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Miller’s back in the money

Vance Miller holding one of the cheques . . . “The money is rightly mine. It has taken them four years to decide it’s not proceeds of crime”

Police return £66,000 seized in raids on kitchen business

MORE than £66,000 has been returned to Vance Miller following the collapse of the multi-million pound trial.

The controversial kitchen boss received two cheques this week from Greater Manchester Police Authority for £65,600.39 and £922.16.

The cash was seized from his business safe inside Maple Mill during two raids by police and Trading Standards officers in 2006 and 2009.

The cheques have been

Date published: 12/03/2010

Apology over Sahil mistaken identity

PAKISTANI officials have apologised after wrongly stating that kidnapped Shaw youngster Sahil Saeed had been found safe and well.

Reports yesterday morning said the five-year-old had been found after a number of arrests, including one woman, were made.

But Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsal Hasan says the child found in Sialkot is not Sahil.

He added:...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Girl, 16, in bus stop sex attack

A TEENAGE girl was sexually assaulted at a bus stop on a busy main road in Oldham.

The 16-year-old was waiting for a bus near to the Smut Inn, Manchester Road, when a man made lewd comments to her.

He then sexually assaulted her moments before she got on the number 83 towards Oldham. Her attacker, who was aged between 17 and 20, ran off up Manchester Road.

He was...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Need for speed

PLATFORM for improvement... Phil Woolas welcomes high speed trains

250mph rail link gathers pace

OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas is looking forward to the time when he can reach the House of Commons from his house in Lees just as fast as...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Direct trains to heart of Europe

Oldhamers would be able to travel from their doorsteps to the heart of Europe under Tory plans for high speed rail.

As Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced the findings of independent experts into the feasibility of running super-fast trains from London and Heathrow to Manchester via Birmingham yesterday, the Chronicle can reveal that the Conservatives want to revive...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Annie’s still looking great at 108!

CARD from the Queen . . . Annie celebrating her 108th birthday

CLEAN living, plain food, fresh air, exercise and hard work are the secret to long life for Annie Ormrod.

And the great-great-grandmother should know after celebrating her 108th...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Take That star Mark says sorry

Take That star Mark Owen revealed today he has been struggling with a drink problem for at least a decade.

He told a newspaper he had discussed his drink problem with bandmates Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald and had sought advice from former Take That member Robbie Williams, who battled alcohol and drug addiction.

The admission cames after the...

Date published: 12/03/2010

97 miles, 24 hours, one goal

Marathon man . . . Ian Bishop

HITTING 40 and a looming mid-life crisis prompted Oldham barber Ian Bishop to pull on his running shoes . . . and he’s never looked back.

Three years later and three-and-a-half...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Top guider Denise is back in her home town

The country's top girl guide official, Denise King, will visit her home town when she speaks at the Oldham guides' annual meeting next week.

Denise, Chief Executive of Girlguiding UK, will be at Trinity Methodist Church in Royton, on Thursday, for Oldham East and West guides' meeting to catch up up with friends and family.

Born in Oldham in 1966, she was a brownie at...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Parents are consulted over plans to alter school hours

PUPILS could start and finish earlier at North Chadderton School.

The school is consulting parents on proposed changes to the school day from September which could include a lunchtime finish on Wednesdays.

Lessons currently run from 8.40am to 3.20pm with an hour for lunch.

However, this could change to 8.30pm to 2.45pm daily, except Wednesdays when the final period...

Date published: 12/03/2010

BNP members not barred from teaching

BNP members will not be banned from teaching following an independent review.

The Government-commissioned report said that barring school staff from being members of groups which promote racism and intolerance would be disproportionate.

Author Maurice smith, a former chief inspector of schools added that sufficient measurers were already in place to deal with the...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Early doors!

Pubs to open at 7am

EARLY risers will soon be able to get their coffee fix, their breakfast or even a pint as Wetherspoon pubs across the country open at 7am.

The chain has two Oldham pubs, Up Steps in High Street and Squire Knott in Yorkshire Street and will put the new opening hours into action from April 28.

Chairman Tim Martin, said the plan to extend morning...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Concert treat for all the family

MUSIC lovers of all ages can join Oldham Symphony Orchestra tomorrow for a family concert.

The concert, at The Salvation Army Church & Community Centre, in Failsworth, is aimed at families with young children as this year’s theme is storytime.

The main star will be Tubby, a young tuba who loves being in the orchestra but never gets to play the melody....

Date published: 12/03/2010

Friends in fine voice for charity

HIGH-QUALITY harmonies from the Musical Friends . . . (back, from the left) Shaun Penton, Chesney Talbot, Nigel Winters, Ian Curran, Sarah Thewlis, Nicky Mead,(front, from the left) Jordanne Woodward, Daniel Winters, Johanna Batterby and Dawn Leigh

Songs from the shows set to boost chairman’s appeal

EARS will be ringing for all the right reasons this weekend as the performing group Musical Friends takes to the stage in aid...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Medical centre call

A Chadderton councillor is calling for a new medical centre in Chadderton on the old library and baths site.

Chadderton North Councillor Jack Hulme, the Tory group leader, says Oldham Council and the primary care health trust should work together to improve facilities.

He told the recent NHS Oldham meeting that although excellent work was being done locally —...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Six of John’s best on show at Royal Society

One of the region’s best known painters, Delph artist John McCombs, has six paintings — the maximum allowed — in this year’s Royal Society of British Artists exhibition at London’s Mall Galleries.

The exhibition, which ends on March 21, features the work of some of the country’s top established and up-and-coming artists. McCombs has been...

Date published: 12/03/2010

£30,000 for a green oasis

A congested area of Shaw is to get a mini park with almost £30,000 spent on it.

The area off Gordon Street, near Linney Lane, is surrounded by roads, houses and the Shop Direct mail order premises.

Now Oldham Council is refurbishing the area of public open space which is classed as a recreation area but is currently derelict. Local people have been consulted and...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Rights of way forum

A new joint forum is being set up to advise on access to the countryside in Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.

The trio currently have various cross-border initiatives. The Pennine Way footpath and Pennine Bridleway cross all three covering 776 miles of public rights of way and 20,000 acres of access land.

All three will share the administration costs, about £1,000 a...

Date published: 12/03/2010

How dinosaurs failed to rule the earth

DR PAUL ELLIOT, a lecturer in chemistry at the University of Huddersfield, looks at the latest theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs

Asteroid collision had force of billion bombs

SIXTY-SIX million years ago in the Cretaceous period, the planet was ruled by dinosaurs. Some 500,000 years later, a mere tick of the planetary clock, the majority of them were extinct....

Date published: 12/03/2010

Reader cries foul over outdated sign

THE offending sign

DOG walkers could be forgiven a double take at this notice in Shaw — which appears to be 36 years out-of-date.

The sign in Milnrow Road warns that anyone who allows a dog to foul...

Date published: 12/03/2010

Fresh hopes dashed in hunt for Sahil

MEDIA spotlight . . . the national press gather in Shaw

MEDIA spotlight . . . the national press gather in Shaw

Hopes that snatched Shaw five-year-old Sahil Saeed had been found were dashed this morning as the police chief leading the...

Date published: 11/03/2010

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