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Nantwich community news and events Dec/Jan 2016 Free

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THIS year’s Holly Holy Day event will take place on Saturday January 23. The event commemorates the 1644 Battle of Nantwich, which relieved the siege of the town after a month of deprivation. The townsfolk celebrated by wearing colourful sprigs of Holly in their buttonholes, hence Holly Holy Day. Event organiser Shaun Cafferty said a morning of activities is scheduled for around the town. This will include music and dancing, morris dancers, use

of traditional pillory stocks and other activities. There will also be a living history exhibition in front of the Parish Hall, a musketry demonstration and 17th century music at the Museum, along with guided historical tours of the town. The popular mounted troopers will also be on show. In the afternoon there is the big parade of troops down Welsh Row to assemble in the Square at around 1.30pm, where there will be inspection, laying of wreaths and a musket volley in honour

of the fallen. Troops then parade down Mill Street to Mill Island for the battle re-enactment at about 2pm. There will be a loud

demonstration of artillery about ten minutes before the battle starts. For more details visit www. .battleofnantwich.co.uk.

Xmas switch-on - p.2

BATTLE READYNantwich’s annual Holly Holy Day event returns in January

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THOUSANDS of people turned out for the Christmas lights switch-on in Nantwich this year. The festive celebrations kicked off with the annual event in the town centre, featuring a host of entertainment and activities. Families were welcomed into town by an opening performance from young local talent Josh Whittaker, who wowed the audience with his own songs alongside some Christmas hits. The town was adorned with a giant video screen, funfair rides, refreshment and festive stalls; and Trees Alive, Santa’s Rusty Robot and a Minion entertained throughout the afternoon. Youngsters were treated to a magical performance from Elsa and Anna, a Frozen Themed duo, who also took time out for photos. Some festive cheer was added by Nantwich Young Voices, who were followed

by The Runaway Babies performing a 45 minute set of popular music. Compere Chris Radford, from The Cat Community Radio, was joined on stage by Rector Barry Wilson, Father Christmas, Mayor and Mayoress Andrew and Linda Martin and North West Tonight’s Beccy Meehan.

The countdown to the switch-on was followed by an impressive musical firework display. Cllr Martin said: “I was delighted to be part of the event. It was absolutely fantastic to see so many people show their support, even in the bitter cold.” (pic by Jonathan White)

Festive switch-on

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THE Tory leader of Cheshire East Council has resigned following claims of bullying and allegations over the awarding of contracts. Bunbury councillor Michael Jones said he was stepping down for the sake of party unity and blamed opponents for launching ‘blue on blue’ attacks. Cllr Jones had been under pressure after it emerged the council had waived rules to award contracts worth £156,000 to his physiotherapist’s company. Cllr Jones had also been accused of bullying officers. But he insisted he had always acted properly and claimed he was resigning in

order to ‘blunt the knives’ of his opponents within the local Tory group. He said: “I have said many times that I would not resign – you shouldn’t resign if you’ve done nothing wrong. “But the only thing that overrides that is blue-on-blue party issues. I will not be the leader of a group that is blue-on-blue.” Core Fit Ltd, owned by Cllr Jones’s personal trainer, had been contracted by the council to run fitness classes in schools and Cllr Jones had been accused of lobbying on behalf of the company, but he denied any wrongdoing. He admitted that he had sometimes shouted at senior council officers, but denied that he had bullied anyone. The council’s Conservative group will elect a new leader at its meeting on January 14.

Under fire leader quits

NANTWICH Mayor Andrew Martin has been giving out tickets for a festive show to youngsters at Weaver Primary School. Councillor Martin, together with councillors Arthur Moran, Norma Simpson, Penny Butterill, and Stuart Bostock, have used their ward budgets to allow Key Stage 1 children from Nantwich to attend Santa’s Rusty Robot. Community ward budgets are given to each of the members to allow greater freedom to work with communities on the priorities

that matter most to each. Cllr Martin said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to give something back to the community. “I’m proud to be supporting the schools for the second year running and it’s great to see children at such a young age interacting with this live production.” Pupils from St Anne’s Catholic Primary, Millfields Primary School, Highfields Primary School and Nantwich Primary Academy joined Weaver Primary School at the Christmas show at the Civic.

Mayor’s festive gift

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LOCAL fundraising team, the Nantwich Christie Hospital Support Group has raised over £300,000 for specialist cancer centre The Christie in Manchester. With over two decades of fundraising, the group has hosted a range of events including lunches, quiz nights, film nights, fashion shows, Easter egg bingo as well as an annual flag day. A Pie ‘n’ Pea Supper held in October raised over £2,000 which took the fundraising total over £300,000. Group founder and chair, Sarah Darlington, 46, formed the group with some friends in 1993. She explained her special reasons for choosing the specialist centre: “Without the Christie, I wouldn’t have the two most important men in my life. “My father Tom was treated

for cancer at The Christie in 1973 when I was a little girl. “He’s now 88 and still goes into work most days. “My husband Tim was also a patient there when he was 15 years old. “Without The Christie, I could have been a little girl growing up without a dad and might never have met the man I married. “Most people know someone affected by cancer and The Christie is a cause close to

many people’s hearts. “We get tremendous support from local people and businesses for our events and we try to organise something to appeal to everyone.” Community fundraising manager at The Christie Rebecca Jones said: “We are so grateful to the Nantwich Christie Hospital Support Group for its support over the past 20 years. Its fundraising has made a huge difference to the lives of our patients.”

FIREFIGHTHERS were called to a car fire on the A51 in Nantwich at around 9pm on December 8. Crews found the car well alight and used a hose reel to extinguish the blaze. It is believed that the fire was started deliberately. Anyone who has any information about the incident should call Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

LOCAL police are advising shoppers to be vigilant following a number of purse thefts across South Cheshire. Crewe Local Policing Unit issued the advice after thefts near to supermarkets. The offenders are noting pin numbers when the victims make a purchase at the till and then when they are distracted take the opportunity to steal their purse and use their cards before the victim realises their purse is missing and money has gone from their account.”

Charity milestoneLocal fundraisers on target for The Christie

Theft warning

Vehicle fire

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THE Winter league 2015 matches of the South & Mid Cheshire Tennis League have now all been completed. Local teams which have taken part include Audlem, Hightown, Nantwich, Wistaston and Wrenbury. The top team and bottom team in each division will be promoted or relegated respectively. From January 2016 these teams will form the Spring league. Wistaston A finished with a 100% record having won all 6 out of 6 matches in Division 3. Their captain, George Raiswell, (right) aged 14, and a Year 10 pupil at Shavington Academy, said: “It is an honour to captain and play in the A team for my village. “I hope we can carry on winning in the Spring league.” Fixtures, results and tables are updated during the year via the League website: http://www.smctennis.co.uk. (pic courtesy of Jonathan White)

A MEDIEVAL silver finger ring found in the Cholmondeley area has been donated to Nantwich Museum by the metal detectorist who found it and the landowner. The ring (pictured) qualifies as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 and dates from the fifteenth or early sixteenth century. It is described as a silver ‘fede’ ring with a ridged bezel, diamond shaped shoulders and a hoop connected by two clasped hands - the mark of a ‘fede’ ring. Additional decorations include engraved rope-work and foliate tendrils. The word ‘fede’ comes from the Italian ‘mani in fede’ meaning ‘hands in faith.’ They were associated with love and marriage as a token of loyalty. The museum has also recently acquired a hoard of Elizabethan coins discovered at Bridgemere. The group of six hammered silver coins of Elizabeth I included one shilling and five sixpences. They are likely to have been deposited towards the end of the sixteenth century.

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DABBERS boss Phil Parkinson has commended the club after a 2-0 win over Stockport County in the FA Trophy. Nantwich went into the game as underdogs – sitting a league below Stockport who play their football in the National League North. Despite the gap Parkinson believes that there was no difference in quality when the two teams met and said he is proud of everyone at the club. He said: “I’m really proud of the football club, I’m really proud of the management team and ever so proud of my players. “Everybody at the club has worked hard to get the result we’ve got, it’s not just the 11 on the pitch.” Some 145 travelling fans made the journey to Edgeley Park to cheer on the Dabbers

and Parkinson, the rest of the management team and the players headed over to the ‘outstanding’ supporters to show their appreciation after the game. The boss said: “They’re a credit to the football club – they make me want to do this job and they make me want to do well for them and I know for a fact it has an impact on the lads. “When they’re at it, nine out of ten times we’re at it as well so it’s a two way street. As much as the lads have got to perform, when the fans are the way they are it does get that extra bit out of them. “It’s always easy to get behind teams when things are going well but the test, as it is for players, is when we don’t do so well and we have a tough run. “You could question are

they still going to be there but I know for a fact they will because I played here – they’ve been with me through thick and thin as a player so what they do is no surprise.”

HIGH PRAISEDabbers boss says club can be proud of achievements