Pawing The Way

‘PAWING THE WAY’

©The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club Issues Advice To Protect The Nation’s Dogs As Restrictions Continue To Lift Across England

The organisation’s postlockdown ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide’ offers advice and guidance for new and seasoned dog owners to navigate newly found freedoms.

With Covid-19 restrictions easing further from Monday (17 May) and the relaxation of rules around overnight stays, indoor dining and socialisation, The Kennel Club has issued advice to help dog owners enjoy their newly found freedoms responsibly, alongside their four-legged friends.

Launched earlier this year to support responsible dog ownership as the UK began to open up after a year of restrictions, The Kennel Club’s ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide out of Lockdown’ provides information and advice on exploring further afield, travelling and staycations, and planning dogfriendly adventures, as the country continues to open up.

Mirroring the four nations’ plan to ease lockdown, the guide aims to help the UK’s much-loved canine companions to adjust as normality begins to resume and advise owners as they re-discover the wider world with their dog, after months of staying at home. It includes tips on walking in the countryside, guidance on navigating dog-friendly establishments and warm weather advice, including if you’re travelling or going away with your four-legged friend, to ensure dogs are safe and comfortable wherever they go.

“Whether you have a wellbalanced dog or a new puppy, a year of pandemic restrictions means that our pets have missed out on lots of socialisation opportunities, walks to new or further afield places, trips away and generally life as we knew it,” commented Bill Lambert,

Head of Health and Welfare at The

Kennel Club. “In fact, many puppies may have only experienced life in lockdown, and we can’t expect them to immediately adapt to what ‘normal’ life is like; we need to ease them in and help them to learn about the wider world.

“Many puppies, and even older dogs, will have lost vital socialisation and training opportunities due to lockdown restrictions and need their owners to lead the way, recognising their responsibilities and preparing them as the world continues to open up.

“With some new-found freedoms from today in England, it’s great that we can start introducing, or reintroducing, our dogs to the wider world and discover it by their side again. Our ‘Paw-by-Paw’ resource doesn’t only help all dog owners to adjust to the new normal happily and safely, but also provides useful advice about seasonal dangers, dog-friendly holidays and ‘petiquette’ at pubs, cafes and restaurants. Our guide is an excellent checklist to make use of before any trip to make sure your four-legged friend will enjoy this adventure safely and comfortably.”

The ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide’ includes expert advice on getting your dog used to being around other people, dogs and animals, navigating certain situations and environments, as well as how to find dog-friendly holidays and places to visit, so owners can make future plans with their dogs as we enter the third stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown: thekennelclub.org.uk/ pawbypaw.

Above: Robert Peel statue, Market Place, Bury. Credit - Curtis Delaney / Shutterstock.com

BURY

By Richard Sagar

The thriving northern market town of Bury has much to offer – be it its deep and varied history, or the town it has become today - there really is something for everyone woven into Bury’s rich tapestry. Join me as I examine the past and present of this remarkable town.

Situated on the banks of the River Irwell in the North West of England, this large market town once fell within the boundaries of Lancashire, but (as a proud Lancastrian myself!) we sadly lost this gem to Greater Manchester in more recent years. Rising to eminence as a textile manufacturing town in the industrial revolution, Bury is a northern mill town with a difference. Not many towns have a former prime minister as one of their past residents, whereas lots of Bury’s notable landmarks are dedicated to its very own Sir Robert Peel (twice PM of the UK). If history, memorials and architecture aren’t your bag however, there is always the charm of the bustling Bury Market to stimulate the senses – perhaps sampling some local delights such as the internationally acclaimed Bury Black Pudding amongst others.

The eclectic mix of attractions Bury has on offer are to be enjoyed and appreciated by all – and I invite you to delve a little deeper with me now.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

At the start of the 18th Century, things took a dramatic turn for the town of Bury. Previously an area dominated by sheep farming and wool, a change in the world of textiles had a profound affect on this once sleepy area. Much of this change was instigated by Mr John Kay who was born in the Lancashire hamlet of Walmersley, just north of Bury on 17 June 1704. In 1733 John Kay received a patent for the ‘flying shuttle’ – an invention of his allowing for a significant increase in productivity with weaving. This and other inventions led to the Industrial Revolution entering full swing. Not only because of John Kay’s connections to the area, but also because of its abundance of soft water and American cotton brought in from the port of Liverpool, a vast number of mills were built in and around the town of Bury – leading to a dramatic increase in the size of the town at an astonishing rate!

Peel was born in Chamber Hall, Bury into a wealthy family – their fortune made from the textile industry in the industrial revolution. Initially educated in Bury, Peel then moved onto Harrow School and latterly Christ Church, Oxford where he became the first student to take a double first in Classics and Mathematics. Clearly an astute individual, Peel entered politics as an MP at the young age of 21 and in 1822 entered the cabinet as Home Secretary. In this position, Peel made several law reforms to modernise the somewhat archaic legal system. Alongside legal reforms, in 1829 Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force for London, based at Scotland Yard. At this stage, the MET was 1,000 constables strong – often taking the name of their founder as Peelers. Hugely successful in cutting crime in London, by 1857 all cities in Britain were forced to form their own police forces, rendering Peel the ‘father of modern policing’.

In 1834 Peel first became Prime Minister, where in his statement of policy he introduced the Tamworth Manifesto, which is the document on which the modern Conservative party was founded. Despite being leader of the largest party in parliament, from 1835 until 1841 Peel actually served as leader of the opposition, irritated that the continuous attempts of other parties to de-rail the policies of Peel’s large (but not majority-holding) party. Nonetheless, Peel served again as Prime Minister between 1841 and 1846 where he implemented a number of financial and social reforms.

Sadly passing away in 1850 following a riding incident, Peel left behind him a great legacy; twice Prime Minister, originator of the modern Conservative party and founder of modern policing – not bad for a young lad from Bury.

PEEL TOWER AND MEMORIAL

Standing 128 feet high on Holcombe Hill, the Peel Tower is an impressive sight. Opened in 1852, this imposing structure was erected to celebrate the life of Sir Robert Peel, discussed above. If you’re feeling energetic enough to climb the 148 steps up it, the views are incredible – on a good day you can see as far as North Wales!

Despite its impressive stature and location, this beautiful monument sadly isn’t open overly often, with a small group of volunteers opening on various Sundays throughout the year. If there is a white flag flying, then you’re in luck and it is open for visitors! If not, you can always make the most of the impressive views even from the base of the tower, and the plethora of beautiful walks around it to suit all ages and abilities.

An infantry regiment of the British Army for some 280 years, the Lancashire Fusiliers (now part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) has a wealth of history and distinguished service – and had its head quarters at Wellington Barracks, Bury! Officially named the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1881 having had several other names prior, the Fusiliers played an important role in the First and Second World Wars, and into more recent history too. There is now the Fusilier Museum on Moss Street in Bury – with collections including the uniforms, medals and artefacts of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Opened by the Duke of Kent in 2009, this impressive war museum currently holds no less than 5 Victoria Crosses awarded to past members of the regiment. For anybody with an eye for history and a desire to understand the lengths our forefathers went to in order to protect and secure our way of life, this is an absolute gem.

VICTORIA WOOD

Born in nearby Prestwich but brought up in Bury was one of comedies finest; Victoria Wood CBE. A wonderful satirist, much of her understanding of life and the humour one can find in it came from those early days in Bury – a time when she didn’t quite fit into her surroundings and instead, spent time watching life and how it played out, “The good thing about being isolated is you get a good look at what goes on” is how she described it.

Victoria studied at Bury Grammar school where she explained her time thus “I was always top of the class, and when I went to grammar school I could not deal with everyone being as clever... I went under. I was a mess, a bit of a misfit. I didn’t have any friends, let alone try to be funny...I didn’t do any work, didn’t have clean clothes and didn’t wash. If I didn’t have any money I’d steal from people, and if I hadn’t done my homework I’d steal someone else’s. I was envious of all the groups: the horsey group, the girls who went out with boys, the clever ones. Looking back, I feel really sorry for that little girl.”

But despite her early years being troubled, Victoria went from strength to strength in her education and career. At the age of 15 she joined Rochdale Youth Theatre, where she developed her comic and writing skills and then went on to the University of Birmingham where she studied Drama.

Victoria had a fabulous run of success over several decades – being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1997, given an honorary Doctorate in 1994, and being appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2008. She won numerous awards, such as ‘Funniest Comedian’, ‘Best Live Stand up’, ‘Best Female TV Comic’ to name but a few. Wood was also a 14-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, and won an incredible 4!

Sadly, as all great things have to come to an end, Wood was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in late 2015 and sadly passed away in April 2016. But, what a legacy she left behind her – an absolute comedy legend, and a true credit to the great Northern town she grew up in.

For over 500 years, Bury Market has dominated retail across the area – not just in Bury itself but throughout the North West! It is critically acclaimed, winning ‘Market of the Year’ in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015, along with being voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Market’ in 2019. Open each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (every day but Sundays for the inside market) this is a real feast for the senses as thousands of shoppers swarm to the area – hungry for a bargain or a culinary treat.

An interesting section of the market’s own website describes a period of adversity faced by the market and its traders and its swift recovery as follows, “In November 1968 a fire devastated Bury’s Market Hall and the building was razed to the ground, but this did not stop trading. Outdoor traders gave up parts of their stalls to indoor traders demonstrating camaraderie by everyone. A new temporary Market Hall was built at a cost of around £30,000 and opened in March 1969 then on 6 October 1971, the new Bury Market site opened.

The New Market Hall, described as one of the best equipped and most architecturally striking market halls in the north-west with its ‘bird-wing’ roof, and Open Market were built at an estimated cost of £900,000. It is this magnificent hall that is still the home of the indoor market’s 60 stalls which offer a wide variety of goods and services including; giftware, hardware, linens, haberdashery, clothing, electrical goods, food, hairdressing, manicures, shoe repairs, key cutting - we could go on!”

All in all, this is a market with a difference. Whether it is down to its heritage, its impressive size, the theatre of the meat and fish sellers or the sheer variety of what is stocked here, Bury Market is a fine way to spend a day with the family.

BLACK PUDDING

A true northern delicacy, black pudding and Bury go hand in hand. Usually boiled and served with vinegar, you really haven’t sampled Bury at its finest ‘til you’ve tried this. Historically a way of using by-products of the pork industry to their best effect, this Bury institution has filled the stomachs of many a hungry local since the 15th century (and possibly before!).

So celebrated a part of life in Bury, neighbouring Ramsbottom hosts the annual World Black Pudding Throwing Championships each September, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators to the town. Yet again, another example of the charm and unique nature of this fantastic town and its surrounding areas.

I do hope you’ve enjoyed my whistle stop tour of the remarkable town of Bury – the home of Prime Ministers, comedians, nationally renowned monuments, museums and food markets, this Northern gem has something for everyone – why not take a look for yourself!