PUPILS in the Ribble Valley are being invited to brag about their careers.

Last October saw the launch of the Ribble Valley School’s Partnership, which included Bowland High, Ribblesdale High School Technology College, St Augustine’s RC High and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School joining forces to organise the “BRAG About Your Career” event. This proved to be a resounding success for Year 11 pupils.

To coincide with the options process and the notion that it is important for Year 10 pupils to start to plan their futures, especially in the current tough economic climate, the four schools have decided to hold a further evening for all Years 9 and 10 pupils.

Parents and pupils are invited to attend the BRAG Event on Monday, March 5th at The Grand, Clitheroe, from 4 to 7 p.m. 

The fundamental objective of the event is to help Year 9 pupils obtain information and guidance with regards to their GCSE choices and for Year 10 pupils to gain impartial careers information to enable them to make well-informed and realistic decisions about their futures beyond school, whether in further education or employment.

This event will provide an opportunity for parents and pupils to find out information regarding courses, subject choices, entry requirements and employment opportunities from sixth forms, colleges and local training providers enabling them to achieve their individual career aspirations. 

If you would like further information regarding this event please contact Julia Billington at Ribblesdale High on 01200 422563.

IT’S all part of my morning routine.

Let the dog out, scare away the heron and then put the kettle on. But while Monty and our resident heron never disappoint, the all important first-brew-of-the-day has been much less easy to rely on, as recently tea bags have been conspicuous by their absence.

As previously related, Wifey has pressed hard in recent years for us to redecorate the house and, after only 22 years, I finally caved in. New curtains and carpets were booked and we agreed to get someone in to help with the decorating and fettle those little jobs around the house that accumulate as the years pass by.

In fairness, things have gone very well but I should have been just that bit suspicious of what I presumed was our decorator’s beer belly. Now in the illustrious circles I socialise in such a physical attribute is considered something of a badge of honour. Unfortunately, I am no Sherlock Holmes, and I failed to question the evidence clearly available to me, and so my diagnosis was wrong.

Everyday the job progressed well. Our decorator arrived on time and, without delay, launched himself into the travails of the day. Barely stopping to take the odd break, he applied himself to his tasks with commitment diligence and professionalism. We were impressed.

But then I noticed something. The kettle never seemed to cool. We seemed to get through gallons of milk and, most significantly, the tea bags seemed to evaporate. Such energetic application to his work had to be fuelled by a constant supply of tea and custard creams. At one point the power had to be turned off, and you could see the naked fear in his eyes that brews might not be forthcoming. I had to counsel him with the reassurance we could always boil a kettle on the stove and his panic subsided. The work continued apace.

It was at that point I realised he was a disappointment. I could not fault his professionalism or his commitment to the task in hand. Indeed it was not unpleasant having him around, but there was a deep character flaw that dismayed me. This was not a man to invite on our cycle tours. That was no beer belly. It was tea bloat.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for me, and so the diet continues. After an impressive start losing a stone, I have been unable to shed any more weight. I need to get back out on my bike but the frozen ground twice thwarted my plans. The freeze, and the fact I no longer bounce like I once did, meant that cycling on the canal bank was just too hazardous. Instead Wifey and I pulled on our boots to go walking instead. Even this was not easy. Rain had fallen on frozen ground leaving everything covered in what climbers sometimes call ‘verglas’, a thin coating of ice (as on rock). We plodded along for a few miles but packed it in as we realised we had taken in no views whatsoever, so careful were we to avoid a fall onto that iron-hard surface.

In truth the cold snap had been a blessing. Everything has been held back by the cold temperatures allowing us to concentrate on the house before the beginning of the garden season. Mind you, the thaw this week has been rapid and after just a few days of more moderate weather the odd crocus has joined the snowdrops in flower. The daffs once more will start to grow at speed and life will soon return to the countryside and our gardens, and with it I will start to be busy at work.

We re-open at Reedley on March 1st and I can see March being a busy month for us. I’m quite excited about it really. I tend to get all fired up and often skip meals relying instead on that mark of the true professional, a constant supply of brews to keep me going as we set things out. My only concern? After all this decorating, will there be any teabags left?

A RIBBLE Valley businessman who pursued his dream of offering top quality at highly competetive prices has seen his company recognised again.

Roger Astin, who lives with his family at Dunsop Bridge, founded the Kitchen Design Centre 26 years ago on the belief that there was a niche in the market for a company which could offer a complete package to its customers and the most sophisticated products at mid-market prices.

Originally the Kitchen Trade Centre, the company changed direction in 1992 to become primarily a retailer, with business-to-business sales taking a secondary role. Its Blackburn showroom opened in 1993, with Colne and Manchester showrooms following as the company grew.

Right from the stars Roger’s commitment to quality at every level began to earn his company an enviable reputation within the industry. Now the latest confirmation of that has come from built-in appliance brand leader Neff, which has just appointed Kitchen Design Centre (KDC) of Colne as a 5-star dealer in its new three-tiered structure for its MasterPartner® kitchen specialist retailers in the UK.

Since the start of 2012, all Neff MasterPartner® dealers have been graded into one of three new levels. As a 5-star Neff MasterPartner dealer, KDC is now entitled to use the exclusive 5-star logo in its showroom and on its website to reflect its new status with the Neff brand. It denotes expertise at the very highest level and provides consumers with added confidence at point of sale.

Neff Sales Director Mike Jarrett explained: “By introducing a new top 5-star status, we can define a more tangible measurement for consumers and give more recognition to MasterPartner dealers like Kitchen Design Centre whose dedication and loyalty to the Neff brand goes the extra mile.”

When he first started the business Roger had just married and lived in West Bradford. As his family expanded, he found himself moving to Waddington, then Cowark and eventually to Dunsop Bridge.

“This area is very special to me,” said Roger. “It holds many attractions, and my wife and family have been very happy here. Being surrounded by beautiful places and peaceful countryside is just what we enjoy together when I’m not working and the business is still extremely busy despite the recession.

“So it’s onto the next stage really and we’re getting excited already about planning a fourth branch later in the year.”