From the archive - £900,000 to build new A&E for south Warwickshire
20th May 1999
WARWICK Hospital will launch a £900,000 appeal in a bid to raise cash to modernise its aging accident and emergency unit.
South Warwickshire General Hospital Trust hopes to install a £1.7 million unit at the Lakin Road site to help cope with south Warwickshire’s growing population.
The current A&E department was built 29 years ago to cater for 20,000 patients a year from Stratford, Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth worth areas. But last year alone the unit treated 42,000 people and in 1999 it was estimated that this number would grow by around 5,000 patients, stretching resources.
The fundraising must run to a tight schedule. Hospital bosses hope to have raised the cash within 15 months and would like to see the new A&E unit, which could cope with over 50,000 people a year, up and running by the end of 2000.
WHEN Manchester United run onto Wembley's pitch to play the FA Cup final against Newcastle United on Saturday they will be led by 15-year-old Stratford High pupil, Michelle O'Niell.
Man U fan Michelle won the chance to be a ball girl for her favourite team in a competition organised by BBC TV’s children’s programme, Fully Booked. A shell-shocked Michelle said yesterday (Wednesday) that she was very excited at the prospect of going to Wembley and of meeting her favourite player, David Beckham.
22nd May 1964
HOLIDAY congestion of river craft going in all directions and at all angles on the Stratford stretch of the Avon was comparable with the roads chaos.
There was little or no regard and one riverside resident was reminded of the “dodgems” as he looked out over the sunny Avon at boats trying to avoid collision every few minutes.
He wonders what it will be like when the Queen Mother has reopened the canal in July. Boatmen report excellent trade over the holiday and admit that river traffic is chaotic—there is only one sign in the centre of Clopton Bridge warning steerers to keep right—and for all the notice taken of it, it might just as well be there.
23rd May 1924
The new Picture House, which it is anticipated will be opened on Monday, 2nd June, is undoubtedly one of the finest in the country towns of the Midlands.
No money has been spared to insure the comfort and convenience of its patrons. The original structure has, to a great extent, been rebuilt and enlarged. The capacity has been increased by some 350 extra seats, and the total accommodation will be just over 800.
The seating has been rearranged on up-to-date lines, and a fine balcony has been erected.
The main structure has been lengthened, giving a far better view of the stage, and the entire internal arrangements have been re-constructed and re-decorated.
In addition to an up-to-date stage, complete with dressing rooms, suitable for every sort of entertainment, a separate enlargement at the back has been erected in order to accommodate the cinema apparatus, which is the latest form of back projection.
