The Press – Friday January 3, 2020

ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley

Friday January 3, 2020

No. 926

50p

BANK BODY: THREE ARRESTS SEALED OFF: Commercial Street in Batley was cordoned off after the discovery in the old Yorkshire Bank building

Family ‘prays for justice’ after Asghar, 39, found dead in ‘disused’ Batley building

By Staff Reporters THREE people have been arrested after police confirmed the identity of a man whose body was found inside a former bank building in Batley.

Asghar Badshah, who was 39 and from Bradford, was discovered at the disused Yorkshire Bank premises on Commercial Street on Sunday.

Mr Badshah had been missing since December 4.

It is reported that his body was

found in a wall cavity at the bank, which closed in 2016.

Two men, aged 27 and 30, and a 41year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Both men have been released under investigation and the woman is on bail pending further enquiries.

Police forced entry to the building at around 2pm on Sunday, December 29, and the road outside was shut off for the rest of the day whilst investigations took place.

Dozens of officers were seen entering the premises.

Det Chief Insp Heather Whoriskey, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry team, said: “Enquiries are continuing into the death of Mr Badshah, who was reported missing on December 4.

“We believe he was last seen in the early hours of November 30 and I would appeal to anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity in Commercial Street around that time or since to contact my team, so we can establish if this is linked to our investigation.”

Mr Badshah’s family have paid tribute to him in a heartfelt statement, which reads: “We as a family are deeply shocked and devastated by the loss of our dear brother Asghar Badshah.

“His beautiful smile and charisma, as well as his generosity, will never be forgotten. We as a family please ask for privacy during our time of grief as our elderly mother is deeply upset at this time.

“We pray for justice for Asghar and appeal to the public for any assistance they can provide to the police in this investigation.”

Victim Asghar Badshah ... “a beautiful smile and charisma”

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Friday January 3, 2020

Deaths BROMLEY Arron Suddenly on 25th December in Peterborough.

Husband of Rosemary, son of Carol and the late Terry. Brother of John and father to Lewis and Abigail.

HARWOOD ARRON JOHN On December 22, of Batley, aged 49, son of Stan and Moya. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Tuesday January 7 at 10.30am.

MASON JOAN On December 14, late of St Peg Lane, Cleckheaton, formerly of Hightown, aged 99, wife of the late Irwin. Funeral service will

Family notices in The Press

take place at St John’s Church, Cleckheaton, on Thursday January 9 at 12.15pm.

Although we carry some abridged funeral notices, we cannot guarantee inclusion. However you can ensure information about your loved ones, whether that be a death/funeral notice, an acknowledgement or a birthday memory, reaches by far the most readers in North Kirklees.

What’s more, Family Notices in The Press are significantly more affordable than other newspapers. For personal service, from a local business, call us on 01924 470296.

Notices can be taken until 1.30pm on Thursdays.

MCKENNA PETER ANTHONY THOMAS On December 18, suddenly at home in Birstall, aged 69, husband of the late Sylvia. Funeral service will take place at Birstall Methodist Church on Wednesday January 15 at 11am.

SMITH DENNIS STEPHEN

Emergency services at the scene of the blast at the former HSBC bank premises in Hick Lane, Batley Picture: Mike Clark

On December 21, at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, aged 63, fiance of Lynda and husband of the late Allyson. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday January 6 at 2pm.

Place your family notices by calling 01924 470296 or visit our office at 31 Branch Road, Batley, WF17 5SB

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Five held over blast at former bank premises

FIVE men have been arrested following a huge explosion at a building in Batley last February.

Mystery has surrounded the blast for months, with police remaining tight-lipped about the incident at the two-storey former HSBC premises on Hick Lane.

Six people aged between 35 and 39 suffered severe burns and were treated in hospital after the explosion and fire, which left the building in ruins. Nearby properties were also damaged.

The Grade II-listed mid-19th century building had been converted into flats after several years of use as a nightclub.

Nine years for driver who caused road-crash death A CLECKHEATON man has been jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving.

Adam Kershaw, 29, of Booth Street, was travelling on the A65 near Settle, North Yorkshire in July, 2018, when he collided with a black Peugeot.

Joe Keane, who was travelling with his girlfriend in the vehicle,

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A West Yorkshire Police spokesman this week confirmed: “Enquiries are ongoing. Five men aged between 36 and 40 were arrested on suspicion of arson and drugs offences in connection with the incident and are currently on bail.”

At the time of the explosion, sources told The Press that it was linked to a drugs factory being operated from the property.

A large number of small flammable gas cylinders were discovered inside a flat in the building.

But a fire service report concluded: “The cause of the fire was thought to be accidental.”

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

www.thepressnews.co.uk @ThePressLatest /ThePressNews Publisher: Danny Lockwood Reporters: Zoë Shackleton & Connor Teale Sports Reporter: Stephen Ibbetson Photography: Mike Clark & YappApp Graphic Designer: Craig Moore Sales Manager: Lucy Tissiman Key Account Manager: Jo Gilbert Senior Sales Executive: Janet Black Classified Sales Executive: Rachael Hall Office Manager: Angela Hall

died as a result of the collision.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Kershaw was driving a Mercedes horsebox which he had adapted into a campervan.

He was accompanied by three passengers, two of whom were on a sofa nailed to the floor of the vehicle.

Kershaw was 2.8 times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of The Press abides by the the crash and drove principles of the Independent dangerously for 28 Press Standards Organisation miles. and at all times attempts to The court was told report fairly and accurately his manner of driving and correct mistakes or prompted four memerrors as soon as possible. bers of the public to In the first instance, contact call 999. the editor, otherwise we will Before the smash, be happy to give details of the Kershaw collided Independent Press with a bridge, causStandards Organisation. ing £3,100 of damage, but failed to stop.

If you notice a factual Kershaw, who had inaccuracy, please email previously pleaded news@thepressnews.co.uk. guilty to killing Joe You can also write to Keane, admitted five The Press, more charges includ31 Branch Road, Batley, ing causing death WF17 5SB while unlicensed, causing death while We adhere to the Editors’ uninsured, two Code of Practice as enforced counts of possessing

by IPSO, who are contactable class A drugs and one for advice at: count of possessing IPSO, Gate House, class B drugs.

1 Farringdon Street, He was banned London, EC4M 7LG from driving for 11Website: www.ipso.co.uk and-a-half years on Email: advice@ipso.co.uk top of his jail senTelephone: 0300 123 2220 tence.

ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

Two men flee with cash in knife raid on store POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a convenience store in Dewsbury.

Kirklees District CID would like to speak to anyone who may have information about the raid at Costcutters, on Brunswick Street, Westborough, on the evening of Friday, December 27.

Two masked men entered the store at around 8.30pm and threatened a female member of staff with a knife.

The men, described as Asian, fled with a quantity of cash but did not harm the employee.

One man is said to have been wearing a mustard-coloured Puffa jacket and cream tracksuit bottoms.

The other was wearing a black Puffa jacket and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with any information should contact Kirklees District CID on 101, referencing crime number 13190660742.

News In Brief Driver on trial for six attempted murders

Big-hearted... volunteers who teamed up to provide a free Christmas dinner

Big-hearted Michelle and friends lay on free festive cheer for 250

By Zoe Shackleton AROUND 250 people were treated to a free festive lunch in Dewsbury on Christmas Day. Mother-of-three Michelle Hainsworth, of Dewsbury Cares Community Group, has hosted the event at Longcauseway Church for the past five years, after first organising it at her home in Batley Carr.

Michelle, 55, wanted to help those less fortunate than herself and gives up her time every Christmas to make sure the lunch goes ahead. Due to increasing demand, she has had to change the venue three times – from her home to the cafe in Crow Nest Park and now Longcauseway.

With the help of more

Deposed MP tells of ‘crater-sized hole’ in her life FORMER Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff has told of the “cratersized hole” in her life after losing her seat in last month’s General Election.

In her first interview since her defeat she told the Yorkshire Post: “I didn’t have a day off in the entire six or seven-week campaign. I didn’t even take half a day off – I couldn’t have done any more.”

Miss Sherriff conceded she knew her chances of retaining the Dewsbury seat, which she had held since 2015, were minimal when she first saw the exit poll.

“I knew then that I’d lost. It was about national swing unfortunately.

“Everybody in the room was saying ‘you’ll be fine’, they said Dewsbury would buck the trend.

“I said ‘we’ve lost, we need to accept it’.”

Her fears were con-

Pictures: Idris Mansoor Photography

firmed in the early hours of December 13, when it was announced Tory Mark Eastwood had taken the seat by a majority of 1,561.

“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “You can’t move away from the fact that the people rejected you, that’s what an election is all about, there’s got to be losers.

“You literally just want to hide away and go where nobody knows you. Politics is absolutely brutal, you can’t compare it to anything.”

As Miss Sherriff looks towards a life outside of politics for the foreseeable future, she reflected on her time in Parliament.

“I don’t regret anything and I don’t regret any (of my) votes,” she said.

“I was a really diligent MP. I don’t want to sound arrogant but I gave it everything.”

than 50 volunteers from the Dewsbury Cares group, Michelle welcomed hundreds of people for Christmas dinner. They all received presents.

Food and drink was donated by Dewsbury’s Asda and Sainsbury stores, as well as local businesses and individuals. A group of firefighters from Dewsbury Fire Station also helped serve people their dinners.

Community volunteer Janet Gregory said: “This day could not be possible without the generosity of people. This Christmas Day event is truly a team community effort.”

Michelle Hainsworth with volunteer helpers Clare Costello and Katie Learman

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CLECKHEATON: A man remains in custody charged with six counts of attempted murder after an Audi ploughed into a group of pedestrians.

Andrew Wrigglesworth, 49, will appear at Leeds Crown Court on January 20, accused of driving the vehicle at the pedestrians on Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, at around 12.40am on Sunday, December 22.

He appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court the next day and was remanded in custody.

Clare’s dad honoured BATLEY: A man whose daughter was murdered by her boyfriend in 2009 is to be honoured for his role in helping to save women’s lives at the hands of abusive partners.

Michael Brown successfully campaigned for ‘Clare’s Law’ to be passed in England in 2014, and UK-wide by 2018. It allows women to find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence. Mr Brown will be awarded a British Citizen Award at this month’s ceremony at the Palace of Westminster.

Shannon mum to wed DEWSBURY: Disgraced mum Karen Matthews is engaged to marry a new partner.

Matthews, 44, formerly of Dewsbury Moor, was jailed for eight years in 2008 for perverting the course of justice and the kidnap and false imprisonment of her daughter Shannon.

Now the mum of seven, released under a new identity in April, 2012, is to wed her handyman fiance, whom she met after moving to the south of England.

Shannon Matthews was tied up and drugged in a sick plot to claim £50,000 in reward money.

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Friday January 3, 2020

News In Brief List of nominees for Yorkshire awards NORTH KIRKLEES: A host of businesses and individuals from the borough are among the nominees for this year’s Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Those up for honour include Beanie Media, of Dewsbury, and Mirfield’s EJ Events for Business of the Year; Andrew Bean, of Cleckheaton and Jacob Smith, Batley, for Businessman of the Year; LMB Group, Cleckheaton, for Charitable Business and Independent Business of the Year; Stevie Morley, Dewsbury, for the Kate Grainger Award and Inspirational Individual of the Year (Tanisha Bramwell, Dewsbury, is also nominated); Stevie Morley and Philip Vernon, Birstall, for Volunteer of the Year; Tanisha Bramwell, Andrew Bean and Take Ten for Local Fundraiser of the Year.

To vote, go to www.yorkshirechoiceawards.co.uk.

Death collision driver avoids jail

By Staff Reporters THE motorist who struck and killed an elderly woman outside the Fox’s Biscuits factory in Batley has avoided jail.

Harisa Patel, 32, of Oakhill Road, Batley, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work.

She was disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to

pay prosecution costs of £420.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Patricia Goddard, 76, was walking to her Wellington Street home on August 31, 2018, when she was struck by a silver Kia Cee’d driven by Patel.

The court was told that Patel didn’t slow down to give herself enough time to react before the collision, despite the sun creating a glare on her windscreen.

Patel’s car struck the victim at a speed of 29mph, propelling her five

or six feet into the air. Mrs Goddard suffered fractures to her skull, spine and pelvis as well as brain haemorrhaging. She was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

In her first police interview, Patel claimed that the victim walked straight out in front of her, giving her no time to take evasive action.

But the court heard that Mrs Goddard was visible to Patel for six seconds and skid marks on the

road indicated she had braked just one-and-a-half seconds before the collision.

Soheil Khan, prosecuting, said Patel should have reduced her speed and that the collision should have been avoided by use of emergency brakes.

Geraldine Kelly, mitigating, told the court her client was remorseful and didn’t leave the house for three months after the incident.

She is on medication for anxiety and a waiting list for counselling.

challenges. A total of 24 aviation certificates were handed out, including seven first flight, four ground school, 10 blue wings and three bronze wings, plus 31 awards representing academic progress through various programmes.

Flight sergeants Jonathan Barrett and Rebecca Jagger were promoted, as were sergeants Sam

Cookland, Freya Pugh and Jacob Stockwell.

Flt Lt Peter Doubell said: “The past year has certainly been a very hectic one and cadets, staff and committee have all had to work very hard to maintain the momentum.

“But all that effort has resulted in some great success for the cadets, which we have recognised.”

Dogged police work LIVERSEDGE: A man has been charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker after initially being caught by a police dog.

Andrew Naylor attacked two officers in the early hours of Thursday, December 19, when they were called to reports of him carrying a knife in the Millbridge area.

Police dog Macy was deployed to track down the 41-year-old after he fled the scene, and after a 25-minute search she located him hidden under an upturned sofa on Albion Street.

Neither officer involved in the incident reported themselves injured.

Naylor has since been released on bail and is due to appear at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on January 20.

Hard work pays off for cadets MORE than 160 certificates were presented to Mirfield Air Cadets and staff at their annual awards evening.

Cadets, parents and friends, staff, committee members and guests gathered at Christ the King Church

to celebrate the achievements of 2019. Cadet Liam Thompson was the big winner, collecting two awards – the Gillian Lockwood Trophy for cadets’ cadet and the president’s cup for efforts to overcome personal

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A CAR dealer in Cleckheaton was fined more than £20,000 for selling ‘dangerous’ secondhand vehicles, some without MOTs. Trade Cars Cleckheaton Ltd and company director Darren Akiens were charged at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court, with advertising cars unfit for the road. The court heard that the dealership was in the top 10 most complained-about West Yorkshire car traders over the past five years.

In March last year, Trading Standards officers and an independent engineer visited the dealership at Cleckheaton Mills, Bradford Road, to inspect some of the vehicles being sold.

Among the defects found were a Kia Cee’d that had failed two MOTs and had brake defects; a Chevrolet Captiva that displayed a selling price on the windscreen £460 higher than the online advert; and a Vauxhall Zafira

that displayed a 12-month MOT when it had in fact expired. Akiens, of York Place, Cleckheaton, pleaded guilty to four offences under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

The firm pleaded guilty to eight similar offences at the same time.

They received a hefty fine of £22,583.

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ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

Bags of kindness for rough sleepers THE Friends of West End Park group in Cleckheaton has been busy filling ‘bags of kindness’ over the Christmas period.

The street survival kits are given to those working to help rough sleepers and include a hat, gloves, socks, a poncho, space blanket, torch and toiletries.

The scheme aims to allow those skilled at identifying the needs of people in tough situations in Kirklees to distribute the bags as they see fit.

Each bag costs around £13 and people can donate towards their contents via West End Park’s Facebook page.

For more information contact Martin Webster on martin@couldbeverse.co.uk.

Tears and anger as planners say floodplain homes ‘worth the risk’

Flooding on Granny Lane in Mirfield

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter A HOUSING estate will be built on a floodplain in Mirfield after planners said it was “worth the risk”.

Residents in Hopton Bottom, close to the River Calder, campaigned against the scheme and said senior figures on Kirklees Council were “hell-bent” on driving the project through. Some were in tears as the 67 homes were approved.

The land off Granny Lane was allocated for housing as part of the coun-

cil’s controversial Local Plan, with Miller Homes due to develop the site.

Residents who formed Granny Lane Area Action Group (GLAAG) to protest against construction work were in Huddersfield Town Hall to voice their concerns.

But after listening to planning officers and drainage experts, members of the Strategic Planning Committee voted in support.

The council’s head of planning, Mathias Franklin, conceded that it was “a challenging site” but that it was allocated for housing within the

Local Plan.

Coun Carole Pattison commented: “We are strapped for housing. The houses are protected. I think it’s worth the risk and I think that’s what the developer has decided.”

Speaking after the meeting, GLAAG campaigner Veronica Maher criticised the committee, describing the moment of approval as “terrible”.

She said: “When Carole Pattison said it was worth the risk, everyone said, ‘What?’ I just burst into tears. I couldn’t believe it.

“She was saying that our lives and our homes are worth risking. I think even the Miller Homes representatives were shocked.

“The committee was flippant, they were laughing. We wasted our time.

They were hell-bent on driving it through.”

Cheryl Tyler, from campaign group Save Mirfield, which has supported GLAAG, took a more aggressive stance.

She accused the council of running a “farcical” planning process in which key evidence had been disregarded to allow the plan to be pre-determined.

She said: “The public consultation date was extended until December 16 but the officer’s report was published on December 12.

“That left just two working days to read and digest anything the public might have submitted during the consultation.

“This is a failure of process, smacking of pre-determination.”

She added: “With one exception – Coun Donald Firth – the planning committee was a joke.”

Members of GLAAG are now considering whether to write to the Ombudsman to raise their concerns that evidence – such as a flood report from a drainage consultancy and a planning lawyer’s letter – were “ignored”.

News In Brief Library events mark Holocaust Memorial MIRFIELD: The town’s library will host two events later this month to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Week.

On Friday, January 24 (11am), supported by the Holocaust Educational Trust, Auschwitz survivor Susan Pollack MBE will recount her experiences via webcast.

On Monday, January 27 (11am), there will be a short talk on the Yugoslavian conflict from Mirfield resident Major David Pinder and the ex-head of police reform in the former Yugoslavia, Philip Tolson.

Holocaust Memorial Week will take place from January 23 to 29, with this year marking 75 years since the liberation of the AuschwitzBirkenau death camp.

Nursery open day MIRFIELD: A new nursery is hosting an open day on Saturday, January 18 (11am-2pm).

Banana Moon Day Nursery is opening in the former Pied Piper Childcare Centre premises on Knowl Road and its new owners are inviting prospective customers to have a look around.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Kirklees, Coun Mumtaz Hussain and Noreen Hussain, will officially open the nursery at noon.

New store in town DEWSBURY: Popular book and stationery retailer The Works has opened a new store in the Princess of Wales Shopping Centre.

The Works has over 540 outlets in the UK and CEO Kevin Keaney said: “We are delighted to bring our unique offer to Dewsbury, generating six new jobs for the area and we look forward to being part of the local community in the years to come.”

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Christmas clangers all around HAPPY new year to one and all. I trust that Santa was good to you and the seasonal merriments passed without too much drama … no black eyes, handcuffs or phone calls to divorce lawyers.

The Lockies came pretty close. Mrs L was singularly unimpressed with the giftwrapped 10-metre extension cord she got, to go with the second-hand (but new to her) vacuum cleaner I bought her last year.

It seems the fact she can now vac upstairs without having to unplug the thing didn’t quite tick the right romantic boxes.

(And I notice that the ‘Lose five stones in five weeks’ book I bought her as an extra treat remains where she threw it under the Christmas

A

tree as well). Some people, eh? Talk about ungrateful…

It was the usual confuzzling female conundrum when it came to my Christmas presents. Because my birthday is in midDecember, Mrs L is always exasperated by my standard reply to the annual question: “What do you want for your birthday/Christmas?”

Me: “There’s nothing I really want or need, darling, except peace on earth and goodwill to all men – plus an extension cord for my lawnmower.”

Mrs L: “You never give me any ideas … come on, there must be something you want.”

Me: “Okay, well, what I’d really really like is one of those electric-powered scooters you see people zipping

Come on... who WOULDN’T want this as a Christmas present? round London on.”

Mrs L: “Why do you want one of those?”

Me: “Erm … so I can give the dog a run instead of a walk.”

Mrs L: “You mean so that you can zip over to the pub

in the next village?”

Me: “Maybe…”

Mrs L: “I’m not getting you one of those!”

You just can’t win, can you?

Christmas Day was happy and peaceful enough – until we went to church. Now, me and daughter are Catholic without being exactly regulars, while Mrs L defines loosely as Christian, in the manner of the majority of Brits.

But it was Christmas Day, we have a beautiful village church and we fancied going along to join in the worship, the carols and enjoy the communal goodwill.

Despite being a ‘left-footer’ of Irish descent I’ve been to lots of Church of England services, but this one was bizarre.

The vicar started by bantering with the organist, we all read a prayer, sang a couple of carols, then he spent

half an hour reading out really bad Christmas cracker jokes and playing with one of the kiddies’ prezzies – a Star Wars light-sabre, which he seemed really taken by.

Then he walked up to our pew and asked me: “So grandad, what did Santa bring you?”

In the stunned silence that didn’t last anything like as long as it felt, I had a vision of my next visit to a Roman Catholic confessional box: “Bless me father for I have sinned … it is six weeks since I chinned a vicar.”

Grandad? Yes, it’s logistically possible years-wise given my ‘middle-aged’ status.

But ‘grandad’? That’s Clive Dunn from the 1970 chart topper, isn’t it? A character from Last of the Summer Wine, or maybe some fat old bloke playing Santa down at the White Rose grotto? And a ‘grandad’ insult from a bloke

at least 10 or 15 years older than me, who I could still throw through the stained glass East Window if so minded?

I mean, it wasn’t even as if my 21-year-old daughter had a baby in her arms … unless he thought SHE was my granddaughter.

I managed a reply of sorts, to the “what did Santa bring you?” part of his remark: “Brexit” I hissed at him through gritted teeth.

But that was Christmas Day well and truly beggared.

Even the wife felt sorry for me, and that hasn’t happened since I had a tragic reaction to my vasectomy.

Our neighbours in the pew adjacent couldn’t look me in the eye. They were probably afraid they’d burst out laughing and they didn’t want to see a grown man cry.

Bah humbug. And they wonder why church attendances are falling…?

Revolutionary resolutions...

M

Would like to thank Morrison’s of Heckmondwike and everyone else involved with all the donations to the Dog & Cat Charities & The Food Bank

Y CHRISTMAS Day woes notwithstanding, life goes on, another New Year’s Eve comes and goes. Have you made any resolutions? Do you think they’ll last through the weekend?

I did Dry(ish) January last year, so don’t feel the need to prove that point to myself again. Instead, I think I’m going to commit to continuing some old resolutions.

So, I resolve to keep asking very difficult questions of people in authority and, where appropriate, mocking and ridiculing them until they’re all stabbing effigies of Lockwood.

It’s a year since 55 men, almost all from Batley and Dewsbury, were arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing young girls between 2002-2009. Another 40-odd were picked up in June, relating to similar allegations from 1995-2002.

So my first resolution is to ask West Yorkshire Police – yet again – if charges are pending, if not why not, and how many suspects have absconded back to Pakistan (which has happened in the ongoing tranches of trials of Huddersfield rape gangs).

I could give you a pretty educated guess right now as to the waffle I’ll get in reply, but let’s give them a chance at least.

My second resolution is to make life as difficult as possible for individuals in Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advice and Support Service) and Social Services.

I understand that a judge was recently asked to bring charges against me for being in Contempt of Court.

My ‘crime’? I’d fought to keep safe a young child whose life these corrupt and/or incom-

petent people were endangering.

None of these details are public knowledge because Family Court cases hide behind a dangerous veil of privacy – dangerous to children mostly. I’m not so daft as to blatantly flaunt that draconian law, but I don’t mind pushing the boundaries as far as possible.

The judge apparently refused the sulky appeal by miffed Social Services managers to have me dragged before him – and you’d imagine I’d be greatly relieved at that. No, actually. I wish the judge had issued proceedings, because then we could have had a stage where the identities and the malevolent actions of those individuals – plus two corrupt lawyers – finally saw the light of day.

I don’t doubt those public officials will read this column and agonise as to whether it now constitutes a Contempt breach and is worth putting before a judge again.

My reply? Go ahead, I dare you.

THERE have been so many false dawns in the battle to save Britain, but I’m thoroughly looking forward to January 31st, when we can finally raise a glass of (non-French) fizz – or perhaps a pint of Tetley bitter – and toast the UK’s farewell to the EU. I’ve not seen a long-range weather forecast, but no doubt there will be mass Snowflake meltdowns on the night. And that’s my final New Year’s resolution – to continue laughing my socks off at the pathetic whimperings of the soppy liberals and the hate-filled screeching of the increasingly pointless Far Left. Tee-hee-hee!

ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

Designer gear appeal POLICE are appealing for anyone who recognises these items of designer jewellery to come forward.

Kirklees CID seized the Louis Vuitton earrings (above) and Chanel pearl necklace (below) following a man’s arrest for an unrelated burglary in Dewsbury.

He has subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

If you believe the items are yours or have any information on who they belong to, contact PC Mark Hall on 101.

Assault victim’s ‘terrifying ordeal’

£3.3m help for police

By Staff Reporters TWO men have been jailed for a combined total of more than 23 years after being found guilty of the false imprisonment and assault of a man in Batley.

Ian Pickard, 56, of Sampson Street, Liversedge and Stephen Turton, 33, of Leeds, pleaded guilty to the offences when they appeared at Leeds Crown Court on September 16.

The men appeared in court for a second time on December 20 where Turton was jailed for 12 years and six months.

Pickard received a sentence of 10 years and nine months.

The incident happened on April 7, 2019, when the vic-

Stephen Turton: 12-year sentence Ian Pickard: 10-year sentence tim was violently assaulted and kept overnight at a flat in Batley.

The 27-year-old man had his hands and feet tied and a rope was wrapped around his neck.

He was eventually released the following morning.

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As a result of the ordeal, the victim sustained serious injuries, including a broken jaw, cheekbone, eye socket, ribs and cuts to his hand.

Detective Constable Tony Johnson said: “This was a distressing and violent incident where a man was subjected to a terrifying ordeal.

“We welcome the lengthy

prison sentences which have been handed to both of these individuals, which reflect the seriousness of their offending.

“I hope that the end of the court case will help the victim move forward from this incident and be assured that the people responsible have been brought to justice.”

NORTH Kirklees could be in for a slice of an extra £3.3m in police resources to help tackle violent crime.

It has been confirmed that an additional £35million of government funding will be handed to police and crime commissioners, £3.3m of which is coming to West Yorkshire Police.

The cash is reportedly an extra £35m on top of the £35m that was announced in August, 2019.

West Yorkshire Police have already launched a specialist unit, dubbed ‘Operation Jemlock’, to tackle violent crime in the region.

And it has been reported that more than 1,500 arrests have been made since the operation began in April last year.

Announcing the new funding, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I will not tolerate criminals drawing young people into a life of violence.

“Units are already playing a vital role in diverting young people away from crime and this funding will allow them to continue their important work.”

Speaking exclusively to The Press in November 2019, Ms Patel said: “We’re (Conservatives’) serious about law and order and banging up those criminals and perpetrators of crime that basically go out there and do harm across our communities and people.

“We’re not tolerating that at all and I’m very vocal about this.

We’re giving (police) powers on stop and search, and backing them in terms of the actions they need to take to get criminals off the streets, to get knives and violent weapons off the streets as well.”

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Friday January 3, 2020

Thank you for your help over the years I would like to take this opportunity, if I may, to thank the various organisations (and various people) now that my mother has sadly just passed away, for the help they gave me over the last eight or nine years of her life.

It has been one hell of a struggle trying to deal with mum’s physical and mental health problems over that period of time and I must admit, if it hadn’t have been for the help that I received from Carers Trust (especially Paula Smith, Claire Wood and Carole Reagan), Carer’s Count, Gateway to Care, Dewsbury

Good Samaritan From: Name and Address Supplied, Mirfield I would sincerely like to thank the lady who paid for my item at the Mirfield Co-op self-service card-only machine on Christmas Eve, when I stupidly tried to pay with cash and she wouldn’t accept my moneys.

I doubled up and put it into the Kirkwood Hospice box.

A mockery of our system From: Daniel Goodwin, by email So, the Conservatives won a landslide victory in the general election.

And yet nothing has changed, we are still in the Single Market, still in the customs union, still having our national policy dictated to us and are ever more entrained politically and militarily.

There has been a premature celebration from the Leave voters anticipating the referendum result being carried out.

Boris Johnson would have us believe the UK is going to

Letter of the Week: Peter Robinson, Ravensthorpe Hospital’s Priestley’s Mental Health Unit, their Single Point of Access and their Memory Unit, Kirklees Dementia Hub, various NHS hospitals and our own doctors, plus friends and family and anyone I have overlooked, I

leave the EU. I expect we will see more stalling, obstructing, superfluous complication and calculated meandering, further postponing our leaving the EU. What hypocrisy from the EU and UK when they have removed leaders of state in foreign countries under the flag of democracy!

The example of the oldest democracy in the world must be to uphold its own tenets.

The reported damage of Brexit to our economy has likely been caused and exacerbated by the delay of our MPs to carry out our decision.

Making a mockery of the principle of constitutional monarchy and its democratically elected government.

I fear we will not see the referendum result carried out in anything but name.

Still trouble on the horizon From: ‘Heckmondwike Hector’, by email We are all familiar with that famous cinema catchphrase “just when you thought it was safe to come out” and in the football world, the iconic

wouldn’t have been able to keep my mother at home until she died.

Sadly, for the last three months of her life, with the exception of the last day, she was unfortunately in hospital and then in a rehabilitation home

commentary from the 1966 World Cup, made famous by Ken Wolstenholme, “they think it’s all over”.

Now here is something with a similar theme.

No – it’s not Arnie Schwarzenegger’s “I’ll be back” or “the rise of the machines”, rather it’s that well-known film advertisement “coming to a cinema near you”.

It will feature a newlyreleased leftie production called “The Rise of the Remainers”.

The preview caption might read something like this.

“Just as the victors of a democratic referendum toast their victory, the foe retreats to lick their wounds, but let the audience beware! The clock is ticking and the dragon is still breathing.”

The explanation is that those who blithely ignored the democratic vote of 17 million people are not principled enough to take matters lying down.

The plebiscite confirmed through the election of Bo Jo is, to them, an irrelevance.

The arrogance of the Lib Dems is intractable, they simply don’t get it and they don’t want to get it. As for the Blairites, the electorate are brainless fools who didn’t know what they were voting

recovering from an operation for a further eight weeks.

Having picked up a cold and a chest infection and, showing signs of deterioration, I had my mother brought home on Monday October 28.

But unfortunately she died 17-anda-half hours later (6.30am the next morning) from a ruptured aorta.

All the organisations that I have mentioned above (and many more) do not get the recognition they fully deserve for the hard work that they do, caring for people in the community.

for, a verdict supported by the likes of Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman.

Let us not be complacent.

Legal machinations are probably at work. As we all know defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory.

Let’s join in a deafening roar like all the kids at the Christmas pantomime, “HE’S BEHIND YOU!!”

It could have been worse From: Simon Kleet, Cleckheaton Breathe that fresh air now that we can look forward to giving ‘two fingers to the EU’.

Very happy times are ahead, although I am very disappointed that Paul Halloran took 6,000 votes in Batley & Spen, thereby depriving us of the chance to dump that very clever MP Tracy Brabin who knew better than more than 17 million others.

The Brexit vote made the rout of Labour tame compared to the annihilation it could have been.

For example, Ed Miliband sold out his historic party to the far left by inviting them

LATEST PLANNING APPLICATIONS T Hussain, detached dwelling and detached garage, land at Charles Street, Ravensthorpe.

J Pyrah, discharge of conditions 4-7 (boundary treatment, site investigation, Remediation Strategy) on previous application 2016/92771 for erection of detached dwelling, adjacent to 9 Old Bank Road, Mirfield.

Z Gebi, front and rear dormer extensions and front porch, 12 Honeysuckle Drive,

Thornhill Lees.

Sefik Kalabic, extensions and exterior alterations, 1 White Lee Side, Heckmondwike.

Mr and Mrs K Trotter, single storey rear extension and patio, 19 Richmond Grove, Gomersal.

Mr Bhatti, non-material amendment on previous application 2019/92505 for erection of side and rear extensions, entrance porch

and external alterations, 147 Carlinghow Lane, Carlinghow.

Mr and Mrs P Marshall, single-storey side extension and external alterations, 2 Elm Way, Birstall.

N Hussain, certificate of lawfulness for existing use of marquee for wedding and events venue, Gomersal Lodge Hotel, 189 Spen Lane, Gomersal.

J Oldroyd, discharge of conditions 3 (Materials), 6

(Ventilation), 7, 8, 9, 10 (Intrusive Site Investigation Report) 13 (Boundaries) and 14 (Bin Collection) on previous application 2018/91150 for erection of 3 dwellings, Green Lane Motors, 14 Wormald Street, Millbridge, Liversedge.

The Cooperative Group Ltd, non-material amendment on previous application 2019/92301 for erection of extension to existing food-

store and alterations to building, car park and plant area, Millbridge Service Station, 364 Bradford Road, Littletown.

Pickup, discharge of conditions 10 (landscape details) and 11 (site investigation) on previous application 2019/91184 for demolition of stables and erection of one detached dwelling, adjacent to Valley View, Cliff Hollins Lane, East Bierley.

If it hadn’t been for all the help that I received from them over the past eight/nine years or so I would have had to put my mum in a care home, which would have broken her heart because she wanted to die in her own home, which, thankfully she did.

So bless you all for your kindness and help over these last few years. It is greatly appreciated by me (who looked after her 24/7) and my two brothers.

Thank you so very much for everything and I will miss her greatly now that she is gone.

to join ‘that’ party, thus giving them a vote in succession of the leader – what a dimwit!

There’s also Ms Yyvette Cooper, who along with her chum Hilary Benn must rank as the most pompous pair on the planet.

Why did Pontefract miss their chance?

Criminal.

There’s only one policy of Labour’s that I definitely like, that of the water industry.

Yorkshire Water have lost the plot with meter reading, and when you ring their automated service you are always directed to an operator – not automated at all!

They even ask for your date of birth – another con – what cheek!

Sack these clowns pronto please.

No rationale to their argument From: Harry Teale, Mirfield As a disenfranchised Englishman (no English National Party and no English Parliament) I very much resent the SNP claiming that they have a mandate for a second independence vote!

In the 2014 independence referendum the SNP were soundly defeated having polled 1,617,989 votes (45 per cent) against the 2,001,926 votes (55 per cent) for staying in the United Kingdom.

The SNP has NEVER polled more than 1,454,436 in a General Election.

In the 2019 General Election the SNP polled 1,242,380 votes (45 per cent).

How can they claim that polling 375,609 fewer votes in 2019 gives them the right to call for another independence vote?

How can the SNP state that they want independence from the UK parliament and yet

wish to subjugate Scotland to the EU parliament?

There is no rationale to their argument.

Gender issues in leadership From: PH Rhodes, Mirfield Compare the abilities and achievements of Boris Johnson to those of Theresa May. She cost this country a fortune with her dithering, snowflake attitude to Brexit and the EU. In 2009, across Europe, only 10 per cent of large company board directors were women.

The interfering European Union legislated that such companies had to increase the number of women in top positions, both in the private and public sectors.

Legislation of this kind decides who gets jobs!

Women will become the figureheads as company directors, MPs, police chiefs, quangos and think tanks, NOT because they are the best at what they do, but because they are women.

Prime examples are Prime Minister Theresa May – enough said – the Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick; the London Fire Brigade’s first female commissioner, who was forced out of office because of poor decisions; the previous head of criminal prosecutions and the head of the International Monetary Fund, who wasn’t even trained in economics.

And don’t forget Angela Merkel, who invited a million immigrants to live in Germany.

This was done without even consulting the people, or the German Parliament, and has not only caused endless trouble and resentment, but has added to the membership of far right parties.

ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

We’re missing out on developer cash

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter MILLIONS of pounds is sitting in a council’s bank account ready to be spent on improvements across the borough.

The cash, known as Section 106 money, is paid by developers as part of agreements when building housing or commercial sites.

In Kirklees a whopping £6m remains unspent.

However the money HAS been allocated towards infrastructure such as schools and play areas.

Some of it goes straight to schools to mitigate the cost of extra pupils.

Councillors and officers debated how the money could and should be spent as part of a review of the Section 106 process.

There has been frustration in the past as money raised from large-scale housing developments has not been ring-fenced for those specific areas.

Instead it has often been spent elsewhere in the borough.

And the council has come under fire for failing to collect some monies and allowing developers not to pay what they were contracted to deliver.

Hopton Primary School in Mirfield is owed more than £87,000 by a housing developer that has breached its legal agreement.

The council is taking legal action to recover the cash from developer Lea Croft Residential.

However the council said such failures were rare, with just three examples in the last 20 years.

Coun Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) suggested making developers pay such money up front and in advance of the start of building work to prevent reneging on contracts.

He added that the message to developers was “if you don’t pay, you don’t build.”

The council’s head of planning, Mathias Franklin, said Section 106 agreements were “a standard way” of letting development happen. And he doubted the authority would be able to secure all payments up front.

He added: “It’s the planning authority’s role to bring in the money, to secure the money and to monitor the obligations and the developments.

“The council as an organisation is responsible for the implementation of that money. I think developers do what they are asked as a general rule.”

Speaking after a recent scrutiny panel meeting Coun Bolt expressed ongoing frustrations that some schools – mainly academies not under local authority control – were missing out on Section 106 money, which he said was unfair.

“In a specific instance more than £80,000 was lost to schools in Mirfield. I totally reject the council’s position that it was due to the financial insolvency of the developer because at the time the money was collected the developer was still solvent and building houses.

The situation is flawed. Where is the responsibility?

“Why should schools in Mirfield miss out because of the failure of the council?

“Whether it’s the council in general, the service in particular or the cabinet member for responsibility, somebody should be paying that £87,000.”

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News In Brief Mum dies after crash CLECKHEATON: A young mum died following a twovehicle crash on Monday morning.

Eleanor Anderson, 29, from Cleckheaton, was driving on the Coundon bypass in Co. Durham when her black Ford Fiesta collided with a red Vauxhall Astra van at a junction shortly before 10.15am.

A statement released by her family read: “She was a much-loved mother, daughter and sister and will be sadly missed.

“We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we can grieve in peace.”

Shop appeal for donations DEWSBURY: The British Heart Foundation shop in Dewsbury is appealing for donations of any unwanted Christmas presents such as toys, bric-a-brac, shoes, handbags, CDs and DVDs. Customers can drop off before 9am and after 4pm at the store on Foundry Street, or there’s a collections service Monday to Friday (call 01924 485882).

Friday January 3, 2020

New bus station for Dewsbury on transport bosses’ wish-list A NEW bus station for Dewsbury is on the wish-list of West Yorkshire Transport bosses’ half-a-billion pound investment plans.

Around £2.45 billion has been made available through the ‘Transforming Cities Fund’ – half of it reserved for areas with devolution deals.

That leaves West Yorkshire Combined Authority to bid for the remainder but could still mean hundreds of millions of pounds will be channelled into the county.

Among the schemes included in the bid, submitted to transport secretary Grant Shapps, is transforming access

to Dewsbury town centre with a new bus station.

New walking and cycling routes between the town and Kirklees College are also included, while bus users in Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike could be treated to new bus hubs.

If the bid is successful, the money

would also go towards improving bus reliability and improvements to walking and cycling routes on the A638 between Dewsbury and Bradford and the A653 between Batley and Leeds.

The Government is expected to announce the results of the funding bid in March.

Jo’s Oak and John’s Orchard at the heart of Community Wood

By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter THE family of Jo Cox have planted an oak tree in a woodland space dedicated to her memory.

Spen Valley Civic Society set up the Jo Cox Community Wood on a 3.7acre site, formerly lowgrade pastureland, next to the Spen Valley Greenway and Liversedge Football Club, between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.

After appealing for volunteers, they have planted around 150 trees, including apple and pear.

In memory of Civic Society member John Appleyard, who died of can-

cer last July, they created Appleyard’s Orchard.

Civic Society treasurer Colin Berry explained: “We promised John we’d plant an apple tree for him but the generosity of people’s donations at his funeral meant we had enough money to buy 11 trees.

“Spen Valley now has a community orchard at one end of the Jo Cox Wood.

Hopefully, in years to come, local people will be able to pick apples and pears thanks to John.”

The planting of the Jo Cox Oak inspired the Civic Society to offer a ‘Trees for Life’ scheme from now until the end of February.

In return for a donation

of £50 it will buy, plant, stake and maintain a halfstandard native tree and will give the donor a certificate showing where the tree is planted.

Chairman Max Rathmell said: “This is a great way to mark a birth, marriage, birthday or anniversary, or to celebrate someone’s life.

“It’s an eco-friendly present that will benefit wildlife, improve air quality in the Spen Valley and be a positive symbol of a person’s life and achievements.”

Jean and Gordon Leadbeater, parents of Jo Cox, and her sister Kim plant the new oak

Bus firms too ‘pally’ with the authorities

900 objections to plan for 50 homes

A MIRFIELD councillor has called for politicians to get tough with bus companies.

Coun Martyn Bolt (Con) claims the relationship between the two is currently too “pally”.

He said: “It’s not working (the relationship), we have to start getting tough.”

The current Mayor of Mirfield made the comments after it was revealed that the number of people using local bus services in West Yorkshire had fallen for the fifth year in a row.

According to figures released by the Department for Transport

MORE than 900 objections have been submitted against a plan for nearly 50 new homes in Mirfield.

Kirklees Council is set to approve proposals to demolish a house in Northorpe Lane to create access for 48 houses on the land between Mirfield and Dewsbury Moor.

Members of the Heavy Woollen Planning sub-committee will make a decision at their first meeting of 2020 next Thursday (January 9).

(DFT) at the end of December, 144.6 million people used local bus services in the financial year 2018/19 – a figure down from 147.7 million in 2017/18.

But Coun Bolt conceded that the issues run far deeper and that councillors had little power to change things in West Yorkshire.

Separate figures released by the DFT did show that bus travel remains the most important form of public transport for people in Yorkshire and Humber, with seven per cent of commuters taking the bus to work.

No layout design for the housing scheme has been approved but if plans for the creation of the entry road are given the green light, developers can apply for full permission, which will include the layout and housing designs.

Proposals could include two, threeand four-bedroom homes.

Around 80 written objections and a petition against the plan with more than 815 signatures have already been sent to the Council.

MIRFIELD AIR CADETS celebrated the end of a successful year with their annual black-tie ‘Dining In’ night at The Old Colonial with local sector commander Squadron Leader Chris Parker, Squadron Chaplain Rev Christine Shedd and honorary president Major Stan Hardy.

Friday January 3, 2020

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Help MP select groups to support NEWLY re-elected Batley & Spen MP Tracy Brabin is looking for local charities to support in 2020.

Ms Brabin has raised hundreds of pounds for various good causes in the past year including Batley Food Bank, Rainbow Baby Bank in Heckmondwike and Howden Clough Juniors FC. Now she is asking her constituents for suggestions of charities and community groups which would benefit from being one of her ‘charities of the month’ throughout the year.

Ms Brabin said: “It’s been great meeting so many wonderful charities and community groups over the past three years and I can’t wait to meet so many more.

“I’ve seen first-hand the great work these charities do … I can’t wait to hear about the great charities doing work across Batley & Spen and to support them in 2020.”

Suggestions should be emailed to tracy.brabin.mp@parliament.uk or left as a comment on Ms Brabin’s Facebook page.

Do you want to get involved?

DEWSBURY: Kirklees College is looking for people to join its board of governors.

Candidates must be willing to commit a minimum of eight hours per month to the voluntary role. All expenses are paid.

To apply, email jgreen08@kirkleescollege.ac.uk.

www.facebook.com/ThePressNews

Friday January 3, 2020

Family is so much healthier Advertorial Feature OOKING at a photo of herself with her mum at her brother’s wedding, Jane’s heart sank.

“What a lovely photo of my mum and I have spoilt it by being so overweight – I’ll never put it on the wall,” she thought to herself.

This was the turning point that was to see Jane Lawton, her husband Richard and son James, go on to lose over 10-and-a-half stone between them with Slimming World.

Jane knew exactly where to go as she had passed the A-frame board advertising the Tuesday group at Shaw Cross Rugby Club every day on her way to and from work.

She realised the time was right to take those steps to a healthier lifestyle for her and her family.

On her first night she listened to an explanation of ‘Food Optimising’ and realised that the flexibility of the healthy eating plan would make it easy to make the changes.

Then, after sitting through group, she also realised that staying to group every week was going to be the key to her success.

Her son James was due to start high school the following September and she was thrilled to see that Slimming World also offered Free2Go for 11-15 year olds.

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Jane and James Lawton love being a part of the Shaw Cross Slimming World group

EXPERIENCED SALES PEOPLE

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This was about supporting James to make healthy changes and become more active and he would receive a specially written book to help him discover cool swaps, easy recipes and make positive lifestyle changes.

Food Optimising “free foods” and “healthy extras” would ensure he never needed to be hungry or bored with his food choices. James could also attend group for free when he was accompanied by a family member with the main responsibility for his meals.

Richard, Jane’s husband, was happy to follow the plan from home and with the guidance and growing expertise from Jane and James, he has gone on to lose four stone.

Jane lost five pounds in her first week and was thrilled with how easy it was. “As a busy working mum I love the versatility of food optimising. I can make quick healthy meals that we all enjoy instead of grabbing a takeaway,” she said.

“Having a Slimming World-friendly fridge is a must so we can always grab a snack such as yogurts, carrot sticks or seafood sticks or make a healthy evening meal too like chilli, pasta or cottage pie. I often have Slimming World meals and chips (available exclusively in Iceland Stores) in the freezer.”

James joined a few weeks later and loved the fact he could make his favourite pasta dishes and home-made pizza with his favourite toppings such as ham and olives.

James said proudly: “At school I choose a meal deal, getting jacket potatoes with cheese and beans and a bottle of water. I give my cookie away to someone else.”

“Staying to group every week is key for me,” said Jane. “Good week or bad week I stay as there’s so many great recipes, ideas, tips, help and support. It’s good to share your ups and downs with people who have the same struggles

with their weight.

“When my mum became ill recently it was a great help and comfort that Lynne Asquith, my consultant, and other members understood my emotional eating and could relate to me.

“They gave me ideas and strategies that had helped me over difficult times. They were like my cheerleaders every week”.

James is a big part of the group and members love listening to his new healthy recipes and the swaps he has now made around his food choices, plus the delicious tasters he brings along to the celebration evenings.

“As a family, we are so much fitter and ‘Body Magic’ is now a big part of our day-to-day lives,” said Jane.

“James loves riding his bike for miles, going to the gym as a family and playing rugby.”

“I can run much faster and further now,” said James with a smile on his face.

Jane also enjoys going to the gym, walking, has taken up hula-hooping and has also discovered she can touch her toes.

Jane said proudly: “The Christmas family photos will certainly be taking pride of place on the wall this year.”

Friday January 3, 2020

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Dealer caught after leaving gun in taxi

A DRUG dealer has been jailed for more than seven years after being caught when he left a bag containing a gun and ammunition on the back seat of a taxi.

Louis Dhers, pictured, and two other men got into the taxi on Russell Street, Dewsbury, on February 7 this year and were driven to Burley Road in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard that the taxi driver saw the bag on the back seat when the men had left the car. He took it to the firm’s Leeds base where the weapon, containing a bullet, was found.

Police executed a search warrant at the Russell Street address and Dhers, of no fixed abode, was found hiding in the loft.

Dhers pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of ammunition without a certificate, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and possession of amphetamines.

He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Friday January 3, 2020

Over the next 12 months we will be following on from the 2019 theme of life between the wars to take a look at wartime and post-war life in both the Heavy Woollen District and Britain at large, writes MIKE POPPLEWELL. We are entering an era that I can personally recall and, as always, comments and memories from readers are welcomed. This year’s theme is ‘2020 vision’, where we will look at historical events from today’s viewpoint and, as ‘the person with hindsight has 20:20 vision’, we will be taking an ‘if only we had known’ look at events...

Memories of bombs falling on Dewsbury ORN in the 40s? Well, I’m not sure whether that was intended as a question or a statement but it is definitely the title of the book by Tim Glynne-Jones that I received as a Christmas present.

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I was obviously given the book because I am a child of the 40s and though my childhood was spent in a London suburb, just outside the old East End, it was a working class environment and not too dissimilar from life in much of my family origins in the Spen Valley – apart from the local accents of course!

Although most literature relating to the social history of World War Two, and its aftermath, tend to focus on London and the south there are two very good references to this period on the internet.

There is the contribution made to the BBC’s ‘The People’s War’ website by Elizabeth Lister and also extracts from the wartime diary of Kathleen Hey that was subsequently published as a book.

Elizabeth talks of the decision made two weeks before the outbreak of war to remove children from the heavily-populated industrial

areas out into the country to keep them safe from bombing raids.

Such foresight was good to see, but it was a shame the government hadn’t spent more time analysing Germany’s ever-growing military threat during the 1930s, following Hitler’s rise to power, instead of employing the stance of appeasement.

However, it is clear to see that the public perception of Hitler was far from the reality. In an article in the YEP, in July 1938, Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, was waxing lyrical about his Chancellor’s wonderfully humane qualities – a view unlikely to have been shared by the 6,000,000 Jews to die in concentration camps at the hands of the Nazis between 1941 and 1945.

Elizabeth Lister was born in 1933 and lived with her parents in the Hanging Heaton area when war was declared.

In her contribution to ‘The People’s War’, in 2005, she talked of the anti-aircraft base in Caulms Wood and the memory of the deafening noise made by the big guns when they fired.

Her experience of funerals or memorial services for local casualties of the conflict that were held in the parish church at Hanging Heaton were confusing for such a young child, but they left memories that would never fade.

Although Dewsbury was not of particular strategic importance (Elizabeth suggests that whatever bombs did fall on the district were probably strays), her experiences must have been echoed in thousands of homes in the area during this time – the 220 names on the war memorial in Crow Nest Park bears witness to this.

In fact there are war memorials scattered throughout the district that provide an unfading reminder of these dark days.

Thousands of children were evacuated from the UK’s major cities Initial fears for the safety of the children prompted the evacuation programme, under the name of ‘Operation Pied Piper’, but the first few months saw us in a ‘phoney war’ with not much happening.

The late sociology lecturer Bob Holman, an old friend, wrote a book entitled ‘Evacuation’ which included his own experience, while a cousin was moved out of London to Pilton, in Somerset, where he went to school with Michael Eavis, the creator of the Glastonbury music festival.

An uncle of mine retired to Pilton and spent 10 years protesting against the festival, on behalf of the villagers dealing with the disruption. But, in what is one of life’s little ironies, my son was subsequently booked four times by Eavis to play there with his band Ooberman.

However, all that was a far cry from the winter of 1939-40 in Dewsbury or anywhere else!

Friday January 3, 2020

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Friday January 3, 2019

Ramblers’ corner FORTHCOMING walks with the North Kirklees Group of the Ramblers – non-members are always welcome. Please call the walk leader for more details.

SATURDAY JANUARY 4 MIRFIELD MEANDER Starts at 10.30am at Mirfield Library car park (WF14 8AN, SE203197) 7 miles – moderate No dogs please Contact: Noel 07780 328561

MONDAY JANUARY 6 2020 BIRKENSHAW CIRCUIT Starts at 1pm at Oakwell Hall top car park (WF17 9LG) 4.5 miles – moderate No dogs please Contact: Kathleen 01924 471473 kathleenoshea5@aol.com

Still time for panto fun CHRISTMAS may be over for another year but the critically acclaimed Red Riding Hood Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime is running at Leeds’ City Varieties Music Hall until Sunday January 12.

A very different format to the traditional Christmas pantomime, Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomimes mix traditional elements of audience participation and corny gags, with a jukebox full of classic rock anthems and chart-toppers.

All the ballads are performed by an ultratalented cast of actor-musicians – but be sure to keep your wits about you, or you may just get rocked by the legendary Boulder Battle...

Ian Sime, general manager at City Varieties, said: “Our Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantos have been extremely popular since they were first introduced in 2011.

“They have grown year on year and have now become a Christmas tradition for families in Leeds and beyond.

“Red Riding Hood is a brand-new production from the enchanted pen of Peter Rowe and we are very excited to showcase it at the Varieties.”

Red Riding Hood the Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime is at City Varieties Music Hall until January 12, 2020.

Tickets are priced from £14.

Book online at www.cityvarieties.co.uk or call 0113 243 0808.

When an epidemic hit the Spen Valley SPEN Valley Historical Society’s next meeting is on Wednesday January 8 when John Brooke will give a talk titled ‘A Memorable Visitation: The 1891 Spen Valley Influenza Epidemic’.

Meetings are held in the Catholic Church Parish Hall on Dewsbury Road, Cleckheaton, starting at 7.30pm, with refreshments served from 7.15pm.

The cost is £2 per meeting for members, £4 for guests and membership is £10 per year.

For more information email scooper@thecoopersonline.org.uk.

Concert society chance DEWSBURY Concert Society is on the lookout for new members.

The friendly group of singers meets on Wednesday evenings at Longcauseway Church Hall from 7.30pm to 9.30pm to rehearse a varied programme of songs for concerts throughout the year.

New members are always welcome for all singing parts, but especially tenors and contralto singers.

No audition is required and all are welcome. For details contact Keith on 01924 443196.

Rock & roll and jive PEOPLE keen on learning how to dance are invited to a rock & roll jive class, held every Thursday at Heckmondwike’s Brighton Street WMC (8pm-9pm). It costs £5 and is ideal for those who want to keep fit and have fun.

The class is followed by a social dance (£3) from 9pm-11pm.

So ... who’s the fairest of them all?

CARLINGHOW Theatre company are presenting the enchanting musical fairytale classic Snow White at Batley Town Hall next week.

Featuring a host of hilarious

and wonderful characters, fantastic songs, gorgeous costumes, and of course the famous magic mirror, there’ll be fun, laughter and extra sparkles for all the family to enjoy.

Billy leads a great cast THERE’S still time to enjoy some panto fun at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has so far played to packed audiences with pantomime legend Billy Pearce leading a starstudded cast, which includes Steps and Strictly Come Dancing star Faye Tozer and family TV favourite Paul Chuckle.

They are joined by talented musical theatre performers Sarah Goggin and Matthew Croke, plus an ensemble cast of performers and dancers, a live band and young dance troupe The Sunbeams.

No stranger to the Alhambra, Billy is enjoying his 21st season and once again brings his array of mad-cap comedy, hilarious local references and boundless energy to the show – all of which have afforded him his reputation as the ‘King of Yorkshire panto’.

Faye Tozer stars as the wicked queen, whilst Paul Chuckle plays her not-so wicked henchman.

It promises to be fun for all the family and is running until Sunday January 26, so there’s no excuse to miss it.

Call the box office on 01274 432000 or visit www.bradfordtheatres.co.uk for ticket info.

The show is a great way to kick-start the new decade, but remember … never take an apple from a stranger!

Performances are on Friday January 10 (7.15pm), January 11

(2.15pm and 7.15pm) and January 12 (2.15pm).

Tickets priced £8 and £11 are available from the Kirklees booking office on 01924 324501 or at kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls.

Friday January 3, 2020

ThePress

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Marketplace Turn your unwanted items

into cash £££s 1) Ring Angela on 01924 470296 (9.30am-4.30pm). Have your advert ready and you can pay by debit card (30p surcharge).

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

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

ADVERTS must be no longer than 50 words. (We cannot accept the following items: Motor vehicles, caravans, livestock. All listings will stay in Marketplace for a maximum of two months. If you wish to amend your listing, or cancel when sold, contact or call 01924 470296.

NEW Attractive Italian leather 4-piece suite comprising of 3-seater, 2-seater, chair and storage pouffe. Black with red trim (bought from DFS), £550. Buyer to collect. Tel 07876 411694. (2535) BEAUTY Light box for drying gel nail polish. Only used once. In excellent condition, £10. Tel 01924 450919. (2514) CLOTHING Two traditional cowboy hats as new. One black, one fawn. Suit lady or gent, £10 for both. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Six casual men’s shirts various sizes and colours. Quality brands.

Some worn once or new. £1 each. Tel 01924 519750. (2509) ELECTRICAL Six outdoor post lights, Georgian style, white (mains only), very good condition, £24. Tel 07943 114801. (2534) 40-inch Bush flat screen TV with remote control and manual, £40. Tel 07933 422024. (2526) Glass TV stand to match above Bush TV, £10. Tel 07933 422024. (2526) Toshiba 28” wide screen television with stand and remote control. Excellent condition, can deliver locally, £50. Tel 01924 471758. (2524) 3 x Winter warm oil-filled radiators, 1600 watt. £25 each. Tel 01924 469537.

(2521) FURNITURE Dropleaf oval dining table with four chairs.

Medium wood colour.

Buyer to collect. £100 ono. Tel 01924 401280 (Heckmondwike). (2533) Black glass TV stand with two shelves.

Suitable for 43” TV. Good condition £20 Tel 07876 536335. (2529) 6 x French hardwood dining chairs with white legs and ladder backs.

Complete with seat cushions. £25 each or will sell in pairs. Tel 01924 408171. (2522) 2 x Canterbury office chairs, black, unassembled in box £40 each. Tel 01924 469537. (2521)

One True Design Office Chair, black leather task chair, gas lift & tilt, unassembled in box £40 Tel 01924 469537. (2521) Three seater settee and two armchairs. Good Condition. Pink draylon with plum/ beige loose covers. Buyer to collect £90 ono. Tel 01924 454332 (2519) Small brown wicker sofa with two matching chairs. Excellent condition, buyer to collect. £30. Tel 01924 408197.

(2512) Nest of three mahogany tables. Good condition £10 Tel 01924 403080/ 07548 798908. (2511) GARDEN Two garden strimmers, £5 each. Bosch cordless hedge cutter and charger, £25.

Bosch electric scarifier lawn rake with catching box, £20. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Standard holly tree in pot, £10. Standard bay tree in pot, £15. Tel 07415 238960. (2513) HOBBIES Small collection of unworked tapestries with wools plus other embroidery articles, from £5 each. Tel 0113 253 4632.

(2532) HOUSEHOLD Focus HE slimline gas fire. Good condition.

Serviced £100 Tel 01924 474062. (2528) Central heating control, Salus RT510TX with instructions. Only 12 months old, £25. Tel 07939 599381. (2527) Adey Magnaclean filter (for central heating), £35.

Tel 07939 599381. (2527) 12 ltr expansion vessel (for central heating), £20.

Tel 07939 599381. (2527) Green/pink/peach lined full length curtains (fits floor to ceiling). Each curtain measures 10ft 6ins W x 7ft D. Includes matching pelmets, tracks, fixtures & fittings plus brass holdbacks.

Very good clean condition, £75 ono. Tel 07475 109308. (2525) Love heart mirror 650mm W (25.5”) x 720mm H (28.5”) £45. Tel 01924 408171. (2522)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? ITEM bands

Cost per item

Up to £7: £8 - £25: £26 - £50 £51- £100 £101-£200 £201-£500 £501-£1450 £1,451 plus Royal Albert Old Country Roses coffee set, eight cups and saucers, coffee pot, sugar bowl & cream jug. As new, never used, £40. Delonghi coffee machine Caffe Corso.

ESAM 2600 bean to cup.

In black, cost £179, sell £40. Tel 07928 233213.

(2516) Dimplex Cheriton coal effect electric fire. Black and brass. New condition, £25. Tel 01924 403080/07548 798908.

(2511) Solid fuel fireplace set, 16”. Brass fret, grate and ash pan. Very good condition, very little use. £25. Tel 01924 403080/ 07548 798908. (2511) KITCHEN/DINING Glass punch bowl set for 12 people. Complete. No chips or damage. Boxed.

Ideal for parties, £25. Tel 07773 875472. (2517) MISCELLANEOUS Gaming equipment.

Black Jack shoe, 400 casino chips, gaming board etc. £20 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2523) Dixon Atlantic universal projector screen, 40 x 40 on tripod legs. Made in USA. Excellent condition in original box. £12 buyer to collect. Tel 01924 519750. (2509) MOTORING New Ultimate Speed bottle jack. Lifts 3.000kg £12 Tel 01274 876814.

(2523) MUSICAL Very nice Reynolds Bb tenor trombone In its original hard case showing Reynolds USA logo.

The gold lacquer is about 90% full & nice inner legs of the slide.

Ideal for a beginner to professional player, £145

£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11

ono. Tel 01924 477016 (cash only). (2531) Technics Electronic Organ. 2 Keyboards, floor standing. Complete with stool. Excellent condition £60. Tel 01924 490266. (2520) OUTDOOR Five traditional walking sticks, various sizes, £10 for all. Two pairs of Nordic walking sticks, adjustable. Suit lady or gent. £15 for both pairs.

Two director chairs in carrying bags. Good condition, £10 for both.

Three folding tripod stools with carrying handle. Good condition, £10 for all. Tel 07988 955976.

(2515) SPORT/ EXERCISE Fishing equipment including 3 poles, specialist carp rod & 2 rods, box, weather shelter & umbrella. Pole rigs & floats, reels, rod holder plus misc items inc hooks, telescopic pole roller, bank sticks etc.

Cost £1,800, will accept £350. Tel 0113 252 4266.

(2530) Confidence vibration plate, power plus. Cost £179, sell £50. Total crunch body revolution system. Cost £95, sell £30, Tel 07928 233213.

(2516) Set of golf clubs, suit beginner. Includes 3 woods, 7 irons, putter, umbrella, balls, tees etc.

In green canvas bag, £20 Tel 07988 955976. (2515) TOYS/ CHILDREN’S GOODS Thomas the Tank Engine item. Various engines, track, towers and pirate ship. £120 for the lot or will split if required. Tel 01274 600402 (2518)

Friday January 3, 2020

ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

Classified Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk

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Providing 24-hour Care, Respite & Day Care 27 Church Street, Heckmondwike 01924 404122 CAR BOOT SALE The Area’s Biggest and Best Car Boot Sale every Sunday at Dewsbury Rams, Owl Lane, Dewsbury OPEN AS USUAL DURING GROUND DEVELOPMENT WORK Price £12 per car, opens at 6.00am, ring 01924 465489 for further details

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SPLASHING UT BATHROOMS A family-run business supplying & installing high quality bathrooms, ensuites & cloakrooms

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Office 39, RCM Business Centre, Dewsbury Road, Ossett, WF5 9ND Tel. 01924 275275

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SWEEP

EST 50 YEARS

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01924 469944

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Professional Cleaner I am friendly, trustworthy & reliable Experienced in House & Office Shop Cleaning Security Checked PLEASE CALL SUSAN

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Professional Clearance & Courier Services We offer a range of packages!

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REGISTERED WASTE CARRIER, BROKER AND DEALER TEL 01924 488279 07599022715 EMAIL INFO@PROCCSERV.CO.UK WEB HTTPS://PROCCSERV.CO.UK

COACH TOURS

Carols Travel QUALITY COACH TOUR HOLIDAYS

Prices include excursions Wheelchair & Scooter Friendly No Single Supplement Executive Coach Travel with Hostess Service All Our Chosen High Quality Hotels Are Ensuite Up To 4* Rating Spenborough & Mirfield Pick-ups are Door-ToDoor at No Extra Cost 93 Killinghall Road, Bradford, BD3 8AB

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Call Tim Riordan Tel: 01924 490241 / 07770 462239

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Steven Clay Composite Doors

u.P.V.C Double Glazing. Large range of quality, affordable composite doors. Many styles & colours Double glazed windows 30 years experience Fully backed by Certass Trust Marked Approved Please ring for no obligation quotes

07778 615829

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MOUNTAIN - ELECTRIC BMX - ROAD - KIDS ACCESSORIES CLOTHING COMMUTER/LEISURE MAINTENANCE Finance Available Free Delivery

www.hargreavescycles.co.uk Mon: 9:30-6pm, Tues: CLOSED, Wed-Sat: 9:30-6pm, Sunday: CLOSED 27 Bradford Road, 01924 Dewsbury, WF13 2DU 461283 10mins M62 jn28

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Drayson’s Timber DOORS

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SAME DAY GLAZING Paul Walker, proprietor UNIT 2 QUEENS MILL, QUEEN STREET, RAVENSTHORPE, DEWSBURY, WF13 3BT PHONE: 07786 191217 FAX: 01924 452500

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Friday January 3, 2020

MOTOR CARE

Car body repairs Imperial Motor Company 107 Bradford Road, Dewsbury Tel: 01924 461607 or 07860 754984

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11557

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ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020 REMOVALS & CLEARANCES

ROOFING

HARVEYS SIMPSON DENNIS REMOVALS (Roofing Services) All roof repairs. Insurance work .COM Re-roofing, lead and chimney

work – Reduction for OAPs All work guaranteed, free estimates Established 25 years

Full/Part House Removals House Clearances Ebay/Online Items Collected Single Item Pick-ups/Delivery Home and Garden Waste Cleared Full Packing Service Available (call for details) No Job Too Small

FAST FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Call Michael on 07740 815883

Tel Mirfield

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

Approved by leading insurance companies

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ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

FOOTBALL

Liversedge back on track with Bottesford thrashing

Ossett start the year in style Northern Premier N/West Division

BRIGHOUSE TOWN OSSETT UNITED

PHOTO: John Hirst

STUNNER: Tom Greaves’ volley flies in

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OSSETT UNITED got 2020 off to the perfect start with a hammering of local rivals Brighouse Town on New Year’s Day. Wayne Benn’s side produced a superb display to earn only their third win of the season, and a first away from home, started by a stunning Tom Greaves volley just before half-time.

United let rip after the break, with Marko Basic adding a second and Luke Porritt scoring directly from a corner before Jack Stockdill headed in a late fourth.

Benn said: “That win is for the supporters because they’ve had to watch some poor performances of late. That today is a lot closer to how I envisage my Ossett United playing.

“As much as we’re happy with the goals that we’ve scored, to keep a clean sheet is huge. It can only do wonders for their confidence.”

Porritt and Brodie Litchfield missed good chances before a moment of magic broke the deadlock at the end of the first half.

Elliott Harrison started things off with a perfectly-timed tackle and Porritt combined with Basic before sending in a cross. Greaves took a few steps back to give himself space before hitting the sweetest of volleys from 12 yards out, right into the top corner.

NCEL Premier Division

BOTTESFORD TOWN LIVERSEDGE FC

Ossett doubled their lead just past the hour mark. Greaves crossed from the right and Basic smartly turned round his man on the edge of the box before firing home.

Eight minutes later, the points looked safe as Porritt’s left-footed

corner somehow eluded everybody at the near post to go straight in.

The final flourish came with four minutes left on the clock as substitute Stockdill powered a Jake Maltby cross past the helpless goalkeeper.

Northern Premier N/West Division

Northern Premier N/West Division

MOSSLEY OSSETT UNITED

3 2

OSSETT UNITED went into Christmas in the relegation zone after Mossley came from behind to secure the win.

United led after only two minutes when debutant Brodie Litchfield was felled in the box and Tom Greaves converted the penalty.

A great individual goal by Raheem Hanley brought Mossley level before Ossett went back in front in the second half thanks to a wonderful freekick from Marko Basic.

However, the home side turned things around in the final 15 minutes with Hanley knocking in his second before Jamie Rainford had an open net for the winner after Brett Souter’s save came back off the post.

Sport In Brief United to strengthen FOOTBALL: Ossett United boss Wayne Benn says that he hopes to bring a number of new signings to the club in the coming days.

Their 4-0 win over Brighouse on New Year’s Day was just a third of the season and Ossett are third from bottom in the BetVictor Northern Premier N/West Division.

Following the Brighouse victory, Benn said: “I’m hoping that we’ll have a player in by Saturday, and we’re also hoping to bring in a centre-half and that might happen in the next week. We are hopeful that in the next 10 days there might be three or four new faces.”

United host fellow strugglers Dunston FC tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm) before a rematch with Brighouse, in the second round of the Integro League Cup, at Ingfield on Tuesday (January 7, kick-off 7.45pm).

Mirfield get ready NETBALL: Mirfield’s netball team are proving to be as popular as ever with a full squad preparing to begin training next week.

The side enjoyed a very successful 2019, earning promotion from Division Four in their first season in the Huddersfield Netball League in the summer, followed by a thirdplaced finish in Division Three of the winter league.

Mirfield are currently at full capacity so cannot accept new members, but anybody interested in joining can still get in touch with the club.

Carl tops the board GOLF: Carl Sharman came out on top in Howley Hall’s Boxing Day stableford competition.

Sharman scooped the £25 prize with a score of 35, with Simon Day and Lindsay Naylor completing the top three with scores of 33 each.

OSSETT UNITED PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES

0 2

THERE was little Boxing Day cheer for Ossett as they suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat at the hands of local rivals Pontefract Collieries.

Pontefract needed only nine minutes to get the opening goal of the game, with Jack Greenhough powerfully heading in a corner to break the deadlock.

Andy Monkhouse, Aaron Haswell, Tom Greaves and Marko Basic all had chances to level but were unable to do so for the hosts.

After Brad Dockerty hit the bar from distance early in the second half, Ponte made the win safe with a sublime chip from James Baxendale over goalkeeper Brett Souter.

BOWLS Chris wins at last

2 4

LIVERSEDGE finished 2019 just three points off the automatic promotion places after a convincing win at Bottesford Town.

Against a side battling at the wrong end of the table, Alfie Raw and Michael Bottomley scored early goals to put Sedge on course for the three points. Oliver Fearon and Jack Hardacre added second-half strikes before two late consolation goals for the hosts.

Alex Lill and Fearon were denied by the goalkeeper in a fast start before the breakthrough after 11 minutes. Liam Marsden and Fearon were involved in neat play which resulted in Raw finding the net.

Just six minutes later, Fearon broke through and was denied by the keeper, but the ball rebounded into the path of Bottomley with an empty net to tap home.

Liversedge could have had a bigger lead were it not for two fantastic saves to keep out a Marsden freekick and a Tom Jackson overhead strike.

It would not stay at 2-0 for long in the second half, with a third goal coming inside the opening minute from the restart. Paul Walker led a quick break before squaring the ball for Fearon to finish.

The scoreline was made even more convincing on the hour mark when Hardacre got in on the action, trying his luck from outside the box and striking a delightful shot over the keeper for his first Sedge goal.

Bottesford managed two late consolation goals as Kieran McCaffrey diverted a free-kick in and Sedge skipper Jackson then inadvertently turned a cross into his own net.

Liversedge are in fifth place, a win away from the top three, going into their first clash of 2020 tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm) at Barton Town.

NCEL Premier Division

PENISTONE CHURCH LIVERSEDGE FC

A LATE goal denied Liversedge what would have been an impressive victory away at league leaders Penistone on the weekend before Christmas.

Alfie Raw gave Sedge an early lead, striking sweetly from outside the box after seven minutes.

Penistone came out an improved side in the second half and levelled through Kieron Ryan, who could have then made it 2-1 but for a great Josh Lill save.

Instead Liversedge regained the lead as Raw scored from the penalty spot, but it wasn’t to be enough as Nathan Keightley struck for the hosts with two minutes left.

RACING PREVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH

Jepek the standout for Sandown RISH Classic-winning trainer Adrian Keatley is looking forward to a fresh start in North Yorkshire.

Keatley, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas with Jet Setting in 2016 from his base on the Curragh, believes the time is right for a change and a new challenge.

He will begin using part of Tony Coyle’s yard at Malton with an initial team of six horses. He hopes to have his licence by the end of February and will then look for a place of his own to build up his string of Flat horses and jumpers and attract new owners.

It’s a New Year but there are some old faces in the Veterans’ Chase Series Final at Sandown tomorrow (Saturday).

This contest has been on trainer Anthony Honeyball’s radar for some time and his 11-year-old mud-loving JEPEK will be one of the youngest in the field. A prolific winner as a pointer, he has been given a hurdles preparation for this encounter but his form when last seen chasing makes him a standout candidate.

Only subsequent Scottish National winner Takingrisks was too strong when he was runner-up in a qualifier for this at Carlisle last March, when the pair finished 16 lengths

I WINNER: Chris Mordue (left) with Peter Ellis CHRIS MORDUE took the spoils in the final Spen winter sweep of 2019, winning for the first time this season with victory over Michael Sweeney in the final.

Michael had tight wins over Ash Tattersley and Joe Cranston in the two rounds before the final, having seen off Darren Goodall, who won the Boxing Day pairs with Mark Regan, in the preliminary round.

Chris breezed past Chris Bly in the semifinal to reach a second final in a row, having lost a nail-biting decider against Mally Fowler the weekend before Christmas.

After a cagey opening when the lead chopped and changed, Michael had the edge at 8-6 before a couple of twos extended his lead further.

Chris is so hard to shake off though, and he battled back with seven out of the next eight points to make it 13-14 and, with Chris leading into the corners, it looked like the tide had changed.

He was made to pay for a missed bowl with a double as Michael responded but Mordue then claimed five of the next six points to finally take the lead at 18-17.

It looked like the match was lost when Mordue bowled two 18-inch woods only for Sweeney to bowl one in to lead 20-19, but Michael’s touch deserted him when it mattered most. With one bowl two yards through and one bowl two yards wide, Chris took the opportunity to bag a pair for the win.

2 2

clear of the rest. Honeyball has protected his handicap mark by campaigning him over hurdles and he added a second victory in that arena when he led from start to finish at Chepstow last time out.

Another popular old boy VALDEZ gets his first run as a teenager this weekend. He may have just turned 13 but Alan King’s charge showed he has still got what it takes when winning at Hereford last November and the drying ground and right-handed track at Wincanton will suit.

The Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle is officially the headline race at Sandown, where FIDDLERONTHEROOF opened his hurdles account over this course and distance recently.

Proven course form and the ability to go on any ground make him a slight favourite ahead of HANG IN THERE and SON OF CAMAS in what looks like a three-horse race.

But Fergal O’Brien’s SILVER HALLMARK is a promising type and is worth a small each way wager assuming the field does not shrink to paying two places.

John Gosden can strike with his first runner of the new decade when FINESPUN lines up in the closing 1m4f handicap at Lingfield tomorrow (Saturday). Unlucky in her three outings in maiden company to date, the daughter of Sea The Stars is rated just 71 for her first handicap assignment this weekend and is said to have impressed on Warren Hill over Christmas.

Mark Johnstone’s MILDENBERGER has not progressed after finishing second to Roaring Lion in the 2018 Dante, but the colt looks like he has found his preferred trip after finishing third over 2m at Newcastle last time and is fancied to have too much for his rivals over the same distance in a Class 2 handicap at Kempton (6.10) tomorrow (Saturday).

CARRIGILL’S NAP: (money back as a free bet if finishes outside top four. Write Augur on your slip to qualify): FIDDLERONTHEROOF, Sandown, Saturday, 2.25.

AUGUR’S BEST BET: MILDENBERGER (e/w), Kempton, Saturday, 6.10.

ThePress

Friday January 3, 2020

RUGBY LEAGUE

RUGBY UNION

Cleck beaten North One East

22 32

CLECKHEATON RUFC OLD BRODLEIANS

23

CLECKHEATON were unable to regain the Fred Scott Trophy as they went down to a defeat against neighbours Old Brodleians in the annual Boxing Day friendly between the sides.

Brods, flying high in their league with 11 wins from 12 matches, started strongly, denying their hosts any possession in the opening five minutes before a wellworked try saw them open the scoring.

However, Cleckheaton came back and had the better of the next 20 minutes, with a period of pressure eventually yielding their first points as Luke Gamble went over to make it 5-5.

They then took the lead on 35 minutes with their second try, as Cain Crotty crossed for another unconverted score which gave them a 10-5 lead at half-time.

Brods were able to repeat their start to the first half in the second period as well, this time scoring two quick-fire tries to make it 17-10 after 54 minutes.

The game was a bit of a stop-and-start affair but Cleck responded just four minutes later as Gamble got his second try of the match to cut the difference down to two points.

Brods moved up a gear after that though, scoring three more tries in a devastating 10-minute spell to take the game away from their opponents.

With the score at 32-15, the Moorenders got the final try of the game as Ollie Depledge went over with four minutes to go.

Cleckheaton, who are fourth in the North One East table at the halfway stage of the season, begin 2020 at home to 10th-placed Percy Park tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm).

Morton denies old side in Boxing Day stalemate Roy Powell Boxing Day Challenge

DEWSBURY RAMS BATLEY BULLDOGS

14 14

Stephen Ibbetson at the Tetley’s Stadium BATLEY BULLDOGS’ seven-year hold on Boxing Day bragging rights came to an end, but Dewsbury could only claim a draw after ex-Ram Dale Morton’s penalty ensured the sides finished even in their first pre-season test.

Dewsbury came from 12-0 behind to lead 14-12 with three tries either side of half-time thanks to Andy Gabriel, Will Oakes and Adam Ryder, after Alistair Leak and Michael Ward had crossed for tries in an opening half-hour that had seen Batley as the better side in their first game under the charge of Craig Lingard.

Morton’s penalty, along with the inability of Lee Greenwood’s side to set themselves for a proper drop-goal attempt in the final couple of minutes, meant that both teams finished with what could be considered a fair draw in the Roy Powell memorial game.

Dewsbury were the scratchier of the two sides in the first half and needed Paul Sykes to produce a crunching tackle to put Keenen Tomlinson to the deck as the Batley man attempted to break the deadlock.

The opening score came from a Rams attack as a Sykes pass was swallowed

perfectly found Oakes, back on the field up by Tomlinson, who galloped into the opposition half before being hauled following an early knock, to run in for his first try at the club. down by Michael Knowles. The Four minutes later, Connor Scott did Bulldogs continued forward, eventually finishing with hooker Leak sneaking well to wrestle the ball back into under Luke Nelmes and Tommy Dewsbury’s possession, and it was moved on for Ryder to dummy his way Brierley to stretch for the line. around a defender and cross the line.

Morton added the conversion but Sykes couldn’t convert either score but then knocked on from the restart, although he made up for that error by his side led for the first time at 14-12.

The ball was dropped by the Rams on stripping Liam Finn of possession. On the restart to allow the first of several the back of a penalty, the visitors charged forward again and Ward took a Batley attacks. George Senior was held short pass from Danny Yates to crash up on the last and later grounded the ball only for the referee to rule that a over from close range, with Morton Rams player had done so first, while again converting for a 12-0 advantage.

James Brown was also held Dewsbury found time at over the line. the end of the first half to Only with three minutes to mount their own attack, and go did the Bulldogs get a nice move to the right another chance to attack and involving Finn and Brierley when the hosts were saw Gabriel take the ball and penalised for not releasing, acrobatically dive into the they opted to take the two corner. Sykes did well to conpoints on offer as Morton vert from the touchline, kicked from in front of the halving the deficit to 12-6 at posts to level the scores. the break.

Cue a mad final couple of It was perhaps an undeminutes as Dewsbury hunted serving consolation at the for the winning drop goal. end of the first half, but the Knowles had an attempt Rams were well worth the from 20m blocked but the two tries in the opening nine ball went behind for a drop minutes of the second half MAN OF THE out, and after keeping the which edged them in front.

MATCH: Adam Ryder ball alive determinedly on For the first, Batley conthe hooter Jon Magrin was finally tackceded a penalty in the process of halting Ryder’s charge for the line, and led to bring an entertaining contest to a from it an over-the-top pass from Sykes close.

MATCH STATS DEWSBURY RAMS Matty Fleming Andy Gabriel Adam Ryder Will Oakes Davey Dixon Paul Sykes Liam Finn Martyn Reilly Dom Speakman Luke Nelmes Sonny Esslemont Michael Knowles Frazer Morris Subs: Tommy Brierley Sam Day Liam Johnson Jon Magrin Sam Moorhouse Morgan Punchard Connor Scott Tries: Gabriel (38), Oakes (45), Ryder (49).

Goals: Sykes 1/3.

6 7 8 6 6 5 5 7 6 6 6 5 6 4 6 5 6 5 5 6

BATLEY BULLDOGS Dave Scott 6 Wayne Reittie 6 Keenen Tomlinson 7 Dale Morton 6 Johnny Campbell 5 Ben White 6 Danny Yates 6 Tyler Dickinson 6 Alistair Leak 7 Toby Everett 6 Dane Manning 6 Lucas Walshaw 6 James Brown 8 Subs: Luke Hooley 6 Jack Blagbrough 6 Michael Ward 7 Shaun Pick 6 George Senior 6 Danny Bravo 6 Nyle Flynn 6 Tries: Leak (19), Ward (29).

Goals: Morton 3/3.

Referee: M Griffiths Half-time: 6-12 Penalties: 6-7 Man of the match: Adam Ryder (Dewsbury) Attendance: 1,811

Stags defence clings on for Yorkshire Cup triumph BARLA Yorkshire Cup

DRIGHLINGTON MIRFIELD STAGS

PHOTO: Ryan Jackson

12 16

Stephen Ibbetson at LD Nutrition Stadium MIRFIELD STAGS held on right to the final hooter to win a brutal Yorkshire Cup final in which both sides gave everything in pursuit of the trophy.

In front of a raucous crowd in Featherstone, Drighlington launched a second-half fightback after an impressive first half from the Stags saw them lead 12-0 and then 16-6.

Having pulled the difference back to four points, Drig attacked in the final seconds and thought they had scored a potentially cup-winning try when Joe Bownass crashed over, only for the referee to rule that he had been held up as Mirfield’s determined defensive effort saw them hold on.

The Stags started as the brighter of the two sides and scored the first try after nine minutes.

Drig knocked on 10 metres from their own line and a Brad Mason high tackle then provided another fresh set. From that, half-back Brad Delaney found centre Ryan Fenton with space in front of him to cross, and Connor Squires added the conversion.

The Pennine League leaders doubled their advantage with a great try. Ben Kendall made a barnstorming charge, bashing a defender onto his backside to break the line. He almost beat the full-back too, but

CONTRASTING EMOTIONS: Winners Mirfield (left) and Drighlington (above)

managed to offload in time for Casey Canterbury to cross for the score, again improved by Squires.

Drighlington responded strongly though, with Matthew Goodwill causing havoc off the bench and being held up over the line. Mikey Otty knocked-on a tricky Kieron Bolton kick on the last tackle, and on the first play from the scrum Macauley Bucci squeezed between two defenders to cross between the posts.

Michael Sanderson added the simple goal to make it 12-6, and the wind certainly appeared to be with Drig when Wayne Jowett was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

However, poor defence allowed Canterbury to slip through the line and put Mirfield in a good position.

Bucci tackled but the ball was then shipped left through Craig Miles

and Dom Flanagan for Otty to score in the corner.

Squires couldn’t aim the conversion from the touchline but they went into half-time 16-6 ahead.

The second half was slowed by a number of injuries to players on both sides, as the magnificent effort from all combatants took its toll. It was particularly punishing for Mirfield, who threw their bodies at everything to hold out against a rising Drighlington tide.

Their first good chance of the second period came when Mason intercepted an Otty pass to break, but the ball was lost close to the line.

Drig did get back into the game in the 53rd minute as Ryan Wilks received an Ethan Hallas offload and crashed over from little more than a yard, with Sanderson’s subsequent conversion closing the dif-

ference to four points.

Incredibly there were no further points in the match, but it was certainly through no lack of trying from Drighlington. When a high bomb was not claimed by Squires – who was injured in the process – Wilks went close to a second try and Tom Pickles was then an inch from touching down from a grubber kick.

But their cause was not helped when Josh Collins was sent to the sin bin for the second of back-toback penalties.

There were more battered bodies to be taken off the field but few tryscoring chances until the final three minutes. The Stags knocked on 15m from their own line and Delaney then spoke out of turn to the referee and was shown a red card.

Despite being down a man they managed to keep Fenton Walls out of the corner and Micky Hoyle then intercepted a pass. The ball was then dropped again though, leaving Drig to throw everything at their line in the final seconds.

Sanderson’s short pass saw Bownass crash over on the final play of the game but, with the fans going wild in the stands and the coaches jubilantly sprinting onto the pitch, referee Liam Staveley ruled that he had been held up, and the cup belonged to Mirfield.

NCL to kick off with local derby BATLEY BOYS and Shaw Cross Sharks will face each other in a local derby to get the National Conference League season underway in February.

The Boys, who reached the Division Three play-offs in their first season in the NCL in 2019, will welcome their neighbours to Staincliffe for the opening game of the season on February 22, with the Sharks in the bottom tier after back-to-back relegations.

The other divisions begin two weeks later, on March 7, with Thornhill Trojans starting life back in

Division One, following relegation from the top flight last season, at home to Stanningley.

Dewsbury Moor also went down last term and begin their Division Two campaign at Normanton Knights, while Dewsbury Celtic host Barrow Island in their first game following promotion from Division Three via the play-offs.

Divisions One and Two are scheduled to finish on September 5, while the Division Three regular season will conclude on September 19.

Rams add forward after festive draw

By Stephen Ibbetson Sports Reporter sport@thepressnews.co.uk

DEWSBURY RAMS have added to their squad for the 2020 season with the signing of Welsh forward Rhys Davies.

Primarily a second-rower, Davies has impressed sufficiently on trial at the Championship club to earn a permanent deal, becoming the 26th player to commit to the club for the new campaign.

The 23-year-old has previously played for South Wales and was in Halifax’s reserve side last season, appearing once for the first team in the 1895 Cup. “Rhys fully deserves to be rewarded after working hard and impressing in training,” said head coach Lee Greenwood.

“Through a combination of playing for us, Coventry Bears on dual registration or for Hull KR reserves, he will get plenty of game time which will see him develop.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him play at Keighley in our next

‘POTENTIAL’: Rhys Davies friendly and he will be competing for a place in the 17 like everyone else. He has the potential to play at Championship level if he really wants it.”

The Rams face Keighley on January 12 in the second of their three scheduled pre-season fixtures, after they couldn’t be separated from local rivals Batley Bulldogs on Boxing Day. The sides drew 14-14 at the

Tetley’s Stadium in the annual festive fixture, and Greenwood lamented his side’s inability to land a drop-goal in the final two minutes after ex-Ram Dale Morton had levelled the scores with a penalty.

“We had a good few chances and I’d like to think we could have put the one-pointer over, but everything you don’t want to do when you go for a one-pointer, we did, and we lost the chance,” he reflected.

“Batley have got a lot of seasoned campaigners in there, particularly the forwards, and I thought some of our guys who haven’t played Championship regularly stood up quite well to them.

“Physically and fitness-wise I’m quite happy with where we are. Ball-in-hand, in the first half going towards their line was pretty poor. We need to improve massively.

“We strung a few good things together after half-time which I felt was basic rugby done well, but then we just went away from it and conspired to keep making mistakes.”

Nevertheless, the boss is seeing signs of improvement on where they were 12 months ago, when they lost the Boxing Day contest in his first game in charge.

“I’d say there were some things better than last Boxing Day,” said Greenwood. “Certainly the training and the approach of the lads before the game, and the talk and positivity during and after the game was better than the group we had last year. We want that to transfer into results.”

But he added: “It’s given us plenty of food for thought. We will be working hard on every area of our game but certainly some where we weren’t very good, that generally need to be better to have a chance of winning Championship games.

“A few lads will be disappointed with themselves today but it is Boxing Day and the effort was there.”

Dewsbury reported no injury concerns after the game but could be boosted by returns for full-back Joe Martin (ankle) and versatile forward Chris Annakin (groin) in time for their trip to face the Cougars.

Silverwood targeting winter quadruple for Stags HEAD COACH Richard Silverwood says that Mirfield Stags are aiming for a clean sweep of the winter trophies after winning the BARLA Yorkshire Cup. The Stags defeated Drighlington 16-12 last Sunday to claim their first piece of silverware since reforming for the 2019-20 season.

Silverwood is already turning attention towards claiming a further three titles this season, with Mirfield top of Division One in the Pennine League and entering the BARLA National Cup and Pennine President’s Cup. “We want to kick on. There’s no

reason why we can’t win all four trophies this year,” he declared.

“We’re going well in the league, unbeaten, and there’s the Pennine Cup and the National Cup.” On the final, Silverwood said: “We’ve worked hard since August for this, so for it all to come together is brilliant.

“Credit to Drighlington, they were a really good side and they gave it to us, especially in that second half. We’re usually good going uphill but I thought they were better in the second half.

“We had a few injuries, we had one lad left on the bench, but we

Injury blow for Bulldogs BATLEY BULLDOGS could have just one half-back available for the remainder of preseason after Ben White broke his finger in the Boxing Day derby at Dewsbury.

White, making his first appearance since signing for the club from Barrow, played on after suffering the injury in the first five minutes of the game.

However, the 25-year-old is now set to miss the next couple of weeks of training, joining Lewis Galbraith (ankle) on the treatment table. Michael Ward was taken off during the game as a precaution but his calf issue is expected to cause no problems.

Overall there was plenty for coach Craig Lingard to learn about his side in his first game in charge, a 14-14 draw which saw them concede two quick tries after half-time following a promising first half.

“I think we probably had the better chances in the first half and Dewsbury played a lot better in that second half, and certainly the first 10-15 minutes after half-time,” he said.

“What we’ve said to the guys is that regardless of who you play against, you can’t have 10 minutes off and we did at the start of the second half when Dewsbury got those points.

There are lessons to be learned for us.

“It’s slightly different to a normal league game because we made five changes at halftime, which you wouldn’t do in a league game, so there’s that to take into account as well. But it was a really good exercise for us today; we learned a lot about a lot of people, what worked well for us and what didn’t work so well.

“The negative for us was our completion rate, I think that was quite low and we had to do a lot of defensive work, although our defensive work in the main was pretty good.”

Lingard was pleased to see Danny Bravo back on the field after his three-year injury nightmare: “He had a good 25 minutes as we didn’t want to overload him too soon, and we’ll see how his body is. He’ll get some more game time in the next couple of games, I’d imagine.”

The trialists at the club are also expected to feature across the rest of their pre-season schedule, which continues with a trip to Hunslet (January 12) before home matches against Super League sides Hull FC (January 19) and Huddersfield Giants (January 26).

FINAL REPORT: p23 dug deep and I’m so proud.

“I thought our first half was better than their second half,” he said on the difference between the

teams. “We posted 16 points and our first-half performance won it, but our defensive performance in the second half did also.”

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