April 2006

HISTORIC Painthorpe House and Country Club closed its doors for good. The last ever event – a Tony Sykes Sound Party, was held at the mansion on Saturday, April 29. In May, the entire contents of the house in Crigglestone, were auctioned off. Staff and club members said they were sorry to see the venue close, but that memories would keep it alive. Mollie Gilchrist worked at Painthorpe on and off for almost 40 years, and was its last manager. The 64-year-old said: “It is a great shame the club is closing but nothing lasts forever and we have to move on. “Painthorpe was quite unique in that it was a family-run business and the staff are like family too. That has made it different from other venues – giving it a bit of an edge and making it that little bit more special.”

A WAKEFIELD poltergeist may have been left in limbo after the pub he haunted was demolished to make way for 19 new flats – but he did not go without a fight. Workmen clearing out the Grove Inn pub, on Grove Road, for demolition claimed they were given the run-around by the ghost, who kept moving tools and spooking them out. The pub was the subject of many stories about a poltergeist named Fred, who apparently once said that he would never leave his favourite watering hole – and according to some, he never did. John Senior, 47, a foreman for James Gill Leeds Ltd, led the clear-out and demolition of the pub and claims he was hampered by the cheeky ghoul. He said: “We heard voices and had stuff go missing. My hair stood on end, it was really weird. On one occasion, I heard voices and when I looked over to my left, I saw a dark shadow, which then evaporated into thin air. I shot out of there.”

A HEROIC dog who was stabbed twice while trying to catch an armed criminal was honoured with the animal version of the George Cross. The courage of Blue was recognised when he was awarded the PDSA’s gold medal a year after the double-stabbing which happened on playing fields close to Wagon Lane, Upton. Dog handler PC Dave Proctor and Blue were called to the incident to help catch a violent suspect wanted for theft. Shortly after arriving at the scene, Blue was let off his leash to track down the armed criminal and locked his jaws on to the man’s arm. PC Proctor received a radio message from colleagues in the police helicopter monitoring the situation from the sky. The police officer said: “I lost sight of the dog, then I heard Blue scream and realised he had been stabbed. I just thought the worst.” But with blood still pouring from a deep wound to his shoulder, Blue went after his attacker – only to be stabbed again. He kept guard of the hideout the knifeman was in until back-up arrived and the arrest was made. Blue is one of only six dogs ever to receive the gold medal. He was back on duty within around 10 days.