Community News

STAR STUDDED CAST TO JOIN JIMMY CRICKET IN MUSICAL CONCERT

Rochdale Town Hall will play host to a Musical Concert in aid of the Mayors Charity Appeal on Sunday 10th November at 4pm.

'Let's Hear it for the Wee Man', written by popular Rochdale comedian Jimmy Cricket, tells the true story of Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross, James Magennis.

Alongside Jimmy, the star-studded cast includes Rochdale actress Sue Devaney, Coronation Street actor Charles Lawson and actor Nick Newbould. Priced at £10, tickets can be purchased from Rochdale Town Hall or by calling 01706 924773.

JENNY'S A RUNAWAY WINNER WITH REVILO!

A Rochdale 'brave soul' enjoyed an unforgettable day out, thanks to a community-minded local business.

Homes and mortgages specialist Revilo Homes treated mother-of-two Jenny Neaverson to a special horse-racing themed event hosted at the famed Nutters restaurant.

Revilo Homes & Mortgages sponsored a Ladies Day Luncheon at celebrity chef Andrew Nutter’s awardwinning restaurant, offering up their own table on social media for followers to nominate a worthy cause.

“As lead sponsors of the event we wanted to make it an extra special day and decided to let the community choose who most deserved to be our guests,” said Revilo Group managing director Lee Collins.

“We had dozens of nominations - all of them very worthy indeed - but Jenny’s name repeatedly appeared and, having heard her story, it was an easy decision to make. Her friends describe her as ‘the most genuine, heart-warming person’ who has stayed positive throughout a difficult personal time. A truly brave soul.

Jenny, who lives in Rochdale, was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago. She was chauffeur-driven to the event, where she enjoyed a three-course lunch and entertainment with three friends, all in aid of the Rochdale NSPCC.

BAMFORD SALON VOTED BEST IN GREATER MANCHESTER

The Beauty Establishment, on Bury Road, Bamford, has been the voted best in Greater Manchester.

Lucy Atherton, owner of The Beauty Establishment, scooped the 'Greater Manchester Five Star Beauty Salon of the Year' Award at the North West Beauty Industry Awards 2019.

Lucy was also a finalist in the Beauty Therapist of the Year award category.

The awards are voted for by the general public and celebrate the best of the beauty industry in the region.

Lucy commented: “This year has been incredibly exciting for my business and to win this award is a real privilege. I work extremely hard to deliver an excellent service to my clients and to have that acknowledged is a huge accolade. Thank you to everyone who voted for me.”

ROCHDALE MENSWEAR STORE RECEIVES TOP RECOGNITION

Independent Rochdale clothing store Buckley Menswear has been shortlisted for a 2019 Drapers Independent Award.

The iconic Drapers Independents Awards celebrate the best fashion retailers and brands across the UK and Ireland, recognising customer service, innovation, grit and community spirit shown by the top independent multi-brand retailers.

Buckley Menswear, which opened on South Parade less than 12 months ago, has been named as a finalist for Best New Retailer.

Owner, Phil Buckley said: “To be nominated and then shortlisted to the top 10 new independents in the country is a great honour, not just for me and my family, it’s also another massive positive for Rochdale as a town centre and a destination. We have so much going on in the centre at the moment and to be in the thick of it all on South Parade is awesome. The building we occupy just adds to the image of the shop and we are attracting lots of new and old customers and nothing but positive feedback.”

Phil added: “The actual awards ceremony is in London in September and my wife and I are attending and having a few nights there. It’ll be a nice reward for all the work we’ve both put into setting up the business. I don’t expect to win but to just be shortlisted is recognition enough.”

Buckley Menswear is located in one of the most iconic buildings in town, boasting two floors filled with quality menswear.

CELEBRATING TWO FUN-FILLED YEARS

Rochdale soft play centre, Jolly Giraffes, recently celebrated its second birthday.

Owner, Rachel Blakeman, commented: "Our second birthday party was a huge success; parents and children sang happy birthday as we handed out lots of free cake and drinks! We would like to thank our customers, staff and community for all their support over the past two years. We are continuing to add more exciting parts to the play centre and also refurbishing our bathroom. We can’t wait to see what the next year brings!"

The play centre, on Bridgefold Road, provides an exciting 'indoor playground' for local children to explore, with the aim being to 'help children smile wider and laugh harder!'.

ARTISAN MARKET CONTINUES TO PROVE A HUGE SUCCESS

Rochdale Artisan Market is going from strength to strength gaining new and returning visitors each month.

Denise Valente, Director of The Market Co, commented: “The feedback we have had from the public has been so heart-warming and it’s a pleasure to deliver something to this wonderful town that people really appreciate. Most of our artisan traders are local to Rochdale and surrounding towns and it’s wonderful to see these local micro businesses being so well supported by their neighbours, friends and families.”

“These next few months [28th September, 26th October] will see us gearing up for the festive season, culminating in our very own Christmas Artisan Market on Saturday 30th November. There will be bells jingling, tinsel glittering, candles flickering and a whole host of mouth-watering seasonal goodies to be had.”

If you haven’t yet visited then now’s the time! Rochdale Artisan Market takes place on The Butts, on the last Saturday every month.

WENDY'S WOOFERS BHANGRA BALL

Wendy’s Woofers recently held a Bhangra Ball at Rochdale Sports Club, raising over £1500 for their charity who rescue dogs from Romania and find them forever homes in the UK.

Animal lover and owner of Rochdale company Bark Engineering Ltd, Wendy Etheridge, founded ‘Wendy’s Woofers’ to help share and promote the dogs she supports, and to help find them the loving homes they deserve.

To find out more join the Facebook group at: facebook.com/groups/wendyswoofers

SERVING ROCHDALE CUSTOMERS FOR OVER 60 YEARS

As Family Furnishers, Lovicks, celebrate one hundred years in business this autumn, Bill Lovick himself has personally been serving the Rochdale public for an incredible 62 years.

Bill first joined his father Alan in the family business in 1957; a business started by his Grandfather William Lovick, in 1919. Bill is still very active in the company, which he now runs with son David and daughter Helen.

Lovicks now houses four floors of home furnishings and is the longest established retailer in the town, with a fourth generation of the Lovick family now involved in the business.

YOUNG ROCHDALE WRITER’S WORK TO HIT FESTIVAL STAGE

Young local playwright Riz Ali has been crowned winner of a competition organised by Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival for 14-25 year olds and will now see her words brought to life on the stage this autumn.

The 22-year-old’s work was chosen from dozens of budding local writers who submitted the first ten pages of a script earlier this year for the festival’s A Different Story of Rochdale: Tales from the Town Hall Playwriting Competition. Her play, inspired by Rochdale Town Hall, will be performed during the finale of the festival on Monday 21 October in the iconic building itself by professional actors, with direction from the M6 Theatre Company.

Judges were very impressed by Riz’s dialogue, paced storytelling and said she had a clear talent. Now Riz, who lives in the Deeplish area of Rochdale, is working with scriptwriter Nicola Schofield. Nicola, whose work includes the acclaimed BBC drama ‘Doctors’ is helping to develop Riz’s words into a 30-minute play, giving the budding writer a unique hands-on experience with professional scriptwriting.

Riz said: “It’s going to be so exciting to be part of the festival. I want to work in the arts as a career and the doors this opportunity could open are overwhelming... This is the first time I’ve ever shown anyone my work, it’s such a personal thing to me and to have won the competition is amazing. I can’t wait to see my characters come to life on the stage, especially at such an iconic venue.”

While she’s keeping full details of the play under wraps until its first performance, Riz said it’s all about living life to the full: “The play is about not wasting time and not living within boundaries set by others or circumstance. Grow gracefully, but make sure you live. That’s what it’s about, that’s the philosophy that inspired me.”

Free tickets for the premiere of her play that also include a tour of the town hall and a drinks reception are available now from the festival website.

The Rochdale festival also features the previously announced television presenter John Craven, feel-good fiction writer Milly Johnson, Gogglebox star and broadcaster Reverend Kate Bottley, children’s author

and television presenter Konnie Huq, author and activist Erin Ekins, international bestselling crime author and poet Sophie Hannah, popular children’s authors Harry Heape and Hannah Lee, as well as award winning illustrator Olivia Lomenech Gill.

For the full line-up and to book tickets visit www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk