Archive for March, 2007

Wigan’s Bickershaw Festival has been cancelled. Organiser Chris Hewitt says this is due to his son’s ill health and local opposition. He is hopeful that the event will be held next year.

Allerdale Borough Council is replacing 32 of its 42 car par ticket machines with solar-powered models. They believe the move will benefit both the environment and cut their electricity bill.

Tony Smith, Allerdale Borough Council’s Parking Services Manager, said ‘The environmental benefit of the new machines is one of the reasons that Council gave us the go ahead to buy the equipment. Our existing machines are quite old and starting to fail and cost a lot of money in electricity bills. These new machines will not only make a valuable contribution in environmental terms but will give us a saving on power costs.’

Britain’s biggest toy store Hamleys is to open a concession in Manchester city centre’s House of Fraser Store this September. Last year Hamleys opened a store at Manchester Airport.

Greater Manchester galleries and museums are planning a weekend of activities 24/25 March to launch a year of activity commemorating the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

Called Revealing Histories: Remembering Slavery, the project seeks to uncover the region’s involvement in the slave trade as well as its contribution to slavery’s ultimate abolition. Eight Greater Manchester galleries and museums are taking part in Revealing Histories and events throughout 2007 include exhibitions, a walking tour, talks, public debates, online discussions, activities with young people’s groups and other participatory events.

At Gallery Oldham there will be a free drop-in event on Saturday 24 March 10am-5pm which explores the connections between cotton and slavery. A display in the entrance foyer will give visitors the chance to discuss the subject with curators, have their say and influence future events at the Gallery. There will also be talks at 11.30 and 2.30 in which Sean Baggaley, Social History Curator, will look again at the 1876 ‘Oldham Panorama’ photographs to see what they can tell us about the Lancashire Cotton Famine.

Touchstones Rochdale has an afternoon of family activities Saturday 24 March 2-4pm. For the children, there will be free workshops, including badgemaking. Curators will be on hand to talk to visitors about the Revealing Histories artefacts, including the only surviving barrel which was used to carry flour for the relief of Rochdale cotton workers during the Lancashire Cotton Famine at the time of the American Civil War.

The Manchester Museum is holding an open weekend Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March 1-4pm with free workshops, a performance and hands-on activities. Watch and learn The Mami Dance, a tradition passed down over the years to generations of young Africans since the slave trade era and listen to traditional story telling; try out African woman’s haircraft heritage and its role as a strong means of communication; follow an object trail around the Museum and take part in object handling and art and craft activities. The open day also offers the opportunity to find out more about the year long Revealing Histories project and input into the plans for the rest of 2007.

At 12 noon, 1.30pm and 3pm on both days there will be a free promenade performance suitable for ages 8 and above. The performance travels around the Museum, exploring the issues surrounding the slave trade as seen by abolitionists and traders, slavers and slaves. Called This Accursed Thing, the performance is free, but booking is essential on 0161 275 2648.

On Saturday 24 March at 1pm, the People’s History Museum is holding a Meet the Abolitionists tour. Join Dominique Tessier for a tour of the museum focusing on the campaign for the abolition of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries.

And the following day at 1pm then again at 2.30pm there will be a half hour living history performance called How Do You Plead?, with William Cuffay, whose father was a freed slave.

On 24 and 25 March the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester will host a free drop in event with poet Mike Garry, to discuss a cartoon and verse dating back to the American Civil War (1861), which satirises Britain’s involvement in the slave trade. Exploring the Union Envelope. 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.

The Remembering Slavery Manchester Tour begins and ends at Manchester Art Gallery on Sunday 25 March. Jonathan Schofield leads the tour which takes in sights including the Royal Exchange and Manchester Town Hall and explains their connection to the slave trade. He will be accompanied by poet Tina Tamsho-Thomas, who will be observing tour-goers reactions and creating a piece of poetry based on the experience. Tours are free and set off 1pm and 3pm and last one and a half hours. Booking essential on 0161 235 8888 or magevents@manchester.gov.uk.

At Manchester Art Gallery itself, there will be a slavery trail and a discussion where visitors will be invited to write their own interpretations of objects.

Bolton Museum is running a ‘meet the curator’ event on Saturday 24 March. Daniel Smith, curator of local history, will be in the gallery from 10am-4pm to chat about objects with connections to slavery, including Crompton’s spinning mule and a Barbados penny.

South Lakeland District Council is set to introduce pay-on-exit parking at the Westmorland Shopping Centre in Kendal. Currently drivers pay for a set number of hours when they park their car. It is believed that this method of charging encourages drivers to cut short their shopping trips and rush back to their cars. The new scheme is expected to be introduced in June.

The public inquiry into the Heysham M6 road link announced in February will begin on July 3 and will last approximately 24 days. The exact venue has yet to be announced but will be in Morecambe or Lancaster.

A tourist information kiosk has opened in Borrowdale, providing touch-screen access to information about local attractions, shops and hotels. Situated at Seatoller Barn, the kiosk replaces the Lake District National Park Authority tourist information centre that operated here until 2005.

Tuk-tuks, the motorised rickshaws popular in Bangkok and other Southeast Asian cities, could soon be seen on the streets of Blackpool. Blackpool Council has approved an application by local businessman Robin Ross to use tuk-tuks as private hire vehicles. Tuk-tuks were successfully introduced in Brighton last year.

Over 1000 vintage cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes will be parading through stunning Cholmondely Castle, in Cheshire next month.

The 14th North West Classic Car and Motorcycle Show takes place, near Malpas, on Sunday 13th May 07 from 10am – 4pm.

Individual enthusiasts proudly displaying their fabulous classic cars, will be joined by many car clubs for a day of motoring nostalgia amongst the trade stands, exhibits and auto jumble.

Wonderfully restored cars ranging from magnificent Rolls Royce’s, Jaguars and Sunbeams, sit alongside breath-taking Aston Martins, as well as old favourites like Vauxhall, Minis and Morris Minors. There’ll be appearances by classic sports cars, MG’s and triumphs as well as a big selection of BSA, Norton and other vintage motorcycles.

With running commentaries, a selection of the vintage vehicles will be driven round the arena area, at various times in the afternoon. There’s also plenty of competitions and prizes for exhibitors.

Now in its 9th year, this hugely popular event gives patrons chance to really get up close to these wonderful vehicles, and rummage through the vast auto jumble, whilst the enthusiasts get to dust off their “pride and joys” and drive them to the show. More than 3,000 visitors are expected at the show, which is one of the biggest of 17 events being organised by Woodward Automotives during 2007.

Mark Woodward, the shows organiser said, “I always look forward to this particular show, it’s one of the biggest of the year. The magnificent Cholmondeley Castle is the perfect backdrop for all the beautifully restored cars. It’s very easy to find and all the vehicles look fantastic driving down through the parkland. It’s a bit like stepping back in time, seeing the classic cars displayed in the park!”

Admission includes access to Cholmondeley grounds and acres of stunning gardens. Although there isn’t access to the Castle, light refreshments are available from their charming tearoom.

Exhibitor entries (at £2.50 each) close on Friday 4th May 2007. For further information on taking part, contact Mark Woodward on 01253 407779 or 07768 741610.

The Show is open from 10am – 4pm on Sunday 13th May 07. Admission prices are: Adults / OAPS £6.00 Children £2.50. The Castle is at Malpas, on the A49 between Tarporley and Whitchurch. Plenty of free parking available.

Over 750 vintage cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes will be parading through stunning, Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire next month.

Spread over 2 days, the 22nd Cheshire Classic Car and Motorcycle Show takes place, near Macclesfield on Sunday 27th and Monday 28th May 07 from 10am – 4pm.

Individual enthusiasts proudly displaying their fabulous classic cars, will be joined by many car clubs for a day of motoring nostalgia amongst the trade stands, exhibits and auto jumble.

Wonderfully restored cars ranging from magnificent Rolls Royce’s, Jaguars and Sunbeams, sit alongside breath-taking Aston Martins, as well as old favourites like Vauxhall, Minis and Morris Minors. There’ll be appearances by classic sports cars, MG’s and triumphs as well as a big selection of BSA, Norton and other vintage motorcycles. On Sunday, a wonderful collection of Jaguars will be positioned perfectly on the terrace at the front of the Hall, whilst the Bank Holiday Monday, sees 150 American cars grace the surrounding lawns. With running commentary, a display of the vintage vehicles will be driven round the arena area, at various times in the afternoon. There’s also plenty of competitions and prizes for exhibitors.

Now in its 11th year, this hugely popular event gives patrons chance to really get up close to these wonderful vehicles, and rummage through the huge auto jumble, whilst the enthusiasts get to dust off their “pride and joys” and drive them to the show. More than 3,000 visitors are expected at the show, which is one of the biggest of 17 events being organised by Woodward Automotives during 2007.

Mark Woodward, the shows organiser said, “I always look forward to this particular show. The magnificent Capesthorne Hall has to be the perfect backdrop for all the beautifully restored cars. It’s very easy to find and all the vehicles look fantastic driving down through the parkland. It’s a bit like stepping back in time, seeing the classic cars parked outside the Hall!”

Admission includes access to Capesthorne’s woodland, parkland and lakes. The Hall is open from 1.30pm with last admissions at 3.30pm. Refreshments are available from the “Butler’s Pantry”.

Exhibitor entries (at £2.50 each) close on Friday 18th May 07. For further information on taking part, contact Mark Woodward on 01253 407779 or 07768 741610.

The Show is open from 10am – 4pm on Sunday 27th and Monday 28th May 07. Admission prices are: Adults / OAPS £5.00 Children £2.50. Just five miles west of Macclesfield, off the A34 between Manchester and Stoke on Trent. Plenty of free parking available.