Sign our campaign for a grant funding review 30% of the proposed homes would be affordable The housebuilder has asked Cheshire East Council for permission to develop three parcels of land north of Davenham totalling 47 acres and Parcel D consists of more than 19 acres of agricultural land The scheme would also include a nine-acre park and a children’s play area in Parcel D Around 20 acres of green space would be provided including a linear park lining the south of the site The housing mix has not yet been finalised but no properties would exceed 2.5 storeys Those providing expertise on the project include Tyler Grange Group use the reference number 25/0211/OUT in Cheshire East Council’s planning portal Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" don’t they know where they are building Beluga Group is seeking to overturn Cheshire West and Chester Council‘s decision to reject plans for a residential scheme at a disused farm on the strength of objections from Jodrell Bank which claimed it would impact its ability to study space but how will it impact regeneration and development in the area Find out at Place North West’s half-day conference in June Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Blues visit Sandbach United on Monday night in the Second Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup The Blues were originally drawn at home to Sandbach but the fixture has been reversed for operational reasons Kick off is 7.45pm at the Sandbach Community Football Centre £4 Concession and £1 for U16’s/ There is plenty of free car parking on site as well as a licenced inside and outside bar as Cam Mason gained minutes in goal with the remainder of the team being made up of U19’s as the Seals defeated Alsager Town on penalties Another young side is expected for this fixture with the First Team at Leamington the night after Sandbach also ply their trade in the North West Counties Division One South We will have half time and full time updates on our Official 𝕏 page are a community benefit society operating under the name of Chester Football Club and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority The club is fan owned and does not have any major shareholders New changes at car parks in Cheshire East will go live from Monday 2 December Motorists are encouraged to take note of the following changes to Cheshire East Council car parks as of this date: the council’s residents off-street parking permit scheme has been extended to cover more areas The scheme allows residents that don’t have access to off-street parking to apply for a 12-month permit for specific car parks Residents who rely on parking in a council car park can check if they are eligible for a permit chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee said: “While we recognise these new parking arrangements have caused some concerns they are necessary to ensure all our towns are treated in a fair and equal way and to reduce some of the financial burden facing the council and enforcement for all our car parks is considerable pays in the region of £900,000 a year in business rates for its car parks but 70 per cent of this is retained by central government it is only fair that each parking site contributes to these expenses.  “These changes to parking will also provide financial support to other council services such as highways maintenance and bus routes They also complement the council-wide transformation of how we deliver all our services as we work to reduce spending by £100m over the next four years.”  Cllr Goldsmith added: “Once the changes have come into effect we will continue to monitor the situation closely across the borough so that interventions can be made where necessary “The extended consultation process carried out last year identified some residents that are without a driveway and also live on roads that have extensive parking restrictions These residents have instead been using nearby free council car parks to park their vehicles we have reviewed and extended our off-street parking permit scheme so that it applies to many more residential areas across the borough I encourage those now eligible to find out more and consider applying.” The council’s ‘free after 3pm’ initiative is still in place and has been extended to specific car parks in towns where charges are now being introduced.  Free parking will also remain at a number of smaller car parks in the borough where it is not value for money to introduce pay and display.   charges for some car parks will not start until 9am during the week to allow these to be used at school drop off.  The permit scheme for residents (two permits are available per property and cost £80 for the first permit and £95 for the second permit) currently covers certain addresses in Knutsford Macclesfield and Nantwich and is being extended to cover certain addresses in Sandbach More information about the scheme and how to apply. The council recognises the potential of cars being displaced from car parks onto residential streets because of new charges being introduced a set of potential mitigation measures has been prioritised which take into account feedback given through the public consultation held last year.  Any mitigation measures will be subject to further consultation with residents and councillors before they are introduced and could include parking zones or bays for residents or introducing single or double yellow lines.  The following car parks are ‘free after 3pm’: Car parks that will still accept cash payments: Cheshire East Council is committed to equality and diversity © Cheshire East Council Chester FC will visit Sandbach United in the Second Round of the Cheshire Senior Cup on Monday 18th November Kick off is scheduled for 7.45pm at the Sandbach Community Football Centre The site has had planning permission since 2017 Muller Property Group has reached a deal with the North Wales-based developer for the sale of a 20-acre plot of land south of the Cheshire town Anwyl Homes has lodged a fresh planning application for the Sandbach scheme Improvements to local infrastructure are also proposed including a new arm to the roundabout adjoining Old Mill Road and the A534 land director for Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales said: “Our high-quality designs will bring much-needed new homes to Sandbach to meet strong demand “This is both a sustainable and desirable location for new homes within walking distance of Sandbach town centre.” He added: “As part of the planning application we are proposing to improve a roundabout layout to help alleviate traffic congestion on a busy route Turley is advising on planning and APD is leading on design Muller Property Group secured outline permission for the redevelopment of the site in 2017 owner and founder of Muller Property Group said: “Muller Property Group achieved yet another excellent planning consent and to have Anwyl as our development partner is a significant step forward in addressing the local housing demand in Cheshire East “Working with the Anwyl team has been a further positive experience in our continued relationship.” Cannot understand how this was ever passed We do not have the infrastructure in place for more houses where are the children going to go to school getting a doctor’s appointment is really difficult finding a dentist is like pulling hen’s teeth and the traffic congestion is a complete nightmare I don’t suppose there is anything we can do about this project now but please will the Council listen to the residents of our town next time another application arrives from a developer and ensure that the infrastructure is in place before the houses maybe you live in a different Sandbach to me as I’ve never had an issue with getting a dentist or doctors appointment (any more so that other places in the UK) and the local schools here still have capacity to admit students there are a good number of students who currently travel in from surrounding towns such as Crewe & Congleton All that will happen is that preference will be given to those within the catchment in future no problem with dentist or the excellent health centre – political nonsense from NIMBYS the traffic is an absolute nightmare in Sandbach Hgv lorries driving right through it and no infastructure Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); has announced the sale of Holly Grange Montessori Nursery in Sandbach Built around You.Your expert business property advisers Sofia BeckDirector - Childcare & Education Holly Grange is a highly successful and unique children’s day nursery of exceptional quality which has a maximum operating capacity for up to 70 children The nursery is situated in the heart of Sandbach Cheshire East attracting custom locally and from commuting parents in surrounding villages Holly Grange follows each child’s individual learning style at their own pace with the overall aim for the children to leave to go to school ready for their next stage of learning The nursery was acquired via Christie & Co by Trudie Walker in 2020 at which time it was a struggling day nursery with low occupancy Holly Grange Montessori Sandbach was established and very quickly became the go-to day nursery in the area Trudie has worked hard with her team to implement her successful Montessori model which her current and previous settings also encompass Following a sales process with Sofia Beck at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Kids Planet Day Nurseries which now has over 200 day nursery settings across the UK “I am delighted to welcome Holly Grange Montessori Nursery into the Kids Planet family The nursery comes with an excellent team that acts as role models to the children and creates inspiring environments that closely align with our approach We are continuing to grow our network of award-winning nurseries but our core values remain consistent with high-quality early years education at the heart of everything we do I look forward to the exciting future ahead at Kids Planet with our fantastic team.” Associate Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co “This really was what you would call a ‘unique’ opportunity given how quickly and seamlessly Trudie was able to turn the nursery around not to mention doing so in the midst of the pandemic When I initially marketed this setting in 2020 it struggled to generate interest from buyers as the business was in a declining state and very few could see its potential Trudie certainly has an eye for potential and she could see how her vision would be a great fit for the nursery and no doubt that her high-quality childcare and education would attract local parents It’s rare to see such a transformation in increased occupancy levels and take up from new parents in such a short space of time It’s very impressive but not at all surprising by what Trudie has created in Holly Grange Sandbach Kids Planet is very pleased to welcome the nursery into their portfolio and hope to nurture what magic Trudie has developed.” Holly Grange Montessori Nursery was sold for an undisclosed price Visit Christie & Co’s Business Search page to find out more about current listings. Keep up-to-date with our latest listings and more… © Christie & Co 2024 | A member of Christie Group This performance by Rob Cope’s ‘Gemini’ was the second half of the opening concert of the 15th series of concerts in Sandbach Originally setup in 2010 by local musicians Andy and Lauren Scott the momentum for the series has really grown and an impressively large team of volunteers and trustees is now in place to make it all happen One of the special features of each concert is that it starts quite early – at 7PM – and each concert starts with a spotlight concert by young local musicians either performing solo or in small groups The second part of the concert featuring professional players then carries on at 8PM with the concert finishing around 9PM not too late for the younger players who performed earlier to stay and watch Lots of styles of music are featured in the concerts with at least one Jazz-related concert in the season The first half spotlight concert tonight featured several young pianists a drummer and then concluded with a performance by the Love Music Trust Senior Jazz Band led by Rob Cope and bassist Stan Scott playing a blues by Stanley Turrentine The second half of the concert featured Rob Cope’s band ‘Gemini’ a quartet with Rob playing soprano sax and bass clarinet Liam Noble on piano and Paul Clarvis on drums Rob referred to the fact that it had been a long term ambition to play with both Liam and Paul having been inspired by their album ‘Starry Starry Night’ from 2008 Liam has a very wide variety of Jazz styles at his disposal on piano from stride and swing through to Monk and more contemporary players Paul Clarvis plays with a minimum amount of drum kit and brings all kinds of influences into his playing from early Jazz drummers like Baby Dodds through to more modern players Both instinctively react to the soloist playing at the time The program mainly consisted of tunes from the album ‘Gemini’ released earlier this year on the Ubuntu label This follows on from Rob’s previous album from 2019 ‘Gods of Apollo’ The names Apollo and Gemini being the names of space missions by NASA in the 1960s and 70s Gemini also has an astrological connotation relating to twins and it’s no accident that the band has a duo of horn players as its front line with another duo in the rhythm section The first piece ‘Voices’ was a slow lyrical melody with a South African Township quality about it written as a way to introduce each member of the band ‘Together’ started with a fiendishly difficult written passage by the two saxophones where they start of playing closely together and then gradually diverge The piece then developed into an improvised section over a groove underpinned by Liam and Paul Apparently this was written by Rob to reflect the way in which the teacher influences the student to start with but then the student finds their own voice Andy Scott had been Rob’s teacher when he was studying at the RNCM ‘Up’ was another challenging piece influenced by a saxophone duo seen on YouTube and was reminiscent of some of Chick Corea’s Latin American based tunes ‘Across’ had a minimalist type structure to it where the tenor sax and bass clarinet lines weaved in and out of each other the piano joining in and then some improvisation taking place over the continuing figures Two pieces which reflected the Gemini theme of space were ‘The Dance’ and ‘Laika’ ‘The Dance’ is inspired by Gemini VI and VII which had the first crewed rendezvous in space 30cm apart ‘Laika’ was an upbeat blues dedicated to dogs but in particular Laika the first dog in space The final piece was ‘Mr Mustafa’ from the film ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ written by Alexandre Desplat Rob related the fact that when bringing the piece to the band he asked Paul if he could play like the drummer on the original recording It turns out that the original drummer on the recording was Paul Clarvis A nice evening of music firstly by the young local players and then by four top jazz musicians at the height of their powers playing difficult original music First half: Spotlight Concert : Charlotte Blake Niamh WilsonLove Music Trust Senior Jazz Band Second Half: Gemini: Rob Cope and Andy Scott (saxophones and bass clarinet) with Liam Noble and Paul Clarvis (piano and percussion) Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ac7aff7ab81fd5fb07caa37a313f9298" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please check your inbox (and also your spam or junk folder We kindly request to oblige by fair use rules when quoting or sharing our content All original content is copyrighted unless credited otherwise but does take on work as a paid publicist and/or sell advertising packages Where a piece published after 26th October 2012 appears which is linked to this activity the content will be clearly sign-posted with the PP symbol Receive our weekly email newsletter with Jazz updates from London and beyond If you’ve been on our list all along There will be a fifth arm added to the roundabout too access the site The developer’s latest proposal for land south of Old Mill Road features 84 homes recommended for approval by Cheshire East officers which has been subject to a number of differing proposals in recent years Although more than 100 objections have been lodged officers recommended that outline approval be given for 84 homes across two plots Access will come from a new spine road and remodelled five-arm roundabout off Old Mill Road this infrastructure having been approved and work started already Muller’s intended site amounts to around 7.9 acres east of the A534 and west of residential properties fronting Palmer Road The developer is working with architect Bower Mattin permission was refused for up to 160 homes with Muller appealing and winning in April 2024 Prior to that, an application for 57 homes, a filling station and convenience retail was refused in February 2020 This had followed an application for 85 homes and a care home Muller had submitted two applications that were variations on a theme a filling station and pod/drive-thru retail with a reworked version rejected later the same year Muller proposes a housing mix of seven one-bedroom homes 11 four-bedroom homes and two five-bedroom homes a mix of intermediate tenure and social rent Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board will consider the application at its meeting on Wednesday 24 July The Muller plans can be viewed on CEC’s planning portal with the reference 23/4600C Must be burning some cash with all these applications That roundabout and general area is already a nightmare at peak times dread to think what it’ll be like with this extra traffic Interesting geometry on that left turn out of the estate I would have to question how the development would impact on Carbon Dioxide levels The last time that this was completed in Elworth the levels were so high that the middle which road development should never have been built The government can be stopped if the development increases risk to health Here’s sandbach’s latest accident blackspot just waiting to happen Also going to turn the 1 hour it normally takes to get out of sandbach into 90 mins / 2 hours not including the extra approx 160 cars that it will add to the area!! I wonder how much impact this will have on the existing wastewater infrastructure and the three storm overflows in this area that have already polluted the brook/river by Member of Parliament (MP) for Congleton The MP for Congleton enjoyed a tour round the 66-bedded residential and residential dementia care home attractive décor and freely accessible gardens Residents and colleagues at the care home enjoyed meeting the MP for Congleton and spoke to her about what life is like at Elworth Grange Care Home – which is an integral part of the local Sandbach community said: “We were delighted to welcome MP Sarah Russell to our home chatting and discussing key issues they care about and what actions can be taken to overcome them.” stated: “Many thanks to Elworth Grange for inviting me along It was great to meet staff and residents of this care home which displays a real commitment to engaging with the local community as well as providing a good experience for residents.” The MP for Congleton also agreed to chair one of the care home’s gardening committee meetings this year with residents Elworth Grange is a lifestyle dementia care home rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission along with highlights of the latest sector news and more from The Carer delivered directly to your inbox twice a week The Carer is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised Never see this message again. A youthful Chester FC side were eliminated from the Cheshire Senior Cup last night at the hands of Sandbach United There was minutes for goalkeeper Cam Mason and senior players out on loan in Adam Bott and Ollie Heywood with the rest of the squad made up of our Under 19’s – and led by Academy Head Coach Mike Allcock The young Seals impressed with their play in the first 45 good work down the right from full-back Mikey Lawson saw his cutback smashed in off the post by Ryan Atkinson on 31 minutes the lead was doubled as Oskar Rosenblatt set off on a promising run before finding the bottom corner with his left footed effort from outside the area Nevertheless the experienced visitors hit back in the second half to turn the game around They pulled one back with 20 minutes to go following a quick counter attack from a Chester corner – Jake Pollard providing the finish it was all square with eight to play when Kieran Alley found space inside the box and finished despite the best efforts of defender Michael Jamieson The comeback was complete on 87 minutes as Joseph Bevan’s shot from outside the box found the same bottom corner that Rosenblatt did in the first half to see Sandbach advance another fantastic workout for our young Seals in a men’s football environment including second half substitute appearances for 16-year-old Dan Kennedy and 17-year-olds Georgie Kenny and Joe Ireland ———————————————————————————————————————————— A busy weekend of rugby and a Sale Sharks debut for Bach youth graduate Jos Gilmore – match report by Rhys Fullerton Northern Division – Regional 2 North West  Sandbach 1st XV travelled to Eccles on Saturday where they came away 31-41 winners in a huge game however the two clubs meet often at Colts level Newly promoted Eccles have only won once this season and sit third from bottom The hosts would have been desperate for a win to end their four-match losing run but Sandbach’s confidence was high after a positive start to their league campaign There was a welcomed return to the replacements bench for Sandbach’s Max Beadle who has recovered from an injury and Josh Brookes was back in the starting XV It was an end-to-end high scoring game with both teams moving the ball around Both Will Bowbeer and Jimmy Gore put in excellent performances and Sandbach secured the win with tries from Matt Randle director of rugby Andrew Bird gave his thoughts on the win: “It was scrappy and we didn’t play in the right areas “We have Vale of Lune at home next weekend and will be looking to get things right during the week in preparation for the big game.” Sandbach welcome fifth placed Vale of Lune to Bradwall Road Vale of Lune are on a three-game winning streak which the Bach will be looking to end with exciting fast paced rugby The 2nd XV narrowly missed out on the win against Eccles 2nd XV Jack Mullaney got the only try of the match and Oli Jones and Ant Dowell were joint players of the match The 3rd XV lost 52-7 to Prenton 1st XV and saw stand out performances from George Jones and Evan Edmunds The 4th XV ran out comfortable winners against Leek 3rd XV Aaron Ashton was the player of the match in the 28-7 victory Jos Gilmore surrounded by old team mates and coaches from Sandbach Rugby Club Sandbach Rugby youth graduate Jos Gilmore made his debut and scored the match winning try for Sale Sharks in their Premiership Cup clash with Doncaster Knights on Friday 1st November The former Sandbach flanker also played in the Shark’s 40-7 victory over Caldy on Friday night Jos had been with Sandbach since the Under 6s and recently moved to Kirkham Grammar School on a rugby scholarship He was signed up to Sale Shark’s 24/25 senior academy in the summer and has represented England at under 18 level All at Sandbach Rugby Club are incredibly proud of Jos and will be keenly watching his career as it progresses Next match: Sandbach 1st XV Vs Vale of Lune 1st XV — Saturday 16th November – kick-off 2.15pm After a hiatus of several years the original site of the first Oxford Wine Café is to be reborn as the Oxford Wine Tavern The new venue, opening 20 November, will bring the number of owner Ted Sandbach’s wine bars in the city to three with son George also owning Sandy’s Piano and Wine Bar in Oxford and son Will having opened Amie in London’s Eccleston Yard who is of course best known as the founder of the Oxford Wine Company explained to Harpers that despite shutting doors on the original Oxford Wine Café due to a 25% hike in rent “A couple of restaurants have come and gone… when the site became free again I thought ‘let’s give it a go’,” said Sandbach “There was still eight years on the lease I think this style of business is better suited than another restaurant.” He added that he was “delighted” to have reclaimed his original site adding that its location in the wealthy northern suburb of Summertown would fill a gap for a casual wine bar The Oxford Wine Tavern will serve simple food alongside a changing selection of both classic and more adventurous wines with the latter supplied solely by the Oxford Wine Company – as is the case with all Sandbach’s wine bars the Oxford Wine Company and Oxford Wine Cafés are run as separate companies Sandbach nonetheless bucks the current trend for combining on- and off-trade under the one roof as very few shops have the space to do this well,” he said which is difficult to find in central Oxford.”The Oxford Wine Company is celebrating 33 years in business this year and is a regular high achiever in Harpers annual 50 Best Indies listing.  AWL announces creation of new global win... WSTA executive board gains three new mem... Christopher Delalonde joins Perfect Cell... Diageo GB announces new marketing and in... Viña Pomal launches first sparkling Rioj... Bodegas Baigorri partners with Top Selec... You can now view the latest Harpers supplement with our digital edition... View the Top 100 2024 competition results here.. Vergelegen – continuity and change on the Schapenberg Talking innovation and opening doors with LWC Koshu brings flavour of Japan to London Reh Kendermann: Sales Manager UK The George public house has stood for more than 200 years where High Street bends around Market Square The three-storey building was grade II listed in 1978 It is described in the listing text as ‘c1810 with later alterations’ and a ‘late C19 inn front’ It was referred to in the local trade directory of 1822 as the ‘George Inn’ The ‘George Inn’ was mentioned the same year in the Law Advertiser The inn was later known as the George Hotel for many years and The text reads: The George public house has stood for more than 200 years where High Street bends around Market Square The premises were referred to in the local trade directory of 1822 as the ‘George Inn’ The George Inn was also mentioned the same year in the law advertiser (vol The well-known hostelry was one of the town’s original coaching inns The coaching trade reached its peak during the 1830s when Sandbach was an important stopping place on the roads from London and Birmingham to both Liverpool and Manchester Edwin Foden became an apprentice at the agricultural equipment manufacturing company Plant & Hancock and on the retirement of George Hancock in 1887 he renamed the company Foden Sons & Co The Foden name became synonymous with a reputation for quality engineering and played a key role in the evolution of commercial road transport both in the UK and around the world putting an end to 150 years of Foden truck manufacturing The text reads: Sandbach has hosted markets in the town since it was granted a Royal Charter in 1579 by Queen Elizabeth I The market has taken many forms over the years produce and crafts to celebration markets and today’s selection of traditional markets and specialist markets This provided the inspiration for the 3D shadow boxes displaying an eclectic mix of items sold at the market As an indication of the growing importance of elite athletes within the world of HYROX, Represent 247 has confirmed the signing of Elite 15 HYROX athlete Michael Sandbach to its athlete roster: TEAM 247 Represent 247 is the performance extension of British luxury streetwear brand Represent The latest signing by Represent 247 aims to build on the brand’s creation of functional and aesthetic products available for high performance the performance-oriented brand is aiming to bring together… ‘a group of world-class athletes who constitute the physical manifestation of the 247 brand.’ HYROX athlete Michael Sandbach joins other TEAM 247 athletes including CrossFit Games athlete Victor Hoffer Michael Sandbach is the UK’s top HYROX athlete, securing second spot at this year’s HYROX World Championships in Nice placing him at the pinnacle of indoor fitness racing He has been consistently performing at the highest level since his first race in 2021 and was the first British man to break the 60-minute mark in the HYROX Pro division Sandbach hails from Manchester where he and his family currently live and where Represent was established George Heaton said “Team 247 is the most exclusive athletic collective on earth We work with the best athletes who embody the mission of dedication and discipline “Michael Sandbach is a strong example of someone who belongs in the team who has come to his achievements through repetitive dedication and the will to push through and through “Watching his performance under adversity in the 2024 HYROX World Championships I knew we needed to have him on the team and to support him as he looks to go one better this year and claim gold in 2025.” said “I’m thrilled to announce that I am joining TEAM 247 “As an athlete working with a brand isn’t just about support it’s about a shared vision and belief in where you are going as a team hammering my craft to become the best athlete in the sport of HYROX and George and the team at Represent mirror that energy in their drive as a brand I’m excited to see what our shared passions will produce in the coming months.” www.uk.representclo.com “Sandbach’s thriving mini and junior rugby section celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.” – Rhys Fullerton writes for So Cheshire on behalf of Sandbach RUFC and more than 80 volunteers – as well as supporting families – turn up each week to represent and support Sandbach RUFC Some teams will be playing matches at home some away and some will be training – but wherever they’re playing the core rugby values are being taught through matches the club is planning a series of events throughout the season both the mini and juniors got together for a mixed touch rugby festival This provided the children with an opportunity to play with and against children from different age groups “Congratulations to all the mini and junior players “It would be my hope that when we get to 100 years there will be plenty of you around who can remember the 50-year celebration.” aims to keep 20 people involved in the club when each mini and junior age group reach the age of 20 The club also has one rugby shirt for all players meaning that if you are playing for the 1st XV or playing for the Under 6s who graduated to the senior team last season epitomises the club’s mission and the spirit of the game Lea can be seen coaching the mini and juniors refereeing matches or taking on the hardest task of all cajoling the smallest players at Didi Rugby Sandbach boast a large number of mini and junior graduates who still represent the club or have gone on to play their rugby further afield Sandbach’s senior teams included an astonishing 44 out of 56 players who were products of the mini and juniors programme with 17 of the players under 20 and two 1st XV debuts given to players who left the senior colts last summer “To reach this milestone is superb and to do so in the way we conduct ourselves as a club on and off the pitch is true credit to those who worked so very hard many years ago to establish the mini and juniors section “You only have to see our weekly team sheets to understand the importance that the mini and junior section has on the whole club The first ever mini and junior game took place in 1972 between Sandbach Colts and Broughton Park The mini and juniors officially started two years later and by 1978 an average of 80 boys were playing each week with six mini teams and two junior teams and the numbers have grown substantially – but it is down to the determination of those who started it and those who continued it that account for its success Club stalwart Pad Davenport shared his thoughts “From its infancy – when Tony Brookes Alan Cid Bell and Lionel Garrett proposed a mini rugby section at the club – I have seen it grow to become a model for other clubs with most weeks the senior teams fielding around 75% of home-grown players “It has proved to be a vital component of the past current and no doubt future success at senior level making a major point of difference between Sandbach RUFC and most teams we play “I am proud to have captained the Colts XV back in those inaugural years and subsequently gone on to captain and coach the club as well as several other administrative roles at Sandbach RUFC “Long may the mini and junior section continue to provide not just players but supporters and volunteers and give hundreds of young people the chance to enjoy our great game.” Paul Jackson observed: “Officially the mini and juniors section started 50 years ago but the whole club evolved as an old boys club from Sandbach School “It came from former school mates wanting to continue a sense of camaraderie team spirit and friendship that they had from their school days “In that sense you could say the min and juniors section existed before the rest of the club and ‘Bach for life’ was an unwritten foundation of the club we all have the privileged to enjoy today.” The club wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for its players but the players wouldn’t be able to turn up every week if it weren’t for the tremendous support and dedication of the volunteers who spend their free time teaching and promoting the game of rugby will continue to prosper whilst there are children wanting to play rugby and volunteers willing to make it happen the club has four senior men’s teams If you’re interested in playing rugby at any level Visit www.sandbachrufc.co.uk for more information “The Bach are raring to go as pre-season gets underway.” – Rhys Fullerton writes for So Cheshire on behalf of Sandbach RUFC Preparations for next season are well and truly underway as Sandbach Rugby’s senior players have begun pre-season training Sandbach will be playing in the Regional 2 North West league when the season begins in September their first campaign at level six for over a decade experience and new recruits are looking to represent Sandbach’s four teams Jimmy Gore has been announced as the new club captain for the 24/25 season who has been 1st XV captain for the past four seasons recently represented Cheshire in the Bill Beaumont County Final at Twickenham “Since joining Sandbach it’s honestly been like a home club to be club captain as well as 1st team captain is something I’ll be very proud of and cannot wait to start the season.” The club have also confirmed their coaching team for the new season head coach Tom Holmes (who also remains as a player) and senior coach Will Cargill will be joined by Laurie Essenhigh who makes the transition into a player coach role Also joining the team is former Sandbach player Lee Pickles after successful head coach roles at a variety of clubs returns to share his skills and experiences with the next generation of Bach senior players has had a successful spell as Cheshire U18s coach and last season won the 1st XV Players’ Player Award and Coach’s Player Award for his fantastic and entertaining rugby displays He was also selected for the North West Team of the Year which was voted for by the clubs in the league Bird said: “I’m delighted to have such a mix of experience and creativity within the senior coaching group all local lads who know exactly what the club is about Everyone is excited to build upon the reflections from the past 12 months “I’m confident we will check and challenge each other to gain the best out of sessions and ultimately develop the players within the whole club I’m also delighted that both Tom and Laurie will continue to contribute massively on the field.” Pre-season fixtures have been arranged and will see Sandbach join Stoke Rugby for a joint training session followed by games away at Ruthin and Broughton Park A final home warm up game against Bromsgrove will take place at Bradwall Road The club is also delighted to announce a social fixture between Sandbach’s social team and rugby’s leading mental health charity The charity’s mission is to place a mental health lead into every rugby club around the world and equip them with a toolkit of resources to help tackle the stigma of mental health The league fixtures have been released and Sandbach will kick-off their campaign at home against Burnage There will be plenty of big clashes next season as the Bach face local rivals Northwich An exciting trip for the players and supporters to the Isle of Man for a match against Douglas will take place in January and some eager supporters have already booked their flights Sandbach’s women and girls section has also recommenced training and has started the season with a bang Pre-season training has brought in new players to both teams and the coaching team – which includes Rei Crooks with a background of community coaching and inclusion with Sale Sharks who is head coach at the Stone Roses and chair of Staffordshire Women and Girls – have big plans for the Sandbach players Assistant coach Emma Gardner – an A&E nurse who has been with the women since their exciting return to the club last season – said: “There are big things in the pipeline for the women and girls this season with new faces each week exited to get stuck in “It’s been amazing to see the growth and development in all our players as each session goes by We can’t wait to showcase what we have learnt and what we can do New players are very welcome every Wednesday night with the U18s training at 6pm and the O18s at 7pm No experience is needed, just come along and join the fun. The team is also excited to have launched a dedicated TikTok channel. Follow them using @srufc.women.girls and send them a message if you want any further information. An empty slate, a blank canvas and a fresh start for Sandbach as an exciting season of rugby awaits and the whole club is raring to go. Live training with Stoke RUFC (away) 7pm onwards Sandbach Social Squad v Looseheadz (home) (Bradwall Road) Sandbach v Bromsgrove (home) (Bradwall Road) Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radiostaffordshirenewsWoman dies after crash between tractor and car in SandbachEmergency services rushed to the scene on the Haslington Bypass yesterday A woman has died after a collision involving her car and a tractor in Sandbach Emergency services were called to the A534 Haslington Bypass at around 11.45 yesterday morning with officers particularly wanting to view any dashcam footage of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said :“Enquiries in relation to this collision are ongoing and we’re committed to doing all we can to establish what took place “The A534 is an extremely busy road and as part of our investigation we are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what took place “The same goes for anyone with any dashcam footage which may aid our investigation.” First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Nationwide has committed to staying in Sandbach as the town becomes one of many across the UK impacted by unprecedented branch closures in recent years Despite Sandbach having a population of 18,000c Nationwide is now the last branch standing following the closure of NatWest in 2023 Britain’s biggest building society is reaffirming its commitment to communities by continuing to offer face-to-face service Nationwide's Branch Promise means everywhere it has a branch it will remain until at least 2026 It now has the biggest banking branch network in the UK3 As banks have shifted their focus away from physical branches in recent years Sandbach is not the only town where Nationwide is now the last branch on the high street Over 80 communities up and down the country have been left with just a Nationwide branch The Sandbach branch has been in town since 1969 – the same year as Neil Armstrong became the first person to land on the moon and a time when there were multiple bank branches Nationwide believes that a local banking presence is more than a financial service – it is a cornerstone of community relationships which is why they serve more than 8,500 customers across the town Nationwide’s research1 found that being able to speak to someone face-to-face (44%) was cited as the main reason why people who use branches value them with ATM usage up 46 per cent in the last 12 months Nationwide also recently launched its Safe Space initiative offering discreet support for anyone facing domestic abuse This initiative provides a suitable environment for anyone needing to make calls to third-party experts and helplines Sandbach branch colleagues have received specialised training to help support those experiencing abuse including helping them manage their finances providing access to a specialist support team and other resources.  Sandbach Branch Manager commented: “We understand that our customers are not just account holders - they‘re neighbours and integral members of the Sandbach community The decision to maintain our high street branch reflects our dedication to local communities We remain steadfast in continuing to provide a warm and welcoming environment where customers can receive personalised attention High streets need as much support as possible at this time and we look forward to welcoming more Sandbach residents to experience what face-to-face banking at their local branch means.” Nationwide has donated £121,500 to four local charities across Cheshire over the last two years through its Community Board2 1 Based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Censuswide of 2,037 UK consumers carried out by Nationwide in September 2022  Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.  3 CACI - Branch banking | Nationwide  Nationwide is the world's largest building society Nationwide is owned by its members and focuses on providing banking products and services to its customers including those based in its headquarters in Swindon and those working in its network of over 600 branches across the UK Nationwide is the UK's third largest mortgage provider and holds almost £1 in every £10 saved in the UK as well as one in ten of the UK's current accounts It also supports landlords and those who rely on the private rented sector for their long-term housing needs through its buy to let business Nationwide offers a comprehensive range of wider retail financial services and products and help it give value back to its customers through better product pricing than the market average and better service than its peers Nationwide's purpose is "Banking - but fairer The Nationwide Board believes that its mutual ownership model enables it to balance its need to retain sufficient profit to remain financially strong with its commitment to share its success with its customers and members A participant exploring digital archives using virtual reality goggles Dimitra Simeonidou hosting a workshop on digital archives BDFI recently hosted a two-day conference exploring the legacy history and archives of the Sandbach Tinne company a slave trading conglomerate that had far-reaching influence across the British Empire and connections to Bristol This conference brought together a group of researchers historians and archivists from universities museums and libraries from across the UK to present their findings The conference also set out to explore how these extensive and important archives could be brought to life for a much wider audience by using immersive technology.  Curated by Malik Al Nasir (University of Cambridge), who has traced his own ancestry to the Sandbach Tinne family the conference was made possible by a collaboration with the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research and Enterprise Academic Co-Director.      Day 1 of the conference was held at Bristol Museums M Shed and a broad range of speakers presented fascinating new insights into different aspects of Sandbach Tinne and evidence of their slave-trading operations and influential role at the heart of the British establishment Talks ranged from the families’ art collections to their estate purchases in Scotland and Carribean trading routes. Alice Kinghorn (University of Bristol, Department of History) presented research that revealed Sandbach Tinne’s long-standing connections to Bristol, including their business dealings with Joseph Beete of Clifton and the Bristol West India Association Prof. Philip Taylor and Prof. Evelyn Welch, Vice Chancellor and President of University of Bristol, hosted a conference dinner where a passionate and provocative keynote address was delivered by broadcaster and historian David Olusoga Day 2 of the conference was held at the home of BDFI on the University’s Temple Quarter campus and focused on how the Sandbach Tinne archives and research community could be developed further and the role that immersive technologies could play in this Simeonidou led a workshop on digital archives that looked at the connectivity challenges with immersive experiences The workshop explored how to enable connectivity across international archives and collaborations for example with US-based researchers who joined the sessions remotely Attendees were able to use VR headsets to experience a demonstration developed by University of Cambridge Library Services and University of Bristol Library of a virtual museum displaying Sandbach Tinne artefacts which they could virtually pick up and look at in detail Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at University of Bristol said: “We were delighted to help produce this conference which gave a fascinating insight into this important part of our history Malik’s research has exposed previously unseen archives and evidence showing the role that Sandbach Tinne played in transporting and trading enslaved people We’re pleased so many people could attend to hear the research first hand and discover how digital archives can help to share the research more widely and accessibly Thank you to everyone who was involved and helped to make the event such a success.” said: “Using immersive and interactive technologies to share historic archives is a really exciting way of offering access to important historic objects and documents to audiences I look forward to exploring how this can be developed further in the future.” More social media Student says he has been pressured to remove a reference to Antoinette Sandbach The former Tory MP Antoinette Sandbach has threatened the University of Cambridge with legal action after a historian named her as a descendant of merchants who enslaved his ancestors. Malik Al Nasir, a third-year PhD history student at St Catharine’s College, has spent the past 20 years exploring his family’s history of slavery and the wealth that was built from those who enslaved them. He discovered his ancestors were enslaved in plantations in the former colony of British Guiana (now known as Guyana) during the 18th and 19th centuries. Al Nasir claims a substantial amount of the wealth from plantation slavery was brought to Liverpool by Samuel Sandbach and his business partners – the same city Al Nasir grew up in. Al Nasir claims he has been pressed to remove a reference in his work to Antoinette Sandbach, a former MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, who is a descendant of Samuel Sandbach and beneficiary of his estate. Sandbach has said she supports and appreciates the importance of Al Nasir’s work but raised concerns that she was being singled out in an online Ted talk given by him. The Guardian understands Sandbach’s lawyers have threatened to sue the University of Cambridge over the Ted talk. “My cultural identity has been obscured by slavery and colonialism,” said Al Nasir. “Searching for my roots, I uncovered the connection to these people. “The fact that Antoinette Sandbach descends directly from Samuel Sandbach, one of the richest and most prolific slave merchants in Britain, in the 18th and 19th century, is a fact that emerged from the research.” He added: “The fact that I mention that as a footnote to a talk that I gave online does not constitute an attack on the individual. It’s merely a statement of historical facts and a matter of public record.” Al Nasir has yet to receive direct correspondence from Sandbach’s solicitors. The Guardian understands Sandbach first messaged Al Nasir on Twitter about his research and the two had a cordial exchange. Sandbach then emailed Al Nasir’s academic supervisor and asked that the reference of her be removed from his Ted talk, claiming there were inaccuracies and that she was being unfairly singled out for being an MP. Al Nasir said he responded to the allegations of factual inaccuracies directly to his supervisor, who was satisfied they were unfounded. Sandbach then made a complaint to the University of Cambridge, which had embedded the Ted talk video on its website, on the grounds it breached her right to privacy. The Guardian understands Sandbach complained the Ted talk claimed she lived in Wales, when she no longer lived there. She also said she had a right to be forgotten as she was no longer a public figure. After an investigation by the university’s information compliance office (ICO), Sandbach’s request to have her name removed was rejected on the grounds of academic freedom. Sandbach informed Al Nasir she was in the process of instructing solicitors. She added that she was also thinking of making a formal complaint to the ICO. As part of her correspondence, Sandbach noted her concern that Al Nasir’s research had ignored the legal position of British women in the 19th century. Read moreShe initially argued to Al Nasir and Cambridge’s data protection team that a wife was the chattel of her husband and that marital rape was not abolished until 1991 because a woman was considered the property of her husband Al Nasir told the Guardian he was “flabbergasted” by the argument “I am a historian of 18th- and 19th-century slavery Sandbach did not respond to repeated requests for comment But in a statement later released on Twitter Sandbach said she was supportive of Al Nasir’s research and “appalled” by the actions of her ancestors She added that she was not seeking to prevent free speech nor was she suppressing academic research but objected to what she described as “ongoing data breaches” by Cambridge University and Nasir She said she believed these breaches risked compromising her personal safety She added that though she had not been subject to racism women’s oppression was the “closest prism” through which she could understand it writing that “many of the racist tropes of the past were also used to suppress women’s rights” A spokesperson for St Catharine’s College said: “St Catharine’s is absolutely committed to upholding freedom of speech and ensuring all of our students are able to freely pursue their scholarly interests by providing access to academic pastoral and – where possible – financial support throughout their studies.” A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said: “This is an ongoing legal matter and so we are unable to comment.”