community
September 2013
Didsbury
View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Didsbury
Firewood from £85 m 3
including free local delivery
CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS • • • • • •
FAST DRYING SYSTEM FREE STAIN & ODOUR REMOVAL STAINGUARD PROTECTION 10% RETIRED PERSONS DISCOUNT ALL WORK IS FULLY INSURED ALL FURNITURE MOVED BY OPERATIVE
We are a local company based in Chorlton Fully trained to NCCA standards Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE
07742 369 231
or leave a message on 0161 881 4822 contact@pro-fresh.co.uk www.pro-fresh.co.uk
We clean your oven… so you don’t have to Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor or Aga professionally cleaned Ian Glancy Mob Tel: 07580 765765
www.ovenwizards.com
The Didsbury Handyman City & Guilds multi skilled Tradesman
Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joinery Mulch for local allotments | Compost Biomass woodchip
Carpentry • Joinery • Electrical • Plumbing Kitchens • Fencing • Built in Furniture • Decks Gates • Shelves • Locks • Hardware
call Nick
0777 852 3088
Domestic & Commercial Small works always welcome
2
www.treestation.co.uk 0161 231 3333
Public Liability Insurance Environmentally Aware
Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for the Benefit of the Community committed to combatting climate change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R
v
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Welcome
Contents Didsbury People
5
Book Reviews
7
to the new look Community Index
Southern Cemetery
8
Hello and welcome to your new look Community Index! In addition to the much needed facelift we are keen to bring you an improved magazine to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the local area over the coming months. So, if you’re organising a community event in October, let us know and we’ll do our best to include it. With the holidays behind us, what does September hold for you? Fancy learning something new? How about Spanish? Instituto Cervantes (on the back cover) offer courses at all levels of ability starting on 23rd September. What about a new look? Mobile hairdresser, Clive Victor Gale is offering a 15% discount on your first booking with his advert on page 14. Or if it’s your home that needs a makeover, give SK plastering a ring and get a £10 discount with his advert on page 22. As the weather turns a little cooler, it’s time to stock up your wood pile and sweep your chimneys so you’re ready for the first cold snap. Give Tree Station a call – they offer free local delivery (page 2) and John from Acorn will ensure your flues are free from blockages, so you can sit back and enjoy your fire (page 15).
Joe Beech Joe Beech Editor Lesley Swann Director Sam Paechter Accounts
Cover Image Carol Thompson Contributors Deborah Grace Nola Chesworth Rosemary Orr Katherine Watson Geoff Garnett Deadline for next edition 15th September 2013
Local News
10
Village Dry Cleaners
13
Gaeia
15
Green Food Trail
18
Community Index
19
September In Your Garden
20
Local Sport
21-22
Business Index
23
Community Index is delivered to 5000 homes in the local area each month. 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, Didsbury Dental Health Centre
Community Index 149 Ayres Road Manchester M16 9WR T : 0787 589 5604 E: editor@communityindex.co.uk @communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk
index
community 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.
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.
Advert Size Twelfth Eighth page Quarter page Half page Full page Back Cover
1 month
4 months
monthly equivalent
£35 £49 £69 £99 £169 £250
£100 £156 £220 £340 £596 £800
£25 £39 £55 £85 £149 £200
5% discount if you book in both editions. Leaflet Insertions - £35 per thousand. Advert design service available - please call or email for details.
Contact: Joe Beech
Tel: 0787 589 5604
editor@communityindex.co.uk
Didsbury People Matthew Halsall
Intervew by Deborah Grace Trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader, Matthew Halsall is one of the rising stars of the UK jazz scene. Following a critically acclaimed performance at Ronnie Scott’s early this year, more recent gigs have included Didsbury Arts Festival and Manchester Jazz Festival. Matthew’s unique sound has been described as ‘rain-streaked spiritual jazz’ (Independent On Sunday). In his latest album, ‘Fletcher Moss Park’, he offers his most personal statement yet. www.matthewhalsall.com
How long have you lived in Didsbury? I moved to Didsbury three years ago, but before that I lived in Withington which is only up the road.
How did you first get into jazz? My parents took me to a jazz club for a Sunday afternoon session and I saw a big band play the music of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. I remember the band playing Milestones and A Night In Tunisia and there are some heavy trumpet solos on those tunes. On stage, all these big band players had plenty of character to them. I told my parents there and then that I wanted to do what they do. Job done!
Location is very important to your work. Tell me about the inspiration for your latest album ‘Fletcher Moss Park’. Yes, I find that the environment in which I compose has a real impact on the music I create. I like writing music outside of my home; I like writing in beautiful environments. With this in mind I decided to compose my latest album in Fletcher Moss Park, which is just five minutes’ walk from my house.
Photo by Andrew Wood Photography
Japanese instrumentation (Koto and Shakuhachi) and brought in musicians to perform it live.
There’s an idea that jazz is appealing, these days, to a more diverse audience than the traditionalists. How do you account for this development? Yes it’s a very exciting time for jazz at the moment. There’s a whole younger generation coming through that have taken the sound into new and interesting places. They’re listening to a very eclectic range of music and bringing these influences into jazz.
What are you working on at the moment? I’m writing a new album which will feature trumpet, saxophone, bansuri flutes, harp, koto, piano, double bass, drums, strings and possibly some vocal tracks. I’m also collaborating on a number of other projects.
When are you happiest? When I’m with friends and family or composing or performing music.
How did it feel to be playing at Ronnie Scott’s?
Please finish the sentence: ‘I love Didsbury because …’
I love performing at Ronnie Scott’s; the venue has so much history. I’ve played there on a number of occasions now and I always try to make it extra special. For my last performance in January 2013 I composed some new music inspired by
I love Didsbury because of its many beautiful parks and independent shops, cafés and bars. It’s also very well connected to Manchester city centre.
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
5
DIDSBURY OPEN DOORS 2013 Heritage Open Days
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September
FREE Programme Didsbury Civic Society www.didsburycivicsociety.org.uk
New Venues & Activities
New Children’s ‘Look and Find Out Quiz’ Sponsored by the Faculty of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University www.mmu.ac.uk/education
Book Reviews by Deborah Grace Freeman, the spoiled, only daughter of a wealthy tradesman.
John Fowles
With a reverence for Darwin and the flickering of twentieth century sensibility, Charles seems destined to a life of married dissatisfaction. However, a series of chance encounters with an unhappy young woman shakes Charles’s complacency and sparks a tumultuous passion that, painfully and irrevocably, changes the course of his fortunes.
The year is 1867 and in the sleepy, seaside town of Lyme Regis, Charles Smithson, gentleman and heir presumptive to a baronetcy – indulges both his passion for fossil-hunting and the whims of his fiancée, Ernestina
Throughout his famous, postmodern parody (written in 1969!) of the Victorian novel, John Fowles manipulates the reader as skilfully as his mysterious heroine, Sarah Woodruff, confounds the lovelorn Charles. Frequent
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
Seaside? Is there any Sex in Jane Austen?
What Matters In Jane Austen? Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved John Mullan Do Sisters Sleep Together? Why is it Risky to Go to the
These are just some of the burning questions addressed in this intriguing essay collection by a man who certainly knows his Jane Austen! Given the insight and the wealth of detail displayed in his book, it is no surprise to learn that Professor John Mullan has been teaching Austen to university students for more than 25 years. However, this is no clunky, academic critique but an affectionate and highly entertaining exploration of the fascinating, fictional world inhabited by Jane Austen’s characters. From the significance of a woman’s age (Anne Elliott
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
narrative interruptions, including a choice of three endings and an appearance by the author himself, highlight the fictionality of the plot and challenge reader’s expectations of narrative closure. We know we’re being tricked but it is impossible not to be seduced by Fowles’ haunting masterpiece of love and loss. In Sarah, Fowles, a devotee of Thomas Hardy, arguably created one of English literature’s most enigmatic heroines, comparable only to Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Meanwhile, the tortured love affair of his two protagonists transcends not only the hypocrisy of an oppressive age, but the incredulity of the modern reader.
has apparently lost ‘bloom and spirits’ by the age of 27) to the physical and moral risks inherent in a seaside trip, Mullan’s inspired analysis provides Janeites with plenty of food for thought, encouraging readers to revisit Austen’s fiction with a freshly critical eye. For instance he categorises Dr Perry, in Emma, as one of those important characters whose opinion is frequently quoted by others, but who never actually speaks, himself! Obvious, perhaps, now you mention it, but it’s something that the reader might easily have missed and highlights the brilliance and subtlety of a novelist so ahead of her time.
7
Southern Cemetery John Cassidy (1860-1939)
by Nola Chesworth
Step inside the Cemetery Gates you not only step into one of Manchester’s finest nature reserves; you walk into the peaceful grounds, which are now home to some of Manchester’s finest historical figures. The cemetery office offers a list of ‘Notable Graves’ so you can find your way to the resting places of many Mancunians whose names are known much further away than Lancashire. In this new regular feature Nola Chesworth introduces us to some of those characters. John Cassidy, born in Ireland in 1860, moved to Manchester in his twenties where he studied sculpture at the Manchester School of Art; his works were exhibited on numerous occasions around Manchester between 1888 and 1935.
of Alderman Sir Daniel McCabe, Lord Mayor between 1913 and 1915. Outside, the bronze
creatures decorating the The Jubilee Fountain in Albert Square are some of Cassidy’s more unusual creations. Three further examples of his work can be found in John Ryalnds library; a sculpture of John Rylands himself and of his wife Enriqueta; as well as three stone figures ‘Theology directing the labour of Science and Art.’ Another prominent Cassidy sculpture is the statue of Edward VII in Whitworth Park.
Several war memorials he sculptured are standing proud around the country, while fine examples of his work can still be found in Manchester.
Cassidy died in 1939 and is buried in the Roman Catholic area of Southern Cemetery; his headstone recently restored, bears the words ‘His Hands Fashioned The Beauty He Saw.’
Around the corner from his first studio at The Barton Arcade, inside the Town Hall are two relief plaques in bronze, one commemorating the first transatlantic flight made by Alcock and Brown; the second
Dates for your diary
Didsbury Traders Meeting
Christ Church, West Didsbury
Fletcher Moss Pub
Fri 20 September - 7.30pm
Thursday 12 September 6-7pm
Sat 14 September - 7.30pm
Multiple Sclerosis Charity Concert
Organ Duets
Conductor Andrew Lucas
Sat 21 September
Richard Lowe and Andrew Condliffe-Jones
Guest performers including the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet
Cavendish Primary School’s Community Music Festival
8
Cavfest 2013
www.cavfest.org.uk
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Yin & Yang Yoga with Manjunaga in Didsbury Explore dynamic, Yang flowing movement through a combination of circular and spiral patterns as well as Yin style practice, focusing on restorative and deepening meditative practices, relaxing into body, heart & mind. Monday
6.00pm - 7.15pm drop-in class (all levels) The Old Parsonage Stenner Lane, Didsbury M20 2RQ. £6.50 / £5.50 conc. 7.30pm - 9.00pm drop-in class (Beginners) The Old Parsonage Stenner Lane, Didsbury M20 2RQ. £6.50 / £5.50 conc.
Tuesday
6.30pm - 8.00pm Yoga & Meditation course (Beginners) (7 week course) The Old Parsonage Stenner Lane, Didsbury M20 2RQ. (book a place via web site) £60.00 / £47.00 conc. Next date starts Tuesday 10th September.
Follow me on : www.facebook/yoga.manjunaga Follow me on : @twitter.com/yogamanjunaga Tel: 07914 304 402 Email: yoga@manjunaga.com
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX .CO.UK
www.manjunaga.com
9
Kathryn Stott charity concert boosts funds for local children’s hospice
A concert, starring worldfamous pianist Kathryn Stott, has raised more than £2,300 for Francis House Children’s Hospice in Didsbury. The event, a highlight of Didsbury Arts Festival 2013, featured a host of musical luminaries including violinist
Giovanni Guzzo, Didsburybased soprano Jill Taylor and musicians from the Hallé and Manchester Camerata. This week, Jill Taylor, of DAF, handed over a cheque for £2,332.88 to Francis House fundraising officer, Lucy Heald. The cash will help boost the charity’s work supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families throughout the North West. Lucy said, ‘The event was fantastic and Francis House Children’s Hospice would like to say a BIG thank you to Jill, Kathryn and all the artists involved.’
Photo by Les Johnson
Exploring Painting Recent closures of art classes run by Manchester Adult Education Service have resulted in many former MAES students banding together to form independent classes. Now new members are being actively recruited. Bringing a mix of artistic backgrounds and ability to the group, Exploring Painting is led by experienced tutors, well versed in motivating students, demonstrating varied media and setting interesting projects. Currently a group of 9 people, we work well together, sharing ideas and techniques; the group is self-administered in a spirit of mutual support and
10
co-operation. Our sister art group, Magpies, organises sketching trips and workshops; their current exhibition is at the Parsonage, Didsbury, until 31st August – come along and see some of our work. Fees for Exploring Painting are currently £75 per term. We are committed to access for all and are trying to secure sponsorship/funding for those unable to pay the full rate. We have some art materials and equipment loaned from MAES and the class will be held at the hall in Chorlton Park Adult Learning Centre, Mauldeth Road West, M21 7HH, a spacious, light venue overlooking a park. We meet every Tuesday starting 17th September, 1pm - 3.30pm.
Contact Rosemary Orr, rowojo@hotmail.com for further information on this and other art groups.
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Alexander Technique individual sessions and groups
Sue Fleming MSTAT www.alexanderteaching.co.uk ☎ 07796470163 Burton Road Clinic Didsbury Chequers Road Chorlton
new 10 week introductory course 24 September, FallowÞeld
Pauline Leng
MSTAT
www.alexandertechniquemanchester.net
☎ 07821470349 Didsbury Holistic Centre and Lidgate Grove Didsbury
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Village Physio & Sports Injury Clinic • • • • • •
Physiotherapy Sports Massage Massage in Pregnancy Core Strengthening Podiatry Ergonomic Assessments
3 Warburton Street, Didsbury Village, Manchester M20 6WA 0161 448 7844 didsburyphysio@btinternet.com www.didsburyphysio.co.uk
11
Rewarding customer loyalty up to
20%off
with our customer loyalty card scheme (terms & conditions apply)
Celebrating 30 years in Chorlton • Experts in stain removal • Ironing Services • Repars & Alterations
Same Day Service Available OPENING TIMES Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8.30-5.30pm Thurs (late night) Saturday
8.30-7.00pm
8.30-4.00pm
The Village Dry Cleaners A Family Affair Chorlton’s Village Dry cleaners was set up by husband and wife team Masoud and Nooshin back in the autumn of 1982. Their background had been in clothing manufacture and in tailoring respectively so when it came to fabrics they had a wealth of experience. From the outset, they worked hard to build up the reputation of the business, gaining a name for themselves for outstanding cleaning with friendly customer service. When their children were old enough to help out, their son and daughter used to come in on Saturdays and school holidays but it was their son Amir who took a real interest in the business. Learning his trade at his father’s side, Amir spent over 25 years working alongside Masoud. In 2008 Masoud decided it was time to retire and Amir took over the reins. Since taking over, Amir decided that The Village Dry Cleaners of Chorlton would be the best cleaners in Manchester. He has invested heavily in the latest machinery and technology which not only offers superb cleaning but is also more environmentally friendly. He did not stop there; he has modernised the whole shop, with glass frontage making a clean and airy space, and new interior décor which gives a more boutique look. Outside there is customer parking and
a new ramp giving easy access for wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs. He further modernised the business by adding late night opening hours on a Thursday and by creating a very sleek and extensive website which is well worth checking out. Amir is always looking for new ways to improve the business and stay ahead of the times whilst keeping that family feel and the friendly service that they are famous for. So what is new at the Village? Recently Amir has invested in one of the newest innovations in dry cleaning technology in the form of an Ozone machine. This can kill bacteria and eliminate odours without the use of potentially damaging chemicals. It’s particularly useful for getting rid of mould or the smell of clothes that may have been in storage for a long time and is proving to be very good at freshening up the Man Utd mascot Fred the Red! Another new addition is the hydrocarbon machine which can clean the most delicate of fabrics and all clothes which require F cleaning. The Village Dry Cleaners’ reputation for quality and professionalism has led it to become the first choice in cleaning for many of Manchester’s finest Bridal Boutiques so with so many delicate and ornate (not to mention expensive) dresses needing to be cleaned it is
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
essential that they have not only the best cleaning methods but also the safest. Word has spread about the high standards employed and, particularly for bridal and vintage wear, people are travelling from far and wide to use their services. Amir can not only clean wedding dresses but also veils and shoes and can place them in a beautiful handmade preservation box to keep forever. Another new line is the handbag cleaning and handbag care products. If you have an old beloved bag that has seen better days then take it in and see what they can do. So what’s happening next? A new computerised till which will make the dropping off and collecting of clothes a simpler process and which will notify customers via email when their clothes are ready for collection. And finally a new loyalty card scheme which offers customers up to 20% discount off their cleaning bill and which replaces the old 3 for 2 offer, so no need to wait until you have 3 dirty suits to clean just come in and pick up your free customer card and loyalty bag and start saving straight away!
13
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.
Community Courses in South Manchester Understanding Understanding and and Reducing Reducing Stress Stress Sat Sat 5th 5th Oct Oct 2013 2013
Developing Developing Assertiveness Assertiveness Skills Skills Sun Sun 6th 6th Oct Oct 2013 2013
Being Being in in aa Long Long Term Term Relationship Relationship Sat Sat 30th 30th Nov Nov 2013 2013
Listening Listening to to Our Our Dreams Dreams Sun Sun 1st 1st Dec Dec 2013 2013 Times: 10 – 5
Cost: £45.00
For more information, please contact the centre
Manchester Gestalt Centre for courses, psychotherapy, counselling and supervision Manchester Gestalt Centre 7 Norman Road Fallowfield M14 5LF www.mgc.org.uk Tel: 0161 257 2202 email info@mgc.org.uk
14
clive victor gale freelance hairdressing
CUTTING AND STYLING Ladies Cut and Blow Dry Gents Cut and Blow Dry
PRICES FROM
£28 £21
COLOURS AND TREATMENTS £51 Re-growth Tint £65 Full Colour Change Highlights from £65 inclusive of cut and blow Want a change from the Salon experience? Having your hair done should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. I have been hairdressing for 25 years and take great pride in listening to clients and understanding their expectations.
mob 07947 509 411 tel 0161 281 1122 WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
a local business with international reach Brigid Benson is looking tanned and relaxed following her holiday in the South of France. But now that she’s back, she’s raring to go. “Gaeia is celebrating its 20th Birthday with a series of events in September and October, including the launch of the Band on the Wall Foundation, so there’s a lot to get sorted” Brigid is well known in the world of ethical investment and is a pioneer, having set up Gaeia, her own ethical financial advice company, back in 1993. With a background in human rights campaigning and support for environmental causes, it would have come as no surprise to those who knew her. “People were beginning to think about where they didn’t want to put their money – negative
screening - but I wanted to adopt a more proactive approach. I wanted to look to projects where investing money would have a positive impact and make a real difference”.
in the heart of Manchester and the Gaeia advisory team is following in Brigid’s footsteps, championing ethical investment and sustainable living in their personal lives as well.
And Gaeia has come a long way since its humble home-based beginnings in Withington. A recent merger with Manchester investment managers Castlefield, a majority employee-owned company, has secured Gaeia’s future and given staff more opportunities.
Far from winding down, Brigid is always busy, committed to raising the profile of ethical investment. And the birthday celebrations on 26 September, combined with the launch of the Band on the Wall Foundation, epitomize Brigid’s commitment.
“It was a natural synergy” explains Brigid, “as both businesses share the same ethics and vision and an employee-owned business structure really appealed. I’ve recruited and trained local staff from Chorlton and Didsbury and we’ve worked together almost as a family these past 20 years, so I wanted to make sure they had a good home to go to.” Gaeia is now based alongside Castlefield at Piccadilly Gardens
“The Foundation, through the work of Brighter Sounds and others, will change the lives of many young people in the Greater Manchester area through music. It’s a great charitable cause, and one Gaiea is proud to be supporting” explains Brigid. • Band on the Wall Foundation launch and Gaeia 20th Birthday celebrations, Thursday 26 September 2013 from 6.30pm at Band on the Wall, Swan Street, M4 5JZ.
Gaeia is a trading name of Castlefield Gaeia Limited (CGL) and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
15
JP & Brimelow
Welcome to Life in Didsbury Summer is a fantastic time for lettings in the Didsbury area. Brighter, warmer days and blue skies make it ideal for potential tenants to start the hunt for their perfect new home. Properties look more appealing, gardens are in full bloom and everyone seems to be more cheery with lots of exciting things happening locally! When the sun comes out the desire is to spend more time outdoors. This month I’ve suggested some ideas of local places to visit and some great activities that make Didsbury Village and West Didsbury the vibrant areas we all love that can help attract professionals and families relocating. Take a look at my tips and please get in touch if we can help find your perfect new pad or that ideal new tenant for your property......
What’s happening in Didsbury?
Didsbury Village provides a lively and vibrant atmosphere including street cafes, bars and restaurants. There are a variety of local shops catering for day to day requirements including the popular award winning Cheese Hamlet and Reserve Wines. West Didsbury and the Burton Road area boasts individual boutiques and an array of bars including The Metropolitan, The Violet Hour, One Lounge Bar and plenty of restaurants catering for all tastes.
Lu�� Br���
Didsbury Lettings Manager MARLA
Botanical Gardens/Tennis anyone? You must visit Fletcher Moss Park & Botanical Gardens. Ice Cream sellers, home-made cakes and outdoor seating provide a restful stop on warm sunny days exploring this lovely park. The stepped botanical gardens are a must and it’s also possible to walk from the park to the river bank and on to neighbouring Northenden. Tennis courts and the open air theatre are open during the summer. The north exit brings you out to the Old Cock Inn and Dimitris Greek Restaurant. @FMCTennis
DIDSBURY LETTINGS 721 Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 6WF
0161 445 2300 lettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
@jpandbrimelow
Cricket / Lacrosse / Hockey Welcome to Didsbury Cricket Club, a multisports and social club. Providing excellent playing and coaching facilities for cricket, hockey and lacrosse at a variety of levels. If you are interested in playing one of these sports for fun or at a competitive level, or just looking for an opportunity to socialise in a comfortable environment in the heart of Didsbury then get in touch. www.didsburyccsports.co.uk/ @DidsburyCC
Get Fit Fitness Boot Camp runs exercise classes twice a week in Didsbury Park. www.fitnessbootcamp.co.uk info@fitnessbootcamp.co.uk
Yoga Iyengar Yoga Manchester are based in Didsbury and offer a range of general and specialist ‘iYoga’ classes which are suitable for everyone, regardless of age, fitness or ability. iYoga sessions are held the new iYoga Centre on the Didsbury/Heaton Mersey border and within easy reach of Manchester.
www.yogaindidsbury.co.uk/ @iYogaManchester
Dust Off Your Clubs Didsbury Golf Club is a mature easy walking 18 hole parkland course meandering along the banks of the River Mersey. The clubhouse provides stunning views across the course with lounge, bar and meeting rooms suitable for various functions. Car parking facilities are available in the main car park and the separate overspill car park. 0161 448 0622 DIDSBURY SALES 748a Wilmslow Rd didsbury@jpbrimelow.co.uk Didsbury M20 2DW
www.didsburygolfclub.co.uk @didsgolf
Eating Out The Deli in Didsbury Village offers the superb atmosphere of an Italian delicatessen, whether you sit inside or out. The service is on a level you would expect from a family run business in terms of service and quality. The centre piece is the Deli-Counter which is filled with all the salad ingredients, pastas, cakes and sandwiches. Above hang all the smoked meats and fresh herbs. The brightly coloured decor can’t help but perk up your day and what a fantastic spot to watch the world go by! www.thedelididsbury.co.uk @delididsbury
Didsbury News & Events Check out this great online resource for local news, events and business listings. www.didsburylife.com @didsburylife 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 o d al do to is w us pra fe ll a Ca t ap ke ar m
The iYoga Centre is run by Carolyn Ferguson, a highly experienced and qualified Iyengar yoga teacher. All iYoga sessions are designed to provide a warm and friendly environment in which to improve your health, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Didsbury Golf Club is renowned for its friendly yet competitive atmosphere. It enjoys the best practice facilities in South Manchester, together with professional tuition supervised by the Cheshire County PGA Coach, Peter Barber. Didsbury Golf Club offers its Members and Visitors alike a haven of tranquillity within the city boundaries.
0161 445 2300 Offices also in: Chorlton 0161 882 2233 chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk Withington 0161 445 9700 withington@jpbrimelow.co.uk
Green Food Trail, 2013 A weekend long celebration of local, seasonal food, organised by Didsbury Dinners Saturday 7 September Unicorn Grocery, Chorlton 2-4pm, Free Apple juicing in-store to mark the start of the UK apple season.
Westcroft Community Centre, Burnage 5-8pm, Free Cookery demonstrations, good growing activities, stalls & live music
Sunday 8 September Adbundance, Manchester 12pm Free, pre-booking essential abundancemanchester@yahoo.co.uk
Fruit/veg harvesting
Fletcher Moss Community Orchard 2-4pm, Free
Activities at five sites...
Community BBQ
Barlow Moor Road Community Garden 4-6pm ÂŁ2, pre-booking essential grow@didsburydinners.com
Community BBQ | Food harvesting & blackberry picking | Apple juicing | Food growing activities | Cookery demonstrations | Stalls and workshops | live music
Advertise to 10,000+ home for as little as ÂŁ25/month.
email editor@commu
18
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Community Index Societies & Groups Acting For Fun Central Didsbury 431 4794 Didsbury Amateur Dramatics celestaplayers. co.uk
Didsbury Civic Society didsburycivicsociety. org.uk Didsbury Cricket Club didsburyccsports.co.uk
Didsbury Dinners
Didsbury Village WI didsburyvillagewi.co.uk
Friends of Didsbury Park friendsofdidsbury park.co.uk
Friends of Fletcher Moss Park Alan Hill 215
0971 awhill@globalnet. co.uk
Friends of Marie Louise Gardens marielouisegardens.org.uk
Manchester JKF Karate Club Didsbury
didsburydinners.wordpress. com For general enquiries/ Community growing group: didsburydinners@yahoo. co.uk
MMU Sports Centre, Tuesdays 8.30pm Ben Pollock, 07894108944
Community cooking group community.
11am-12 at The Didsbury Parsonage, Stenner Lane Didsbury M20 2RQ. Donation £2. Enquiries to Christine 07734 072040.
cooking@yahoo.co.uk
Didsbury Good Neighbours Every
Tues 10-11.45am coffee morning. Didsbury Sure Start Centre, Didsbury Park 07749 504298 www. didsburygoodneighbours. com
Didsbury Ladies Probis Club Alternate Monday
afternoons in East Didsbury. Joan Woodall 0161 434 2532
Didsbury Village East Residents Association dvera.co.uk
Oneness Deeksha Meditation Saturdays
South Manchester Camera Club smcc.org.uk Didsbury Over 50s Group 247 2323 South Manchester U3A 1st Tuesday of the month 2pm, Emmanuel Church. Edna 434 2509
West Didsbury Bookgroup Meets every
four weeks at 7.30pm. Lively mixed group of all ages. Call 445 4483 leaving your name, address & landline
es
West Didsbury Residents Association Pam Siddons
445 5406 westdidsbury. org.uk
Social & Support Groups 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
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
Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service 905 1100
Manchester City Council 234 5000
Didsbury East Councillors Andrew Simcock
cllr.a.simcock@manchester. gov.uk
Andrew Taylor
cllr.a.taylor@manchester. gov.uk
If you run a Community or voluntary Group in Chorlton & Whalley Range and would like to be featured in Community Index please get in touch at editor@ communityindex.co.uk
M & H BUILDING CONTRACTORS City & Guilds qualified tradesman with 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
unityindex.co.uk WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Tel: Stephen Harrison 07912351114 Joe Murphy 07525415612 email: stee_harrison@hotmail.co.uk
19
September In Your Garden by Katherine Watson September is the time when summer fades and the garden is settling into a slower pace. It is also a good time to plant as the earth is still warm, and will remain so for a while yet, allowing the establishment of root systems. It is a particularly good time to think about the structure of your garden and the positioning of hard working evergreen or winter flowering shrubs to form the backdrop to the shorter lived perennial borders. Shrubs that have the added bonus of scented flowers in winter and spring are definitely worth considering. When I lived in a flat off Corkland road fifteen years ago and long before I had any notion of doing anything horticultural, I remember being entranced by the most intoxicating smell I had ever experienced on my early spring walk to the bus stop. I had no idea what the plant was but vowed to have one in my garden as soon as I had something more than a car park. That shrub turned out to be a Viburnum x burkwoodii flowering from winter to late spring and producing a scent you’ll never be without again. The problem with many shrubs is size and aspect
especially in small gardens, so you will have to be selective about what you choose. The V. x burkwoodii reaches 2m but a smaller variety is V. juddii that might be worth trying (1.5m). Another large shrub with lovely scent in spring is Osmanthus delavyi or O. x burkwoodii with pretty jasmine like flowers (3m). A summer flowering shrub well known to many is Philadelphus (mock orange) but again this can get quite rangy if left unattended despite its captivating scent. For autumn scent you could try the common Eleagnus x ebbingei which isn’t the most pretty but acts as a good foil to other plants (3m), or the evergreen Osmanthus heterophyllus flowering in mid-late autumn. Some of my favourites are the winter flowering Daphnes. The Daphne odora x transatlantica group and more common D. aureomarginata are also good for smaller places as they form compact, neat dome-like shrubs (1m).
Shrubs that have the added bonus of scented flowers in winter and spring are definitely worth considering.
Garden Design Planting Advice Consultation Service Project Managment
07989968841 www.fatgrass.co.uk 20
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Local Sport in Didsbury by Geoff Garnett Triple success for Albert’s young stars The Albert Tennis Club in West Didsbury is proud of its record of developing young players under the expert guidance of coach David Chadwick. Three of his young stars were individual winners at the Woodside Tennis Club junior tournament. David said: “Winning tennis tournaments is really tough and for us to have three in one event is amazing.” The winners were Olivia Gilson in the u12 girls, Max Howe in the u12 boys and Amber Allen who won the Myra Nevett Cup.
Triple success for Albert’s young stars
Pic : (left to right) Olivia, Amber, Max
Great Day for charity at Didsbury Didsbury Golf Club helped raise well over £2,000 for the joint charities of Macmillan Cancer Support and Motor Neurone Disease at its Captain’s Charity Day. The winning team were Fred Finley, Mike Wardrop, Darran Morrison and former Man City legend Roy Cheetham. There was also a special presentation to Ashia Miah, owner of the Gatley Cuisine Restaurant who was delighted to receive a signed Man City shirt as a tribute to his sponsorship of the event over the last 12 years.
Pic : Sandy Jones presents the Man City shirt to Ashia Miah, watched by his son Abdul and Peter Jamieson.
Our area is very rich in community sports clubs and they rely so much on voluntary efforts. These sports articles try to provide an insight into the huge amount of work done by these volunteers on behalf of their local community. If you have any stories about sport in Didsbury contact Geoff on 0161 881 7550 or ggggarnett@aol.com WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
21
Withington Golf Club Captain’s Day Captain’s Day is always one of the highlights of the season at Withington Golf Club and Captain Alan Stewart was delighted to have perfect weather for the long day which involved all sections of the club. Withington always care for their past heroes and officials and Alan took great pride in welcoming many past Captains to refreshments at the small marquee handily placed by the 18th green. There they were able to go back over old times and relate many stories and experiences from their beloved club.
gross of 72.
It was also a full day of golf with the top prize going to Paul Cragg with a fine return of 65 seeing him two shots clear of Peter George and Andrew Dunn with Brian Monks having the best
The previous day had seen Withington juniors play for their Captain’s Prize. Ateeb Khan was an emphatic winner with a fine 76-4=72 card seeing him ten shots clear of the field.
D
G AN
TERIN PLAS
G ATINICES R O DEC SERV
ing aster l P f ts o spec a oval l l m e r ·A er llpap hanging a W · er llpap ip a W ansh · m k g r n o i w nt · Pai quality d o · Go
£10 discount with this advert
Call Amir
0161 283 0552 / 07786 664 333 e : info@skplasteringservices.com w : www.skplasteringservives.com
22
WWW.COMMUNITYINDEX.CO.UK
Business Index Accountancy & Finance
Health & Wellbeing
Gaeia 14
Alexander Technique
11
Samatha Meditation
23
Yoga with Manjunaga
9
Building & Maintenance M & H Building Contractors
19
Painting & Decorating
Chimney Sweep Acorn Chimney Sweeping Services
15
Carol Smith Home Improvement
15
Plastering
Cleaning Oven Wizards
2
Profresh Carpet Cleaners
2
SK Plastering & Decorating
Physiotherapy Village Physio
Courses
22
Gestalt Centre
14
Tree Services
Instituto Cervantes
24
Tree Station
11
2
Dry Cleaners Village Dry Cleaners
12-13
MEDITATION CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS
Estate Agent JP & Brimelow
16-17
Film Didsbury Film
22
Gardening Fat Grass Garden Design
20
Hairdressing Clive Victor Gale
14
Handyman/woman Didsbury Handyman
2
Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.
AT THE MANCHESTER CENTRE FOR BUDDHIST MEDITAITON 21 HIGH LANE, CHORLTON
New classes starting 16th Sept Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening at 8pm, Monday at 1.30pm, and Saturday at 11am. These classes are open to all comers, but the Tuesday evening session is particularly designed for under 25s.
The form of meditation offered here is called ‘Samatha’ which means ‘calm’ To find out more, see our website www..samatha.org or ring 0161 2251808
please mention Community Index when responding to adverts
23