Responders' march

A FOUR-PAGE LOOK BACK TO A TOWN'S BATTLE TO KEEP AN IMPORTANT SERVICE

Chanting youngsters at front of march

LED by a Community Policeman on a bicycle, Nantwich people marched through town on Friday, July 11, 2008, to protest at a proposed downgrading to the First Responders' service. Next came a drummer, keeping the beat for the chant "We want First Responders", walking almost Pied Piper-like with a group of youngsters which included Jamie and Jess Broadhurst, the children of Steve Broadhurst, the Nantwich man who collapsed in his milk float. Also in the march was Steve's widow, Rachael. Two-and-a-half-year-old Hannah Davenport, who has needed the services of a First Responder 12 times, was also there to say "Thank you". She carried a card which added: "Thanks Gavin" (Gavin Palin, a First Responder). The then newly-elected Crewe and Nantwich MP, Edward Timpson, was among the marchers. Town Councillors were well represented with the new
		Chairman, Cllr Keith Cafferty, and Cllr Bill McGinnis - who, as last year's Chairman, led the council's part in the protest - at the front. Arriving at Mill Island, the		marchers assembled around a higher piece of land to hear speeches from Cllr Cafferty, Edward Timpson, Cllr McGinnis and Gavin Palin.


MP Edward Timpson and march co-organiser Nicola Tooke	Children at the head of the march, including Jamie and Jess Broadhurst		A cycle-riding policeman at the head of the march as it passes the Fire Station

March co-organisers Janet Wainright and Nicola Tooke	Rachael Broadhurst and her children Jamie, then aged 14, and Jess, then 10, pose for a photograph		Hannah Davenport after the march

Page 1: The original letter \| Page 3: The speeches \| Page 4: Updates \| Page 5: Updates continued