April 2009 Archives
THE Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced its support to establish Wrexham Museum as a major contemporary attraction.
Wrexham County borough Council has been awarded £950,000 toward the first of its four-phase Wrexham Community Heritage Project to redevelop the museum and increase the annual number of users from 15,000 to 53,000.
The grant will enable the council to open up more of the museum building and its collections to the public, increase educational opportunities, provide attractive visitor facilities and create two jobs.
Jennifer Stewart, head of HLF Wales, said: "This project will give Wrexham the museum it truly deserves and create a focal point for the town. The redevelopment will mean thousands more people will be able to enjoy the collections and learn about the rich history on their doorstep."
A TEAM of ancient tree experts met at Chirk Castle to record the living giants of the landscape before they disappear, like the lost Queen's Oak of Ruabon.
Organised as part of the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt, the training day attracted around 20 volunteer ancient tree recorders and verifiers.
These volunteers have the task of visiting trees members of the public have entered on the Ancient Tree Hunt website and ensuring the information is accurate.
Already more than 36,000 ancient and notable trees have been recorded across Britain by 6,000 recorders. In Wales, 131 people have entered details of 1,738 trees.
TOGETHER again 46 years after they first played, Vauxhall Motors - with a little help from the Pioneer - reunited some of the surviving members of the original works team that became Vauxhall Motors FC.
Back in 1963 workers at the plant, some originally from the firm's sister plant in Luton, decided to start a works team, as they had done down south.
With former West Brom player Fred Ward in charge the side came together quickly, joining the Ellesmere Port League.
A TEAM is being put together to stitch the story of life and faith in Ellesmere Port.
As part of its latest community project, Trinity Methodist Church is forming a group which will create a tapestry for the town.
Last week, 15 people attended a two-day foundation workshop where they were trained in the basic stitches.
Beginners and experts are invited to get involved with the initiative, called A Stitch in Time, and they can help with research, design or stitching.
It is hoped by the end of the year there will be sufficient interest and skill to start work on the panels, which will tell the story of the town.
MORE than 40 luxury apartments have been unveiled following the conversion of Neston's old police station.
The site, known as Renaissance, has been officially launched by Cheshire-based developers the Ladson group.
Guests at the opening, which included Neston and Parkgate councillor Brenda Dowding and outgoing Ellesmere Port and Neston mayor Keith Butcher, were treated to a glass of champagne and a guided tour of the development.
Members of neighbouring associations including Neston's Civic Society were also in attendance to celebrate the renovation of the listed 1930s building in Hinderton Road.
Chester's original cathedral has launched a £10m appeal to restore the building as part of a vision to attract more visitors.
The Duke of Westminster starts the 10-year project today at St John the Baptist Church, by Grosvenor Park, in the presence of the Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, and Lord Mayor Brian Bailey.
Founded in 689 AD, the walls of St John's have seen more than 1,000 years of prayer.
Crumbling stonework and the rotten roof are in urgent need of repair.
But with just 90 parishioners, funding must come from the wider community as well as bodies like English Heritage.
The vision aims to make the church financially self-sufficicent by installing heating so concerts can be held and generating income from tourists by creating a visitor centre on the rear garden.
Cheshire groups are being urged to take part in English Heritage's first national survey of the UK's Most Special Place.
The group has asked local authorities to fill in a questionnaire for each Conservation Area they have, as part of its nationwide census of the condition of this important part of our heritage.
Conservation areas in this county include Tattenhall, Middlewich town centre, Bridge Street in Warrington and Bollington Cross, Macclesfield.
The results will be announced and a campaign launched on June 23 to help councils, communities and residents to care for these places.
Cheshire's Peter Warburton was renowned for his exploration of Australia and had two Australian mountain ranges, a river and a beetle named in his honour.
Peter Egerton Warburton was born in 1813 at Arley Hall and was the son of Revd Rowland Egerton Warburton and his wife Emma. Peter was educated at home and in France before joining the navy when he was 12 years of age. He started as a midshipman on HMS Windsor Castle and served in the navy until 1831; the final two years being spent at the Royal Indian Military College in Surrey. He then transferred to the British Army in India and rose to become a major on his retirement from the services in 1853.
He visited his brother in Western Australia in 1853 and decided to accept the post of Commissioner of Police in South Australia in the same year. He was dismissed from this position in 1867 after an enquiry, was offered the opportunity of reinstatement, but instead opted to become colonel of the Volunteer Military Force in South Australia two years later.
SUNDAY League footballers who have kicked a ball around Vernon Road off Sealand Road, are invited to a reunion.
Ex-players, officials and supporters of the Kop 58 Football Club, founded in 1958, are invited to the Shropshire Arms pub in Chester's Town Hall square on Friday, May 29, from 7pm onwards.
Former member Tommy Hughes said: "The event is going to be held in memory of one of the club's real characters, Ted Wolfe, one of the founder members of the club and a manager of the league."
FOLLOWING The Chronicle's publication of a mystery photograph of the Brookhurst Pensioners and Employees Association, former engineering draughtsman Alan Jeffreys has contacted us with news of a get-together next week.
Alan, of Waverton, worked at Brookhurst in Newton from 1940 - 1968 when the works closed down. He joined the pensioners' association 18 years ago.
"We are having our annual social get-together on Monday night at the Bear's Paw in Dickson's Drive from 7.30pm onwards. Anyone who used to work at Brookhurst is welcome," he said.
The Brookhurst Pensioners Association meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Bishop Lloyd's Palace in Watergate Street at 10.30am.
"It's an opportunity to catch up with old workmates, most of who will now be retired," added Alan.
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