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

CHATTY CAFE SCHEME WINS INNOVATE IN AGEING AWARD

The Chatty Café Scheme, first launched in 2017 by Oldham mum Alex Hoskyn, were over the moon to win the Innovate in Ageing Award 2019. This award was created by Just Group and the International Longevity Centre who were looking for solutions to the growing problem of vulnerability in later life. The scheme, which aims to get people talking and reduce loneliness, was successful due to its simplicity and the judges liked the fact that it aims to mix up various age groups.

Chatter & Natter tables are aimed at all ages. The idea is that cafes dedicate one of their tables to those on their own looking for someone to chat to. Alex came up with the idea when she was a new mum feeling isolated, craving adult conversation. During a visit to a café, Alex observed an elderly lady sat alone, who appeared fed up. At another table she saw a man with additional needs and his carer both looking equally down. Alex commented: “I thought what a positive impact we could have had on each other if we had all sat together... Sometimes just an interaction with another human can brighten your day”.

Chatter & Natter tables create a safe environment for people to talk, whether it’s for five minute chat or an hour or so of good conversation.

Alex commented: “Winning this award has meant a lot to us and we have recently had many more cafes joining the scheme so we have certainly had a fantastic start to 2019!”

Rochdale was one of the first boroughs in the country to host a number of Chatter & Natter tables for its residents to use. Now over 500 cafes and restaurants across the country have signed up, including one of the UK’s most popular coffee chains Costa Coffee.

To find your nearest table go to: www.thechattycafescheme.co.uk

ROCHDALE PILATES HOSTS CHARITY OPEN DAY

Rochdale Pilates and Yoga Studio recently held an action-packed Open Day in aid of Parkinsons UK. With a health and wellbeing market and free classes in pilates and yoga, new and existing clients got the opportunity to experience self-care in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Directors Gillian Thomas and Taira Booth run the Bury Road Studio offering Pilates and Yoga classes across 7 days a week. Specialising in back care and offering classes to all regardless of level of fitness they believe that ‘It’s all about balance’.

In collaboration with a Christmas party they raised £717 for the local Rochdale Branch of Parkinsons UK.

www.rochdalepilates.co.uk Facebook: @ RochdalePilates Instagram: Rochdale_ pilates__yoga

LOCAL TALENT NEEDED FOR ROCHDALE’S GREATEST SHOW

At the beginning of 2019, the committee of ‘Rochdale Musical Theatre Company’ decided that it was time to begin a new era with the society and to introduce a fresh new approach. The future vision of the committee is headed up by the new Chairman, Daniel Killeen:

“I spent my entire childhood in the Rochdale area and during that time, Rochdale Musical Theatre Company had a fantastic reputation for producing some incredible shows. It is the intention of the society moving forward to provide the best and most loyal local performers with a fun, well organised and sustainable platform to best showcase their talents. We look forward to kicking off this new era with ‘Rochdale’s Greatest Show’ in November.”

Rochdale Musical Theatre Company are very keen to hear from members old and new who would like to get involved in the society. If you would like to contact us, please email enquiriesrmtc@gmail.com. In this email, please state (for GDPR purposes) that you are happy for RMTC to contact you in the future.

The countdown to Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2019 is on! The festival will return on Saturday 10 August, and organisers Rochdale Borough Council are promising another showcase of top class entertainment, food and culture.

Past Feel Good main stage performers include Feeder, Razorlight, The Fratellis, Cast, Scouting for Girls, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Toploader, The Feeling, The South, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and The Lightning Seeds.

The festival will include live music across indoor venues, a main stage against the backdrop of the town hall, a quality food and drink court, Family Zone and other entertainment. Around 14,000 people attended the festival last summer which is funded by the council together with sponsorship from local businesses.

Councillor Janet Emsley, the council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture said: “2018 will be hard to beat, but preparations for this year are underway and we have already signed some exciting acts. I am really pleased to see this hugely popular festival return for its twelfth year. It’s always a great day for friends and family to enjoy, and brings lots of visitors into town.”

Another local band will get chance to play the main stage. The Battle of the Bands competition will be launched in April with local acts encouraged to apply to win the coveted slot.

If you would like to get involved with the festival, email events@ rochdale.gov.uk. For festival updates via Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/feelgoodfestival or connect on twitter @ FeelGoodFest

ROCHDALE’S PIONEERING YOUTH PROJECT

The Co-operative Heritage Trust have funded an exciting new youth project for 2019.

The project ‘Up our street, exploring Rochdale’s pioneer places’ has received £47,800 to support Young People learning about their communities and identity, and will allow the Trust to understand how best to work with and represent younger audiences in the future. The Trust wants to work with and engage with young people to make the story of co-operation more meaningful.

Young people involved in the project will be taking trips around the borough, looking at collections and finding out how and why the movement began here as well as what it means for life in the 21st Century. They will explore Rochdale’s hidden histories through film making, podcasts and creativity.

The Co-operative Heritage Trust’s mission is to extend the understanding of how the modern co-operative movement began locally in Rochdale and grew to over a billion members of co-operatives all over the world.

If you are aged 11 to 25 or work with Young People in the borough of Rochdale and would like to join the project team, please contact Rochdale Pioneers Museum for more information. Follow on Twitter @PioneersMuseum, Facebook The-Rochdale- Pioneers-The-Museum or Instagram @pioneersmuseum.