On behalf of 'The Crooke Village Residents Association', may I take this oppertunity to wish you all, A Happy New Year and that health, happy families and good fortune are in your favour.

Recently, there has been an unwelcome visitor in the neighbourhood and it is advised that if you have any livestock, you take extra care to protect them from this preditor. A couple of neighbours have lost their chickens because of it. Althpough this picture was taken from some distance, it is a rather large example of its kind. As it happens, one evening about a week ago, I saw a Fox in MY garden! It quite calmly walked aroung the garden before climbing through my fence to next door and it could have been the same one, so be on your guard.

At our last meeting of the Crooke Village Residents Association, we were favoured by a visit from the Wigan Evening Post's Photographer who took a picture of the proud members of the village displaying the awards recently won.

The Christmas Fair was well attended yet again with plenty of people eager to spend their money on all that was on sale. Santa too was very busy keeping up with the demand to see him. The refreshments were excellent as usual with plenty of company to chat with.
So far, the proceeds have amounted to £1,027.00 with more to come.

The Christmas Tree is once again in situ and it looks a little bigger and better than it did last year.

This years Christmas Card packs are now availabe and on sale from either myself or other association members. There are now no packs available from last year as they have all been sold. Here are the pictures of the cards for this year.

Make a note of the last picture because those trees, next year, will not be there.

The quiz night went down very well as usual and was supported well, both in attendance and by a wonderful buffet. A proportion of those thanks should be given to Dorothy Henry for her fantastic baking and to Joan Byrne for making the sandwiches. Jan and I went along as we did last year and had a great evening. Unfortunately, our team came last as we are numties at these events although it did have its perk. As we DID come last, my team managed to win, the booby prize! We won a mug apiece and a Chocolate 'Options' drink. The winning team was the 'Has Beans' but I cannot remember who came second. Anyway, a good night was had by all.

The new fence around the green in front of the chapel is now complete. The men did the job on the 20th of August. It is made from recovered plastic materials and moulded in the fashion of timber pieces giving us the finished product. As well as the fitting of some fascia timber along the floor line of the fencing that had already been built, completes the job. It makes a vast improvement.

The third Wigan Vets charity cycle ride took place on Saturday the 6th of August and there were 55 registered riders for the ride. We started off at Heaton's Bridge and finished up at Sam's Bar in Wigan where the majority stayed to watch Wigan beat St. Helens at Warrington. Another good day was had by all with old friendships rekindled.

The Kittywake is no stranger to Crooke as many people hire the barge for their personal pleasure, sometimes to pass through on their way to Dean Lock or further and then return to Wigan. Some times the revellers come here to Crooke to enjoy a pint in the Crooke Hall Inn or to stop for other reasons. On Sunday, the 24th of July, The Kittywake came to Crooke with a party of people to celebrate a girl friends birthday. The young lady in question who's name I cannot remember, did not seem to be the happiest of people but her friends were lighting and setting off Chinese Lanterns which rose into the evening air. They were a little drink so not all the lanterns flew, some cought fire before becoming air borne, so here are a few pictures of that party. My apologies to the birthday girl for forgetting your name. The thing that I can remember was that she lives in Southport.

On Monday, the 1st of August, the Kittywake was here once again. This time for a very special occasion. Children from Chernobyl were brought here to collect monies raised at the Beer Festival on their behalf. They came and had a buffet lunch in The Crooke Hall Inn and they were all given gifts. The buys were given fishing rods but alas I know not what the girls were given. They arrived at about 12.15pm and stayed until about 15.30pm

A press photographer was there to catch the occasion and this picture was posted in the Wigan Evening Post on August 4th. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay longer than I did.

The pub ran another charity event for Steven Darbyshire which was sponcered by the armed forces. By all accounts it was going to be another fun day for all who attend but unfortunately, the weather was not very friendly and the event was not very well supported. Thanks are extended to all those who supported the event.

Courtesy to Jim Haynes, he managed to catch a visiting Deer on his camera as well as a hiding Bat. The Bat was inside his garden parasol and only came to light when he opened it. He has kindly forwarded them on to me so that I can show you.

Thanks to John O'Neill for producing it and members of the Crooke Village Residents Association, the Crooke Village Interpretation board has now been erected for all to see. It gives a good account of the village from its beginning to the present day.

Thanks also should be given to members of the Association and residents for taking time out to tidy up the local surroundings by strimming grass, widening overgrown pathways etcetera with a view to preparing the village for a visit by members who will be judging the villages appearance as we are entered into 'The North West In Bloom' competition.

This next picture shows how it looked before the edging was tidied up and the next three show completion and work in progress.

Here are several pictures of Crooke Beef Festival which took place on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July.

Also at the Beer Festival was a visiting Barge named 'Kennet'. Kennet is owned by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society and has a permanent mooring at Greenberfield Top Lock, in Lancashire close to the border with Yorkshire and is on the National Register of Historic Vessels. On board, it was laid out like a museum with items used in the past with two berths in the bow to show how those kind of folk lived in them. The boat is a river class, cargo carrying Leeds & Liverpool Canal Short Boat which was built for Canal Transport Limited in 1947 by Yarwoods of Northwich not unlike 'Viktoria' and 'Ambush' which are berthed here in Crooke.

Unfortunately, I was away on the Saturday taking part in the second of three Charity Cycle Rides organised by The Wigan Vets on behalf of 'Pressy', connected to the Steve Prescot Foundation. It ran from Top Lock at Wheelton to Sam's Bar in Wigan, a total of 15 miles with several stops along the way. That event raised a total so far of £1,100.00. There is more yet still to be counted.

On Saturday the 2nd, the Crooke Village Chapel also ran their Summer Fair which was another success. Members from the Chapel worked together with members running the Beer Festival to help manage the car parking and traffic in the village.

This year, because the police were short handed, Shevington and Crooke Walking Day was changed to an open air church service which took place on Sunday the 26th of June at the entrance to Coronation Road. The service began at 10:45am and lasted for about half an hour. Reverend John Hilton was one of the clergy in attendance. After the service, the congregation was invited to walk into Crooke Village to enjoy a picnic on the grass. Because the weather was very nice that day, many did. The service was accompanied by the Lostock Memorial Brass Band who were in good form.

As a result of some high spirited youths some time ago, who came into our backs, stole our wheelie bin and tried to run off with it, for what reason I could never work out, we now lock the gate by the side of our property. Thanks to my better half’s good sense of hearing, she heard a commotion during the event, donned a dressing gown and chased the offenders and recovered the bin. I knew nothing of the event until she returned and climbed back into bed! Where is this leading you may well ask, well, now I will tell you. This morning, the 15th June as it is done every morning, the gate is unlocked to allow deliveries and callers can enter without having to climb over the gate.

As I was opening the padlock, no more than 20 feet away in front of me, I was surprised to see a Deer walk past on the grass from the Shevington end and it made its way toward The Crooke Hall Inn. I watched it until it reached the foot of the bridge and it seemed to make its way toward the waterfront at the back of the pub. I went back inside and told my beloved what I had seen and pointed in that direction. To our pleasure and surprise, it began to return the way it came which gave me the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of it. This is the first time I have seen a Deer in the village although I have seen one up in the fields some time ago. I thought you might like to see what my camera saw?

The ride took place on Saturday the 4th of June to raise money on behalf and in memory of Gerry Cooper. There were 55 registered cyclists who took part, me being one of them and we set off from Heaton's Bridge on the way to Southport and made our way via numerous watering holes to Sam's Bar in Wigan. On route, we stopped off at The Crooke Hall Inn for refreshments. The ride raised just over £2,000.00 and fun was had by all.

The un-adopted roads issue was first raised back in November and in January, Rev John Hilton took control of the situation and organised with the help of the residents and business nearby to contribute to the resurfacing of the un-adopted roads near the Chapel, the Nursery and next to the private houses. The C.V.R.A. looked at this job then and as you can see from the minutes, Rev J. Hilton took control.

It is now June and the job is now complete so I have posted pictures of the roads before and after. What a difference?

The day for the public started at 10:00 hrs and went on until 16:30 hrs and in all, there were something about 85 callers. We arranged a lot of pictures of days gone by and featured a slide show on a screne for all to see. Apart from the pictures, there were copies of the 1891 census and deeds relating to the breakup of the Crooke Hall Estate were also on show highlighting the lands in question on one of the Picture Boards. There was also a quiz that visitors could take part in challenging their powers of observation and some other local knowledge. By all accounts, the event was well received and enjoyed by all those who atended. Here are a few pictures to mark the occasion.

Well, the Bees came back again to 'The Crooke Hall Inn' after swarming in the trees nearby, so an expert was called in to deal with them. It took him a while but it seems to have done the trick. No more Bees, or is it? I remember they came back last year so maybe they might next year. We'll just have to wait and see? He encouraged them up to move into the box hive he brought with him as a means of moving them.

At last, the new Notice Board has now been erected and it's looks good. At least all the notices will now stay dry.

The Crooke Hall Inn now has a new Barrier across the entrance to the pub car park. Just thought it worth a mention.

I don't know if you noticed these as there were a couple of them, but in the middle of April, I spotted these and went to investigate. At first, I could not work out what they were until I came across the second one when all my questions were answered. They were there to catch the rain water so the air quality could be tested. Take a look?

The Crooke Cruising Club organised a talk by Sue Day of the Horse Drawn Boat Society. It took place in the Marina Meeting Room on Friday 4th. March at 8pm. Admission was free but any donations that were made were welcomed. Some will remember Sue from 4 years ago when she stayed in Crooke both on her way to and on her way back from Liverpool with a horse drawn boat. She told us about the challenges that prevent easy passage like lamp posts, gates and cycle barriers, low bridges with narrow and dark walkways along with various obsticles that make life more interesting and difficult. Bearing in mind that at one time, all barges were drawn by horses and to know that there are only 4 horse drawn barges left in the country is astonishing. Having said all that, it was still a very interesting evening supported by pictures and many stories.

Although I do not have nor did I take a picture of Sue Day, I do, however, have a picture of her boat and one of her horses from when she last visited the village way back on the 1st of July in 2007.

There is one sport that goes on all over the world and is reputed to be the most popular sport there is and that is 'Fishing'. Crooke, because of its location and access to water via the canal, it is an ideal spot where fishermen can practice their skills. Fishing matches take place here on a regular basis and average about 8 meetings a year. These pictures featured below are a couple of years old now and I am posting them because it is an event that takes place here that I have not mentioned before. My apologies for the delay.

Although this topic below is not one undertaken as a community event, it is something that nature controls, the weather. The day after some of the village residents set to to do another litter pick on a wet and dismal day, over night, the weather was very bad and we awoke to find the River Douglas overflowing its banks and the canal emptying its excess of water into the Duggy at some speed. Where we had been walking in the woods along the canal the previous day, was now submerged in water. I have seen the road way into the village flood near the marina before but I have never seen the river so full to bursting as I did that morning. Here are a few pictures of that event I took on that morning.