This Thursday (3rd December) there's a Charity Gift & Fashion Fayre over at The Vine in Shavington. There will be trendy ladies fashions, jewellery, gifts, Grommet the balloon wizard and music from Paul Gibson. Entry by donation, with doors open from 7pm. Call Elaine Dodd for further details on 01270-537896.
We didn't carry last week's match from the C&N U14s ladies, so it's time to catch up on the team's fortunes. The girls took on Witton Albion on Saturday and repeated the 7-1 score line from the previous week. The first C&N corner of the game was turned in by Ellie Flood from close range for 1-0. That was the catalyst and Almarni Williams netted from a Caitlin Shaw cross to make it 2-0 soon after. Albion were strong, but C&N's Lorna Taffe, Alex Heron and Chloe Watson stood firm and Williams settled the nerves with a suburb solo run and strike to make it 3-0 at half time.
Witton bagged a deserved goal early in the second half, then hit the post before C&N took control. Ellie Flood tapped home from close range for her second of the game, following a flowing move and a Caitlin Shaw shot. Williams then completed her hat-trick, smashing home following a great through ball from Sophie Brooks, before Emma Blake made it 6-1. Mary Turley then beat two defenders to chase a long through ball before beating the onrushing Witton 'keeper. Although the heavy conditions and a well organise opposition made it difficult for C&N to show their normally attractive style of football, it was a well fought victory. With 9 wins from 10 they are still on course for a dramatic end to the season.
If you're looking for something a little different and fancy supporting a local acting school, then how about the Paul Nicholas School of Acting (Crewe) and their Christmas production that will be staged at the Malbank Sixth Form College? The group will be performing their Christmas play "A Very Fable Christmas" at the school on Saturday 12th December, at 1pm. The cost will be a modest £6, and anyone wanting tickets to see the production can pop along to the M Club on Saturdays between 1pm and 3.30pm (where the group rehearses), or you can reserve tickets to collect on the door if you email Angela Young on ange-pnsa@email.com. The group is also looking to develop close links with a central Crewe location. More to follow...
Over the weekend, Tom spotted a Google Streetview car on Middlewich Road near the Rising Sun. He wonders if anyone else has seen it, and any idea when the images will appear on the Internet? I've no idea and, tbh, haven't used the Google thang in ages...
I've not had much time to keep up with the local music scene of late, but one band your really must see/hear is The Retrospective who play at the Box tonight (Saturday 28th November). There's a fantastic line-up, with Pull in Emergency and local lads Sgt Wolfbanger. So it should be a brilliant night if you can make it! Personal favourite track of mine from The Retrospective lads is Something for the Weekend, which you can hear on the band's MySpace page here.
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The gig kicks off from 8pm, with tickets £6 on the door.
Photo from the excellent Simon J. Newbury. His website here.
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First, a massive thank you to all who attended the double book launch at Hops on Friday. The event was a great success with around 200 books sold. It was manic from around 1.30pm, just after we'd set up! The idea was to keep it all local, and I hope that the bar enjoyed a bumper beer sales day. Thanks also to the Mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Margaret Simon and her consort (and hubby) Maurice, who came along to offer their support just after 2pm. Personally, I thought that it was all a bit of a circus and I must apologise to the many people who came and didn't get the attention they deserved. I will do my best to catch up with you all over the next few weeks. Thanks again for your support..jpg)
If you'd like to get hold of either book, I will be at the Market Centre (somewhere near River Island/Dorothy Perkins) on Friday 4th December all day with a modest stall of local books. Otherwise, both books are also available from Copnal Books on Meredith Street, near the Nags Head pub off Market Street. Council employees can grab a copy via Delamere House, Pyms Lane Depot and the Access Shop next to the Municipal Buildings, with £3 per copy going to the Mayor's charities. Crewe and its People is available on eBay here, and From Crewe to the Cape is at Waterstones.
Doh! Bit late to announce that it was the start of late night shopping on Thursday evening, but it was. Anyone around town yesterday after work will have noticed that selected stores were open later. The Market Centre had entertainment, with DJ Chris Gentile from ASE FM, the Rotary Club of Crewe Christmas Float, plus the panto cast.
Next Thursday (3rd December) it all happens again, with late night shopping until 9pm and Christmas carols and songs from Shavington Village Pantomime. There will also be a chance to buy tickets for their production of 'Beauty and the Beast' which will be held early next year...
The weekend starts here for some... well, around 3pm this afternoon for yours truly! Thursday night sees the Phil Littler Band at the Imperial on Edleston Road, an original guitar-based rock band. Free entry, band on stage around 9pm.
The CREAM group will be meeting at the Heritage Centre on Friday morning to discuss the launch of a consultation document entitled: Master Planning for Crewe Planning for Real. A 21st Century Prospectus. Meeting and presentations start at 9.45am through to 11.45am.
On Friday afternoon there's our double book launch that will take place at Hops Belgian Cafe Bar between 1pm and 7pm. Casual afternoon, come and buy a book (or three), chat to the authors and some of the people featured, grab some advice about self publishing, plus enjoy a beer while you're there.
On Saturday, local singer/songwriter/guitarist Chloë Chadwick takes her new acoustic show to Nakatcha in Nantwich on Saturday 28th November. From 9pm, free admission. Also, don't forget to check out the Limelight, Box, Dantes and M Club for latest gigs and prices...
One of the UK’s top professional photographers spent a day putting students in the picture about his profession at South Cheshire College. Award-winning Colin McPherson (third left) took time out of his hectic schedule to talk to groups of media, graphics and photography students at the College’s Dane Bank Avenue campus. Colin, 45, is an award winning photo journalist and freelance photographer based in Liverpool and has staged photography exhibitions across the UK and Europe. His portfolio of work covers all forms of photography from press and portrait work to sports photography. Groups of first and second year Foundation Degree and BTEC National Diploma students took part in the sessions and had the chance to ask questions and take a closer look at his work. Colin talked about the influence of the digital age and the enormous potential that now exists in the photography industry.
It's stand-up time at the M Club on Friday night with the now usual line-up of quality acts from the comedy scene. In fact, if you enjoy a decent beer beforehand you can double-up this month with a trip to Hops Belgian Cafe Bar (opposite Christ Church) where we'll be staging our double book launch until 7pm. Plenty of time to then nip around the corner to the M Club.
November's acts are Tom Stade, Toby Hadoke, Dave Twentyman and Matt Kirshen. You can check out full details on the M Comedy website http://www.mcomedy.co.uk/
The dismal run had to end, and thankfully the Alex beat Burton at Gresty Road on Tuesday night to lift some of the gloom and climb a few places up the League Two table. It was tense in the dying seconds as another late, late goal was conceded, but the referee was in no mood to play on into a wet and windy November night. So a 2-1 victory, a boost to fans, players and management, and hopefully a sign that the current bunch CAN play as a team. Surely another win can lift us sufficiently clear of trouble so that we can dream of a decent second half to the season?
Cheers to Jonathan White who highlighted the following YouTube clip that features our little town on Granada TV...
The ‘Tree of Light’ festival of remembrance will return to Crewe, Sandbach and Macclesfield this Christmas. It all started six years ago when Crewe Cemetery invited people to remember those they had lost by dedicating a silver star to them, which is then placed on a tree within the grounds. The designated tree is then lit up with thousands of lights during a special ceremony.
This year services will be held at Crewe Cemetery (December 4th, from 4.30pm), Sandbach Cemetery (December 10th) and Macclesfield Cemetery (December 11th). Once each ceremony has taken place, the trees will remain lit until the twelfth night. The silver stars needed to make a dedication are free and are available by calling the following numbers: Crewe Cemetery (01270-212643), Sandbach Cemetery (01270-529775) and Macclesfield Cemetery (01625-422330)
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The blog received a couple of statements last Friday, from the two men due to do battle for the Crewe & Nantwich seat in the 2010 General Election. It was all a bit strange, as some friction seems to have developed over the sad situation surrounding the Bombardier works. So two statements, in the order received. See what you make of it all. And let's have user names if you post comments, please...
From Labour candidate David Williams: "I was due to meet management and union representatives from Bombardier at Crewe Works today at 1pm along with North West Euro MP Brian Simpson. Overnight developments have now lead me to withdraw from the meeting. I was informed late yesterday that my prescence at the meeting had lead to angry complaints to the Company from Edward Timpson MP. I believe this intervention placed the management and unions in a very awkward position and I have decided to withdraw from the meeting so that Company and Unite the Union representatives have the opportunity of meeting Brian Simpson MEP. Brian is an important ally given his position as the local MEP and Chair of the European Transport Committee. I was surprised by the intervention of the MP. I think it is a huge mistake to attempt to make the future of Crewe Works a 'political football'. The employees on that site need all the help they can get and I would have hoped that all parties could have worked together for the future prosperity of one of the Town's largest employers. This is an occassion when I would have thought that it was far more important to find a speedy resolution to Bombardier's problems rather than obstructing genuine moves to seek the help they so desperatly need. Bombardier and their employees continue to have my 100% backing. I will carry on lobbying Ministers for support for the company and particularly Crewe Works. I want to make sure that Labour's record investment in the railways brings jobs and work to Crewe and Nantwich and I would have hoped that the town's MP would have shared my concern and lent his assistance in this."
From local MP Edward Timpson's office: "Mr Timpson is in constant touch with Bombardier's senior management and union representatives about the current consultation and achieving the best possible outcome for affected staff. He welcomes the interest of Brian Simpson MEP in the site, and hopes that he can use his European influence to a positive end for Bombardier, both in Crewe and elsewhere. There has, sadly, been growing concern from a number of people about the Labour candidate's unfortunate attempt to use the site and its employees for political gain. Bombardier's management, the unions and Edward Timpson remain united in their opposition to the politicisation of the site."
Plenty of you blog readers/posters are not happy that Crewe will not have an official Christmas Lights Switch-on event. We asked the council for a comment and this was the response from a Cheshire East spokesman: “It was decided after careful consideration not to have an official Christmas lights switch-on in Crewe this year. After feedback from local traders, we decided to stage festive events during shop opening hours, which people can come down to and enjoy while doing their Christmas shopping. People in Crewe are invited to join us at our Christmas Reindeer Parade, which is taking place on December 12 at 12pm, starting at the Market Square by Marks & Spencer, and finishing at The Market Shopping Centre at around 3pm. There are further details of Christmas events taking place in Crewe in our Christmas edition of Cheshire East News which has been distributed around the area, and on our website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk"
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A number of Crewe councillors (past and present) aren't best pleased about the way in which the opportunity to have a Crewe Town Council has been presented to the public. Some have suggested that there was a confused ballot paper and, perhaps, not enough readily available information to enable people to make up their minds. Anyway, you can still have your say. The following was issued by Cheshire East...
Crewe residents and organisations are being encouraged to have their say on how the town may be governed in the future. Cheshire East Council is entering the second stage of its Community Governance Review, and is seeking views on the Draft Recommendation by January 8. A final decision will then be taken by a special meeting of the full Council at the end of January 2010. During the first stage of the review, which ended on September 30, people were given the opportunity to learn about the various options at two public meetings, and all residents were sent voting papers and leaflets about the proposals. Following detailed consideration of votes and submissions, the council’s Draft Recommendation is “to accept the vote from the people of Crewe, and to reject the notion of a Town Council for Crewe at this time.” Local residents and organisations are being encouraged to make comments before a final decision is made. The public consultation period will run from November 30–January 8, 2010.
To find out more about the options for governance in Crewe, or to view the Draft Recommendation and submit your views, please visit http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/. Alternatively, comments can be submitted in writing to The Elections and Registration Team Manager, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1HZ.
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Four pool players from Crewe have made North West regional history by becoming the first Cheshire quartet to secure an England pool trial in the same year. Phil Malam, Dave Preece* and Mike Beeston secured trials in the men's section, while Lynn Blackshaw will try out for the ladies. On the men's side, the three Crewe lads will compete with the top 64 players in the country when the trials take place in Great Yarmouth next March.Edge of Crewe area info here for those with an interest in local politics. Cheshire East Council has confirmed the election of its new councillor for the Cholmondeley Ward. Wilfred Stanley Davies, Conservative, who was elected with 1764 votes. Liberal Democrat candidate Bryan Richard Halson secured 508 votes in the by-election. Overall turnout was 19.61%, with a total of 2285 votes, which included 13 rejected ballot papers.
We shouldn't be too critical. I listened on the radio today as the Alex took on Northampton. We were all over them in the first half and fully deserved a 2-0 lead. It should have been five! Unfortunately, the Alex rarely come home with a clean sheet and it was painful hearing the hosts knock in two the level the scores. A point's not really enough, especially with teams around us collecting points. Eight points from the play-offs, four points from third bottom! We need to beat Burton on Tuesday night...
Nice project ongoing at South Cheshire College, with Graphic Communications students making their mark by creating black and white portrait stencils and spraying them onto hoardings which surround the site of the College’s new £74 million campus. The hoardings separate the existing college campus from the new building which is currently under construction and is set to open its doors in September 2010. For further information about Graphic Design courses at South Cheshire College please call 01270 654654 or visit http://www.s-cheshire.ac.uk/
We've praised Cheshire East Council for getting Market Square sorted after wheelchair users complained, and we've patted them on the back for trying to level out car parking charges (that story is not over, btw). However, they seem to have let themselves down regarding Crewe town centre's [lack of] Christmas lights (no big switch-on) and now former councillor Gwyn Griffiths is getting stuck in. You might have noticed that the Chronicle is also running this story about golf freebies. Indeed, Cheshire East Council is believed to have spent over £2,000 giving away golfing equipment at a summer conference. Figures obtained by Mr Griffiths show that the council gave away golf balls, tees and scorecard wallets at the Local Government Association’s Harrogate conference. "This is a stupid and shameful waste of the money handed over by hard-pressed local Council Tax payers,” said Mr Griffiths. “At a time when many local people at Bombardier and other companies are wondering whether they’ll even have jobs in 2010, what on earth is the Council doing handing over free golf equipment to conference delegates in Yorkshire?” What do you make of it? Should the council be giving any freebies away during a recession?
It's that time again, as the national BBC Children in Need appeal takes place on Friday 20 November 2009. I'll be in a van with a load of books, so if you're at an event and raising some cash please email your photos to creweblog@hotmail.co.uk and we'll get 'em on the blog over the weekend.
One organisation running a series of events is South Cheshire College. Staff and students will turn up to college in fancy dress and will be taking part in a range of activities to raise cash. This year’s event is the 30th appeal and the BBC have suggested 30 ways in which people and organisations can organise fundraising activities. Some of the suggestions include making 30 things with a Pudsey banana, staging a dance-a-thon or have a bake-off to find the best Pudsey cake. South Cheshire College has fundraising events planned for the day which include cake stalls and a karaoke. The College is also encouraging people to recycle their unused or unwanted mobile phones which could be worth over £100. Let us know what your school, office or factory is doing...
Last year I'd say around 3,000 people turned out to see the panto stars, fireworks and Christmas lights being switched on in Crewe's Market Square. Now, I've checked the Cheshire East brochure, website and I've even scoured the freebie Cheshire East News magazine and spoken to a few councillors. Sadly, it seems, there will be no switch-on event in Crewe! Take a look at those brochures, however, and it becomes apparent that other towns - Alsager, Macclesfield, Disley, Wilmslow, Knutsford and Congleton - WILL be having a switch-on event. What's going on? There are other events planned for Crewe, like the St Luke's Light Up A Life evening, plus a Santa Dash around the town centre, but is Crewe being short changed? Some have suggested that if Crewe had its own town council this would not happen. Thoughts...
Quick shout for a local political blogger, Steve Hogben (Labour man and former borough councillor - although he's still a member of Shavington Parish Council until the next elections in May 2011), who is passing comment on a number of local issues at the moment, namely the thorny subject of Crewe's Town Council - will we/won't we get one? Anyway, check his blog out here and let us know if you've stumbled across any other local blogs...
The £400,000 facility offers the latest equipment from specialist supplier Shokk including a vertical climbing wall, multiplayer dance mat systems and balance boards. The equipment, which is suitable for all ages and abilities, has been designed to motivate people to get active and is particularly aimed at those who may not enjoy using traditional gym equipment. Pupils from Shavington High School joined a number of specially-invited local groups and dignitaries including Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cheshire East’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, and Cheshire East Mayor Margaret Simon, who unveiled a plaque commemorating its opening.
The Sentinel is running a story today about job cuts at the MMU Crewe site. Unions are, not surprisingly, vowing to fight the proposed cuts, likely to hit support staff rather than lecturers. It's all a bit strange as the Crewe campus in particular is still expanding, so it is expected that the majority of job losses will be at the Alsager site that is scheduled to close within two years. Still, with courses and other facilities transferring to Crewe you'd expect MMU to retain existing levels of staff to ease the transition. More to follow on this one...
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