9th July 2026

Thursday 9th July 2026 – Guardian Review

Walking Day reborn, a busy summer of events, an ageing population and new leadership at the Wolves Foundation

For all the latest local stories across Cheshire, check out the new edition of your Warrington & Knutsford Guardian, with Paul Smith chatting to Gareth Dunning on Mix 56.

Walking Day stays alive

There was disappointment last year when it was announced there wouldn’t be a Warrington Walking Day this year, but community spirit is still very much alive. The Warrington Walking Day Reborn Festival took place on Saturday, with a smaller parade through Bank Park and a few churches taking part.

Outside the town centre, other walking day events are thriving, with St Oswald’s and Heathforth King Day expected to draw record numbers this Saturday. Padgate-Mulston Walking Day also pulled in huge crowds a couple of weeks ago, and there’s been plenty more going on with Croft Carnival and Grapple too. Gareth says the weather has helped, but it’s also down to volunteers stepping up to keep these traditions going.

A packed summer calendar

If anyone is short of things to do this weekend, there’s no need to look far. Warrington Youth Zone is marking its fourth birthday with a relaunch party on Saturday, while Disability Awareness Day takes place on Sunday at Morton Gardens.

There’s also the Cheshire Steam Fair over at Daresbury on Saturday and Sunday, with far more going on than just steam engines. It sounds like a proper family weekend of events right across the area.

Older population pressures

One headline that stood out this week is the prediction that Warrington’s older population will rise to 48,000 by 2030. Gareth says that brings obvious pressures, especially around adult social care, housing and how services are funded as people live longer with increasing physical needs.

Areas like Great Sankey, where lots of families moved into new estates decades ago, are now seeing that shift most clearly. It raises big questions about whether the right facilities are in place for older residents and how the town prepares for the years ahead.

New leadership at Wolves Foundation

There’s also change at the Warrington Wolves Foundation, which is moving into a new chapter with Lee Mitchelltaking over from Neil Kelly. Gareth pays tribute to Neil, who has done huge work in the voluntary and community world, and says Lee is another inspirational figure who will help drive the foundation forward.

It’s worth remembering that the foundation is a charity in its own right and has to raise its own money, even though it carries the Wolves badge. Its strength is in using the power of sport to inspire young people and encourage involvement in learning and physical activity.

Stage dreams in London

And finally, there’s a lovely story about the students from the Pauline Quirke Academy in South Warrington. They’re off to His Majesty’s Theatre in London to perform in the West End, giving young people from the area an incredible opportunity to take part on one of the biggest stages there is.

Gareth says the academy is giving youngsters brilliant experiences and helping to develop the next generation of stage talent. A perfect way to round off a busy summer review.

Those stories and more are in this week’s Warrington & Knutsford Guardian, available now with MIX56.