Ironik’s admirers include Tom Cruise, Sir Elton John and even Prince Charles. He has mentored and produced some of the biggest, new names in British pop, his debut album spawned hits everywhere from India to Sweden squeezing in over 370 performances in to his hectic schedule last year alone. His self-titled, second album, due out in November, is a pop gem sprinkled with surprising special guests.

What DJ Ironik has achieved so much by the age of 22 seems staggering.  At least it does until you discover the passion for music that drives him.

“Music has meant everything to me for as long as I can remember,” says the Highgate-born MC and producer. “When I was five, I used to watch my mum dancing round the house to jungle and feel the energy she got from the songs.  Even in primary school, I knew I’d end up making music. Then one night when I was 13, I went to a friend of my stepdad’s and saw his record decks. I fell in love. I didn’t know what they did, but I saw them spinning and knew I had to have some.”

Among those who have work alongside DJ Ironik were Lethal B, Wiley, Tinie Tempah and Chipmunk, who came up to the producer at a party and handed him a demo. It was only when he turned 19, however, that Ironik took to the mic himself.

Ironik’s first single “So Nice” was released in summer 2007, it achieved popularity on the music channels, including remaining in the top 3 of the viewer request chart on Channel U for 20 weeks but had limited success in other areas because of His bait lyrics   The album’s centrepiece, Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer), a collaboration with his old friend Chipmunk and Elton John, secured Ironik another signature hit and continued to make him a star across Europe .  It was Elton’s approval, however, that made Ironik’s year. The veteran singer, who rarely allows his music to be sampled said “Tupac and Kanye West are two artists I’ve let sample my records – that says everything about how much I rate Ironik. It’s good to be able to help young talent I believe in.”
DJ Ironik’s first hit was the single “Stay With Me”, which entered the charts at number 11 on downloads alone then number five on the physical release, it was equally success of Channael U Remaansvara for examining the application chart top 10 for 26 weeks The remix of “Stay With Me” features Chipmunk and Asylum label-mate Wiley His second single “I Want to Be Your Man” was released in September 2008 and reached 35 in the UK now has number 10 in the download charts

In the near future, Ironik will launch his own label 3 Starz Entertainment to help new artists get a foot in the industry door and he continues his work as an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.
Ironik was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2008 MOBO Awards…..

DJ IRONIK will perform at 53 Degrees: Thursday 4^th November

Tickets are on sale Monday 30^th August 2010

—Ticket Info—

4^th November 2010

Doors 7.00pm

Advanced Public Tickets: £9.00

16+

–ENDS—

Victoria Johnson

Digital and Creative Assistant– 53 Degrees

UCLan Students’ Union,

Fylde Road

Preston

PR1 2TQ

Tel: + 44 (0) 1772 895477

Fax: + 44 (0) 1772 894975
Email: VLJohnson@uclan.ac.uk

Web: www.53degrees.net

Tickets will be available from;

Lancashire Tickets www.lancashiretickets.com

Online from www.53degrees.net

SEE www.seetickets.com 24 Hour Credit Card Hotline 0871 220 0260

Ticketline www.ticketline.co.uk 0161 832 1111

Action Records, Church Street, Preston. 01772 258809

Students’ Union Reception, Fylde Road, Preston. 01772 893 00

Zebediah Perkins, 42, of Manor House Lane, Preston has been charged with three counts of illegally supplying gaming machines to licensed premises, and four counts of fraud.

He has been bailed to appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court on 13 September 2010.

Perkins was arrested on Tuesday 24 August during a joint operation between The Gambling Commission and Lancashire Constabulary and HM Revenue and Customs.

On the night we have a Football Quiz to test your knowledge, a FIFA tournament on our big screens with a cash prize to the winner, chant of the month competitions, special footballer guests and many more fun and games. If you love football Kick the Bucket is the place to be on the last Sunday of the month.

Entry to the show and the football quiz is FREE and we have drinks offers from as low as £1.50 (Entry to the FIFA tournament is £3.00 per person).

The perfect way to end a weekend of football is . . . . . . more football!!!

A PRESTON

Nicola Nicholls pleaded guilty to money laundering on Monday 23 August at Liverpool Crown Court and was sentenced today (Thursday 26 August 2010).

The 33 year old, of Avenham Road, was targeted as part of Operation Greengage – a Lancashire Constabulary investigation which was led by the force’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

She is the 26^th person to be convicted and sentenced in relation to this investigation – in total all 26 have been sentenced to 331 years in prison.

The operation began in November 2006, at which time the main subject was Ivan Hue of Robin Street, Preston.

The investigation identified that Hue was using a network of couriers, which included close family members and friends, to transport funds to Amsterdam to pay for controlled drugs that would be subsequently imported into the UK.

Officers identified four Fiat Multiplas that Hue’s group had purchased in late 2006 in the North of England and Arbroath in Scotland. Using these vehicles, numerous trips were made between the UK and Amsterdam, with money being exchanged at both ends. Drugs and firearms were being smuggled into the UK via the specially modified Multiplas.

On one occasion (6 August 2007) seven kilos of cannabis, one kilo of ecstasy, seven handguns and 1,200 rounds of ammunition were recovered from one of the Multiplas which had been stopped at the port of Dover.

Nicola Nicholls was involved in making a cash run between the UK and Holland.

As the investigation progressed, an extensive organised crime group operating across England, Scotland and Europe was identified. It became apparent that an organised crime group within Scotland was already being investigated by the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency.

Their investigation focused on the importation of cocaine into the UK using predominantly Eastern European men who were flying into the UK with drugs stored internally.

Detective Superintendant Steve Mounsey, formerly of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Operation Greengage has been an incredibly complex and protracted investigation and certainly one of the biggest drugs conspiracies we have ever dealt with.

“As a result, we have prevented untold quantities of drugs and firearms from being brought into the UK and have put 26 people behind bars for a total of 331 years.

“The message is quite simple: if you choose to deal in this type of crime you will be vigorously targeted, brought to justice and put behind bars for a very long time.”

Joanne Cunliffe, Crown Advocate from the CPS Complex Casework Unit in Lancashire, said: “With our police colleagues we are absolutely determined to do all we can to prevent drugs being imported into Lancashire and to convict those criminals who do so.

“I am pleased that through these successful prosecutions we have been able to remove a significant criminal gang who were intent on bringing large amounts of class A drugs as well as firearms into the UK.”

For more information about Operation Greengage and the other members of the crime group and what sentences they have previously received visit: http://www.lancashire.police.uk/about-us/departments/serious-and-organised-crime/operation-greengage

Shuttleworth Students Offer Unique Opportunity to People with Dementia

Burnley “Super School”, Shuttleworth College, is the setting for a ground-breaking new approach to working with older people diagnosed with dementia. Working in partnership with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Memory Assessment Services, adults recently diagnosed with dementia are being offered the chance to help teach history lessons in the school.

And that’s just the start of a unique relationship; with Head teacher Mr Martin Burgess explaining that a new GCSE Citizenship group were now inviting Senior Health and Community Managers into the school to hear more about it!

This school based approach commenced in February 2010 and is the brainchild of Dr Amanda Thornton, Lancashire Care Lead Psychologist for Older People, along with her old Townley History teacher Mr Alan Riley, who is now Head of Humanities at Shuttleworth College. Dr Thornton explains the rationale for the project: “A diagnosis of dementia can have a devastating impact upon a person’s sense of identity and confidence, but new therapies, medications and support networks aim to help people ‘live well’ with dementia. Helping to deliver lessons on history provides the perfect opportunity to engage people with memory problems, as memories of school days and early life are normally well preserved, even when newer memories may be lost. This experience has been shown to bolster the person’s self-esteem and sense of value at a very challenging time”.

Mr Riley describes the benefits of the intervention for the students: “Hearing a first hand historical account really helps bring ‘history to life’, giving students a real flavour of how life used to be. It also teaches them how to use oral history sources as evidence of the past”. Over and above that, enjoying each other’s company in the lesson has challenged younger and older people’s views of each other. A student who experienced the lesson said “it made me understand the things they have been through and how lucky I am now”. And another joked “I used to think old people were grumpy and didn’t like thinking about their past life but I was very wrong!”

One of the older volunteers who delivered a lesson reflected “I would like to think they can appreciate how lucky they are to have this fantastic school to attend, with all its modern equipment etc.  Being told we were taught with the aid of slates and chalk could possibly have been an eye opener”

Sue Rowe, East Lancs Older Adult Mental Health Services Manager commented: “This project has been made possible following the increased investment into Memory Assessment Services by NHS East Lancs and NHS Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus. The larger Memory Assessment Service can see people quicker, offer more specialist assessment, but also allows our services to offer a range of interventions to truly support individuals to have hope for their future”.

The Year 10 Citizenship class have developed DVDs, posters, presentations and role plays that they will showcase to Health Professionals and Managers at the school on the last day of term. Mr Burgess, Head teacher said “we want this opportunity to be available in our school for a long time, so we need to make sure that those who can help us know how much we have valued it”.

Another volunteer who delivered a lesson concluded. “I would hope that the students have benefitted from my visit, as they seemed interested in what was being said to them.  Hopefully they will appreciate what things were like in their grandparents’ young days, and appreciate what they have got today.”

South Ribble Borough Council, Lancashire County Council and Priory Sports and Technology College have been locked in discussions over the dual-use site, on Crow Hills Road. Now a scheme has been agreed to safeguard the facility for future generations.

All three parties have been working hard to resolve the dilemma over child protection issues raised by the school, and a solution has now been thrashed out which addresses concerns and will lead to comprehensive improvements to facilities.

A new leisure centre car park will be created with 40 spaces and a new independent access to the facility. This will ensure the public can continue to use the leisure centre during school hours. The existing tennis courts will be upgraded to a multi-use games area for use by the school and leisure centre at different times of the day.

Other improvements will see the creation of an enhanced fitness suite and new, dedicated “dry-side” changing facilities. Construction work is expected to start on the school site next month.

Councillor Phil Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, leisure and healthy communities, said:

“I am delighted with the way the governing body of the school and the two councils have worked closely and productively together to address all concerns raised. We now have an exciting set of plans to improve the facilities, at a time when many local authorities are heavily cutting their leisure services.

“The people of Penwortham and beyond made it very clear that they placed great value on the leisure centre, and I am very grateful for all their input. The leisure centre plays a vital role in helping to keep the Penwortham and wider community healthy and active. It is excellent news that its future has been secured for years to come, which fits our priority to maintain strong and healthy communities in South Ribble.”

Geoff Chetwood, Chair of Governors at the school, said:

“I am pleased that following detailed negotiations between all parties, agreement has now been reached which resolves the key concerns expressed by governors.

“I hope that this will lead to much better arrangements on site, which ultimately benefit both the school and wider community who use the leisure facilities. Our recent excellent Ofsted report, together with this improved agreement, provide a good basis to move forward together in the future.”

Motorists who stop on yellow zig-zag lines at school entrances will in future face the prospect of a fine.

Lancashire County Council is currently processing traffic regulation orders covering parking restrictions at the entrances of more than 270 schools across Lancashire.

With schools set to reopen their doors next week, the county council believes the new rules will help to keep school entrances clear of parked cars and improve child safety on the county’s roads.

County Councillor Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We want to send a clear message to motorists that it’s completely unacceptable to put children’s lives at risk through inconsiderate parking.

“Cars parked outside school gates create a hazard for children crossing the road and can result in accidents which cause serious injuries.

“By making these parking restrictions mandatory rather than advisory, it means anyone caught ignoring the rules will be issued with a £70 fixed penalty.

“We already work closely with schools to encourage alternative ways to travel to school, either on foot, cycling or by bus, and that initiative has proved very successful.”

The new order will prohibit stopping or waiting on the school entrance markings between 8am and 6pm, from Monday to Friday. The new restrictions will come into force when the orders are confirmed.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet member for children and schools, said: “Parking outside the school gates is an issue of real concern and I’m sure all parents and schools will welcome this development.

“The county council already works closely with schools to educate parents and children and create safer routes to schools. Tougher action on dangerous parking is another part of the solution.”

Over 26,000 Lancashire school children received pedestrian and safer cycling training last year. The number of children killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads fell by 58.5% in 2009.

Preston Together kicks off on Saturday 18^th September, with ‘Preston’s Got Diversity’ at the Guild Hall. Organised with Sahara, this women-only event will provide an exceptional evening of fashion, dance, and entertainment, with refreshments included in the £8 ticket.

From Monday 20^th to Friday 24^th September Preston Together will set up shop in the Guild Hall Arcade, providing a week of activities and information inside one of the units. Each day will have a different theme:

• Monday – Ceramic arts workshop with the Harris Museum
• Tuesday – Employability and wellbeing
• Wednesday – Men’s Health
• Thursday – Healthy lifestyles
• Friday – Community food growing

Neighbourhood Management teams will also be holding a week of action in the Ribbleton and St Georges areas of Preston, clearing the areas of litter and fly-tipping and tackling anti-social behaviour.

The celebrations will culminate at the annual Run Preston event on Sunday 26^th September. Visitors will be able to catch up with what has been happening during Preston Together and see some of the highlights of the week.

Councillor Christine Thomas, cabinet member for community services, said: “Inclusion and cohesion is an important part of the council’s work, and Preston Together is a fantastic way to celebrate our city’s diversity. There is a huge variety of events throughout the week, and I am sure there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”