RDSALL OY! OY! OY!
WHERE’S OUR £70K?
WHERE’S OUR ORDSALL?
WHERE’S OUR LITTERBUG?
Nigel Pivaro
on Ordsall past present and future MEDIA CITY OR
MORRISONS Where are you more
likely to get a job?
BACKS TO THE WALL
Ordsall’s Hidden Attraction!
LIGHTING THE
LEGEND
At the home of
Guy Fawkes’ plot!
CONTAMINATED
ORDSALL We check the fall-out
Plus: What’s On In Ordsall…News…Views
ORDSALL UNDERCOVER Welcome to the first issue of Ordsall Undercover, a new independent local magazine for our community. Inside you will find lots of stories on all things Ordsall. Wow, there’s been some changes around here, from the new look Ordsall Hall to the new build Morrisons. We’ve packed the magazine full of stuff - memories of the changing face of Ordsall, stories on local people doing great things and, hopefully, lots of recognisable faces. We’re really interested in finding out what you think of the magazine, so if you want to share your thoughts why not get in touch with us. For the next issue we want to involve even more Ordsall residents, so if you have ideas for a story please get in touch….What gets on your nerves? What’s brilliant? What do you think we should be writing about? Or if you’d like to take photographs for the magazine, put some art in it, or write for it, again, just get in touch. In the meantime, why not have a brew, relax and find out what’s happening undercover in Ordsall! ORDSALL UNDERCOVER CONTACT DETAILS: E-mail: Ordsallundercover@hotmail.co.uk Phone 07714 760672
ORDSALL UNDERCOVER WINNER When we first had the idea of doing a community magazine for Ordsall we created a little competition to `name the newsletter’. And it was Brittany Dennis’s mum who came up with the title Ordsall Undercover.
The prize was to feature on the cover of the first issue and mum handed over the honour to Brittany who also features in a fashion shoot high up on the roof of Nine Acre Court. Congratulations to them both – and if anyone else wants to model for the next issue just get in touch!
Contributors: Lisa Heywood, Pat Simpkin, Emma Arnold, George Tapp, Sylvia Sharples, Beckie Hough, Elliot Radcliffe, Nathan Thompson, Robert Jeffery, Gail Skelly, Brittany Dennis, Taya Gormley, Sarah Lousie Parkes, Paul Mansfield, Ken Williamson, Ian Birt, Cindy Schaller, Nigel Pivaro, Nargiza Rizueva. Facilitated by Stephen Kingston and Steven Speed With thanks to: Ordsall Community café, Ordsall Community Arts, Rev Sandra Kearney, Dave and Cheryl Jay, Ruth Abou Rached. Printed by: Caric Press Ltd, 525 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AQ Tel: 01202 871766 www. caricpress.co.uk
ORDSALL UNDERCOVER CONTENTS FIREWORKS IN A BOTTLE…
The Lighting the Legend bonfire night extravaganza is well happening but why is Ordsall Community Arts worker Gail going without the booze?
WHERE’S OUR LITTERBUG?
Ordsall has got its own Ladybird style road sweeper, right? Wrong!
WHERE’S OUR £70,000?
All the ground rents from all the new houses were supposed to go into a community fund. So what happened?
WHERE’S OUR ALLOTMENT? A proper political hot potato
WHERE’S OUR ORDSALL?
Ordsall becomes part of Manchester…Save Our Salford!
CONTAMINATED ORDSALL
A cocktail of chemicals on the front doorstep
MEDIA CITY OR MORRISONS…
Where do Ordsall people feel they’re more likely to get a job?
NIGEL PIVARO ON ORDSALL PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE Starring Irene from Nine Acre Court
ORDSALL’S HIDDEN ATTRACTION
Backs to the wall with the region’s top graffiti
VANISHING ORDSALL
Primrose Hill Primary gets the heritage
HOOKY ON THE HALL
As a new film on Ordsall Hall is released, Peter Hook gives us his memories
ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE ORDSALL
Fashion and passion on the roof of Nine Acre Court
DIVERSITY DANCE
Ordsall girl goes Fierce with the superstar Diversity crew
THE SALFORD MISSION The end of an icon
SACRED ROCKS
Heavy melodies from the family trio Plus: What’s On In and What’s News in Ordsall
Ordsall Events
FROM DOCK M
K TO MEDIA CITY
Nigel Pivaro, who for many years lived in Nine Acre Court, takes a look at Ordsall past, present and future with senior citizen Irene Radcliffe… Cargo shipping in the old Manchester Docks will south of the Park, and on the site of the old race continue, if the powers that be at Peel are to be believed. I can reveal this after eventually receiving an answer to a query I put to Peel on behalf of a national newspaper.
The confirmation about shipping relates specifically to grain boats that deliver a thousand tonnes of corn to number three berth at Manchester Dry Docks on the Trafford side of the Ship Canal. A lot of people reading this may be thinking what has this news to do with a magazine about Ordsall what does it matter that ships will still be able to ply their trade and discharge their cargoes beyond the Mode Wheel Lock at Weaste? Well for me, and many others over 40, that small cargo is the last link with the real true identity of Ordsall intertwined as it was with the Docks and the mystique and pride that went with it. Ordsall was not just Ordsall. It was the Port of Manchester, the Barbary Coast… Salford Docks, the biggest and busiest end of the Ship Canal for many years handling millions of tonnes of cargo every year. The docks was Ordsall and Ordsall was the Docks. It is what defined the area…in fact the coming of the docks was really why Ordsall existed as it did from the 1890s, to the 1980s. And the departure of shipping and its jobs are perhaps what has defined Ordsall ever since. With the opening of the Docks came Trafford Park and its huge factories and more dense housing
course between where Broadway and Eccles New Road stands today. The area became developed to the brink, with each scrap of land built upon, and either factory, commercial or cheap housing occupying every square foot with the exception Ordsall Park.
The docks was Ordsall and Ordsall was the Docks. It is what defined the area The Docks was the reason why Ordsall was developed, why it thrived if not prospered, and why it was targeted by German bombers between 1940 and 1941. The Docks decline is why thousands of people moved away to find work elsewhere and perhaps the reason that crime was able to grip the Ordsall estate in the nineties and lead to some of the worst rioting England had seen in recent years. It is why the neighbourhood, despite having so few recognizable landmarks and attributes, and lack of a focal community, still boasts fierce pride incomprehensible to the outsider. The outsider could be forgiven for thinking that Ordsall is that bit either side of the dual carriageway between town and Media City that you have to drive through to get onto the M602 and beyond. Strictly speaking that is true but there is more to Ordsall than Sainsbury’s and a couple of Discount Tile centre’s - Salford Lads Club, Ordsall Old Hall, Stowell’s Steeple and a couple of rusting old cranes provide a few clues as to the neighbourhoods former glories.
But beyond the archeological oddities that stand out from the blandness of revamped 1980s council housing there is something more important, more revealing of the spirit of Ordsall, as personified by one of its oldest residents Irene Radcliffe. Reinforcing the link of Ordsall to the Docks and the gateway to the sea beyond, Irene’s father worked as a stevedore for over forty years. A stevedore, as Irene explained, had to be not only physically strong but intelligent too. It was their task to oversee the gangs of dockers loading and discharging cargoes safely and efficiently. Irene explained how he would go to work with a pocket full of tally’s (numbered counters that gave casual dockers the right to work for the day). She describes the area around Robert Hall Street as having a pub on every corner and states proudly that everybody kept their houses nice
“It was a big improvement, it was very posh...” Irene on Sunnyside Court “I was from a family of twelve with five brothers and five sisters” she says “We would bath in front of the fire and the toilet was outside. My dad worked long hours but he made good money. Most people had big families then and you all seemed to help one and other, it was all so friendly. There were no tvs but there were lots of picture houses, lots of pubs and social clubs.” The Docks provided work for other members of Irene’s family, with her brother in law working as a pilot guiding the huge ships into their narrow berths. Irene tells me there were a few pubs specifically for the prostitutes - The Fox, The Clowes and the King Billy - that did a roaring trade especially during the war. Irene herself worked in British Home Stores on Regent Road for 28 years, before it was closed due to demolition. She could have gone to work in the
Bolton store but decided to take the £200 offered to her for long service. And, if there is one thing she would bring back it would be the “magnificent” Regent Road with its choice of shops for every need. The Ordsall Irene describes sounds almost exotic compared to what it is now, a wonderland of oddities that must have instilled residents with a sense of the exceptional. “We used to have cattle coming through the street on the way to the abattoir to be slaughtered off the trains and off the ships” she recalls “That used to frighten me to death as a child.” There was also wartime bombing which, despite its horrors, bonded already close knit neighbours even closer. “During the war we had a reinforced shelter down our cellar” Irene remembers “And when the sirens sounded we would go down there, sometimes ten of us maybe more, and stay there with the bombs coming down. But my dad never used to go down. He would say `If the bomb’s got your name on it then there is nothing you can do’. “The corner of our street was bombed” she adds “Our kitchen was destroyed, and the houses opposite us were hit, all the walls on one side collapsed and some people we knew were killed. “People would have to sleep in the shelter overnight because they were homeless but we had some good times down there. You would bring all sorts of things down with you, food and stuff and the fellas would take down bottles of beer. When you came out of the shelter the next day all the sky
would be red I always remember that. Nobody knows what people went through with that bombing.” Irene had to leave her home in Robert Hall Street for the last time in 1970 when, along with most of the rest of Ordsall, it was demolished and she and her husband moved in to Sunnyside Court. “It was a big improvement, it was very posh but still we were very upset to leave the old house” she says. Irene stayed at Sunnyside until problems with drug dealing and other anti social behaviour became too bad. The council evacuated the block and re-housed residents in Nine Acre Court where she has happily lived ever since. How does Irene think Ordsall has changed over the years? “There is more green space than there was and it’s a lot cleaner but I wish we could have Regent Road back, and I prefer the Docks to what’s there now” she decides “The ships were wonderful, my dad could tell which ship was coming and leaving just by the sound of the whistle. He would say `Listen to that ship’s hooter, that’s an American ship that’s just come in’. I don’t know how he could tell, he just could. And when it was New Year all the ships would blow their horns, I miss the sound of that.” As we look over to the where the tall office blocks of Media City stand, I reflect on whether all this will have the same meaning to future generations of Salfordians as the cranes, ships and factories had on those generations that went before. As if to remind us of why this part of town was so special to so many thousands of people from both Salford and the rest of the globe, the little coaster arrives from Liverpool with its hull full of corn for the Hovis mill yards from the wharf side...
VANISHING At Primrose Hill Primary School, the Salford Streets Museum project is working with Year 6 pupils to create memories of old Ordsall. Nathan Thompson went along to the school to see the project at work. With photos by Cindy Schaller I n Primrose Hill Primary School’s busy art room,
pupils are enthusiastically exploring vanished Ordsall and their families’ connections to it. Some are creating scenes based on street signs recovered from places that no longer exist; some have found pictures of their ancestors in community history books and are incorporating them into their art; all, whether they know it or not, are engaging with their heritage. It’s all part of the ReTracing Salford project, which is out on the road, reconnecting people in Ordsall (and Salford as a whole) with their area and community history. Co-ordinator, Lawrence Cassidy says that the aim is to rediscover and create a living memorial to celebrate Salford’s communities that have passed without commemoration – and to explore their significance for a new generation. Back in the art room, Connor has found a sign for St James Street, now demolished, where his grandmother used to live and is trying to imagine how it might have looked, and how it would have felt to live there. Like all the pupils, he is painting a scene that will be stencilled onto commemorative plate designs to be displayed in a school exhibition and at the A-Z of Lost Salford Streets exhibition at People’s History Museum in Manchester.
Another picture highlights an old sign stating that `Salford Quays will be no playground’, a prophecy for the tumbleweed-docks if ever there was one. Despite nearly falling in once, Dylan assures me that the Quays are a nice place to go and have a meal, though it’s a shame people are spoiling them with litter. The swans clearly have a bit of a following too, as do the historic cranes that, for the moment, are still towering over the docks. Lawrence and his colleagues are proving how much there is to rediscover. Getting youngsters so enthusiastic about their heritage can only help them to take pride in it - and to play a part in deciding what kind of community they want Ordsall to be now and in the future. The ReTracing Salford team are still working in Ordsall schools on their Salford Streets Museum project. The A-Z of Lost Streets exhibition will continue at the Chapel Street Gallery, Lamb Court, Chapel Street, M3 (in basement of URC Church, next door but one to the Salford Arms pub) until March 30th 2012 (open Thurs 11am2pm). Bring Ordsall snaps and stories.
G ORDSALL
ORDSALL HALL INSPIRES MOVIE I
ntimacy, intrigue and death. Elizabethan England has never been so real, and all at Ordsall Hall. A new docudrama based on the court rooms and life at the Hall during the Tudor period has been produced to depict the times of early Salford.
which builds the atmosphere. Everything from the costume, to the archaic language, to the sound effects in the drama scenes were strategically chosen and designed to give the film historical accuracy.
1599 – A True Story of Elizabethan Court is a film rich in culture and realistic content which shows the history of the era made right on our doorstep. The two main characters, Margaret and Alexander Radclyffe, are twin brother and sister from Ordsall Hall who were socially linked to the monarchy of the time.
1599 Productions Association, which made the film, is a voluntary non-profit organisation where members are unpaid for the work they have done.
Details of their characters were built from letters found in archives describing the twins, so everything was based on historical fact, and the film shows court life and the topics of the day through the twins’ eyes, and experiences their ultimately tragic story as it unfolds. The drama of the characters’ lives is accompanied by narration from Christopher Eccleston, alongside documentary interviews which explain the topics featured in the scenes, such as an armour expert on the attire Alexander would have worn to war, and Peter Hook attempting to play the lute. Most docudramas have performances through reconstruction but this film is real drama with authentic Tudor music to accompany it and narration
“The project has been entirely run on goodwill from around a hundred contributors; the performers, the production team and all of our excellent locations” says Claire Hunt, co-writer of the film. 1599 Productions Association has received some funding from The Friends of Salford Museums Association and Salix Homes with all net profit from the project going to local and organisations in Salford itself. “It’s great that we’ve showcased all the different local locations” Claire adds “It’s really nice that we could show off these places in Manchester and Salford as there’s a lot of history and heritage here.” 1599 – A True Story of Elizabethan Court will be available on DVD at Ordsall Hall, along with an accompanying CD of the music featured in the film by specialist period ensemble La Brigata from John Dowland’s late 16th century repertoire.
From Joy Division, New Order and the Hacienda to Tudor film star, original Ordsall lad, Peter Hook, remembers Ordsall Hall from his childhood… “Ordsall Hall, funnily enough, was one of those very evocative places, because it just looked so old, like from a different world, and it was really enjoyable. It stuck out – it always has stuck out - where it is, and especially in the 70s, when they built the estate round it. I remember them knocking all the old houses down and putting the new ones in – and then it looked even weirder.” “I think that Ordsall Hall, for it to have survived the way it has in the place that it has, has been really blessed. And I think the thing is, as I get older, you start realising how special these places are.”
HOOKY ON THE HALL Photo: Getty Images
YOU GOTTA HA Gail Skelly of Ordsall Community Arts got seriously fired up about the lack of funds for the fireworks night. So she’s on a sponsored dry run until November 4th hoping to raise money for Lighting The Legend. Here she tells us why she’s given up the bottle for 22 weeks…
E
r, I do drink every day normally and quite liked the idea of stopping which is really hard because it’s a habit. I needed some serious motivation. Meanwhile, we had a funding problem for the fireworks for Lighting The Legend this year. We don’t have enough money for a decent display. I was thinking of how to raise it with people in Ordsall because there is an issue here that all the arts and community projects are suffering. It suddenly twigged one day that if I could get myself sponsored I could get the money but also get it talked about. Lighting The Legend is Ordsall’s version of bonfire night. It was started by people 19 years ago who were bothered about the unofficial fireworks on the estate. There were loads and loads of bonfires and fireworks from people who let them off from September to November but there was no officially organised fireworks display. Every year we get grants, sponsorship and some help from the Council, but they won’t accept that it’s a strategic event for Salford, even though it can get local audiences of 2000 people, attracts visitors, and is a local community slap bang in the middle of all the developments between Chapel Street and Media City!
AVE BOTTLE… Last year the cost of the fireworks alone was £3000, but sadly it actually got booed by some of the crowd who’d been waiting in the rain to watch it – because all we could afford was three minutes! And this year, while we’ve got a commission from Ordsall Hall to do the theatre show, we’ve only actually got £500 from Salford Council for the firework display. So, the more people who sponsor me to go without a drink for the 22 weeks, the better the fireworks will be!
I always wonder, if I asked local people if they’d rather spend that kind of money on fireworks or on a well-run, fully-staffed children’s art club all year round…..what would they chose? Fireworks: we love them, but they cost loads….one thousand pounds per minute!!!!!! But why should they have to choose – it should be a strategic event, like Buile Hill, properly funded and resourced by the local authority.
‘the more people who sponsor me... the better the fireworks will be!’ The Legend is a community parade, and we usually have around 150 people making lanterns between schools and community groups, and have up to 400 people actually on the parade carrying lanterns. Every year we make special feature lanterns, and this year we’re going to have the number 700 – for the 700 years of Ordsall Hall now that it’s re-opened. At the beginning of the year we were all concerned with how the cuts were affecting all kinds of different services around here. That’s why the Ordsall Library protest was so successful – people were starting to go `Are we going to lose the whole centre? What else are we going to lose?’. We lost the youth centre manager post through voluntary redundancy, at Ordsall Community Arts we’ve lost a part time worker and we all had to start to think how we were going to raise money for the projects that the community expect. That’s why I’ve made it personal. For me the cultural stuff, even though sometimes people can’t see a direct service, might mean the difference between people feeling happy or more empowered, or feeling of confident in their own voice. There’s nothing more disempowering than feeing that your voice doesn’t count for anything. I think that art in a community setting has got that huge indescribably powerful role to play… Sponsor Gail to keep dry and get better fireworks - she’s at Ordsall Community Arts, next to Ordsall Library
Lighting the Legend 2011 By Gail Skelly, Ordsall Community Arts
T
ravel with us and the spirits of 700 years of Ordsall Hall through its long dream filled sleep bursting back into life to start anew. After two years performing at the Watersports Centre we’re now proudly back at the Hall as part of its opening season of celebrations and events. It was magical to do it down on the river, but we think everyone’s looking forward to being back where it started in 1992. That’s right, you spotted it - next year it will be twenty years old!!! Ordsall Community Arts brings the streets and grounds to life with giant animals telling tales of different ages of the Hall. Join us as we pull the stunning Tudor giant into the present day, with beauty, surprises and a firework finale. Fiona, Jo and Anna, who make the parade lanterns, have outdone themselves this year with some fabulous creature lanterns, and Pete and the Pif Paf Arts gang are planning some bonkers street theatre as they tell some of the tale of the Hall’s amazing 700 year history. 6.15pm - Ordsall Hall gates Open 6.30pm - Parade from Ordsall Neighbourhood Office to Ordsall Hall 7.00pm - Street Theatre Show ‘The 700 Years’ 7.30pm - Bargain Banger Fireworks (viewed from the Hall’s grounds) If you’ve never been to Lighting the Legend before, prepare for a proper good spectacle and a great night’s family entertainment - absolutely free. The only thing you have to bring - is your coat!
ORDSALL COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT SOCIETY
Allotments in Ordsall has become a political hot potato, as Sylvia Sharples, explains… What allotments? You may well ask! For over bring the Council to account
three years a dedicated group of Ordsall residents have been in negotiation with Salford City Council for land on the old St. Clement’s School site.
Promise after promise has been broken, deadlines have come and gone and in the meantime funding is drying up and the Council red tape is in abundance. The sum of £10,000 allocated by Environmental Services has been ring fenced for a soil contamination survey. There is also support from all of our community, including councillors, schools, disabled groups, unemployed people, health teams, doctors and residents, together with LPC Living which will eventually develop the rest of the site. But without the land we cannot proceed. In July 2011 we sent a letter of complaint about the lack of progress to the Chief Executive of the Council on the advice of the Ombudsman. We are awaiting a reply. Our next plan is to bring matters to the notice of the public who can then help us to
If we have our way, we hope the site will be leased to us before the end of this year, and the search for funding can begin. We are not asking the Council for any money all we want is the land. Such a lot of hours and commitment has been put into this project and we are determined to continue until Ordsall has its own allotments. Watch this space for further developments and an update in the next issue… * Sylvia Sharples is Treasurer of the Ordsall Community Allotment Society - new members are always welcome to attend meetings which are held once a month on a Tuesday at Ordsall Community Café, Tatton Street. Further details available from Tom McMullen, Chairperson, phone 877 1950.
ORDSALL TO BE PART OF MANCHESTER?
Ordsall is set to go into Central Manchester as
part of the Government’s changes to political constituencies. The proposals, which aim to reduce the number of MPs nationally from 650 to 600, will see Ordsall, along with the Quays, Langworthy, Weaste and Seedley, moved into Central Manchester to join with Hulme, Ancoats and the city centre, with Salford itself disappearing from the political map. The Boundary Commission, which is initiating the changes states “We propose that the existing Manchester Central constituency extends west to incorporate wards from the City of Salford, specifically Salford Quays and the surrounding area.” The rest of Salford will be divided into a new Swinton constituency, while parts of Walkden and Cadishead will go into Leigh. Broughton and Kersal
were already moved out of Salford before the last General Election, becoming part of Blackley and Broughton, with Graham Stringer as the MP.
Opposition is growing to the move with a `Save Salford’ facebook site attracting nearly 7000 members. It’s also got a website www. savesalford.org.uk Anyone can write to the Boundary Commission objecting to the move before 5th December. Details on this site… http://consultation. boundarycommissionforengland. independent.gov.uk/ For anyone who hasn’t got the net, there are public computers at Ordsall Library.
NEVER MIND THE HALL OTHER TOURIST ATTRA Ordsall’s Graffiti Palace is still bringing loads of tourists to the river bank to see an ever changing open air art gallery – even though Salford Council is determined to destroy it to make an `aspirational walkway’… C ut back a few months to a heated debate on
Radio Manchester where the presenter was trying to get an answer out of Ordsall councillor, Ray Mashiter. The interview went something like this… Did you ask local people whether they wanted to get rid of the graffiti? “We want to make the river walkway cleaner and safer and…”
But did you consult local people on this? “It’s part of the Irwell River Park which will…” Councillor Mashiter, will you just answer the question… “The Council took the view that…” You’re not going to answer the question are you? Councillor Mashiter, you are a slippery, soapy eel…
L, HERE’S ORDSALL’S ACTION… Salford Council had just painted over yards and yards of brick wall along the riverbank which was covered in stunning works of graffiti art that featured everything from Felix The Cat to a cartoon on Government cuts. It was part of the Council’s £1million Ordsall River Park Improvements to create, what it calls, an `aspirational walkway’ between Manchester town centre and MediaCityUK. The Graffiti Palace, as it was known, was “a growing problem” according to a Council report, that would have “a significant negative impact on future investment potential”. £15,000 was spent on graffiti removal alone, and the plan was to replace the wall with “bespoke hoardings which would vastly enhance the riverside experience for users, improve the quality and
attractiveness to support future private sector investment, and promote additional activity and usage of the routeway”.
“It draws a lot of people – someone came from Birmingham the other day just to photograph it…” Joseph Iftakhar After the graffiti was removed, there were no “bespoke hoardings”, just a blank brick wall which has since been covered in horrid sub-standard paint-sprayed scrawl, whereas before it was decorated with giant art works. All that is left of the Graffiti Palace now are two walls belonging to a
Irwell River Park
Total Length: 8km Total Estimated Cost: £72million Total Costs For Signs on the Park: £115,447
private company, Woodland Export Packaging. And everyone who works there welcomes the graffiti artists and their incredible images… “Me, my dad and the lads who work for us love it” says Joseph Iftakhar “It draws a lot of people – someone came from Birmingham the other day just to photograph it. I think it’s a good thing, great to see, and there should be more places where they can do it. That’s why we allow it, and it’s keeping the kids off the streets. “It’s a shame the Council has painted out the rest of it” he adds “It’s giving the younger generation the chance to express their art, their feelings, the way they see things. Normally a lot of people just think of graffiti as being done by kids who are layabouts
and want to ruin buildings but you have to take time to look at it and try to appreciate the time, effort and imagination taken. They’ve been getting rid of the graffiti along the river but this is a private building and they can’t touch it.”
“a significant negative impact on future investment potential” Salford Council report On Facebook there’s whole galleries dedicated to the changing wall art. But Salford Council seems determined to destroy Ordsall’s hidden gem in favour of what it calls an `aspirational walkway’. The walkway is part of a huge £72million plan to
Ordsall Riverside Walkway: Total Area: 30 hectares Total Cost: £1million estimate Graffiti Removal: £15,000
create the Irwell City Park, which will run for 8km from the University of Salford to MediaCityUK. The Ordsall stretch is already seeing the Soapworks be re-developed. And that’s to be followed by housing and business development along the whole riverside area, which will include `green finger parks’, a new Cornbrook Bridge linking Ordsall with the metro station, and the front of Ordsall Hall opened up to allow better views from the river. Whether any of this will come off or not is anyone’s guess, but the Council has started by wiping the famous graffiti art works, rather than integrating them into the riverside re-development and keeping some of the unique character of the area.
ON A CLEAR CAN SEE O
R DAY YOU ORDSALL… The roof of Nine Acre Court is normally barred to everyone. But we got special permission to go up there for this very special photo shoot. So for the first issue of Ordsall Undercover we went up above the area to get a bird’s eye panoramic view of ever changing Ordsall – up here you can see the old docks, the new Media City, the old houses, the new houses and the very old Canal that just keeps rolling along…
Models: Brittany Dennis and Taya Gormley Photographer: Beckie Hough. Styling: Sarah Lousie Parkes Thanks to Salix Homes for allowing us to go on the roof!
SALFORD CEN - THE END OF A At the beginning of March the massive URC Church on the corner of Trafford Road and Broadway was demolished and cleared within weeks to make way for the new Oasis Academy MediaCityUK… It was described as “the most important building in
Salford” by campaigners trying to save it but Salford Central Mission, or the URC Church as it was latterly known, was bulldozed at the beginning of March just four years after its centenary. The iconic Mission was built in 1907 and described by the Salford Reporter as “colossal and magnificent”. By the 1930s, five thousand people a week used the centre. Kier Hardy gave a talk there and famous Ordsall born composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davis has said that attending Sunday evening concerts at the mission was one of the main influences on him becoming a composer. Clubs that met at the mission included the PSA (Pleasant Sunday Afternoon), PME (Pleasant Monday Evenings), the Dock Workers Union, Scouts, Brownies and The Sisterhood. The Salford Central Mission became the Salford Central United Reform Church in 1972, and in recent years before its closure the building housed studios for artists, photographers, tv and theatre groups. In 2006, Salford Council decided to controversially build the new Oasis MediaCityUK Academy on the site of the Mission, and when planning was first being sought the idea was to integrate the Mission into the new school building. Elizabeth Dobson, Salford Council’s Strategic Conservation Officer wrote that advice from English Heritage is “to encourage the
creative reuse of historic buildings. The building is on the Local List as Grade B, warranting positive efforts to ensure retention… “It is likely” she added “that the statutory consultees will expect that the Council takes this opportunity to restore and re-use the building as best practice in following its own policies on the preservation of protected buildings.” A further Council report noted the building’s “value is identified as being in its tremendous townscape presence at this important gateway to the Quays, the architectural quality of its impressive faēade and its historic association with the Ordsall community.” Indeed, at a meeting in 2007, Salford Council’s head of planning, Councillor Derek Antrobus,
NTRAL MISSION A LEGEND
Photographs of the Mission while it was still standing were taken by Ordsall Undercover’s photography workshop group stated that “I’m not prepared to accept this (Academy planning proposal) unless there’s a very clear commitment that the building will not be demolished….The City Council would not expect them (Oasis) to behave like opportunist developers – we have to preserve heritage where we can.” In December 2010 Councillor Antrobus, along with other councillors on the planning panel, voted to demolish the Mission saying that it wasn’t `viable’ to keep it. And in March this year, Salford Central Mission was bulldozed and cleared in haste, prior to the visit by the Archbishop of York and the Archbishop of Canterbury to MediaCityUK. Another valuable piece of Ordsall’s heritage was destroyed… The new Oasis Academy MediaCityUK opens officially in September 2012.
OY – WHERE’S OUR
LADYBIRD DISAPPEARS IN ORDSALL! In 2007 a new £50,000 Ladybird Litterbug designed by local school children was unveiled just for Ordsall. But where is it now? No-one has seen it for months. Ordsall Undercover got on the trail… time he saw it my little brother used to point to it – “It’s on Ebay!”… “It’s been nicked!”… “It’s been `It’s your Ladybird!’”
cut!”… “It’s been weighed in!”
Where is the Ladybird Litterbug? No-one has seen it for ages. And the mystery grows as the litter swirls around Ordsall’s streets in the autumn winds. The Litterbug was unveiled in 2007 with loads of publicity after Bradley Gleave and Tyron Hayney, two pupils from the old Radclyffe and St Clements primary schools, won a competition to create a special road sweeper for the area. Their winning Ladybird design was built, complete with little eyes and big black spots, and soon became a feature of the area trundling around the streets… “When I first saw it I was dead happy my creation was on a vehicle driving around Salford” recalls Bradley “It used to come on our street and every
Ordsall developer, LPC Living, was supposed to donate £45,000 a year to keep the Litterbug on the road, and it was to sweep the streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – in addition to Salford Council’s own mechanical road sweepers. The Litterbug was named in all sorts of reports as a fantastic example of young people getting involved in improving their environment. Jonathan Drake, then of LPC Living, stated “We are proud that we’ve been able to spearhead initiatives like the Litterbug and ECO week, which are not only central to creating a modern, clean, vibrant community in Ordsall, but are also teaching the children of the area environmental awareness, healthy living and conservation skills that they will carry forward to ensure the area’s future prosperity.”
R LITTERBUG?
!
And the late Councillor Maureen Lea, Salford’s head of environment added: “This is a great example of how environmentally conscious young people can be at the heart of a regeneration initiative. It also shows tremendous creativity and the striking litter bug design brings real character to our street cleansing activity!”
“…being told it’s not on the streets, it’s like they’ve told you a load of lies” Bradley Ordsall was soon becoming the cleanest neighbourhood in Salford, with (according to a 2008 Salford Council report) a whopping 87.7% of people happy with the standard of cleanliness in their area – compared to 71.7% in Salford as a whole. The Litterbug even got its own comic as part of the LPC Living/Ordsall Community Arts Eco Week in 2008… “Everyone loves Litterbug. They wave at him, and George, his driver” And then, earlier this year, people started noticing that the Litterbug had disappeared. Where was it? We went out on the streets asking people but no-one had seen it for months… “It’s been nicked!”… “It’s been cut!”… “It’s been weighed in!” Marie Cash, who helped to organise the original competition, hadn’t seen the Litterbug for months either… “I used to see it every week on the streets of Ordsall and say to myself `Wow look at that, I did that with the kids!’...But the last time I saw it was about six months ago around Coronation Street” she said “I don’t know where it could be now – on Ebay?” All we could find in the area was a huge mechanical sweeper clearing up dust from building work. We asked the driver if he’d seen a Ladybird sweeper and he just laughed and shook his head. The mystery deepened. We went `undercover’ into the refuse depot at Turnpike House to see if we could spot it. There was nothing but a line of pink Council sweepers, and, strangely, one with a green bee design. We asked around and were told that the Ladybird had gone. Gone? `Yes, gone!’ Gone where? We asked LPC Living, which was supposed to pay for the Litterbug, what had
happened to it…
We asked around and were told that the Ladybird had gone. Gone? `Yes, gone!’ “The Ordsall Litterbug was created by LPC Living in 2007 and funding for the vehicle made available for a number of years” the company replied “Earlier this year the road sweeper was taken over and rebranded by Salix Homes and is now used for sweeping land and properties under their management. Readers should keep an eye out for the new-look road sweeper which is in addition to Salford City Council’s street cleaning programme.” The `re-branded’ sweeper is a green bee which
Bradley Gleave looks for his Litterbug
works in a completely different way to our Ladybird. Whereas our Litterbug swept Ordsall’s streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Salix states that its bee will only be “sent out as and when needed” to any area in Central Salford that is managed by Salix Homes. This didn’t please people who had been involved in the Litterbug’s creation one bit. When he was posing for photos with LPC Living, did they tell its designer, Bradley Gleave, that it would only live `for a number of years’? “I didn’t know that” says Bradley who’s now at college “It was their idea for us to make it and we had photos with it and everything. I’ve even kept the paper from when we appeared in it. And then being told it’s not on the streets, it’s like they’ve told you a load of lies. “We were shocked when we didn’t see it on the streets as they’ve gone really dirty” he adds “You’ve got kids of 6 and 7 playing on the streets and it’s not a clean environment for them. I did see the new bee one but thought they must have done another competition, although I haven’t seen that for ages – and I last saw the normal Council sweeper maybe a month ago. I think they should just bring our Ladybird back...”
OY – WHERE’S OUR £70,000?
When LPC Living first appeared in Ordsall the company stated that “at least £70,000 a year” would be put aside for “local good causes”. But it’s not there. What happened? O ne of the first things that LPC Living did when
it started to redevelop Ordsall was to produce a document called `Empowering The Ordsall Community’. And at the very heart of this document was the pronouncement that it was setting up a `community interest company’ called the Ordsall Estate Management Company. LPC Living was to place all the ground rents from its new properties into the company and, the document stated “Anyone living or working in Ordsall will be able to make a request for some money providing it is shown to benefit the Ordsall area”.
no community organisations or residents were ever offered the chance to apply for money What a great idea! LPC reckoned “that by the time all the new homes are built at least £70,000 a year will be contributed towards this fund” and, even better, that “longer term the aim is for the company to be handed over to Ordsall residents to allow them to administer and run it”. In the meantime, the money was to be administered by representatives from LPC Living, Salix Homes and Salford City Council, and the Ordsall Estate Management Company was set up in June 2007.
But, by April 2009, according to Companies House, it had been “struck off and dissolved”. No accounts were ever publicly available for the company and no community organisations or residents were ever offered the chance to apply for money. So what has happened to the company and the grounds rents that should have been handed over to the community? We asked Salford Council and Salix Homes this question three times without a response. However LPC Living did respond… “The intention was that the Ordsall Estate Management Company would secure charitable status and that its trustees would take a long term view of investing in community enterprises across Ordsall” a spokesman stated “However it was not possible to secure charitable status for the company as originally planned. Although the company was dissolved, we have continued to support community organisations such as St Clement’s Church, Ordsall Community Arts, Primrose Hall (sic) Primary School, Oasis Academy, Ordsall Hall and the University of Salford.” We wrote back to LPC Living asking how much ground rent had been collected, and how much of this has gone to each of the projects. LPC Living, as yet, has failed to respond…
MEDIA CITY MORRISON Media City and Morrisons are both promising jobs for local people. So Pat Simpkin and Lisa Heywood hit the Ordsall estate to ask residents where they think they are more likely to get a job – Media City or Morrisons? Here’s the response… Joanne Winter: Morrisons because I live local and Media City is for qualified people and people with money.
Joanna: Either. I could put in for both as I’ve got qualifications, although I’d be more comfortable at Morrisons. I actually do want to get a job there and so does my husband.
Amanda: Probably Morrisons because Media City is a posh area so all the posh people will be over there. And Morrisons is the Salford area so all the Salford people could get work there.
Georgina: Morrsisons definitely. I don’t think Media City is our area it’s more Morrisons’ area for us, that’s what I think anyway. I think everyone around here would say Morrisons. Cameron: Morrisons – because you might need qualifications in computers and music and stuff at Media City. I don’t think Salford people will get jobs on there unless they’ve got good qualifications from college. Kerry: Media City. More opportunities, more job roles because there aren’t that many roles at Morrisons.
Monca: I think Morrisons because of qualifications.
Y OR NS? Sandra: Morrisons. That’s the local place that’s got the jobs going. Media City? You’ve got no chance walking in like this asking for a job – they’d say `Get out!’. They’re all snotty. It’s not for me, you’ve got to have loads of qualifications.
Angela Gormley: Morrisons. It’s not for Salford people over there at Media City is it?
Sadie: Morrisons. Because it will fit in with my child care hours. Media City is just not for me it’s for qualified people. It’s not for Salford people either, it’s for out of the area people.
Suzanne: The new Morrisons
Pamela: I think local people will have more chance of getting a job at Morrisons. There will be more competition at Media City and, I don’t know, but maybe the kind of jobs will be at the higher end of the jobs market.
Frederick Lowry: Morrisons I would think. It will be a better place.
Ashley: Media City because I got a phone call this morning for an interview to work as a janitor there.
Samantha: Media City – there’s more opportunities to move up and progress at Media City. I’ve got a job but if I had the option of Morrisons or Media City I’d go for Media City – you’ve got to try.
Lorraine: It’s hard to say, Morrisons I suppose. I think it’s for down to earth people like us on the estate. Will Media City accept Ordsall people? That’s the main thing because they keep giving us a bad reputation in Ordsall and we’re not like that.
ORDSALL GETS FIERCE!
Local dancer, Jade Crowther, went from being a `Kidswidreamz’ to joining top dance group, Company Fierce and dancing with Diversity… O n stage at the Ordsall Festival this year, dance are based in Manchester, Company Fierce works group Company Fierce took the audience by storm with an array of routines centred around street moves. At the centre of the troupe was15 year old Jade Crowther, who has literally made the jump from attending a dance workshop put on in Ordsall by youth organisation Kidswidreamz, to being invited to join the prestigious company. And, just recently, Jade learned some new dance moves alongside members of street dance gurus Diversity at Pineapple Dance studios in London as part of Street Dance for Change*. “She was part of Kidswidreamz run by the New Barracks and they got Darren Pritchard, founder of Company Fierce to do some work with the group and he saw the potential of some of the young people there” says Jade’s dad, Ronnie “Jade was one of those and she got offered a scholarship into Company Fierce. “We got funding from the Salford Foundation because without their help we wouldn’t be able to afford the fees” he adds “Even though they
closely with lots of organisations in Ordsall like St Clement’s and Salford Lads Club.”
Jade has been part of the group for two and a half years and now wants to continue a career in the dance business. “There’s both boys and girls in Company Fierce and we do street dance, contemporary dance and ballet” says Jade “We’ve performed everywhere from Piccadilly Gardens, to the Zion Arts Centre as well as the Ordsall Festival. My ambition is now to become a professional dancer or choreographer. There haven’t been any from Ordsall and I’m going to be the first one!” * Street Dance For Change project involves young people from clubs across the country and is raising awareness of the charity The Railway Children. Jade’s choreographed routine can be seen on YouTube at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=TTNKwPncXi0 Every view generates a donation of £2 from AVIVA to the charity ‘Railway Children’
SACRED ROCK Heavy melodies for Ordsall from Sacred AD and their album Out of The Wilderness. Bob Jeffery met up with the rockers, with photos by Elliot Ratcliffe
Sacred A.D. is a rock band into ‘power guitars,
power drums, big melodies, big choruses and big ballads’. It’s a family trio of Pete (vocals, lead guitar), his brother Chris (drums) and son Mark (bass guitar) who have been based in Ordsall since 2003, and they play a mixture of classic covers and their own songs, all influenced by early glam-bands such as Deep Purple, T-Rex, 10CC and The Sweet. I ask them where they got the name ‘Sacred A.D.’ from, and Chris says “the name evolved years ago and we’ve stuck with it, because everybody that knows us when they see that name, and it looks bloody great on a poster!” The guys have all been playing instruments since they were kids and Chris admits that he was influenced by brother Pete’s taste in music… “It just evolved from there, just a natural progression, to go from listening to the music, to actually taking part, it’s been really enjoyable.” Their greatest achievement to date, Pete reckons, was their gig at an unsigned event at Manchester Academy… “There were about 400 people in the crowd, and it went down an absolute storm” he recalls “Brilliant atmosphere!” I ask them which other Salford bands they respect and Pete tells me, “To be honest with you, I respect
anybody who’ll get up on stage and play. There’s all different levels of talent there, but to actually get up on stage and play, takes some guts, I respect anybody who’ll get up and do it.” Sacred A.D. are certainly a band that aren’t lacking in guts. They are currently promoting their album Out of the Wilderness, a mixture of power-rock and epic-ballads. If you grab them after shows you can buy a copy of the album, as well as a previously-released vinyl single. Currently working away in their practice room in Pendleton Bowling Club on new material, Sacred are sure to be jamming out some heavy melodies for the people of Salford for some time to come. Find more info on Sacred A.D. at www.myspace. com/sacredad and listen to songs such as You’re The Only One, Lost in Time and Bad Girl.
CONTAMINATE ORDSALL A few years ago, Salford Council revealed that land in Ordsall, including residents’ gardens, had been contaminated by a cocktail of toxic chemicals. Four years later, and people are still not convinced. They are now asking if there is a link with illnesses in the area… Ordsall Undercover investigates…
Trevor Dore stands on his totally barren patio in Paris
Avenue on the South Ordsall estate. Both the front and back spaces of his house are completely flagged over, where previously a lush garden grew… “I used to grow all sorts of stuff and eat it” Trevor recalls “Potatoes, leeks, garlic, strawberries…all sorts. Then, three or four years ago they just came and said the garden was contaminated – and `Don’t grow vegetables, or if you do grow them, don’t eat them… and don’t let your kids play on the grass’. “They didn’t tell me any details, what it was or which chemicals” he adds “Nobody could give me any details. They just said it was contaminated. And I’m, like, `What the hell have I been eating?’…” Trevor now has difficulty talking. He’s been diagnosed with throat cancer. Trevor’s was one of eleven houses in Paris Avenue and Gledhill Avenue identified by Salford Council as having been contaminated by a cocktail of toxic substances in the soil – arsenic, lead, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene.
I’m, like, `What the hell have I been eating?’…” And, despite Salford Council and its agencies removing 16 skips of soil from the area and flagging over affected gardens, concerns refuse to go away. A petition is currently circulating the South Ordsall estate, calling on Salford’s Mayor to order a proper inquiry into the contamination and its possible link with a large amount of cancers in the area. Resident, George Tapp, picked up on these concerns as he was leafleting door-to-door during the last local election and has continued his fact finding mission ever since.
ED
THE COCKTAIL OF CHEMICALS “Going around the estate there’s family after family with cancer; in fact, a few of us sat down and could name fifty people who have it, are having treatment for it, or who have died of it” he says “There’s one family where the man has it and even his cat and dog had it. Fifty people, off the top of our heads, out of between three and four hundred houses. And that’s just the people we know. “I find it strange that the Council hasn’t given people the full facts and that the investigation into the soil doesn’t seem to have gone to every house that has a grassed garden and obviously got the same soil” he adds “We’re demanding that the Council holds a public meeting to get the facts and to see if there is any link between soil pollution and cancer.” Ordsall Undercover asked Salford Council to show us the official report on the contamination. This was never forthcoming. All we got was a `Remedial Works Verification Report’ from November 2010 by consultants Environmental Resources Management (ERM), which mainly just shows the work done to deal with the contamination – removing soil, flagging over gardens, an analysis of the new soil brought in to go under the flags and a `No Dig’ policy. Nevertheless, the Introduction to the Report talks of “substances within near surface soils at eleven isolated residential gardens at concentrations that have the potential to represent an unacceptable risk to the health of residents.” We asked ERM if we could see previous reports showing the actual levels of contamination. We also asked the company what the long term affects of such contamination might be. But the only reply we received was from Salford Council which stated that “All residents affected were written to in 2007. There’s also a Q&A that was issued to them which should answer your questions. The gardens of those people who lived within a 50m radius of Paris Avenue were investigated. Residents within this zone and those outside were written to.” The Question and Answer letters sent to residents lists the chemicals found but stresses that “even the raised levels of these chemicals were still at very low concentrations” and “health experts have assessed that the risks to health are small.”
Nevertheless, virtually every resident that Ordsall Undercover spoke to had major concerns, summed up by Christine Hamilton… “They didn’t test our soil and I don’t think they did any of the private houses, so I’ve no idea whether ours is contaminated or not” she says “There’s four ladies on Clarke Avenue that I know of who have cancer, so something needs bringing to the public’s attention so that other folk know what’s happening, especially if it’s the soil that’s contributing to it. If you don’t raise the questions nothing is going to get done. And somebody needs to look into it.” Over the past few years Salford Council has attempted to dispel such concerns. At the Ordsall Community Forum in March 2009, Neighbourhood Manager, Ross Spanner, read out an e-mail from Bob Harbin, a consultant in public health for the NHS which included the statement “Data from the Cancer Registry on the incidence of cancer shows Ordsall ward seems similar to Salford as a whole”. The minutes to that meeting record that “Ross summarised the message as suggesting that a cancer cluster linked to any one particular cause is unlikely”.
If you don’t raise the questions nothing is going to get done. The subject was again brought up at the Community Forum in July 2010, when minutes show that Residents are concerned and are now blaming the contaminated soil and are talking of approaching solicitors to take appropriate action etc”. This was again to be looked into, but Ordsall Undercover cannot find any further publicly available reference to the outcome. Meanwhile, the residents of South Ordsall are looking for answers, if only to put their minds at rest. People like Trevor Dore, and his barren, flagged-over garden… “I think they are hiding something, definitely” he says “And I think there is a link because there’s more people that have got cancer. It’s unusual. It’s not a big estate and it’s a lot of people. It could have contributed to my cancer but I can’t be sure…” The petition to the Mayor will be handed over in the next few weeks…
Photos by Ken Williamson
WHAT CAUSED THE CONTAMINATION? According to a Salford Council Report in 2007, the
contamination came to light during investigations for the Radclyffe Mews site, which “showed elevated levels of arsenic, metals and hydrocarbons”. The chemicals were also found in the soil at Hulton Street and at Paris Avenue and Gledhill Avenue in South Ordsall. The Council Report states “It is unknown as to how exactly these came to be in the soil, although they may be as a result of in-fill of soil after the war and prior to the redevelopment of the area in the 70’s. Bonfires and burning of stolen cars may also be a factor.” However, the contamination was found in `near surface soil’ in the gardens of those properties affected, in which there were no `bonfires and burning of stolen cars’. More likely, say residents, it was soil brought onto the estate by Salford Council in November 1995 for use in gardens. Ken Williamson, who took the photo of the soil arriving, doesn’t understand how it was only eleven gardens that were proved to be contaminated. “Every house had the soil with wires going across the sections and we had to put our own fences in” he explains “So I can’t see one garden having something in it and another one not, it’s all soil from the same land site.”
Mr and Mrs Rothwell, who live in the cottage flats on Pamona Crescent say that they were told just over two years ago that communal land at the back of their home was contaminated and nothing has been done about it. “Nobody has said anything in two years” explains Mr Rothwell “They sent letters out but since then we’ve heard nothing. With planning permission, I would like to build a patio at the back but I can’t do anything until they’ve sorted out the contamination.”
And George Tapp believes that the contamination might be over a much wider area. “The soil was just dumped on the corner and then spread out” he recalls “And because people didn’t have any soil in their gardens they were all helping themselves to it, just turning up with wheel barrows. So it went all over the estate.”
“We were notified a while back but they never gave us details of it, just certain areas that they’d be taking samples from. And that was the last we heard of it. They didn’t come here. I’d like to know the outcome.” Jim Walker
Photos by George Tapp
“I’ve been here for 28 years and I don’t know if my garden is contaminated because I flagged it myself and no-one ever tested it” he says “I think it is a concern if people are getting cancer. I think that the Council should tell people about it. They should get it out into the open.” Walter Warburton “Next door’s garden was flagged and they said it was because their soil was higher in asbestos than mine (they told me it was asbestos). But her garden grew into mine, so mine must have it. I think they should take all the soil out and flag them all. It is very worrying. I just mow my garden and that’s it - you can’t have a picnic can you? You’re worried what you’re going to pick up from it. I walk on it but you don’t know if it’s travelling up. You’re wondering `Shall I make a move, quick?’” Jean Gleave “I’m just amazed that there’s so many people in this small area who have had cancer. I know that it’s different types but there are quite a few who have had what I’ve had, breast cancer, and I’m just wondering why. It makes you wonder what was here – it needs to be found out. It just seems strange. I think they should have an inquiry and find out why it’s happening to so many people.” Linda Morris “It’s just over 12 months since a lady from the Council came to tell me that they were going to come and do the garden. She told me that it was going to be flagged. Then a chap came and said that I needed to clear the garden. I did all that and waited a few months but then he said they were doing the one on the other side of me instead. I think that if one is contaminated then next door is too.” Betty Williamson
“I’ve counted over 19 people around here with cancer, all door to door, not spaced out. They’re telling us it was at a safe level but why has all this happened? I’m concerned, it is frightening. It’s not just old people, it’s young people too. People want to know. I don’t care what they say, I’m not having it…there’s definitely something going on…” Margaret Cass (Photographed with grandson, Ben)
“This is worrying, very worrying – people are getting illnesses. Whether there is anything in it I don’t really know but I think the Council should hold a public meeting.” Harry Thomas
ORDSALL NEWS
GRAHAM NASH - SON OF ORDSALL… Hollies and Crosby, Stills,
Nash and Young legend, Graham Nash, came over from his home in Hawaii recently to pick up an honorary degree from the University of Salford, and to launch an exhibition of his photos at the Richard Goodall Gallery in Manchester. Nash, who was born in Blackpool but brought up on Skinner Street, Ordsall, has a growing reputation as a photographer and says it was watching his father in the dark room at home that inspired him. “I’m a son of Salford” he said “Everything I learned about how to deal with the world I learned from my parents here. I think they would have been incredibly proud of me.” Graham Nash: 5 Decades with a Camera runs at the Richard Goodall Gallery, 103 High St, Manchester until 12th November. Photos by Paul Mansfield Nash with old Salford friend Brian Demster.
Friends of Route 33
A new group has been created to help promote one of our local
Ordsall bus routes. The idea for a Friends of Route 33 comes out of a project by Manchester’s Transport Action Group, which thought that having a group of people to raise awareness and help report problems on particular bus routes could help in holding local authorities and public transport providers to account. The idea is similar to friends groups based around railway stations, like the Friends of Eccles Station, that involve regular users in campaigning for improvements to the reliability, security and comfort of trains and stations.
Do you have any problems with Route 33? If you do, why not get in touch with ‘Friends of Route 33’ through its website http://friendsofroute33.wordpress.com/. You can leave any comments you might have about these buses which will be passed on to First Buses, the company that operates Route 33. Or if you want to get involved with the group get in touch at foroute33@ gmail.com
ORDSALL LIBRARY SAFE
Earlier this year Salford Council wanted to close Ordsall Library at its current home on Robert Hall Street, and relocate it to Ordsall Fit City. Following protests, in May the Council did a u-turn and now we understand that the Library is safe for the time being. We would urge everyone to use the Library as much as possible as it is an indispensable asset to our community. It’s got free computers, toddler groups and, of course, some brilliant books!
IS IT A CRIME TO BE OLD? Salford Pensioners Association is about to be re-launched in Ordsall and it’s already exposing possible dodgy electricity and gas offers to senior citizens… The Salford Pensioners Association isn’t about afternoon tea dances but is about fighting for rights for our community’s older residents. Fuel poverty, access to the media and employment practices are just some of the issues the Association is aiming to highlight over the coming months. “It’s not a crime to be old or aged but this government and previous governments seem to have turned their backs on us” says Ordsall’s George Tapp who is helping to re-launch the Association in Salford.
He lists loads of things that would make anyone’s hair go grey – from Question Time not allowing pensioners representatives on the programme because the hot lights might be too much for them, to Age UK purporting to sell cheap electricity and gas that, he says, is actually £300 dearer than normal utility companies.
“The Salford Pensioners Association was very active a few years ago but unfortunately the people who ran it have all passed on” George explains “However, the need for an organisation that is going to represent ordinary people has never been stronger. This is about fighting for pensioners’ rights and the more people who get involved the more rights we’ve got.” The Salford Pensioners Association is free to join. Just phone George on 079350 26865 The Salford Pensioners Association is also organising a demonstration against ageism at Question Time outside the BBC at MediaCityUK 5pm Friday 28th October
WHAT’S ON IN O ORDSALL LIBRARY Robert Hall Street 603 4097
SALFORD LADS CLUB
25th and 28th October 2-4pm: Lantern Making Workshops – make lanterns for the Lighting The Legend parade. 7-12 year olds. Limited places so please book in advance at the library
Lads: Monday and Wednesday 7-9pm Football, basketball, volleyball, snooker, table tennis and computer games
Every Friday 10-11am: Stay and Play: Fun and games for under 4 year olds. Free. NIGHT OF NEON Saturday 29th October 6pm Lowry Plaza A 10k walk and party around the Quays with entertainment and fun, to raise money for Christies fight against cancer. Wear dayglo clothes, glow sticks and mad bright outfits. They say “the Night of Neon is the most dazzling ten kilometres you’ll ever walk!” Adults £10 Kids £5 Register at www.christies.org/events/ walking/neon/default.aspx
Opening Times:
Girls: Tuesday 7-9pm Dance, netball, volleyball, badminton, pool and computer games Junior Boxing: Lads and Girls 10-17 year olds Mon, Wed, Fri 5:30-6:30pm Senior Boxing: Wed 6:30-8:30pm, Fri 6:308pm Kidzwidreams Sports, dance and cooking Monday 5:30-6:30pm Tuesday 5-6pm Kickboxing with Manchester Cobras Monday 6:30-8:30pm Thursday 6:30-8:30pm Thai Kickboxing with Terry’s Tigers Tuesday Juniors 7pm Seniors 8pm
For further details on any of these activities phone 872 3767 ORDSALL BRITISH LEGION Robert Hall Street 872 2050 3rd December: Homegrown – top reggae band in the style of UB40 Tickets £7 or pay on door 9th December: Jack and the Beanstalk – special Ordsall panto Tickets: £6 each book in advance. Ordsall Community Café 872 6011 31st October 5pm - 6:30pm: Halloween Community Tea with this great menu… Worms and eyeballs in blood sauce; poison pie with spider web sauce £2 adult £1 child. Plus regular events at the Café… Every Wednesday 2-3pm: Gentle Exercises for over 50s free Every Wednesday 3-5pm: Creative Writing Every Friday 1:30-2:30pm: Bingo £2.50 per card inc tea and biscuits And starting in November: IT For Beginners Further details on everything from the Café. Ordsall Youth Centre Oldfield Road 778 0700 Monday and Fridays 6:45-9pm 11-19 ages Games, sports etc – if the weather’s good the sessions are moved to Ordsall Park. St Clement’s Church Hulton Street 872 0800
T
WOMEN IN STITCHES
his is a sewing club with attitude, making marvels out of materials. And when the Archbishops of York and Canterbury came to Ordsall earlier this year they got more than they bargained for.
cassocks. To make her point, Pat ?, was a little bit forward with the holy men…
“Nobody would get hold of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s arm and drag him across the room The club was making a new banner but I did” she smiles “He cut his for The Anchor at MediaCityUK piece of material out and then the which featured the historic moment Archbishop of York came over and when the Archbishops walked told us he was a machinist before across the Quays bridge. The he became a bishop so his piece club needed the pair to cut out the had to be perfect. But they were pieces of material which would both down to earth and on our depict their wavelength.”
Thursday November 17th 7pm: General Knowledge Quiz Night Either come on your own or get a team of five together to see who’s got the best brains in Ordsall. There’s a prize for the winning team, it’s £2 each to enter and all profits go towards the roof repairs.
? adds: “It was just an honour to meet them and before the Archbishop of Canterbury left, he looked for Pat to say `Goodbye’.”
The banner made by Women In Stitches now hangs proudly at The Anchor Chaplaincy and the club has moved on to new and equally incredible projects. Women In Stitches meets every Wednesday at St Clement’s Church 1-3pm. Everyone welcome.
ORDSALL Tuesday December 13th 7pm: Community Carol Service Turn up, tune in and sing up! Plus regular events at St Clement’s… Every Monday 1-3pm: Carers and Toddlers Group Monday Night Dancing 7:30pm: All styles, all ages welcome and free! Every Tuesday Oranges and Lemons Children’s Club 3:30-5pm: 4-11 year olds 50p Every Wednesday 1-3pm: Women In Stitches (see feature) Wednesday Bingo Night 7:30pm: In the Church Hall Welcome Inn Robert Hall Street
and Customs runs from 23rd October until January next year. ORDSALL BALL (OF WOOL)
Sunday 27th November 12-4pm: Ordsall’s knitters are being urged to pick up their needles and help yarn bomb the Hall, leaving it covered in wool. Yarn bombing is catching on, and everything from London telephone boxes to statues have been covered in graffiti knitting. Ordsall Hall is next. Anyone wanting to help out can donate triangles that are knitted or crocheted. Just drop them into the hall before the event. People will also be knitting them on the day when there will be stalls and craft demonstrations.
Every Monday 6:15-7:15pm: ROLLER DISCO - SAYO’s fab roller disco welcomes everyone over 8 who can fit in roller skates up to size 8. £1.80 entrance.
Family Events At Ordsall Hall All free unless stated
Every Tuesday 4-5pm SAYO FC Football Training At Fit City Clarendon 9-11 year olds £1.50 includes match fees
Sunday 23rd - 30th October - a full week of special Halloween spooky activities and quizzes to celebrate the creepiest time of year in Salford’s most ghostly place. Wednesday 26th October – an outdoor hunt for boggarts at the Hall. Sessions at 10:30, 11:30am, 1:30 and 2:30pm. £1 per child no need to book. Friday 28th October – Make a pom pom spider. Sessions at 10:30, 11:30am, 1:30 and 2:30pm. £1 per child no need to book. LIGHTING THE LEGEND PARADE Friday 4th November 6:30pm – Ordsall’s annual answer to Bonfire Night in the very place where Guy Fawkes hatched his gunpowder plot. Parade starts at Ordsall Community Arts and ends with a spectacular show at the Hall (see feature). The full line up is… 6.15pm - Ordsall Hall gates Open 6.30pm - Parade from Ordsall neighbourhood Office to Ordsall Hall 7.00pm - Street Theatre Show ‘The 700 Years’ 7.30pm - Fireworks viewed from the Hall’s grounds FOR BETTER FOR WORSE Sunday 6th November 10:30am -12 – as part of the Hall’s wedding exhibition Hitched, everyone is invited to drop in and share bridal memories and stag night disasters. Meanwhile Hitched, an exhibition of Wedding Clothes
Then:
In Mid Makeover:
1pm-3pm free Ages 8+
Now:
SAYO ACTIVITIES AT FIT CITY ORDSALL Craven Drive 848 0646
Every Friday Prize Bingo 8pm: raising money for St Clement’s repairs
HALLOWEEN SPOOKS
Ordsall Hall in photos…
Half Term Activities at Fit City Ordsall Wednesday Thursday Friday 26th-28th October: SAYO Halloween Playscheme Arts, Crafts, Games and Multi-Sports 10.15am-12pm free Ages 4-11 years 24th – 29th October SAYO Open Access
FIT CITY ORDSALL Every Monday 5-6pm: Adult Trampolining (17+) £3.60 Every Tuesday and Thursday 7pm: Zumbar Every Thursday 7-8pm: Adult Gymnastics (17+) £3.60 Every Tuesday and Friday: Kickz sessions with Man United Foundation 5-6:30pm 8-13 year olds; 6:30-8pm 13-18 year olds. Free Every Friday: Pre and Post Natal Classes Mums n Bumps – pre natal class 1010:45am Fit Mama – post natal class 11-11:45am
SCORING FOR ORDSALL in Multi-sports and gamesare riding high ll Juniors Ordsa the City of Salford Under 12s Soccer League...
Undefeated in the first months of the new season and top of the City of Salford Under 12s League Division 2, it’s hard to believe that Ordsall Juniors was only formed last season by local parents wanting to do something for the kids. Now they are one of the most feared teams in the League with the loudest touchline support. There’s a full feature on the Juniors in the next issue of Ordsall Undercover but in the meantime cheer them on at these next home fixtures at Ordsall Park… 19th November: Ordsall Juniors v Flixton Red 11am kick off
PROGRESS Another building hits the dust Do you really think they must? Trees uprooted, chopped in bits Homeless blackbirds and bluetits. Rubbish strewn along the street Empty cans alone to greet The new arrivals heart did sink Why big business didn’t think. Cranes move in to clear the sites Do the locals have no rights? Memories and identity do matter All that’s left is noise and clatter. Big business draws up schemes Which on the drawing board seems To offer an outsider’s vision Often acclaimed on television. Promises made to consult and get approval Decisions made behind closed doors. Councils say it will be better Then you end up with the letter. Time to gather all the neighbours To see if they can find some saviours Who can champion their cause To overturn the legal clause Progress is what it’s called New buildings are then installed. High rise blocks in the sky Which gravity does defy. What happened to the consultation With architects, councils, and their exultation They’d adhered to their remit But all they wanted was the permit. The planners have again won through Lip service given to all of you They get their way again It will never ever be the same!
Sylvia Sharples September 2010