16.7.2000 News from Wigan

News Report Archive 16th July 2000

News reports from Wigan Observer, Wigan Reporter and Wigan Evening Post

TRIBUTE TO SIR WITH LOVE

A Wigan family have paid an emotional tribute following the death of a former teacher and talented artist.
Dad of two Greg Robinson, 48, of Canberra Road Marsh Green, spent ten years working as an art teacher and head of department at Rose Bridge High School, before retiring through ill health in the late 1980s.
Mr Robinson, who was born in Liverpool, moved to Wigan in the late 1970s after marrying his wife Jacqui. The couple have two sons, 26 year-old Michael and Daniel, 21, and a granddaughter, 11 year-old Emma.
After leaving work, Mr Robinson, who also enjoyed writing, listening to classical music and watching sport, continued with his art work, holding two exhibitions at the Hanover Gallery and Liverpool Academy of Arts in the mid 1990s.
In recent years he had suffered with heart problems and depression, but his sudden death at home was unconnected to any of his earlier health problems.
His wife of almost 28 years, Jacqui said, "He took great pleasure in his children and his granddaughter and enjoyed going for drinks with his former colleagues. We were together a long time and he is going to be very much missed. We used to potter around and spent a lot of time together, just the two of us. But I feel an unquiet mind is now at rest."
Daniel said, "He was loved by a lot of people and we had a very close relationship. He was not just a dad he was a friend as well. The family have been overwhelmed with the support and kind words we have received since his death and we would like to thank everyone."

ENGINEER JAILED AFTER Ł38,000 SCAM

A Wigan Metro engineer fraudulently obtained over Ł38,000 in benefits to help his refugee parents.
41 year-old Salah Hussain of Ash Grove Standish,was jailed for six months at Manchester Crown Court after admitting two charges of false accounting.
Hussain, who has now been sacked by Wigan Council, was told by Judge Sir Rhys Davies; "It is very clear you had a justifiably high reputation in the community."
Prosecutor Howard Baisden said the offences were linked with claims for housing benefit and council tax rebate in the name of the structural engineer's father. Hussain's parents fled Iraq at about the time of the Gulf War and lived at a house in Lansing Ave Didsbury, bought by Hussain on September 15th 1992, at a price of Ł56,950 with a Ł54,000 mortgage. The claim form on behalf of the father was written up and lodged on the day the house was purchased, stating that the parents were paying Ł150 a week rent to a named landlord at an address in Whitefield. It also confirmed that they were not related to the owner.
A copy of the tenancy agreement was provided and as a result payments were made to the father of Ł100 a week.
Mr Baisden said an investigation early last year revealed Hussain's home address was Lansing Ave according to Wigan MBC records.
Andrew Nuttall, defending said Hussain now fully understood the enormity of his dishonesty and was genuinely wracked with guilt. His parents fled Iraq with only the clothing they were wearing. Hussain stayed only a short tine at the house but gave his parents cnstant support. They would have been entitled to some benefits, but Hussain was anxious to repay what was wrongly obtained which he used to 'keep a roof over their heads'.

PIED AND GROOM!!

Jonathan and Jane Farrimond got their marriage off to a tasty start with three pie-shaped wedding cakes!
The newly-weds celebrated tying the knot in true Wigan style by dressing up the three cakes like their favourite delicacy- the meat and potato pie.
Jonathan, 28, and 26 year-old Jane of Heaton Street, Standish and who are currently on their honeymoon in Malaysia, came up with the unusual idea to add a bit of variety to their special day.
And shocked guests said the first they knew about the cakes-one fruit and two sponge-was when they were unveiled at the reception.
Jonathan's mum Jean said, "Nobody could believe it when they saw the cakes,they look just like three meat and potato pies. We didn't know anything about it before the wedding. The first we knew of it was when we saw them at the reception.
"We were shocked, but it is typical of them. They always seem to do things a little differently. I think they did it just for a laugh. we don't know where they got the cakes done but they tasted lovely."
Jonathan and Jane tied the knot at St Wilfrid's Standish after meeting each other more than eight years ago.
Jonathan's sister-in-law Diane Farrimond added, "They are a lovely couple and the cake was fantastic. The icing made them look just like pies, but they actually tasted really nice."

TYSON THE ROTTWEILER TO DIE

A dog owner is set to launch an appeal against a court order which put his pet on death row for killing another dog.
Anthony Hill of Winifred Street, Lower Ince pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrate's Court to two charges of allowing his Rottweiler to act in a threatening manner. The court heard how 31 year-old Hill exercised his dog Tyson, on a playing field near to Brittania Bridge Primary School, close to where young pupils were playing. Only a short fence seperated the children from the dog.
The school's head teacher informed the police of the dog's aggressive behaviour after an incident in 1998 and Hill received a warning.
During the following year, on the same field, the dog attacked a terrier, owned by local woman Jacqueline Livesley. The dog later had to be put to sleep after suffering a snapped spine, despite a neighbour's desperate attempts to intervene during the attack.
Prosecuting, Ann Hughes said, "Clearly the dog is a potential danger and there was a risk that a child could have been injured at the school. The second time the police went to see Mr Hill he admitted he had already been warned about exercising the dog on the same field. But in the last few days the dog has again been exercised in the same place."
Carl Gaffney, defending said "The behaviour of the dog is instinctive- to hunt and kill. We may have a fluffy image of them, but that is their instinct. The issue here is that Mr Hill has to take control. If he has a strong, powerful dog, he clearly has to take responsibility and has to think about how he would like it if his dog was attacked. But there is no evidence that this dog has ever attacked a person."
He added, "Ordering the destruction of the dog for acting naturally, may be taking it a step too far. If it had attacked a human being then things would be very different. In this country where animals are concerned emotions always run very high."
Magistrates ordered Hill to serve 100 hours community service and pay Ł500 compensation to Mrs Livesley for the death of her dog and vets bills. He was also banned from owning a dog for ten years.
Hill has maintained throughout the case that his dog would never cause harm to anyone. His solicitor indicated that his client would press ahead with an appeal.