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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley Thursday December 31, 2015 No. 718 50p

WATERWORLD Communities band together in big clean-up after floods chaos

MAROONED... The appropriately-named Ship Inn at the end of Steanard Lane in Mirfield, where the River Calder, right, burst its banks Picture: Steve Benson FLOODING brought out the best in people this Christmas – with communities coming together to help each other. Volunteers from Dewsbury, Mirfield and Batley worked locally and elsewhere amid scenes of devastation across the region. Batley-based charity One Nation and Dewsbury youth group Kumon Y’all sent workers to Calder Valley. Kumon Y’all also dispatched help to Mirfield, where a huge recovery effort was under way following a Boxing Day deluge. The clean up there is still under way, with more help needed on Saturday – even as Storm Frank hits the UK. Parts of allotments off Station Road in Mirfield were under five feet of

As more storms head for the UK, councillors call for a review of land allocation for improved river defences and a fresh strategy to combat flooding water on Boxing Day. Alan Wilkinson, allotments and gardens society chairman, said: “Now that the water has subsided, we are in desperate need of help to clear up the site. “If you can spare a couple of hours, please come along on Saturday from 9.30am and join our working party.” Work will involve both heavy and lighter lifting as sheds, planting beds

and debris is scattered everywhere. Among the other places flooded were Battyeford Sporting Club, Holme Bank Mills and the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall. Volunteers also went in three vans and two cars to take supplies over to Calder Valley. An initial appeal for food and drinking water in case residents in Mirfield were cut off resulted in large

donations but when it became clear that homes had escaped the worst, the supplies were taken to Mytholmroyd. They were joined there by Batleybased One Nation, who also went to Copley, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. Chairman Arshad Patel said: “We took our wellies, brushes and mops and got stuck in.

“Near Todmorden, we went to a gentleman’s home where his kitchen was under water and had to be ripped out. “We recently visited Cumbria and it’s truly heartbreaking to see the devastation the floods caused. “But it’s been an amazing and emotional experience to see everyone working together from all faiths to make a difference and helping each other.” Back in Mirfield, a team of about 20 people cleared debris from Holme Bank Mills on Monday. Damage to stock and buildings at Design Contract Flooring and Mirfield Mill Carpets could cost owner Graham Ervine £20,000.

Continued on Page 2

ThePress

Deaths BROADHEAD HAROLD On 24 December, formerly of Thornhill, aged 90. Husband

Thursday December 31, 2015

of Betty. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Friday 8 January at 11.15am. Place your family notices by calling 01924 470296

CARDLE CATHERINE (KITTY) On 19 December. Wife of the late James. Mass will be celebrated Monday 11 January at 10.30am, followed by interment at Batley Cemetery.

EMSLEY BETTY (NEE MORGAN) On December 16, of Batley aged 93. Wife of the late John Marston (Jack). Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 7 January at 12.30pm

FARRAR MALCOLM On 23 December, of Mirfield, aged 79. Husband of Colette. Service at St Mary’s Parish Church, Mirfield, Wednesday 6 January at 12.15pm, followed by burial in the churchyard.

GREENWOOD NEE SHAW CATHERINE MARY On 23 December, formerly of

Thornhill, aged 92. Wife of the late Walter. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Wednesday 6 January at 3.15pm.

HAIGH NEE WILSON, (FORMERLY HANSON) EMILY On 21 December, of Thornhill Lees, aged 71. Wife of the late Michael and formerly of the late Bob. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 5 January at 2pm.

HALLSWORTH BARRY On 10 December, of Batley, aged 72 years. Funeral enquiries to Eric F Box Funeral Directors. Tel: 01924 465402.

Funeral service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Wednesday 6 January at 11.15am.

HARRINGTON MARTIN JOHN On Sunday, December 6, aged 53. Husband of Elaine. Requiem Mass at St Mary’s RC Church, Batley, Friday January 8 at 11am, followed by committal at Dewsbury Crematorium at 12.30pm

HEMMINGS FORMERLY WARD & RIBKA DAISY On 26 December, formerly of Towngate, Ossett, aged 81. Wife of the late Robert. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Monday 11 January at 10.30am.

HIGGINS KATHLEEN MARY KATH (NEE BOURKE)

HARTLEY ALAN PAUL MAX On 20 December, of Westborough, Dewsbury and formerly of Mirfield, aged 62. Husband of Jacqueline.

On December 23, of Netherton, aged 57. Wife of Garry. Celebration of Kath’s life at Dewsbury

David Butterfield INDEPENDENT FAMILY

Crematorium, Monday January 11 at 2.45pm.

Continued from Page 1

OATES ESTELLE On 21 December, of Mirfield, aged 83. Wife of the late Kenneth. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 7 January at 1.15pm.

PADGETT WILLIAM On 23 December, of Horbury, aged 79. Husband of the late Freda. Service at Wakefield Crematorium, Monday 11 January at 3pm.

SMITH JEANNIE On 26 December, formerly of Welwyn Road, aged 103. Wife of the late Leslie. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Tuesday 12 January at 11.15am.

STEELE ANTHONY On 24 December, of Thornhill Lees, aged 63. Husband of Janet. Service at Dewsbury Crematorium, Thursday 7 January at 9.45am.

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His businesses are uninsurable due to their proximity to the flood-prone River Calder. Political ramifications are already being felt, with a councillor in Mirfield calling for land to be given over to flood defences. Sewage beds at Cooper Bridge are earmarked for industry in Kirklees Council’s draft Local Plan. Coun Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) said: “The area adjacent to the John Cotton factory and south of Leeds Road may be better used to offer flood relief.” He added that the land is already ‘tanked’ to contain liquid like the Dewsbury flood relief channel. Coun Bolt added: “If we could engineer a facility where rising river water filled this area, it may be one of the ways in which we can prevent flooding. “We also need a review of land allocation for building river defences at vulnerable locations and other measures. “Strategic planning to deal with the risk must be done to protect residents and businesses in Mirfield and West Yorkshire in the future." Mirfield town councillor David Pinder (Ind, Eastthorpe) said that a strategic approach for the town has to include Calder Valley. He said: “Whatever Mirfield does in terms of flood defences will be insufficient if the same isn’t done at Brighouse, Elland and Hebden Bridge. “And it’s not as if the problems with the River Calder are new and weren’t known about until now. “The first bridge over the Calder at Mirfield was built in 1180 and within three years it had been washed away due to flooding. “And ‘Calder’ in Anglo-Danish means ‘white water’, so the river has had a reputation for centuries.”

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Thursday December 31, 2015

Five jailed as stolen car gang sentenced By Staff Reporters A GANG that stole vehicles worth more than £250,000 over 18 months has been sentenced. Seven men from North Kirklees were among 10 defendants involved in a Bradford ‘chop shop’ operation. They and three co-accused from Bradford appeared at Leeds Crown Court last Wednesday. The court heard that burglaries in which cars were stolen occurred from June 2013 to November 2014. Fahim Iqbal, 24, of Quarry Road, Dewsbury, was found guilty of burglary and handling stolen goods. He was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison while three others were also jailed. Amza Tariq, 18, of Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury Moor, received two years and three months for burglary. Sabeel Ayub, 22, of Ravens Lodge, Scout Hill, Dewsbury, was handed two years and three months for burglary and handling stolen goods. Alexander Mackay, 42, of Springfield Avenue, Batley, admitted handling stolen goods and was given eight months. Three others admitted going

Jailed ... from the left, Sabeel Ayub, Kashaf Rashid, Fahim Iqbal and Amza Tariq

Seven men from North Kirklees involved in ‘chop shop’ theft of vehicles worth more than £250,000 equipped to burgle and received 10-month jail terms suspended for two years plus 200 hours of community work. They are Hamza Hussain, 20, of High Street, Thornhill, Muzaffer Ayub, 23, of Selbourne Avenue, Dewsbury, and Harun Nawaz, 21, of Ravens Grove, Scout Hill, Dewsbury. Kashaf Rashid, of Bradford,

was jailed for six years after admitting burglary and handling stolen goods. Bilal Ali Shah and Umar Rashid, both of Bradford, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. Both were sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years plus 200 hours of community work. Det Con Seb Morgan said

A dramatic aerial view of flooding in Mirfield, captured by a camera fitted to Steve Benson’s drone

‘Lives at risk unless we act on flood defences’ LIVES may be at risk if moves are not made to improve flood defences around the River Calder, a councillor has warned. Coun Steve Benson recorded dramatic footage of the deluge which hit Mirfield on Boxing Day using a camera fitted to a drone. The Mirfield town councillor (Con, Crossley) then gave a stark warning about the future. He said: “On Boxing Day the River Calder breached its banks and smashed the old

record river level. The record went from 5.04m to 5.395m, so we must take climate change seriously. “We must also demand that Kirklees Council, in its Local Plan, talks to the lead local flood authority and puts a robust plan in place before it’s too late. “A future flood could cost lives and cost over £100m in taxpayers’ money to put right the damage. “The old worst storm scenario of one in 100 years will

now need re-writing. The storm events in September and December only point to new problems – any new storm calculations will need to be more robust than ever before. “Kirklees Council should be talking with councils upstream and downstream of our local rivers. “A robust plan between all councils is needed, one that enables rivers to flood areas of land set aside for that purpose.”

Kirklees CID worked on the case with Bradford CID plus telecoms officers and intelligence staff. He added: “I want to thank every officer and member of staff for their involvement. “This operation has shown that good work between divisions produces results and sends a message to these individuals and their fellow associates.”

News in Brief Hospital parking fees spent on car parks, Trust says NORTH KIRKLEES: Hospital chiefs raked in nearly £1m in parking charges last year, figures show. The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust made £973,000 in 2014/15, more than half of it from their own staff. Bosses said that over that period they have spent more than £1m on improving their car parks. Facilities manager Iain Brodie said: “The trust is committed to providing good and fair car parking at its sites for all our patients, visitors and staff.” There is still controversy about the trust imposing parking charges on disabled people. Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Paula Sherriff said: “It appears they are taking advantage of the most vulnerable in society.”

Phones cut off NORTH KIRKLEES: Flooding in Leeds caused disruption to phone lines into Dewsbury Hospital on Tuesday. Problems affecting a city centre Vodafone exchange, which provides numbers starting 01924 816, surfaced at around 9.10am. An alternative number was made available but by the next day the service was back to normal.

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Thursday December 31, 2015

News In Brief Flood looting charge

Court seizes trader’s £35,000 assets

DEWSBURY: A man was arrested after reports of looting in Calderdale in the wake of flooding. Police were called at 7.30am on Wednesday over claims a suspect in a van was taking goods from outside a home in Mytholmroyd. A 40-year-old suspect from the Dewsbury area was arrested on suspicion of theft. A Calderdale police spokesman said: “We are aware of persons attending the area and removing items which are being left outside properties either for disposal or to dry out.”

A COURT seized the £35,000 assets of a trader who ran a Cleckheaton food business without approval and in unsanitary conditions. Mohammed Imran Khan, of Bradford, owned a firm which supplied goods to other establishments while unregistered. Leeds Crown Court heard that as a result no food safety inspections were carried out at the premises by Kirklees Council. Work by trading standards and council officials led to a warrant being issued in December 2013. A unit at Moor End Works, on Balme Road in Cleckheaton, was searched and a huge amount of unlabelled and unquantifiable meat was found. Other food was incor-

Shop cash till theft DEWSBURY MOOR: A robber stole a till containing cash from a newsagents on Boxing Day. The suspect entered News Gallery on Heckmondwike Road at around 6.50pm and threatened a male shop worker. He then grabbed the till and fled on foot, possibly in the direction of School Lane. The robber, whose face was covered, was about 6ft tall, of average build and was wearing dark clothes. Anyone with information can call Kirklees CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Phone snatched DEWSBURY: A man had his mobile phone stolen in a vicious assault at Dewsbury Market on Christmas Eve. The victim, 30, was on Cloth Hall Street between 7pm and 7.30pm when he was knocked to the ground. He later found his mobile was missing. A suspect is described as white, in his late 20s and of stocky build. He had short brown hair, slight stubble on his face, spoke with a local accent and was wearing a white jacket. Anyone with information can call Kirklees CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Unsanitary... these breaches of food safety cost a trader £35,000 rectly stored and was being made in dirty conditions or with equipment not fit for purpose. The unit was supplying sweet and food stores in West Yorkshire under the name of La Jawaab. In April Khan admitted

being unregistered at the unit and to food hygiene offences. He also pleaded guilty to the same charges involving another La Jawaab shop in Huddersfield. Khan has previous con-

victions from 2012 for food hygiene offences at La Jawaab shops on Huddersfield Road in Dewsbury and in Bradford. The proceeds of crime hearing was told Khan made £66,277 profit from

his latest offences. He was found to have assets of £35,000, which Judge Keal QC ruled should be seized along with £1,200 court costs. Khan was given three months to hand over his assets or face a default jail term of 18 month. In the meantime he was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Kirklees Council cabinet member for place Coun Steve Hall welcomed the conviction. Coun Hall (Lab, Heckmondwike) said it sends a message to others and added: “Food traders must be registered and subject to safety inspections. We will continue to prosecute in cases where we feel the health of local people is being put at risk by bad practice."

Trust pays off last million in £15m cost-cutting deal Consultancy advice helps wipe out deficit

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By Staff Reporters A HOSPITAL deal for costcutting advice has ended – at a cost to taxpayers of £15m. Multi-national consultancy firm Ernst and Young are believed to have been paid the sum over four years by the trust which runs Dewsbury District Hospital. Their contract ended on September 30 and the firm received their last two payments in October and November. Publication of spending figures from the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust show Ernst and Young were paid £308,425 in October. Last month the firm received separate payments of £119,700, £100,200, £360,151 and £59,400. This totals £947,876 in just two months, which the trust said would be the last payments, for a total of £2.3m

this year. Dewsbury and Mirfield MP Paula Sherriff criticised the spending when the trust is hitting patients, visitors and staff with increases in car parking charges. She said: “If the trust can afford to spend millions on management consultant fees, then they can afford to treat their staff, patients and carers with respect and stop ripping them off.” Mid Yorkshire said Ernst and Young were contracted from October 2011, when the trust was £37m in the red. The deal, due to expire in April this year, was extended for another five months. Ernst and Young’s advice will help eradicate the deficit by 2016-17, six years earlier than planned. But during their tenure there was repeated industrial action over claims that staff terms and conditions were being slashed.

In the last three years, Mid Yorkshire said it had treated “significantly” more patients while cutting expenditure by about seven per cent a year. Gary Boothby, the trust’s acting director of finance, said: “The latest payments made were the last instalments against the contract. He added: “The contract extension between April 1 and September 30 was approved by the Trust Development Authority.” Meanwhile, the trust made payments of £3.642m and £3.535m in October and November towards the cost of their new hospitals. They were the latest instalments of their private finance deal with Consort Healthcare. The contractor, who also raked in extra fees of £1.039m and £1.049m from the trust over those two months, built Pinderfields and Pontefract hospitals.

Man dragged from pub, beaten and robbed A MAN was dragged out of a Dewsbury pub by thugs who beat him up for his mobile phone. The victim, 22, was at the bar of the Time Piece on Northgate when he was approached from behind between 6.15pm and 6.45pm on December 18. He was struck and fell to the ground and was then

dragged out of the pub by two robbers. Once outside he was punched by the two men and another man before they took cash and his Apple iPhone 4s. One suspect is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall and of a slim build with black hair. Det Con Andy Clayton, of Kirklees CID, said: “Enquiries

are continuing into this incident. “We would like to speak to anyone who saw the assault in the pub, the assault outside or anyone who has information about the suspects.” Witnesses can call Det Con Clayton on 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

Sudden death of former councillor Tributes to ‘passionate and caring’ Labour veteran Peter O’Neill FORMER Batley councillor Peter O’Neill has died suddenly while on a Christmas break with his family. The Labour veteran, who represented the Batley West ward for eight years until May, passed away visiting his son in Vietnam. Tributes were paid by shocked colleagues to the former cabinet member for schools. Coun Gwen Lowe (Lab, Batley West) said: “I still can’t get my head around it. We were a good team

and he’ll be massively missed.” Current cabinet member for schools Coun Shabir Pandor said: “It’s completely out of the blue and I just can’t believe it.” Coun Pandor (Lab, Batley West) added: “He was quiet, very conscientious and caring and also passionate about what he believed in.” Mayor of Kirklees Coun Paul Kane said: “He was high profile in the union and after that he went into the council and the

cabinet and he was good at it. He helped me with my campaign and I was very grateful. He did a lot for a lot of people.” Mr O’Neill stood down

from the council in May due to health reasons. At the time he was cabinet member for communities and leisure. Daughter Marielle won her father’s former seat for Labour at local elections that month. Mr O’Neill was an early supporter of Jo Cox’s successful bid to succeed Mike Wood as MP for Batley and Spen. Mrs Cox said: “Peter was a hard working, deeply committed and passionate advocate for many causes, not least as a councillor for Batley West. “He threw his heart and soul into everything he did and was respected

and loved because of it. He had an acute sense of duty and principle that guided his many battles for those less fortunate than himself. “His death is incredibly sad and unexpected and he will be missed by many people in Batley and beyond. “The kindness, friendship and support that Peter and his family showed me personally were major factors in me becoming the MP for Batley and Spen. “I will never forget that. My thoughts are with his family – his wife Gillian and his children Dawn, Sean and Marielle and his grandchildren.”

Sex pest paramedic still ‘a risk to public’ By Staff Reporters A PARAMEDIC was branded a risk to the public after failing to learn lessons from his harassment of female co-workers. Richard Senior, who worked at Dewsbury Ambulance Station, was suspended for 12 months in January by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). He was found to have made a catalogue of inappropriate comments to females. In one case, Senior asked a colleague for a “foursome” while in another he said words to the effect of “when am I going to be your sperm donor?” A review panel has now ordered Senior to work under supervision for 18 months. The HCPC found he had not significantly changed his attitude and as a result he cannot work as a lone responder. Senior, who no longer works for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), did not attend the hearing. But in an email to the HCPC the strapline read: “Nothing to

He failed to learn lessons from harassment of female workers

fear but fear itself, so live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse.” The panel decided this undermined Senior’s claims to have changed his attitude. A report said: “... the panel is left with insufficient evidence to

be satisfied that the public would be protected if the registrant was to be permitted to return to unrestricted practice. “The panel considered that in the absence of evidence of the registrant having developed sufficient insight into his failings and

taken action to remedy these failings, there is a risk to the public.” His supervision order was made to protect patients, uphold standards of behaviour and maintain public confidence in the profession. The review panel ruled Senior must tell future employers of the restrictions imposed. Senior was also found guilty of professional incompetence for attending emergencies without using blue lights and sirens. He also encouraged colleagues not to use them if they thought it was a minor call. A spokesman for YAS said: “The trust carried out a thorough internal investigation into the allegations made against Richard Senior. “His conduct was found to have fallen below the standards of professionalism expected of an employee of the trust. “He was found to have breached the trust’s code of conduct and appropriate disciplinary action was taken in June 2013, including immediate referral to the HCPC.”

TOY JOY FOR HOSPITAL CHILD CASUALTIES FIRMS donated toys to make sure youngsters in hospital over Christmas had a fun time. Tesco in Batley was one of several businesses which gave board games and other gifts to the children’s ward at Dewsbury District Hospital. They supplied 12 trays of toys donated by customers and topped up by staff at the Bradford Road store. The items were shared out between the children’s assessment unit and A&E. Ikea at Birstall, Wilkinson’s in Dewsbury and the United Reformed Church in Heckmondwike also donated. Raffle prizes for parents included meals at Bella Pasta and Nando’s and beauty treatments at the Revive salon in Heckmondwike. There were no visiting restrictions on Christmas Day,

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News in Brief Teen shop worker’s knife robbery ordeal BATLEY: A teenage shop worker was threatened with a knife during a Boxing Day robbery. The victim, 17, was at a mini market on Healey Lane when two men wearing hoodies burst in at around 9pm. One held a knife up at him while the other forced open a cabinet and stole cigarettes. They then fled, leaving the teenager shocked but unhurt. The first suspect is described as Asian, 6ft 4ins tall, skinny, in his mid-20s and with short dark hair. He wore a black hoodie with the hood up, black skinny tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and a dark red and light-brown bandana over his face. The second man wore a black hooded top, black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers. Anyone with information can call Det Supt Adrian Belle at the Kirklees Police robbery team on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Motorway roadworks NORTH KIRKLEES: A New Year cocktail of motorway roadworks will affect drivers next week. The westbound carriageway of the M62 at junction 27 will be shut for five nights from Monday for bridge repairs. On Wednesday, the eastbound entry slip road onto junction 27 will be also be closed. In both cases the closure times are 8pm to 6am the next morning. Diversions will be in place. Also from Monday, the slip roads and roundabouts at the M62/M606 interchange at Chain Bar will be cut to a single lane for five nights. The closure runs from 7pm to 6am and a 30mph speed limit will be in force while work adding an extra lane to the roundabout continues.

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Thursday December 31, 2015

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LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE Danny Lockwood

More of the same for 2016, sadly T’S customary at this time of year to reflect on the year just passed and to take a peep into the future and wonder – with increasing trepidation, sad to say – what the New Year holds in store. For many, with waistlines straining under the pressures of a week-long feast of too much turkey, chocolate and vino collapso, 2016 will herald not much more than a pledge to cut down on the calories for a few weeks. Good luck with that. Given the weather we’re having, can I suggest you invest in a few hundred sandbags – lugging them up and down the garden will work wonders on your cardio-vascular fitness. Just don’t put your back out. A couple of years ago the Lockies reached the mutual conclusion that, actually, none of us were keen on turkey and so opted for a nice big chicken – much like most family Sundays.

Embarrassing to say that we even forgot to pull our Christmas crackers. Hey ho. We did them on Boxing Day instead. I’m aware of becoming grumpier with each annual turn of the calendar, but I swear, the television fare this holiday season was awful. I

couldn’t even find White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (the original) or the classic James Stewart film It’s A Wonderful Life. In fact it seems the more channels we get, the less there is to watch. The Agatha Christie pot-boiler ‘And Then There Were None’ over three nights was okay, I suppose. We tried Dickensian, the BBC’s contrived effort at tying most of Charles Dickens’s variety of characters into one soap opera, and lasted about 20 minutes. It was simply unwatchable if you knew anything at all about the original stories. So Christmas was all one big bah humbug? Not at all. This must have been the first year in more than a dozen that there wasn’t a single xBox or Playstation game in sight. We gave ourselves a family Cluedo set and were (unsurprisingly) delighted to rediscover how much fun

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you can have sitting together, playing a sociable board game. Who needs computers? I also bought the classic film Kes on DVD, which amazingly none of my lot have seen. That’s required viewing for anyone purporting to hail from Yorkshire. We haven’t watched it yet and I’ll probably have to translate the Barnsley twang for Mrs L, but that’s something to look forward to. Our village was cut off from the one next door for a few days due to a flooded road but it was nothing a pair of wellies couldn’t handle. We also lost broadband and internet service, and get lousy mobile phone reception anyway – but do you know what? I could get used to not answering emails and texts every 10 minutes. An elderly lady lost her bearings and drove into the flooded beck, but my next door neighbour was on hand to pull her out. She was dried and warmed in the pub before being transported home. Bless. The weather also put paid to the Boxing Day tug of war on the village green, but even that had a silver lining – the pub lads took the title off the farmers last year for the first time in an age, so at least get to keep bragging rights until next year. Thoughts and sympathies go out to everyone affected by the floods, although the sight of so many people displaying tremendous commu-

nity spirit and pulling together to help neighbours and strangers alike, has been heartwarming. And unless I’ve missed something, I don’t think there’s been much if any loss of life as a direct consequence, while as many as 50 people died in the storms ravaging parts of the USA over Christmas. Sometimes we have to count our blessings. S FOR 2016? Well, we have a few friends coming round for an ad hoc New Year’s Eve gettogether. And then, not to put too fine a point on things, it will be good to get back to normality – whatever that is and whatever 2016 holds. Son back to uni, daughter to college, me and the wife to working too many hours that we keep promising to cut back on. And it would be nice to go a few months without a family funeral for a change. Locally, I don’t doubt that Stephen Eames and his Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust board will continue to run Dewsbury District Hospital into the ground while reinforcing the point that blinding incompetence is no barrier to career advancement. The Heavy Woollen and Spen Valley districts will keep having to make do with the thinnest of pickings from the Kirklees table. There is a looming crisis in community and elderly care, the blame for which from Huddersfield will be lumped onto the Conservative government.

They’re both to blame, but that’s our modern reality. There’s a total vacuum of moral or ethical leadership, from either the political or bureaucratic classes. We have somehow arrived at an “I’m alright Jack” state where it’s virtually impossible to trust the motives of anyone in public life who opens their mouth. Over the holidays I noted that Kirklees Council plans to concrete over Bradley Park Golf Course and fill it full of homes. Typical. A successful and profitable public facility, the golf course is on green belt (which we have plenty of) but is being sacrificed almost out of politically motivated spite. It sums up Kirklees perfectly. Nationally, Labour will continue to tear themselves apart over Jeremy Corbyn and the Tories will do the same over the EU referendum. Both should make for entertaining viewing, but I’m not sure any of it spells good news for the country. I have some personal resolutions: to get the flaming garage cleared out, so I can at least find my way to my gym equipment. I also need to work on digging my sense of humour up from wherever the dog buried it in the garden – and both he and I need to start putting some more miles in on the bike, too. For all you good people, I wish you everything for 2016 that you wish yourselves. Have a happy and healthy New Year.

Madness and mayhem – all our fault RIVING into work on Wednesday, I listened to Radio 4 and an interview with two young women discussing how seemingly happy and successful British Muslim girls get radicalised into fleeing to Syria. Predictably, it’s us to blame. When isn’t it? Islamophobia is making these vulnerable sweethearts turn to the dark side. They feel they don’t belong here any more. Blah-de-blah bullshine. I’m sorry, have I missed something? I think there isn’t a Muslim community in Britain that doesn’t go out of its way to create and enforce the separation that clearly exists between us. And that’s not an accusation, merely a statement of unarguable fact. I don’t mind that and I even understand it, but please, at least acknowledge it someone. We’ve been wearing jeans and t-shirts since Elvis was a lad. You’re the ones who adopted the niqab as a uniform to block the rest of us out – because Muslim women on Britain’s streets weren’t always so visibly hostile. The previous day I’d read about ISIS’s female al-Khansaa brigade in the Syrian city of Raqqa. These women, mostly foreign jihadis including young British Muslims, are the self-appointed ‘guardians of public purity’. One of these creatures saw a woman trying to furtively feed her crying infant beneath her burkha. The baby was taken off the woman who was summarily executed – after first being mutilated. Another woman lifted her niqab to examine

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some vegetables at a stall. She was beaten to death by a police officer. I can’t explain how vile and bestial a so-called human being can become. But I don’t doubt for a minute that it’s us to blame. Again. THE one question that has beguiled me throughout 2015 is this: Why is disgraced FIFA boss Sepp Blatter not in a prison cell? HERE are many candidates for the public quote of 2015, but my clear winner belongs to the bloke who shouted “You ain’t no Muslim bruv” after the knife attack by a madman in Leytonstone tube station. For some unfathomable reason this was seized upon, finally, as the poster-moment when mainstream Muslims come out and condemn random acts of violence against innocence people. We really were all in it together! And then, oops, not only did it emerge that our hero was a non-Muslim, but he really was no hero either. He was terrified of recriminations from ISIS, presumably unlike the numerous people who responded to the vicious knife attack by pulling out their mobile phones and filming it. I’d like to think I’d have found something large and heavy to whack the maniac over the bonce with, but no, that’s the new British way to combat terrorism – film it and put it up on YouTube. As Private Frazer said to Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army, “Doomed, captain, we’re all dooooomed.”

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

The civil war in Syria remains in the UK headlines. David Pinder, a town councillor in Mirfield who worked at the Foreign Office and is an acknowledged expert on terrorism and counter-terrorism, gives his view of the situation

The West has contributed to the maelstrom. It has not caused it T

HE recent House of Commons debate on Syria demonstrated the British Parliamentary system at its best – an all-too-infrequent occurrence these days. Sadly, two of the most lacklustre speeches came from the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn. The decision of Paula Sherriff, MP for Dewsbury and Mirfield, to vote against (UK bombing in Syria) was obviously taken after serious thought and not taken lightly. Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox’s decision to abstain, having read her explanation in a previous edition of The Press, was also the result of serious consideration and not the ‘cop out’ it first appeared. However, I believe the tenor of much of the debate and the reasoning rather missed the point. As a former soldier, I am always glad when politicians pause before committing our armed forces to combat. But this was not a decision about going to war – that decision had already been taken. It was merely a limited and sensible extension of an existing international mission, involving fewer than 20 serviceable aircraft armed with a handful of precision weapons, to pursue an existing foe a few kilometres over a doubtful and ignored border. Non-participation in such an operation would mean that, at international level, we could expect no direct say in any subsequent peace discussions. As an American General once remarked, “If you aren't willing to bleed – don’t expect to lead!” Equally, emotional outbursts that thousands of innocent civilians will die if we bomb are wide of the mark. Firstly, we are not talking

of the carpet bombing of Dresden, raining death indescriminately from hundreds of aircraft. Secondly, such talk is to ignore that hundreds of civilians are dying and suffering every day because of the virtual civil war and the actions of Daesh (ISIS). If precision bombing helps to end that barbarity it should be considered. Others in the debate argued against issues which no-one had raised. For example, that military action alone will not solve this crisis. No military leader – and few civilian experts – argued that it would. Military action can only work within the framework of wider political activity. However, without the military dimension, there is little chance of ever reaching the difficult negotiation phase. With Daesh, that phase can never be reached since there is no common ground upon which to build. The current situation in that part of the world is the result of two main dynamics. The first is geo-political

and the second religio-ideological. Neither are directly the fault of the second Iraq war, nor the ill-considered Libyan intervention, misguided though both of those actions were. In an age where many consider history to be unimportant, few in this country have heard of the Sykes-Picot agreement – although most Arab schoolchildren know of it. At the end of the First World War, when the ailing Ottoman Empire finally died, a British and a French diplomat drew up the ‘new’ borders across the Middle East. No consideration was given to the residents so, to this day, the countries thus created continue to jostle each other, much as do the Earth’s tectonic plates. The second dynamic centres on Islam. All the Earth’s major religions undergo some form of evolution. In this respect, Islam is no different – in fact, it has undergone nearpermanent evolution, punctuated with violent revolution, as has Christianity. According to the Islamic

KIDDIES’ CHRISTMAS FAIR BOOST FOR GUIDE DOGS TOTS in Dewsbury Moor helped raise more than £500 for guide dogs with a Christmas fair. There were stalls, a raffle and a visit from Santa at the Co-operative Childcare Nursery on Heckmondwike Road. They have been raising money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association this year. Cash from the fair took their total for 2015 to £1,129, which will be used to support the training of guide dogs. Joanne Wilson, manager at the outstanding-rated nursery, which cares for tots aged up to five, said: “The fair was a great success. “A real highlight was seeing the children’s faces light up when they saw Father Christmas at the party. We’re pleased everyone had such a fun time raising money for a brilliant cause which does great work all year round.”

calendar, the year is 1437. Even a brief study of Christianity in the 15th to 17th centuries is sufficient to show that Christians have

little to be proud of in a similar time. The parallels are striking: Catholic versus Protestant – Jesuits, Methodists, Anabaptists and Scottish Covenanters et al – and I haven’t even mentioned the earlier extinction of the Cathars. Therefore, we should not feel superior (nor surprised) that various ‘strands’ of Islam fall upon each other with such ferocity. Nor should we feel responsible for it. Added to this ongoing struggle is a dimension seldom mentioned – that several ill-defined but ancient prophecies claim that the Prophet will return to establish a new world-wide caliphate in the mid-15th century. It is therefore no wonder that strife has erupted as it has. The West may have contributed to this maelstrom but it has not caused it, however we will be involved, whether we wish it or not.

News in Brief Sweater style is a winner THORNHILL: Pupils raised more than £900 for charities with a festive jumper contest and craft fair. Youngsters at Thornhill Community Academy showed sweater style has no limits – with some decorating their jumpers with lights and even music. There were also stalls selling hand-made gifts, cookies, buns and chocolates. Cash raised is for Macmillan Cancer Support, Make-A-Wish UK and Save the Children through the national Make the World Better in A Sweater appeal. Meanwhile, the school choir sang Christmas carols for elderly people at the Fieldhead Court nursing home and had tea and mince pies with the residents.

Club’s work on display BATLEY: Work created by the town’s audio-visual club this year will be shown at a meeting on Tuesday. Club members will be at the Probus Club at the Older People’s Centre on Upper Commercial Street. Visitors and new Probus members are always welcome. For more details call 01924 471337.

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

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Funding to prevent flooding was cut Dear Sir, The scale of the floods in the north of England is absolutely shocking. In 2009 the Labour MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, claimed that the floods in Cumbria were “once in a thousand years”. He was wrong. I was born in Kirkstall and attended Kirkstall Road School in Leeds, an area which has been badly effected by the floods. It is no use David Cameron and Prince Charles coming up north for photo opportunities when thousands of homes have been swamped, with much damage to local businesses and thousands left without power. This government has slashed funding for flood defences by £116 million

Help save a life in 2016 From: Jon Latham, assistant director, NHS Blood and Transplant

Letter of the Week: John Appleyard, Liversedge in this year alone. This follows cuts of hundreds of jobs at the Environment Agency, while fire and rescue services have also been cut, with 87 jobs lost since 2010. Throughout this trauma local people are volunteering their services to help in any which way they can, they don't seek money, glory or fame, they

Dear Sir, Many people in West Yorkshire will be considering giving things up for the New Year, like unhealthy food or alcohol. But you can change your life by choosing to give. Giving blood is amazing – you can save or improve the

do it because they care. David Cameron doesn’t understand this behaviour. That’s why, if the news papers are correct, he is planning a knighthood for his election strategist, the Australian Lynton Crosby. This knighthood is insulting and degrades the honours system and should not be allowed to happen.

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people to donate blood every day to meet the needs of desperately ill patients in hospital. Blood and platelets are not just used after accidents. They are used for patients with cancer, anaemia, childbirth complications, and in a wide variety of life-saving procedures. Less than three per cent of people aged 17-70 donated blood last year. Thank you to everybody who donated and helped save lives – we look forward to seeing you again in 2016. If you’ve never given blood before, register to donate blood and book an appointment to donate in West Yorkshire at www.blood.co.uk. Donating only takes an hour of your time. So please start this year by changing not just your life, but someone else’s life too, by giving blood.

Not surprised by latest flood From: Ben Worthington, Mirfield Dear Sir, I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but I do profess to being a little bit surprised by some people’s very public shock at the latest round of flooding in Mirfield and in the wider district. Shock horror – homes and businesses built recently about two feet above the flood plain got soaked for a few hours. Does it not stand to reason that, if you build in an area that has flooded in the past, then there’s a fair to middling chance that you might get your feet wet at some point in the future? If you love your possessions so much, then don’t

choose to live 10 feet from a flood-prone river. Or make your home floodresilient to avoid the worst of the problems we’ve seen. People seem to have very short memories and appear to be shocked at the floods – as if they’ve never happened in Mirfield before. The main difference is that there is now more and more human activity happening so close to the river, and with the advent of social media everyone can wade in and have their opinion, informed or otherwise. On a human level of course I sympathise with people whose home or business was affected, but a bit of perspective and historical awareness wouldn’t go amiss from people who seem to think it’s the end of the world. Days of heavy rain, buildings on a flood plain – it doesn’t take a genius to work out what’s going to happen.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS Hopton Estates Ltd, Hagg Barn, Woodbottom, Hagg Lane, Lower Hopton, discharge of conditions 3 (external walls), 7 (land contamination), 14 (bin storage/collection) on previous permission 2014/90273 for alterations to convert existing barn to two dwellings. Dr & Mrs Maka, Holly Lodge, Howroyd Lane, Whitley, single-storey extension (within the curtilage of a Listed Building). Peter Wade Consultancy, Owl Lane, Shaw Cross, outline application for erection of restaurant, retail outlet and hotel. Ruslan Iorga, 44 Bradford Road, Dewsbury, change of

use from ground floor office (B1) to retail shop (A1) and new entrance. McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, 2 Northgate Centre, Northgate, Heckmondwike, variation of condition 2 (hours of opening) on previous permission 2012/93552 for variation of condition 25 relating to hours of opening on previous permission 99/92275 for erection of food retail and non-food retail units with fast food unit and car parking. Asif Abubaker, 10 Far Common Road, Mirfield, alterations to boundary wall and installation of railings. C Meltham, Mazebrook Farm, Mazebrook, Drub,

detached garage (within the curtilage of a Listed Building). Mr & Mrs J Maughan, C/O Agent, Providence House, 40 Bracken Hill, Mirfield, extensions. Mr L Patel, rear of 144 Savile Road, Savile Town, detached dwelling. R Patel, 4 Old Mill View, Dewsbury, single-storey front extension and garage conversion. M Rawson, 136 Hunsworth Lane, Hunsworth, two-storey side extension. N Bi, 3 Chestnut Avenue, Staincliffe, the proposal is for a singlestorey extension. The extension projects 5m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension

is 2.9m. The height of the eaves of the extension is 2.9m. S Bashir, 26 Lyndale Crescent, Heckmondwike, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension. The extension projects 4.5m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 3.9m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 2.5m. M Arif, 93 Victoria Road, Thornhill Lees, the proposal is for a singlestorey rear extension. The extension projects 5m beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse. The maximum height of the extension is 3.8m. The height of the eaves of the extension is 2.6m.

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

What does 2016 have Web in store for the world T A L K of online business? with Andrew Firth S THE year draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the last 12 months, and think about a couple of the areas that the online arena has experienced in 2015.

Mobile responsive design Mobile responsive design has been standard for some time now, but it was in April this year that Google updated their algorithm to favour websites that delivered an optimum experience for visitors using mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). Google make hundreds of

algorithm updates each year, but uniquely this update was announced in advance, to give website owners the opportunity to get ready for this huge shift in website usage. Websites that are mobilefriendly perform better in the search engines – so if your website is not mobile friendly yet, this should be on your 2016 wish list.

Social media During 2015 social media has continued to become ingrained in our daily lives. As a business it is where potential customers and sup-

pliers are most likely to head to get to know you, before they either take things further or don’t. It is almost a case of expectation that you are using social channels to engage with your community, but if you are not then this could be detrimental to opportunities you receive. Of course, there are good ways and bad ways of using social media. It is not enough to just be visible, you have to be credible too and use social media to show positive business personality and demonstrate

Sam Burgess ties the knot DEWSBURY-BORN rugby star Sam Burgess has tied the knot with fiancée Phoebe Hooke in Australia. The pair married in a private ceremony at Phoebe's parents' home in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales. The former Dewsbury Moor amateur RL player was joined by his three brothers Luke, Thomas and George, who were his groomsmen. Sam and Phoebe married in front of 150 family members and close friends, including players from his club South Sydney Rabbitohs. Among the other guests was actor Russell Crowe, who co-owns the Rabbitohs, and rugby league stars Lote Tuquiri, Greg Inglis, Steve Menzies and Dylan Walker. Phoebe's parents Mitch and Sarah hosted

the reception in a large marquee at their property in Bowral, where guests ate steak and chips. The former Heckmondwike Grammar School pupil had reportedly been dating freelance writer and presenter Phoebe for nearly two years. The 27-year-old caused sporting controversy last month when he left Bath RU to rejoin rugby league club South Sydney Rabbitohs. He returned just one year after switching codes from league to union and played in the recent Rugby World Cup for England The international star said at the time that missing his family was part of his decision to go back to Australia. His brothers George and Tom also play for South Sydney Rabbitohs, while Luke plays for another Sydney team, Manly.

From the village green to the kitchen sink... A SERIES of three art lectures at Batley’s Bagshaw Museum in the New Year will tell the story of ‘Genre painting’ – pictures of the everyday life of ordinary people. The illustrated lectures, on Sunday afternoons January 10, January 24 and February 7, are being given by popular local art historian and writer Simon Poë. He will look at Genre painting from its beginnings in 17th century Holland and Flanders, through the 19th century when it held up a mirror to the Victorian age, and ending in the 1950s with the work of realist painters such as John Bratby. Simon Poe explained: “The history of what we call ‘Genre painting’ is intimately bound up with the emergence of a newly prosperous middle class. “Genre paintings are of the people and for the peo-

ple, on a modest scale and clearly intended to hang in houses rather than in palaces. They are small paintings for small patrons.” The first lecture, on Sunday January 10, takes its title, The Village Green, from the painting by Matthieu van Helmont (162379) that hangs in Red House Museum in Gomersal. It follows the history of Genre painting from its origins in representations of everyday life among the peasantry and emerging middle class . The second lecture, The Apotheosis of British Genre, on Sunday January 24, is about the heyday of British Genre painting and how the Victorians loved to look at pictures of themselves. It will consider the work of William Henry Midwood (1833-88), an artist threequarters of whose work in public collections belongs to

Kirklees, and will also examine the career of David Wilkie (1785-1841), who took Genre to places it had never been before. The Kitchen Sink, the final lecture on Sunday February 7, will follow the history of paintings-of-everyday-life from Genre through the work of the PreRaphaelites, into the 20th century with the Camden Town Group. It will culminate with the ‘kitchen sink’ paintings of John Bratby (1928-92), who pursued life all the way into ‘the smallest room in the house’ and produced a series of paintings of toilets. All three lectures start at 2pm and cost £3.50. No booking is required but it is recommended that visitors arrive early to secure a seat. For more information contact Bagshaw Museum on 01924 324765.

Welcome to the final edition of Web Talk for 2015, helping Kirklees website owners to prosper online expertise in your profession. If you have not yet implemented a social media strategy, then we strongly recommend you have something in place in 2016. You may not like the idea of social media or see any value, but if you don’t use social at all then this can be damaging as the business may appear one-dimensional and static without it.

E-commerce As the UK’s post-recession economy grows stronger and stronger, online retail in 2015

has grown by a whopping 19 per cent (from £132bn to £157bn) and similar figures are apparent across Europe, with e-commerce being the fastest growing retail market in Europe. If you sell online you should have expected your sales to have increased by more than 10 per cent year on year. The growth in the sector does not appear to be waning and analysts predict a similar pattern of growth for 2016 – what are your targets for

online sales next year? Well, that’s it for this year, I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and that you have a very happy New Year, hopefully see you back in 2016 for more Web Talk! To read more on this and other subjects, please visit the blog at www.ascensor.co.uk/blog For more information contact andrew@ascensor.co.uk Twitter: @andrewjfirth Connect on LinkedIn: andrewjfirth Ascensor are a Digital Agency providing website design, ecommerce and search engine optimisation.

ThePress

News In Brief

Supporting community TOTS in Dewsbury helped make a free Christmas Day lunch in Crow Nest Park even more special. Youngsters from the Child’s Play nursery dressed up as reindeers and elves to deliver hampers donated by parents and staff. The free festive lunch was held in a marquee near the park cafe for those in need or alone at Christmas. Hampers contained items such as mince pies, yule logs, custard and rice pudding. Lucy Lovell, a senior teacher at the nursery, said: “We felt that this was a fantastic opportunity for us to show our support to the local community.”

Woodlands improves MIRFIELD: A care home rated as “inadequate” 13 months ago has improved but still needs to do more. Woodlands, on Sands Lane, was found to be unsafe, unhygienic and uncaring when inspectors visited in November 2014. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has now found the home cleaner and staff better trained and more caring towards their 64 residents. As a result Woodlands moved up a notch to “requires improvement” after a CQC visit in September. Areas still needing attention include safety and management, with some care plans found not be followed. But the report concluded: “At this inspection we found improvements were evident in many areas since the last inspection.”

Thursday December 31, 2015

Council ‘naive’ to allow free demolition of school building By Steve Martyn COUNCIL chiefs were accused of being “naive” over the demolition of a much-loved Cleckheaton school building. Spen Valley Civic Society claims that contractor Laing O’Rourke offered to dismantle the Foundation Building at Whitcliffe Mount School free of charge. In return, they will get the “rubble”, which the society thinks backs their arguments for saving it. The society tried to get the building listed when plans for a new school elsewhere on the site were announced. But their bid failed and Kirklees then secured an order blocking further attempts at saving the building. Society secretary Erica Amenda said: “All that will be left after demolition is a grass verge. “The council says that demolishing the

Foundation Building is financially necessary. They are also happy that Laing O’Rourke has offered to demolish it ‘free’ in return for the building’s materials. “We consider this naive – a commercial company would only make such an offer if it could profit from it. “The Civic Society is of the view that the building’s materials are worth a great deal. “At a time of financial adversity, the council should be looking to make best use of assets, not give them away. “And we think the council is acting irresponsibly by not investigating alternative uses for the building.” One use could be housing – and the society highlighted to Kirklees other schemes where old school buildings were turned into flats. Erica added: “Kirklees Council is under pressure to increase the sup-

Man falls from bridge into River Calder

Doomed ... the Foundation Building at Whitcliffe Mount School ply of housing sites in its district. Its new draft Local Plan is having to use green belt sites in the Spen Valley for housing in order to fulfil its housing quota. “Recycling the

Foundation Building for housing would contribute to the housing stock as it is a sustainable location within easy reach of Cleckheaton town centre services and transport connections.”

A MAN was rescued by police after falling into the River Calder in Dewsbury on Tuesday night. The 55-year-old man is thought to have fallen from a bridge on Mill Street West near Asda at around 7pm. He had earlier been seen on the bridge and concerned witnesses called the emergency services. Police, firefighters and ambulance crews attended and from the river bank helped pull the man from the water. The man was taken to hospital but his condition was unknown as The Press went to print. On Boxing Day the River Calder in Dewsbury peaked at a new record level of 5.61m due to flooding. Its normal level is 2.218m and the river remained swollen in the days after last Saturday. A police spokesman said: “Police were called to Mill Street West at around 7pm on Tuesday evening following a report of a concern for safety. “A 55-year-old man had entered the water and was assisted from the river bank by officers and was taken to hospital.”

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

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ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

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ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

OUT WITH THE IN WITH THE

NEW

Making a fresh start with new goals By Steve Martyn THE New Year is a time to throw out the old and bring in the new and the turn of the year provides the ideal opportunity for a fresh start. The New Year is a chance for a new you. Many people make New Year’s resolutions that don’t last beyond a couple of days. But instead of making unrealistic demands on yourself why not make small, but significant, promises you can keep? Most people vow to get fit in the New Year and gym memberships soar as people want to shape up for spring. People start out with the best of intentions but soon fall by the wayside. Set yourself achievable goals and reward yourself as you tick off each one. Don’t over-burden yourself with big targets. The key to success is proving to yourself that you can improve your life step by step and that the improvement can continue long term. Whatever you want to

achieve must be worthwhile and there must be tangible benefits. The boost to your health and wealth by giving up smoking, for example, can provide the motivation to stay off the cigarettes. Willpower is vital to

release the new you. Most people can muster the determination to start. It is the willpower to continue into January and beyond that is the difficult part. Drawing up a list of New Year’s resolutions is easy but pick the one you desire most of all and concentrate all your efforts on making it last. Your New Year’s resolution doesn’t have to be life-changing. It can be about making small differences in your daily routine – like keeping your desk tidy, washing the car or recycling your newspapers. The New Year is a time to give yourself a mental and physical boost. January can be dark and cold and a little pick-me-up like treating yourself to some new clothes or sorting out teething problems around the house – can lift your spirits.

A break from the booze WANT a chance to lose weight, feel better, save money and make a difference? Why not sign up to Dry January the 31-day alcohol-free challenge? January is a good time to give your body a break, and cutting down the amount of alcohol you consume is a good start. A month off alcohol can boost your energy levels and improve your sleep, give you a sense of achievement and can save you money too. Even six months after taking part in Dry January, evidence from Alcohol Concern shows that two-thirds of participants are still drinking less and feeling better as a result. Dry January is not about never drinking again. It just gives you the opportunity to give your body a break from alcohol and see the benefits. Although men drink more and are more likely to suffer from related liver conditions, the impact of drinking on women is increasing every year. Evidence shows that, for women, the risk of developing breast cancer increases with the amount drunk. Reducing your drinking is one simple way of helping to protect your health – and it can also help you to manage conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Coun Viv Kendrick, cabinet member with responsibility for public , said: “Taking a month off alcohol is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your health in January. “It also gives you a real sense of achievement and on top of all that you can save money and lose weight too after the Christmas festivities. “Why not try a break from booze and sign up to Dry January?” Over two million people took part in Dry January in 2015. Many found that taking the month-long break from alcohol acted as a reset button for their alcohol use in the months

afterwards. It helped them to drink less per day, and to drink less frequently. Dry January is an initiative from Alcohol Concern, providing support for those signing up, including on Facebook and by text. Public Health England and local authorities like Kirklees Council get involved with other organisations to raise awareness of alcohol issues and the impact it can have on health and communities. For more information visit www.dry january.org.uk.

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Setting The Standards

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

Hear Ann across the BBC radio network

Billy Pearce: I want to do panto in Bradford forever... WAS lucky enough to go and see West Yorkshire’s biggest and most spectacular pantomime stars – Alhambra Theatre favourite Billy Pearce along with actress and television presenter Lisa Riley, John Challis (Only Fools and Horses) and Jake Canuso (Benidorm) – in this year’s show. Billy tells me: “I aim to be here in Bradford for at least 25 years plus, I have found my natural home and the shows get bigger and better every year.” The panto is booking until January 24 2016.

Pick up pro tips All welcome to PHOTOGRAPHY courses are being run at Oakwell Hall in Birstall in the New Year. Courses for beginners to digital photography and SLR cameras will be held on Saturdays January 23 and February 6. A further course for those keen to learn more about advanced settings and techniques is being run on Saturday March 19. The courses are delivered by professional photographer Patrick Crowley. They run from 9.45am to 4.30pm and cost £20 per person. Places must be booked in advance by contacting Oakwell Hall Visitor Centre on 01924 324761.

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 MONDAY JANUARY 4 SUNDAY JANUARY 10 GOMERSAL CIRCULAR (NK) BOTH SIDES OF THE VALLEY (NK) Meet 1pm top car park Meet 11am Heckmondwike Oakwell Hall WF17 9LG Market Place WF16 0EZ GR SE 217 270 GR SE 215 234 5 miles (M) No dogs 6.5 miles (M) No dogs Leader: Kathleen O’Shea Leader: Geoff Tel: 01924 471473 Tel: 01422 379921

come and dance BRIGHOUSE Scottish Country Dance Club are holding their open night dance on Saturday, February 13. Whether you are new to Scottish dancing or an experienced dancer, you will be welcome at the friendly club, which has members of all ages. You don’t need experience or a partner to take part in their weekly dance meetings. Open night is every second Saturday of the month, when many dancers come from other clubs and there is also a weekly meeting at Waring Green Community Centre, Brighouse HD6 2AX every Thursday at 7.30pm. Call Pat on 01484 685072 for details.

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Fairytales and gothic dreams THERE’S a treat in store in the New Year for fans of the History Wardrobe, with two very different presentations in two of the district’s museums. A dazzling fairy godmother will dress Cinderella for her glorious ball in ‘Fairytale Fashion’ at Batley’s Bagshaw Museum on Saturday February 13, as the enchanting history of the ‘Princess dress’ is unfolded. Favourite stories will be used to help visitors explore the world of magical clothes – from the red riding hood and cloaks of invisibility to seven league boots and the legendary glass slippers. In stark contrast Gothic for Girls, at Red House Museum in Gomersal on Sunday

February 28, showcases sinister women and the enduring lure of black in fashion. The presentation combines shiveringly beautiful costumes and darkly dramatic readings from the best of British ‘gothic’ writing, including Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Mary Shelley, Mrs Radcliffe, Charles Dickens and Horace Walpole – and coming right up to date with The Woman in Black.

B o t h presentat i o n s start at 2pm and l a s t approximately t w o hours. Tickets f o r ‘Fairytale Fashion’ are £12.50 and are available from Bagshaw Museum, in Wilton Park, or by calling 01924 324765. Tickets for ‘Gothic for Girls’ cost £10.50, including a complimentary drink, and are available from Red House on Oxford Road, or by calling 01274 335056/ 07773 212763. Access to the Red House presentation is via stairs and early booking is advised for both events.

DOWNTON ABBEY actress Michelle Dockery who played Lady Mary in the drama, tells me that she knows she will never have such a high-profile role again. “It’s obvious and such a thrill that you get a chance to see your career go this way. I am not sure why people like Lady Mary, but they seem to for some reason,” she giggled. AMANDA ABBINGTON has revealed that Brighton-based BBC One cop show Cuffs won’t be returning for a second series. The actress tells me: “We were all shocked that it won’t be coming back, it appears it was liked by the fans, but the BBC have decided against a second stint.” BRITISH ventriloquist Paul Zerdin says life has got crazy since he won America’s Got Talent and the $1 million prize in September. “I did enter really just for the exposure, I thought it would help with my career in the US, but to win the show was well beyond my wildest dreams. What a chance I took too,” he said. AFTER Jamelia’s exit from Strictly Come Dancing and claims that Peter Andre’s standing ovation was filmed again for the dance-off, rumours of a fix have been circulating, but Len Goodman has put a stop to them. He tells me: “I think it’s a lot of sour grapes to be honest, and of course it keeps their names in the papers. They are not fixed, and we have no idea what or who is going to win ... that is the truth.” LEGENDARY children’s TV presenter Derek Griffiths is to join the cast of Coronation Street, playing a pensioner. He tells me: “I loved it and hope it may be a role that pops up now and again. I have watched the show all my life, so to get that call to appear, was heaven, it’s not

Ann Montini and Billy Pearce Maycon Pictures

quite all sunk in yet.” FORMER EastEnders star John Partridge, who has appeared in theatre productions including Cats and Miss Saigon, has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Big Brother. John tells me: “I think it’s basically an entertainment show, and so many other people have done it so why not me too?” STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke is worried that at the age of 50 he may be forced to retire and make way for younger dancers on the show. A source tells me: “Ideally he would love to join the judging panel at some stage, and everyone thought he could have taken over from Sir Bruce, but he was left stunned when it went to Claudia Winkleman instead.” FORMER S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt is set for a new role as a regular character, Mercedes Christie, in the long-running BBC One medical drama Casualty. She tells me: “We did reunite for a tour and one-off promotion, but acting is what I have now in mind for my career. You can’t be a pop star forever, jumping around the stage, can you?” THE X FACTOR live final drew its lowest-ever ratings after figures slumped to a disappointing 5.95million viewers. Insiders at ITV will be viewing this with worry, as the new contract for the next batch of shows is under review. Despite all the changes that Simon Cowell made, the show is seen by

many to be past its best, and ITV may even “rest” the show. ALAN CARR’S New Year Specstacular 2015 was filmed at the start of December, and it’s all down to costs, I can reveal. Insiders on the show tell me: “We film extra interviews with our most popular guests, and then edit them into a special. It’s cost-effective and Alan’s fans get to see people they enjoy.” EASTENDERS actor Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter in the soap, tells me that he plans to stay with the show for the foreseeable future. “I do enjoy the show and there is a lot of scope with Mick, plus I am hopeful the BBC may look into other options with me as an actor ... I would be very happy with that,” he said. VETERAN actress Hayley Mills currently starring in pantomime at Richmond in West London tells me that she still misses appearing in the hit drama ‘Wild At Heart’. “It was such fun and a great place to film,” she said. “I do hope we get to do one of those reunion shows with all the cast at some time in the future, it would be a highlight for me.” LENNY HENRY has decided to set up his own production company to secure more work after a move into acting on stage and screen. He reveals: “I like the idea of being in control and this gives me that option, so we will see how it goes.”

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

07934 603470. (1780)

How to advertise... There are THREE ways to place your advert: 1) Ring Adele on 01924 470296 (9.30am-2pm Tuesday to Thursday). Have your advert ready and you can pay by debit card (30p surcharge). 2) Come into the offices of The

NEW Dyson ball vacuum cleaner, only two years old, in very good condition. Hardly used £100. Tel 01924 48613. (1835) Stunning, ornate, Japanese-style, lacquered, oval occasional table with six buffets, in dark red wood, with removable glass top, and mother of pearl decorations. £600 ono. Tel 07952 526527 after 2pm. (1831) Pretty pink dralon chaise longue, with gold and pink fringing. Never used, bargain at £50. Buyer collects. Tel 07979 794161. (1832) New this year, threeand two-seater settees, two-seater has recliners, Mink colour, £340 for both. Buyer must collect. Cal 01924 464491/ 07873 426740. (1833) Treadmill ‘Dynamix’, motorised with distance/ time set/ speed/ calories/ pulse; low mileage, good condition £125. Tel 01924 458658. (1834) Computer desk, wood/metal with pull out shelf £12. Tel 01924 458658. (1834) Computer armchair in black PVC, with height adjustment £12. Tel 01924 458658. (1834) Clear glass, threetier TV table, with chrome effect trim £12. Tel 01924 458658. (1834) BABY/ CHILDREN’S GOODS Mothercare cot bed in pine, Chico hi-chair and safety gate. All in good condition £80. Tel 01924 403625. (Can deliver if required). (1776) CHRISTMAS B&Q Christmas tree, woodland pine, 1.83cm (6ft), sectional, boxed, used once £10. Tel

Press at 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB and pay by cash, cheque or debit card (30p surcharge). 3) Post your advert to us at The Press with details of your name and a contact number. Include

07909 742005. (1809) COLLECTIBLES Seven different boxed Victorian dolls, porcelain 12” high, with stands. Brand-new, in boxes £5 each ono, or £30 for all. Tel 07806 431728. (1823) Dolls house – never played with. Stands 5 foot 10. Consists of three floors and basement. Fully decorated, wired and furnished. Come complete with display unit, separates into four pieces. £600 ono. Tel: 07791 294963 (1783). ELECTRICAL Epson Stylus SX425 3-in-1 printer/ scanner/ copier. Wi-fi, boxed, very good condition £25. Mirfield 01924 491306. (1827) Ingersoll Rand V twin air compressor, suitable for garage or home use, 250v electrics, good working order. Reluctant sale £100 no offers. Tel 01924 451024. (1793) Bosch dishwasher with three heat settings, in very good condition £50. Tel 01924 440755. (1791) Oreck Excel Pro vacuum cleaner in black. Excellent clean condition and working order. One light at front not working. Accept £70 ono. Tel: 01924 609015 (1785) Mira Sport thermostatic electric shower, very good condition £50. Tel 01924 496345. (1781) Hotpoint Ice diamond under counter fridge, very good condition £50. Tel 01924 496345. (1781) FABRIC/ FASHION/ CLOTHING Ladies sheepskin jacket, size 12, light brown, VGC, cost over £200, too small now, bargain at £30. Tel 07786 404627. (1819) Two leather jackets, 44” reg, one black and one brown, as new £7.

cheque for payment. ADVERTS must be no longer than 50 words. When your item(s) are sold ring 01924 470296 to cancel. All unsold adverts will stay in the paper for a MAXIMUM OF TWO MONTHS.

Tel 01274 876814 (Gomersal). (1798) Curtains pair lined, wine-coloured, velour 66” x 54” drop, very good condition £30. Tel 07786 404627. (1794) FURNITURE Four ladder-back pine dining chairs with seat covers. Excellent condition, like new £60 ono. Tel 01924 485972. (1824)

tee and two chairs £60, buyer collects. Tel 01924 473676. (1797) Nest of medium oak coffee tables, solid wood, in good condition £7. Tel 01274 876814 (Gomersal). (1798) TV stand, black glass & chrome, 3 tier 19” high x 23” wide x 16” deep, good quality £7. Tel 01274 876814 (Gomersal). (1798)

Three-piece suite comprising threeseater settee and two man & lady recliner chairs, in very good condition, £300 for quick sale. Tel 01924 465808. (1825)

Three-seater settee and two armchairs, in pale green with traditional pattern, goodcondition £100, buyer to collect. Tel 01924 266694. (1787)

Sofa bed in light blue/ grey. Metal action, full mattress, as new. Cost £1,000 will accept £550. Buyer collects. Tel 01924 473376. (1817)

Solid pine table plus four chairs, measures 90cm (W) x 160cm (L) £100 ono. Tel 01924 671065/ 07787 113980. Buyer collects. (1788)

Metal computer trolley, silver with sliding shelf for keyboard. (H) 78cm x (W) 70cm x (D) 55cm. Ex-Argos, excellent condition £20. Tel 01924 461639. (1818)

Period writing bureau in dark oak. Drawer, cupboard and writing slope. Drop down lid with key. Nine hatches inside and two drawers. Width 30 inches by height 39 inches. £65 ono. Tel: 01924 609015 (1785)

Three-shelf black glass TV stand, chrome legs. As new, two years old £15. Tel Tel 07909 742005. (1809) Stag mahogany fivedrawer dressing table, three detachable mirrors. Could be used as hall table £25 ONO. Tel 07806 431728. (1803) Two high back swivel chairs in grey material, very good condition, bargain £50 each. Tel 01924 410973/ 075197 25771. (1802) Two black leather twoseater sofas, chrome feet, very good condition, £100 each, also matching large coffee table in clear glass/chrome, offers. Buyer collects Tel 01924 401729/ 402077. (1800) Over bed wardrobe unit (Littlewoods), new, oak, 10 months old, cost £280, sell for £125. Buyer collects 07786 404627. (1794) Cane conservatory suite, two-seater set-

GARDEN Well-rotted horse manure (no straw), five bags £10. Free local delivery. Ring Ken 01924 409540/ 07922 186721. (1814) Two bamboo plants for sale 7ft high in large pots. £20 each. Tel: 07964 607502 (1780). HOUSEHOLD Aluminium two-way combination ladder, hardly used; many different positions, for wide variety of uses £40 (can deliver locally). Tel 07775 774253. (1789) Centre light shade. Two tier opaque glass. Approx 10-inch diameter. No chips or scratches. £15. Tel: 01924 609015 (1785) Inset Ceramic bathroom sink complete with chrome taps £25. Tel 01924 496345. (1781) Mobility walk-in bath

PETS Large dog travel crate in hard-wearing plastic, (L) 29” x (W) 21” x (H) 22” approx. good condition £20. Tel 07934 603470. (1780)

PRICE SYSTEM ITEM bands

Cost per item

Up to £7 £8 - £25 £26 - £50 £51- £100 £101-£200 £201-£500 £501-£1450 £1,451 plus complete with taps, very good condition £200. Tel 01924 496345. (1781) MISCELLANEOUS Lightweight, aluminium transit wheelchair, with handle brakes. 20” wide seat, max carry weight 20 stone. Colour two shades grey. Cost new £178, used three times (bought for operation), bargain at £95. Tel 01274 861430 (Gomersal). (1815) Black leather brief case, as brand-new £7. Tel 01274 876814

£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11 (Gomersal). (1798) Shopping trolley on four wheels. Tartan bag with cover. Aids mobility and balance. £8. Tel: 01924 609015 (1785) MOTORING Space saver wheel, complete with tyre 125/70R 16 and canvas zip bag, never used £75. Tel 01924 454664. (1810) Set of three new genuine Ford Mondeo 2000 on/Ford Focus MkZ 16” wheel trim hub caps £8 each or £20 for all three. Tel

SPORTING/ OUTDOOR/ FITNESS Muddy Fox dual suspension bike. Tornado 6 speed 20” x 1.95” wheels. Excellent condition £30. Tel 01924 409179. (1826) BMX Universal bike 14” wheels £15. Tel 01924 409179. (1826) Golf clubs, bag, balls, 2 x hand carts with accessories £100 for quick sale. Tel 01924 465808. (1825) Olympus 20kg chrome dumbell set, in carrying case, as new £25 ono. Tel 01924 505834. (1822) Step aerobic, abs roller, plus various other keep-fit items £10. Tel 07806 431728. (1816) Girls/ladies Apollo cycle, 18 gears, front suspension, lights back & front, excellent condition £25. Tel 01274 876814 (Gomersal). (1798) Boys’ bike Ridgeback

MX 20”, very good condition, front shock absorbers, gears £48. Tel 01924 471481. (1796) Treadmill, like new (Argos own), folds up for storage, no longer used as joined a gym, £45 was £100 new. Tel Julie on 07900 865715 or 01924 627596. (1782) TOYS AND GAMES Boys bike Sabre GTX, 5 speed. Front wheel 20” x 2.25”, rear 20” x 3” £15. Tel 01924 409179. (1826) Mamas & Papas dolls buggy, excellent condition £25. Tel 01924 409179. (1826) 18 Barbie dolls (inc 4 mermaids) £30. Tel 01924 409179. (1826) Barbie two-tier dolls house; pulls up for storage £10 ono. Tel 07806 431728. (1823) Six x 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, new unopened £20. Tel 07934 603470. (1780) Child’s wooden chalettype open-plan dolls house with wooden furniture plus four wooden dolls, very good condition £10. Tel 07934 603470. (1780)

The Railway Inn ------------------------------

Mirfield

------------------------------

NEW YEAR’S EVE DISCO & FEMALE VOCALIST

Æ 7pm until late - Free Buffet Lunch Menu Available Tues-Sat 12-5pm

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Sunday Lunch 1 Course £6.95 2 Courses £7.95 3 Courses £9.95

Restaurant Opening Times

Tue-Thu 5-9pm, Fri-Sat-Sun 5-8pm Traditional Sunday Lunch 12-5pm

Evening Menu 2 Courses £11.95

212 Huddersfield Road, Mirfield ------------------------------ 01924 504410 ------------------------------

Thursday December 31, 2015

ThePress

EASY ways to book your advert: • Ring us on 01924 470296 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) • E-mail classified at advertising@thepressnews.co.uk • Post or bring your details to: The Press, 31 Branch Road, Batley WF17 5SB

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Thursday December 31, 2015

ThePress

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SIMPSON DENNIS (Roofing Services)

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ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

LOCAL SPORT

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

Weather disrupts festive programme

Tough start to 2016 for Albion

THE SPORTING schedule over the festive period has been decimated due to the heavy rainfall that saturated much of the north of England. Mirfield was badly affected by the recent flooding, with Battyeford playing fields under several feet of water once again. Cleckheaton RUFC’s Boxing Day friendly at Old Brodleians was cancelled after the hosts’ Woodhead Park home was waterlogged. This week has also seen Kirklees Council cancel all sporting fixtures scheduled to take place on public pitches from New Year’s Day to January 5. Affected leagues have been informed and safety inspections will continue to take place. Officials say there will be extra effort made to prepare the pitches for future fixtures.

OSSETT ALBION could not have a tougher start to the New Year as they prepare to face a visit from current North East Regional League (Southern Division) leaders Farsley Celtic. Celtic have made rapid progress since their promotion from the West Riding County League and are currently unbeaten in 10 league games. Albion have had a stop-start season – not least due to the protracted settlement of their much-postponed County Cup tie at Brighouse Athletic. They have shown some improvement this season but the visit of Celtic this week will certainly put that to the test. There are no fixtures affecting the district’s women’s teams in the County League as Premier Division leaders Ossett Town, First Division Battyeford Belles and Third Division trio Dewsbury Rangers, Battyeford Belles reserves and Ossett Town Development all wait for another week to return to action.

Battyeford’s West Mills playing fields were inundated again after the River Calder burst its banks last weekend Steve Benson

Send your sports reports, news and photos to Joe Link at joe@ thepressnews.co.uk

ThePress

Thursday December 31, 2015

RUGBY LEAGUE: THE ROY POWELL TROPHY

Bulldogs’ Boxing Day dominance continues The Roy Powell Trophy – Friendly DEWSBURY RAMS 4 BATLEY BULLDOGS 12 at the Tetley’s Stadium BATLEY Bulldogs scored two tries in the second half to overturn a narrow half-time deficit and win a fourth consecutive Boxing Day derby. With severe rainfall placing the game in jeopardy, Rams groundsman Paul Moore deserves enormous credit for ensuring that the action went ahead. The hosts handed debuts to new signings Josh Guzdek, Paul Sykes, Dom Speakman, Andy Kain, Matt Groat and Kyle Trout, while there were opportunities for new Bulldogs recruits Dave Scott, Danny Cowling, Dominic Brambani, James Davey and Zack McComb. The conditions took their toll on ball handling and neither side was able to mount much in attack for large periods of the encounter. As is usually the case on this occasion, both teams took the opportunity to regularly rotate their options through the frequent introduction of substitutes, which also contributed to the stop-start nature of the contest. The Rams dominated the penalty count during the early exchanges, with referee Tom Grant frequently penalising the visitors for holding down in the tackle. And their territorial advantage handed Jason Crookes the opportunity to scramble over in the left corner following quick hands.

New signing Kyle Trout was pleased with his first performance for the Rams despite his side being on the wrong end of the result Sykes was unable to convert, but the former Featherstone Rovers player’s territorial kicking helped keep the hosts on top during the opening period. Keegan Hirst and debutant Brambani were stand-outs for Batley during the first 40, and the introduction of James Brown from the bench noticeably lifted the visitors. Crookes had a try ruled out by the touch judge in an identical position, for a forward pass, which offered the Bulldogs hope for the second half – and they started it brilliantly. They regained possession from their kick-off, providing a taster of what

was to come, as John Kear’s men starved the Rams of possession and mercilessly peppered their defensive line with determined drives and dangerous kicks. And it didn’t take long for Batley to take the lead. Shaun Ainscough’s off-the-cuff kick in to the in-goal area was left to trickle to a standstill by the Rams defence, just shy of the dead ball line, allowing former Dewsbury player Alex Bretherton to pounce to the satisfaction of the referee. Brambani added the conversion to make it 4-6 and the visitors quickly extended their lead when Cain

Southernwood’s perfectly-weighted cut-out pass sent Ainsough over on the overlap, and though the winger was able to improve the angle, Brambani scuffed the conversion. The Rams continued to be their own worst enemies, turning over possession on numerous occasions through handling errors and indiscipline, while attacking kicks from Brambani, Southernwood and Pat Walker caused the hosts endless problems. A penalty just over 10 minutes from full-time, booted over by Walker, proved to the be the game-breaker, setting up an eight-point advantage. The Rams finished the game on top, but they were unable to craft out an opportunity to add a second try. A crowd of more than 2,000 braved the biblical weather conditions and, though the game was far from a classic, it offered more than 10 new signings a chance to impress, and left neither coach with further injury problems. The Bulldogs will welcome back Chris Ulugia and Sean Hesketh before the start of the season, while Rams boss Glenn Morrison can look forward to the introduction of Tony Tonks, Scott Hale, Rob Spicer, Aaron Brown, Karl Pryce and Ben Reynolds, who all missed the game through injury, while 2015’s leading try-scorer Dalton Grant was also rested. Both head coaches have their eyes on a top six finish in 2016 and, though it was difficult to conclude much from this first hit-out, the Bulldogs certainly appear to be far better equipped creatively, while the Rams’ strength in depth should also serve them well during the campaign ahead.

PLAYER RATINGS DEWSBURY RAMS Josh Guzdek Dale Morton Shane Grady Paul Sykes Jason Crookes Dom Speakman Andy Kain Ryan Hepworth Tom Hemingway Matt Groat Kyle Trout Toby Adamson Luke Adamson

6 7 6 7 7 6 7 5 6 7 7 6 6

SUBS: Joel Farrell Nathan Conroy Jason Muranka Zach Johnson Jack Teanby Will Forsyth Sam Dunn

7 6 5 7 7 5 6

BATLEY BULLDOGS James Craven Dave Scott Danny Cowling Shaun Squires Shaun Ainscough Cain Southernwood Dominic Brambani Keegan Hirst Alistair Leak Alex Rowe Brad Day Sam Scott Patrick Walker

5 7 6 5 7 7 8 7 6 7 6 6 6

SUBS: Wayne Reittie James Davey Adam Gledhill Tom Lillycrop Alex Bretherton James Brown Zack McComb

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

DEWSBURY RAMS Tries: Crookes (18). Goals: Sykes (0/1).

BATLEY BULLDOGS Tries: Bretherton (46), Ainscough (50). Goals: Brambani (1/2), Walker (1/1). Referee: Tom Grant / HT: 4-0 / Pens: 7-6 / Sin Bin: None / Sent Off: None / MOTM: Dominic Brambani (Batley) / Attendance: 2,123.

NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Albion stun rivals Town with last-gasp winner Evo-Stik First Division North OSSETT TOWN OSSETT ALBION

2 3

at 4G Voice & Data Stadium

Albion player and chairman Dominic Riordan edged his side 2-1 ahead early in the second half Adam Hirst

OSSETT ALBION gave their fans a brilliant Christmas present thanks to a narrow 3-2 away victory over archrivals Ossett Town in the Evo-Stik First Division North table. Albion created the first good opportunity in the local derby, but inform Rob Bordman (pictured right, with the ball) hit his shot straight at Sam Leigh in the Town goal. There were few chances created in the opening exchanges, but Bordman’s early miss was punished when Andy Hawksworth’s deflected shot fooled Brett Souter and put the home side 1-0 in front following a clinical counter attacking move. Albion struggled to play their usual direct, fast-flowing football that has seen them score so many goals this season. But Bordman was on hand to bring

Albion level with another sublime goal. He was found just inside the box with an accurate cross before the striker deceived Leigh with a looping header into the far corner in the 33rd minute. Albion improved after half-time and the pressure on the Town defence soon took its toll. Bordman’s free-kick found Dominic Riordan, who needed no second chances to fire his side 2-1 ahead. But a resolute Town side played football that suggests they should be much higher up the league table. The hosts drew level on the hour mark when the ball broke to David Brown who blasted his shot past Souter and into the net. From then on the game was evenly balanced and either side could be forgiven for settling for a draw, but the two teams desperately wanted the bragging rights and all three points. Both teams showed intent going

forward but the next goal didn’t arrive until the 90th minute. A free-kick from Kieran Thompson was headed across goal by Danny South to Adam Muller who headed it back into the area where Bordman was the quickest to react and he fired the ball into the net for Albion to claim all three points at the death. With the win Albion retained third place in the league table and clinched their second ‘double’ of the season. The defeat means Town languish just three points above the relegation zone.

‘We can take heart’, says Bulldogs boss By Joe Link Sports Reporter joe@thepressnews.co.uk

BATLEY BULLDOGS head coach John Kear is ‘delighted’ with his side’s triumph at Owl Lane In terrible conditions Kear’s men managed to clinch their fourth Boxing Day victory in a row with the help of some new signings, including Dom Brambani, who was the catalyst for Bulldogs’ second-half fightback. “I’m very impressed with how my team performed on the day,” said Kear. “Our main aim was to go out there and put in a good performance and if we managed that the result would look after itself. “It was definitely a day for hard work but the new guys in the team looked good and in the second half we managed to play some creative looking rugby in order to get the win. “That isn’t easy against a side as good as Dewsbury, but I have got what all managers like, which is a selection problem as a result of so many squad members performing at such a high level. “So I am excited to see the guys who didn’t play against Dewsbury in action in our next pre-season match against Heavy Woollen Select. And all the lads who featured against Dewsbury can take heart.”

Another man who can take heart from his efforts on Boxing Day is Dewsbury groundsman Paul Moore, who made the pitch playable despite heavy rainfall in the week leading up to the match. “There was a ground inspection shortly before kick-off and I thought the pitch wouldn’t hold up for 80 minutes,” said Kear. “It looked like the game would be a terrible slog, but I was proved wrong and at times the fans were treated to some good rugby league.” Despite of the win Kear acknowledges his team still have a lot of work to do ahead of their season opener against defending Championship Shield winners Leigh Centurions. “We have things to improve on but that is to be expected at this stage,” said Kear. “I also want us to be in the best possible shape physically, because without a fresh squad you will always struggle in such a competitive league, as we found out last season. “That is why I’m delighted we didn’t pick up any injuries against Dewsbury, the squad should recover quickly and no player will have their pre-season interrupted because of the Boxing Day game.” Batley will also be boosted by the intended return of Chris Ulugia and Sean Hesketh in time for the Mount Pleasant side’s very difficult start to the 2016 Championship campaign.

2015 CHAMPIONSHIP 9th place SUPER 8s 5th in Championship Shield Coach: John Kear Sun, Feb 7 Sun, Feb 14 Sun, Feb 21 Sun, Feb 28 Sun, Mar 6 Sun, Mar 13 Fri, Mar 25 Mon, Mar 28 Sun, Apr 3 Sun, Apr 10 Sun, Apr 24 Sun, May 1 Sun, May 15 Sun, May 22 Sun, May 29 Sun, Jun 5 Sun, Jun 12 Sun, Jun 19 Sun, Jun 26 Sat, Jul 2 Sun, Jul 10 Sun, Jul 17 Sun, Jul 24

Leigh Centurions (H) 3pm Featherstone Rovers (A) 3pm Sheffield Eagles (H) 3pm Halifax (A) 3pm Workington Town (H) 3pm Bradford Bulls (H) 3pm Dewsbury Rams (A) 3pm Whitehaven (H) 3pm Oldham (A) 3pm London Broncos (A) 3pm Swinton Lions (H) 3pm Leigh Centurions (A) 3pm Halifax (H) 3pm Workington Town (A) 3pm Dewsbury Rams (Summer Bash)12.45pm Oldham (H) 3pm Sheffield Eagles (A) TBC Bradford Bulls (A) 3pm Dewsbury Rams (H) 3pm Whitehaven (A) 6.30pm Featherstone Rovers (H) 3pm London Broncos (H) 3pm Swinton Lions (A) 3pm

DEWSBURY RAMS 2016 2015 CHAMPIONSHIP 6th place SUPER 8s 2nd in Championship Shield Coach: Glenn Morrison

Despite a derby day win over rivals Dewsbury, Batley Bulldogs boss John Kear wants more from his side

RAMS POSITIVE AFTER LOSS DEWSBURY RAMS may have come off second best in another Boxing Day derby encounter to Batley, but coach Glenn Morrison remains optimistic having taken several positives from the contest. “We dominated the first half and should have been more than just four points ahead at half-time,” said Morrison. “But we swapped and changed and tried some new things out with it being a friendly and unfortunately in the second half we let that lead slip. “But there were some very encouraging signs and on the whole I am happy as I can be following a defeat.” Dewsbury fans were treated to an array of new signings all making their first team debuts, including local boy Paul Sykes, but it was prop Jack Teanby who stole the limelight after making the step-up to the first team following Grand Final success with the reserves at the end of last season.

BATLEY BULLDOGS 2016

“I was impressed with Jack, he only joined us midway through last season and he’s a young lad too, so to come into the first team and perform as well as he did is a real testament to his professionalism, he has been working very hard and he deserved his chance,” said Morrison. “But I’m happy with the work rate of all the guys, obviously there are areas where we need to improve but that is why we play pre-season games so that we can try out new things and improve on our weaknesses.” One positive Rams fans can take from the game is the fact there are no further injury concerns for Morrison to ponder before his side welcome Sheffield Eagles to the Tetley’s Stadium for their next pre-season friendly, where he will hope to have experienced Karl Pryce and Rob Spicer back from injury, and may also feature Dalton Grant, who was rested for the Boxing Day game.

Sun, Feb 7 Sun, Feb 14 Sun, Feb 21 Sun, Feb 28 Sun, Mar 6 Sat, Mar 12 Fri, Mar 25 Mon, Mar 28 Sun, Apr 3 Sun, Apr 10 Sun, Apr 24 Sun, May 1 Sat, May 14 Sun, May 22 Sun, May 29 Sun, Jun 5 Sun, Jun 12 Sun, Jun 19 Sun, Jun 26 Sun, Jul 3 Sun, Jul 10 Sun, Jul 17 Sun, Jul 24

Swinton Lions (A) 3pm Workington Town (H) 3pm Oldham (A) 3pm Whitehaven (H) 3pm Featherstone Rovers (A) 3pm London Broncos (A) 3pm Batley Bulldogs (H) 3pm Sheffield Eagles (A) TBC Leigh Centurions (H) 3pm Bradford Bulls (H) 3pm Halifax (A) 3pm Sheffield Eagles (H) 3pm Whitehaven (A) 6.30pm Featherstone Rovers (H) 3pm Batley Bulldogs (Summer Bash) 12.45pm Bradford Bulls (A) 3pm Oldham (H) 3pm Halifax (H) 3pm Batley Bulldogs (A) 3pm London Broncos (H) 3pm Workington Town (A) 3pm Swinton Lions (H) 3pm Leigh Centurions (A) 3pm