17th Century Swinden Hall lost forever
This week’s column brings a rare 50-year-old picture of a 17th Century building that has today, sadly, gone forever. Yes, captured here in the summer of 1963, is the splendid Swinden Hall, which had...
View ArticleWe must never forget our war dead
I was honoured to take part in a service of rededication and remembrance that saw the award of the Honorary Freedom of Barnoldswick to the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.The service saw the names...
View ArticleBurnley students in safe hands
A return to her home town is on the cards for Burnley’s international footballer Rachel Brown-Finnis.Rachel, who is goalkeeper for England and Everton Ladies, has been appointed mentor and executive...
View ArticlePolice appeal following indecent exposures in Colne
Two women have been “left shaken” following separate incidents of indecent exposure in Colne.The first incident happened on Thursday, September 12th at around 9-30pm, when a man exposed himself at the...
View ArticleLancashire Police must save £73m
Lancashire Police is facing its “greatest challenge and most radical changes in over 30 years” in order to make £73m of savings, senior policing figures have warned.The scale of the financial challenge...
View ArticleBarlick band hit the right notes
Barnoldswick Brass Band has good reason to blow its own trumpets – and all other instruments for that matter – following its success after entering a competition for the first time in a number of...
View ArticlePolice appeal for wanted man
A wanted man may have been in the Nelson, Colne and Brierfield areas, police have warned today. Ian Ashworth, previously of Commercial Road in Blackburn, was arrested on August 10th and charged with...
View ArticleLibrarian Wilfred is in Colne’s Hall of Fame
Here’s my tribute to a renowned Colner of great substance and stature, the late Wilfred Micah Spencer.Wilfred was born in Colne at his family home, 46 Castle Road, on June 1st, 1918 (by an amazing...
View ArticleMighty Primet School football team of 1955
This week’s column features a photo from a contemporary school-pal of mine of almost 60 years ago. David Barker, then living in Barrowford (now in Burnley) was at Primet Secondary School from 1952 to...
View ArticleOlympic legacy lives on in Pendle
The London Olympics and Paralympics last summer proved to be the greatest Games of all time, with the whole country caught up in Olympic fever. We watched and celebrated every medal won – including...
View ArticleAgeing blokes in Lycra - not a good look
We pretend not to be that bothered, but in reality, as September approaches there is not one of us veterans who does not check their morning mail to see if the tour notes (and invitation ... and demand...
View ArticleHelp to get young people into golf
I have had many meetings and constituent appointments in recent weeks.I was delighted to visit Burnley Golf Club for a launch and celebration of being awarded £50,000 funding from Sport England’s...
View ArticleThe best £10m. spent in Burnley
A recent week started with an interesting business meeting at Barclays. I discussed various issues with them, including apprenticeships. It was great to meet staff and hear about everything going on at...
View Article‘Eyesore’ Colne mill is demolished
A disused Colne mill has been knocked down after years of causing concern to councillors, police and residents. Oak Mill, in Skipton Road, had fallen into disrepair with broken windows and damaged...
View ArticleWalkers brave the elements on Colne charity stroll
It may have been wet and miserable at the weekend, but walkers were not going to let their spirits be dampened during a Colne charity event. A total of 45 people turned out to take part in the town’s...
View ArticleColne Golf Club host ex-Captain’s day
Memories spanning 100 years were shared at Colne Golf Club’s first ex-Captain’s Day. The event, which included a golf competition and three-course meal, was attended by 21 ex-captains and was hailed a...
View ArticleAgoraphobic woman’s death tragedy
A Nelson woman who refused to leave her bedroom for more than 20 years and would not even see her own sisters, due to an extreme form of agoraphobia, hanged herself days after moving to her new...
View ArticleWork to start soon on Prairie Sports Village
The highly-anticipated £2.5m. revamp of Burnley’s Prairie playing fields is moving closer.Plans detailing the transformation of the Windermere Avenue site have been submitted to Burnley Borough Council...
View ArticleBogus taxi driver’s sex attack on mum
A bogus taxi driver who sexually assaulted a Padiham woman who got into his car has been jailed.Tassawar Shah (29), of Hartley Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty shortly before his trial was due to begin...
View ArticleVideo memories: Prince Charles visits Burnley 2008
Prince Charles is well-known for his strong ties with Burnley and his passionate interest in the town.Over the years he has pais several visits, including this one in 2008, during which he visited the...
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