTERING 20% OFF Family Run Business

0800 511 8565

Window Repairs & Maintenance

Are your double glazed windows steamed up or full of

Windows & Fittings

07974 700789

Classified section continues over page >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Public Notices

TRUSTEE ACT 1925 (Section 27)

DORIS HERITAGE

Doors, Conservatories and so much more

condensation?

CALL TONY

Unit 1 Woodroyd Mills Cleckheaton 01274 874800

Come and visit our online showroom at: www. yorkshirewindows.co.uk

Tel: 0800 043 4536

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925, that any person having a CLAIM AGAINST or an INTEREST in the ESTATE of Doris Heritage, who died on 19th July 2016, late of 54 Leeds Old Road, Heckmondwike, WF16 9AQ, is hereby required to send particulars in writing of his/her claim or interest to the undersigned, the Solicitors of the Executors on or before TWO MONTHS from the date of this publication after which date the Executors will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims and interest of which they shall then have had notice. Dated this 17th March 2017 Particulars to: Stanley Hays, 2 Oldfield Lane, Heckmondwike, WF16 0JQ.

WINDOWS • DOORS • REPLACEMENT GLASS UNITS • HANDLES LETTER BOXES • ANTI SNAP CYLINDERS • LOCKS & SERVICES WINDOW/PVC CLEANING SERVICE - FREE QUOTE

Useful Numbers

Scrap Metal

Health Services

WILKINSON BROS SCRAP METAL MERCHANTS

Expertise in all aspects of scaffolding – fast & reliable Tel: 01924 474384 email info@chemscaffolding.co.uk

Venue Hire

All Types Of Metal IMMEDIATE PAYMENT

• Copper • Brass • Lead • Aluminium and all types of cable (01924) 469409 14 Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury, WF13 3PH

Wanted

St Mary’s Social Club Dance Studio available for hire – please call 01924 473821

TOP PRICES PAID FOR GOLD

Melton St, Batley WF17 8PT

07980 767167

Wedding Services

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL 2 dine for £15 or upgrade to ‘Wine & Dine’ extra £10. 5pm-7.30pm SUNDAY LUNCHES 12-4pm, 2 people, 2 courses only £15

Fantastic wedding packages available to suit your budget. Call our Wedding Team

Dimple Well Lodge Hotel` 35 The Green, Ossett WF5 8JX

@ Gomersal Park Hotel 01274 869386

01924 280472

NHS advice (urgent but non emergency) Tel 111 Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) Tel 01924 542972. Walk in centre A&E, Dewsbury & District Hospital. Tel 01924 542695

Libraries Kirklees Libraries Tel 01484 414868

MPs Batley & Spen – Tracy Brabin Redbrick Mill, 218 Bradford Road, Batley, WF17 6JF Tel 07709 768901 Dewsbury & Mirfield – Paula Sherriff The Old Dewsbury Reporter Building Tel 01924 565450

Useful Numbers Citizen’s Advice Dewsbury Tel 01924 487860 Kirklees Council Switchboard Tel 01484 221000 Police (non emergency) Tel 101

Classified 32

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Public Notices

FOR YOUR PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES CALL OUR OFFICE IN BATLEY ON 01924 470296

The MOST affordable advertising with the MOST readers in North Kirklees

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Friday March 17, 2017

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ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

Marketplace Cleck’s barren run continues RUGBY UNION

Turn your unwanted items

into cash £££s 1) Ring Adele on 01924 470296 (9.30am-4.30pm). Have your advert ready and you can pay by debit card (30p surcharge). 2) Call into the office at 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB and pay by cash, cheque 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. NEW Trailer, size 56” x 36” approx. Includes headboard, tailgate, spare wheel, ramp and tail light board with lights. Reasonable condition, £80. Tel 01274 878757. (2114) Flamerite Inset electric fire, coal effect, brass surround. Excellent condition, £30. Tel 01924 411213. (2115) Trailer, two-wheeler, wood body 4ft x 3ft x 2ft, 4” sides. New jockey wheel, three new tyres, new safety chain, £145. Tel 01274 855661. (2116) BATHROOM Mira electric shower unit (removed for refurbishment). Perfect working order, £20 ono. Tel 07790 568986. (2110) BEDROOM FURNITURE Single foldaway guest bed and mattress, £15. Tel 01274 862769 or 07519 288925. (2108) Double bed mattress, very good condition, £25; buyer to collect. Tel 01924 485972. (2102) 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 £100, 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) Stag dressing table, 6 drawers, 3 mirrors, mist on one, hence price £27. Tel 01924 503603. (2087) Two metal guest beds with mattresses £10 each. Tel 01924 401729. (2085) CHILDREN’S GOODS/ TOYS Child’s Razor E300 electric scooter, as new, with charger, suit 8 year old upwards, bargain £90. Tel 07961 842563. (2098) Boy’s Anaconda BMXstyle bike, 14” wheels with foot pegs, suit age 9 years+. As new, £40. Tel 07961 842563. (2098) Large fur rocking horse, £30. Tel 01924 401729. (2085) Three wheeler, ride-on buggy with charger. £100 ONO. Tel 01924 467057. (2072) COLLECTIBLES 1950s baby black doll,

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ITEM bands

Up to £7: £8 - £25: £26 - £50 £51- £100 £101-£200 £201-£500 £501-£1450 £1,451 plus

made by Pedigree, £50 ono. Tel 07804 233073. (2091)

footstool, all in tan leather. Like new, £200 ono. Tel 07944 703146. (2106)

COMPUTING Medion (E1210) 10” everywhere netbook, complete, boxed, good condition £25. Tel Mirfield 01924 491306. (2074)

Solid, medium oak dining room table, 6 high-back chairs + 2 carver chairs. Excellent condition, £195. Tel 07929 257475. (2107)

ELECTRICAL Morphy Richards pyramid kettle in cream/chrome, hardly used, in excellent condition. Cost £49 accept £25. Tel 01274 862769 or 075192 88925. (2108) Cookworks 2 slice toaster, good condition, very little used, £12 ono. Tel 01274 862769 or 07519 288925. (2108) Brother fax/ phone/copier and answer machine, complete with owners manual; cost £85, accept £20. Tel 01274 862769 or 07519 288925. (2108) Huawei Ascend Y550 Android phone, EE networked, 4.5” screen, 2GB, 5meg camera, includes charger and phone case, genuine reason for sale, £40ono. Tel 07952 526527. (2103) New microwave, never used, bought for use in caravan, £25. Oval, bevelled, glass top coffee table with gold-coloured legs and frame £20. Tel 01924 359621. (2100) Indesit front loader washing machine. Good working order £50 ono. Tel 01924 407943. (Buyer collects) (2093) Breville electric kettle, modern dome shape, cream colour, good working order, £7. Tel 01924 444000. (2079) FASHION Gents navy blue blazer and gents grey jacket, both Brook Taverners, 38/40”. Excellent condition, £12.50 each. Tel 01924 518904. (2111) Men’s Louis Vuitton black trainer shoes, size 8, boxed, worn only twice. Cost £500, bargain £200 ono. Tel 07804 233073. (2091) FREE Baled, dry wood, ideal for wood burners/home use. Free to collect from local area. Tel 07580 135488. (2078) FURNITURE Two seater, fabric settee + 3 cushions. Hardly used, no stains whatsoever. Excellent condition £85 ono. Tel 01924 442711. (2109) Two-seater sofa, 1 chair +

Cost per item

As-new brown leather, reclining, swivel chair, with unused footstool. Cost £260, would like £100 ono. Tel 724680/ 07743 586001. (2104) Sherbourne two-seater sofa in oatmeal fabric. Pristine condition, never been sat on, bargain £485, also Sherbourne chair in oatmeal fabric, in pristine condition, never been sat on, bargain £380. Tel 07961 842563. (2098) Hand-crafted designer chaise longue (unused), cream faux leather seat and arm, back and seat trim in Stewart tartan fabric, chrome legs. Also includes lumber and loose cushion in same fabric, £350. Tel 07961 842563. (2098) 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) Multi-purpose exercise bench, needs constructing, was £86, accept £25. Buyer collects, Tel 01924 501770. (2089) 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 two-seater sofa, good condition, £50. Tel 01924 472619. (2080) Dark blue leather twoseater settee and two chairs; wood trim on arms, good condition, £150. Tel 01924 381651. (2076)

£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11

GARDEN Due to house move, siton lawnmower, £500 ono. Tel 07961 564984. (2112) Hand Garden Groom with bag, new, cost £70, accept £30 ono. Tel 07804 233073. (2091) Black & Decker battery hedge trimmer, 20” blade, 18V, hardly used, £25. Tel 01924 430088. (2084) Garden shed, 8’ x 6’, apex roof, very strong, never used, £280 delivered & erected. Tel 01924 278949. (2081) HEALTH EQUIPMENT Acorn stairlift, 4 yrs old, fits any typical straight staircase, price includes delivery and fitting by trained Acorn engineer and full 3 months’ manufacturer’s warranty, bargain at £885. Genuine private sale but please contact supplier for removal and installation. Tel 0800 073 9793, quote Ref: 199025. (2097) HOUSEHOLD 36-piece Royal Doulton ‘Yorkshire Rose’ tea service, £20. Tel 01924 264330. (2075) MISCELLANEOUS 6ft x 4ft trailer, with tail lights £150 ono. Tel 07961 564984. (2112) All saddlery, best offers. Tel 07961 564984. (2112) Shopping trolley (wicker), on 7-inch rubber wheels, £20. Tel 01924 472043 (Batley) (2105) Portable Black Jack casino dealing shoe with cards, 400 casino chips. Table top marked layout for dealing, £25 the lot. Can deliver, tel 01274 876814. (2101) 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) 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)

Hull RUFC Cleckheaton RUFC

42 22

CLECKHEATON suffered their fifth defeat in as many games as they lost 42-22 away to Hull on Saturday afternoon. The Moorenders now sit precariously above the relegation places, with only two points between them and Doncaster Phoenix, who occupy 12th place. Cleckheaton were in a determined mood against the league’s third-placed side as Ryan Piercy and Mark Chivers drove over the line for two first-half tries. Hull cancelled out Cleck’s two tries as Mike Jobling and Steve Hieheta both went over, and Hull went into the

break leading 20-12 as Birch added a try and a penalty goal with Clec captain Richard Piper in the sin-bin. Hull put themselves further ahead soon after the break with a well-executed line-out play, Tom Price was the one who put the ball down for the hosts. Cleckheaton responded by moving the ball out wide to winger Josh Hall. He made space before switching the ball back inside to Neil Chivers, who scored in the corner. The game was poised at 2517 but a fumble at a Cleck line-out allowed Colin Quigley to score a simple try for Hull. Harvey Harding added Hull’s sixth try of the game to

put it beyond Cleckheaton’s reach. The Moorenders’ Richard Piper went in for Cleck’s fourth try of the game and importantly secured what could prove a vital bonus point come the end of the season. With only minutes left the visitors kept pushing for another try which would have secured a second losing bonus point, but it wasn’t to be as Hull regained the ball and scored the final try of the afternoon. Cleck will not be in action this week due to it being the final round of games in the Six Nations but will welcome second-bottom Firwood Waterloo to Moorend next weekend.

Ossett double up at Hornsea Hornsea Ossett RUFC

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OSSETT RUFC made it two league wins in a row as they beat bottom side Hornsea away from home on Saturday. Ossett won the reverse fixture by a convincing 50-0 scoreline but faced a much tougher test against a Hornsea side who have only won once this season. Hornsea took a surprise lead as a wayward pass from Ossett was picked up by the Hornsea winger who ran the length of the field to score.

The first try of the game for Ossett came through Danny Buckley, who stepped from behind the ruck and stretched his arm over the line to score. Hornsea gave away a penalty 10 metres from their own line which allowed Ossett in for their second try. Jack Drury kicked the ball the width of the pitch to Shaun Abson, who gathered unopposed to score. Jonny Karadzic put Ossett further ahead as he charged through the Hornsea defence underneath the posts. Abson and Drury linked up

again as Ossett scored the bonus point try, Abson collected the kick, this time under pressure from the Hornsea full-back but the end result was the same as he touched the ball down. Ossett currently sit comfortably in eighth place but with other results going their way are now only four points behind Hessle in sixth position. Tomorrow (Sat) Ossett will travel to Mosborough in the Yorkshire Vase, with the second team at York in their final league game before the play-offs.

Mirfield hockey ladies seeking recruits WOMEN’S HOCKEY Colne Valley Thirsk

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MIRFIELD-BASED Colne Valley Ladies hockey team secured a convincing 4-1 win over Thirsk on Saturday . A brace from Amy Keast

and goals from Emma Lundy and Karen Riley where enough as Colne Valley ran out convincing winners. The club are on the lookout for new players to join them at Mirfield Free Grammar on Kitson Hill Road. They train there every

Thursday at 7pm from the beginning of September to the end of March. Home games are played at the school on Saturdays at 1.30pm. More information can be obtained by contacting the club on their Facebook page, ‘Colne Valley Ladies Hockey Club’.

RACING WITH TOP TIPSTER MIKE SMITH HE LAST day of the Cheltenham Festival is unlikely to throw up the kind of shock result that saw hot favourite Douvan defeated in Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase. He was found to be lame behind after his lacklustre display behind Special Tiara and a BHA post-race veterinary examination confirmed Willie Mullins’ initial belief that Douvan’s unexpected defeat was on account of the star injuring himself in the early stages. Today’s feature race, the Gold Cup, is wide open and I’m taking Native River to be too good for the people’s horse Cue Card. I like Charli Parcs in the Triumph Hurdle, whilst Nicky Henderson’s Peace And Co, the 2015 Triumph winner and still only six years old, can win the County Hurdle. It’s easy to see why Death Duty is such a strong favourite for the Novices’ Hurdle, but it will still be his first outing over three miles and it’s not a certainty he will take to the new trip. Augusta Kate is part-owned by Lee Westwood and looks nicely priced for a punt against the favourite, but so does Wholestone and that’s where my money will be.

Starchitect can score in the Grand Annual for David Pipe, whilst connections of Solita are hopeful of a strong show from the King’s Theatre mare who recently had a breathing op and is an each-way bet. Stay with Killermont Street who goes tonight (Friday) in Wolverhampton’s opening race at 5.45, and a day later former Mirfield trainer Les Eyre, who is now based outside Beverley, sends out Cote d’Azur in the 6.45pm race after being off the track for 161 days. But this may well be a pipe opener for the four year old chestnut colt bought out off Sir Mark Prescott’s yard for a tidy sum last July after winning at York, and I will be siding with Swift Emperor to quickly follow up on his victory at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago. One for the notebook is Mitchum Swagger, the gelded son of Paco Bay. The four-year-old loves to get his toe in and my sources at David Lanigan’s tell me has been lined up for the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at Naas in April. CARRIGILL’S NAP (stake returned in a free bet if finishes outside top 4): Defi du Seuil, Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle, today (Friday) 1.30pm AUGUR’S BEST BET: Mitchum Swagger, Naas April 9

ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Careless Sedge dropping points SEDGE’S winless run continued on Tuesday evening as they were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Mansfield at Clayborn. They have now lost four of their last six games, drawing the other two, after Tom Brook’s opener just before half time was cancelled out by Mansfield’s Oliver Fearon. It was the second time in four days that Liversedge dropped points from a winning position after they lost 2-1 to Albion Sports on Saturday afternoon. Stephen Wales had put Sedge ahead with 68 minutes played before Albion replied through Asif Hussain a minute later with Stephen Smith scoring the winner six minutes from time to hand Liversedge their 14th defeat of the season. They currently sit eighth, having played more games than the majority of teams below them and could drop down to as far as 14th if the sides below them win their games in hand. Liversedge host Hemsworth Miners Welfare at Clayborn tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

Double blow for Albion IT WAS two defeats in two games for Ossett Albion this week as they lost 2-1 away to Farsley Celtic on Saturday afternoon and 4-0 at home to Brighouse Town on Tuesday evening. The defeats came off the back of a four-game winning run that saw Albion pull themselves away from the relegation places. Despite the defeats they are still nine points clear of the drop zone. They led against Farsley through Alex Boachie but two goals from Adam Clayton and Lewis Nightingale in the last 10 minutes cost them. A header from Mike Fish four minutes from half time put Brighouse Town ahead against Albion on Tuesday evening and Benjamin Wharton doubled the lead with a header on 53 minutes. Two goals in five minutes all but confirmed defeat for as Luke Parkin side footed home before Tom Haigh smashed the ball into the top corner from outside the area. Albion travel to 19th placed Radcliffe Borough tomorrow (3pm).

Town’s pen woes linger OSSETT Town’s poor run of form continued with a 4-0 away loss to Bamber Bridge. Town came close to taking the lead as Nathan Curtis forced Steven James into a great save after an audacious backheel, but Bamber took the lead through Matt Lawlor after a clearance from a free kick hit Lawlor and went in. Regan Linney doubled the lead from outside the box. Ossett were awarded a penalty three minutes into the second half, but the kick was saved – Ossett have now missed 10 penalties this season. Town then conceded one which was saved, but the rebound was put in by Sam Turner, Aaron Fleming adding the hosts’ fourth with a header.. Town sit in sixth position after losing three of their last four. Colwyn Bay visit tomorrow (3pm).

RUGBY LEAGUE

Plenty of effort but Rams are hurting Kingstone Press Championship

DEWSBURY RAMS HULL KR at the Tetley’s Stadium

HULL KR produced a measured and efficient performance to easily overcome strugglers Dewsbury Rams, and continue their momentum at the top of the Championship Before the match a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the former Dewsbury head coach Norman Smith, who led the club at the time of their move to their current home in 1994. The Robins scored three tries in the first 13 minutes of the second quarter of the match to take the game away from the hosts following an even start, and Tim Sheens’ side inflicted more damage in the closing stages of the second. There was no lack of effort from the Rams, but their difficulties close to their opponents’ try line continued. Only a solo effort from Wakefield’s on-loan prop Keegan Hirst in the second half spared Dewsbury a second nilling of the season. It was still only their fourth try of the campaign, a worry that coach Glenn Morrison has been talking about repeatedly. Hull KR went close in the early stages. Nick Scruton and Ben Kavanagh were both tackled short of the line, and the Rams invited further pressure through unforced errors in their own 20. The Robins broke the deadlock in just the seventh minute through Shaun Lunt’s dummy and dash from close range, which Jamie Ellis converted from in front of the posts. The Rams went close to scoring when Josh Guzdek created an opportunity for Jason Crookes to chip through, but the ball trickled dead, and the hosts lacked the creative edge to get over the line.

Send your news and pix to sport@thepress news.co.uk

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL By Mike Popplewell Football Correspondent sport@thepressnews.co.uk

OSSETT TOWN look to have blown their last chance of avoiding the bottom two in the Premier Division of the West Riding Womens County League after a 43 defeat at relegation rivals Bradford Park Avenue. The loss of points for playing an ineligible player in two recent games hit Bradford and threw Town a lifeline, but an appeal is currently ongoing so the points could yet be reinstated and leave Town with no way out. Town broke the deadlock but the home side came back to lead 2-1 and then 4-2 before a final flourish saw Town pull another back. As it stands Ossett Town take on Brayton Belles this week in their final game, with just a one-point lead over a Bradford side who have four games remaining. Bottom club Battyeford SC still have an outside chance of avoiding the drop, but they will need to

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pick up all three points when they entertain third-placed Hepworth. There was no joy for Ossett Town Reserves as they went down 6-2 at home to Crossley in a Division Two game, and will now definitely finish in the bottom two, while top-four side Dewsbury Rangers, in cup action, slumped to a 6-0 defeat at Third Division Lower Hopton. This week Rangers have a chance to improve their slim chance of promotion when they entertain leaders Clifton while Ossett Town reserves take on bottom club Amaranth. In the North East Regional League Southern Division yet another determined display from Ossett Albion saw them pick up their sixth draw of the campaign when it finished 1-1 at Altofts, substitute Chloe Denton was the Albion scorer. This week Albion are at home to third-placed Sheffield Wednesday and, though the four clubs below them could still mathematically leapfrog them, the situation for the Ossett side is looking a lot healthier than it did earlier in the season.

The visitors added to their lead in the 22nd minute, when James Greenwood strode through the Rams defence after the hosts had conceded a penalty 10 metres from their own line for an incorrect play the ball. Ellis converted well from the right touchline, and added a third conversion, from an identical position, after Andrew Heffernan made light work of the Rams’ left edge defence to extend the visitors’ lead. On the back of a penalty, Maurice Blair twisted out of two attempted tackles to touch down, and Ellis maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot to make it 0-24. The Rams almost gained respite on the stroke of half-time, but Guzdek’s looping pass to send Alex Brown over in the corner was ruled to have travelled forward. Both teams had their chances to score during the early stages of the second half. Kieran Moss was forced into touch after the Robins had regained possession from the kick-off, while at the other end the bounce of Paul Sykes’s kick just eluded Rams winger Dale Morton. The buoyant Rams enjoyed the majority of territory for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but their attacking drought continued close to their opponents’ line. The Robins were much more clinical in attacking areas and they made it 30-0, when Rob Mulhern scattered

GOLF: SPEN TROPHY THE Spen Trophy is back after a 20-year absence, with the 36-hole scratch event scheduled to be played at Cleckheaton & District Golf Club in June. Former European Tour players Richard Finch, Stuart

Jode Sheriffe can’t halt Shaun Lunt from powering over the Rams line

MATCH STATS: DEWSBURY RAMS 1. Josh Guzdek 31. Alex Brown 21. Hamish Barnes 3. Jason Crookes 2. Dale Morton 6. Paul Sykes 25. Liam Coe 29. Keegan Hirst 15. Robbie Ward 24. Jode Sheriffe 4. Lucas Walshaw 11. Rob Spicer 26. Jordan Crowther Subs: 20. Aaron Ollett 19. Brad Foster 23. James Glover 30. Daniel Igbinedeon

8 8 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Tries: Hirst (71). Goals: Sykes 1/1.

three Dewsbury defenders to score under the posts for Ellis to convert. Heffernan added his second try just after the hour and showed great footwork at pace to evade three wouldbe tacklers on his way to the try-line, before James Donaldson burrowed his way over for Hull KR’s seventh try. Ellis added two more conversions to take Rovers cruising past the 40-point mark. Hirst then ensured the Rams were not nilled after swatting off defenders in the tackle, before breaking the line and dotting down for Sykes to convert. The Robins had the final say however, thanks to Graeme Horne’s angled run through a gap in the tiring Rams defence. Ellis converted to make it eight conversions from eight attempts and cap a satisfactory, drama free afternoon for the promotionchasers.

Cage and Iain Pyman are all previous winners, and the return of the event is being spearheaded by member Cec Bloice, who has won the prestigious trophy in the past. Bloice had a distinguished career in the amateur ranks, highlighted by an appearance in the Walker Cup in 1985 at

Pine Valley. Cleckheaton has a good chance of keeping the trophy at home through the likes of Chris Green, who plays off plus 2, Martin Gaffney, Nigel Colbeck and ex-Leeds RL centre Simon Irving who all play off a handicap of 1. Bloice is still a handy play-

HULL KINGSTON ROVERS 1. Adam Quinlan 2. Ben Cockayne 3. Thomas Minns 22. Andrew Heffernan 32. Kieran Moss 7. Jamie Ellis 8. Nick Scruton 9. Shaun Lunt 33. Ben Kavanagh 11. Maurice Blair 12. James Greenwood 15. James Donaldson Subs: 14. Graeme Horne 21. Rob Mulhern 4. Liam Salter 10. Chris Clarkson

8 7 7 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 7 7

Tries: Lunt (7), Greenwood (22), Heffernan (28, 62), Blair (35), Mulhern (56), Donaldson (69), Horne (77). Goals: Ellis 8/8. Referee: T Grant Half-time: 0-24 / Penalties: 6-9 / Sin Bin: None / Sent Off: None Weather: Cloudy, mild Man of the Match: Jamie Ellis Attendance: 2,477 Match Rating: 2/5

er off 3 and may also make an appearance on Wednesday June 7, when the winner will pocket a voucher for £500 as part of a prize fund worth £1,400. The Spen Trophy is a Yorkshire Order of Merit event and entries can be made through Cleckheaton’s website.

HEAVY WOOLLEN SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Woods bags four for Woodkirk WOODKIRK Valley climbed to third place in the Heavy Woollen Sunday League Premier Division after Christy Woods hit four goals in a 7-0 win over bottom side Heckmondwike Sports Club. Ben Holdsworth bagged a double for Woodkirk, with Matthew Moon also finding the net. Dom Karimi and Sam Etherington scored for Woodman Batley Carr in their 2-1 win at lowly Navigation. In the only game in the Championship Wellington Westgate climbed to third place with a convincing 8-2 win over bottom side St John Fisher Reserves. In Division Two

Overthorpe SC Reserves increased their lead to eight points after winning 2-1 at Dewsbury United thanks to strikes from Dominic Simpson and Tom Hirst. Michael Thompson replied for Dewsbury. Second-placed Wire Works were surprisingly held to a 33 draw at Snowdon despite Nolan St Hilaire’s hat-trick. Irfan Ali (two) and Bilaal Mir netted for Snowdon. Elsewhere, Linthwaite Reserves drew 1-1 with Clifton Rangers A. Linthwaite booked their place in the Heavy Woollen Challenge Cup Final with a 31 win over Mirfield Town. They will meet the win-

ners of the other semi-final between St John Fisher and AFC Chickenley which is due to be played on March 26 at Overthorpe Sports Club.

SPEN VALLEY LEAGUE IN THE Premier League Palestino came out on top in a close-fought game against Athletico. Luke Chippendale scored the only goal as the visitors left with all three points. Saville United won away against Girlington with two goals from Abdul Karim Mahmood and a goal each for Faisal Adam and Shabaz Patel, cancelling out goals from Saad Abbas, Adil

Tanvir and Shoaib Javed. In the First Division George Healey hit six past Savile Town, Matty Parkinson, Olly Mitchell, Reece Scholes (brace), Lewis Boddy and Simy Moore with the goals. A brace from Awaab Ahmed for Inter Batley proved of little consequence as they were beaten by Dewsbury West Side Reserves, Arbaaz Khan, Arsalan Shahid and Sohail Zaman (brace) with the goals for Dewsbury. Marsh lost away to Norfolk in a close game, Ismail Loonat, Huzaifah Lunat and Jaz Qadri all scored to cancel out a brace from Nathan Clarke.

ThePress

Friday March 17, 2017

RUGBY LEAGUE

Bulldogs lose legs as Bulls surge on Kingstone Press Championship

BRADFORD BULLS

BATLEY BULLDOGS

at the Provident Stadium FIVE unanswered tries in the final 33 minutes earned Bradford another two vital points in their quest for survival after a game in which the lead changed hands five times. Ross Oakes and former Bulldogs favourite Jonny Campbell claimed braces while the ever-industrious Oscar Thomas added 16 points through a try and six goals. The hosts had skipper Leon Price and prop Ross Peltier back available, while Jon Magrin recovered from a head knock which ruled him out of most of the previous week’s hefty defeat in London. Batley, looking for their fourth win in five games, were without Patch Walker but fortunate enough to have Alistair Leak fit again. A see-saw first half began with Bradford immediately gifting field position by dropping the ball on the first play. Brambani’s set-ending kick was not dealt with by the Bradford defence but the ball was deemed to have been nudged forward before being touched down. Barely a minute later Ross Oakes broke through at the other end to score but the lead was short-lived as, helped by one of a glut of penalties, the Bulldogs responded when Leak forced his way over from dummy half, Brambani adding the first of three conversions. Loanee prop Daniel Murray went close and Leak was held up before quick hands between Leak and Dane Manning enabled Farrell to score. With Campbell and Thomas visibly trying to inject urgency, the Bulldogs defence was continually battered back by the power and liveliness of packmen Roche, Mikolaj Oledzki and Ross Peltier.

Boys win in style

Old favourite Jonny Campbell was a try scorer for the Bulls

Under pressure, Brambani lost possession just 20 metres from his own line and Pryce sent Kevin Larroyer barging over to leave Thomas the easiest task of levelling the score once again. James Bentley then edged the home side ahead once more following more forceful running but Sam Smeaton capitalised on hesitation between Price and Ryan to dart between them and score, with Brambani this time restoring equilibrium at the break with another fine touchline conversion. Within 60 seconds of the restart Castleford loanee Tom Holmes ghosted through untouched,

Trojan effort in Cumbria

MATCH STATS:

although Brambani missed his first kick of the afternoon. An acrobatic finish in the corner from Ryan made it 22-22 as Thomas also failed to add the extras for the first time. It was turning into a tightrope thriller, but then Smeaton was perhaps harshly yellow carded after Batley conceded a fifth successive penalty. The Bulls took advantage with Oakes charging through where the sin-binned centre should have been to cross the whitewash and put the hosts in front again. When Batley were penalised for interference in centre field and 25 metres out Thomas had little hesitation in opening up a two-score advantage for the first time in the game. The caution proved unnecessary as Bradford sealed the points with two more tries in as many minutes. A Brambani pass meant for Mike Hayward was intercepted by Campbell who raced fully 90metres to score against the club at which he spent seven years. A deft Price offload then sent Thomas rounding full-back Dave Scott from 30 metres out to clinch Bradford’s third win of the season and Campbell completed the scoring in the corner with 10 seconds remaining. With Thomas carrying a slight limp, Ryan stepped up to miss the kick.

BRADFORD BULLS 14. Oscar Thomas 19. Jonny Campbell 3. James Mendeika 4. Ross Oakes 5. Ethan Ryan 6. Leon Pryce 1. Lee Smith 22. Daniel Murray 34. Scott Moore 15 Jon Magrin 11. Colton Roche 16. Kevin Larroyer 20. James Bentley Subs: 5 Iliess Macani 8. Liam Kirk 17. Ross Peltier 31. Mikolaj Oledzki

9 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 7 7 7 8 8

Tries: Oakes (4, 56), Larroyer (27), Bentley (29), Ryan (47), Campbell (69, 80), Thomas (71). Goals: Thomas (6/8), Ryan (0/1).

BATLEY BULLDOGS 1. Dave Scott 2. Wayne Reittie 3. Sam Smeaton 4. Macaulay Hallett 25. Mike Hayward 28. Tom Holmes 7. Dominic Brambani 27. Will Maher 9. Alistair Leak 8. Adam Gledhill 22. Dane Manning 11. Brad Day 12. Joel Farrell Subs: 6. Cain Southernwood 10. Alex Rowe 16. Tom Lillycrop 19. Alex Bretherton

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

Tries: Leak (7), Farrell (16), Smeaton (29), Holmes (41). Goals: Brambani 3/4. Referee: A Sweet Half-time: 18-18 Penalties: 13-11 Sin Bin: Sam Smeaton (52), Dane Manning (76) Sent Off: None Weather: Cloudy but mild Man of the match: Oscar Thomas (Bradford Bulls) Attendance: 4,478 Match Rating: 4/5

NCL Division 2

ASKAM THORNHILL TROJANS

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THORNHILL TROJANS made it two wins from two in the National Conference Division 2 with a fantastic win away against Cumbrian side Askam. There was a minute’s silence held before the game in memory of Thornhill stalwart David Schofield, who passed away last Friday. Thornhill head coach James Ratcliffe dedicated the victory to Mr Schofield. Both sides had to endure the rough weather in a game decided by the strong Thornhill forwards, who saw off a powerful Askam pack. Luke Haigh was man of the match as he dominated the ruck and proved a real handful with his quick plays of the ball. Danny Ratcliffe and Liam Morley set about unpicking the Askam defence in the first half, their inventiveness capitalised on the solid work of the pack as the Trojans raced into a 20-0 half time lead. Their first try came from a brilliant pass from Luke Haigh to winger Jack Gledhill who

dived over in the corner. Next a high kick was knocked on and the ball was collected cleanly by Jake Wilson who put Ryan Fenton over for a try. Thornhill made the most of another Askam error moments later as Danny Ratcliffe’s grubber kick rebounded off a defender’s legs and Ratcliffe judged the rebound perfectly to score. Thornhill’s kicking game was proving difficult to deal with and they added their fourth as Jake Wilson kicked through to Gledhill who pounced for his second. Askam came out for the second half in a determined mood and scored through Kristian Tyson. Liam Morley quickly put Thornhill back in the ascendency as he glided through the Askam players to score and restore the 20-point lead. Dan Sayle scored again for Askam but any fears of a late fightback were banished when an out-stretched arm from Jake Wilson scored and Sam Ratcliffe converted to extend the lead to 22 points. Towards the end Danny Ratcliffe slotted over a well taken field goal to seal a fantastic victory in Cumbria.

Celtic slump at Eastmoor NCL Division 3

EASTMOOR DRAGONS DEWSBURY CELTIC

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CELTIC slumped to their second defeat in as many games as they shipped 52 points away to Eastmoor Dragons. Eastmoor’s Ady Mulcahy tormented Celtic all afternoon as Eastmoor dominated. Celtic did lead the game 166 after falling behind to a James Skater try when they scored three tries of their ownthrough Sam Tattersfield, Ethan Ferry and Danny Crabtree plus a Pat Foulstone goal.

JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE

But Celtic then conceded three tries in the final five minutes of the first half which gave the home side a 24-16 lead at half-time. The visitors never managed to find a way back as nine minutes into the second period, Kevin Brown crossed for another try before Mulcahy completed his hat-trick. Michael Williams, Jason Roberts and Jamie Creed added further tries for the Dragons to further compound the misery on Celtic. Celtic will aim to secure their first win of the season as they host competition new boys Clock Face Miners at Crow Nest Park tomorrow (2.30pm).

Maroons on top of tree SHAW CROSS U-11S (pictured) ran out convincing 60-12 winners over Whinmoor in their first home fixture of the season in the club’s 70th anniversary year. Cross started strongly with tries from Amir Shaier, Thomas Ellis, Kier Savage, Joe Wood and Reece Norman. A strong defence through the first half from Lewis Earnshaw, Louis Appleyard and Luke Maclaren held the visitors to a single score. Cross started the second half just as well with some excellent ball handling from Theo Robinson, Tyler Parker and Joel Webster sending in Taylor Lindsay, Luke Maclaren, Harry Hardwick, Harry Lawn and Reece

BATLEY BOYS returned to winning ways in the Yorkshire Men’s League Forty-20 Cup with a convincing 58-16 away win against York Acorn “A”. The Boys opened the scoring thanks to a try from Shaun Whittaker, but York hit back almost immediately before hooker Ryan Crossley put the Boys back in front. York scored again but Batley were in a determined mood and Jay Jay Price claimed his first of the afternoon before Luke Sheridan put the Boys further ahead. York got their final try before half-time break as Batley ‘nilled’ them from there. Price added his second after a wonderful break and moments later he claimed his hattrick before new hooker Josh Knowles got over the line. Joe O’Hanlon claimed NCL Division 1 a try after a big hit from UNDERBANK RANGERS 24 Josh Whitehead forced the ball free. Ryan Crossley SHAW CROSS SHARKS 22 crossed again along with Bingham, Price notching his fourth before sending SHAW CROSS opened their William Brook over. league campaign with an agonising 24-22 away defeat to DEWSBURY BRIDGE: Underbank. Tuesday March 7: An Underbank penalty goal 1 M Watson and G Bloom; five minutes from time decided 2 A Cooper and J Lodge; matters. The Sharks had the 3 D Hannam and J Bragg; 4 P and D Sampson. experience of former Super

Norman. The visitors came back with a try and conversion but strong defence from Harrison Lindsay, Brooklyn Gledhill, Tom Culling and Lenny Laveric kept them out. Coaches Andy Robinson and Ash Lindsay were pleased with their side, who travel to Bramley next. UPTON ARLFC U16S 24 DEWSBURY CELTIC U16S 10 CELTIC’S U-16S couldn’t make it two wins from two after a convincing win over New Earswick. Upton scored after shouts for a forward pass were waved away. On 20 minutes Conor Appleyard came off the bench to score under the posts after a strong

carry, Charlie Heaton improved. Five minutes later centre Lewis Teale gathered a high ball before a deft offload sent winger Niall McKinnell in at the corner to give Celtic a four-point lead. Upton regained the lead with a converted score to go into the sheds at 12-10. A long-range interception saw Upton extend their lead to 18-10 as Celtic missed repeated chances to narrow the deficit as ill discipline and a succession of errors hurt them. Celtic struggled against a big Upton pack, despite good efforts in attack from front-rowers George Bussey and Ethan O’Hanlon plus Joel Russell in the second row.

NCL Division 3

DEWSBURY MOOR Ms CLOCK FACE MINERS

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DEWSBURY MOOR moved themselves to the top of NCL Division Three after a convincing 56-4 win over the league’s new boys Clock Face Miners. Clock Face had Paul Hurst and Kurt Ashcroft sin-binned, Hurst went for swearing and Ashcroft for a dangerous contact, making the Maroons’ afternoon a bit easier. A George Croisdale try set them off after two minutes and they had a handy lead of 22-0

by half-time. Connor Garaghan, Brad Samme and Jordan Foster all crossed the whitewash and Jacob Flathers landed three conversions. It was very much a secondhalf procession as Moor went in for six more tries, which came through Aiden Ineson, Foster, James Eatherley, Archie Bruce, Croisdale and Dom Hale. Clock Face did add a consolation try, and the first points scored against Moor this season, through Andy Smith. Dewsbury Moor will hope to make it a hat-trick as they travel to take on West Bowling tomorrow (2.30pm), another new side admitted to the NCL.

March and Lindsay add pro class, but Sharks come up just short League star Paul March and ex-Batley Bulldogs forward Ash Lindsay to call on and looked a different side to the one who slumped to defeat at Eastmoor two weeks ago. Head coach Brett Turner believed his side deserved to win. “We have massively improved from our pre-season games, there have been a couple of players who have come into the team which have made a big difference, they lifted everyone around them,” said

Turner. “I am bitterly disappointed not to win, we had the better of the game and really should have won.” Shaw Cross were first over the line through Nathan Wright, who took an offload from Brandan French to score in the corner. He Wright almost doubled his tally minutes later but knocked the ball on just short. Underbank levelled proceedings when winger Alex Chatterton intercepted the ball

10 metres from his own line and went the distance. Nathan Smith looked to have put Sharks ahead as he chipped and chased but the ref deemed the ball dead. Luke Pogson and Johnathan Tinker put Underbank clear but Shaw Cross rallied and they scored twice for an interval lead. Sam Ottewell ran onto a pass from March to score then. March himself scored with the last play of the half from a

clever French offload, and Danny Flowers made it three kicks from three from the touchline. A Tinker try edged Ramnngers in front and Sharks chose to level, then go ahead with two Flowers penalties of their own. It wasn’t to be though, as the home time took two penalties in the last nine minutes for the win. Shaw Cross host newlypromoted Hunslet Club Parkside tomorrow (2.30pm).

Batley have a point to prove in second trip to France

Diskin wants an attitude check By Ben McKenna BATLEY BULLDOGS boss Matt Diskin believes it is time for his players to forget about their achievements last season if they are to challenge for a top four spot this year. Diskin feels the attitude of his players has not been good enough in certain games this season – and that more consistency is needed from his side. Batley lost their third game of the season in an away trip to Bradford Bulls on Sunday, making it three wins and three defeats from their opening six league games so far this campaign. “We are struggling for form and we are struggling for a bit of consistency, the players are probably still riding the wave of the achievements from last year,” said Diskin. “The players know they need to improve from an attitude point of view and I’m sure they will, last year they worked hard and showed great desire and I think at times they feel that they don’t need to put that hard work in again this year. “We don’t want that Leicester City effect where you have one great year and then fall by the wayside, this team has too much talent for that and the attitude needs to be better. “I thought we gave the game away on Sunday, we were illdisciplined and conceded way too many penalties and we gifted Bradford all their field position. “When you give a team like Bradford those opportunities they are going to score points, we know our application wasn’t good enough and we need to improve that quickly.” Batley will travel to Toulouse for the second time in two months as they face Toulouse Olympique in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fourth round tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm). Diskin admitted that Batley were “caught cold” by Toulouse when they were defeated 44-6 in their opening game of the season and feels that tomorrow’s game is a chance for his players to put things right. He said: “When the draw was made we saw it as a chance to right a wrong from earlier on in the year, we got caught out when we went there last time and Toulouse

terling defensive work here from Bev Firth of Thornhill Trojans, however the women’s side are still trying to find their feet against tough competition. They lost 48-4 against Huddersfield St Josephs Ladies at Overthorpe Park last week. PHOTO: DAVE JEWITT

completely dominated us. “It wasn’t a reflection of how we could perform and the players know that, they are itching to get out there tomorrow and prove a point.” Diskin says that despite the ups and downs that come with being a head coach that he is enjoying his new role with Batley. He said: “I’m really enjoying things at the minute, it is my first big coaching job and I’m getting used to the FIXTURES Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fourth round FRIDAY Dewsbury Rams v Newcastle Thunder (7.30pm) SATURDAY Toulouse Olympique v Batley Bulldogs NCL (2.30pm) Div 1: Shaw Cross Sharks v Hunslet Club Parkside Div 2: Thornhill Trojans v Saddleworth Rangers Div 3: West Bowling v Dewsbury Moor; Dewsbury Celtic v Clock Face Miners

pressures and the roller-coaster that comes with it. “We have got a good group of players, we have got a good environment and we know we can go on and achieve great things, we believe we can be a regular top four side. “We need to work hard to get to that and like I have said the attitude and application needs to be a bit better, once we get that the players are going to take some stopping.”

KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP Hull KR Featherstone Rovers Toulouse Olympique London Broncos Halifax Rochdale Hornets Batley Bulldogs Oldham Swinton Lions Sheffield Eagles Dewsbury Rams Bradford Bulls* *Bulls deducted 12 points

P 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 5 6

W D L 6 0 0 5 0 1 4 0 2 4 0 2 3 0 3 3 1 2 3 0 3 1 1 3 1 0 5 1 0 5 0 0 5 3 0 3

F 256 158 184 136 123 128 134 76 118 100 20 158

A Dif Pts 80 176 12 83 50 10 107 77 8 106 30 8 96 27 6 97 31 7 154 -20 6 112 -36 3 155 -37 2 233 -133 2 178 -158 0 190 -32 -6

More injury woes for Morrison as Thunder tie looms DEWSBURY Rams head coach Glenn Morrison believes that everything that could go wrong is going wrong for the Rams at the moment, after his team suffered another defeat and saw another player sidelined with injury. Second rower Brad Foster is the latest player on the treatment table after he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the 48-6 defeat to league leaders Hull KR. Foster made his debut for Dewsbury in Sunday’s game, after recovering from the same shoulder injury that will now have him out for the rest of the Jack Teanby – back in contention season. “I don’t think we will see Brad was pretty solid but we are not Foster for a while, with the num- creating enough when we get into ber of injuries we have had this the right positions. season it has been very tough,” “It is up to the players to work said Morrison. hard, the players have been work“It is one of those things out of ing hard in training but when it our control, everything that can comes to executing the plays in a go wrong is going wrong at the game situation it is a lot more difmoment.” ficult. Morrison says that there are “We just need to keep working no issues with his team’s confi- at it, the players have shown that dence as they search for their they are capable of coming up first win of 2017. with the right play, we just need The former NRL man believes to do it more often.” Dewsbury will welcome back the Rams will have many more difficult games this season as forward Jack Teanby for tonight’s they prepare to face League 1 game but will be unable to select side Newcastle Thunder at the any players from their dual-reg Tetley’s Stadium in the argreement with Wakefield due to Challenge Cup tonight (Friday, the possibility of players becoming cup-tied. 8pm). “There are going to be no easy games for us, Newcastle are a A MINUTE’S silence was held Sunday’s game as very good side with a good coach before and they are coming into this Dewsbury paid their respects to game off the back of two tough former coach Norman Smith who passed away last week. wins. Smith coached the Rams from “They will come with confidence and we are going to have 1993 to 1995 and was in charge for to work hard to get our name in the side’s first season at Owl Lane. the hat for the next round. “All cup games are a must-win, with it being a knockout competition every game is a grand final in the cup.” Dewsbury’s loss on “What we like about The Press is Sunday was their that it’s an HONEST, true read. fifth defeat in as many games this seaIt’s a proper local newspaper filled son, but Morrison with relevant news to our LOCAL again doesn’t feel area. that the scoreline was a fair reflection We’ve advertised with The Press of the game. a lot over the years and I have to He said: “The say the response we get is brilliant. effort was certainly there and there were Every time we have an offer in our a lot of positives, we spent a lot of time advert it drives people into the camped down their shop, GREAT RESPONSE, great end but we were not service and great price! I can’t able to come up with recommend The Press enough.” the creativity that would get us points Mark on the board. Yorkshire Sporting Guns, Dewsbury. “They are a quality side of course and Happy Birthday and all the best have quality players for the next 15 years! right across the board and I can’t see them getting beat. “Their defence

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(that and having an irreverent approach to Political Correctness!) From inside front page with The Press and we’ll remove all your discounts. Are they so small minded? Listen, their regional managing director used to walk up and down Daisy Hill pleading with advertisers not to do business with us! One of our sales staff who used to work for Johnston Press – not here in Kirklees mind – has received threatening letters from them just recently, saying she’ll be taken to court for so much as speaking to their customers. But it wasn’t just in our approach to news that The Press had to be different. We needed to guarantee our advertisers readers in sufficient numbers to make their businesses work. That’s why, in 2002, we effectively invented the ‘hybrid’ newspaper, one that was on sale at every news outlet, but was augmented by free distribution. What’s 50 pence (we were 30p in 2002)? It’s one swig of a pint these days. In addition to that we have more than 30 doorstep deliverers putting over 10,000 copies a week through letter boxes. We also have a team of drivers who go out dropping bulk copies across the district in high footfall areas where people can pick up a copy. Why both? Well, if you don’t get the paper free, the only way to guarantee availability is to ensure it’s on sale everywhere. We’d be a bit cheeky asking newsagents to give the newspaper away!

It means that our guaranteed readership brings results to the other people (besides our readers) who are the lifeblood of The Press. Our advertisers. Many of the men and women who supported us from the outset had blind faith in us, 15 years ago. They took it on trust that we could deliver what we were promising and put their money where our mouths were. A great many of them are still our customers and indeed friends, all these years on. You’ll see many of them in today’s special edition, sharing in our celebration. We can’t thank them enough for sticking with us UT those people don’t advertise with The Press because they might like us. They advertise because it brings results, it boosts their customer base, sells their products and just as importantly it tells you, our readers, that they are here to serve you and your community, when you need them. I think that’s a ‘good news’ story in itself. As for those newspapers that are dying a not-so-slow death, nowhere moreso than here in North Kirklees where The Reporter Group has

given up the ghost and left the towns it served for more than a century? It’s a shame, because I think all our communities have never needed a vibrant, questioning, representative local press more than they do now. But some publishers put corporate profits over serving their readers, and when you can’t charge more or sell more, the only business option they can see is to cut costs … and cut and cut until there’s nothing left. Fifteen years of trying to be fair, to give good service, of listening and saying, has proven to be quite a simple recipe for success for The Press. Here’s to the next 15!

HE’S DELIVERED more than a million copies of The Press – and 83-year-old Terry Hopkins is determined to deliver another million! For the past 15 years, rain or shine, Terry has been a familiar sight to residents in Heckmondwike and further afield, making sure that you get a copy of The Press through your letterbox every week. Our longest-serving deliverer, Terry has covered every round in the district over the years, from Gomersal and Birkenshaw to Thornhill and Mirfield. A former mill foreman at Burnhill Feeds in Cleckheaton, the father-of-four walks between 16 and 20 miles on his regular five-hour route round Heckmondwike. “I don’t do it for the money, it’s all about the exercise and meeting people,” said Terry, of Keats Drive in Dewsbury Moor. “They really do appreciate their copy of The Press every week, and I’ve made lots of friends along the way who are so grateful for their free copy of the paper.” After regularly delivering 1,000 papers on a Friday for many years, Terry has recently had to cut A great back to a ‘mere’ 500 local character, Dr copies after developing a touch of arthriEamon O’Daly, hit tis. the headlines with But he’s sometimes his set out with up to exasperated plea 2,000 copies – a mamfor someone to moth undertaking help him deal with even for a person half the multi-racial his age. As well as influx of patients delivering the paper, at his Savile Town Terry has also been a keen reader of The surgery, on the 1st Press since it was anniversary of The launched in 2002. Press. The edition “I saw an advert in also featured the one of the early edirow over a school tions for deliverers banning the book and phoned up Three Little Pigs straight away. I just from its shelves. wanted a bit of exer-

cise – I was 68 then and I’ve been delivering ever since,” he said. “I worked out on my computer that I delivered my millionth paper back in June 2016. It may be tongue in cheek, but I want to do another million before I give up – I’d be about 103, but you never know.” Press editor David Bentley said: “We’re proud of our entire delivery organisation, and it’s a real privilege to have someone as dedicated as Terry as part of our team. “Terry’s become well-known in Heckmondwike and across North Kirklees over the years, and we owe him a huge vote of thanks for all his hard work. Here’s to another million papers!”

ONE IN A MILLION: Our man Terry Hopkins

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