CI Chorlton & Whalley Range - February 15

communityChorlton & Whalley Range

February 2015

View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk

Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Chorlton & Whalley Range

www.slaterheelis.co.uk @familylawnw

Get in touch with our family team

[email protected] 0161 835 3681

Are you separating andunsure which path to take?

Our team of Resolution family specialists are here to support you with first class legal advice and provide the direction you need. The team focuses on divorce, separation, civil partnerships, same sex marriages, finances, pre-nups/post-nups and children arrangements.

Our family team all live in and around the South Manchester area; living within the same community offers us a unique insight into what affects all our daily lives.

You are just a tram ride away from one of our offices in Manchester city centre or Sale.

“ I moved to Whalley Range for its bohemian, vibrant atmosphere and being so close to Chorlton. Having the independent bars and shops all within walking distance is great not to mention the tram links to the city.”

Mark Heptinstall | Head of our Family Department

© E

lin Beckm

ann

Slater Heelis has provided clear direction for over 240 years.

Community Index A5 v04.indd 4 09/05/2014 09:31

ContentsWilbrahams of Chorlton

On the coverSpring Crocus, Canstockphoto

Deadline for next editionContent 11h February Advertising 13th February

ContributorsLinsey ParkinsonAndrew SimpsonChorlton Bookshop Katherine WatsonGeoff Garnett

Lesley SwannDirector

Joe BeechEditor [email protected] 07875 895 604

Sam [email protected] 07939 077 036

Linsey ParkinsonMarketing & Development [email protected] 07870 988 601

@communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk149 Ayres Road, Manchester M16 9WR

Making an impression 15

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Action for sustainable living puts on a show10

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Monday 9th FebruaryJust WriteA creative and inspirational session for budding writers, be they beginner or accomplished. Find inspiration and support and develop that all important storyline, through fun exercises and creative time. 7-9pm £3 (every 2nd Monday)

Tuesday 10th FebruaryPhotography Sessions Under the guidance of photographer Mark Prime, learn how to get the best from your kit and be inspired to capture that perfect moment. 7-9pm £3 (every 2nd Tuesday)

Wednesday 11th & 25th FebruaryCake ClubOne of our most popular groups continues to grow. Learn a new skill or recipe and leave with a tasty treat to share. Debs and Chris guide the group to baking success. 7-9pm £3 (every 2nd and 4th Wednesday)

Friday 13thSupper Club with Yakumama Start your Valentine’s weekend with Latin passion at this mouthwatering three course dinner treat. Enjoy two South American cocktails as well as live entertainment. 7.30pm (booking required) £25 for 3 courses or £30 including 2 cocktails.

Wednesday 18th February The Bead Shop Jewellery MakingEach session teaches a new skill and includes all the materials you’ll need to create a beautiful piece to take home and cherish. For beginners and experienced crafters. 7-9pm £10 per session(every 3rd Wednesday)

Saturday 21st FebruaryStreet Food SaturdayThe second of our new monthly foodies’ treats. This month: The Gourmet Burger Guys, Madame Francoise Crepes and Grandad’s Sausages Jumbo Dogs.10am-4pm(every 3rd Saturday)

February at The PostBox Cafe

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Chorlton Traders Association (CTA) is a dynamic group of businesses that make things happen, whether that’s campaigning, organising events or raising money for improvements and local charities. They’re all about making sure Chorlton is a great place to live, work and play.

Chorlton Traders community content is kindly funded by a cash grant from Manchester City Council

@chorltontraders @chorltonmarkets [email protected] www.chorltontraders.co.uk

A New Community GardenThe mysterious fenced-off space on Manchester Road - between the Sedge Lynn and the library - is getting a makeover! We’re unlocking the gates to create a garden that’s perfect for reading, chatting and smelling the flowers. We need a few volunteers to help, so if your heart is willing and/or your fingers are even slightly green, please get in touch: [email protected] garden is just part of the work we’re doing with the Council and other partners to smarten up Manchester Road. You’ll soon see thousands of spring flowers, along with our new Veloplanters (where bike storage and bedding plants meet) from local company Velotrove. More safe places to lock your bike while you’re shopping mean fewer reasons to bring the car.Pub and Shop WatchBy working together, Chorlton Traders can share intelligence about suspicious activity and improve security. The new Pub and Shop Watch scheme costs nothing and we know it’s working in other

places: if you’re a member and you’re interested in being part of it, contact us. Chorlton’s on the Map!Residents – and visitors – need to know about how much is on offer in Chorlton cum Hardy, and how easy it is to find great local products and services. The Chorlton Map will list local businesses, shops and other independents, so you’ll never need to go anywhere else. Coming soon: watch this space...Pass It On in 2015The new TAG Pass It On cards are on sale now, offering exclusive discounts on local shopping – from artichokes to acupuncture, dinners to dry cleaning. More than fifty local businesses are part of the scheme, which means that at just £5, your card will pay for itself in no time.

Every home should have one: look for the logo in local shops or visit www.tagpassiton.com for stockists and available discounts.Join UsChorlton Traders is open to anyone who runs a business, however small, in M21. We work to make a difference and we think there’s never been a better time to join us. It couldn’t be easier and rates start from just £15 a year. Visit us online to find out more.And before we go…Big thanks to everyone who bought or sold tickets for our Grand Christmas Raffle; and to everyone who donated such fantastic prizes. We raised £1,135 in total, which goes towards lighting up Chorlton at Christmas. Find the list of winners at our website.

Spring’s on its way and 2015’s going to be a great year for Chorlton Traders: we love where we live and work. We’ve lots of ideas up our sleeve, so here’s to a year of sprucing things up, getting out and about and encouraging everyone to shop local.

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Membership Fees:£15 for those working from home £25 for independents £75 for bigger businesses/chains/nationals

CHINESEKICKBOXING

Wednesday 6.30-8.00pmMIXED ABILITY KICKBOXING

Want to push harder?Maybe trained before?

This is for you

Wednesday 8.00-9.00pmTRADITIONAL KUNG FU

Learn all the elementswalks, kicks, punchesweapons and forms

Saturday 4.30-6.00pmMIXED ABILITY KICKBOXING

Body blast

Monday!!!Because there’smore to life than

work

Yourmidweek

blast

For mindand body

Your weekendstarts or ends

here...

Tuesdays & Thursdays 6-7pmKIDS KICKBOXING

“The youth of Chorlton”Our next generation of martial artists.

Aged from 4-14

Mondays 6.30-7.30pmBEGINNERS KICKBOXING

Work through the basics whilebuilding your fitness

Learn kickboxing from

CHRIS BOUGHEY7th Degree Black Belt andEngland Team Coach for

The World Kickboxing Council

NORTH WEST CHINESE KICK BOXING

Male and female instructors CRB checked.

No membership or enrolment fees,simply pay per classAdults £4.80 Under 16’s £4.30Kids class £4.00 (family rates available)

Come and learn kickboxing in a safe,friendly environment where families are

welcome to train together.

Improve your fitness, build confidence and learna practical martial art, but above all, have fun!

Come down andmeet your instructor

for a chat

Unit 3 Albany Road Trading Estate, Chorlton M21 0AZ0777 472 3839 www.nwckb.co.uk

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N. W. C. K.B.

5931 NWCKB Chorlton Flyers 11/11/2014 07:59 Page 1

Cracking good birthday cake!

Chorlton’s cookery school and community food network Cracking Good Food celebrated its fifth birthday last month. That’s five years of work with vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to encourage cooking from scratch and healthier eating, as well as supporting local growers and reducing food waste. Director Adele Jordan says: “It’s so heartening to see how far we’ve come since 2010, but the fight against food poverty is tougher than ever. 2015 will see us working with three food banks and FareShare Greater Manchester to

provide long-lasting cooking skills and nutritious food for those most in need.” Also on the CGF plate this year is the Real Junk Food Project; a community café serving up food otherwise destined for composting

or waste. It’s estimated that nearly 15 million tons of edible food is thrown away in Britain each year. That’s a fact that’s hard to digest: find out more at crackinggoodfood.org and realjunkfoodmanchester.co.uk

Cracking Good Food celebrates half a decade of healthy, sustainable meal workshops

446 Barlow Moor Road ● CHORLTON ● Manchester ● M21 0BQ

HLFBerrySolicitors Incorporating

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Your Local Legal Experts● From Youth To Retirement and Beyond● From Personal to BusinessWe can help you every step of the way

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HLF BERRY Chorlton:Layout 1 8/14/14 7:16 PM Page 1

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• By Linsey ParkinsonThe opening of Wilbrahams of Chorlton - on Wilbraham Road, next door to Croma - sees the return of master goldsmith Alexander Filippidi to M21. He’s been in the business all his working life, including a spell making, repairing and restoring pieces for Chalmers, our last high street jewellers, which closed around twenty years ago. He’s now teamed up with Heather Williamson, herself a hugely experienced retail jeweller and professional diamond grader, who has managed shops on both sides of the Pennines. “We offer the full range of services you’d expect from a village jeweller; from everyday needs such as christening gifts and watch battery replacement, to repairs, alterations and valuations of well-loved pieces,” says Heather. “We’re very proud of our exquisite wedding ring collection, but we’re especially excited by our new Wedding Ring Experience.”The Experience involves working with Alexander in the on-site workshop to develop design ideas. It’s you and your intended that melt the gold, then roll it and create rings for each other. Sounds a little scary? Well maybe, but you have a master goldsmith with you every

single step of the way. He’ll make sure you come away with something that’s not only beautiful, but truly unique – and that includes memories too.“We love taking the time to understand what people really want and helping them to find it,” says Alexander. “We know how meaningful jewellery can be. We’ve resized pieces with enormous sentimental value to make them wearable again and we’ve also refashioned treasured pieces to create something new. Whatever you’re after, we can take your ideas, offer advice and then create CAD drawings and mock-ups so you can be absolutely confident that the result will be something wonderful.” Whenever I meet an expert in a particular field, I always ask for a piece of free advice. Alex has this: “Have your jewellery professionally valued. We have customers who have brought in pieces they’ve inherited, with no idea how valuable they were. Bring your treasured pieces out into the daylight and enjoy them, but do be sure to insure them properly.”

There’s a special Valuation Day at Wilbrahams on Tuesday February 10. It’s by appointment only, so call in the shop at 504 Wilbraham Road, or phone 0161 881 0375 to book your place.

Hearts of GoldMake your own wedding rings in Chorlton

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Book reviews fromChorlton Bookshop

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What a talented and created bunch of people live in Chorlton. Here’s another in the shape of Annette Sills. Having written short stories for a long time, this is her first full length novel. The question is, what’s she been waiting for? This gripping novel has everything a good read needs.Set around Chorlton and Manchester about seven years ago, we follow the family of Julie O’Hagan. As the story begins, Julie is battling to get her child into the primary school of her choice. This is a battle that, no doubt, many parents have had to face. For very good reasons Julie doesn’t want her child attending the school

she went to herself. It’s not until later in the novel that we begin to understand why. As this initial story unfolds, we begin to see that this novel isn’t just a typical light-hearted easy read. Julie’s world consists of her daughter, husband and father. With a recession beginning to bite Billy, the husband, begins to feel the strain and his already tarnished veneer begins to crack. Julie’s Dad, her rock, is also behaving oddly, which forces her to confront demons from her past. Even her daughter is proving remarkably un-loveable! How much more can Julie O’Hagan take? With Annette Sills’ skilful writing the reader is completely sucked into Julie’s world.

Despite dealing with some serious topics, there’s a great deal of humour too. The so called ‘broccoli brigade’ do come in for a serious bashing, but in the context of the story this is well deserved! It’s great to have a novel set so close to home but it’s also great to know that it’s so good. • Review by Jo Legerton

Most books you simply read. Others, you devour. But there are some that you actually want to fall into. For anyone of a certain age - that is, if you spent any part of your childhood sat in front of the TV during the 60s and 70s - this is quite heavenly. Pop culture collector Jonny Trunk has sifted through the private archives of the makers of Bagpuss, The Clangers, Ivor the Engine, Noggin the Nog and more. The results - sketches, models, photographs - are lovingly presented in this glorious, high-quality art book. The emphasis is very much on the visuals, with text used only sparingly, so it’s a true feast for the eyes. The swathe of behind-the-scenes material here allows the reader to marvel at the skill and artistry of the Smallfilms folk in detail and at leisure. If you remember those shows, browsing through this is something akin to time travel. • Review by Andy Murray

The Relative Harmony of Julie O’HaganAnnette Sills

The Art of Smallfilms: The Work of Oliver Postgate and Peter FirminJonny Trunk

BIODANZA !

!!!Weekly Sessions every Wednesday 7:30-‐9:30pm At Chorlton Central Church, Barlow Moor Road, M21 8BF To find out more, contact Maria on: 07972854627 [email protected] biodanzainmanchester.blogspot.co.uk

!Would you like to rediscover the joy of living?

Biodanza is a well-‐established system of personal development. Popular in Latin America and Europe, it uses music and movement

as a way to develop a loving relationship with ourselves and others. A powerful tool to improve self-‐esteem, health and

wellbeing! There are no steps to learn!

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BIODANZA !






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Short, friendly craft courses in the heartof Manchester’s Northern Quarter

sewing | knitting | printing | jewellery

Clare’s Cat Care A dedicated cat visiting

service across South Manchester & Trafford. Cat owners can be

assured of a professional reliable service while you are away by a

ffriendly cat lover! * Daily visits as required with cuddles &

company for your furry loved ones* Feeding & Grooming

* Cleaning of litter trays* General house keeping duties

* Peace of mind* Regular* Regular Text & Email updates

Tel:0778 6657 540 / Email: [email protected]

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Are you an incurable romantic with a love of everything hand-made? Planning something special in 2015? Share the love by making your own Valentines or save-the-date cards. Here’s how, courtesy of our Friends at the Ministry of Craft.

If you’d like to learn how to make lino prints (or screen prints) with the help of Ministry of Craft’s expert tutor, Nell Smith, then sign up for a course. Find out more at www.ministryofcraft.co.uk

Decide on your design - We chose simple SAVE THE DATE lettering with a heart motif and the date.We used a biro to mark out the design on the surface of the lino, so we could see where to cut. If you’re hand carving lettering and numbers then it’s important to remember to carve them back to front. The print that you take from your stamp will be a mirror image of your block.

Safety first - It’s worth noting that the lino cutting tools are very sharp and it’s easy to slip. Set yourself up so that you are cutting at a comfortable height on an even surface, and ALWAYS cut away from the hand or fingers that are steadying the lino. And even then, it’s probably best to have some plasters at the ready. This is crafting at its dangerous best!

Inking and printing - When you have your prints carved and ready you can crack open the stamp pads. Press the stamp onto the pad a number of times until you can see that the surface of your print is evenly covered with ink. Then place your stamp face up on a cutting mat, or clean flat surface, and carefully place your card over the top in the required position. You don’t want to smear the ink on the card at this point, so take your time. We used a spoon to ‘hand burnish’ over the top of the print with even pressure in small circular movements. Do this all over the print block (to take a nice even print) and then peel the card off and stand back to bask in your own awesomeness.

Roll with it - If you want to use ink from a tube, you’ll need a flat surface that you can roll ink out on with a roller. We used a Perspex sheet. When the ink is rolled out and is making a gentle hissing noise (rather than a sticky crackle) then you can use the roller to transfer the ink from the sheet onto the printing block. Roll in all directions to build up a good layer of ink. Then take your print as before, using the spoon to apply even pressure though the back of the card.

Patience is a virtue – We printed all our ‘SAVE the DATE’ lettering first with white ink. Then we waited for them to dry before printing the hearts in neon pink. Then we waited again for the pink to dry while we carved the date stamp. Overprinting the hearts with the date stamp can end in a mucky mess if you don’t take your time and ensure every bit of ink is dry. The inks dry pretty quickly, so it’s not a big deal. Our top tip is to pass the time with a brew (or a gin if it’s past noon).

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You will need :unbleached craft cardink pads or block printing ink (we used neon pink, black and white inks)lino cutting tool setlino or printing blocka roller (if you want to try some block printing ink as well as stamp pads, as we did)

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Making an impression

ChorltonGreen

430 Barlow Moor Rd Chorlton M21 8ADwww.jpandbrimelow.co.uk@jpandbrimelow

UK Mortgage MarketFor most people their mortgage payment is the largest monthly outgoing, making the right choices can be a daunting prospect. Here at JP & Brimelow we have teamed up with Brown Financial Services. Based here in my Chorlton office we believe that by providing simple, sensible, mortgage & protection advice we can help our clients make fully informed decisions giving them the confidence that they are getting the right deal from the start.To arrange a free market appraisal please call my team on 0161 882 2233.Kind regards, Edward Ellis, MNAEADirector, JP & Brimelow

ThePurple Pages

Sales & Lettings

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Brookburn Road

For most people, your mortgage payment

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SALES: 0161 882 [email protected]

LETTINGS: 0161 882 2244 [email protected]

Offices also in Didsbury 0161 448 0622 & Withington 0161 445 9700

Sixteen of the best for sale

Meadow Court

Mayfield Mansions

Keppel Road

St John’s Corner

The Coach House

Dartmouth Road

St Werburgh’s Road

Manley Road

Weller Court

Range Road

Claude Road

Wilton Road

www.treestation.co.uk 0161 231 3333

Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for theBenefit of the Community committed to combatting climate

change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R

Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joineryMulch for local allotments

Local EthicalTree Work

Biomass woodchip

We are a unique social enterprise that provides accredited

arboricultural services, including planting, pruning, emergency

call-outs, dismantling and felling, along with tree safety surveys.

All byproduct upcycled to make wood fuels, planks, and other

products - nothing wasted

Sleepers and Weatherboards

Alexander Technique balance and poise ease of movement stillness strength in action voice

individual sessions, groups,

courses and workshops

you can improve how you move, perform, look and feel

Sue Fleming MSTAT www.alexanderteaching.co.uk 0161 861 8848 CNHC registered

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Chorlton Gas LtdDomestic Central Heating and Gas Engineers

Call Kevin for a no obligation quote07722 731 801www.chorltongas.co.uk

fully qualified • fully insured Gas Safe registered • friendly and reliable • local references available

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BasementConversions

home office • gym • playroomwine cellar • bathroom • wetroom

garage & loft conversions

www.bestcellarsnw.co.ukTel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563Roy Nesbitt

Best Cellars North West • Unit 204792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UG

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07810147070

• rewires, repairs & alterations• fire and burglar alarm systems• inspection & testing inc. P.A.T.

Call Andrew on 07729 241 860or visit www.amelectricalandalarm.co.uk

NACS member

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Call John0161 445 3650

CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICESAcorn

open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves, birds nests removed

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We are a local company based in Chorlton

Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE

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WASHING MACHINE WOMAN

THE

The Washing Machine Woman

I’m a member of:

Female Domestic Appliance Engineer

Washing machines

Washer dryers

Tumble dryers

Electric cookers/hobs/ovens

Freestanding dishwashers

For repairs or service, call Lucie Brione

07766 704 851

[email protected]

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Seymour DryCleaners

172 Manchester Road Chorlton Manchester

0161 860 7024172 Manchester Road Chorlton Manchester

3 Piece Suit ..................2 Piece Suit ..................Coats Full Lenth ............Coats 3/4 Length .........Trousers .......................Jackets ........................Skirts Plain ...................Skirts Pleated ...............Dresses ........................Pullovers ......................Shirts ...........................Ties ..............................

Quality dry cleaning at the right Price!

£9.00£8.00£8.00£6.85£3.85£4.85£3.85£4.85£6.20£3.50£1.75£1.75

0161 860 7024

all garments are re-textured & hand finished

Price List

Go where the action isAction for Sustainable Living (AfSL) is a Manchester-based charity, which develops and supports environmental sustainability projects. All over the city, communities are cutting down waste, growing their own food and thinking creatively about how best to use finite resources. One such AfSL project is The Lost Plot, Chorlton’s community allotment, which we featured in these pages in August. You can support their work – and have a great night out – at their fundraiser later this month. Compered by Courtney Lovelace, the party features comedy from Joe Colett, music from Lucy and Virginia, plus beatboxing, street dance and drumming by Soul

Monkey/Sofire. There’s also a bit of burlesque naughtiness from Suzie Sequin. You can enjoy a free taster (literally) of the Real Junk Food Project too (see page 9), with fantastic food that would otherwise been consigned to waste. It’s not only delicious, but a vivid reminder of how much we needlessly throw away.

All money raised goes to support the work of AfSL, Clean Up Salford and Manchester Friends of the Earth.

7.30pm Friday 20 February at the Carlton Club, 113 Carlton Road, Whalley Range. £4.75 advanced booking online (via afsl.org.uk), £5 on the door.

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Chorlton Library Community Garden

Delivered by Hilary Dodson of the Northern Fruit Group working with Chorlton Traders

Saturday 14th March 12.30 - 4pm

£15 including lunch and a grafted apple tree to take home with you!

Apple Grafting

Workshopemail: [email protected] to book your place

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arranging therapy is easy...phone Paul Melia on 07592 340 211or email [email protected] Therapy in Manchester, 583 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton M21 8AE (by the HSBC Bank)

Therapy in Manchester is run by Paul Melia, a qualified and experienced psychotherapist and counsellor registered with the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists). We work with men and women in a professional, confidential and supportive environment.The first appointment provides an opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy. By the end of this hour-long meeting you will have an understanding of how psychotherapy and counselling can help you.

Eric FewsterTel. 07814 788 846Email: [email protected]: www.coldproof.co.uk

Retrofit energy advisorImproving comfort & energy efficiency

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February In Your GardenBy Katherine Watson

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A mild winter makes us gardeners a bit jumpy. We’re excited to have been out and about over the winter months and looking increasingly forward to the growing season. Our sap is rising. But there is also a trepidatious nervousness about what the early spring could bring in terms of inclement weather, and what we could lose as a result. I’m staying positive and hoping my Euphorbia mellifera makes it through another winter unscathed and that my tree ferns will produce furry knots of unfurled fronds in their crowns later in the spring. And so to the seed catalogues for optimistic (over) buying of dwarf veg for a few pots and some salad potatoes this year. Unwittingly I’ve blundered into the annuals section and I’m actually considering trying some from seed this year. Annuals have never been my thing, as I have a smallish garden with only one true sunny border and some dubious contenders for partial sun. I have grown the spider plant Cleome from seed before and the amazingly coloured Cerinthe major purpurascens (a colour not dissimilar to luminescent tie-dye), but it falls into the category of tinkering rather than full on propagation for successional planting. I’m not promising to do any different this year, but I would like to embrace some choice annuals as yearly fillers to bring the excitement of change and renewal in contrast to the permanence of the perennial stayers. One such annual is the hardy annual umbellifer Ammi majus. Umbellifer describes the shape of the flowering part of the plant which will be flat or domed - in the case of Ammi majus, the umbels have individual, white lace-like flowers that mix well with other border perennials. Ammi visnaga is a denser, greener form that I’m going to try this year (see www.sarahraven.com or Thompson and Morgan for seeds).I also fancy a variety of Cleome called Hairy Fairy for the name alone. Both these annuals can be sown in February inside, hardened off and then planted outside after threat of frost. Alternatively the Ammi can be sown directly into your chosen bed in April or May.

“Oh yes I was born at The Twilight Sleep Home on Upper Chorlton Road.”And with that casual remark Ann set me off again, with the Twilight Sleep Home for painless child birth and thoughts on just how important are listening and recording people’s memories.In the past some historians were sniffy about oral history, preferring objective and verifiable sources of historical information. And memories can be highly subjective and unreliable but, that said, they can also be a powerful way of getting right to the heart of an event in the past.Only yesterday Tina was baking bread.It was the Doris Grant’s loaf, which had been perfected by Ms Grant in the 1940s, and its claim to fame is that it is made by leaving out the kneading process. Ms Grant had forgotten to knead the bread, but it turned out alright and, with a bit more experimentation, produced a loaf which was a bit heavier but quicker to make.And it was pretty much exactly like that made by my grandmother sixty years ago on a range in the kitchen of the family house in Chellaston. Nothing more simple than the taste of a wholemeal loaf and I was back half a century in a tiny village outside Derby. And in much the same way, the smell of warm hay and old plaster and timbers always sends me back to the loft of their barn on hot summer’s days, when the only sound was that of insects and the humming of the telegraph wires outside the hatch.

So, back to the Twilight Sleep Home.Now, it’s not the zippiest of names and has feint comic overtones, but it takes you back to one of those fashionable medical practises of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, centring on the attempt to find a painless way for giving birth. The standard approach had been to administer chloroform, but in Germany experiments had been undertaken to see if women could give birth while asleep. The mother was given a mix of morphine and scopolamine and early results were so promising that by the early 20th century the method had been adopted in the USA and Canada.There was Twilight Sleep Home, which opened in 1917 on Henrietta Street, in Old Trafford and moved to Westonby on Edge Lane sometime in 1921 or early 1922. It advertised itself as offering ‘Painless Childbirth’ and featured regularly in the classified section of the Manchester Guardian until 1927. During those ten years its name varied slightly but always retained Twilight Sleep. But by the end of that decade there is no further reference to it and, given that the

practice had received some bad publicity when expectant mothers had died, it was reasonable enough to assume it had closed down.And so our home on Edge Lane was renamed, but was still operating as a rest home during the late 1940s, using more conventional methods.Ann, however, was born at the Twilight Sleep Home on Upper Chorlton Road in 1944. Now, I can’t be sure whether the Twilight Sleep method was used, but the name was still the same over the door.Either way, mother and child stayed in the home for a fortnight. That may seem a long time, but will have had more to do with ensuring that mothers were not pitched straight back into the routines of running a home which, with far fewer labour saving machines, will have been a tough task.Of course, today it is a world which has pretty much been forgotten. But I am hoping that the Twilight Sleep Home on Upper Chorlton Road will provoke more memories which people will share with me.

• By Andrew Simpson

From the listing of the Manchester Guardian, 1923

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The Story of Chorlton & Whalley RangeThe Twilight Sleep Home on Upper Chorlton Road

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Clubs, Societies & GroupsBarlow International Folk Dance Group Tuesday evenings at St.Ninians, Wilbraham Road Mary O’Mahony 881 0955Chorlton Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2pm, Chorlton Library. 881 2544Chorlton Aikido Club Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pmSt Ninians, Wilbraham Rdwww.lancashireaikikai.org861 8456Community Allotment & Apiary Scott Avenue Allotment 07973 139068 or 07521 500223uk.groups.yahoo.com/ group/grow_for_it/ Chorlton and Friends Gardening Group 3rd Monday monthly, in Chorlton Library, 7.30-9pm. Admission £3 [email protected] Bookshop Book Group 3rd Tuesday of the month at The Horse and Jockey Pub 7.45pm Details from Chorlton Bookshop or call 881 6374Chorlton Bridge ClubChristine Blackburn 225 8854 www.bridgewebs.com/chorltonChorlton Bujitsu Wednesday 8pm at St Werburgh’s Church Hall 07866312616 facebook.com/Iki.Yoyo.DojoChorlton Chess Club Tuesday 7.30 pm-11 pm at St. John’s Social Club, High Lane 860 6929 Chorlton Circle Dance Group Tuesdays, 7.30-9pm Upper Hall, St. Werburgh’s Parish Hall, £5-7, 1st session free chorltoncircledancegroup.co.uk

Chorlton Civic Society Chorlton Library meeting room. Check website for date of next meeting Chair - Mary Crumpton 07751 696 055 chorltoncivicsociety.org.ukChorlton Community Wildlife Garden chorltoncommunitywildlifegarden.org.ukChorlton Evening Townswomens Guild Meet every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at 7.30pm Chorlton Library. 881 6354Chorlton Fundraising Group Marie Curie Cancer Care. Meets monthly at the Irish Centre [email protected] History Group Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, 1.30-3pm at Chorlton Good Neighbours St Nininians Church, Egerton Rd SouthChorlton Kung Fu Wednesdays 8pm, Albany Estate, behind Morrisons 07774 723839 Chorlton Philosophy Group Tuesdays 7.30pm, upstairs at the Lloyds pub chorltonphilosophygroup.wordpress.comChorlton Reading GroupOnce a month in the meeting room behind Chorlton library 7.30pm All welcome 881 [email protected] Circolo Italiano Every Monday, 7-9pm at Union Chapel, Fallowfield. Intermediates and native speakers 881 8314 or [email protected] and Craft Mornings at Chorlton Good Neighbours. Meet friends and have a coffee, with arts and crafts group. Thursdays 10-11.30am Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church 881 2925 cgncg.org.uk

Co-op members’ groupEvery 2nd Wed of the month at 7.30pm, room above the Hardy Lane Co-op.Talks, trips, events. Brenda 0752 507 1672 [email protected] Circle Learn French with friendly native speaker. Tuesday afternoon at St Werberghs Church Hall 881 8314Friends of Alexandra Park 226 7525 friendsofalexandrapark.org.ukFriends of Chorlton Meadows 881 6276 friendsofchorltonmeadows.blogspot.comFriends of Longford Park [email protected] friendsoflongfordpark.org.ukGrand Day Out Free computer taster sessions and a cup of tea, for the over 50s in Chorlton Library, Fridays 2-4pm 227 [email protected] Greater Manchester Humanist Choir Sundays 2.30-4.30pm, Chorlton Unitarian Church [email protected] @GMHumanistChoirIntergen Volunteer opportunities for Chorlton residents 55+ to work with local primary school children. Estelle Longmore 264 0089 or 07946761785 intergen.org.ukLipreading and Communication Skills classes Free to deaf people and their families and friends. Wednesdays 1-3 pm at Mauldeth House 0161 832 0444 [email protected] Flower Lovers’ Guild St Werburghs Church Hall, Chorlton. Anne 881 6591 flowersnorthwest.netOld Mancunians AFC Training twice a week at Manchester Academy 07855-947411 [email protected] Scottish Country Dance Society Tuesday 7.30pm, Classes at Manley Park Primary School, College Road, Whalley Range rscds-manchester.org.uk

26

Community IndexLocal groups and useful numbers

Shakespeare House Community Centre Whalley Range M16 8NR, 823205 [email protected] Cycling Longford Park, Athletics Stadium Mon & Fri 9.30 - Noon, Sun 1-3pm. All abilties and ages welcome Sue 0775 342 8937Helen 0787 162 1778www.simply-cycling.orgSocial Circle UK’s BIGGEST Social & Activity Network dedicated to providing FREE events. social-circle.co.ukSouth Manchester Book Club Meets fortnightly at The Woodstock Arms on Barlow Moor Road southmanchesterbookgroup.ukSouth Manchester Camera Club Mondays 8-10pm, Didsbury Methodist Church www.smcc.org.ukSt. Clements FellowshipBarbara 881 5912 or Ida 0161 861 7158 Trafford Athletic Club, Longford Park. Mon & Thu 6-9pm. Min age 9. Tonya 881 4488 www.traffordac.co.ukWhalley Range Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club Indoor cricket nets : Years 5 & 6: Fridays 6.30-7.30; Years 7-10: Friday 7-8.30: Seniors (16+): Tuesday and Thursday 6-9. £4 Kingsbrook Road, whalleyrange.play-cricket.comWhalley Range ForumJN8 Youth & Community Centre, 82 Cromwell Ave, M16 0BG 881 3744 [email protected] Range 4 [email protected]

Arts & CraftsAdventures in Painting & Drawing Tutor led art group.Tuesdays 1-3.30.Chorlton Park Adult Learning Centre [email protected] Penny 0161 256 3528Art Fusion Amateur artists meet each Tuesday at 7-9pm at St Clements church hall. Fiirst session free then £5 [email protected] www.artfusion.org.ukCrafty Sew ’n’ SewsFriendly sewing group with a professional tutor. Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm (except second Monday of each month) Co-operative Hall, Hardy Lane. Angela 225 6931Chorlton Alternative Art Class Life drawing, all levels of ability welcome. £6 entry. Weds 7.30-9.30pm The Edge Theatre ww.chorltonalternativearts.comChorlton Art Group Tuesdays, 10am to 12 noon at St. Werbergh’s church hall. Brenda at [email protected] Knits 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at LloydsChorlton Sewing Club1st Thursday of the month 7.30-9.30pm Chorlton Library chorltonsewing.wordpress.comCo-operative Sewing GroupFridays, 10am-12pm Co-operative Hall, Hardy Lane Pam 07906 311455Dolls House and Miniatures Group 2nd Monday of each month, 8-10pm, Whalley Range Venue. Ann 07814 861285Manchester Sing Out Choir (Gospel Choir) Tuesdays 7-9pmSt Johns Centre, Old Trafford.manchestersingoutchoir.org [email protected] Up Textile workshops 0161 881 7141 www.stitchedup.coop

EntertainmentChorlton Film InstituteThe Lunchbox - 19th February. Doors open 8.10 pm, film starts 8.30 pm Entrance £5 St Clements ChurchChorlton Folk ClubThursdays 9pm Ellesmere Rd Cricket Club

Edge Theatre Singing, drama and ukelele workshops The Edge M21 9JG edgetheatre.co.uk

Folk Songs and Tunes at The Beech 1st & 3rd Wednesdays for Songs, 2nd & 4th for Tunes. Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EG

Therapy & Support GroupsBreast Cancer Care Walking Group Every other Friday at Chorlton Water Park [email protected] Anxiety Group226 3871Chorlton Good Neighbours Support for older people 881 2925 [email protected] Diabetes Support Network: Details/ venues/ monthly dates etc Register interest with Mike 860 5688 [email protected] Family Social UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every month in south Manchester.newfamilysocial.org.ukRainbow Families 07903 397 108 rainbowfamilies@ hotmail.com

Local MPJohn Leech - MP8 Gawsworth Avenue M20 5NFTel: 434 3334 [email protected]

Are you part of a voluntary or community group? Drop Joe an email on [email protected] 27

Judo: Another top award for Steve

Golf: Malcolm beats the shanks and the odds

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Chorlton judo legend Steve Pullen MBE has seen his outstanding dedication and service to his sport rewarded.Steve, who has been involved in judo for nearly 60 years, was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award at the National Judo Meeting at Nottingham University.Steve has helped many youngsters go on to achieve national and international success. He was also a leading light in the development of blind judo at all levels and

has helped organise many top sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.Steve said: “I have never lost my motivation and it was great to

receive this award from the judo community. I’ll continue to do all I can to promote the sport.”

At the start of the golfing year in 2014, Chorlton nine-handicapper Macolm Brownhill (pictured) was afflicted with a severe attack of the dreaded ‘shanks’. He struggled hard with his game for several months and saw his handicap rapidly climb to 12.Then, on one dramatic day, Malcom had an hour of unbelievable success with two holes in one!Malcolm said: “I’m just glad to be back playing some good golf, but a pair of double aces on the same day is unbelievable! “Apparently the odds are 64,000,000-1 as opposed to 14,000,000-1 for winning the

National Lottery (which I don’t do). No-one at Chorlton can remember if this has ever been achieved before and they doubt if many players have done it anywhere in the world.”Club professional, James Curtis added: “Malcolm’s determination to overcome his problems is a great example to all golfers and shows what a little help can do for a struggling golfer.”

Sport in ChorltonBy Geoff Garnett

Steve celebrating his award with some of his local judo stars

29

Gas SafeRegistered No. 196842

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Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs

Gas Cooker & Fire InstallationsLandlord Safety CertificatesAll types of Plumbing Work

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AerialsDale Communications 12BathroomsBathroom Angels 5GDA Home Improvement 14Building & MaintenanceBest Cellars 19Window Wise 25Chimney SweepAcorn Chimney Sweep 19CleaningOven Wizards 30Profresh Carpet Cleaners 20CraftsMinistry of Craft 14Dance ClassesBiodanza 14Dry CleanersSeymour Dry Cleaners 20ElectricianAM Electrical 19Chorlton Electric 30NA Evans Electrical 25Energy EfficiencyColdproof 22Estate AgentJP & Brimelow 16-17

Food & DrinkThe Beagle 12Horse & Jockey 11PostBox Cafe 4Unicorn Grocery 8GardeningFat Grass Garden Designs 23Green Designs 19Gas Safe EngineerChorlton Gas 18Select Plumbing & Heating 29Health & WellbeingAlexander Technique 18InteriorsLeapfrog Home 31Joinery & FurnitureEvolve Joinery 29LocksmithsChorlton Locksmiths 12Markets Chorlton Art Market Hub 11Martial ArtsChinese Kickboxing 7Mortgage AdvicePinkstone 22Painting & DecoratingAlan Stuart 31Carol Smith 18Harlequin Decorating 29

Pet CareClare’s Cat Care 14PlumbingBG Plumbing 29Hana K Plumbing 20Select Plumbing & Heating 29RepairsThe Washing Machine Woman 20RooferM Duffin 31School Holiday ClubWe Are Adventurers 32Social ClubSocial Circle 21SolicitorsHLF Berry 9Slater Heelis 2TherapyTherapy in Manchester 22Tree ServicesTree Station 18Web DesignPlayfire Design 21

30

Business Index

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Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.

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CI Chorlton & Whalley Range - February 15