Archive

  • An ethical fashion fix

    A FORMER St Helens College student returned to her old stamping ground to help inspire students about the importance of an ethical lifestyle after setting up her own business. Amy-Le Owens, 20, who left the college two years ago after completing

  • Two hurt in Haydock Island crash

    TWO people were injured following a three car crash at Haydock Island this afternoon. Firefighters were called to the scene on the East Lancs Road at around 1.20pm. Traffic reports had suggested one car flipped over. By the time emergency services

  • The Watermen tell their tales

    A CHANCE response to a job advert in the Star has led to an appearance for one St Helens man in a BBC documentary which follows the trials and tribulations of a team of water workers. Ian Clydesdale is one of the army of employees at United Utilities

  • Five arrests after gun and cannabis seized in raid

    FIVE people were arrested after police discovered a gun and cannabis following a raid on a house last night (Wednesday, April 23). Officers carried out a search of a property on Wyresdale Avenue on the Hard Lane estate, where they discovered a

  • St Helens Victoria Cross winner will have grave restored

    THE gravestone of a Victoria Cross winner who grew-up in Sutton Heath is set to be restored as part of a nationwide project. The government has made £100,000 available to refurbish the memorials of VC recipients and Jack Davies’ resting place in

  • Number of people using food bank rises dramatically

    THE amount of people receiving emergency aid from St Helens food bank jumped by more than 4,000 in just two years. The Trussell Trust, which runs food banks across the country, has released figures which show record numbers in the North West using

  • Outgoing Andy is a 'modern day mayor'

    SINGING with Johnny Vegas, strutting around Victoria Square on high heels, battling with a giant robot and appearing on a prime time BBC Radio One show. They are not necessarily the standard engagements of a Mayor of St Helens. But then Councillor

  • Heavy congestion at Haydock Island following collision

    DRIVERS are being warned of heavy traffic congestion at Haydock Island following a collision earlier this afternoon. It has led to queuing traffic both ways at M6 junction 23 and up to Millfield Lane and Newton Lane. Police are on the scene

  • Calendar girls do their bit for charity

    AFTER their ‘bare faced’ performance in Calendar Girls cast members of the Rainhill Garrick Society popped into a charity shop for an extra special donation. Following a month long run of the show the ladies handed over a check for £1,000 to Cancer

  • Saints squad for Leeds boosted by returning players

    SAINTS welcome back Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival, Jordan Turner, Greg Richards and Adam Swift for Saturday's Challenge Cup tie at Leeds. Nathan Brown will pick from: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson

  • Man rescued after food catches fire

    A 26-YEAR-old man had to be rescued by firefighters after food caught fire in an oven late on Saturday night (April 19). Fire crews were called to a property on Mount Pleasant Avenue in Parr just after 10.20pm. The man was checked at the scene

  • Ducklings rescued from lions' den

    QUICK, mum, there's a lion coming! Wildlife rangers at Knowsley Safari are used to some unusual sights but they reckon the mother mallard duck who chose to rear her two ducklings in the lions' den was just a bit 'quackers'. Fortunately staff

  • Beauty therapist is made up with national award

    SHE earns a living making other people look their best. But now Rebecca Ashcroft, pictured, of Renaissance Beauty, has earned her own place in the spotlight. She won the title of Fake Bake Therapist of the Year in the English Hair and Beauty

  • Soul legend Ruby Turner to make her debut at the Citadel

    VOCALIST Ruby Turner is set to light up the Citadel for the first time when she comes to perform in the town next month, as part of a tour with her four-piece band. The Jamaican-born singer, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the music industry

  • Origins of Iron Maiden uncovered

    MASSES of words have been written about Iron Maiden’s long and glorious career, but Neil Daniels’ latest book Killers – The Origins of Iron Maiden covers new ground. The St Helens rock and metal author’s second book about the band is the first

  • Artistic couple collaborate for 30th wedding anniversary

    HUSBAND and wife Paul and Gillian Adams had worked individually as artists for more than 20 years and not long after starting to collaborate they soon realised why. The couple booked an exhibition together before creatig an art work for it. And

  • The most vulnerable are being penalised by the system

    There are several reasons why parents are struggling to feed their children. Many people who claim Employment and Support Allowance which is a benefit paid to those unable to work due to ill health or disability are required to attend a Work Capability

  • Rainford make a fine start in the cup

    RAINFORD made a successful start last Saturday winning their Ray Digman Trophy cup tie against Old Xaverians by a convincing 143 runs. Batting first, openers Dave Tully (30) and Joe Noctor (47) set the foundations with a 62 run partnership before

  • Woods hits 84, but all is in vain

    IN the Ray Digman KO cup first round St Helens Town first team played Liverpool at Aigburth in a 45 over cup match. Town’s new captain, 22-year-old Craig Woods, lost the toss and Liverpool batted. Liverpool, struggled early on against some good

  • To rest or not to rest is the big question

    TO rest, or not to rest, that is the question – and the proof of the Easter pudding will be in the Headingley eating. Ahead of Saturday’s massive Challenge Cup tie at Leeds Saints boss Nathan Brown opted to rest the spine of his team and not risk

  • We must protect our park

    Once again a large area of reed beds on the Havannah flash, Sankey Valley Park, has been set fire to and destroyed. This area of reed beds is a valuable breeding ground for summer visiting birds and wildlife, but again all is lost for this year

  • The new bin system doesn't work

    ST HELENS Council’s failure to collect my brown bin again shows the new collection system doesn’t work. My wheelie bin gets emptied once a fortnight and, as I write, it is now three days overdue. It is on my front with two bin bags that I have

  • I won't be visiting Sherdley Park again

    I visited Sherdley Park on Saturday, April 19 and I must say after being there for 10 minutes with two children I won't be bothering for a long time. Litter was strewn across the field, the rubbish bins were overflowing and to top it off there

  • The government are in denial over HS2

    Does our nation realise how far our government will go to suppress the reports it commissioned on the costs and feasibility of HS2? It is even using legislation only meant to be used during war time to stop state secrets leaking out. It is

  • Thanks for helping get allotments back on track

    Recently our Life After Stroke Service allotment on Alder Hey Road was targeted on several occasions by vandals. They caused a great deal of damage by breaking into the polytunnel, ripping out the plants’ supporting canes, slashing the sides and

  • Conman guilty of targeting women in scams

    A ROGUE trader has admitted trying to con women by claiming he had washed windows and repaired roof tiles. Darren Greenhalgh, 27, of Higham Avenue, Eccleston, pleaded guilty to four offences last month. In one of his crimes – all committed

  • Martin Murray blasts off the ring rust in South Africa

    ST HELENS world middleweight title contender Martin Murray has blasted off his ring rust after opponent Ishmael Tetteh failed to come out for the seventh round. Fighting in South Aftrica, Murray was marking the start of his career with his new

  • One mum's unforgettable show with Gary Barlow

    SUPERSTAR singer, songwriter Gary Barlow was just 15 when Norma Metcalfe earmarked him as something special. Little did the Rainhill woman imagine that 28 years later she would be right up alongside him singing on stage before 12,000 fans.

  • Louts set fire to rubbish near play area

    FIREFIGHTERS were called out after yobs set fire to a pile of rubbish which had been dumped close to a children’s play area. A crew from St Helens Community Fire Station attended the scene of the blaze just after 8pm last night (Wednesday, April

  • Plans for new sports complex get the go ahead

    A HUGE sporting development has been given the go ahead after councillors unanimously approved a planning application to transform an ageing site. The ambitious vision for the Ruskin Drive sportsground in Dentons Green will aim to create a 21st

  • Can you name this St Helens soldier?

    Over the coming weeks I am including a photo of a local unknown soldier, in the hope that some of his descendants will give it a good home. This one is a postcard image but unfortunately with no information. Can you solve the mystery?

  • Anger's words on bridge over the East Lancs Road

    Around 1589 a woman named Jane Anger wrote a pamphlet for the protection of women: “To defend them against the scandalous reportes of a late Surfeiting Lover, and all other like Venerians that complaine so to bee overcloyed with womens kindnesse.”

  • Where were we?

    Here’s a scene with a railway theme. Do you recognise the location?

  • Memories rekindled

    THE photograph printed two weeks ago brought a great response. Lots of you contacted me with the correct answer, and I enjoyed chatting on the phone. Pauline Partington contacted me by email to say: “I am 60 years old now and left my mum’s home

  • Murder most foul

    The Eccleston Smithy Heritage Centre is staging a fascinating Murder Most Foul exhibition each weekend until September 14. Vicky and Joanne, joint curators at the Centre tell me: “We like to do things a little bit different to other museums, so

  • Local history diary.

    Tuesdays, from 3.45pm to 6.45pm, The Townships Family History Society are holding help and workshop evenings are at the Local History and Archive Library, 1st Floor, Central Library, Victoria Square. Thursday, April 24, 7.30pm: SCARS at the Friends

  • Cleaning the grate was a dirty job.

    The photograph of a woman blackleading a grate brought back memories for Geoff Sandford. He wrote: “We lived with my grandparents in Spray Street until 1953 and she had a large grate there which was removed in 1963. "Tuesdays was blackleading