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ThePress
Friday April 29, 2016
News In Brief Jail sentence cut RAVENSTHORPE: A sex offender caught hiding under a 14-year-old girl’s bed has had his prison term slashed. Umar Ali Hussain, 26, then of Broomer Street, was jailed for six years and three months last September for twice having sex with the girl. On the second occasion he was caught by the victim’s mother hiding under a bed at an address in Dewsbury. Lawyers for Hussain argued at the Court of Appeal in London his sentence was excessive. Mitigating factors included the girl ‘making the running’ and Hussain acting as main carer for his unwell mother. His sentence was cut to four-and-a-half years.
Fashion fundraiser BATLEY & BIRSTALL: A hospice fundraiser featuring a demonstration of how to use scarves as fashion accessories, plus stalls packed with garments and jewellery, takes place at Healds Hall Hotel in Liversedge. It has been organised by Kirkwood Hospice’s Batley & Birstall Support Group for Tuesday, May 10 (7.30pm). Entry is £5 and includes refreshments.
Cooking and caring NORTH KIRKLEES: Residents who struggle to shop or cook for themselves can get help from the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) Meals with Care service, – formerly Meals on Wheels. It complements the recently-relaunched Home from Hospital service for older people and supplies about 200 hot, two-course meals a day. Deliverers also ensure that the recipient is safe, well and secure. In case of doubt, they will call next of kin. Anyone who thinks a family member could benefit from the service can call RVS community manager Anna Lancashire on 01977 696840.
Fusion Housing Food Pantry’s Ridhwan Nadat and Jason Felix with supermarket staff
Bags of support CARRIER bags seem such a small thing – but to a food bank they can make all the difference. That is what staff at Sainsbury’s in Dewsbury found when volunteers from a charity dropped in to discuss their work. Fusion Housing Food Pantry runs a food bank
from Empire House. Lack of carrier bags for food parcels is a problem – which Sainsbury’s fixed with a donation of items. Fusion helps families and young people facing a crisis, such as homelessness, money problems or unemployment. MP Paula Sherriff (Lab,
Dewsbury and Mirfield) called for more companies to lend a hand. She said: “It’s deeply sad that food banks are necessary... I’d like to thank Sainsbury’s for their kind donation. “I know they would love to hear from other enterprises that would like to offer support and would encourage anyone who wants to help to get in touch with them or my office.” Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s is looking for a new charity partner after supporting the Rosewood Centre at Dewsbury District Hospital for the last year. Nominations can be made at the customer service desk or kiosk until Monday, May 9. Branch manager Mick Hepworth said: “There are so many fantastic charities in the local area who do brilliant work in our community. We’d love to hear from charities we haven’t supported before.”
PINT-SIZE PIRATES’ PLUNDER
YOUNG pirates in Mirfield plundered more than £30 for a children’s charity. Tots at Little Acorns nursery on Towngate got dressed up in aid of the Crackerjacks Children’s Trust. The nursery has supported the national charity, which helps dis-
abled children, for four years. Last week’s fancy dress event raised £36.50 and was quickly followed by a birthday celebration for the Queen. Children wrote letters to Her Majesty, made cards and had a tea party with buns and cakes.
King of Country By David Miller
Hospital radio DJ Graham wins top US music award
A DJ from Thornhill is thought to be the first from outside North America to win a prestigious country music award. Graham Lees, 68, of Overthorpe Avenue, is the Cowtown Society of Western Music DJ of the Year. He is due to be presented with a medal at their annual celebration on Saturday, May 7 at Mineral Wells, a city 140 miles east of Dallas in Texas. Graham presents The Country Connection on Thursdays on HWD Hospital Radio at Dewsbury District Hospital. He also broadcasts online, having started writing about country music more than 20 years ago. The Cowtown Society is a group devoted to preserving a type of folk music known as Western Swing. It is one of the two genres that came together to be known as country and western or country music. Graham, secretary of the Overthorpe Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, plays Western Swing as part of his radio shows. He said: “There must be
thousands of DJs playing this sort of music across the world. “So to pick me out of all those is incredible. Words are not enough. It’s an amazing honour.” Graham, originally from Manchester, became fascinated by cowboy films growing up. That turned into a love of the music that came from the areas where such movies were set. Graham’s favourite artists include veterans Willie Nelson, Guy Clark and Suzy Bogguss. His shows feature the music of such well-known figures as Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Alison Krauss. Graham was nominated in 2014 as DJ of the Year by the Western Music Association. He said: “I believe I’m the first presenter from outside North America to be named Disc Jockey of the Year by any of the western organisations. “I don’t think there’s a secret to it. But I’ve wide interests in country music and try not to be tunnelvisioned.” Graham can be heard on www.hwdhospitalradio.com and specialist country station CMR Nashville at www.cmrnashville.com.
Firm seeks Branson backing THE founder of a Mirfield clothing brand has issued an appeal for people to vote in a major funding competition headed by Richard Branson. Ushiwear, based in Lower Hopton and founded eight years ago by Jilly Kapusi, is taking part in the Virgin Media #VOOM2016 competition. It hopes to win up to £250,000 for a project to create a new ecologically-sound range of clothing – but it needs votes from the public to
qualify for a shortlist. Ushiwear sells a range of leisurewear that takes inspiration from Jilly’s love of the outdoors. Now she and her team are aiming to win Richard Branson’s backing for a new range of luxury clothing made from recycled materials The initial stage of the competition is open to public voting until May 23. Then the top 80 entrants have a week to prepare for ‘The Pitchathon’ in London, which
will whittle down the shortlist to 40. Two workshops will take place in June, after which the top six entrants will emerge to pitch their ideas to Richard Branson on June 28. Jilly said: “To be in with a chance, we need the votes of all our supporters. We would be incredibly grateful to anybody who can spare the time to go online and vote for us.” To vote, Go to www. vmbvoom.com/ pitches/ in-tent-by-ushiwear.