CHRISTMAS TOY APPEAL Rochdale Borough Council is now collecting donations for this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which helps make sure local children who are less fortunate have presents to open on Christmas Day. To help, all you need to do is donate an unwrapped, new gift suitable for a baby or child up to 16 years-old and leave it at your local library or Your Trust leisure centre. As Christmas raises awareness of the excess and waste created, once again organisers are asking people to consider donating a more environmentally friendly gift and supporting local shops where they can.
Council staff will make sure they reach the borough’s less fortunate children in time for Christmas Day. Toys are matched with the age and interests of the recipient. Since 2014 the appeal has provided much needed festive cheer for thousands of children and teenagers.
You can also order a gift online and send it straight to the appeal. The address is: Giving Back - Christmas Toy Appeal, Rochdale Borough Council, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU. The annual appeal, organised by the council’s staff-run ‘Giving Back’ charity is accepting donations until 13 December.
KING'S BIRTHDAY PARTY RECEIVES ROYAL APPROVAL Heywood Business Group were honoured to receive a letter from King Charles III in October, which praised the 1940s Day and King's birthday celebrations organised by the group earlier in the year. Heywood Business Group in conjunction with Heywood Township presented the annual 1940s day on 17 June which included everything from tea dances and live entertainment to re-enactments and military vehicles! With this year's event coinciding with the official birthday of King Charles III, they decided to dedicate the 40s Day Street Party for Cubs, Guides and Brownies to His Majesty. Following the event, Heywood Business Group's joint Treasurers John Kennedy and Graeme Bowden-Witts penned a letter to the Palace advising the King of the event, along with a collage of photos, including a photograph of the King's birthday cake by Browns Cakes. They also included birthday cards by Heywood Cubs, Brownies and Guides. Heywood Business Group were delighted to receive the recent response from the King, thanking the group for the event and for the cards and wishes from Heywood's Cubs, Brownies and Guides. The letter noted that His Majesty was "interested to learn of the parade and celebratory street party" and "touched by the community's colourful celebration of British history". 46 | Rochdale Style
