community index didsbury oct 2012
DESCRIPTION
Community Index Didsbury Oct 2012TRANSCRIPT
communityDidsburyindex
Oct 2012
view the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk
Delivered FREE to Didsbury homes
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to advertise call Lesley: 0787 589 5604 [email protected]
When you replaced all your old records with CDs all those years ago, did you put them up in the loft? Now could be the time to dig them out...We pay good prices for the right kind of records in the right condition. We’re interested in:
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GUITAR/SONGWRITING LESSONS
Call: 07906 203388 [email protected]
www.dominickearne.com
• Experienced teacher of children & adults
• Current age range 7 to 72!• First lesson ½ price/other
discounts available• I travel to you• Learn songs, styles or grades• Learn to sing whilst playing
• Full Enhanced CRB check• Member of The Registry of
Guitar Teachers• Annual concert to showcase
your new found skills (optional)!
Alexander Technique
Sue Fleming MSTAT
www.alexanderteaching.co.uk
☎ 861 8848 mob 07796470163
The Burton Road Clinic Didsbury and
Chequers Road Chorlton
Pauline Leng MSTAT
www.alexandertechniquemanchester.net
☎ 445 8530 mob 07821470349
The Didsbury Holistic Centre and
Lidgate Grove Didsbury
individual sessions, groupscourses and workshops
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Contents4. October in Your Garden
5. The Elm Tree in Jubilee Gardens
6. Hello Giddy Goat Toys
8. Didsbury Events
10. Opening the Parsonage
12. DAF Diamond Weekend
16. Making Wood Work
19. Didsbury Dinners Recipe
20. Singing for our Lives
21. Didsbury Traders
22. Didsbury Events
CommunityI N XD E
PUBLISHERCommunity Index
EDITOR/ADVERTISINGLesley Swann
SUB-EDITOR/WEBSITESam Paechter
CONTRIBUTIONS Christine Hession, Carol Thompson,
Katherine Watson, Deborah Grace (DAF)Tree Station, Jules Gibb, Didsbury Dinners
COVER PHOTOGRAPHPhil Portus
CONTACT USTel: 0787 589 5604
34 Manchester Road, Chorlton, M21 9PH
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view the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk
NACS member
www.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk
Call John0161 445 3650
CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICESAcorn
open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves, birds nests removed
Garden DesignPlanting AdviceConsultation ServiceProject Managment
07989968841www.fatgrass.co.uk
October in your Garden October can be studded with some lovely days if the last few years are anything to go by, so what better than to strike out to some of the public gardens in the North West and beyond?
When we think of spectacular autumn gardens we tend to think of arboretums such as the famous Westonbirt in Gloucestershire with around 2,000 specimens of maple providing a fiery autumn display, or nearer to home the Thorp Perrow arboretum in North Yorkshire with its collection of Sorbus. But many of our more local gardens are open to visitors until the end of October and put on some interesting events and lectures for both adults and children. One of my favourite ever gardens is Wollerton Old Hall near Market Drayton - a bit
of a drive, but worth it for its autumn open day on the 12th October where you can see the last flush of colour in swathes of Asters, Dahlias, Salvias and Euonymous.
Nearer to home, Ness Botanic garden (South Wirral) is putting on a range of events through the month including a tree trail with head gardener Tim Baxter. There is a dry stone walling course this month at Gawthorpe Hall in Burnley and willow weaving-a-gogo at Arley Hall Cheshire.
Pumpkin carving is seeing a revival in a number of gardens: Biddulph Grange is hosting ‘Halloween and the Spooky Tunnel’ with the woodland trail bedecked with pumpkins carved by the gardeners as well as a pumpkin carving workshop. If Biddulph is a bit
too far, Lyme Park and Quarry Bank Mill both have pumpkin carving on the October agenda with the latter also putting on spooky tours, family fungi walks and the beautifully bucolic sounding ‘Apply Days’. Tatton Park are also having an Apple Day and Norton Priory in Runcorn are upping the ante by having an apple and quince day.
So if there’s not much happening in your own garden this month, pop on your smock-frock, grab a pumpkin and enjoy some of the October delights of our local gardens.
Katherine Watson, Fat Grass Garden Designs
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Everybody will no doubt have noticed that the beautiful Huntingdon Elm which stood in Jubilee Gardens in the village has fallen – another victim to the dreadful weather we have been experiencing recently.
The tree fell on the 15th August at around 4 o’clock. A large bough had come off the tree earlier in the year and fallen onto Wilmslow Road and it is probably because this bough had fallen that the free when it fell did not do more damage. Without the additional weight of the bough, the tree fell away from Wilmslow Road.
The weather had deteriorated about 3.30 pm on the 15th and we had a torrential rain storm. Other parts of Greater Manchester, notably Bolton reported a mini tornado and we think this is what happened in Didsbury. Onlookers who saw it happen, have told us that the top of the tree twisted before it fell and from the stump that is left, you can see that the tree itself was not diseased.
The tree, fortunately, fell away from the road
and again, very fortunately, did not do any damage to the offices above Cafe Nero because the fence around the Jubilee Gardens took most of the force when it fell.
It is a dreadful shame that this has happened because this tree has stood on this corner for a very long time – there is a picture dated 1878 which shows the tree and it is already a huge tree at this point.
If anybody has any thoughts on what could be done with the remaining stump, could they please contact the Civic Society on 0161 445 7661 or [email protected]
If you have any thoughts on future work for the Jubilee Gardens and using the tree other than having a carving done, please send those in to us.
Christine Hession
The Elm Tree in Jubilee Gardens
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It’s all change in toyland as Louise from Rumpus is moving on and the shop has been taken over by Amanda Alexander and renamed Giddy Goat Toys.
Amanda was the co-owner of Monkey Puzzle Toys in Chorlton along with Nicola Shields and when she heard that Louise was looking to sell up and move on she jumped at the chance of keeping Didsbury’s one and only toy shop open by taking it on herself.
As the mother of two primary school aged boys Amanda is keen to increase the age range of the toys in the shop, bringing in brands such as Lego and Nerf,
plus arts and crafts sets for older children from the quirky French toy company Djeco. Knowing how many parties children are invited to over the school year, she also plans to
bring in a wider range of toys in the ‘under a tenner’ price range, plus a
selection of fun pocket money toys.
The existing
staff are staying on
so customers will receive
the same warm,
welcoming and friendly service they have enjoyed at Rumpus, which Amanda praised, saying ‘Louise has done a fabulous job in creating this beautiful shop and finding motivated and knowledgeable staff to work there and although I will miss our Chorlton customers and working with Nicola I am looking forward to meeting the customers and children of Didsbury and I wish Louise all the best in her new career’.
Giddy Goat Toys will also be a member of the Tag Pass it on scheme, offering 10% discounts to sales over £20 as well as selling the cards too. They also have a website at www.giddygoattoys.co.uk allowing customers to browse the stock and even buy online from the comfort of their own home with the option of either free collection from the shop or delivery to addresses across the UK.
Why not pop in and say hello?
Hello Giddy Goat Toys!
Tel: 0787 589 [email protected]
1/4 page £49
ADVERTISING IN COMMUNITY INDEX
1/8 page £39
Call now to book your space
1/2 page £75 Full page £120
www.communityindex.co.uk
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@giddygoattoys /giddygoattoys
Come and see what’s new in Didsbury's favouritetoy shop. We have lots of new and exciting toysand gifts:
• A fun range of value pocket money toys;
• Great selection of toys for older kidsincluding: Lego, Djeco art and craft sets, boardgames and science kits;
• Lots of toys for under a tenner - making usthe ideal place to pick up your party presents;
• Traditional wooden toddler toys as well asfantastic games, puzzles and books foryounger children; and
• A wide selection ofcards and giftwrap.
Visit our website to checkout our range or buy online- we deliver across the UK.
2 Albert Hill Street . Didsbury . Manchester . M20 6RFTel: 0161 445 1097 . Email: [email protected]
www.giddygoattoys.co.uk
TOYS·BOOKS
·GAMES·GIFTS
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TAG - New Members & Great Offers!New TAG! cards are valid until 2014 AND are on sale now for only £5. The sooner you get one the more you save when supporting local
independent shops and businesses in Didsbury.
Just flash your TAG! card to get your discount and show your support.
Pramactive - Claire does ‘workout for you and baby comes too’. For Didsbury Millgate session details see www.pramactive.co.uk Clair is offering one class free with a TAG! card (worth £4.50) for a limited period.
Healthy Spirit - Sarah runs Didsbury’s very own independent Health Food shop and is offering 10% off spends over £20 to cardholder
A new local good cause selling TAG! cards to raise funds is Didsbury Good Neighbours. If you wish to support them please contact Marie 0161 434 1601 or you can list DGN as a referrer if buying your TAG! card online through the TAG! website.
www.didsburygoodneighbours.com
For all the offers from all TAG! members in Chorlton see www.tagpassiton.com and in-stores.
SERVING BODY, MIND AND SPIRITHealthyspirit is a health and spiritual shop
with a holistic healing centre. We offer:
HOLISTIC TREATMENTS
MEDITATION CLASSESSPIRITUAL HEALING & GUIDANCE DRU YOGADEEKSHA BLESSINGATTUNEMENTS
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
FLOWER ESSENCESHOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIESBOOKS CDS (MEDITATION AND MUSIC)CRYSTALS & GIFTSWORKSHOPS
Visit our website for more Information or buy online:
WWW.HEALTHY-SPIRIT.COMFREE POST AND PACKAGING WITH FIRST ORDER
AND RECEIVE A £5 VOUCHER TO BE USED ON NEXT PURCHASE OVER £25.00
OR CALL IN AND CHAT WITH OUR FRIENDLY STAFF AT: 37 BARLOW MOOR ROAD, DIDSBURY,
MANCHESTER M20 6TW. TEL: 0161 434 6784OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY from 09.30am-5.00pm
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The Old Parsonage opened its doors to the public on the 7th September 2013. The ribbon across the porch was ceremonially cut by the Lord Mayor, Elaine Boyes at 1pm.
Steve Parle, the Chair of the Didsbury Parsonage Trust then took her on a tour of the Parsonage. The Lord Mayor was delighted with the brass plaque which had been placed
just inside the front door to commemorate the event.
Invitations had been sent out to everybody who had donated money or time to the Parsonage, to enable them to get a preview of the building before the Heritage Weekend, when the doors would be open to everybody. There were approximately 200 people attending the actual ceremony. The Parsonage was then kept open until 8.30 that evening, so that people who could not make the ceremony could still get a preview.
The Parsonage looks amazing. The lease was signed on the 16th June and the builders moved in on the 18th June. There was a tremendous amount of work to do and as
Opening the Parsonage
work proceeded more repair work was uncovered. The builders, Select Interiors, have done a superb job at the Parsonage. All the contractors who worked on the property took such care and were so interested in the house and worked so hard to get the property ready for the 7th September opening. We could not have chosen a better company and would recommend them to anybody. The colour scheme – put together by the Managing Director, Carl Brown – has been much admired.
The Parsonage was open over the Heritage Weekend for Didsbury Open Doors and over the weekend, over 2,000 people visited. The comments in the Visitor’s Book were all wonderful – saying how pleased they were to see the house
open again; how wonderful it looked; what a terrific job had been done and how much they liked the colour scheme.
The Parsonage is now open for business and has already hosted several meetings, the inaugural meeting of a newly formed lacemaking group and has staged its first exhibition “Manchester in Focus” by the South Manchester Camera Club, which is part of the Didsbury Arts Festival. There are lots of meetings and courses booked in over the next few months and into next year and several parties have been booked as well as three more exhibitions to follow on from the Camera Club.
The first two tenants have moved into their offices and there are three more small offices available to rent.
The telephone number to enquire about booking the Parsonage is 0161 445 7661 and the e-mail address is [email protected]. The Parsonage Trust office is open from 9am to 5.30 pm at present to deal with enquiries. The exhibitions are open to the public between 12pm and 2pm each weekday and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Christine Hession
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Didsbury was aglow with lanterns as hundreds of families enjoyed a magical moonlight walk as part of Didsbury Arts Festival 2012.Some 700 locals took part in a spectacular Lantern Procession from historic Parsonage Gardens to Fletcher Moss Park. The event on Saturday evening was one of the highlights of a sparkling Diamond Weekend devoted to the arts.
Altogether, 3000 festival goers flocked to the area’s bars, churches and other venues to enjoy a four-day celebration of local talent.
The long weekend brought together new talent and old favourites in a packed programme, including music, dance, comedy, literature and much more.
As well as the Lantern Parade, highlights included a sell-out performance by Flamenco de la Vuelta at Didsbury Baptist Church, readings by Jackie Kay and Booker shortlisted
author, Alison Moore, with jazz and classical music recitals, including opera from students of the Royal Northern College of Music
Comedy highlights included stand-up and a comedy shorts film night which brought to DAF for the first time the best of the Manchester Cofilmic Festival and the work of national, award-winning film-makers.
Festival Director, Maria Stripling, said: ‘We were delighted to see so many people of all ages enjoying such a fantastic and diverse range of events during the DAF Diamond Weekend. The festival brought together some of the best artists – not just from Didsbury and Manchester – but from all over the UK..
‘I’d like to thank everyone involved - all the artists, sponsors, volunteers and local organisations who have been so generous with their time and
support and have helped make this year’s DAF such a great success.’
Organised by a group of enthusiastic local residents, the aim of DAF is to celebrate the arts and the wealth of talent, diversity and the vibrant community that make Didsbury so special. Since its launch in 2009, the area’s annual celebration of the arts has now become a fixture on the local calendar.
Don’t miss the DAF Victorian Christmas, being held in conjunction with Didsbury Civic Society at the Parsonage on Saturday 8th December!
For updates, along with news and images of this year’s festival, visit the DAF website www.didsburyartsfestival.org
All enquiries to: [email protected]
All photographs © Phil Portus
DAF Diamond Weekend
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to advertise call Lesley: 0787 589 5604 [email protected]
Property Repairs Chimneys
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0161 789 664007944 729 608
Tel: 07936 884644
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DIDSBURYWINDOW CLEANING
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Tel: 07936 884644didsburywindows.com
evolve joinery
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07947 242 3390161 427 9317
Wooden & UPVC windows
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Stud partition & plasterboard work
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Decking & fencing
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Clubs, Societies & Groups
Acting For FunCentral Didsbury431 4794
Didsbury Amateur Dramaticswww.celestaplayers.co.uk
Didsbury Civic Societywww.didsburycivicsociety.org.uk
Didsbury Cricket Clubwww.didsburyccsports.co.uk
Didsbury Dinnershttp://didsburydinners.wordpress.comFor general enquiries/Community growing group: [email protected] Community cooking group: [email protected]
Didsbury Good NeighboursEvery Tuesday, 10-11.45am coffee morning. Didsbury Sure Start Centre, Didsbury Park07749 504298 www.didsburygood neighbours.com
Didsbury Village East Residents Associationwww.dvera.co.uk
Didsbury Village Women’s Institutewww.didsburyvillagewi.co.uk
Manchester Flower Lovers’ GuildFirst Monday of the month for flower demonstrations. Refreshments at 7.15 for 7.30 start. Visitors welcome £5 St Werburghs Church Hall, Chorlton M21 0TJ Anne 881 6591, [email protected] flowersnorthwest.net
Friends of Didsbury Parkwww.friendsofdidsbury park.co.uk
Friends of Fletcher Moss ParkAlan Hill 215 0971 [email protected]
Friends of Marie Louise Gardenswww.marielouisegardens.org.uk
South Manchester Camera Clubwww.smcc.org.uk
Didsbury Over 50s Group247 2323
South Manchester U3AMeet on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 2pm, Emmanuel Church. Contact Edna 434 2509
South Manchester Dance School107 Clyde Road West Didsbury, 445 5308
West Didsbury BookgroupMeets every four weeks at 7.30pm. Lively mixed group of all ages. Call 445 4483 leaving your name, address & landline
West Didsbury Residents AssociationPam Siddons 445 5406 www.westdidsbury.org.uk
Arts & CraftsThe Classroom on School Lane Learn new a new craft24 School Lanewww.classroomschool lane.com
Wendy Levy Art Gallery17 Warburton Street Didsbury, 446 4880
Music & EntertainmentDidsbury Comedy Club 7pm Show 7:45pm Admission £6/£5 Didsbury Cricket Club, Wilmslow Rd, East Didsbury, M20 2ZY
JazzTuesdays at 8.45pm at the Slug and Lettuce, 651 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury. creativespaceinfo.blogspot.com
Pub QuizDog and PartridgeEvery Monday 9.30Cash Jackpot667 Wilmslow RoadTel: 0871 951 1000
Stax of Soul Wednesdays 9.30pm-12 Thursdays DJ Pip Rolfe Weekend warm up till 1amOne Lounge Bar1 Lapwing lanewww.oneloungebar.co.uk 448 0101
Therapy at Sanctuary Bar Thursday night DJ 7–midnight every week.653 Wilmslow Road
Social & Support Groups
Didsbury Social [email protected] www.didsburysocial. jigsy.com
Social CircleSocial and activity group. Walks, meals, weekends away, quiz nights, live music, dancing, theatre, comedy Tel: 0161 434 0098, or 07767 686 177 www.social-circle.co.uk
New Family Social UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every two months in south Manchester.newfamilysocial.co.uk email: [email protected]
Useful Numbers
Didsbury Library 227 3755
Environment on Call 954 9000
Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service 905 1100
Manchester City Council234 5000
East Didsbury Councillors
Andrew [email protected]
Andrew [email protected]
Bridie [email protected]
West Didsbury CouncillorsMark [email protected]
Carl [email protected]
David [email protected]
Community I N D E X
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An exciting new project is being set up in Manchester to make the most of wood that is a by-product of park management and recreational woodlands in the area. Greater Manchester TreeStation is the brainchild of local tree surgeon Phil Benn who has been doing treework in the local area for many years. Phil said: “It seemed crazy that getting rid of wood was a problem for most tree surgeons. It was just being thrown away or used as mulch, and it is potentially so much more useful.”
Wood is AmazingTrees are beautiful. They purify the air, nourish the soil and help prevent erosion. Trees have always been central to human life and culture. Wood from local trees must form a part of the kind of locally based economy
that we need if we are to live sustainably. It is madness to import wood from Lithuania or Columbia to burn or to make into furniture, when we have not made proper use of the trees on our own doorstep.
Greater Manchester TreeStationThe idea is to collect wood from local tree surgeons and from woodland management activities of local councils, and use it to give the maximum benefit. Larger trunks are cut into planks and sold to local joiners. Other wood (mainly from native hardwood species) is made into logs for burning in stoves, whilst lower grade wood (conifer, willow and poplar) is made into woodchip for biomass boilers.The TreeStation is a not-for-profitsocial enterprise based in Gorton and is constituted as a Society for the Benefit of the Community.
Burn Local and CleanBurning wood makes sense if the wood is local and you burnit efficiently. The TreeStation sources timber from gardens,parks, and local amenity woodlands. And if you use a DEFRA approved stove then you get about 80% of the energy into your room, compared to 20% for an open fire. Approved stoves burn clean, producing very little ash or smoke, making them suitable for smoke-free zones.
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)This government grant scheme pays businesses, and will soon pay individuals, to burn renewable fuels in biomass boilers, which can be installed instead of the normal gas boiler and can heat the whole house and the hot water. Local firewood can be used to fire your RHI subsidised boiler. The TreeStation also makes woodchip for large institutional biomass boilers,using byproduct wood and where necessary softwoods bought from local commercial forests.
Beautiful FurnitureYou don’t need to damage rainforests if you want a fabulous hardwood kitchen table. Traditional British hardwoods such as oak, ash and beech are all plentifully available from the TreeStation – and it couldn’t be more local.
Further information about the TreeStation can be found at www.treestation.co.uk or by emailing [email protected].
The TreeStation is also currently seeking funding from customers and supporters, via a community share issue – see www.treestation.co.uk/share-issue.
Please support your local TreeStation!
Making Wood Work
Community Share OfferWood is an amazing material and if properly managed is a genuinely renewable resource. A local, wood-based economy can, and must play a vital role in the transition to an ethical and sustainable world. Do you share our vision? Then become part of it by buying shares in our community enterprise! Get more information at www.treestation.co.uk/share-offer
Our aim – to raise £140,000 by 31st October 2012 for: » Increased working capital » More machinery for wood processing and environmentally sensitive woodland management » Higher stock levels so that we have the capacity to tender for local biomass woodchip contracts » Marketing and project development
You get: » Membership including full voting rights » Interest on your investment (expected to be 5%) » Discount scheme » Shares repaid on request, subject to board approval
Local Ethical Firewood & Tree WorkWe use the timber produced during the maintenance of local parks, gardens and woodlands to make firewood, timber for joinery and biomass woodchip. Our quality firewood is made from native hardwood species, and is air dried to a moisture content of less than 25%.
Firewood prices, including free local delivery: 1 Cubic Metre for £100 | 2 for £190 | 3 for £270
We also offer a full range of tree services including consultancy, please contact us for a quote/info.
www.treestation.co.uk — 0161 231 3333
Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - [email protected] FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R
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N A Evans Electrical ServicesFamily run, serving South Manchester for 25 yrs
Tel: 0161 881 6705 Mob: 07711 032 761
• No job too large, no job too small. Quality above all• Energy saving and eco friendly advice and installation• Inspection and Testing, Installations, Maintenance and Repairs• Weekend and out of hours work • All work fully guaranteed and to relevant regulations
Trustmark / ECA / City and Guilds / Part P and JIB approved/ MIET
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Basement Conversionshome office • gym • playroom • wine cellar • bathroom • wetroom
Best Cellars North West • Unit 128 • 792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UGwww.bestcellarsnw.co.uk
best ce arsbasement conversions
northwestTel: 07921 710 563 Roy Nesbitt
September 2009.indd 14 14/08/2009 01:05:00
Tel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563
read the latest edition online at www.communityindex.co.uk
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Potato, Carrot & Coriander Soup Sheila Lane, Didsbury Village Women’s Institute
Recipe reproduced from Didsbury Dinners: The Low-Carbon Community Cookbook, with kind permission from the editor Amanda Woodvine.
Didsbury Dinners is an 80-page A4 glossy paperback packed full of recipes from local residents and groups. Buy your copy for just £6.99 from The Albert Club and Didsbury Civic Society. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards promoting local food sustainability.
Serves 41 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic
2 large carrots, finely chopped
450g/15oz potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks
1 litre/approx 2 pints vegetable stock
3 tbsp of fresh coriander, roughly chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
MethodHeat the oil in a large pan then gently fry the onion, garlic and carrots for 10 minutes.
Add the potatoes and stock and simmer for 15–20 minutes.
Add the coriander, season to taste and simmer for a further 5 minutes.
Allow the soup to cool slightly then blend in a food processor or liquidiser.
Serve hot topped with fresh coriander leaves.
“I have made this soup with the vegetables from my daughter’s allotment. I also grow my own coriander on the kitchen windowsill.”
The Women’s Institute, or WI, is the largest voluntary organisation for women in the UK. One such group is the Didsbury Village WI, founded in 2008. It is very much a friendship group, with the emphasis on fun. Its activity groups include wild walking, cake decorating, reading, knitting, theatre and dining. For further details, visit www.didsburyvillagewi.co.uk
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There is a famous protest song by Holly Near that says,
“We are the gentle angry peopleAnd we are singing for our lives.”
And it’s is certainly true that singing, especially with other people can, if not actually save your life, can certainly transform it.
There has been a little revolution going on in community singing over the past twenty or so years.
There are community choirs and singing groups led by musical directors who teach without using written scores, without using backing tracks or piano music and who never ask anyone to audition for a place. Suddenly singing is as simple as breathing - you don’t need any equipment or training or experience - you just turn up, open your mouth and sing.
Academia is picking up on it. Choirs are being studied for the health benefits of their members as well as the effects on singer’s mental and emotional health. Remember all those Famous Five stories where the Five would be trapped in a cave or somewhere and would sing to keep their spirits up? Well - it’s official - research has shown that you can’t be scared and sing at the same time and that singing lifts your mood. Here’s what a member of Manchester’s Golden Voices said in a recent interview by Keele University
“I’ve never been to singing yet where I haven’t come away feeling better. You can go feeling absolutely horrendous, whether physically or whatever and by the end of a couple of hours singing you do feel one hundred percent better.”
You can’t move for Gareth
Malone swooping into communities and turning ordinary people into heroic singers who are doing something big for themselves at the same time - and doesn’t it make great T.V?
How ever did we lose touch with this most miraculous and most ordinary activity?
A tradition of song has survived in Scotland, Ireland and Wales but in England community singing has only survived in church services or football matches.
I went on holiday to what is now Bosnia some years ago and heard the most fantastic harmony singing coming from a big rowing boat. Were they a choir? Did they come from some singing community, church, group? No- they just came from the same village and all knew the song.
So what happened to our songs? Why we did we lose touch with community singing?
Frankie Armstrong, one of the founder members of the Natural Voice Practitioner’s Network, has a theory that in Victorian times music came indoors and
became a more formal form of entertainment with recitals and piano accompaniment. Suddenly there became a right way to
do it and the insidious idea that certain people
“couldn’t sing” began to take
hold.
I can’t count the number of workshops I’ve done where someone has
come to me at the end saying
they were told as a child not to sing! What?
Really? Have you ever met a child who couldn’t sing? Humans are born to sing! The Natural Voice Practitioners Network says that singing is our birthright and there lies the revolution. No right or wrong way, no need to read music, no need to sing by yourself, just sing.
More and more people are finding natural voice community singing groups and choirs on their own doorsteps and in Manchester we are spoilt for choice.
You can sing you know... Everyone can. Give it a go and within 20 seconds you’ll wonder why you waited so long!
Singing for our Lives Jules Gibb
Jules will be starting a new weekly drop-in singing workshop called Quire as Folk at the Nip and Tipple Whalley Range on Tuesday 23rd October 6pm -7pmTo find an NVPN Choir near you www.naturalvoice.netWorkshops in Old Trafford, Hulme and nationally try Faith Watson www.singingforlarks.netOpen Voice at St Margaret’s www.carol-donaldson-music.co.ukManchester Community Choir www.manchestercommunitychoir.org.ukManchester Gay and Lesbian Chorus www.mlgc.org.ukPicturehouse Choir at Band on the Wall www.bandonthewall.orgGolden Voices Community Choir (for older people over 55)www.facebook.com/goldenvoicescommunitychoir Tel: 0161 665 3468
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• Extensions • Renovations • Plastering General building repairs • Garden wall
Re-pointing • Patios • Bricklaying/block workCheap rates, excellent quality & reliable friendly team
City&Guildsqualifiedtradesmanwithover 10 years experience
Tel: Stephen Harrison 07912351114 Joe Murphy 07525415612
email: [email protected]
M & H BUILDING CONTRACTORS
The Didsbury Handyman City & Guilds multi skilled Tradesman
Domestic & Commercial Public Liability Insurance
0777 852 3088
Environmentally AwareSmall works always welcome
Carpentry•Joinery•Electrical•PlumbingKitchens•Fencing•BuiltinFurniture•Decks
Gates•Shelves•Locks•Hardware
call Nick
v
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Didsbury EventsIf you are putting on an event in Didsbury please let me know on [email protected] or 0161 445 6382. The Community Index reaches 10,000 homes in Didsbury over a two month period. If you want people to attend your event, we need the information by the first two weeks of the month for it to be included in the magazine, so please notify us of events taking place in November by 15th October.
REGULAR EVENTSSaturdays 6th, 20th Oct & 3rd & 17th November
Coffee Concert at Emmanuel Church
Thursdays 4th, 11th & 18th October, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th November, 6th & 13th December.
Didsbury Lace Maids
Learn the fascinating craft of lacemaking at the Parsonage from 1pm to 3pm. Beginners are very welcome. £2 per session.
Wednesdays10th & 24th October. 14th & 28th November.
Didsbury Friends Coffee Afternoon Emmanuel Parish Centre starting at 2.00 pm.
OCTOBER13th Oct Roy Williams, the First Responder for
Didsbury will be giving an illustrated talk on his visits to India. Starts 7.00 pm until 8.30 approximately.
Friday 19th Oct Champagne Tasting At Didsbury Cricket Group. Organised by Social Circle www.social-circle.co.uk
20th Oct Civic Society Social Night and Hot Pot Supper at St Catherine’s Social Club on School Lane. A variety of artists have been booked to entertain. Tickets available from Liz Thornhill Tel: 0161 434 1063.
20th Oct The Tarira Chamber Choir from the Faroe Islands, will be performing at Christ Church, West Didsbury. Performance starts at 7.30pm and admission is £5.
Friday 26th Oct Halloween PartyOrganised by Social Circle www.social-circle.co.uk
27th Oct A talk by Dr Diana Leitch about the “History of Lord Simon of Wythenshawe’s Family at Emmanuel Church, starts at 7pm.There will be a £3 charge on the door, this money being divided between local charities.
31st Oct Halloween Event at the Parsonage starting at 6.00 pm. A family event with a ghostly trail, ghost stories, spooky refreshments Adults £3, children free.
NOVEMBER1st - 3rd Nov Beer Festival at St Catherine’s Social
Club
3rd Nov Christ Church West Didsbury. Darley Avenue, M20 2ZD. Concert at 7.30 pm – William Byrd Singers
6th Nov Free First Aid Course at the Parsonage on basic community awareness 10.30am to 12 noon.
11th Nov Remembrance Service at the War Memorial outside the Library. Starts at 10.30 am. Followed by short morning service at Emmanuel Church.
22nd Nov The Greater Manchester Ambulance Service - free Heart Start Course at the Parsonage 7pm -9pm
24th Nov Christ Church West Didsbury is holding a Charity Concert by RNCM for Music in Hospitals and Call Plus Cancer Support.
DECEMBER1st Dec Manchester Beethoven Orchestra will
be performing at Christ Church, West Didsbury. Starts at 7pm. No admission charge – there will be a collection.
5th Dec Carols and Lights. The switching on the Christmas lights and the Carol Service will take place outside the Library starting at 7pm. The carols will be led by children from Moor Allerton School this year.
8th Dec A Victorian Christmas Event with Christmas Food and Crafts will take place at the Parsonage. Running from 10am to 6pm.
15th Dec A Christmas Concert at Christ Church, West Didsbury by the Manchester Chamber Choir. Performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 (Concessions £8/Students £5).
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Building & MaintenanceBest Cellars 18M & H Building Contractors 21Carpet CleanerProfresh 23 Chimney SweepAcorn Chimney Sweeping Service
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Computer RepairPC Pal 11ElectricianN A Evans Electrical Services 18Furniture/JoineryEvolve Joinery 14GardensFat Grass Garden Design 4Perennial Garden Solutions 5GuttersBen 14HandymanDidsbury Handyman 21MusicDom Kearne Guitar/Songwriting 2Kingbee Records 2Painting & DecoratingCarol Smith 4Chorlton Trade Paints 23RooferM Duffin 14ShoppingTagpassiton 9Social GroupSocial Circle 24Therapy & HealingAJR Therapy 21Alexander Technique 2ToysGiddy Goat Toys 7Tree ServicesTree Station 17Window CleanerDidsbury Window Cleaning 14
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Call now to book your space
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