Look back on 2017 with our review of the year
In this final edition of the Free Press of 2017, we look back at some of the stories and images that made the headlines in the first half of the year gone by. Our look back at July to December will feature in next week’s paper.
JANUARY
STARTING the new year we looked back at the drama and devastation of the 2015 Boxing Day floods, and explored the legacy left behind for heartbroken residents and businesses who were left picking up the pieces as rising floodwater ravaged the Valley.
THERE was ire at a rent hike of more than 1,400 per cent for ambulances.
As North West Ambulance Service prepared to relocate the borough’s emergency vehicles to Rossendale Police Station in Waterfoot, it emerged there was a dispute over rental charges with Rawtenstall’s Primary Health Care Centre - which were rising from £1,300 to £19,945.
FEBRUARY
THE Flying Scotsman contributed to a “phenomenal” year for East Lancashire Railway (ELR), after it met its tourism target four years early.
Heritage railway bosses celebrated after reporting a total of 201,000 visitors in 2016, a record since it re-opened as an attraction back in 1987.
‘Scotsman Fever’ took hold, with almost 30,000 people visiting the ELR to see the locomotive in all its glory between Rawtenstall and Bury over two visits during the year.
A VALLEY-GROWN kids clothing label founded by three friends enjoyed its national runway debut at a prestigious fashion show.
Children’s clothing range Kidult and Co, based in Helmshore, hit the catwalk at London Fashion Week at the show’s first ever kids runway event, hosted by the ‘Baby Bandits’ brand.
Founded by twins, Laura and Melissa McCann, 27, and Emily-Jo Sutcliffe, 26, the bold and proudly gender-neutral clothing line seeks to take on stereotypical children’s clothing – and break free from the traditions of ‘pink or blue’.
MARCH
A 100-HOME development at the former Rossendale United football ground was given the go-ahead by council planners.
Rossendale council’s planning committee approved the scheme to build two and threebedroom terraced and semi-detached houses built at Dark Lane, in Newchurch, on land that includes the derelict football ground.
The scheme, proposed by Culzean Developments, made provision for the replacement of the lost playing fields with new pitches at Marl Pits Leisure Centre costing £130,755.
A CROWD of 150 people helped open the Valley’s newest £30,000 leisure facility.
A new bike skills track, a pump track, was unveiled at Stubbylee Park, in Bacup, in an event that saw some of the guests turn up to have their first go on the new track.
Rossendale council, in partnership with Newground, obtained funding for the track from the Lancashire Environment Fund and installed the facility next to the existing skate park as part of the ongoing redevelopment at Stubbylee.
A POPULAR dry cleaners closed its doors after almost four decades of trading.
Deardengate Dry Cleaners, in Haslingden, had been an institution for 37 years since opening in 1980.
Tony Whelan, 52, took charge of the business four years later with his wife, Yvette.
The couple planned to move to Spain to fulfil their dream of living abroad.
APRIL
THERE was a dark cloud at the start of the month as the Free Press revealed a national heritage charity had withdrawn its proposal to save the famous Helmshore Mills textile museum.
English Heritage had submitted an expression of interest to Lancashire County Council to take on both Helmshore Mills, and Queen Street Mill, Burnley.
But the organisation retracted its interest in the sites, leaving campaigners ‘devastated’.
A STAGGERING 30,000 visitors flocked to Ramsbottom for its annual chocolate festival which basked in weekend sunshine.
Returning for its ninth year, the festival had been under threat due to overcrowding in the town centre. But organisers said a new event layout, including a reduction in the number of stalls on Bridge Street, allayed those fears while allowing visitors to see more of the town.
WORLD famous R&B star Billy Ocean dedicated a poignant performance of one of his hits to superfan salon owner Lisa Bracewell, who died of cancer before she was able to see him sing her favourite song live.
Valley beautician Lisa had been looking forward to seeing him star at a festival but was unable to go after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
When Ocean performed at the Lowry in Salford Quays on April 17, Lisa’s best friend Tracy was there, but tragically mum-of-two Lisa was not - following her death aged just 43.
But in a touching tribute, the R&B icon dedicated his hit ‘Caribbean Queen’ to Lisa, who owned a salon in Rawtenstall for more than ten years.
MAY
THE Rossendale Labour Party were left without a single county council seat after the Tories succeeded in winning a clean sweep in the Lancashire County Council elections.
Notable scalps were claimed with an extremely tight margin by the Conservatives, including the county seat of Rossendale council leader Alyson Barnes which was claimed by Conservative David Foxcroft by a margin of just eight votes.
Across the county the Conservatives took back control of county hall following the elections.
THREE pupils from Haslingden High School were among those injured during the horrific bomb attack at Manchester Arena.
A total of 32 students from the school were at
the Ariana Grande concert when suicide bomber Salman Abedi struck, killing 22 people and injuring around 120 others.
Three pupils were left hospitalised with shrapnel injuries after the attack on May 22.
More than 1,000 residents from all faiths and backgrounds also gathered in Haslingden for a peace vigil in solidarity following the terror attack.
Families, children, and community and religious leaders attended Haslingden Memorial Gardens for the one-hour vigil on May 28.
NOSTALGIA enthusiasts donned military uniforms and forties finery to step back in time at the East Lancashire Railway’s annual weekend at stations in Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Bury and Heywood.
But the popular battle re-enactments and weapon demonstrations were axed from the programme and security heightened after the Manchester terror attack.
For the first time, to coincide with the heritage railway’s 40s celebration, a special ‘Dig for Victory’ market event was also held on Rawtenstall town square and Clog Market traders threw themselves into the style of the decade.
JUNE
LOVING dad Duncan Goodenough, from Bacup, passed away two weeks after marrying his long-term partner.
Duncan tied the knot with his teenage sweetheart Joanne at Pendleside Hospice in a poignant ceremony that was ‘quickly organised’ with the support of hospice staff and was attended by close family members on May 27.
The father-of-three sadly passed away from cancer at the hospice just two weeks later on Sunday, June 11, at the age of 48.
THERE was outrage after the announcement that the last remaining police front desk in the Valley was set to be axed.
The police counter at Waterfoot was listed as one of ten across the county set to be closed under proposed cuts by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw of £1.4m.
The decision would leave residents having to travel to Burnley to seek face-to-face help. Rossendale political leaders and Unison Lancashire Police Branch also condemned the move, arguing the impact of cuts to policing resources in the Valley was already being felt.