COMMUNITY NEWS RINGING ENDORSEMENT AS ROCHDALE TOWN HALL BELLS ARE NAMED Rochdale Town Hall’s bells have been named following a special competition that chimed with people across the land. Judges gave a ringing endorsement to five names: Our Gracie, the Bamford Bell, Little Ben, the Bobbin Bell and Recedham. The gongs were also christened with a family name – the bells of Cooperation. The competition winners were:- St Andrew’s CE Primary School, Rochdale (The bells of Co-operation); Holy Family Primary School, Rochdale (Our Gracie); Louise Taberner (Recedham); Gordon Fletcher (Bobbin Bell); Ian Jenkins (The Bamford Bell); Hilary from Cheshire (Little Ben). The naming competition was launched after the bells received national publicity when they rang out across the land as a stand in for Westminster’s world famous Big Ben, which is undergoing repairs, on BBC Radio 4 over Christmas. Hundreds of brilliant ideas were submitted from residents across the borough and beyond – with one entry even mailed in from Australia. Where more than one person had suggested the same name, a draw was held to choose the winner.
The winners were announced live on BBC Radio Manchester’s Phil Trow show, which was broadcast from Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday 27 February. The show also featured local celebrity chef Andrew Nutter and Rochdale actor Ben Davies who has starred in Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road. Councillor Allen Brett, leader of the council, said: “The response was staggering, so a huge thanks to everyone who sent us their excellent ideas... We chose names that reflect the borough’s values, history and rich heritage. As leader of the council I am proud that Rochdale has received so much positive publicity on the back of the bells being played live on BBC Radio 4. This is another exciting chapter in the history of the Rochdale Town Hall as we begin an ambitious £16m redevelopment scheme for our iconic grade I listed building.” Miss Morris, a year 2 teacher at St Andrew’s Primary School, said: “We are thrilled that one of our selections was chosen. The competition sparked a lot of interest at the school and it linked in with the children’s project work and the school’s values. It was a great idea and the children were so excited about winning and going live on the radio.”
ENTRIES OPEN FOR WILLIAMS BMW ROCHDALE HALF MARATHON AND 10K The starting gun has been fired for the opening of registration for this year’s Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon and 10K - and prices have been cut by up to 28 per cent for an early bird offer. Entry for the half marathon has been reduced by £7 and there’s £4 off the 10K for all entries received by 31 March 2019. Over 200 people have already signed up for the popular event which returns on Sunday 6 October. All races will start and finish by the grade one listed Rochdale Town Hall, they will be chip-timed on fully-marshalled traffic-free courses, with a technical t-shirt and medal handed out to finishers. Since 2015 over 4,500 people have taken part in the event, which sets out on routes taking in town and some of the north west’s most picturesque countryside scenes like Hollingworth Lake. Half marathon places now cost £23.40 for club-runners, £25.40 for non-club runners, while the 10K is £15.60 for club runners, £17.60 for non-club runners. Fun Run entry opens in July. To enter online or find out more, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/run 62
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