It’s Aspull International

It’s Aspull International!



It’s no secret that wresting puts Wigan on the map across the world. And this week, Aspull’s annual wrestling club competition has once again seen the town take on a real overseas feel.



Guest of honour at the Robin Park venue was the council’s cabinet champion for leisure, Cllr Chris Ready. As the competition began, he welcomed competitors from far and wide. “It’s always a pleasure to support Aspull Wrestling Club,” he said. “And this year we’ve been joined by visitors from the south Pacific and Pakistan. It’s great to see the international recognition for our town. ”



Maria Dunn from Guam, an island a few thousand miles east of the Philippines, is in training for the London Olympics. She’s staying in Wigan to take advantage of the town’s long association with the sport. Maria was joined by Ali Mohammid.



Ali was delighted to be the latest of his family to come to Wigan, after one of his brothers’ competed here in 2009. “Mine is a family of wrestlers from the Punjab,” he said. “We run a gym for over 100 young people in one of Pakistan’s biggest cities, Gujranwala. Five of my brothers are Commonwealth medalists.”



Both international visitors won their matches convincingly.



Local wrestling legend Roy Wood, himself currently being considered for the Unsung hero award in this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, said: “It was excellent to welcome Marian and Ali and to have Chris Ready as our special guest. Aspull has always been about teamwork and I’d like to thank the dedicated parents and helpers who support our wrestlers.”

Lend a book, lend a hand

Lend a book, lend a hand

Putting their stamp on local services: Cllrs Ready and Conway are promoting their local library. “We need to get the community into Aspull library and supporting its facilities,” says Cllr Chris Ready.

As the cabinet member responsible for leisure and culture, Cllr Ready is keen to see residents getting even more closely involved in the facilities provided for them by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and council.

“Libraries should be the hub of our towns and villages,” he adds, “Internet access, DVDs, reading sessions for children and of course, thousands of books offering learning, leisure and enjoyment. But everyone needs to use their library and, if you can, lend a hand when we lend you a book.”

The council’s ruling cabinet recently heard details of the need to reduce the library budget by £1.1m following government cuts. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s proposals to ensure the service remains accessible across the borough includes changes to some locations and opening hours, using a retail tiering method familiar to the big supermarkets.

And it also means the council are on the lookout for more people to volunteer and help out.

Cllr Ready and Aspull ward councillor colleague Ron Conway this week joined library co-ordinator Kim Collins at Aspull Library to find out about how people can get involved.

Cllr Ready says: “People feel rightly passionate about their libraries so we have worked very hard and listened very closely to what library users had to say. Now we have innovative plans to ensure they stay accessible to everyone.”

Under changes planned, the two town centre libraries will operate the longest opening hours and the broadest range of products and services. They will open between 50 and 55 hours per week. In the smaller town centres, libraries will offer a broad range of book stock, information and activities. Many of these will be co-located with or host other services. They will open 35 to 40 hours per week. In urban areas, a ‘Libraries Express’ service will deliver core services such as books and computers. These will be self service and delivered in partnership with other public or community services. They will open for a minimum of 18 hours per week.

Cllr Conway adds: “We need to reach out to more people. If you can spare some time and get involved, Aspull Library would really welcome your support.”

There’s No Business Like It

There’s No Business Like It

He’s one of the most recognisable faces in Wigan today – but Cllr Chris Ready has met someone who was one of the most well-known of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Today, few may remember tuning in to “Oh Boy” or “Six Five Special”, but as the leading entertainment shows of the age, stars like Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard were regularly joined by The Vernons Girls. Formed from employees at Liverpool’s football coupon firm, the Vernons Girls’ singing and dancing was a major part of the big music shows of the day. The ladies also make records, appeared at Royal Variety Performances and on stages right across the UK.

“It’s my brief to support culture and leisure in the borough,” says Chris, “and it’s always a privilege to meet those who have worked hard to provide entertainment for others and form a little part of our cultural memories.”

Margaret Cleary, now Margaret Boden, was one of those girls. She remembers queuing with Nat King Cole for a cuppa, going to Marty Wilde’s wedding and doing summer season with Ruby Murray.

“We got to meet all the stars,” she recalls. “A sing-along with Des O’Connor in his hotel room and meeting Sammy Davis Jr at the Royal Command Performance. Innocent days with the public’s idols – but they were down-to-earth people who were great to work with.”

Margaret toured the country – making several trips to the north west – with the Vernons Girls - before moving on to work in John Lewis in Liverpool. She kept in with her dancing, but assumed that the showbiz days were over.

And then Cliff Richard rang. “He asked me if I could join one of his retrospective shows,” Margaret says. “Some of the original Vernons Girls were to do Wembley with him to showcase his 50s era music – and he was lovely. Our first day of rehearsal was as if we’d never been away – although the size of the show was much, much bigger than those old days on stage.”

Margaret loved working with Cliff’s regular musicians, The Shadows.

Chris adds: “Next year, we’re being joined by Hank Marvin of the Shadows at the Wigan Jazz Festival, and that festival continues to attract other big names as well. It’s a pleasure to meet with someone who was a part of showbiz at such an amazing

keep fit

HUNDREDS of Wiganers have taken a tour round the new Life Centre.


It has only been open a few days, but more than 3,000 people have already visited the new south site of the Wigan Life Centre.

Hundreds have signed up for the new Profiles Health and Fitness Centre and swimming lessons have been booking up fast.

Among the new intake for the gym are some of the borough’s leading politicians.

Cabinet members, councillors Chris Ready, Sue Loudon and Ged Bretherton were put through their paces this week as part of their induction.

Coun Ready, Cabinet member for Leisure, said: “These state-of-the-art facilities are amazing. You couldn’t ask for more.”

For information on the Life Centre visit www.wigan.gov.uk. For information about the new pool and fitness centre visit www.wlct.org/activelife or call 01942 489611.