Art pupils claimed a golden hat-trick
●●10 Years Ago:
SPRINGHILL High School became the first school in Rochdale to receive a prestigious arts award for the third year in a row.
The specialist arts college was also one of the first schools in the country to achieve a hat-trick of Artsmark Gold awards.
The award was given by the Arts Council to schools in recognition of outstanding commitment to the arts.
Schools had to demonstrate top quality provision in music, art, dance and drama to win.
Year 9 pupils Alisha Din and Jack Hodgson joined school director of arts, Liz Phillips and art teaching assistant Carole Bryson at a ceremony with other award winners at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.
They received a framed certificate to be displayed at school.
Ms Phillips was delighted the school had received a hat-trick.
She said: “This award is a great compliment to the pupils, staff and local community, who all do so much for the arts here at Springhill.” A WARDLE man who moved to New Zealand to start a new life was encouraging others to do the same.
Spring maker Graham Bannister left Rochdale in 1985 after replying to a job advert in our sister paper Manchester Evening News.
After that the 45-yearold, formerly of Ramsden Road, started a family and moved to Brisbane in Australia.
He was then looking for other spring makers to follow in his footsteps.
There was a shortage of trained spring makers in Australia, which meant his firm, Thomas Marsh & Co, was having to look overseas for new recruits.
Graham, a former Roch Valley High School pupil, said: “Due to the fact that spring making is not recognised as a trade in Australia we find it very difficult to find skilled workers.
“Last year we recruited two skilled spring makers from Redditch and they have been so successful that we are trying to bring out two more.
“Because of my past and ties to Rochdale and Wardle in particular, my parents still live there, I wanted to give the opportunity to someone in the area to have the same experience.” CHAMPAGNE, canapes and extravagant headwear delivered all the glamour and opulence of Royal Ascot to Nutters Restaurant in Norden.
More than 170 people helped to raise £5,000 for the NSPCC at the annual Ladies’ Day at Nutters.
Chef Andrew Nutter and his team greeted his guests with a sparkling reception of champagne bellini cocktails and canapes.
And they enjoyed a delicious meal of smoked salmon with goat’s cheese, goosnargh chicken and a tart with fresh raspberries followed by coffee.
The event, organised by John and Lis Kay of the Rochdale branch of the NSPCC, was attended by members of the Rochdale, Littleborough and Heywood branches.
Guests watched the racing from Ascot and were invited to pick the winners for prizes were also handed out, including an accolade for the most exotic hat.
Jane Leach, of the Littleborough branch said: “Tickets for this year’s event sold like hot cakes and everyone had a really lovely time.” CHILDREN from across Rochdale proudly showed off their medals at the annual Childer Award celebration evening.
The inspirational youngsters were among dozens of children who were nominated for numerous reasons such as doing well in sport, helping fellow pupils or being brave during personal bereavement or illness.
Chairman of the Childer committee Maureen Cooper commended all the children for their hard work at the ceremony, which was held at the Town Hall.
An announcement was also made that although ●●Celebrating Springhill High School’s national arts including music and drama award were, from the left, Hayley Wilson (13), Alisha Din (14) and Jack Hodgson (14) the Childer committee would continue its valuable community charity work, the annual awards ceremony would be passed on to another committee formed by local schools who would hopefully continue the organisation of the event and distribution of the saught-after medals. PUPILS of Deeplish Community School helped to promote Deeplish Children Centre after creating a big banner.
The school council had been working closely with the manager of the children’s centre and the learning mentor at the school to promote the services offered at the centre.
After a guided tour of the children’s centre, the children came up with the idea of a banner that could be displayed in and around the school. WARDLE High School brass band was a step closer to France after a sponsored walk raised £4,000.
A group of 11 teachers, parents and friends walked from Blackpool to Wardle to raise funds for the intermediate band’s summer tour.
They completed the route in 13 hours and were back in Wardle in time to attend an oompah band concert, which was also in aid of the trip, at the school.
When they arrived back they were welcomed with a rendition of The Happy Wanderer.
Brass teacher Gwen Diggle said: “Everybody was absolutely shattered but it was such a good team effort.”
She added: “We stuck together and helped each other through and everybody finished the course.
“The support we have received so far has been fantastic, all sorts of people are helping to raise money for the band.”