WEST LANCASHIRE 23 June 2021 Vol 28 G Issue 25 www.champnews.com INSIDE Startling image Little Hero THIS of youths at award for WEEK: village quarry youngster Ahoy, me hearties! S u s a n’s new pirate PARENTS RALLY book is a real treasure TO HELP SCHOOL RAVAGED BY FIRE Police say arson was cause of huge blaze at Asmall Primary Report by Henry James A FIRE at Ormskirk’s Asmall Primary which Susan with her new book forced the school to close its doors on Friday and at the start of this week after it was SHIVER me timbers! Skelmersdale, told the Cham- “significantly damaged” is being treated as Skelmersdale author Susan pion: “I have thoroughly arson by police. B ro w n r i g g ’s new children’s enjoyed researching all about Six fire engines were called to the blaze at the book is about to set sail. pirates. school on Tennyson Drive in Ormskirk at 7.30pm Kintana and the Captain’s “Kintana’s pa, Israel Hands, on Thursday, June 17. Curse is a fast-paced treasure will be familiar to Treasure A fundraiser set up by parents and people con- hunt set on the beautiful island Island fans, but readers might nected with the school has already raised more of Nosy Boraha, Madagascar, not realise he was actually a than £8,000. 1733. real pirate who fought along- A loud bang was reported by residents before the The book, aimed at eight to 12 side the infamous Blackbeard. blaze started. The building was well alight when year olds, was inspired by the “Madagascar is the perfect set- firefighters arrived at the scene and huge flames Skelmersdale author’s love of ting for a treasure hunt as could be seen coming from the school. pirates and Madagascar anim- Captain Kidd is believed to have No-one was injured in the incident. als, including chameleons, buried his hoard somewhere on Lancashire Fire Service reported that the fire was fossas and lemurs. the island’s coast. under control by 9.30pm, but firefighters Susan, who lives in Tanhouse, Continued inside remained at the scene to dampen down any hot The fire at Asmall primary school. Image Snapchat maps spots. Continued on page 3 24 HOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PRIVATE CHAPEL OF REST • FUNERAL PLANS MEMORIAL CONSULTANTS INDEPENDENT FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS Covering Parbold, Newburgh, Appley Bridge, Standish, Wrightington, Upholland, Skelmersdale, Mawdesley, Eccleston, Burscough, Rufford, Scarisbrick and all surrounding areas Tel: 01257 462222 5 THE COMMON, PARBOLD, WN8 7HA • www.massamandmarshall.co.uk • [email protected] CHAMPION SERIES THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 143,191 JAN-DEC 2020 100% FREE 2 G Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com The Champion G Wednesday 23 June 2021 Youngsters put best foot forward for outdoor fundraiser By Henry James PUPILS at Little Digmoor Primary School in Skelmersdale have been fundraising in order to raise money for the children to go away to an outdoor education c e n t re . The challenge for the children was to earn sponsors and they have been walking to all of the schools which are part of the SHARES cluster (a collection of schools in Skelmersdale and surrounding a re a s ) . The fund-raising event was called ‘a surge 4 SHARES.’ They planned three legs of the surge to make it manageable. As well as covering 13 schools in total, they walked nearly 13 miles in three days and also raised money on June 30. Carl Webb, Year five and six teacher at Little Digmoor Primary, said: “The children have had a tough year and missed so much school as well as other opportunit- ies to progress and excel. “We wanted to give them chance to look forward to something and all of the character building traits this would bring.” Pupils who took part in the fundraising event at Little Digmoor when they began (top) and at Hillside School (right) SALE NOW ON FAMILY OWNED SPECIALIST BED CENTRE MID TO HIGH END QUALITY BEDS AND ALL SIZES AVAILABLE INCLUDING WITH OVER 70 YEARSSummer EXPERIENCE MATTRESSES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES 2’6”, 3’6”, 4’0”, 3/4 AND SPECIAL SIZES 1000 Pocket Sprung Mattress with choice of ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE BED SPECIALISTS SPECIAL OFFER Deep 1500 Pocket Sprung Mattress with a choice Luxury Deep 2000 Pocket Sprung Mattress with a Memory Foam No Turn Mattress or Turnable of either Memory Foam Turnable or Normal choice of either Memory Foam Turnable or Normal Regular Mattress complete with 2 FREE Drawers 15 MODELS ON Luxury end lift ottoman Upholstered Turnable Mattress complete with 2 Upholstered Turnable Mattress complete with 2 and FREE Matching Fabric Headboard DISPLAY with 2000 pocket FREE Drawers and FREE Matching Headboard FREE Drawers and FREE Matching Headboard All sizes available sprung natural hand in pocket sprung, tufted mattress with deep bases on complete with legs. 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The idea came from the children going on local walks with the nursery practitioners and they had seen borough council workers picking lit- t e r. “We then spoke about our environment and how we should keep it tidy to help wildlife as well as looking after and caring about where we live. “The nursery has recently taken a more ‘Go Green’ approach, recycling, composting, saving electricity and water recycling (which has helped our herb garden grow)! “The children have been really interested and their parents have commented at how their chil- dren have been talking about recycling, our planet and keeping our town clean! “These children are aged two-four years, if they can do it, so can adults!” Children and staff from Bright Beginnings Parade Nursery who took part in the “Litter Picking Hour” at Digmoor Parade S u s a n’s pirate book sets sail From page 1 great introduction to the telling pupils all about the Nosy Boraha (Ile Sainte island’s flora and fauna. island’s wildlife, including Marie) and Pirate Island were “A few years ago, I worked for showing them a replica aye-aye inhabited by pirates in the a summer season at Blackpool hand and a replica elephant early 1700s and there is even a Zoo as an education assistant. I bird egg! pirate graveyard complete with really enjoyed telling visiting Susan, 46, is a former journ- headstones featuring skulls children about the ring-tailed alist and has worked in and crossbones!” lemurs – they were very cheeky heritage and wildlife education S u s a n’s book features anim- and would clamber over me for more than 10 years. She als on the island that are when I was doing my talk hold- now works as a library inform- endangered as well as extinct ing a bucket of their food. I also ation assistant. species including the giant Ele- loved helping children to care- Kintana and the Captain’s phant Bird, whose egg was a fully handle Madagascar giant Curse (Uclan Publishing) is A drone shot of the blaze at Asmall Primary school.