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Page 12 January 2025 AD SALES 01204 478812 Bromleys is an independent, family owned and managed business. We are dedicated to the principles, values, and benefits of the traditional Funeral Service. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care and service to each family that we serve. Our involvement begins the moment that you contact us and extends beyond the point at which the deceased is laid to rest. A funeral is one of life’s most personal events and we know how important it is for each family to decide on a funeral which is as meaningful as possible to their particular needs and circumstances. We offer a totally professional and complete funeral service and we are at your service in this, your time of need. We believe that a funeral should be as individual as the person who has died. We, therefore, offer a wide choice of services which can be tailored to the needs, wishes and requirements of each family. HORSE & CARRIAGE . . . HEARSE & LIMOUSINE . . . AFFORDABLE CHOICE . . . DIRECT CREMATIONS . . . Pre Paid Funeral Plans Available - Ask for details. That was the year that was! MORE Santas than ever before walked all the way from Chor- ley town centre to the top of Rivington Pike, and then back again, in a fantastic fes- tive fundraiser. The record-breaking annual Jingle All the Way event saw 1,400 Santas take on the 15-mile trek to raise money for Derian House Children’s Hospice. To date, the festive fundraiser has raised £34,000 for the Chor- ley charity, with more donations expected in the coming weeks. Jingle All The Way has now raised more than £220,000 for the hospice since its incep- tion in 2012. This year’s record-breaking turnout of Santas is a huge leap from the original 150 participants who first donned their red suits in 2012. Singing in the rain! SEPTEMBER LOSTOCK headquar- tered online electricals retailer AO World has agreed a takeover of musicMagpie in a deal worth around £10million. It says the takeover deal for the used smart- phones and electronic products retailer will boost its mobile and con- sumer tech businesses. The musicMagpie board has unanimously recommended sharehold- ers to vote in favour of the deal. AO World founder and chief executive John Rob- erts said adding a “top- tier trade-in service” was “essential” for the group. He said: “To achieve our strategic ambition of becoming the destination for electricals, it is crucial for AO to enhance its con- sumer tech offering.” NOVEMBER A beacon of hope RIVINGTON’S ‘beacon of hope’ for generations of returning servicemen and women has been the inspiration for a Poppy Appeal fundraising drive. The ‘Pike Poppy Bin Badge’ has been on sale across Horwich, Blackrod, Bolton, Adlington and Chorley to help raise funds for the Royal British Legion and a local veterans’ charity. In recent years, Horwich, Chorley and Black- rod Councils have come together to mark Remem- brance Sunday by lighting up Rivington Pike with an illuminated large poppy. And that inspired local volunteers to come up with the badge, following the decision by the poppy appeal to stop production of regional pin badges. Over the past five years the Horwich branch of the national appeal has raised £179,444. DECEMBER Jingling all the way! OCTOBER AROUND 4,000 people braved the bad weather to play their part in this year’s Festival of Hor- wich celebrations. Organisers were delighted with the response from the community, despite the conditions. Dr Kathryn Grant, festival chair, said: “It was an amazing day. I cannot believe howmany people turned out despite the rain, and there were smiles and laughter galore despite it being so wet!” Plans are already underway for next year’s festival, which celebrates the town and all it has to offer. One of its proposed new services would link London Euston to Preston, with stops at Bolton, Horwich and Chorley. If successful in its application Virgin would not receive any state sub- sidies and would take on the risk of operating the rail service itself, unlike a franchised operator who holds a contract with the government to run the route. A capital move! ! Cont frompage 10 JULY Save our tower! AN appeal is underway to save Horwich’s iconic Holy Trinity Church tower and prevent its much-loved bells fall- ing silent. The community is being asked to raise at least £40,000 of the £230,000 needed to carry out urgent repairs on the 194 -year- old local landmark. A series of fund- raising concerts and events are planned as part of the ‘Save our Tower’ campaign and it is hoped the work can start next June. Campaigners have AUGUST Pr!ise !nd c!sh for st!tion volunteers THE Friends of West- houghton Station group has been handed a cheque for £500 from the town council to support its work. The cheque was presented to Stephen Freeborn and his group by the mayor of West- houghton Neil Maher during a trip to the station to see the work being carried out. A t own counc i l spokesperson said: “The Friends of West- houghton Station do a brilliant job of keep- ing the station look- ing lovely. “It was an honour to be able to present a cheque for £500 and thank them for their amazing efforts in keep- ing the station looking so attractive.” sent out appeal leaflets across the town and say they welcome ideas from the community on how money can be raised. An online fundraising page has also been set up. AO secures £10m takeover deal Got a story? Get in touch at news@horwichadvertiser.co.uk