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Welcome
Contents
to the December edition of Community Index Dear Readers Christmas has come around again and we’re giving you plenty of reason to celebrate in Didsbury this wintery month. To start things off, Didsbury Civic Society and Didsbury In Bloom are hosting Didsbury Carols and Lights at 7pm, Wednesday 4th December outside the library. And if that’s not enough to entice you into a festive frenzy we have a few suggestions for where to get original and creative gifts for your loved ones without needing to leave the local area. See our centre page spread for our special ‘Creative Guide to Local Gift Giving’. If you’re feeling creative, Danielle from Rubbish Revamped was written a handy guide to using your old copies of Community Index to make fun present toppers. This year, before you fight through the crowds in the city centre for chain store gifts, be sure to check out what the local independents in Didsbury have to offer. So hark, Didsbury folk! Tis the season to be merry. See you in the new year!
Joe Beech Joe Beech Editor Lesley Swann Director Sam Paechter Accounts
Cover Image CanStockPhoto.com Contributors Deborah Grace Nola Chesworth John Townsend Andrew Simpson Katherine Watson Geoff Garnett Deadline for next edition 6th December 2013
4
Didsbury People Book Reviews
7
Southern Cemetery
8
Dates for your Diary
8
Big Bee is set to take flight!
10
Make your own gift topper
11
Guide to creative local gift giving
12-13
Didsbury Through Time
18
Community Index
19
December In Your Garden
20
Sport in Didsbury Business Index
21-22 23
Community Index is delivered to 5000 Didsbury homes. You can also pick up a copy from the following locations Didsbury Library, The Parsonage, Cafe Nero, Costa Coffee, Saints & Scholars, The Art of Tea, Giddy Goat Toys, Harriet & Dee
Community Index 149 Ayres Road Manchester M16 9WR T : 0787 589 5604 E: editor@communityindex.co.uk @communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk
Didsbury People Kevin Coogan
Interview by Deborah Grace Kevin Coogan is both community leader and a founder member of Manchester L’Arche, the latest of ten UK communities providing supported living to people with learning disabilities. Here he talks about the challenges of setting up the Withington house and the advantages of having a famous sibling.
www.larchemanchester.org.uk
What is L’Arche? L’Arche Communities are places where people with and without learning disabilities share their lives. We do this in different ways; either living together in homes, working together or perhaps just coming together to meet and support one another. In Manchester we have one house where four people with learning disabilities live with four live-in assistants. The live-in assistants don’t have another home that they go to ‘after work’ – this is their home and there is no ‘after work’. It is our home that we share together. And that changes the way we relate to each other.
How did you find the Withington house? For ten years we had been meeting in the parish centre of James and Emmanuel in Didsbury and we had a really strong following in this parish and in St Cuthbert’s Church in Withington. We wanted somewhere close to both these centres so we were really focused on the environs of Fog Lane Park. The reality is that big houses in that area are
4
expensive, so being able to transform two semi-detached houses into one gorgeous, fully-adapted house for eight people in exactly the area we were looking for has been a God-send. Didsbury architect, Tim Wallbank, helped us create a space that is both welcoming and accessible.
at the moment while he’s in America plugging his new movie). I get to work for a charity, be all humble and still drive fancy cars! Actually Steve has been really supportive of L’Arche and has done loads to help raise our profile – not least running the Manchester marathon with me last year.
What role does faith play in what you do?
What are you doing for Christmas at L’Arche?
L’Arche is a Christian organisation inspired to build bridges and bring people together in communities. You don’t have to be a Christian to live in L’Arche and we welcome people of all faiths and none. The ethos of L’Arche is centred on valuing each person and celebrating the unique gifts they bring.
We have a lovely tradition in L’Arche called Advent Friends. At the beginning of Advent each person draws a name out of the hat and you buy that person a Christmas present come the 25th. But for the whole of Advent you take time to be nice to the person, give them little gifts, show little kindnesses to them, pray for them, send them cards and just generally look after them - but without them knowing it’s you!
How helpful is it having a celebrity (brother Steve, the actor) in the family? I get the best of both worlds! This evening I am giving a talk on Healing Ministry at St Christopher’s church in West Didsbury where I’ll turn up at the wheel of my brother’s Porsche (I’m looking after it
Complete the sentence, ‘I love Didsbury because …’ … we have been so welcomed and supported here. I’m not sure any other community would have taken us to their hearts with such warmth and enthusiasm.
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Could you sell this space? freelance advertising sales person. Basic plus commission
index
community Community Index is looking for a part-time Community Index Didsbury is a monthly full colour A5 magazine. Established in May 2010, we print 5,500 copies each month and deliver 5,000 to the north of Barlow Moor Rd/School Lane one month and then 5,000 to different homes to the south side the following month. The remaining copies are available to pick up in various Didsbury locations each month. So, by advertising for at least 2 months you’ll achieve a coverage of 10,000+ homes.
Email: editor@communityindex.co.uk
Advertising rates are per edition per month. We offer a discount for bookings of 4 months or more. We also publish a Community Index magazine for Chorlton & Whalley Range with a similar distribution pattern. Advertising in both magazines for two months gives you a coverage of over 20,000 local homes.
Community Index Advertising Rates Advert Size Twelfth Eighth page Quarter page Half page Full page Back Cover
1 month
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monthly equivalent
£35 £49 £69 £99 £169 £250
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5% discount if you book in both editions. For advertising enquiries email Joe Leaflet Insertions - £35 per thousand. on editor@communityindex.co.uk Advert design service available - please call or email for details.
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Contact: Joe Beech
Tel: 0787 589 5604
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Book Reviews
How The Grinch Stole Christmas Dr Seuss ‘Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot … But the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!’
Christmas is coming and the diminutive residents of Who-ville are looking forward, with great excitement, to a very merry Yuletide. But the crabby, old Grinch hates Christmas and comes up with a ‘wonderful, awful’ plan to ruin his neighbours’ festive fun. Disguised as a red-eyed, malevolent-looking Santa, he slips down the chimneys of the Who-ville homes and steals every last Christmas bauble from stockings and gifts to tinsel and turkey. Not even the Yule log in the fire is allowed to remain. But as he waits, in gleeful anticipation of the bereft wails of the little Whos, disappointed on Christmas morning, the Grinch is surprised to learn that there railway line with £5,000 in his pocket. Does the solution lie with the victim’s recent history as a film studies lecturer, a time when his career was ruined by false accusations of sexual misconduct? Or perhaps the answer lies further back to his student days in the 1970s, a world of left-wing politics, miners’ strikes, casual sex and recreational drugs.
Children of the Revolution Peter Robinson In his 21st outing, DCI Banks has to solve the murder of an impoverished academic thrown from a bridge and left to die by a remote country
As Banks probes the past, he finds that former communists are now wealthy and influential members of the community. The establishment closes ranks and he is warned off, but Banks, the outsider, persists even when his police career is at risk. When the truth slowly emerges, it threatens people at the
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is far more to the festive season than presents and merrymaking. Dr Seuss’s classic Christmas tale has been making children of all ages laugh since its creation in 1957, with the rascally Grinch being surely the most adorable curmudgeon since Scrooge. Like Dickens’ old skinflint, the Grinch (with a heart ‘two sizes too small’) has an important lesson to learn about the true meaning of Christmas and, happily, is all the better for it. The marvellous rhymes and distinctive pen and ink illustrations combine energy, wit and charm. They also manage to convey, with real warmth, the idea that Christmas spirit comes from somewhere deeper than the season’s commercial trappings.
Review by Deborah Grace
highest levels of power, and may hurt those he has come to respect and even love. Banks must seek justice for the murdered man whilst protecting innocent people who face ruin if their history becomes public knowledge. Set in the Yorkshire Dales, Peter Robinson’s novels draw a stark contrast between their idyllic setting and the violence and misery to be encountered there. Banks himself is a man of contrasts; a London cop at home in rural Yorkshire and a working class kid now into opera and good living. Robinson’s supporting cast is no less memorable, and his skillfully-drawn plots make his work a pleasure to read.
Review by John Townsend
7
Southern Cemetery Sir John Alcock (1892-1919) by Nola Chesworth Sir John Alcock, born in 1892 in Stretford, developed an interest in aviation at a young age receiving his pilot’s licence when he was 20. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in Kent as the First World War broke out, before being transferred to the Greek Island of Lemnos in 1916. In 1917 Alcock was flying to Constantinople, when the engines gave out, forcing him to land in the sea, and swim ashore, where he was captured and held prisoner until the end of the war. Alcock remained interested and involved in
aviation, even after retiring from the forces in 1919; and took up the challenge to be the first pilot to fly across the Atlantic. With his co-pilot Arthur Whitten Brown the difficult journey was completed successfully from Newfoundland to Ireland on the 15th June 1919, with both men being awarded knighthoods for their achievement. Just six months after making the flight that made him famous, Alcock took his final flight at an Aeronautical Exhibition in Paris, when his plane crashed outside Normandy claiming his life. He now rests in a sunny, central
location in Southern Cemetery, with a large cross and stone propeller appropriately marking his grave.
Dates for your diary Christ Church West Didsbury Wed 4 December Piano & Euphonium Concert Carla Fernandez Boix duo 7.30pm Sat 7 December Royal School of Church Music Manchester Christmas Event Sat 14 December Manchester Chamber Choir Christmas Concert 7.30pm Sun 22 December Christ Church Carol Concert 6.30pm
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Next Didsbury Traders Meeting Mon 2 December 6 - 7.30pm at The Fletcher Moss
@DidsburyTraders
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HARRIET & DEE The finest selection of gifts in Didsbury
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Big Bee is set to take flight! Stunning new work by West Didsbury artist to be on show in Blackburn town centre Mosaic maker, Vivien Hamilton, hopes her latest project will create a real buzz! For the artist, who uses reclaimed pottery and glass to produce her striking and brightly-coloured designs, has just finished work on a giant, mosaic bee. It has taken Vivien, who lives in West Didsbury, a painstaking eight weeks to cover the entire surface of a fibreglass ‘bee’ measuring one metre in diameter. More than 3,000 individual mosaic chips, hand cut from (mainly) recycled china, pottery and glass, were
used in the process. Said Vivien, who has a studio at the Manchester Craft and Design Centre: “The biggest challenge was getting the bee in and out of my studio. I had to remove the door frame!” The massive bug will be among 25 fibreglass bees winging their way into Blackburn next spring as part of a stunning urban display. The Big Bee Trail is part of an on-going campaign
Alexander Technique individual sessions and groups
Sue Fleming MSTAT www.alexanderteaching.co.uk ☎ 861 8848 mob 07796470163 Chequers Road Chorlton
and
10 week group courses Fallowfield
Pauline Leng
vivienhamiltonmosaics.co.uk Photo by Joanne Kaberry
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☎ 445 8530 mob 07821470349 The Didsbury Holistic Centre and Lidgate Grove Didsbury
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to brighten up Blackburn town centre and help the diminishing honey bee population.
3 Warburton Street, Didsbury Village, Manchester M20 6WA 0161 448 7844 didsburyphysio@btinternet.com www.didsburyphysio.co.uk
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Make your own gift topper Danielle Lowy from Rubbish Revamped shows you how to make your own fun gift embellishments
What You Need:
Glue Ruler
Scissors String or narrow ribbon Cellotape
A4 sheet of paper (eg opened out Community Index sheet or magazine page) Medium or large button
For more festive recycled decorations, gift wrapping ideas and eco-crafty cards, get yourself a copy of the Rubbish Revamped book, jam-packed with 20 fantastic projects. Only ÂŁ5.00 from www.rubbishrevamped.org.uk or email Danielle at danielle@rubbishrevamped.org.uk
Instructions:
1.
Cut an A4 sheet in half lengthwise and fold one piece into a fan from the short end.
3. Spread glue along one side
of the fan, open it into a semicircle and stick together. Add cellotape to strengthen the join.
5.
2. Fold the fan in half. Thread
the button onto the string and tie it to the middle of the fan. The button should be on the side of the paper that you want to show.
4.
Glue the other side of the paper in the same way, forming a circle.
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Attach your zigzag gift topper to a gift using the remaining string or double sided tape. Or tie it to a chopstick to make a wand.
GRAPHIC
DESIGN
beechjw@gmail.com
JoeBeech.co.uk 07528 617 870 11
e to
g n i v i G t f i G al uid G x e Ind
For fabu lou e Th family b s Christmas gif ts, g oard gam es stocking fillers f and fun or kids o co me o n f all a down to our Dids shop or bury s h t op onlin oa G y surprise e - you’ Gidd oys d ll be a t what T w e’ve got 10% off !! purchas es online f or Comm in store and unity In readers dex - bring this ad shop or to our quote ‘c ommun when y ity’ ou shop online a Harriet www.g t: iddygo Dee & attoys .c 2 AlbeDecember rt H sees the cobbled o.uk nity
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Giddy Goat Toys is a traditional independent children’s toy shop on Albert Hill Street, (opposite the Post Office) and is owned by Chorlton mum Amanda.
KS · GA M E S · G I F T S
They have toys and gifts suitable from birth right through to teens, with all ages between covered. The selection includes traditional wooden toys, Orchard Toys games and puzzles, Lego, Playmobil, Djeco arts and crafts sets, science kits, hexbugs and family board games. Their toys have been chosen for their quality and for offering value for money and lots of play value. They have a good range of party present priced gifts for the 4-9 year old age group.
ill Stree t . Didsb Manche ury s t e r Telepho @giddyg ne: 016 . M20 6RF oattoy s 1 445 1 097 /giddyg oat The shop also has a fun selection of pocket money toys and stocking fillers as well as a large range of cards and gift-wrap. Their easy to use website allows you to buy online for UK delivery or collection from the shop. Giddy Goat Toys 2 Albert Hill St M20 6RF 0161445 1097 @ GiddyGoatToys GiddyGoatToys.co.uk
Warburton Street in Didsbury village turn into a magical winter wonderland! Harriet and Dee transform their gift and jewellery boutique into grottos full of the most beautiful and unusual gifts around. These lovely scented Pomanders from Ashleigh and Burwood (£10) make great Christmas presents and are perfect for hanging from the tree or around the home!
toys
8 Warburton St M20 6WA 0161 438 2500 @HarrietandDee Facebook.com/HarrietandDee
uto Instit ntes a Cerv
great
Give your family and friends the gift of Spanish!
ages
Spanish language courses for adults and children and Salsa, Tango and Flamenco courses are on offer starting from 13th January.
TOY S · B O
The Instituto Cervantes, the official Spanish Government Centre, is a public institution founded in 1991 to promote Spanish language teaching and knowledge of the cultures of Spanish speaking countries throughout the world. We offer comprehensive Spanish courses for all levels, from complete beginners to proficiency. Dancing Course Open Day On Thursday 12th December at 6:30pm, we will be offering tasters of Flamenco, Salsa and Tango.
Come and enjoy the vibrant and flamboyant atmosphere at the Instituto Cervantes. An evening with music, dancing and sangria, to celebrate a Hispanic Christmas in Manchester. Salsa Band ‘Cubavida’ will perform some of the most contagious Latin rhythms to round up this party. And as a Christmas Gift:
ling c y c e Re y v i t a Cre Galler free-standing artwork using Creative Recycling Gallery is situated on Beech Road in Chorlton, a unique street of independent shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Resident artists and owners Glennis Andrews and Fiona Norton present inspiring, original, contemporary framed and
recycled waste. The Gallery has developed over the last nine years to incorporate the ‘Shed’ space, which is used for exhibitions, courses and fundraising events and the Sculpture Garden. Regular courses are offered in drawing, glass fusing, felt making, collage, weaving, art journaling and paper making (the programme for 2014 starts again in March).
Anyone enrolling on any of the dance courses will be entitled to a 10% discount as a 1st time student and 20% for continuing students. Instituto Cervantes Manchester 326 Deansgate, M3 4FN 0161 6614201 @CervantesMcr manchester.cervantes.es
The Gallery offers original and affordable gifts from resident and associate artists including glassware, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, prints, handmade cards, and garden ornaments. Creative Recycling Gallery is an inspiring and nurturing space and a firm Community Index favourite for Christmas gifts. 40 Beech Rd, M21 9EL 0161 881 4422 40beechroad.co.uk
GGT Com Index Xmas Ad_Layout 1 20/11/2013 16:08
CLASSIC
CAKES Our wide selection of wedding and special occasion cakes are designed and hand crafted to suit all tastes from traditional to modern Christmas Cakes, mince pies, truffles and other Xmas goodies now in store! 30 Copson Street, Withington M20 3HB 0161 312 1412 35 Gorton Road, Reddish, Stockport SK5 6AZ 0161 442 7581
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10% off purchases in store and online for Community Index readers - bring this ad to our shop or quote ‘community’ when you shop online at: www.giddygoattoys.co.uk
2 Albert Hill Street . Didsbury Manchester . M20 6RF Telephone: 0161 445 1097
@giddygoattoys
/giddygoattoys
TOYS · BO OKS · GAMES · GIF TS
For fabulous Christmas gifts, great family board games and fun stocking fillers for kids of all ages come on down to our Didsbury shop or shop online - you’ll be surprised at what we’ve got!!
Creative Recycling Gallery
Gifts -Wide range of Glassware, Metal Sculptures, Ceramics Accessories, and Jewellery
Framed Artwork from £20 + wrapping ready to give .... using mostly recycled materials.
OPEN every day in December 11 - 5 pm until December 24th - 3pm
40 Beech Rd, Manchester M21 9EL
www.creativerecycling.co.uk 14
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Select Plumbing & Heating Central Heating Installation Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs Gas Cooker & Fire Installations Landlord Safety Certificates All types of Plumbing Work Fully Tiled Bathrooms
Didsbury Carols & Lights Wednesday 4th December, 7pm
Contact Tony Goss 0161 865 6657 07973 908 592
Outside Didsbury Library Event organised by Didsbury Civic Society and Didsbury in Bloom
Gas Safe
Registered No. 196842
Acorn
CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES
Call John 0161 445 3650
NACS member
open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves, birds nests removed www.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk
Basement Conversions
home office • gym • playroom wine cellar • bathroom • wetroom
Roy Nesbitt Tel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563
northwest
best ce ars basement conversions
www.bestcellarsnw.co.uk Best Cellars North West • Unit 204 792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UG
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15
ThePurplePages
Sales & Lettings
Welcome
JP & Brimelow are proud to support
Welcome to JP & Brimelow’s Purple Pages. This month we introduce you to Laura, Lettings Negotiator in our Didsbury Lettings office. Also, eight of the best properties let in recent weeks by our Didsbury team. To arrange a market appraisal give Didsbury Lettings a call on 0161 445 2300.
Lucy Brown MARLA Didsbury Lettings Manager
Meet Laura
Describe your job
I have been working for JP and Brimelow for 2 ½ years as a lettings negotiator and have recently moved to the Didsbury branch. My usual day consists of conducting viewings, answering enquiries and assisting in the marketing of the lettings properties. I also dabble in a bit of property management on the side, helping out with inventories and tenancy
renewals.
even better Sangria.
What is special to you about Didsbury?
What are your hobbies and interests outside the wonderful world of JP & Brimelow?
It’s a great place to work and I am lucky enough to live in the area too. I love the convenience of everything, delis, cafes, shops, gym, cinema and only 20 minutes to the city centre on the metro - what more could you want!?
What’s your favourite restaurant or café in Didsbury for a lunch time or evening meal. My absolute favourite place to eat is Casa Tapas. Small and intimate with amazing food and
I like to keep active. I play hockey for a local club and cycle everywhere I can. But after a hard session in the gym there is nothing better than some good food and great friends.
And finally, describe your perfect day… Gym, swim, sauna followed by cake, tea and an episode of Pointless. Perfect.
u. T yo e. LE m EE m st ro R o ju y f a F r h ve wa or you ha a f n e rs ay o W oo tod isal d w us pra fe ll a Ca t ap ke ar m
0161 445 2300 DIDSBURY LETTINGS 721 Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 6WF
0161 445 2300 lettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
DIDSBURY SALES 748a Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 2DW
0161 448 0622 didsbury@jpbrimelow.co.uk
the be Eight of st all let
Didsbury Gate
Gleenhaven House
Holly Royde House
Larke Rise
Montmano Drive
Phillip Godlee Lodge
The Jefferson
The Linden @jpandbrimelow
www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
OďŹƒces also in: Chorlton 0161 882 2233 chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk Withington 0161 445 9700 withington@jpbrimelow.co.uk
Didsbury Through Time
by Andrew Simpson “We saw the flying man on Tuesday night fly over head. Beaumont is his name. I wish you could have seen him. It made such a noise.”
So wrote young Bertha Geary aged 13 of School Lane, who had just heard history. The flying man was André Beaumont and he was one of 30 competitors in the Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race in 1911. Flying in a Blériot XI he was the first to complete the course which was no mean achievement as many of the aircraft either failed to take off or crashed along the way. So to him went the £10,000 prize awarded to a man whose real name was Lieutenant Jean Louis Conneau of the French Navy. All of which today we take for granted but was pure magic and wonderment to young Bertha. After all the persistent buzzing of the aircraft’s engine above her head was something new and
I guess louder than anything she had yet encountered. The streets were still dominated by the horse drawn vehicle, few had telephones, Picture; Bertha’s postcard from and radio the collection of Paul O’Sullivan as a form of mass entertainment was still in its infancy. Her’s was a generation which would embrace profound changes, and this drew me towards Bertha Geary. She was born in Prestwich in 1898, and her father described himself variously as a school keeper and general labourer. One of her elder sisters worked as ‘children’s milliner’ and the other made ‘children’s costumes.’ There the trail goes quiet for Bertha, because if she married I can find no record, nor of when she died but she did leave one clue and that was her address on the postcard. It is a simple but vital clue which allowed me to track her family on the street directory for 1911, establish a surname and search the census for that year. It is one of those little rewarding pieces of research which has made writing the new book so much fun.
Didsbury Carpenter Handmade furniture and kitchens. All your carpentry needs met and designed. Solutions for every room for every budget.
Call Alan Jenkinson on
07809 426403 or 0161 445 0661 Alan Jenkinson Didsbury Carpenter
18
Didsbury Through Time is a new book on Didsbury which aims to chronicle the changes over the last century mixing old images of the place with new photographs and paintings and focuses on some of the people who lived behind the doors of the buildings featured in the book. Along with Bertha there are stories of the great and good and the humble and industrious, ranging from Fletcher Moss the historian and politician to William Wrightham, cab driver and Mary Garside, the cook at the Priory. Many of the original pictures have been donated by local people and we would hope that there may be others who would like to become part of what we are doing by lending their photographs or even sharing their memories of what Didsbury was like.
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Community Index Societies & Groups
Didsbury Village WI didsburyvillagewi.co.uk
Dolls House and Miniatures Group 2nd
Acting For Fun Central Didsbury 431 4794
Monday of each month, 8pm - 10, Whalley Range Venue. Ann 07814 861285
Didsbury Amateur Dramatics celestaplayers.co.uk
Friends of Didsbury Park
Didsbury Civic Society didsburycivicsociety. org.uk
friendsofdidsbury park.co.uk
Friends of Fletcher Moss Park Alan Hill 215
Didsbury Cricket Club
0971 awhill@globalnet. co.uk
didsburyccsports.co.uk
Didsbury Dinners
didsburydinners.wordpress. com For general enquiries/ Community growing group: didsburydinners@yahoo. co.uk
Friends of Marie Louise Gardens
Community cooking group community. cooking@yahoo.co.uk
MMU Sports Centre, Tuesdays 8.30pm Ben Pollock, 07894108944
Didsbury Good Neighbours Every Tues
Oneness Deeksha Meditation Saturdays
marielouisegardens.org.uk
Manchester JKF Karate Club Didsbury
10-11.45am coffee morning. Holt Pavilion, Didsbury Park 07749 504298 www. didsburygoodneighbours. org.uk
Didsbury Ladies Probis Club Alternate Monday
afternoons in East Didsbury. Joan Woodall 0161 434 2532
Didsbury Village East Residents Association
11am-12 at The Didsbury Parsonage, Stenner Lane M20 2RQ. Donation £2 Christine 07734 072040.
South Manchester Camera Club Mondays
at 8pm - 10pm, Didsbury Methodist Church smcc. org.uk
Didsbury Over 50s Group 247 2323
South Manchester U3A
Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service
West Didsbury Bookgroup Meets every
Manchester City Council
1st Tuesday of the month 2pm, Emmanuel Church. Edna 434 2509
four weeks at 7.30pm. Lively mixed group of all ages. Call 445 4483 leaving your name, address & landline
West Didsbury Residents Association Pam Siddons
445 5406 westdidsbury. org.uk
Social & Support Groups Manchester Diabetes Support Network Details/ venues/ monthly dates etc diabetesinmanchester@ gmail.com 0161 860 5688/07414 635992
New Family Social UK
charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every month in south Manchester. newfamilysocial.org.uk email: nwdevelopment@ newfamilysocial.co.uk
Useful Numbers
905 1100 234 5000
Didsbury East Councillors Andrew Simcock
cllr.a.simcock@manchester. gov.uk
Andrew Taylor
cllr.a.taylor@manchester. gov.uk
Bridie Adams
cllr.b.adams@manchester. gov.uk
Didsbury West Councillors Mark Clayton
cllr.m.clayton@manchester. gov.uk
Carl Ollerhead
cllr.c.ollerhead@ manchester.gov.uk
David Ellison
cllr.d.ellison@manchester. gov.uk
Didsbury Library 227 3755
Environment on Call 954 9000
dvera.co.uk
JD HOME IMPROVEMENTS For fast, friendly, no obligation quotes get in touch today
home : 0161 861 7836 mobile : 07533 936273
e-mail : jdhomeimprovements@hotmail.co.uk WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
M & H BUILDING CONTRACTORS over 10 years experience
• Extensions • Renovations • Plastering General building repairs • Garden wall Re-pointing • Patios • Bricklaying/block work Cheap rates, excellent quality & reliable friendly team
Tel: Stephen Harrison 07912351114 Joe Murphy 07525415612 email: m.hbuilders@hotmail.com
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December In Your Garden by Katherine Watson I have been making a concerted effort to crank up my composting credentials in the last few weeks, having been rationed to a two-weekly grey bin pick up and a pocket sized plastic composter for the kitchen that will hold approximately three tea bags, four bags of forgotten about pea shoot salad and a dry half onion. Actually, it has been a very good thing because it has made me think much more carefully about, not only what I throw away, but also what I can turn into plant food for my garden. If you haven’t got one, you could think about putting a garden compost bin on your Christmas list and just to get you in the mood, here are a few things you could start composting over the festive period: ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ – perfectly okay to compost mistletoe for amorous worms to kiss themselves underneath and any other Christmas related ‘green’ paraphernalia such as wreaths, Christmas trees etc. as long as they are chopped up a bit. Wine corks can also be composted (but not plastic ones or screw tops) but the wine itself
If you haven’t got one, you could think about putting a garden compost bin on your Christmas list and just to get you in the mood, here are a few things you could start composting over the festive period... should always be subjected to our own bodily compost machines; ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’ – it’s also fine to compost nuts except walnut shells, as they can apparently be toxic to plants. Wood ash is good for the
pile but coal ash is less good as it may contain too many impurities; ‘Three French Hens’ – both egg shells and chicken poo (French or not) can join the compost heap and believe it not so can feathers even though they may take a while to rot down; ‘Last Christmas I gave you my Heart’ – not an offal lot to say about animal organs – best not to compost these. I couldn’t think of a Christmas song to link (however tenuously) to this last tip, but apparently the plastic wrappers from Quality Street sweets are compostable because they are made from cellulose derived from wood pulp, so all-in-all we can be set for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy composting New Year!
Garden Design Planting Advice Consultation Service Project Managment
07989968841 www.fatgrass.co.uk 20
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Sport in Didsbury by Geoff Garnett Didsbury Black Belt Academy students bring home Gold Wayne Edwards, owner of Didsbury Black Belt Academy was appointed the WFMC England president early this year. At short notice he put together a team from all over the country to fight in Hagen Germany. Local students Morgan Edwards, Mustafa Hussein, Edmund Whitmore, Jacob Proctor, James D’souza, Dan Roskell, Max
Goddard, Brinsley Morrell and Victoria Lee were all in the competition. Team England competed in MMA, Grappling, Light Contact, Semi Contact and K1 rules and they brought back five Gold, six Silver and eight Bronze medals.
Picture :The Didsbury competitors
and represent the Country on the world stage.
The school is looking for sponsors for next years World Championships in Croatia. Sponsorship gives talented individuals a chance to travel
If you would like to be part of Didsbury Black belt academy or support the team just call 0161 445 7733 or visit www. Didsburybba.com.
were courteous and unanimous in congratulating their old enemies before they went off to celebrate their ‘success’ with a display of
City Players Celebrate
Noisy neighbours retain their title There was a large blue moon over the first tee at Didsbury GC as the ‘Noisy Neighbours’ retained their title in the annual Champions v City match. The teams were represented by men, ladies, juniors and some ‘bandit’ guests for a contest which went to the final putt. On a glorious day played over a superb course there were many disputes and arguments before Captain Elect Colin Hartley revealed his true colours by announcing that the match ended as a draw. As a result City had retained the title they had won for the previous two years. As always the United players
the Poznan on the first tee led by former City star Roy Cheetham.
If you have any stories about sport in Didsbury contact Geoff on 0161 881 7550 or ggggarnett@aol.com
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Withington are good neighbours CENTENARIES are much-celebrated events in golf clubs and there have been a number of clubs in the area who have enjoyed staging them in 2013. There will not be many over the next five or six years as 100 years ago the First World War put starting new golf clubs on hold. Locally Northenden and Sale Golf Clubs have had a great summer for the centenary events and have involved other clubs in the celebrations. Withington Golf Club had its centenary back in 1992 and they have recognised the other two clubs’ 100-year celebrations by presenting them with specially designed centenary trophies.
Presentation to Northenden- ltr: Alan Stewart (Withington Captain), Hazel Foster (Northenden Lady Captain), John Foster (Northenden Captain), Julie Webb (Withington Lady Captain), Stephen Wells (Withington President).
Responsible financial advice for a world of difference We’re still here! With more than 20 years of providing ethical financial advice in South Manchester the Gaeia name will be known to many of you. Despite moving from Didsbury to central Manchester we continue to look after many loyal clients in the area.
• Ethical savings & investment advice • Prudent pensions & retirement planning
Since our merger with Castlefield, we’re now part-owned by a charitable foundation, our employees and even our clients – unusual in financial services!
• Income protection & health insurance • Ethical financial advice for businesses • Investment management for Charities and not-for-profit organisations
Whether you are an individual, business, charity or not-for-profit organisation, Gaeia can provide a financial planning service which incorporates both your ethical values and your financial needs.
Contact us at our new office: 0161 233 4550, 1 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE. Visit us at www.gaeia.com SGCOMINDX/010413
Gaeia is a trading name of Castlefield Gaeia Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 04605261. Registered office 3 Brook Office Park, Folly Brook Road, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7FL.
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Alexander Technique Community Index Laura Dunlop
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15 10 9
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6
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6 11
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10
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2
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