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Friday November 15, 2019
No. 920
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Opponents of ‘floodplain’ homes plan to step up protest after downpour turns beck into a river By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter RESIDENTS fighting to stop a controversial housing development in Mirfield say last week’s heavy rainfall has added weight to their concerns about flooding. Wakefield-based Miller Homes intends to build 67 houses on meadowland off Granny Lane at Hopton Bottom, close to Sheep Ings Farm. The land has been allocated for housing as part of Kirklees Council’s Local Plan. People living nearby fear building
on the land will exacerbate periodic flooding. They say groundwater from the site would be diverted into nearby Valance Beck. The beck, which runs alongside Hagg Lane and through a narrow culvert under Granny Lane into the River Calder, was totally overwhelmed after the district was lashed by torrential rain last week. Hagg Lane, Granny Lane and surrounding land was flooded, leading locals to pour scorn on claims that the site has no recent history of flooding. The Granny Lane Area Action Group (GLAAG) was formed to
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Resident Veronica Maher in floodwater at the junction of Hagg Lane and Granny Lane, Mirfield
protest against construction work and to raise concerns with planning and highways chiefs. One GLAAG member, whose home borders the beck, took photographs of the floodwaters, which she described as “a river”. She said: “The pictures demonstrate the issue of Valance Beck breaking in the hill behind the development and becoming a river onto Hagg Lane. “I also took some pictures of the site, which according to the developers has no recent history of flooding.” Members of GLAAG say their
three primary concerns around the development are flooding, narrow roads and traffic. They say the planned housing will be built on a water meadow, with the land having been a floodplain “for thousands of years”. They say the area has flooded six times already this year and was badly affected in 2015. Mirfield councillor Vivien LeesHamilton, who has lived in Hopton all her life, said the beck was a notorious flood zone. “Valance Beck always floods,” she Continued on Page 2
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Friday November 15, 2019
Home campaigners plan to step up protest Continued from Page 1
Deaths ALLERTON (NEE KELLY) MAUREEN On November 3, peacefully at home, Thornhill, aged 81, wife of the late Brian. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Tuesday November 19 at 10.30am. BROADHEAD ANDREW JOHN PAUL SIMON On November 4, suddenly at home, Thornhill Lees, aged 52, son of the late Jeffrey and Shirley. Requiem Mass will take place at St Saviour’s Church, Ravensthorpe, on Thursday November 28 at 10am. CARR ANDREW PETER On November 1, suddenly whilst in Brighton, aged 41, son of Peter and Sylvia. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday November 25 at 10.30am.
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FRANCE JOHN MALCOLM On November 4, in hospital, aged 78, husband of the late Georgie.
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Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Monday November 18 at 10.30am. MASON Terry Peacefully in Kirkwood Hospice on 7th November 2019, aged 82 years. Terry, a beloved husband of Christine, a loving dad to Paul, Claire & the late Jill and a cherished grandad, great-grandad & father-inlaw. The Funeral Service & Communion will be held at St. Saviour’s Church Brownhill on Monday 25th November at 11.30am followed by a private family interment in Batley Cemetery, family flowers only please but donations towards Church funds would be appreciated, a plate will be available on leaving the Service. Enquiries to Bollands Funeral Directors 01924 472178
MORGAN CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN On October 31, died suddenly at his mother’s home, aged 55, son of Marie and the late Derek. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Friday
November 22 at 10.30am. SILL PAT On October 27, peacefully at home in Birstall, aged 77, wife of the late Michael. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Friday November 29 at 11.15am. SMITH (NEE ANDERSON) ETHEL On November 5, peacefully after a short illness in Pinderfields Hospital, of Brownhill, aged 81, wife of David. Funeral service will take place at St Saviour’s Church, Brownhill, on Thursday November 28 at 12noon. TICKLE (NEE AINSWORTH) DEBRA ANN On November 3, following a short illness, of Birstall, aged 54, partner of Sam. Funeral service will take place at Dewsbury Moor Crematorium on Friday November 22 at 1.30pm.
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said. “The thought that they can divert groundwater into that beck is nonsense. “I have photographs of that land in flood. “Water can be seen gushing through the wall onto the road. “The ground gets saturated – and that’s before there’s anything built on it.”
Dragged drunk from van A MIRFIELD man is facing a prison sentence after he was caught behind the wheel whilst more than four times the legal drink-drive limit. Christopher Price, of Priory Way, had to be dragged out of his moving van by an off-duty police officer when he refused to stop on October 13. Kirklees magistrates heard Price’s Ford Transit van was seen swerving along Stocks Bank Road shortly before 7pm. The 40-year-old mounted the pavement and almost collided with a wall as a result of his erratic driving. Alex Bozman, prosecuting,
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Protest charges DEWSBURY: Two men arrested during a far-right demonstration in the town centre have denied any wrongdoing. John Pegram and Benjamin Wood, of Bristol, both pleaded not guilty at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court to taking part in a public assembly and failing to comply with a condition imposed by a senior police officer. The charge of
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said: “At one point he came to a stop and the officer got out and approached the van but he (Price) started to drive off at a very slow speed.” The officer was then able to pull Price out of his vehicle and arrested him following a positive roadside breath test. The court heard Price was unable to stand and admitted to drinking six pints at the time of his arrest. He pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed limit and is now facing a minimum of 12 weeks in custody. Magistrates ordered a probation report ahead of Price’s sentencing.
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She said the Environment Agency was investigating whether Valance Beck was capable of accepting run-off from surrounding fields. She added: “The plan is inappropriate and simply not viable. It needs to be dropped.” The housing scheme is due to be heard at Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee on November 21.
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allegedly failing to remain in a defined area, on Foundry Street, relates to the Yorkshire Patriots’ demonstration held on October 12. The trials of both men are set to take place at Kirklees Magistrates Court on January 17 and February 17 respectively.
St Peter’s Xmas fair BIRSTALL: St Peter’s Church has scheduled The Press abides by the principles of the Independent Press Standards Organisation and at all times attempts to report fairly and accurately and correct mistakes or errors as soon as possible. In the first instance, contact the editor, otherwise we will be happy to give details of the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you notice a factual inaccuracy, please email news@thepressnews.co.uk. You can also write to The Press, 31 Branch Road, Batley, WF17 5SB We adhere to the Editors’ Code of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at: IPSO, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG Website: www.ipso.co.uk Email: advice@ipso.co.uk Telephone: 0300 123 2220
a number of festive events over the coming weeks. Next Saturday (November 23) will see the return of the Christmas fair, with stalls, games and a Santa’s grotto all available to visitors from 11am. And on December 7 (7.30pm), the Band of West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service will perform at the church’s Christmas concert. Tickets are available at £10 each. Call 01924 473715 for more details.
Window smashed BATLEY: A taxi’s window was smashed in broad daylight while the driver stopped for a haircut. Police were called to reports of a suspected theft on Branch Road at 1.54pm on Wednesday. The taxi, which was parked at the side of the street, had its window shattered and a man wearing dark clothing was seen fleeing towards Bradford Road. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101. Call The Press newsroom on 01924 470296 or email news@ thepressnews.co.uk
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Friday November 15, 2019
Independents aim to double their number in Kirklees poll By Steve Martyn
‘You’re deluded on jobs’, Sherriff tells Tory hopeful TORY general election candidate Mark Eastwood claims that unemployment rates in Dewsbury are falling – but Labour’s Paula Sherriff says he is “deluded”. Mr Eastwood, above, cited official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which show there are now 2,581,074 people in work across Yorkshire. In Dewsbury, he said the number of people claiming key out-of-work benefits has fallen by 444 since 2010 – an overall reduction of 16 per cent. But Labour candidate Paula Sherriff, who has been the town’s MP for the past four years, said “there’s nothing to boast about”. Mr Eastwood said: “These figures for Dewsbury, Yorkshire and our entire country are another sign that the fundamentals of the British economy are strong, with the unemployment rate lower than at any point in nearly half a century. “The Conservative Government has created 3.7million jobs, including almost 200,000 more jobs in Yorkshire. We should not let Labour throw all that hard work away.” Miss Sherriff said: “The Tories are deluded over jobs in our area – their growth figures mask a reality of insecure work, zero-hours contracts and agency work and those who simply can’t get enough hours to sustain a decent income. “Food bank usage has soared while more and more people are trapped by in-work poverty. There’s nothing to boast about here. “In Dewsbury, Mirfield, Denby Dale and Kirkburton, some 12 per cent of workers – 5,200 people – are being paid the lowest possible wage according to the government’s own statistics and real wages are still lower than they were before the global financial crisis.” Other candidates in Dewsbury & Mirfield are Simon Cope (Green) and John Rossington (Lib Dem). ■ CLECKHEATON councillor John Lawson has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Batley & Spen. Leader of the Lib Dems on Kirklees Council, Coun Lawson also stood in the 2015 and 2017 elections. He said: “I am very proud to be able to represent the Liberal Democrats in this election. “Our message needs to be heard now more than ever. I have opposed leaving the EU from the start. Our country and everyone in Batley & Spen will be worse off as a result. Our great nation will become a minor player in world affairs. “My top priority as the next MP for Batley & Spen will be to vote with Liberal Democrat MPs to put an end to this Brexit mess by revoking Article 50. “There will be a big investment in mental health services and practical steps to tackle the climate emergency.”
THE Dewsbury Borough Independents will attempt to double their representation on Kirklees Council after the authority decided to press ahead with a Dewsbury East by-election on December 12. Coun Aleks Lukic, who took the seat off Labour’s Eric Firth in May, had appealed for the deceased councillor Paul Kane’s seat to be left vacant until it was due to be contested in May. Coun Kane resigned last Monday and was found dead at his home in Bywell Close on Tuesday. A report has been submitted to the West Yorkshire Coroner. Now a local Hanging Heaton man, Chris Stoner, has come forward to contest the by-election for the DBIs – supported by Coun Lukic. Mr Stoner, 50, who is married with two children who attend local schools, said: “I have chosen to stand as I believe with a passion in a brighter future for Dewsbury. “For too long the residents of Dewsbury East have been failed by major parties in Kirklees with a Huddersfieldcentric approach to local politics. “Dewsbury and its residents deserve better. I have become well known within the town for attempting to fight for improvements and holding our local politicians to account. Despite this, we are still the last thoughts in many of Kirklees’ decisions.” Mr Stoner is involved in two local businesses – Ezmuve Estate Agents, but primarily Thomas Stoner Supplies, an
office supplies company with a national contract to the NHS and also local authorities, schools and businesses. He added: “I am asking Dewsbury East residents to lend me their vote on the yellow ballot paper this December 12 for a different future for Dewsbury. “We began the fight in May, when my colleague Aleks Lukic defeated Labour and the Conservatives. Another win in the area will give Dewsbury Independents seats on committees affecting our town, instead of the decisions being made elsewhere. “The fact we are even having this election following the tragedy of Coun Paul Kane is very telling of how these parties and their politicians think. “We opposed this election out of respect, but they continued anyway. “But the hard-working people of Dewsbury have already done half the job when kicking out Labour back in May. I hope we don’t let them in via the back door on December 12.” The Labour Party have not yet publicly announced their choice, while the Conservatives have selected
“The fact we are even having this election following the tragedy of Coun Paul Kane is very telling of how these parties think.We opposed this election out of respect, but they continued anyway”
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Hanging Heaton resident Keith Mallinson as their candidate. Business owner Mallinson, 58, has lived in the Dewsbury East ward since 2002, together with his wife Carole, who works as a practice nurse at a local GP surgery. He said: “I was selected a few weeks back to represent Dewsbury East for the Conservatives in next May’s local council elections and would like to have been running in December under better circumstances. My heartfelt condolences go out to Paul Kane’s family at this difficult time. “Over the years, I have been disheartened by the total decline of Dewsbury town centre, the ripping up of our green spaces with Labour’s ill thought-out Local Plan for the area and the roads have always been an issue which the council has consistently failed to address. “As councillor for Dewsbury East, I would campaign to ensure that prompt action is taken on all these issues.” The Liberal Democrat candidate is former councillor Dennis Hullock. Nominations close at 4pm today (Friday).
News In Brief Two in court over double shooting LIVERSEDGE: A man from Dewsbury has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder following a double shooting last week. The victims, aged 22 and 27, were seriously injured as they were shot at while waiting in a car outside Sainsbury’s Local in the Fountain Court retail park on Huddersfield Road. Khamier Masood, 30, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody before a trial at the city’s Crown Court on Tuesday, December 10. Umar Ditta, 32, of Larkspur Way, Wakefield, was also remanded on the same charge to appear before a judge on the same day. Two other men, aged 24 and 25, have been released under investigation as police continue their enquiries. The 22-year-old victim was last week revealed to be Hamza Hussain, the son-inlaw of Kirklees Mayor Mumtaz Hussain.
Brexit pair named NORTH KIRKLEES: The Brexit Party has announced a new parliamentary candidate for Batley & Spen. Clive Minihan replaces the party’s first choice, Jill Hughes, who quit following revelations made by a campaign group. Mr Minihan said: “Other than delivering Brexit, my passions are bringing good jobs to West Yorkshire, regenerating our high streets and helping the NHS meet the challenges ahead.” Meanwhile, Philip James was announced as the Brexit Party candidate for Dewsbury. Mr James, of Brighouse, was previously a candidate in Calder Valley but the party is now no longer contesting seats held by the Conservatives.
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REMEMBRANCE DAY NEWS ROUND-UP
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Friday November 15, 2019
Pupils’ poems for peace form moving Armistice tribute By David Bentley MORE than 200 children joined local faith leaders to help lead an Armistice Day remembrance service in Batley Memorial Gardens on Monday morning. Nine local schools were represented, including Roman Catholic, Church of England and Islamic institutions. The event was organised by North Kirklees Interfaith (NKI), a group of faith leaders who meet regularly to grow their friendships, encourage communities to come together and to plan events. NKI worked in partnership with the Batley branch of the Royal British Legion and More In Common Batley & Spen to organise the event. During the service, pupils recited poems they had written about remembrance and peace.
Learning lessons of history A GROUP of Spen Valley Air Cadets took part in an educational trip to Krakow. Twenty-eight youngsters and staff members flew to Poland and spent two days exploring the city. The group visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex, the
Polish Aviation Museum, Wieliczka Salt Mine and Oskar Schindler’s factory. Flt Lt Kellyann Martin, commanding officer of 2490 Squadron, said: “It was an excellent trip which everyone enjoyed and learned some valuable lessons about history.”
Led by Rev Canon Mark Umpleby and imam Moulana Irfan Soni, the service was organised as part of National Inter Faith Week, which began last Sunday. Rev Canon Umpleby said: “Inter Faith Week is a fantastic opportunity for people to come together, learn about people in their communities and grow in our friendships and understanding. “The Remembrance service was so moving, to see so many young people from so many schools joining together in such a special place with so many others.” Moulana Soni added: “It was an honour to be part of the Interfaith Community Remembrance Service, alongside my friend and colleague Rev Mark Umpleby. “It was a wonderful morning and to see all the children attending was just amazing and not forgetting the Batley folk who also attended.”
News In Brief Events lined up for Interfaith Week NORTH KIRKLEES: Local faith leaders have organised a number of events as part of Interfaith Week. Rev Canon Mark Umpleby and imam Moulana Irfan Soni, of the North Kirklees Interfaith (NKI) group will lead a special event outside Tesco Extra on Bradford Road, Batley tomorrow (Saturday, from 9.30am). White roses will be given out to members of the public, with words of peace from the Bible and the Quran. Batley Bulldogs are hosting a clerics’ tea (Saturday, 11.30am-12.30pm) and that will be followed by the Batley Poets’ event, ‘Anything Goes’ (2pm-4pm). People are invited to share their favourite poem or one they’ve written. Straight after, at 4pm, Batley Library is hosting an intercultural afternoon tea.
Veterans’ gathering BATLEY: The town’s Royal British Legion branch is hosting a veterans’ get-together on Saturday, November 23 (2pm). Ex-service personnel are invited to Batley RAFA Club and can take along photos and memorabilia. There’ll be refreshments, a bar and entertainment from Natasha Harper. Transport can be arranged for those who need it. For more information ring Wendy Storey on 07538 670736.
Christmas market CLECKHEATON: The Central Methodist Church on Mortimer Street will host a Christmas market tomorrow (Saturday). Running from 10am to 2.30pm and opened by Arwell Price, a tenor with Opera North, the market will include a Santa’s grotto.
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LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE Danny Lockwood
Explosive week is OTT for pets ’M NOT a Bonfire Night fan, although I might be more inclined to celebrate if a descendant of Guy Fawkes had done a better job last Tuesday, November 5th, underneath the Houses of Parliament. I’ve nothing against community and charity events, with their bonfire toffee, baked spuds, sickly-sweet parkin and the like. It’s just the militarygrade ordnance that’s now part of the package – Guy Fawkes wished he had explosives like those found at the Boy Scouts’ annual fundraiser. As kids, we had Catherine wheels, sparklers, Roman candles and an occasional rocket that went 50 feet before going a red-gold-silver pop-pop-pop. Today’s fireworks are like the opening barrage at the Somme. We would pile our ‘chumps’ into a bonfire in the back garden and buy bangers for a
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MY MATE: Arthur, before the explosives shilling or half a crown (ask your grandparents, kids) and throw them at one another like WWII hand grenades. Then one foolhardy ‘commando’ would hang on a tad too long, get a
blackened paw and run home crying, where mum or dad usually replied: “I’ll bloody well give you something to cry about!” Now? We have bonfires you could burn Parliament on (the good ideas are flowing today!) and where admission is by bringing a firework. And no, not a little pyramid thingy about two inches high, which emits a feeble ‘fizzy-fizzy poppop’ for 20 seconds. Oh no, what they mean is a lethal armament that can be seen 12 miles away and heard almost as far – and, if you are a dog, no one’s told you this is supposed to be ‘fun’. I suspect a pal was boasting rather than complaining when saying he’d spent 50 quid on a firework (and there isn’t even a flaming bonfire half the time!) yet his wham, bam, thank-youmam pyrotechnic was all over
in a matter of seconds. “You’d have been as well setting fire to a handful of tenners,” I replied. “It would have lasted as long and you’d have saved a few dozen dogs from being terrified half to death.” He wondered, very briefly, if I was joking. I wasn’t. ’M WRITING this with my faithful old Labrador buddy Arthur laying on my feet in the darkened confines beneath my desk. He’s panting like he’s
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just run the London marathon and his eyes are on stalks. His heart’s going 300 to the minute. This is his ninth consecutive night like this and there hasn’t even been a firework tonight. As darkness falls the poor old boy is in a state of complete distress for hours on end. If you’ve not had a pet, think of a baby, crying as only they can, unable to tell you what’s wrong. It’s not its nappy, or wind, you’ve fed it, you’ve given it Calpol, you’ve rock-a-byed for hours – and there’s no GP to visit, or NHS hotline to call. Dog owners just have to sit tight, hope it will pass, and curse the gunpowder vandals. (And a quick tip for fellow dog owners here – if your local pet store recommends calming tablets called Zylkene can I suggest you recommend they use it as a suppository. Still in the box. It’s £28 and useless). I digress. This year has been particularly bad because our neighbours forgot to tell us they were having a bring-a-bomb party – several days before November 5th. They’d even sent their nervous dog away for the night. I spent 90 minutes driving terrified Arthur round darkened countryside while Mrs L went to assure them I wasn’t really going to shove their ******* Apollo 5s up their *****. Our neighbours were mortified at the oversight – but the damage was done. You know, I don’t want to be a miserable so-and-so. Bonfire parties and fireworks have their place. But sorry, not for a week either side of November 5th or New Year’s Eve. At least if it was just on the night, animal owners could make appropriate plans and take such precautions as there are. One night last year the new, nouveau riche occupiers of ‘the hall’ in our village had some impromptu nuclear fun – at midnight. It was still going at 1.20am when I went full Rambo (I’m sure I looked daft with the red bandana tied round my bald head and black Kiwi boot polish daubed on my mush). Luckily my daughter stood me down – she’d called the police.
What’s happening? Not a clue! ON’T ask me what kind of a world we’re going to be looking at on the morning of December 13th. I haven’t a clue – although if Jo Swinson finds herself in any kind of position of power, we really might see civil strife. Nah, she couldn’t … could she? Strange things happen in elections and this is the strangest I’ve ever witnessed, including a council poll in 2012 when Dewsbury South candidate Abdul Patel got more votes than there were voters (that’s an exaggeration, but not much of one). I remember going to bed on election night in April 1992 confident of waking up to Prime Minister Neil Kinnock, only to find that pasty-faced waste-of-time John Major still in No.10. Mind you, champagne socialist Kinnock has gone on to show his true colours every bit as much as Major – as with most of the trough-snouting power-seekers in Westminster. I always try to take any person as I find them – even politicians. I was in the Green Room before a BBC Newsnight programme with Labour’s Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn, who was a thoroughly pleasant chap, despite being responsible for what I consider an act of betrayal, the Parliamentary bill that hamstrung our efforts to get Brexit done. His father Tony Benn, an MP of immense political wisdom and, rarely enough, integrity, would be ashamed of him, in my view. In the same Green Room that night was Jacob ReesMogg, whose political intellect I quite admire, but who couldn’t have given me a wider berth that night if I’d had fangs and a tail that rattled. So, will people vote for their local MP on local issues? Will they vote on Brexit lines rather than traditional Labour/Tory allegiances? Will they listen to long-serving Labour MPs terrified of a Marxist Corbyn-McDonnell dictatorship? Or to Remainer Conservatives who can’t stand the sight of Bonking Boris? All I will predict is that the early hours of December 13
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Some days later the completely unapologetic hall owners found a poo-bag had been catapulted down their drive – the yucky photo even made it onto the community website. “Was that you, Danny?” asked the village pub landlord,
Tony Benn man of wisdom and integrity will bring us something entirely unexpected. It’s my birthday on the 15th. If no newspapers appear that week, you’ll know Comrade Corbyn got in and old Locky’s putting his feet up in the Caribbean somewhere… Y VIEWS on flaming fireworks apart (pun intended), this time of year is always special for the various services of remembrance. And unlike bonfires, I can’t get too many of them. It’s ironic that the people who despise such public recognitions of sacrifice should so fiercely champion the very men who made the greatest sacrifice – the ordinary men and women of working class Britain. Jeremy Corbyn couldn’t be bothered with the fabulous Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday. He was probably heeding the ‘wise words’ of The Guardian’s resident champagne socialist Polly Toynbee, who’s been calling for us to ‘get over’ the poppy and these pathetic annual exercises in nostalgia – tributes ironically to the people without whom she would not have the freedom to write such tripe. At least Corbyn didn’t wriggle out of Sunday’s Cenotaph ceremony, although when he reluctantly, almost invisibly, bowed his head after laying Labour’s wreath, you knew he’d rather be eating a plate of week-old tripe. When we stop paying those respects, we will cease being a nation in any meaningful way.
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“because you were really narked about it and poor Arthur was in a right state.” Arthur and a few dozen other dogs were in a right state. “You’d have known if it was me,” I replied. “I’d have rubbed his face in it.”
ThePress
Friday November 15, 2019
Caretakers face mammoth tusk in Shaw Cross...
£105k makeover for couple’s home
George Clarke, right, with Chev and Lauren Walker. Below, the property exterior before, left, and after
A MIRFIELD property was given a £105,000 makeover on the Channel 4 hit show ‘George Clarke’s Old House, New Home’. The home belonging to former Leeds Rhinos star Chev Walker and his wife Lauren was transformed on national TV last Wednesday. At the start of the episode, Clarke visited the Victorian stone farmhouse property, on the outskirts of Mirfield, and delivered a damning
assessment, describing it as ‘back to front’ and ‘terrible on every level’. But following the transformation, which included a new balcony, bespoke concrete and metallic walls and an adult snug area, Lauren said: “I can’t believe it’s our house. I feel like I’ve walked into some beautiful show home.” Lauren also took to Facebook to thank local people for “lovely comments”.
IT’S a jungle out there in Dewsbury… Residents in Shaw Cross may have been a little surprised to read this letter, below, from Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, reminding tenants to keep their communal areas tidy. Part of the official message states: “Please DO NOT put elephant outside as the caretakers will not take it away FREE of CHARGE.” Having to clear away all those pachyderms really must be a mammoth tusk for KNH workers… Apparently, the letter was supposed to say “please do not put large, bulky items outside”.
Addressing the surreal error (otherwise known as the elephant in the room), Joanne Bartholomew, chief operating officer of KNH, said: “Although we haven’t found any elephants…yet…our estate cleaning teams do a fantastic job. In the last 12 months alone they removed 882 tonnes of rubbish from our estates – that is the equivalent of 220 elephants.”
NORTH KIRKLEES: The district’s clinical commissioning group (CCG) is supporting a national campaign to tackle antibiotic resistance. The ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ campaign warns that taking medication when you don’t need it can put you and your family at risk. Dr David Kelly, Heckmondwike GP and outgoing chairman of North Kirklees CCG, said: “Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant, meaning antibiotics may not work when you really need them. “Taking antibiotics for everyday viral infections, such as colds or flu, are not effective.”
Donations appeal DEWSBURY: The British Heart Foundation shop in Dewsbury is appealing for donations of toys, bric-a-brac, shoes, handbags, jewellery, CDs and DVDs, and any unwanted items in the lead-up to Christmas. Customers can drop off before 9am and after 4pm at the store on Foundry Street, or there’s a collection service Monday to Friday (call 01924 485882).
Stolen cars search
Town’s FREE Christmas parking times COUNCIL chiefs have created some Christmas cheer in Dewsbury by announcing festive free parking. Shoppers using any Kirklees car park or on-street spaces can take advantage of the scheme from 2pm on Wednesdays, December 4 and 11, and from
News In Brief Health body backs antibiotic campaign
noon on Wednesday, December 18 and Saturday, December 21. Free parking will also be available all day at the Cliffe Street Car Park on Saturday, December 7 (the day of the town’s Christmas lights switch-on), for anyone displaying a three-hour parking permit.
CHICKENLEY: Police are seeking two cars stolen from a property on Heath Road. In the early hours of last Friday (November 8), suspects broke into the house before making off with a white Ford Focus ST, registration AV67 HBG, and a blue Ford Fiesta Zetec S, registration EA65 TXR. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 with crime reference 13190573872.
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Friday November 15, 2019
After election, let’s work together The General Election campaign launched this week reflects the third election in four-and-a-half years (and in Batley and Spen it’s the fourth election for the local MP). To say that most of the general public are election weary and fed up of politics would be an understatement. Whatever part of the political spectrum you are from you probably agree that the reason we are in this mess is not just because of Brexit but because of poor political leadership and a lack of unity. Whilst Brexit will eventually be sorted one way or another and political leaders come and go unity is not something that can be fixed overnight. In the last two weeks I have been
Story has gone quiet
Letter of the Week: Arif Ahmad, president, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Spen Valley fortunate enough, as part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Spen Valley, to help the Poppy Appeal in Heckmondwike. The motto of our community is ‘Love For All Hatred For None’. The overwhelming response from everyone I encountered during the collection was one of respect, peace and a determination to honour those who
Carcano 6.5mm carbine in a back yard to add to the prosecution case against him that he owned said rifle. It could also be a plot from a favourite of mine at the cinema, the ‘Bourne’ series!
From: Ben Marshall, Liversedge I feel very sorry for the parents of the young motorcyclist Harry Dunn and their battle for justice here and in America. The story seems to be quietly dropped by the media, going nowhere with regards the Government and I wonder why? I’m surprised in this day and age that the UK national press and their seemingly unlimited access to the most impossible subject matter haven’t come up with a current picture of the US citizen Anne Sacoolas, rather than a grainy picture of a woman in a wedding dress allegedly in 2003. The picture reminded me of another grainy photograph of a curiously-posed Lee Harvey Oswald with his
Will new faces emerge? From: Peter Moreland, Heckmondwike The most certain thing about this election is the uncertainty – with Parliament in a total mess this is the most unpredictable election ever. It is highly likely that the party led by the Grim Reaper and the one led by the fake Donald Trump will get the majority of seats, leaving the smaller parties probably holding the balance of power in another hung parliament. If this happens hopefully both leaders will resign and new blood will emerge to lead their respective parties and
had been killed by not repeating the mistakes of the past. In addition I am glad that the contribution made by Commonwealth soldiers of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh background is beginning to be better understood, recognised and appreciated. My appeal is that after the election we set aside our differences and start working together. It may sound
work together to finally get a good Brexit deal – wishful thinking?
Honour those who fought From: Ms A Rawat, Batley As we remember those that fought and gave their lives for our freedom in the world wars, let us remember them all including the Asian and African soldiers who fought with Britain. It has now been brought to our attention that these soldiers have not always been given the honour due to them, including a proper burial with designated headstones which European soldiers did receive. I thank David Lammy MP and the historian who unearthed this information for bringing this to our attention in relation to the African soldiers. With regards to Indian soldier Inayet Khan, who has
idealistic but everyone I know wants their local community to succeed and thrive.
never been invited to the Remembrance Day commemorations, I hope that he receives this, with a special honour, as he celebrates his 100th birthday next year.
‘Local’ NHS on the retreat From: Christine Hyde, Dewsbury North Kirklees NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, after great fanfare about local accountability in the move to Dewsbury, is relocating back to Huddersfield. Another nail in the coffin of local accountability for health services. As Rosie Cooper MP famously said: “In the NHS, everyone’s accountable, but no one is responsible”. North Kirklees NHS Support group is not surprised. In 2013, they challenged David Kelly, the Governing Body Chair, saying the Health and Social Care Act 2012 would fragment the services.
LATEST PLANNING APPLICATIONS A Lee, installation of permanent cricket net system and security fencing, Cleckheaton Cricket Club, The Pavilion, Bradford Road, Cleckheaton. Hardcastle, erection of two-storey side and single-storey rear extension, 31 Brighton Close, Carlinghow. Batley Grammar School, erection of glazed entrance lobby and associated external works within a conservation area, Carlinghow Hill, Batley. Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, alterations to convert first floor flat into two flats, 179-187 Chickenley Lane, Chickenley. Sandcastle Care Ltd, certificate of lawfulness for proposed use of dwelling as a home for two young
persons in receipt of care as required with no more than two carers resident overnight, 10 Stonefield Street, Moorside, Cleckheaton. Sandcastle Care Ltd, certificate of lawfulness for proposed use of dwelling as a home for two young persons in receipt of care as required with no more than two carers resident overnight, 15 Robin Royd Lane, Mirfield. L Pennington, work to tree(s) within a conservation area, Havercroft, Hanover Street, Batley. M Brown, erection of single-storey rear extension and front and rear dormer extensions, 550 Bradford Road, Birkenshaw. M Appleyard, demolition of side extension and erection of attached
dwelling, 115 Northway, Mirfield. S Bolt, erection of single-storey rear extension, 37 Uplands Drive, Mirfield. P Watson, erection of two-storey side extension, 49 Cambridge Road, Birstall. R Bartleet, erection of detached dwelling with integral garage, adjacent town 2 Camilla Court, Earlsheaton. J A Oldroyd, erection of two detached dwellings, April Court, Roberttown. I Patel, erection of detached dwelling, rear of 53 Track Road, Batley. Kirklees Forestry, work to tree TPO25/95, The Bungalow, Headfield Lane, Savile Town.
Rouse Homes, erection of 42 dwellings, land south of Soureby Cross Way, East Bierley. Mrs Franklyn, erection of detached dwelling, adjacent The Hall, Liversedge Hall Lane, Liversedge. P Smith, outline application for erection of two dwellings and demolition of existing building, rear of 628 Halifax Road, Hightown. Mr Hassan, erection of singlestorey side extension and twostorey rear extension, 17 Carriage Way, Heckmondwike. Q Choudry, erection of first-floor side extension and two-storey rear extension, 19 Carriage Way, Heckmondwike. R Smith, erection of two-storey rear and side extension, replacement
windows, render finish over brickwork and demolition of existing conservatory, 142 Bywell Road, Dewsbury. M Johnson, erection of singlestorey rear extension, decking and fencing to rear, 64 Old Lane, Birkenshaw. H King, the proposal is for erection of single-storey rear extension. The extension projects 4m beyond the rear wall of the original dwelling house. The maximum height of the extension is 2.9m, the height of the eaves of the extension is 2.1m, 12 Charlesworth Square, Gomersal. Mr & Mrs Naylor, erection of single and two-storey side extensions and associated works, 1 West Royd Grove, Mirfield.
Why can’t Batley and Spen take the lead and be an example to others?
He denied this strenuously, but only six years on, the Kirklees Health and Wellbeing plan to 2023 actually admits that commissioning has fragmented the services. So they need this new ‘integration’ plan, which will re-disorganise them further through cuts and closures, but of course this is strenuously denied. David Kelly said in February, you would be able to refer yourself for ‘community based’ physiotherapy but it’s not so. The aim of NHS England is to have one emasculated Commissioning Group for the whole of West Yorkshire and Harrogate, and for much of the procurement to be done by providers themselves in the Integrated Care Provider network. NHS England’s ‘right direction’ the second and third top down NHS re-disorganisations, signposts that this will ultimately morph into a US style ‘Accountable Care Organisation’. These create huge conflicts of interest as the providers/commissioners will be incentivised to save money as the NKCCG is doing, by its running away. But ACOs save money by cutting services and denying care and what they save, they keep. Remember when the mental health hospitals were closed? At first there was a raft of services for patients. They’re now reduced to zero. Deaths of sufferers are up. Welcome to the gestation of NHS Obamacare. The PM’s friend Trump wants more of the NHS revenue for his health multi-nationals. Are you with him?
Shabby stuff from Labour From: Betty Goodwin, Earlsheaton With the passing of Coun Paul
Kane, Dewsbury East lost the best representative it ever had. Ex-councillor Eric Firth is acting with undue haste trying to step into Paul’s shoes, which he may wear but will never fill. Shame Eric couldn’t wait until May. I remember how shabbily former Dewsbury East councillor, Colin Auty, was treated during his election campaign and after he took office.
Well done to Batley folk From: Wendy Storey, vice-chairwoman, Batley Royal British Legion I would like to thank the people of Batley for coming to the act of Remembrance service on Sunday and also especially the school children who attended the Interfaith service on Monday. It was a wonderful service on Sunday remembering those who gave their lives for us. The weather was kind and the good people of Batley turned out in their droves to pay their respects to the brave service personnel. Natasha Harper brought the service to an emotional close singing ‘We’ll Meet Again’. On Monday around 200 schoolchildren attended the Interfaith service. They read poems they had written about the war and about peace and leaders of different faiths led the prayers. The children and schools should be very proud of themselves, they were so respectful and impeccably behaved. It is good to see young people attending this Act of Remembrance and I hope they continue to do so. We must always remember those brave men and women who gave their tomorrow for our today.’
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News In Brief Woodland project’s ‘plant a tree’ appeal NORTH KIRKLEES: Members of Spen Valley Civic Society are seeking volunteers to help plant trees at the Jo Cox Community Wood. The project, in memory of the former Batley & Spen MP, is taking place on disused land off Quaker Lane, Liversedge. A day of action is planned for Sunday, November 24 (from 12.30pm), when volunteers are needed to help plant 150 trees. For more information, ring 01274 875262.
Name that street STAINCLIFFE: Kirklees Council is inviting people to name a new street which will serve a residential development on land adjacent to Track Road, near to the Al-Hikmah Centre. Names should not duplicate or closely resemble existing street names in the area, nor are streets generally named after people who are living or who have lived in the recent past. Preference is often given to names with local connotations. Suggestions can be sent to Building Control, Flint Street, Fartown, Huddersfield, HD1 6LG, by email on street.naming@kirklees. gov.uk, or via 01484 225502.
‘Key failings’ in Council’s climate emergency strategy, say critics By Tony Earnshaw Local Democracy Reporter JUST hours before it unveiled its climate emergency strategy, Kirklees Council came under fire for ‘key failings’ in its report. Independent environmental scientist Dr Richard Stow and Gideon Richards, co-chairman of Kirklees Climate Emergency Group, said the council’s climate emergency and air quality strategy action plan ‘lacked ambition’. During a meeting in Dewsbury Town Hall the council’s Cabinet rejected multiple calls for the report to be deferred ‘to allow full review and thus credibility’. Kirklees is aiming for a net zero carbon from energy target by 2038 and to establish a Climate Commission and a Green Charter.
Announcing the report, Coun Naheed Mather said climate change was ‘a huge issue’ and that ‘we take this very seriously’. Among the proposals being considered are increasing the council’s electric vehicle fleet and encouraging the use of electric and low-emission vehicles. The council also plans to relaunch and expand its free-parking offer for low emissions vehicles. Backed by the unanimous support of the Cabinet, council leader Coun Shabir Pandor said: “We have to get on with addressing the emergency. This will not be the end. This will absolutely be a priority and we are taking this extremely seriously.” In January, campaigners cheered as councillors voted in favour of a motion for the authority to carry out a full environmen-
tal audit and to measure its carbon footprint. But the report, created by a working party of councillors, has already been criticised, with the leader of the council’s Green group, Coun Andrew Cooper, refusing to back it. Dr Stow challenged the authority to ‘carefully consider’ its findings, adding that ‘the scope of opportunity and innovation is enormous’. He said he feared the report would be ‘rushed through as a pre-election headline’. Responding to the council’s policy, which was published online seven days ago, he said there should be ‘a proper consultation’ prior to its adoption by the council this week. Dr Stow said scrutiny of the report, which he called ‘a work in progress’, revealed no discussion or commitment to conserving
existing trees and woodland. He used the potential loss of ancient woodland on the Kirklees Estate, which would be felled as part of the £70m A644 Cooper Bridge Bypass, to illustrate how mature trees could not be adequately replaced by saplings. He said: “The proposed treefelling at Robin Hood’s grave, Kirklees Hall and Bradley would nowhere near be mitigated by the planting of ‘a few hundred trees’.” Dr Stow also called for regulations to be streamlined to authorise tree preservation officers to react quickly to prevent illegal felling. Mr Richards said there had been ‘a lack of cohesion and a randomness’ to some of the proposed elements in the report that could affect how the authority would meet emissions targets.
Shayan’s bumper contribution to hospice
Christmas concert CLECKHEATON: Whitechapel Church is hosting its monthly free concert on Wednesday, December 4 – as well as a special Christmas party. The church on Whitechapel Road is the venue for different singers, choirs and entertainment on the first Wednesday of every month. There’ll be a performance from the Wayfarers Revival duo, plus festive fun for the last event of the year. People are encouraged to arrive from 1.30pm to get a good seat, with the concert starting at 2pm. Contact Trevor Bowers on 01274 862635 for more information.
A MIRFIELD children’s nursery raised over £700 for the Forget Me Not hospice. Staff and children from Stepping Stones took part in the hospice’s ‘Around the World’ challenge, in which youngsters run, walk, skip, hop, jog or swim a mile and get sponsored for it. A group of around 35 tots completed three laps of the playing fields across the road from their Towngate nursery. Four-year-old Shayan Ali, pictured with his mum, dad and grandma, raised £350 towards the total of £748 – more than any other child – which meant he won a balance bike from the charity.
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Thank you so much From: Jean Hodge, Dewsbury Could I please through your page thank all the staff at Asda. They are wonderful and are always ready to help me and I appreciate the help very much. Also, I want to thank the Oakwell and Rex taxi drivers – without them and the Asda staff I couldn’t do my shopping. So thank you all very much for all your help.
Mirfield at its very best, once again From: Tim Wood, The Old Colonial Almost 50 years I took part in my first Remembrance parade in Mirfield as a little drummer boy with the 1st Ravensthorpe Boys Brigade band. I have been associated with the parade ever since. Last Sunday was a crisp winter day when the parade marched off from Lowlands Road on its way to Ings Grove Park for the Remembrance Service. The parade columns were led by four excellent marching bands, the route was lined several deep either side of the road with supportive onlookers which always give the marching columns a big adrenaline boost. I thought that the 100th anniversary
of the Armistice would bring out crowds that, in terms of numbers, could not be bettered. I was wrong, everyone I spoke to was amazed how much bigger the turnout was than previous years. Someone said yet again to me ‘we’ve grown a monster’; I smiled back with pride. All the planning and preparation over the last 12 months paid off and all my colleagues who give great assistance let out a big heartfelt sigh of relief. To all those who came and took part in the parade and service, I give you our thanks and to all those who give up their time so freely to help and assist me I can only express my gratitude. Your actions speak louder than social media, tweets and all. During the two minutes’ silence as I surveyed the silent masses gathered tightly around our cenotaph, I had a thought from the past. All those whom I have known on the parade over the last 50 years who sadly are no longer with us any more, their numbers would certainly have matched the numbers in the crowd I was standing amongst. A few hours later, over a glass of ‘Yorkshire duck wine’ I mentioned my thoughts to a couple of my colleagues around the bar. And one of them came out with the classic line: “That’s life Tim, but not as we know it.” We didn’t stop laughing until the toasts were proposed. What a great day for Mirfield this
was. Thank you to all who turned out, you did it for a great cause, it is you who I salute and give thanks to, you make it all worthwhile.
Law and order is top priority From: Douglas Parker, via email After Brexit the most important theme in our country must be law and order. It seems that the rule of Brexit is run in Parliament by lawyers followed by Members of Parliament following them like lap dogs. Only this week we have seen firemen attacked with stones while trying to do their job. We can say the same regarding paramedics trying to save lives but attacked at the same time. We have all seen on television police chasing criminals, usually drug related, with a slap on the wrist at the end of it for the culprits. The sentencing means nothing to these people who only come back for more. Once again it is the legal eagles dishing out these short sentences turning the system into a joke. For the next set of MPs – get this sorted out. Get some discipline back into the country.
Friday November 15, 2019
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Friday November 15, 2019
Addict lashed out at mother over money A DRUG addict repeatedly assaulted his mother when she refused to give him money to fund his habit. Thomas Wilson, who lives with his mum on Chevins Close, Birstall, threw a plate at the victim and yanked her by the hair during a spate of incidents. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to three charges of assault by beating and three counts of criminal damage. His mother told Kirklees magistrates that she was now “at the end of her tether” and was supporting the prosecution because she wanted her son to get help. The court heard that on September 27, Wilson returned home and asked her for £270 to pay off his debts. When the victim explained she didn’t have the money, Wilson pulled the living room door off its hinges, damaged a stair banister and pulled out phone wires when she tried to call police. When his mother asked him to leave, he yanked her hair from behind. Vicky Trueman, prosecuting, then told the court that Wilson returned the next day and asked for money to pay off a drug dealer. The victim told him to leave but the 22year-old threw a plate in her direction which hit her on the back of the leg – she gave him £100 to leave the house. The following day, when Wilson asked the victim for money to buy drugs and she refused, he damaged a coffee table by breaking one of the legs. Ms Trueman said: “She went to leave the house to go to her daughter’s to ring the police but he wouldn’t let her go past and pushed her.” Magistrates were told that Wilson is now receiving help for his mental health and has reduced his drug intake dramatically. Deputy District Judge, David Scanlon, ordered a full probation report before sentencing can take place on December 4. An all-options report was also requested – including custody.
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Throughout 2019 local historian Mike Popplewell will be searching through his newspaper collection from the 1920s and 30s for some of the biggest headlines from home and abroad – while also taking a look at stories making the news in our own district. Readers are welcome to provide feedback if any of these features are remembered personally, or you can recall being told them by an earlier generation.
The people’s palace that went up in flames IFE in Dewsbury & District in 1936 was difficult enough as Christmas drew near and the poverty of the industrial north showing few signs of improvement, so events in London were rarely a subject of conversation over a pint in The Black Bull, The Leggers Inn or even the bar at Dewsbury station.
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However, one event changed all that. On the night of November 30 south London was in uproar as the Crystal Palace, which had fallen into disuse, went up in flames – flames that could be seen 70 miles away on the south coast. The Crystal Palace was so named because it was made from prefabricated panels each containing panes of glass held together in a complex iron framework. It was, in fact, the first prefabricated structure to be assembled on such a grand scale and having first been erected in Hyde Park for Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition of 1851 it was later moved to Sydenham Hill, south of the Thames. About 15 years ago the Huddersfield-based Mikron Theatre Company produced a play called ‘Spirit of the Age’ which focused on a family from this district visiting London for The Great Exhibition. It was such a spectacular event that people travelled from all over Britain to witness it. For a while after the move from Hyde Park the grounds, with The Palace providing a spectacular backdrop, were used to stage sporting events, like cricket matches featuring the legendary WG Grace and the FA Cup finals – including those involving Bradford City and Barnsley before World War One. But, it fell into disuse – and disrepair. There had been a lot of makeshift repair work, often using wood, and there was a lot of wooden furniture, tinder dry from being in what was effectively a greenhouse for years, and though there was never an official enquiry into the cause of the fire an electrical fault in the office area, or lighted cigarette carelessly disposed of, were the likely suspects. In any event the iconic building was totally destroyed and Dewsbury’s public visiting
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cinemas like The Playhouse on Crackenedge Lane, or any of the dozens of her cinemas in the district, would have seen the newsreel films, taken by Pathe News, which used to be part of every cinema programme. Incidentally, the newsreel films can still be seen online by searching ‘Crystal Palace Fire’. The following day, yet another crisis came to the fore. For months King Edward VIII had been developing a relationship with American socialite Wallis Simpson, twice married with the second going through the process of divorce, and on November 16 he told Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin that he proposed to marry Wallis. This news had been kept from the public but on December 1 the Bishop of Bradford gave an address in which he alluded to the King’s need for ‘divine grace’ and urged him
WG Grace playing at Crystal Palace to show awareness of his responsibilities as monarch. This was seen as a red light by Fleet Street and the address was front page news on December 2. For all the comings and goings in the next few days, with government insisting the marriage to Wallis could not take place if he was to remain King, the announcement of his abdication came on December 10, and though all this was happening far away in London, even those in the back streets of Dewsbury couldn’t fail to be affected by this news.
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A GOMERSAL man who crashed head-on into another vehicle during a police chase has been jailed for 10 months. Daniel Dunn, 27, of Butts Hill, was driving an uninsured, stolen BMW on false plates when police tried to box him in close to Birstall Retail Park in March. Bradford Crown Court heard that Dunn smashed into the back of one police car as it pulled in front of him, before driving off and reaching speeds of 70mph.
Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said as Dunn drove, packages of white powder were thrown from the driver’s window. The father of two travelled along the wrong side of the road before colliding with a VW Golf near to the junction of Gelderd Road and Nelson Street. The victim’s car was written off and the woman driver revealed in a victim personal statement that she had been off work for four weeks due
to severe whiplash. Dunn told the court that he had bought the BMW for £400 on the Gumtree website and didn’t know anything about the false number plates. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, driving without insurance, failing to stop and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. The 27-year-old was banned from the road for 29 months on top of his jail sentence.
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On Thursday, December 12th 2019....
Vote for CHRIS STONER
in the DEWSBURY EAST Kirklees Council by-election Chris Stoner is the Dewsbury Borough Independent Candidate for the Dewsbury East local by-election on 12th December. Chris tells us his priorities and why local people should vote for him on their yellow ballot paper. Q: Why should people in Dewsbury East vote for you? I will not have a political party to serve, I will not be told how to vote and will only act in the interests of the people of Dewsbury East, not the Kirklees Labour Party which puts Huddersfield first. I live locally in Hanging Heaton, my children attend the local village school, I understand the concerns that local people have and I will speak up for everyone who lives here. Following Paul Kane’s sudden and tragic death we called for all parties to hold off and leave his seat empty until the scheduled elections in May. Instead the big Kirklees parties chose to stand for this by-election in December, so even though we will face another local election in just five months we have a duty to oppose them now and stand up for the silent majority. Residents in Dewsbury East are crying out for real change. We took the first step in bringing about that change in May by electing my friend and colleague Aleks Lukic, who I was proud to help and would be proud to serve alongside. A vote for me is a vote to strengthen the voice of Dewsbury in the Council Chamber. In Dewsbury East we will each be given two ballot papers on 12th December; a white one for the general election and a yellow one for this local by-election. Dewsbury Borough Independents welcomes all residents, whoever they are supporting in the general election, to lend us their vote on the yellow ballot paper. If we achieve our second victory in Dewsbury East this year then Kirklees Council will have to give us a fair share of seats on committees and we would be even more effective at standing up for our town. Q: Tell us a little bit more about yourself? I have lived locally for over 30 years, with the last 15 years in Hanging Heaton. I have worked locally in and around Dewsbury and Batley for my whole working life. I run my own local business Thomas Stoner Supplies Ltd and also co-own a new estate agency Ezmuve. Both businesses are based in Batley. I support various local Dewsbury community groups including Take Ten, Dewsbury Rams and Dewsbury & Savile Cricket Club. I have also organised sports teams in local charity events such as the Kumon Y’all annual fundraiser in Dewsbury. My hobbies and pastimes include photography, golf, pool/snooker and walking my dog. My biggest passions are my family and our town of Dewsbury. I am also active and outspoken locally on social media, founding the Dewsbury Matters online discussion group for debate on Dewsbury and its future.
COUNCILLOR ALEKS LUKIC AND DBI CANDIDATE CHRIS STONER
Dewsbury gets a raw deal from Kirklees. We want change and can bring about change with more representation on the council. On 12th December reject more of the same – on your yellow ballot paper vote for Chris Stoner to join Aleks Lukic on the Dewsbury Borough Independent team.
CHRIS STONER – STANDING UP FOR THE SILENT MAJORITY AND SPEAKING OUT FOR DEWSBURY EAST
dewsbury east by-election, December 12, 2019 Chris Stoner (Dewsbury Borough Independents) Result of may 2019 kirklees council election Aleks Lukic (Dewsbury Borough Independents).................................... 1,766 Eric Firth (Labour).....................................................................................1,695 Sean Guy (Conservative)..............................................................................489 Dennis Hullock (Liberal Democrat).............................................................150 Gideon Richards (Green Party)....................................................................141 Only CHRIS STONER can beat the Labour Party that is failing local people in Dewsbury East!
Q: What are your top priorities for Dewsbury East? I would like to continue the Dewsbury Borough Independent vision that has been launched by Councillor Aleks Lukic. We firmly believe that Dewsbury can only change for the better if we address the issues of concern for local people. We need to regenerate our town centre. All we have had from Labour and the Conservatives are recycled initiatives from recycled politicians using the same recycled money, announced several times over but never properly implemented. These politicians have been around for years and have presided over the decline in our town. We will support our local businesses and demand everything is done to boost trade in the town centre including free short stay parking for shoppers. No more ‘jam tomorrow’, glossy brochures and inaction. We need to continue our fight against crime and restore law and order to ALL our communities. Kirklees Labour have ignored Councillor Lukic’s ideas to refurbish and extend the CCTV in the town centre to help catch the burglars and other criminals making life a misery for local businesses and shoppers. Local people have also lost confidence in the police due to delays, indifference and politically correct priorities. We will be demanding better policing and expecting them to do their job to the satisfaction of local residents. We will continue our campaign to get control of our money in Dewsbury. What is raised locally should be spent locally and it is high time we stopped contributing to the hundreds of millions of pounds being continually invested in Huddersfield. Unlike Labour councillors we will not approve any council budget unless Dewsbury gets its fair share.
Friends of Earlsheaton Park he Dewsbury Borough Independents are proud to be launching a new initiative: The Friends of Earlsheaton Park. Councillor Lukic and Chris Stoner along with a number of local residents have been working behind the scenes to bring people together who wish to improve and enhance the environment of Earlsheaton Park. Councillor Lukic said “I will be discussing our volunteer group with Kirklees Council. We have come up with exciting and innovative ideas for the future investment in the park and for the much wider use of the park for community events. “With so many residents supporting us I
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am personally very excited about the year ahead and would like to make a firm announcement in the spring. “It’s not too late to get involved, local residents in and around Earlsheaton will be very pleased with what we are putting together.” Chris Stoner added: “A lot of hard work has been going into our masterplan for the park so we can get the most out of it as a community asset and a ‘green lung’ for local people to enjoy. “The working group really have done their homework and I am proud to be part of this amazing local initiative. Watch this space!”
Promoted by Aleks Lukic at 6 Boundary Terrace, Dewsbury, WF13 4PN on behalf of Chris Stoner at 24 Ullswater Road, Hanging Heaton, Dewsbury, WF12 7PR.
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Friday November 15, 2019
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A Cleck-tacular way to start the festive period! LECKHEATON folk are gearing up for one of the biggest days in their calendar year next Saturday as the town officially marks the start of the countdown to Christmas. Thousands of people are expected to flock to the annual Victorian Christmas Festival, which this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. Preparations have been months in the planning, culminating in an outdoor market with sold-out stalls full of foods, toys, jewellery, gifts, Christmas cards and festive decorations. One thing’s for sure – no-one takes their Christmas more seriously than the good burghers of Cleckheaton! It’s an ideal time to stock up on delicious food for Christmas and find the perfect Christmas gifts. There’s a packed programme starting from 9am with activities taking place
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around the town, from seasonal craft and gift stalls to fairground rides and children’s entertainment. The light switch-on itself will take place at 5pm and the market and food stalls will continue until 7.30pm. This year a total of 57 stalls will be spread across the town centre. Festive entertainment will also take place on the main stage, located on Market Street, throughout the day.
Performers include local bands, choirs and dance schools, all hosted by DJ Gemz and Bob DJ, with volunteer stage marshals from local charity Focus for Hope. The festivities will also be streamed live on Dewsburybased Smile Radio. The Savoy Square will be home to Father Christmas and Christmas craft making, and nearby George’s Bistro will transform into a Winter Wonderland.
Nichola Garland, treasurer of Spenborough Chamber of Trade and event organiser, said: “The Christmas Festival is Cleckheaton’s biggest event of the year, in fact it is one of the biggest festive events to take place in North Kirklees. “The day attracts everyone from those looking for unique gifts from our stallholders and independent shops to families who want to enjoy a fun-filled day out. “We expect to see people
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from far and wide attend, allowing us to showcase what the wonderful town has to offer, as well as our Christmas lights display, which is partly funded by donations made by the community and the Spenborough Chamber of Trade.” There will be road closures on the day, but Kirklees Council has granted unlimited access to the town’s main car parks, allowing free parking all day if required. There’s truly something for everyone at the Cleckheaton lights spectacular, and it’s surely not an event to be missed. For more information visit www.visitcleckheaton.co.uk or follow @visitcleckheaton on Facebook for regular updates. Photos courtesy of Stephen Garnett Photographic
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Friday November 15, 2019
HeckmondLIGHT returns! HECKMONDWIKE’S famous free festival of lights returns on Saturday November 23. From 4pm, and for one night only, Green Park will be transformed into a magical world of light and wonder in an after-dark experience for all the family. The Christmas lights switch-on is at 7pm, with fireworks from the giant flaming Momentum Wheel. This year, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the moon landings, aliens will finally visit Heckmondwike. AstroAliens are two glittering dancing aliens who will be setting off on a mission through the audience of HeckmondLIGHT, looking for adventure. Heckmondwike will also become the canvas for Sound Intervention’s Light Bikes, which will illuminate the town with digital projections, with playful characters popping up throughout the evening. Families will be able to visit Santa and his elf, and join in as they bring seasonal tales to life. Lou Sumray will be hosting hands-on workshops for everyone to have a go at creating their own wearable decorations, and the Firm Band Baja will treat Heckmondwike to exuberant recreations of Christmas tunes and Bollywood classics. Completing the line-up for HeckmondLIGHT is a funfair and a street market filled with hot drinks and food, stalls from local artists and community organisations.
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Friday November 15, 2019
A fun-packed evening for all! ORGANISERS in Batley are gearing for another Christmas lights spectacular later this month. Batley Business Association have managed to raise more than £3,000 towards their target of £4,889 – thanks in part to a generous donation from Kirklees Council. Local businesses and individuals
can still pledge money to help make the switch-on event happen on Saturday November 30, by visiting w w w. s p a c e h i v e . c o m / b a t l e y christmas-lights-switch-on-event. There’ll be a main stage in the Market Place with various acts lined up to entertain the audience, as well as Santa’s grotto, giant snow globe,
fairground rides and a Christmas market. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 6pm by the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees Coun Nigel Patrick and Santa. It promises to be a fun-packed afternoon and everyone is welcome to join in the celebrations from 3pm.
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Friday November 15, 2019
Festive fun in the heart of the village DRIGHLINGTON Events Committee is welcoming the whole community to join in the fun at the fifth annual ‘Drigmass’ event, when everyone comes together on Saturday November 30 to see the village’s lights switched on. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever,
OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY
with Station Road closed off to make way for stalls, a funfair and live entertainment. Running from 1pm to 5.30pm, the event is free and features seasonal stalls and a variety of food outlets, funfair rides and liquid refreshment provided by Drighlington Cricket Club. Stage performances start at 1.15pm with local bands and songs from Drighlington Primary School Choir, and there’ll be carols with Drighlington Brass Band from 3.50pm to 4.30pm. Santa will be in his grotto greeting children, and there will be a raffle, bauble judging and following the lights being switched on at 4.30pm the event culminates in a firework display.
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Friday November 15, 2019
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Friday November 15, 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 NOVEMBER 16 FLOCKTON Starts at 10.30am Thornhill Rectory car park (WF12 0JY, SE256185) 8 miles – moderate Contact: Eddie and Andrea 01924 470091
An Xmas celebration MIRFIELD Choral Society present a Christmas Celebration on Saturday December 21 at 7.15pm at Trinity Methodist Church in Mirfield. Tickets priced £10 including refreshments are available from any member of the choral society, by emailing mirfield choral@gmail.com or calling 01924 494708.
Plenty of rambling THE DEWSBURY and District Ramblers have a busy few weeks coming up. Starting tomorrow (Saturday) there’s a walk in Emley and Clayton West. Meet Marjorie Hampshire at Link Road for 9.30am. On Sunday ramblers will be heading to the Eccup Reservoir in Alwoodley. Meet Gill Young at 9am at the Wellington Road car park. The annual Christmas ramble takes place on Saturday November 23 to Clitheroe. There are still places available on the coach, contact Margaret Chamberlain for details.
Clock in for a talk SPEN Valley Historical Society’s next meeting is on Wednesday December 11 when Rod Dimbleby will give a talk titled ‘Discovering John Hartley’s Clock Almanacs 1867-1916’. 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@thecoopers online.org.uk.
RVS activity sessions THE Royal Voluntary Service has a number of activities planned in the next week – starting today (Friday). From 10.30am-12pm there is the weekly movement and games session at Birstall Community Centre, followed by the Cool 2 B Schooled intergenerational club (1.15pm2.30pm) at Batley Community Centre. On Monday, the movement and games class moves to Batley Community Centre (10.30am-12pm) and there’s the sociables group at the same time at Bleak House on Wilton Estate. Then on Tuesday there is the weekly pilates class, also at the community centre from 1.30pm-2.30pm On Wednesday is the ‘all ages meet and eat’ session at the community centre (12.30pm-2pm), and Thursday sees the return of the lunch club from 11.30am1pm. Pre-booking is required. The movement and games class is on again at Birstall Community Centre on Friday (November 22, 10.30am-12pm).
New members wanted 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.
Danger for Dick & Tommy in panto fun
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 30 ST IVES 7.5 miles – moderate Starts at 10.30am at St Ives lower car park, Bingley (BD16 1AS, SE098390) Contact: David Parkinson 01274 879794 or 07704813715 david.parky@tiscali.co.uk
DEWSBURY Arts Group is putting the finishing touches to another fun-filled family pantomime. Dick Whittington, by Ben Crocker follows the exploits of Dick and his faithful cat, Tommy, as they set out to make their fortunes but encounter danger along the way. Performances are in the David and Judith Wood Theatre at Dewsbury Arts Group on Lower Peel Street, Dewsbury. Matinees are on November 16, 17 and 23 at 2.30pm. Evening performances are on November 19-23 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £7 for children and are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/dewsburyartsgroup or by calling 03336 663366.
Crowds flock to see peace differently MORE than 500 people explored a walk-through experience in Dewsbury town centre that invited people of all ages to see peace differently. Audiences entered the five eyes of BLINK and were challenged to resist the rules, create a new environment with a giant kaleidoscope, work with others to build a giant boat and record messages of hope for the future. Local schools visited the eye and participated in poetry workshops last week and on Saturday the full five eyes opened to the public. Creative Scene senior producer Vicky Holliday, who has led the project, said: “I am so proud of Dewsbury’s Young Producers who have turned our local heritage of resistance into an experience for the whole town. “We were delighted that so many people came down to Dewsbury town centre throughout the week to explore and play in BLINK,
and were thrilled with audience members saying that they appreciated the opportunity to think differently about peace.” Audience members commented that they found the event thought-provoking. Following the premiere in Dewsbury on Saturday, BLINK will tour to Stokeon-Trent, Peterborough and Sheerness. Researched and produced by young people in each of the towns, BLINK draws on the UK’s local and national history of peace to ask audience members what kind of future they want to see. The programme has seen 48 people across the country aged 18 to 25 receive training from arts practitioners and museum experts in curatorial and event production. In Dewsbury, Iqra, Jonny, Shazia, Alicia, Hamish, Christopher, Josh and Corrie have been taking time out from work, college and school to train with Creative Scene for a year on the project.
Festive mayhem awaits IF YOU head to St Mary’s in Batley next month you can join the theatre group on their latest pantomime adventure with Aladdin and co. These two clumsy cops (right) are in pursuit of Aladdin, who has climbed the walls of the palace to catch a glimpse of Princess Jasmine. If the bumbling plodders catch him it will be more than a Chinese burn he gets … and will the Princess escape the clutches of the baddie Fajar and marry the hero? Get along to St Mary’s Social
Club and find out! Evening performances are at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday December 6-7. Matinee performances are at 2.30pm on Saturday December 7 and at 1.30pm on Sunday December 8. Some performances sell out very quickly, so make sure to book your tickets early. Tickets priced £5 are available from St Mary’s Social Club and Parochial Hall on Melton Street, from Jo Cox House in Batley Market Place or by calling 01924 478394.
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Friday November 15, 2019
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
St Pauls Church Cleckheaton 9am & 11am Tel Tracey 07970 722726
Dewsbury Town Hall 9.30am 11.30am Tel Lesley 07534 500138
St Pauls Church Cleckheaton 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Shirley 07578 568245
Staincliffe Cricket Club 6pm Tel Lyn 07792 032170
The Trinity Centre Batley Carr 9.00am Tel Hameedah 07983 445501 Earlsheaton WMC 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Amber 07471 826774 Staincliffe Cricket Club Halifax Road 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Diane 07961 631257 Tingley Methodist Church Westerton Road 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Lyn 07792 032170 Zion Baptist Church Mirfield 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Claire 07768 311351
TUESDAY Comrades Club Heckmondwike 9am 11am 3pm 5pm 7pm Tel Sue 07790 590763 Earlsheaton WMC 9am Tel Amber 07471 826774
Thornhill Social Club 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Sarah 07539 452622
Battyeford Christ The King Church 5pm 7pm Tel Mandy 07793 732268
FRIDAY NEW GROUP OPENS 15th NOVEMBER Thornhill Social Club Edge Top Road, Thornhill Friday 9.30am Tel Sarah 07539 452622
Scout Headquarters Hunsworth, Cleckheaton 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Paul 07848 958798
Battyeford Christ The King Church 9am Tel Mandy 07793 732268
Roberttown Community Centre 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Kathryn 07906 118636
SATURDAY
Trinity Methodist Church Hall Mirfield 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Claire 07768 311351
THURSDAY Batley Town Hall 9am 11am Tel Lynne 07988 662052 Batley Town Hall 5pm 7pm Tel Lynne 07988 662052
St Andrews Methodist Church Liversedge 7.30am 9.30am Tel Emma 07786 513072 St Pauls Church Hall Hanging Heaton 8.30am 10.30am Tel Lyn 07792 032170 Comrades Club Heckmondwike 9am Tel Sue 07790 590763
Gomersal Public Hall Gomersal 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Sharon 07904 650476
Westborough Ratepayers Club Dewsbury Moor 5pm 7pm Tel Lucy 07730 264938
Howard Park Community School Cleckheaton 8am 10am 12pm Tel Paul 07848 958798
Shaw Cross Boys Club Leeds Road 3.30pm 5.30pm 7.30pm Tel Lynne 07988 662052
Millbridge WMC Liversedge 5pm 7pm Tel Kathryn 07906 118636
Trinity Methodist Church Hall Mirfield 8.30am 10.30am Tel Jo 07553 747875
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Friday November 15, 2019
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 Standard holly tree in pot, £10. Tel 07415 238960. (2513) Standard bay tree in pot, £15. Tel 07415 238960. (2513) Light box for drying gel nail polish. Only used once. In excellent condition, £10. Tel 01924 450919. (2514) 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) Five traditional walking sticks, various sizes, £10 for all. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Two pairs of Nordic walking sticks, adjustable. Suit lady or gent. £15 for both pairs. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Two director chairs in carrying bags. Good condition, £10 for both. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Three folding tripod stools with carrying handle. Good condition, £10 for all. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Two traditional cowboy hats as new. One black, one fawn. Suit lady or gent, £10 for both. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Two garden strimmers, £5 each. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Bosch cordless hedge cutter and charger, £25. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Bosch electric scarifier lawn rake with catching box, £20. Tel 07988 955976. (2515) Confidence vibration plate, power plus. Cost £179, sell £50. Tel 07928 233213. (2516) Total crunch body revolution system. Cost £95, sell £30, Tel 07928 233213. (2516) Royal Albert Old Country Roses coffee set, eight cups and saucers, coffee pot, sugar bowl & cream jug. As new, never used, £40. Tel 07928 233213. (2516) Delonghi coffee machine Caffe Corso. ESAM 2600 bean to cup. In black, cost £179, sell £40. Tel 07928 233213. (2516) BATHROOM Triton Cara electric shower 10.5 watt. Brand new in box. Genuine reason for sale, £25. Tel 07943 114801. (2497)
CLOTHING Six casual men’s shirts various sizes and colours. Quality brands. Some worn once or new. £1 each. Tel 01924 519750. (2509) Gents’ dark brown leather jacket. Size M (40 inch chest). As new, £50. Tel 07988 955976. (2504) Untold Pale green lace & chiffon dress. Size 14, worn once for a wedding. Immaculate condition, £30. Tel 01924 407400. (2495) COLLECTIBLES Victorian dolls house dolls, five including maid and baby, £25. Tel 01924 469135. (2500) Dolls house furniture, white moquette & wood frame couch, high leg chair, matching rocker plus cot, wardrobe, red wood coffee table and red moquette & wood couch. £25. Tel 01924 469135. (2500) Dolls houses, choice of three from £50 upwards. Tel 01924 469135. (2500) DIY Mac Allister combination ladder (3.72m) 4 in 1, as new, £55. Tel 07939 599381. (2507) Screwfix fire resistant drop down loft access door 562mm x 562mm, £50. Tel 07939 599381. (2507) Envirovent isolate extractor fan. Complete with isolator switch, £20. Tel 07939 599381. (2507) Joiner’s wooden toolbox with various tools included. £25. Tel 01924 430088. (2498) Aluminium step ladder, 7 steps, £20. Tel 07751 575165. (2494) ELECTRICAL Small upright electric vacuum cleaner. Includes instruction and spare filter. Very good condition, £20. Tel 01924 724680 (Ossett). (2506) FURNITURE 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) Oakland Furniture Land oblong oak wall mirror, 1,800cm long x 600cm wide. Unwanted gift £75 ono. Tel 01924 516931. (2510) Priory extending table 5ft 5 ins long (will extend a further 18ins) complete with 6 chairs. Very good condition. Buyer to collect £95 Tel
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
£1 £2 £3 £4 £5 £7 £9 £11
01924 495473/ 07709 859355. (2505)
403080/07548 798908. (2511)
Priory Welsh dresser, 4ft 11ins wide x 5ft 6ins high. Has two display cabinets above with fitted lights. Very good condition. Buyer to collect, £85. Tel 01924 495473/07709 859355. (2505)
Solid fuel fireplace set, 16”. Brass fret, grate and ash pan. Very good condition, very little use. £25. Tel 01924 403080/ 07548 798908. (2511)
Dorlux single bed with two drawers and Flexiform Viscoelastic mattress. Very clean and good condition. Little use. £22 ono. Tel 01274 875328. (2503) Sherborne Eton reclining chair. Light green colour with pattern. Good working condition, £25 ono. Tel 01274 875328. (2503) Wooden chest with locks, casters and handles. 3ft long x 2ft deep. Suitable for blankets, storage or toys. As new, £20 ono. Tel 01274 876814. (2499) 2-3 seater settee (76 inch long), light turquoise colour. Good condition, £60. Buyer to collect. Tel 07434 365269. (2492) Conservatory suite comprising of one two-seater settee and one chair, £7. Tel 01274 876814. (2490) One True Design office chair, black leather task chair, gas lift & tilt, unassembled in box, £50. Tel 01924 469537. (2489) 2 x Canterbury office chairs, black, unassembled in box, £50 each. Tel 01924 469537. (2489) GARDEN Hardwood garden chair. Folds and reclines. Good quality, £15. Tel 01274 876814. (2499) 3 x winter warm oil-filled radiators, 1600 watt, £25 each. Tel 01924 469537. (2489) HOUSEHOLD Dimplex Cheriton coal effect electric fire. Black and brass. New condition, £25. Tel 01924
KITCHEN/ DINING Set of four Aldo Zilli solid copper based pans. Brand new, still boxed. Genuine reason for sale. Will accept £22. Tel 07943 114801. (2497) Haier chest type freezer suitable for kitchen or garage (33.5”H x 22.5”W x 20.5”D). Excellent condition and working order. £40, buyer to collect. Tel 01274 876997. (2496) MISCELLANEOUS 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) Erika electric typewriter (Challenge). Excellent condition, complete with carrying case. Just needs a new ribbon, £30. Tel 01924 475406. (2501) 110 x DVD films, £50 ono. Tel 01924 469135. (2500) MOBILITY/DISABILITY Sterling Pearl Mobility scooter. New battery with charger. Will dismantle for easy transporting. Buyer to collect, £250 ono. Tel 07999 882257/ 01924 463282. (2508) MUSICAL 50 vinyl records, 12” LPs and 7” singles. Big bands and various artists of yesteryear. In good condition, £5 the lot or will separate. Tel 01924 519750. (2491) SPORT/EXERCISE Exercise bouncer, £10. Tel 01924 469135. (2500) Two sets of golf clubs, trolleys and balls, £25 for all. Tel 01924 469135. (2500)
RACING PREVIEW WITH MIKE SMITH
Punters at home in Slate House ACING fans all look forward to this weekend’s big Cheltenham meeting as it’s a sign that the season has really moved up a gear. Prestbury Parks undulations throw up their own challenges but prominent racers who jump well are never far away, as we saw in last year’s Bet Victor Golf Cup where Baron Alco and Frodon jumped their rivals silly out in front and were in complete control from the outset. Gary Moore’s Baron Alco led from start to finish last year giving the trainer his first victory in the race and he saddles an interesting type this year in KNOCKNANUSS who looks to be one of the best handicapped horses in the field and could play a part if curbing his enthusiasm now back up in trip. The favourite for this year’s renewal is the Colin Tizzardtrained SLATE HOUSE. Always held in high regard by connections, he finally put it all together over fences when making a winning return in novice company at the showcase meeting here last month. That was his first start after a wind operation and he could hardly have done it any easier on the day, jumping fluently under a patient ride and having far too much for his rivals in the closing stages. He is also the selection of Carrigill’s regular Jeff from Mirfield, a Batley Bulldogs fan who has provided their nap this week as he’s backed the winner of this race for the last three years. The form of last year’s renewal is represented by
R
GUITAR PETE (third) and EAMON AN CNOIC (fifth), who were two of only six to finish in an eventful contest. Both horses line up here from even higher in the weights, though, which sums up the task that they face to improve their finishing positions. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ best chance of recording a fifth win in this might rest with COUNT MERIBEL who won two of his four starts in 2018/19, including a novice event at this meeting over C&D, and proved better than ever after eight months when chasing home Lostintranslation at Carlisle last time. There was plenty to like about that effort and he certainly fits the right sort of profile for this race now back in a handicap, a seven-year-old who has course form and arrives on the right sort of mark for this race. He sets the
standard on weight-adjusted ratings and looks to have been underestimated at around 14/1. At even bigger odds, SKY PIRATE is worth a second look for the Jonjo O’Neill yard that has won this race three times since 2006. He already has course form to his name having caught the eye when seventh in the Kim Muir at the Festival and there may be even more to come after only six starts over fences. Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle won't have a maximum field this year (24) with only 19 entered at the five-day stage, but it is still a typically open renewal, an opinion that the ante-post betting market mirrors, with Carrigill’s going 13/2 the field. Leading owner J. P. McManus has three horses entered at this stage including the Nicky Henderson-trained DAME DE COMPAGNIE, who has a 577-day absence to overcome but she could hardly be in better hands and could prove this opening mark all wrong. Money has come for MONSIEUR D’ARQUE from the Dan Skelton stable and he’s now 14s with Carrigill’s from 20/1 and is my each way selection. CARRIGILL’S NAP: (money back as a free bet if finishes outside top 4. Write Augur on your slip to qualify): SLATE HOUSE, Cheltenham, Saturday, 2.25. AUGUR’S BEST BET: MONSIEUR D’ARQUE (e/w), Cheltenham, Saturday, 3.00.
ThePress
Friday November 15, 2019
Classified Want to advertise in our Classified section? Call 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900 or email advertising@thepressnews.co.uk
BUILDING & LANDSCAPE SERVICES
PROSPECT BUILDERS & LANDSCAPE GARDENERS
25
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Copper Stillbarn, Upper Batley Low Lane, Batley, WF17 0AW
01924 474851 or 07456 441100
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T: 01924 492185
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FREEPHONE 0800 074 8967 or 01924 450 999
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CAR BODY REPAIRS
Reliable Drivers And A Great Service
Your local supplier of Air Products & Calor Gas Cylinders
ON MAIN A58 DRIGHLINGTON
0113 285 3996 McFaddens carsales.co.uk CARE HOMES
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Please contact us via telephone to book a free quotation on
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Our Reputation Your Satisfaction
Residential & Dementia Care Home
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
01274
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www.europrivatehire.com Euro Cars Private Hire Ltd, 387 Tong Street, Bradford, BD4 9RU
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01924 470296 OR 0113 457 2900
BEDS
SPLASHING UT B AT H R O O M S A family-run business supplying & installing high quality bathrooms, ensuites & cloakrooms
BEDS & MATTRESSES
Free no obligation quotes
Family Run Business Open 7 Days
Designs and Visuals available
173-175 Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3TJ
Visit our showroom
(Next to The Horncastle Pub)
Bradford Road, Dewsbury 01924 460239 www.splashingoutbathrooms.co.uk @splashingoutbathroomsltd
www.junction26beds.co.uk t. 01274 879100
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DAVID G. HORNER CHARTERED SURVEYOR VALUER BUILDING ENGINEER BUILDING SURVEYOR Office 39, RCM Business Centre, Dewsbury Road, Ossett, WF5 9ND Tel. 01924 275275
Email: james@davidghorner.co.uk
CHIMNEY SWEEP
EST 50 YEARS
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KWIK SWEEP TEL:
01924 469944
CLEANER
Professional Cleaner I am friendly, trustworthy & reliable Experienced in House & Office Shop Cleaning Security Checked PLEASE CALL SUSAN
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CLEARANCE & COURIER SERVICES
Professional Clearance & Courier Services We offer a range of packages! From residential / commercial clearances to house/office removals and courier services. REGISTERED WASTE CARRIER, BROKER AND DEALER TEL 01924 488279 07599022715 EMAIL INFO@PROCCSERV.CO.UK WEB HTTPS://PROCCSERV.CO.UK
COACH TOURS
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Stain removal protection Anti-allergy treatment Curtains & blinds cleaned Insurance work undertaken Rug cleaning
Call Tim Riordan Tel: 01924 490241 / 07770 462239
www.calderclean.co.uk
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
Email: s.clay757@gmail.com
25
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COMPUTING
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ANYTHING ELECTRICAL
DEWSBURY IT. Ltd
07976 877 768 23 Years Experience
• No Repair, No Charge • No call out charge • We repair on site Bradford Road, Dewsbury CYCLES
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Ultimate Glass Ltd
www.ultimateglassltd.com - 1st for glass in Dewsbury
SAME DAY GLAZING Paul Walker, proprietor UNIT 2 QUEENS MILL, QUEEN STREET, RAVENSTHORPE, DEWSBURY, WF13 3BT PHONE: 07786 191217 FAX: 01924 452500
01924 469726 400 Huddersfield Road, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, WF13 3EL
www.draysontimber.co.uk DRIVES & PATIO SPECIALISTS
TARMACADAM BLOCK PAVING INDIAN FLAGS etc ALL AREAS OF KIRKLEES & CALDERDALE COVERED
FOR FREE ESTIMATES CALL
07973 959968
All Work Undertaken (ranging from putting up a light fitting to full house rewires)
No Call-Out Charge Contact
Jason
07929 850056 Email:
jpeelelectrical@gmail.com Facebook search
J Peel Electrical
All type of fencing, gates, decking, flagging & patios etc All types of property repairs, general handyman work.
Any Odd Jobs Big or Small
0113 252 8811 07748 934810 E: lamtala@hotmail.com
CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM ON 01924 470296 or 0113 457 2900
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The Mermaid Fish Restaurant
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RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY
Weight management
OPEN 7 DAYS
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TEL: 0113 253 5376 Britannia Road, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0BA
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enquiries@ mirfieldhypnotherapycentre.com www.mirfieldhypnotherapycentre.com
DENCROFT GARAGES Concrete Garages & Sheds Dismantle & Bases Garage re-vamps Garage Doors 230 Bradford Rd, Batley Tel: 01924 461996 dencroftgarages.co.uk
GARAGE DOORS
UP+OVER DOORS fitted, repairs,
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from £295 PENSIONERS DISCOUNT AVAILABLE
• PAMPER PARTIES • WEDDING MAKEUP • PROM • SPECIAL OCCASION
Tel: 01274 864902 Tutti Frutti 141 Birkenshaw Lane Birkenshaw, Bradford BD11 2HD
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Tel: 01274 686211 www.atkinslgv.net
• Internal/External Doors • Flooring • Skirting Boards • Locks Changed • No Job Too Small • uPVC Doors & Windows
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TEL: 01924 467269 FAX: 01924 430800 MASTER LOCKSMITHS ACCESS CONTROL INTRUDER ALARM INSTALLERS
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FOR YOUR PUBLIC or 0113 457 2900
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PLASTERER
PAINTING & TIM PRYKE DECORATING PLASTERING Exterior & Interior Telephone Steve
07884 495530 01924 476432
WEBSITE: www.harfordssecurity.co.uk
No Job Too Small Quality Workmanship! Free Quotes Telephone
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✓
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YOU PAY HOW MUCH TO ADVERTISE??
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HAIR & BEAUTY
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KITCHENS & BEDROOMS
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
FISH RESTAURANT
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J. Peel Electrical
(working in peoples homes)
Ring Batley:
0113 285 4563 or 07801 063911
Call Tony 07939 018428
ELECTRICIANS
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ALARMS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS
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Friday November 15, 2019
MOTOR CARE
Car body repairs Imperial Motor Company 107 Bradford Road, Dewsbury Tel: 01924 461607 or 07860 754984
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TEL JOHN 07802 470860 01924 490665
Gas safe registered
www.spsplumbers.co.uk
ThePress
Friday November 15, 2019
PUBS AND CLUBS
SCRAP METAL
Millbridge CLUB One of the area’s friendliest clubs.
TOP CLASS TURNS • BINGO - SNOOKER
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Low Beer/Lager Prices!
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FED UP WITH Est 1990 STEAMY WINDOWS?
ROOFING
14 Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury, WF13 3PH
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ROOFING
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S.D Metals Recycling
Chem Scaffolding Limited Providing excellent service since 2006 Fast, Reliable Service & Competitive Rates
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PUBLIC NOTICES LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE
TAKE NOTICE that I, LIVE ROOM CLECKHEATON LTD, MICHAEL APPLEYARD, have applied to Kirklees Council under Licensing Act 2003, for the variation of a premises licence in respect of premises for LIVEFIELDS FESTIVAL, OAKWELL HALL, NUTTER LANE, WF17 7LG. LIVEFIELDS FESTIVAL, 11TH JULY 2020 15.00 TIL 23.30, LIVE MUSIC AND LICENSED BARS TEMPORARY LICENCE FOR THE ABOVE DATE ONLY Interested parties and responsible authorities may make representations regarding the application where they believe that the proposed activities would undermine any of the four licensing objectives. Any representations must be submitted in writing to the Licensing Office, Flint Street, Fartown, Huddersfield, HD1 6LG or by email at licensing@kirklees.gov.uk by 6TH JULY 2020 Persons wishing to inspect the Licensing Register may do so at the above address during normal office hours or online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/licensing It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and on summary conviction would be liable to a fine not exceeding £5,000.
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Friday November 15, 2019
GOLF
Nigel calls time after 45 years NIGEL HIRST has retired after spending almost 45 years as professional at Dewsbury District Golf Club. He may still live down the road in Lower Hopton, but has come a long way since he arrived as a 21-yearold when he moved into a prefab concrete building that was also the members’ trolley shed. First introduced to the game by his father Ralph, a 3-handicap player at Hanging Heaton, Hirst’s long professional career began aged 15 years and 11 months as assistant to Charles Hughes at Woodsome Hall. Next year will mark his 50th anniversary as a member of the PGA and he was the longest continuously serving head professional in Yorkshire. His gregarious nature led to him becoming a key influencer in developing the Pro-Am scene in Yorkshire and the Dewsbury District Pro-Am is the longest running in the county having been played 39 times in the last 44 years. Supporters will be pleased to hear that it will continue, under the guidance of Nigel’s successor James Ward. When he was captain of the Yorkshire PGA, he encouraged Dewsbury member and DIY store magnate John Madeley to support the organisation and one of his proudest moments was bringing the Yorkshire PGA Championship to his home club in 1991. Hirst, who has served as captain and president of the Yorkshire PGA is not one to miss a trick. When
LEAVING DO: Nigel makes his speech Nigel found out that turf supplier Alan Chappelow had just dug up Elland Road and had thousands of tons of topsoil, he persuaded the club to build a new short game area. His final project was the construction of a new practice ground, which is almost ready for action save for a covered area and a ball dispensing machine. He is also one of the best inde-
pendent golf retailers in the county and took his inspiration from Filey professional Doug Currie. “He was surrounded by bigger clubs like Ganton, but had the best professional’s shop I had ever seen,” says Hirst. “We started out in the trolley shed and now we have a thriving retail business despite some of the big boys trying to step on our toes.” Another to have a major influence on his career was former Worksop professional David Snell. “I went to one of his pro-ams. It was superbly organized, and he just commanded the room. I came away thinking ‘he’s the man I want to be’.” Hirst has always had an eye for an opportunity and was instrumental in pushing for a new clubhouse, which was built at a cost of £750,000 back in 2002. He was made an honorary life member in 2000 and the Mirfield native intends to continue playing at the club he first joined as a 13year-old. His biggest win came in the Wilson Northern Club Professionals’ Championship in 1986, and in 2015 edged out his then assistant and protégé James to win the Halifax Golf Alliance Page Trophy – 43 years after winning it for the first time. His retirement was marked by a sold-out Nigel Hirst Celebration Medal and an evening function with over 200 guests present to recognise his achievements and listen to his favourite entertainer, the soul and Motown vocalist Ritchie Penrose.
BOWLS Ash the best in Spen Vic winter sweep ASH TATTERSLEY edged a tight final to win the latest winter sweep at Spen Victoria Bowling Club last Saturday, beating Mark Regan 21-19. After torrential rain on Thursday, leaving the green underwater, it was amazing the green keeper got it in condition to play at all, but the club were delighted he did as it proved another very competitive tournament. How tough a competition it is to win was proved when the previous weeks’ winner, runner-up and both semifinalists all bowed out in their first games. With two of the most consistent performers out in Smith and Thornton, bowling legend Mordue taking an early bath and Spen Victoria’s Walker deciding to hit the bar early this week, the competition opened up nicely and it was two of Spen’s top guns who took advantage. Opinion was split amongst the spectators and bookies as to who should be favourite, and both players setting off at 4/5 showed how tight this game would be. With the first signs of rain all day arriving and the green starting to slow, having the jack could be the key and so it proved in the early stages. Ash was first to profit from
Dewsbury junior awards night
PRIZE-WINNERS: The young golfers at Dewsbury District’s presentation night DEWSBURY District Golf Club held their junior presentation night on Monday evening. Prizes were awarded to 17 members of the junior section, presented by the 2019 club captain Iain Pearson. The prize winners were: Beginners Chipping: Kael Mowat; Oliver Evans; Connie Dyson. Beginners Putting: Laim O’Neill; Charlie Walker; Kael Mowat. Medal winners: Alex Jones Gomersall; Benjamin Jenkinson; James Scatchard (x2); Lewis Carden (x2); Harry Walker; Jackson Durham. Stableford Competition winners: Jack Dyson (x2); Alex Jones Gomersall; Lois Gledhill; Mollie Brown; Harry Walker; Josh Riding; Lewis Carden. Silverware: Winter League Trophy: Mollie Brown. Runner Up: Jack Dyson. Paul Stewart Memorial Trophy: Sam Jenkinson; Blue Tee winner: Jack Dyson. Swithenbank Trophy: James Scatchard.
holding the block with a break of five, but when Mark had it in his hand he made full use with a break of 10 of his own. Ash clawed his way back to 15-15 and the final was proving to be as tight as everyone had thought. Neither player could seem to hold the jack now though and chalks were exchanged until the pivotal moment of the match arrived.
Trailing 18-19, Ash bowled an awkward little mark into the top corner where Mark had twice left his wood wide before. Not wishing to make the same mistake twice, he tightened his line and put both bowls narrow to give his opponent an easy pair. This left Ash a chance to corner him for the final end and a lead of 18 inches won it with Mark leaving his final bowl short.
This week’s racing tips from Mike Smith - p24
HOCKEY
Batley hang on at Thirsk BATLEY travelled to Thirsk for one of the furthest away fixtures in the calendar and hung on for a 2-1 victory. Upon arrival there was no rain insight, with a bonus that the sun was starting to shine. Batley started the game on the offensive. Great attacking play from forwards Kim Sharples, Gail Culshaw, Rach Stewart, backed up by the midfield of Gemma Elsworth and Vicky Almond, saw Batley earn numerous short corners although they didn’t lead to any goals. Thirsk had attacks of their own and if it wasn’t for some fantastic saves from firstchoice goalkeeper Helen Langwick, the scoreline could have quickly changed. A quick Batley breakaway saw Stewart pass wide to speedy winger Culshaw, who chipped the ball over the gymnastic-like keeper of Thirsk for Stewart to slide across the floor and score a well-deserved team goal. Thirsk attacked straight away and Mel Neal, the rock in Batley’s defence, did not dis-
WINNER: Ash Tattersley (right) receives his prize from Peter Ellis
Blue Tee winner: Jack Dyson. Darrell Burrows Trophy: Jack Dyson. Runner-up: Layton Durham. Organisers Cup: James Scatchard. Blue Tee winner: Jackson Durham. Junior Trophy: James Scatchard. Runner-up: Alex Jones Gomersall. Mr Captains Prize winners: Alex Jones Gomersall and Jackson Durham. Eclectic Gross Winners: Alex Jones Gomersall and Sam Jenkinson. Eclectic Nett: James Scatchard and Jackson Durham. Most Improved Player: Lewis Carden (11 shot reduction). Order of Merit Blue Tee winner: Lewis Carden. Order of Merit 2019: James Scatchard.
appoint. She stopped the attack and going forwards again, Stewart chipped the goalkeeper and Culshaw pounced to put the visitors 2-0 up. A decisive breakaway just before the half time whistle saw Thirsk score a fantastic goal in response, making it 2-1 at the break. The second half saw most of the Batley attacks come from the confident Elsworth, who showed some fantastic skills and continuously created attacking opportunities. Another five short corners saw another five opportunities missed for the home team. Thirsk showed great character throughout the game and never gave up, but Batley were able to hold on for the win. This weekend sees Batley in action twice, playing tomorrow (Saturday) against Otliensians and then taking on Harrogate on Sunday. The club are also on the lookout for new players, and anyone interested can contact them on Facebook through the Batley Ladies Hockey Club page.
Slaz men pick up valuable three points as ladies go down at Sheffield Hallam THE SLAZENGER men’s first team picked up three valuable league points with a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Dragons 1st. Owen Smith and Jimmy Swinden scored the goals to earn them a second victory in succession and only a third in their opening eight games of the season. The second team lost 3-1 at
Leeds despite an Alex Stacey goal, while the fourths picked up a 6-2 win against Leeds 8th with Scott Carruthers, John Sykes and George Bentley each scoring twice. Slazenger’s fifth team drew 3-3 with Lindum 5th. The ladies’ first team suffered a third defeat of the season at Sheffield Hallam 2nd, going down 4-2 despite goals
from Nicci Swinden and Holly Tyers. Slazenger are sixth in that division while Dewsbury remain bottom after a 3-0 loss at Kingston Upon Hull. The Slaz ladies’ second team were beaten 7-2 in Doncaster, the thirds lost 2-1 at Pudsey and the fourths were edged 2-1 by Wakefield 5th.
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Friday November 15, 2019
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FOOTBALL
Missed chances key for United again Northern Premier N/West Division
TRAFFORD FC OSSETT UNITED
1 0
OSSETT UNITED were left to rue missed chances once again as caretaker managers Tom Greaves and James Knowles left Trafford FC empty-handed. Their side dominated proceedings against a team much higher up the BetVictor Northern Premier N/West Division but weren’t clinical enough to convert that into a goal. That allowed Darius Palma to score the winner for Trafford, who were down to 10 men at the time after Lewis Salmon’s dismissal, while Ossett’s late comeback attempt was hindered by a red card in turn for Corey Gregory. Captain and stand-in boss Knowles expressed his frustration: “We played some superb football, we were comfortable throughout the game. But a lot of this season has been down to not taking our chances and not putting teams to bed. “I don’t think I’ve been as disappointed after a game as I was on Saturday in a long time. They had one shot on goal all game and they came away with three points.” Marko Basic made his return to
the club following a short spell away, and he was lively early on as Ossett proved the better side for much of the first half. They were never troubled at the back although the best chances of their own came from distance. Aaron Haswell and October’s Player of the Month Jack Vann were both denied by Matt Cooper in the Trafford goal. Cooper had a nervy moment when Greaves cut inside and took aim from long range with an effort that moved in the air and was punched very awkwardly behind. The second half started with two yellow cards that would later prove significant as Gregory was booked for a trip in midfield and Salmon was similarly punished for a late challenge on Knowles. Ossett’s best chance of the game so far went to Nick Guest when he was found running in behind by an impressive Greaves through ball. However, under pressure from a defender, he could only offer a shot which the keeper managed to save to his left. At the other end Trafford had threatened nothing but came very close to the opener when Palma’s inswinging free kick from the right clipped the crossbar with the help of United stopper Brett Souter. It soon looked to be advantage Ossett as the red card made its first
RETURN: Marko Basic made his first appearance back at Ossett following a short spell at Silsden PHOTO: John Hirst appearance. Salmon lunged recklessly at Knowles for a second time as the caretaker boss attempted to make a clearance and he was given his marching orders as a result. They were close to making the most of the extra man as Dylan Cogill headed a Basic corner against the base of the post, but instead it was Trafford who took the lead against the run of play, and
indeed the run of the entire match. Ossett gave away possession in midfield and Jake Kenny flicked the ball over the top for Palma down the right. He cut inside and, with the help of a deflection, found the corner. The visitors had 13 minutes left to rescue the game but, after Greaves had hit the side netting with a difficult chance, Gregory was shown a
second yellow card for taking out substitute Jordan Johnson on the edge of the box and Trafford held out for the win. Ossett will continue to be led by Greaves and Knowles for Saturday’s home tie against Droylsden (kick-off 3pm), with the club still welcoming applications this week for the manager’s role following the departure of Andy Welsh.
Ossett Ladies back in top form
OVERTHORPE Sports Club received a £100 donation from Howdens in Dewsbury to help fund new goals for use at Ravenshall School. The coaches and some of the players from the Thornhill club received the cheque in person from the branch of the kitchen and joinery company. The team will also be taking part in a 20km bike ride to help raise the £600 required.
Howden Clough hold their nerve to overcome Morley in penalty shootout HOWDEN CLOUGH are through to the third round of the West Riding Challenge Trophy after overcoming Morley Town Reserves on penalties. Andrew Griffiths, Sam Espey and Leon Giscombe scored for the Batley side as it finished 3-3 after 90 minutes, and they came out on top 5-4 in the shootout. Horbury Town moved up to third place in the West Yorkshire Association’s Premier Division with a 3-0 win at Headingley AFC. Gibril Bojang, Mohammed Sadiq and Brad Ball bagged the goals for Horbury, who have won eight matches out of 12 so far this season. In Division One, Hartshead missed the chance to move into the top half of the table as they were defeated 4-0 at home by Pool. In the Calder Valley Sunday League Division One, Ravenswharfe picked up their third win of the season with a 5-3 home success over Snowdon. Ben Smith got two of the goals for the Dewsbury side with Sam Hewitt, Dale Hudson and Robert Stenhouse bagging
the others. Battyeford Sporting Club Juniors remain winless in Division Two after a 5-2 loss at Halifax Rangers, despite James Lister and Daniel Parris goals. In the Yorkshire Amateur League’s Supreme Division, Matthew Bugg scored a hat-trick to help Littletown to a 5-3 win at Steeton Reserves. Matthew Bolton and Thomas Ramsden scored the other goals for the third-placed side. Dewsbury Rangers Under-23s moved up to fourth in Division Five with a 5-2 win at Leeds City 4th, with the help of an AJ Topping hat-trick and strikes from Adam Ibnouzaki and Adam Smith. Norristhorpe Reserves progressed to the next round of the Hodgson Cup with a 5-2 win over Shire Academics 4th. Jack Holden scored a brace while Thomas Boocock, Sam Everett and Liam Ramsden also netted. Cleckheaton AFC are out of Huddersfield and District’s Groom Cup, however, after a 2-1 loss at Cartworth Moor.
OSSETT UNITED Ladies were determined to make up for lost time as they thrashed Ryton and Crawcrook Albion 8-0 in their first league game since September. Multiple postponements had stopped them taking the field over the past month but United were in fine shape as they picked up a first win in the North East Regional Women’s Football League since promotion last season. Emma Lee scored two goals on her debut on loan from Leeds United, Danielle Sidebottom and Jordan Allison also netted braces and Alayna Millard and Chelsea Schofield added further goals. “We made a lot of changes today and the girls didn’t bat an eyelid at that,” said a satisfied player-coach Emily Senior after the game. “Everybody that came on impacted the game, Emma
coming in impacted the game massively, so I’m really happy as a whole.” It took Ossett almost half an hour to open the scoring but they had dominated beforehand. Ellie Betteridge and Carly Hoyle had shots saved and Lee deflected an effort wide. They got the lead they deserved with two goals in the space of three minutes. A Sidebottom strike was deflected in for the first after a Betteridge through ball, before another fantastic move saw Lee find Millard to finish low past the keeper. After Yasmin Ayub had dragged a shot wide and Lee was denied one-on-one, the new signing got her first Ossett goal by heading in a brilliant Emily Starkie cross. There was still time for a fourth goal of the first half in injury time, with Sidebottom
completing her double with a finish at the back post. They carried on where they had left off following the restart, scoring in the first minute of the second period as well thanks to a superb 30yard strike from Allison. Another screamer followed in the 50th minute as Schofield found the top corner with a free kick from 30 yards out to make it 6-0. Lauren Swailes had plenty of chances to get on the scoreboard herself, with two efforts saved and a further two off target as the hosts continued to dominate. The scoring was completed with two quick-fire goals as Lee volleyed excellently from a cross before Allison netted her second with a free kick. Ossett start their County Cup campaign on Sunday (kick-off 2pm) against Amaranth at Ingfield.
Liversedge pay penalty in injury time NCEL Premier Division
LIVERSEDGE FC GRIMSBY BOROUGH
2 3
GRIMSBY BOROUGH converted a penalty in the fourth minute of added time to take all three points and hand Liversedge only their second league defeat of the season last weekend. The away side held a halftime lead at Clayborn before quick-fire goals from Alfie Raw and Joe Walton turned the game around. The lead lasted just a
minute as Grimsby levelled and they were the ones who found the winner in a tense finale. The only goal of the first half went the way of Borough, with James DeanAtkinson finishing in the 21st minute to put Sedge behind at the break. They had a chance to get back into the game eight minutes after the restart when the referee awarded a penalty, which Raw dispatched for his fourth goal of the season. That started a frenzied spell with three goals in the space of four minutes, with
the next coming from topscorer Walton to give his side the lead. That advantage would only last for a minute though, as a screamer from Jack Bradbury put the game level again at 2-2. Both sides had chances for more goals in the final half hour but it was Grimsby who would have the chance to claim maximum points when they were given a penalty in added time. James Petronzio stepped up to the spot and calmly finished to the left of goalkeeper Josh Lill.
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Friday November 15, 2019
RUGBY UNION
Cleckheaton edged out by local rivals North One East
CLECKHEATON MORLEY
10 14
CLECKHEATON missed the chance to climb up to second place in the table as they were defeated by local rivals Morley at Moorend. Both sides had made strong starts to the season and put their all into a brilliantly-contested local derby, with both defences playing exceptionally well. But it was Morley who held on to a narrow lead for most of the match to earn bragging rights, coming back from Cleckheaton with a win for the first time since 2010. Cleckheaton had the better of the first half and perhaps should have done better against the Morley 14 when prop Alex Fishwick was yellow carded for interfering with a quick penalty. Morley were 3-0 in the lead at that stage after a good Mark Chester penalty after six minutes. This followed a surprising penalty kick miss from the normally accurate boots of Dale Breakwell for the hosts. Cleckheaton had the majority of possession in an arm-wrestle type of game in the first half. However Morley’s defence, which is the tightest in the league, held firm and only one break by Mikey Hayward caused concern until he was brought down by Jay West, who was making his league debut on the wing and performed impressively. Morley made a couple of changes at half-time with both Steve Graham and Larne Patrick coming off to allow Sam Patterson and George Kelly onto the field. Cleckheaton initially looked stronger with Breakwell narrowing the gap to 6-3 only three minutes after the restart, and it took firm defence from Morley to stop Cleckheaton building on their score. The defence gradually pushed back Cleckheaton and Morley had the upper hand. A dart by Patterson nearly brought rewards before a long kick by Chester and pressure by West and Andy Ellis forced
DERBY DEFEAT: (Clockwise from top) Man of the match Darrell Griffin takes on the Cleckheaton defence; a remembrance silence was observed at Moorend before kick-off; PHOTOS: Dennis Elam Morley’s Mark Chester lines up one of three successful kicks to edge his side closer to victory Cleckheaton to carry the ball over their own line. Morley were now building up attacks with greater consistency and Cleckheaton infringed to let Chester kick his third penalty to move them further ahead to 9-3 on 67 minutes. Better was still to come for Morley. As Cleckheaton tried to get
out of their 22, a great turnover by Nick Green gave them possession and quick hands along the back allowed West sufficient space to score out wide. Chester’s touchline conversion attempt hit the post but Morley were now 14-3 in front with just seven minutes to go. The score was to last only a cou-
ple of minutes though as Cleckheaton capitalised on a couple of errors by the Maroons for centre Oliver Depledge to run in and score a try which, come the end of the game, gave Cleck the consolation of a losing bonus point. Breakwell made no mistake with the conversion but they couldn’t further points in the final minutes
and Morley could celebrate their victory. Cleck moved down to fifth in the league table as a result, and will look to bounce back tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm) when they travel to a Pocklington side who have picked up only two wins from their opening nine games this season.
FOOTBALL
Sedge complete spectacular comeback NCEL Premier Division
HANDSWORTH LIVERSEDGE FC
3 4
LIVERSEDGE spectacularly came from three goals down to defeat Handsworth on Tuesday night and move back into the promotion places. A young Handsworth team were 3-0 up at half-time and looked set to pick up a surprise win over highflying Sedge. However, Jonathan Rimmington’s side produced an incredible second-half comeback. Emile Sinclair and Michael Bottomley brought them back into the game with goals before a double from striker Joe Walton – who has scored a remarkable 15 goals
already this season – secured the three points. The game was played at a fast pace from the start. Handsworth goalkeeper Benjamin Townsend and opposite stopper Alex Lill were both forced to make early saves before the first goal came after nine minutes. Leon Howarth made a brilliant run and crossed for Marley Grant to stroke home the first of his two goals and break the deadlock. Howarth was causing Sedge plenty of problems. He created another chance which Darius Smith put wide, and later a piece of individual brilliance saw him beat several defenders before curling an effort onto the crossbar, with Grant unable to follow up the rebound. Liversedge had the ball in the net
but it was ruled out for a foul, and instead it was the hosts who doubled their lead a couple of minutes later. After some great build-up play, Joe Parkin unleashed a drive from the edge of the box which Lill had no hope of stopping. The hosts were deserving of their lead and it looked like the three points were as good as theirs with a third goal on the stroke of half-time. Grant was on target again, pouncing on a loose ball to advance into the area and beating Lill at the second time of asking. However, everything changed in a remarkable second-half turnaround. Sedge first gave themselves hope five minutes after the restart, with Sinclair tapping home a cross at the
far post for his first goal of the season. Come the 57th minute, the deficit was down to a single goal. Substitute Bottomley made a big difference to the game and he produced a fine finish, beating Townsend from the edge of the penalty area. In a game of great strikes, another was to come eight minutes later. After holding out through a barrage of Liversedge pressure, Handsworth were beaten by a brilliant Walton drive from 20 yards which went in off the post. With the sides level, Liversedge’s full comeback was by no means inevitable. The hosts started to settle and when Oliver Fearon was sent to the sin bin, they were hopeful of still taking the three points
for themselves. However, Fearon’s strike partner did the business once more in his absence. With 10 minutes left, Walton was played in behind and rounded goalkeeper Townsend to tap in and put Sedge 4-3 ahead. Lill saved from Jamie Austin and Howarth as Sedge faced some late pressure but they held on for a remarkable win which, should they remain in the top three come the end of the season, may prove to be the most pivotal. There is another big game ahead of them tomorrow (Saturday, kickoff 3pm) though, as they host second-placed Staveley Miners Welfare. A rescheduled NCEL Cup tie at home to Goole will follow on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm).
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Friday November 15, 2019
31
RUGBY LEAGUE Stags ready for matches ahead MIRFIELD STAGS coach Richard Silverwood says that last weekend’s 58-4 thrashing of East Leeds has laid the perfect platform as his team chase Pennine League glory. The Stags have won five matches out of five and are two points clear at the top of the Division One table. Casey Canterbury led the way with five of their 10 tries in Leeds. Brad Delaney crossed for a brace while Connor Squires, Jonno Hellings and Omar Alrawi also got over the line and Squires added nine conversions. The Stags next host Sharlston Rovers tomorrow (Saturday). “The performance at East Leeds sets us nicely for a massive few weeks ahead,” said Silverwood.
“After the performance they produced when we played them at home the lads were ready for a tough battle, but thankfully it turned out to be a comfortable afternoon. “I’m sure we will have greater focus this week against a side who will be challenging for the title and who are always strong in Sharlston. This is the start of a some big challenges ahead.” Elsewhere in Division One, Hanging Heaton suffered a 36-6 loss at second-placed Upton, despite Declan Tomlinson’s try, and travel to Almondbury Spartans this week. In Division Two, Thornhill host South Yorkshire Eagles tomorrow as Shaw Cross welcome Underbank.
Moor simply the best as Sharks pipped in final
CHAMPIONS: Dewsbury Moor DEWSBURY MOOR’S Under-16 Girls edged a competitive Division One final against Shaw Cross Sharks last weekend, claiming the trophy with a 16-14 win. The match, played as part of a double header with the Under-14s final at Rochdale Mayfield,
was originally scheduled for two weeks earlier but was postponed due to the weather. The final was worth waiting for though, as both sides gave their all in a great tie. Ruby Enright earned the Player of the Match award for an excellent
performance, which included scoring one of Moor’s three tries. Gabrielle Akadiere and Courtney Gooch crossed for the others, while Shaw Cross also went over three times in the match through Millie Dearn, Lydia Fawkes and Neive Clarke.
Roche helps England to victory BIRSTALL teenager Georgia Roche helped England to a win over Papua New Guinea in the first game of their ground-breaking tour. Roche came off the bench as England secured a 24-10 win in front of a 7,000-strong crowd in the town of Goroka in PNG, led by four tries from captain Emily Rudge. The 19-year-old began playing rugby at Drighlington, going on to spend time at Dewsbury Moor before featuring at Featherstone Rovers and then signing for
Castleford Tigers. There Roche has become one of the biggest stars in women’s rugby league over the past two seasons, winning the first-ever Woman of Steel award in 2018. The stand-off made her England debut that autumn and featured in last month’s World Cup Nines tournament in Sydney. A former Batley Grammar School pupil, Roche works as a barista at a coffee shop in Morley outside of rugby.
Punchard to learn from the best Continued from back page chose to make the switch to Dewsbury instead with the aim of securing more game time. He will have the veteran pair of Paul Sykes and Liam Finn, both former Super League and international players, ahead of him in the pecking order at half-back but he is hoping to learn from both to develop his own game. “I’d say I’m more of a running halfback, I can play hooker but I prefer half-back,” he said. “I’m still learning the trade but I’m willing to learn off the half-backs that are here. “There are two good half-backs in front and I’m willing to learn and put what they have into my game as well. “They’ve done it all and to learn from their experiences will be massive for me. I can add to my game little bits from Liam and little bits from Paul, and hopefully that will make me a better player.
‘WILLING TO LEARN’: Morgan Punchard “I spoke to Lee on the phone and I said that all I want is the opportunity to play, and hopefully I’ll get that. He seemed quite interested in what I had to offer as well. “He explained that I’d have Liam and Paul in front of me but I’m happy with that because I’ve got their experience to go off.”
Boss Greenwood added: “Morgan has been battling to make a name for himself for a couple years now. He has spent time at Halifax and Featherstone and people from both clubs speak well of him. “He is keen to learn from Liam Finn and Paul Sykes and potentially take over from them as they enter the twilight of their careers. “He had a contract for 2020 at Featherstone but felt the opportunities here are better for him. “Our partnerships with Hull KR and Coventry Bears mean that he will not be short of game time, while his primary aim is to have a strong pre-season and compete for a spot in our 17.” The signing of Punchard and Oakes takes Dewsbury up to 23 players for next year, with a dual-registration agreement with Hull KR in place to bring in further players during the season.
Rams and Bears agree dual-registration link-up DEWSBURY RAMS have agreed a dual-registration partnership with League One side Coventry for the 2020 season. The link-up is the second to have been agreed by the club alongside the dual-reg with Super League side Hull Kingston Rovers which was announced last month. Several Rams players went to Coventry on loan last season with Harvey Hallas, Jacob Thomas, Toby Richardson and Jack Ray all spending time in the Midlands. The partnership has now been formalised for 2020 to give Dewsbury players in need of game time another option alongside Hull KR’s reserves team, while the Championship side can in turn
bring players in from East Yorkshire on a week-to-week basis. “Having the dual-reg with Coventry and the dual-reg with Hull KR, who are also running a reserves, means there are going to be opportunities there for all of our players to play somewhere else,” said Rams head coach Lee Greenwood. “We did have it in the second half of last year (with Coventry). They were happy with the players they got from us so they were happy to continue that with us and I’m more than happy to continue it as well. “In hindsight it would have been nice to have had both the partnerships last year, because we had a big squad and a lot of lads kicking
their heels. I think it will work well.” Coventry’s director of rugby Alan Robinson added: “It is really good to have a continued relationship with Dewsbury, last year worked really well. “It is something we want to continue and it gives us access to players with some experience in key areas. With us being partnered with a Championship team it is great for us as it’s something we aspire to do. “We probably relied more on it than we wanted to last year. However Dewsbury were very good to us last year and we appreciated that. It is very important to us that we have these sorts of relationships.”
Danny the top man at Trojans DANNY RATCLIFFE has been announced as the new head coach of the Thornhill Trojans first team. Ratcliffe was the club captain but has retired from playing duties following a shoulder injury picked up in the Trojans’ Heavy Woollen Cup final win this season. The former Wakefield, Dewsbury, York and Hunslet professional will take charge of the team in 2020 for their NCL Division One campaign. Thornhill were relegated in their first season back in the Premier Division in 2019 under James Ratcliffe, who led their rise back up the amateur divisions but stood down as coach at the end of the season. Danny will be assisted next year by players Scott Dyson, Luke Haigh and Jake Wilson.
TAKING CHARGE: Danny Ratcliffe will swap captain duties for the head coach role The Trojans’ second team will again be coached next season by
Thomas Codman, alongside Jason Milner.
Young Sharks in county glory
Johnson is big winner at Thornhill awards night
A TRIO of Shaw Cross youngsters helped Yorkshire to the Under17s BARLA County Championship title last weekend. The Tykes defeated Lancashire 38-24 in a head-to-head battle for the crown at Milford. Full-back Wesley Bruines was among the try scorers in the win while prop Paul Chitakunye and hooker
CASEY JOHNSON took home four prizes from Thornhill Trojans’ annual awards night last Saturday. The forward was picked as the standout in a difficult season for the first team, who won the Heavy Woollen Cup but were relegated from the NCL Premier Division. Johnson was handed three of the first-team awards, being named as the Player of the Year,
Kian Lister also contributed. The Sharks also accounted for six players in the Yorkshire Under-19s side, among a total Heavy Woollen contingent of nine, as they began their own title challenge with a 22-20 win over Cumbria in Millom. Callum Burden scored a brace of tries with fellow Shaw Cross
players Billy Aveyard, Brad Baines, Harrison Sutcliffe, Joel Russell and Eoin Bowie also featuring. Two Dewsbury Moor players, Jon Diskin and George Hirst, were also in the line-up along with Thornhill Trojans’ Brad Llewellyn. The Under-19s will face Lancashire at Heworth on Sunday in a title decider.
Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year. The former Shaw Cross player also won the Dave Schofield award, as the forward of the year. Luke Haigh was given the Coach’s Special Award for the first team while Josh Riley was the Most Improved Player. The ‘A’ team awards were shared out, with Will Poching named as the sec-
ond team’s Player of the Year. Josh Clough claimed the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Josh Gearey won Players’ Player of the Year, while the Most Improved Player was Liam Morley. A number of other awards were handed out, including Outstanding Service awards which were presented to family trio Danny, James and Jake Ratcliffe.
The Ged Brentnall Award went to the Under-11s’ James Scott, while the Rod Brook Award was shared by Stuart Robson and Dale Griffiths. Anthony Broadhead was given the Stanley Gath Award and Pauline Ratcliffe won the John Bragg Award, while the Roy Harrison Award for Clubperson of the Year was presented to James McHendry.
BLOWS FOR BULLDOGS Signing Reece Dean joins Jack Downs in dropping out of squad By Stephen Ibbetson Sports Reporter sport@thepressnews.co.uk
BATLEY BULLDOGS were dealt a blow ahead of the start of pre-season this week with Reece Dean no longer signing for the club, joining Jack Downs in dropping out of their 2020 squad. Dean, 22, had penned a deal to join from League One side Hunslet for next season, but the half-back has taken a new job which has caused him to terminate his contract with the Bulldogs at the start of this week. Back-rower Downs, 24, had committed to another year with the club but his new job with the police means that he won’t be able to play rugby next season. In addition, former player Danny Bravo, one of the non-contracted players set to be on trial during preseason at Batley, is now more hesitant on training following his longterm injury. “Reece Dean pulled out ahead of the first session,” said Bulldogs coach Craig Lingard. “He’s got a new job which means that he’s
CHANGE OF PLAN: A new job means that Reece Dean won’t be joining from Hunslet
working offshore for a considerable amount of time, so it’s not possible for him to commit 100 per cent.” On Downs, who joined Batley from Hull FC ahead of the 2019 season, Lingard said: “I found out fairly soon after I took over that although Jack had re-signed, he’d applied for the police service. “He got the job quicker than we were expecting and part of the criteria is that you’re not allowed any secondary employment in your first 12 months. He’s had to terminate his contract as well. “He might well come back (after that time) as he’s still only a young lad. He’s got a lot of years ahead of him to play at some level.” Lingard added on Bravo, who has been out of action for the past three years: “He has let us know that he’s not going to come back down. He’s still concerned about his knee so he’s not 100 per cent confident. “He’s been in touch with our physio and he’s having a bit of a rethink about it. It might possibly be that he comes down and we monitor him on a week-by-week basis.” The withdrawals left Batley with a confirmed squad of only 20 players at the beginning of pre-season on Tuesday, and of particular con-
cern are the key half-back and hooker roles. There are only three players on the roster to cover the three positions – halves Danny Yates and new signing Ben White, and long-serving number nine Alistair Leak. The Bulldogs have been frustrated in recent weeks in their approaches for a second hooker, and Lingard admits it is going to be difficult to fill these roles at such a late stage in the off-season. “They are key positions and at the moment we’ve only got Alistair Leak as a hooker. As much as he can play long minutes, if he gets injured you’re down to no hookers so it’s imperative that we get someone in. “We’ve only got two recognised half-backs so we need not only cover in that department but competition as well. That half-back position has opened up again so there is space out there for somebody else but half-backs are hard to come by at this stage of pre-season. “The majority are already signed up so we’re talking to some clubs about potential season-long loans or bringing some people in on shorterterm deals, (but) there’s nothing close in that department.”
Young pair snapped up as Dewsbury strengthen backs DEWSBURY RAMS have strengthened their backline for next season with the signing of two promising young talents. Half-back Morgan Punchard has left Featherstone to pen a one-year-deal with the club, while Hull KR winger Will Oakes has moved on a season-long loan. Oakes, 20, grew up in Halifax and started his career in Wakefield’s scholarship academy before moving to Hull KR in 2016. He made his debut later that year, helped Rovers achieve promotion back to Super
League in 2017 and has made 12 top-flight appearances so far. The speedy wideman spent time on loan in the Championship with York last season, and will spend the full 2020 campaign at the Tetley’s Stadium to continue his progression. Dewsbury boss Lee Greenwood said on his signing: “I’m really pleased we’ve managed to secure Will for the season, he is a quality player who scores tries. “He has done well at York on loan and has held his own at Super League level when
called upon by Hull KR. This move gives him the chance to get a full season of playing pretty much every week, something he hasn’t managed to do since coming out of academy rugby. “His goal is to play well enough this year to get himself in the first-team picture at Hull KR for 2021 and I’m happy to help him do that. He has areas to work on but I feel like we have brilliant options on our wings now with Will, Gabes (Andy Gabriel) and Davey (Dixon).” Rovers head coach Tony Smith said: “This is a great
‘QUALITY’: Rams loanee Will Oakes
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chance for Will to establish himself and gain regular firstteam rugby under his belt. “It is great that he is spending 2020 at Dewsbury, who are our partnership club. I have had some good meetings with Lee who is looking forward to working with Will and will give him opportunities next year.” Meanwhile Punchard, another 20-year-old, has signed for the Rams having already spent time at Halifax and Featherstone in his career. Punchard had a deal to stay with Featherstone for 2020 but
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