community

community
Chorlton & Whalley Range
March 2015
View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk
Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Chorlton & Whalley Range

© Elin Beckmann
Are you separating and
unsure which path to take?
Slater Heelis has provided clear direction for over 240 years.
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
Get in touch with our family team
family@slaterheelis.co.uk
0161 835 3681
www.slaterheelis.co.uk @familylawnw

Contents
Easter fun
8
Elizabeth
Gaskell’s
open house
Linsey Parkinson
Editor
editor@communityindex.co.uk 07875 895 604
Lesley Swann
Director
Joe Beech
Design
design@communityindex.co.uk
Sam Paechter
Accounts
accounts@communityindex.co.uk 07939 077 036
11
Apple
grafting
On the cover
39
Roland from Chorlton Traders
tries out the new Veloplanters
outside the precinct.
Deadline for next edition
Content Wednesday 11 March
Advertising Friday 13 March
Contributors
Andrew Simpson
Chorlton Bookshop
Geoff Garnett
Katherine Watson
Linsey Parkinson
@communityindex
www.communityindex.co.uk
149 Ayres Road Manchester M16 9WR

March at The PostBox Cafe
Monday 9 March
Just Write
A creative and inspirational session
for budding writers, be they
beginner or accomplished. Find
inspiration, support and discover
that discover that all-important
story line through fun exercises
and creative time.
7-9pm £3 (every 2nd Monday)
Wednesday 18 March
Cake Club
One of our most popular groups
continues to grow. Every session
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)
Wednesday 11 & 25 March
The Bead Shop
Jewellery Making
Each session teaches a new skill
and includes all the materials you
will need to create a beautiful
piece to take home and cherish.
For beginners and experienced
crafters.
7-9pm (every 3rd Wednesday)
Saturday 25 March
Street Food Saturday
The third of our new monthly
foodies treat. Come along and
celebrate the best of local Street
Food on our Terrace. This month:
Yakumama Latin Amercian,
Madame Francoise Crepes and
Dim Sum Su Oriental treats.
10am-5pm (every 3rd Saturday)
Tuesday 31 March
World Tour of Wine
Our tour sets off with the first of
four months exploring European
Wines: six wines per month
£22.50. It’s on to the New World
in July: four months £27.50,
including food. Book in advance for
the full world tour at a discounted rate
of £20 per session
4

Credit where it’s due
• By Linsey Parkinson
The banking sector’s been
getting a bad press: irresponsible
lending, lack of help for small
business, tax avoidance schemes
and fat cat bonuses are just
some of the reasons that more
and more of us are looking for
ethical ways to borrow and save.
The good news is that there is an
alternative.
South Manchester Credit Union,
open for business since 2000,
is run on a co-operative basis,
by and for over 3,100 members.
It’s currently lending £1.3m to
the people of South Manchester
and holding £1.7m in savings
accounts, all protected by the
Financial Services Compensation
Scheme.
This is a safe and empowering
way to save: your money works
to make a difference to the lives
of individuals, rather than line the
pockets of corporate shareholders.
Just like money spent locally,
money saved and lent locally
tends to stay in the area and
we all see its benefits. Savers
can earn a dividend too, when
members consider that results are
strong enough: last year, it was a
respectable 1.25%.
Fair lending can make an
enormous difference to people’s
lives, helping them clear expensive
debts, pay for essential items or
invest in their future. Debt arrears
aren’t just about financial hardship,
Find out more or become a
member at
www.smcreditunion.co.uk
0161 448 0200
187 Fog Lane (near Burnage
Station). Open weekdays, 9.30am-
3.30pm (Wednesdays, 1-6pm).
The South Manchester Credit Union team with
Sheenagh (centre) and president of the Board of
Directors, Jeff Seneviratne (right)
but can also damage health, selfesteem
and general wellbeing.
And when you’re on a low income,
credit tends to be much more
expensive.
South Manchester Credit Union,
however, lends responsibly to
all sections of the community at
reasonable interest rates and talks
face-to-face with loan applicants.
Sheenagh Young, the manager at
South Manchester Credit Union
says: “We take the time to listen
to people and to understand their
individual circumstances. When we
lend money, we’re acting on behalf
of all our members and so we take
that responsibility very seriously.
It’s in nobody’s interest for a loan
to be defaulted, so we reach an
arrangement that suits borrowers
Local drop-in collection points:
Barlow Moor Community
Association Building
23 Merseybank Avenue
Saturdays 9-11 am
St Pauls’s Church Hall
Wilmslow Road, Withington
Saturdays 10-11:30am
and minimises the risk to them.”
Helping people avoid a destructive
spiral of expensive debt is another
aspect of the credit union team’s
work. They offer free financial
guidance on how to budget,
borrow and save. They’re about to
start a pilot project in Fallowfield,
working with those in receipt of
Universal Credit for the first time.
It’s not about promoting particular
financial products and there’s no
commission or hidden charges: it’s
simply about giving people solid
guidance on managing their own
money.
South Manchester Credit Union’s
AGM takes place on March 16 at
The Place on Platt Lane (formerly
Fallowfield Library). All members
welcome to attend.
“We love seeing people’s faces
when they realise they’ve managed
to save more than they expected”,
says Sheenagh. “Some of our
members may never have been
able to save before: others have
significant account balances.
Whatever money they deposit with
us makes a real difference: they’re
investing in their own community.”
5

Coming Clean with Bathroom Angels
Spring’s the time for fresh starts
and nothing says Spring Clean
quite like a new bathroom. But
first, you need to make a key
decision: indulgent, relaxing mespace,
or speedy shower-and-go?
The two design options aren’t as
mutually exclusive as you might
think: there are plenty of tricks to
enable you to create something
between the two. You won’t always
be watching the clock or hurrying
kids out of the house and your
bathroom should reflect that: there
will be times when only a really long
soak and a proper time-out will do.
A bathroom should always have
a calm feel, if at all possible.
Although this can seem difficult
to manage with a large family, it’s
definitely worth making the effort.
If you’re looking for a walk-in, opt
for a minimalist shower screen, low
tray or wet floor that’s easy to keep
clean and gives you lots of elbow
room. If your bathroom is small – as
they often are – avoid clutter and
overly fussy fittings to keep the
look simple and streamlined. Pastel
colours such as warm, chalky pale
blues can really create a restful
atmosphere, as well as potentially
giving your bathroom character
and individuality. You’ll be surprised
how spacious a well-designed,
practical bathroom can feel.
If you really want to go for an
indulgent space with a touch of
luxury, a Victorian claw foot tub or
a modern, free-standing equivalent,
makes for a wonderful soak. You’ll
never want to get out! Create a
feature wall with gorgeous tiles or a
luxury finish and make sure there’s
space for lots of candles. A rich,
dark wooden floor, properly sealed,
and some super-fluffy towels
complete the opulent vintage look.
For inspiration, advice or a noobligation
quote, just get in touch.
Call Bathroom Angels, Bathroom
Designers – Cheshire/Manchester
0161 610 3684
BUTTERFLIES
Holistic Therapy
Aromatherapy Massage Reflexology
Deep tissue massage Sports massage
Icelandic Basalt Hot Stone Swedish body massage
Indian head massage Facials
Special Package Offers on website
Winter Offer: 25% off all full price Holistic Therapies (Mon - Wed)
www.butterfliesbeautyholistic.co.uk
info@butterfliesbeautyholistic.co.uk
07580 344 971 | 117 Egerton Road South M21 0XN
6

BATHROOM
ANGELS
Supply • Design • Install
Avoid bathroom hell with
Bathroom Angels
At Bathroom Angels with no showrooms and no
pushy sales staff – the savings are yours…
Bathroom Angels will come to your
home, listen to what you want and
recommend something divine.
Every Bathroom Angels bathroom
is bespoke. Get a heavenly
bathroom – at Bathroom Angels.
Call 0161 610 3684
or visit www.bathroomangels.co.uk
to arrange a free 3D design visit and quotation

Easter Fun
The Horse and Jockey’s Easter
fun day features didicar racing,
petting zoo animals and a
chance to make special Easter
creations. And it’s all free for
children aged 3 to 10.
Children and big kids alike will
be able to race to their heart’s
content on the didicars, all safe
and sound as they are powered
by nothing but the driver’s own
momentum. Ranger Rob will
be calling in with his wonderful
animals from the mini zoo: on his
last visit, he brought chinchillas
– and snakes! Artists, Hilary
Mahony and Matt Davies will run
workshops where kids can make,
print and assemble their own
Easter craft creations. And of
course Easter would not be Easter
without an Egg Hunt! There’ll be
suitable chocolatey prizes at the
end of the trail.
Because all the activities are
free, parents can relax without
being pestered for money
every five minutes. The Jockey
suggests that you bring the
family for Sunday roast in the
restaurant. The Sunday menu deal
offers two courses for £13.95,
while children can choose from
their own kids’ menu.
Sunday 5 April
12-4pm
The Horse and Jockey
C R A F T
KIDS’ EASTER
EASTER
EGG
SUNDAY 5TH APRIL
12PM - 4PM
HUNT
ANIMAL PETTING ZOO
9 the Green, chorlton, M21 9HS | 0161 860 7794
www.horseandjockeychorlton.com
8

Chorlton Traders Association (CTA) is a dynamic group
of businesses that makes 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.
Here’s a thing that doesn’t happen every day: we’re starting
our monthly round-up by talking about Didsbury…
Sometimes we all need a
reminder of all the reasons to be
proud of, and excited by, where
we live. So many of us hop on
a tram into town when what we
want is right under our noses.
Our sister organisation, Didsbury
Traders has just produced a
fantastic new map, which lists
key attractions, features and local
businesses. It’s been getting a big
thumbs-up from residents, visitors
and traders alike and was singled
out for praise at a recent meeting
of the City Council.
The free map is all about promoting
our local economy and community.
It’s about keeping money in –
and bringing money into – our
neighbourhood. Independent
businesses need our custom to
survive: that’s not about being
charitable, it’s about getting great
service with a personal touch from
people who care. Our High Streets
are what make our district centres
distinctive and give that village feel
that we’re so proud of in Chorlton.
The map helps promote a distinct
and desirable area and a visitor
destination. It conveys an attractive
image, makes much of its transport
links and is intended to bring in
tourists and visitors from other
parts of town, as well as helping
residents discover things they
didn’t know existed.
So if it’s good enough for
Didsbury….
We’re going to apply for a grant to
get a similar map off the ground
in Chorlton. Our plan is for local
artist Anna Violet to illustrate local
features and selected businesses.
This is a huge undertaking, but
we believe it’s a worthwhile one:
it won’t happen overnight and
there’s a lot of work to be done.
We’re going to be getting in touch
with all our members to request
a contribution towards costs at a
choice of prices and levels.
Don’t miss out: if you’re already
a member, look out for updates.
If you’re not a member, we’d love
you to join us. If you’re a Chorlton
resident, follow us on Twitter for
updates or keep reading these
pages.
WLTM green-fingered
Chorltonians
Last month we mentioned the new
community garden we’ll be creating
between the library and the Sedge
Lynn. We’re hoping handy Chorlton
residents will be able to help us
with painting, basic construction,
planting and labour. We’re going
to fill the garden with fruit and
fragrant lovely things in time for the
summer. If you can help, please do
Lovely new veloplanters outside
the precinct on Manchester
Road. Lock your bike up safely
- and stylishly - every time you
pop to the shops.
contact us. Read more on page 39.
Pub and Shop Watch
Our Pub and Shop Watch scheme
is getting off the ground. By
working together, traders and
licensees can share intelligence
about offenders and suspicious
activity and make Chorlton safer
for everyone. Greater Manchester
Police are supporting the scheme
– and it’s free. Get in touch
with Chorlton Traders if you are
interested in joining the scheme.
@chorltontraders @chorltonmarkets
info@chorltontraders.co.uk
www.chorltontraders.co.uk
Membership Fees:
£15 for those working from home
£25 for independents
£75 for bigger businesses/chains/nationals
Chorlton Traders community content is kindly funded
by a cash grant from Manchester City Council
9

A woman of substance
• By Linsey Parkinson
It’s time to celebrate the Victorian
novelist Elizabeth Gaskell. Not
simply because March is when
we mark International Women’s
Day, nor because her beautifully
restored home opened last year –
not even because this year is the
150th anniversary of her death.
We should celebrate her as a
courageous and inspiring modern
woman, who played as significant
a role in Manchester’s radical past
as many of her more famous male
contemporaries.
Middle-class Victorian ladies -
Isabella Beeton being a notable
example - felt it their duty to visit
the houses of the poor (literally
‘slumming it’), to dispense advice
on how to feed a family on a
budget. Sound familiar? Gaskell,
on the other hand, looked beyond
the surface and sought to highlight
deeper causes of social injustice.
Her novels, especially Mary Barton
and Ruth were highly controversial,
dealing as they did with subjects of
urban poverty and illegitimacy.
Her husband William was a writer,
teacher and Unitarian minister at
Cross Street Chapel, as well as
Chairman of the Portico Library. He
too worked tirelessly to alleviate
poverty and educate the children
of the poor. Together, the Gaskells
were a respectable, high-profile
couple, difficult for the patriarchal
establishment to ignore.
Open House
Elizabeth was also mother to
four daughters and ran a bustling
household. She did all her writing
at a small table in the dining room,
so that maternal and domestic
comings and goings ran alongside
her professional work. As well as
her fiction, Gaskell was a prolific
writer of letters, which reveal her
Picture by Jill Jennings
to be a woman
of wit and
down-to-earth
charm, who
regularly faced
that all-toofamiliar
modern
struggle to
attain a worklife
balance.
That’s the
beauty of the restoration at
Plymouth Grove: it’s charming,
homely and elegant without being
grandiose: a house to enjoy and
feel welcome in, just as Elizabeth
would have wanted. While William
taught pupils in his study, she
received visitors including Charles
Dickens, John Ruskin and Harriet
Beecher Stowe in the drawing
room. Sir Charles Hallé taught
piano there, and a painfully shy
Charlotte Brontë once hid behind
the curtains, to avoid meeting
fellow guests.
The Gaskell’s house is filled with
stories and
run almost
entirely by
friendly and
informed
volunteers, passionate about
sharing them with visitors. From
gardeners to conservators, room
stewards to tea shop staff it’s a
small, but committed team that
keeps the doors open.
If you’re inspired, do call in –
Elizabeth loved having visitors!
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is at
84 Plymouth Grove. It’s open
Wednesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays, 11am – 4.30pm (last entry
at 4pm). Tickets – valid for twelve
months - are £4.95, (£3.95) and
accompanied under 16s go free.
Find out more about volunteering at
www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk.
Already a fan?
Join the Gaskell Society at
www.gaskellsociety.co.uk
11

Last year we raised
£6,290
for Will Aid
This is a brilliant result and brings our total donations
to a massive £29,571, making us the 2nd highest
donating firm in the North-West.
Thank you to all of our clients who took part and for
their kind donations.
• Residential conveyancing
• Wills and probate
• Family Law
• Commercial department
• Immigration
• Civil litigation
• Estate agency services
• Wills and probate
450 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21 0BQ
0161 8813133 | chorlton@penninekennedy.co.uk

Acupuncture Awareness Week, 2-5 March 2015
Has Stress got the better of your
New Year’s Resolutions?
In December, the British
Acupuncture Council asked
5,000 people how they
manage stress. Their survey
revealed that more than half
felt their lifestyle was stressful
and that they tended to deal
with it by drinking alcohol and
comfort eating.
Stress can make it difficult to
maintain a healthy lifestyle, and
1 in 5 of us end up gaining
weight. Removing root causes
of stress from our lives isn’t
always possible, but traditional
acupuncture is an effective,
evidence-based therapy that
can be a healthier and more
positive way to manage the
demands stress places on us.
Traditional acupuncture has
been practiced and developed
over nearly 2,000 years and 2.3
million treatments are delivered
in the UK each year, making it
one of the most popular
complementary therapies.
Treatments involve placing
extremely fine, sterile needles –
painlessly - at specific points on
the body to trigger a healing
response and restore balance.
You can read more about this
ancient treatment at
www.introducingacupuncture.co.uk
As well as delivering pain relief,
traditional acupuncture also
helps release endorphins, our
bodies’ feel-good hormones.
This in turn can help reduce
stress, improve relaxation and
lead to a greater sense of
wellbeing. And if you feel better
in yourself, you’re much less
likely to obey unhealthy
impulses to overeat and drink -
perhaps those well-intentioned
resolutions can become
revolutions after all!
Acupuncture Works is a
multi-bed clinic where patients
are treated behind screens for
absolute privacy. Because we
have space to treat more than
one patient, we can reduce the
cost of that treatment. Prices
start at just £15 for those on a
low income. All our team are
07590 903 714
www.acupunctureworks.org.uk
members of the British
Acupuncture Council, which
guarantees professional codes
of conduct and high standards
of patient care.
Acupuncture Works operates on
a ‘not-for-profit’ basis. We are a
Community Interest Company
run on co-operative principles.
Where to find us:
Wednesdays: 2nd Floor,
Mauldeth House, Mauldeth
Road West, Chorlton, M21 7RL
10am-6pm
Thursdays: MMU Birley Fields
Hulme Campus, 53 Bonsall
Street, Manchester, M15 6GX
12-8pm

Pinkstone
Local professional service
Whole of market mortgage advice
Comprehensive from start to finish
Carefully selected protection advice
Whether you are a first time
buyer, looking at making that next
move, considering a remortgage or a
buy to let investment, be sure to
speak to us first.
‘Highest standards of service, you can trust’
Your property may be repossessed if you do
not keep up repayments on your mortgage
Phone: 0161 870 8024 or Email: james@pinkstonechase.co.uk
Ask for James Pinkstone CeMAP
Independent Mortgage Adviser
Typical Fee for Mortgage Arrangement £250
Retrofit energy advisor
Improving comfort & energy efficiency
Planning a renovation?
It's an ideal time to address any
chronic problems, such as:
- Draughts
- Condensation & mould
- Poor indoor air quality
- High energy use
I can help you do this through:
- Accurate energy analysis & modelling
- All aspects of planning the work
Contact me for a free initial
discussion of your needs
Eric Fewster
Tel. 07814 788 846
Email: ericfewster@coldproof.co.uk
Web: www.coldproof.co.uk
Acorn
CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES
• rewires, repairs & alterations
• fire and burglar alarm systems
• inspection & testing inc. P.A.T.
Call Andrew on 07729 241 860
or visit www.amelectricalandalarm.co.uk
Call John
0161 445 3650
NACS member
open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel
stoves, birds nests removed
www.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk
from small borders to whole gardens
grass roots
garden design
design & build, landscaping,
planting plans, on site consultation
Contact Severine Cochard on 07790 631 078
sev@grassrootsgardendesign.co.uk www.grassrootsgardendesign.co.uk
14

Help wanted Brookburn Primary School
Remember Brookburn Primary
School’s Dolphin Den from our
August edition? Volunteers and
local businesses worked together
to transform a neglected corner
into a fantastic new outdoor play
space. It’s been so popular that
there are now plans to develop
an area of woodland in the school
grounds, this time as a wildlife
learning resource.
As parents, we often have a bit of
a moan about our children being
disconnected from nature and
spending too much time indoors
with their gadgets. A safe and
managed outdoor space can
make an enormous difference
to their quality of life: fostering
creativity and wellbeing; helping
them experience and be inspired
by the natural world; providing
opportunities for both adventurous
play and quiet time.
The proposed plans for the space
include pond-dipping sessions,
habitats to explore, stones to
look under and perhaps even an
outdoor classroom. It’s not just
Brookburn children who will benefit,
either: the longer-term plan is to
share the facility with other primary
schools in Chorlton that don’t
have access to outdoor woodland.
Everyone wins, including the minibeasts!
The project is already halfway to its
funding
target, so
it will happen:
as ever, it’s volunteers
who make the difference.
Space needs to be cleared and
pathways built, the pond needs to
be safely fenced and gated and the
pond-dipping bridge needs repair.
If you can spare some time and
some labour, help raise funds, offer
any materials or have any other
suitable skills, the school would
love to hear from you.
Contact Firouz Thompson
friendsofbrookburn@gmail.com
The
Veggie
Deli
wraps
cheese
quiche
tea
sandwiches
calzones
burritos
award winning pies
and much more...
Cheltenham Road
The
Veggie
Deli
All products vegetarian, vegan and gluten free
All recycled packaging • All products sourced locally
109 Manchester Road @VegDeliChorlton
Manchester Road
Unicorn
15

Flavour of the month
A taste of what’s to come in March
March is a month of celebration. First
comes World Book Day (Thursday 5
March), when children are given free
book tokens and reading is all about
pleasure and fun. It’s followed by
International Women’s Day on Sunday
8 March - the citywide celebration
of great women that’s always too
big to fit into a single day. Then
Manchester turns green for the annual
Irish Festival (6-20 March), which
celebrates its twentieth birthday this
year. Here are our local choices for all
three:
Alexandra Park
and the Big Book
Adventure
Celebrate World Book
Day in the park! Dress
as a character from your
favourite book and enjoy
a Family Treasure Hunt.
There’ll be magical tales
from the brilliant storyteller
Andy Benfield, plus the Big Book Swap. Bring a
children’s book, swap it for a different one. It’s that
simple – in fact it’s even simpler: if you don’t have a
book to bring, you can take one home anyway. There
are goody bags for all Treasure Hunters and the café
will be open too.
Alexandra Park (meet at the Pavilion),
Sunday 8 March, 11.30am-2pm
Anthony Parker
Bespoke Carpentry & Joinery
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
friendly 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 Text & Email updates
Tel:0778 6657 540 / Email: ceod30@gmail.com
www.clarescatcare.com
Advanced
City and Guilds
Tel: 0161 442 7478
Mob: 0775 258 7139
E: anthonyparker93@ntlworld.com
Chorlton Gas Ltd
Domestic Central Heating and Gas Engineers
fully qualified • fully insured
Gas Safe registered • friendly and
reliable • local references available
Call Kevin for a no obligation quote
07722 731 801
www.chorltongas.co.uk
16

The Women Who Made Manchester
Manchester has always been known for its inspirational women:
many as much a part of our city’s radical, cultural and intellectual
history as its often more celebrated men (see our Elizabeth Gaskell
feature on page 11). Join Green Badge Guide Ann Beswick for an
illustrated talk that will include some names you’ll know, and others
that you may not. What they all have in common, is a spirit and
determination that helped to make our city great.
Info: Anne 07505 691105
Lakeside Pavilion,
Sunday 8 March, 3pm
Fleádh na Mná
To mark both the Irish Festival and International Women’s Day, North
West Uilleann Pipers present a celebration of women in traditional
Irish music. There’ll be free workshops (led by women) from noon, in
fiddle, flute/whistle, button accordion, pipes and singing – beginners
welcome. Then in the evening, there’s a concert with an all-female
line-up, which includes Ríoghnach Connolly, Angela Durcan, Fiona
Browne and a host of talented musicians.
Chorlton Irish Club, High Lane
Saturday March 7, (£10, £8, £5)
Info: nwup@nwup.org
www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk
HLF BERRY Chorlton:Layout 1 8/14/14 7:16 PM Page 1
School Reunion
Did you – or anyone you know
- attend Stretford Grammar
School for Girls between 1958
and 1965? 2015 marks fifty years
since the class of ’65 and that
calls for a party!
The reunion doesn’t actually
take place until 7 June (at The
Longfords Conference Centre
in Longford Park Stadium): this
advanced notice is to ask any ‘old
girls’, wherever they may be, to
make contact. We’d really love as
many of our former classmates
as possible to come along, catch
up and share some laughter and
memories.
Contact Jean Thompson (née
Clark) on dand.j@ntlworld.com,
or Barbara Evans (née Hartill) on
bjevans47@hotmail.com if you’d
like to come along – there’ll be
lots more information nearer the
time.
Your Local Legal Experts
● From Youth To Retirement and Beyond
● From Personal to Business
We can help you every step of the way
Company & Commercial
Commercial Leases & Commercial Disputes
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Family & Matrimonial Law
Call us today and see what we can do for you
0161 860 7123
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446 Barlow Moor Road ● CHORLTON ● Manchester ● M21 0BQ
Incorporating
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www.hlfberry.com
chorlton@hlfberry.com
17

Book reviews from
Chorlton Bookshop
The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton
This debut novel has caused a real stir in
the publishing world. A six-figure deal from
Picador has ensured the level of interest
would be high.
Set in Amsterdam at the end of the 17th
century, the novel follows the fortunes of Nella
and the strange household in which she finds
herself.
18-year-old Nella arrives in Amsterdam, eager
to begin life as a married woman. Expecting
to see Johannes, her hugely successful
merchant husband, she is greeted instead
by Marin, her severe sister-in-law and two
household servants who don’t seem to know
their place. Despite this less than warm
welcome, Johannes does give her a lavish
wedding gift: a beautiful miniature house, a
replica of her new home.
In order to prove to Johannes that
she is capable of running a household
Nella must furnish this little house.
She seeks out ‘the miniaturist’, who
begins to deliver strange parcels
filled with objects that Nella didn’t
commission. He seems to making
predictions about her life that couldn’t
possibly come true… or could they?
Jessie Burton creates a world that
could have come straight from a
painting by Vermeer or Rembrandt.
It’s a dark and mysterious novel that
certainly lives up to expectations.
• Review by Jo Legerton
The Guts
Roddie Doyle
The Guts is a bonus fourth novel in the
Barrytown Trilogy series, which began
with The Commitments.
Now aged 47, Jimmy Rabbitte is facing the
family and health issues that face us all.
Not a very cheery subject for a book, you’d
think, but as ever, Roddy Doyle manages
to find humour in the darkest places.
25 years after introducing The
Commitments to the world, Jimmy is now
working for a company he used to own
with his wife. Life is about to get worse:
he’s been diagnosed with bowel cancer
and he’s got to find a way to tell his wife
and four kids.
Could things get any worse? The
recession is really beginning to bite and
Jimmy’s job is looking uncertain. But,
far from letting it all get him down,
Jimmy does what Jimmy does best: he
hustles. He’s not immune to desperation,
however, and makes some truly
terrible decisions that may well destroy
everything he’s created.
Using mainly dialogue, laced with Roddy
Doyle’s trademark irreverent humour,
helps keep the story pacey
and easy to read. Some familiar faces
from previous books also appear, which
will appeal to fans and make it a mustread.
This can be read as a stand-alone novel,
but why not give yourself a treat and
read the other three books in the series?
• Review by Jo Legerton
19

Select
Plumbing & Heating
Central Heating Installation
Power Flushing
Servicing & Repairs
Gas Cooker & Fire Installations
Landlord Safety Certificates
All types of Plumbing Work
Fully Tiled Bathrooms
Contact Tony Goss
0161 865 6657
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Designing Your Own Garden
6 week PRACTICAL
Introduction to Garden Design
No experience necessary
Taught by experienced garden designers
and teachers
£90 for 6 weeks
Start date: 22nd April , Wed 7-9pm
Venue: St. John's Centre, St. John's Road,
Old Trafford
BOOK NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE
Contact Katherine on 07989968841
or email K.L.Watson@hotmail.co.uk
Gas Safe
Registered No. 196842
www.fatgrass.co.uk
07940 557 515
M Duffin
Property Repairs
Chimneys
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Roofs
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Free Estimates
0161 789 6640
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20

Park Life
There have been some
really positive and welcome
developments in Longford
Park in the last year. The
café (housed in a beautifully
renovated Edwardian bungalow)
has gone from strength to
strength, while the Uprising
Bakehouse Cooperative teamed
up with volunteers to secure
the future of Pets’ Corner.
Meanwhile, a crowdfunding
campaign has raised over
£6,000 to create a 9-hole
Disc Golf course on the site
of the former pitch and putt.
There’s lots more to come:
an extension to the young
children’s playground and the
work in progress on the wildlife
garden.
To keep up to date on these and
other activities – including the
next open air theatre production
– join the Friends of Longford
Park at www.folp.org.uk. It’s free
and you’ll receive email updates
and hear about opportunities
to be part of the park’s bright
future.
If you’d like to become actively
involved, you’ll be very welcome
at the Friends of Longford Park
Annual General Meeting. Janey
from the cafe will be there to
share the latest on Pets’ Corner
and the bakery – and you can
find out everything you need to
know about Disc Golf!
Friends of Longford Park AGM
Longford Park Café
Thursday 19 March, 7.30pm
© Copyright R Greenhalgh
MANCHESTER VETERINARY CLINIC
511 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, M21 0UB
0161 881 3329
24 Hour Emergency Service
Consultations by appointment
*Special Offer Free microchipping
with vaccinations *
*Special Offer Geriatric Screening
Examination, blood pressures, blood profile for only £55*
Prompt access to the surgeons and physicians and specialist facilities
of the Animal Medical Centre Referral Services, as seen on TV’s
“Supervets”.
21

ThePurple Pages
Napier Road
Claridge Road
Now that Brookburn Primary’s Dolphin Den outdoor play
area is up and running, there’s an exciting new plan to
create a woodland learning space at the back of the
school. The space will not only help children to connect
with nature and become involved with stewardship, but
also develop social skills, foster creativity and give them
times and places for ‘peace and quiet’ away from the
business and noise of regular school life.
Please help by volunteering and follow the project on
Twitter: @BrookburnPTA
We cannot do any of the above without your help.
Supporting the local community.
Kind regards,
Eddie Ellis, MNAEA
Director, JP & Brimelow
JP & Brimelow are
also proud to support
Green
Chorlton
Darley Avenue
Dudley Road
Sales & Lettings
430 Barlow Moor Rd Chorlton M21 8AD
www.jpandbrimelow.co.uk
@jpandbrimelow

Sixteen of
the best for sale
High Lane
Albemarle
St Johns Corner
Edge Lane
Scott Avenue
Wilbraham Road
Sandy Lane
Grange Avenue
The Highlands
Nicolas Road
St Brannocks Road
Norbeck Avenue
SALES: 0161 882 2233
chorlton@jpbrimelow.co.uk
LETTINGS: 0161 882 2244
chorltonlettings@jpbrimelow.co.uk
Offices also in Didsbury 0161 448 0622 & Withington 0161 445 9700

Local Ethical
Tree Work
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
Alexander Technique
balance and poise
ease of movement
stillness
strength in action
voice
Local hardwood firewood | Timber for joinery
Mulch for local allotments
Sleepers and Weatherboards
Biomass woodchip
www.treestation.co.uk
0161 231 3333
Greater Manchester TreeStation Ltd - A Society for the
Benefit of the Community committed to combatting climate
change, FSA Mutuals registered number 31552R
individual sessions and
groups
10 week afternoon course starts
April 14th, 1pm.
Sue Fleming MSTAT
www.alexanderteaching.co.uk
0161 861 8848 CNHC registered
24

Your baby’s first adventure
We all want to hold onto cherished
memories of our finest hours.
We book photographers for our
weddings and special occasions,
so why not when our children
are born? Linsey talks to birth
photographer Tara Leach.
What is birth photography?
It’s simply photography that
documents the birth of a child – it’s
very popular in North America, but
almost unheard of here. My job is
usually to portray everything: from
active labour to birth and beyond,
including skin-to-skin contact and
first meetings with siblings and
family.
Is it intrusive?
Definitely not: the whole thing is
done with absolute sensitivity and
discretion and couples forget that
I’m there. Birth partners can focus
completely on supporting mothers:
they are a part of the picture in all
senses and shouldn’t be spending
their time behind a camera. These
are challenging circumstances:
there’s lots going on, light levels are
low and those key moments simply
can’t be recreated. A professional
photographer doesn’t miss a thing.
And the results?
The photos are, in a word, stunning:
they capture the love, strength, pain
and elation of childbirth. So many
women have hazy memories of
giving birth; so many new mothers
and babies are seen in blurred,
poorly lit camera phone shots. Why
not create a record telling the story
of your baby’s first adventure that’s
as beautiful and as moving as the
experience itself?
How does it work?
It all starts with a meeting. It’s
essential for me to get a sense of
not only what my clients want, but
who they are, because this is a truly
bespoke service: I only get one
chance and I need to make sure I
get it absolutely right. Personally,
I think I have the best job in the
world!
Contact Tara:
taraleachphotography@yahoo.com
07976 945028
www.taraleach.com
Manchester
Progressive
Education
Children’s
Community
7 - 11
a personal learning journey together
www.alexandraparkclc.co.uk
LEARNING
PROVISION
NOW OPEN
Nursery
Ages: 3 mths to 3.5 years old
Kindergarten
Ages: 3.5 to 6.5/7 years old
Morning and
Afternoon Activities
in English and Spanish
Ages: 2 to 11 years old
Alexandra Park is a vibrant
children’s learning community,
Bilingual in English and
Spanish.
It has a Reggio Emilia inspired
nursery and garden.
7-11 Learning
Ages: 6.5/7 to 11 years old
Parent/Toddler
Ages: Birth - 3 years old
Holiday Club
Bilingual in Spanish and English.
Ages: 4 years and above.
Kindergarten Places Still Available
Contact us today to have a look around
Demesne Road, Alexandra Park, Manchester, M16 8PH
0161 226 8080 enquiries@alexandraparkclc.co.uk
25

March In Your Garden
By Katherine Watson
I have just received an order
from the Beth Chatto garden
nursery in Essex. The garden
is famous for spearheading
techniques to deal with climactic
change and there are really
useful books accompanying the
different gardens that Chatto has
created - the gravel garden; the
damp garden etc.
I’ve received two rather unusual
forms of Gunnera: G. Hamiltonii
and G. Magellanica. I also ordered
two Darmera peltata, part of the
saxifrage family but on steroids.
When I first moved to my
current house in Old Trafford, I
bunged in a random collection
of plants bought as presents
and purchased without any real
scheme in mind. One of these
plants was a Gunnera manicata
- commonly called the giant
rhubarb because it looks exactly
like you’d expect a giant rhubarb
to look - albeit a giant rhubarb
with a 20 Senior Service-a-day
habit. I loved it but it was way too
big and didn’t sit comfortably with
anything else at the time, so it had
to go.
I went through a few perennial
phases but just recently, I’ve been
tinkering again and am being
drawn to foliage and oddity; spiky
yuccas and trachycarpus and
even Phormium, which I went
right off for a while.
Christopher Lloyd maintained
that it was essential to have
spiky and unusual plants in an
English garden to counteract
the ‘softness’ - ‘...They give an
immediate lift (much like the first
glass of champagne on a Sunday
morning)’ So when I came to think
about how to give parts of the
garden this lift I started looking
at smaller alternatives to G.
Manicata.
The Darmera peltata have arrived
as thick tubers with bright
green bulbous heads and lots of
leggy roots clinging horizontally
underneath - something from
the Mesozoic era surely - it will
produce similar foliage to G.
Manicata but on a smaller scale.
The other two varieties of Gunnera
- Hamiltonii and Magellanica are
much smaller leaved and will,
hopefully, act as ground cover
around the trachycarpus. All need
a moisture retentive soil to do well
but in Manchester we definitely
have one over on Essex when it
comes to wet soil.
Katherine is running a six-week
Introduction to Garden Design
course in April and May.
For more information see page
20, or email
k.l.watson@hotmail.co.uk
www.fatgrass.co.uk.
Garden Design
Planting Advice
Consultation Service
Project Managment
07989968841
www.fatgrass.co.uk
26

Tara Leach Photography
Capturing the story of your
baby's first adventure
07976 945028
taraleachphotography@yahoo.com | taraleach.com
home extensions • kitchens • bathrooms
creative building in Didsbury
since 2003
www.leapfroghome.co.uk
0161 445 7498
27

The Story of Chorlton & Whalley Range
Walking through Alex Park to the echoes of past
• By Andrew Simpson
Now, like many people I have fond
memories of Alexandra Park.
It was a place I first discovered
over 40 years ago when, with
an empty Sunday ahead of us,
we would walk out and spend
the morning there. Then later it
was where we took the children.
It was also a destination for
some of those marches and
demonstrations I went on during
the 1970s and 80s and, since
then, I have discovered just what
a pivotal part it has played in the
history of popular protest.
During the late 19th and early
20th century it was the scene of
big public meetings on everything
from rising unemployment to
demands for an extension of the
vote to women. There were also
more relaxed events including the
Gala planned by the Educational
Committee of the Manchester &
Salford Co-op in the summer of
1914.
There had been two earlier events
one at Yates’ Field in Fallowfield
and the other in Broadheath with
‘RACES, MAYPOLE DANCES,
SPOON AND BOOT CLEANING
COMPETITIONS’ as well as a
‘FANCY DRESS COMPEITION’
with tickets for refreshments at
3d for adults and 2d for children.
The earlier two had been
scheduled for July 11th and July
25th, but the Alex Park gala was
planned for August 15th, just
eleven days after Britain became
involved in the Great War, and
that put an end to the Co-op
day in the park. The secretary
of the Educational Committee
wrote that ‘at their first meeting,
held 10th August, [it was] most
regretfully decided to postpone
the gala’.
Now, I have yet to come across
any pictures of these great public
events, but my friend Ann has
provided me with a pack of
pictures dating from 1906. They
cover pretty much the whole
of the park including the lake,
bowling green, clock tower,
terrace and entrance.
There will be similar images from
the same period, but what makes
these particularly interesting
is that the pack is complete,
includes the carton they came in
and the name of the person they
were sent to.
Added to this, we have the name
of the company which distributed
them.
This was the Valentine Company
of Dundee who began selling
‘topographical view photographs’
from the 1860s, along with ‘a
great variety of photographic
goods from single framed
images, to albums, view books
and booklets, pictorial greetings
cards and a wide range of
photographic novelties’ including
their innovative children’s cut-out
books.
All of which makes Ann’s pictures
quite a find.
They were sent to Mark Brewer,
who was living at 25 Garswood
Road, Fallowfield, and the hunt
is on to find more, although so
far he does seem to have evaded
the historical record.
Pictures: The entrance and
lake, Alexandra Park, from
Valentine’s Snapshots of
Alexandra Park, circa 1906,
courtesy of Ann Love
29

Community Index
Local groups and useful numbers
Clubs, Societies & Groups
Armchair Philosophers 3rd Third
Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm
upstairs in the Royal Oak pub
Mary 07751 696055
Barlow International Folk Dance
Group Tuesday evenings at
St.Ninians, Wilbraham Road
Mary 881 0955
Chorlton Afternoon
Townswomen’s Guild 2nd &
3rd Tuesday of the month, 2pm
Chorlton Library 881 2544
Chorlton Aikido Club
Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm
St Ninians, Wilbraham Rd
www.lancashireaikikai.org
861 8456
Coaching Circle For Life Coaches
and Business Coaches, 1st
Wednesday of the month,
7.30pm, upstairs in Lloyds
ManchesterCoachingCircle.com
Mary 07751 696055
Community Allotment & Apiary
Scott Avenue Allotment 07973
139068 or 07521 500223
uk.groups.yahoo.com/
group/grow_for_it/
Chorlton and Friends Gardening
Group 3rd Monday monthly, in
Chorlton Library, 7.30-9pm £3
candfgg@yahoo.co.uk
Chorlton Bookshop Book Group
3rd Tuesday of the month at The
Horse and Jockey 7.45pm Details
from Chorlton Bookshop 881
6374
Chorlton Bridge Club
Christine 225 8854
www.bridgewebs.com/chorlton
Chorlton Bujitsu Wednesday 8pm
at St Werburgh’s Church Hall
07866 312616 facebook.com/Iki.
Yoyo.Dojo
30
Chorlton Chess Club Tuesday
7.30-11pm 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. 10
March 7.30pm Chair - Mary
Crumpton 07751 696055
chorltoncivicsociety.org.uk
Chorlton Community
Wildlife Garden
chorltoncommunitywildlifegarden.
org.uk
Chorlton Evening Townswomens
Guild 2nd & 4th Thursday of the
month, 7.30pm Chorlton Library.
881 6354
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Chorlton Fundraising Group
Meets monthly at the Irish Centre
Julie.peters@mariecurie.org.uk
Chorlton History Group 1st
Thursday of the month, 1.30-3pm
at Chorlton Good Neighbours St
Nininians Church, Egerton Rd
South
Chorlton Kung Fu Wednesdays
8pm, Albany Estate, behind
Morrisons 07774 723839
Chorlton Philosophy
Group Tuesdays 7.30pm,
upstairs at the Lloyds pub
chorltonphilosophygroup.
wordpress.com
Chorlton Reading Group Once
a month in the meeting room
behind Chorlton library 7.30pm
All welcome 881 1813
chorltonreadersgroup@gmail.com
Circolo Italiano Intermediates and
native speakers. Mondays 7-9pm
Union Chapel, Fallowfield. 881
8314 guglielmifranco@clara.co.uk
Coffee and Craft Mornings at
Chorlton Good Neighbours
Thursdays 10-11.30am
Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church
881 2925 cgncg.org.uk
Co-op members’ group Talks,
trips, events. 2nd Wed of the
month 7.30pm, room above the
Hardy Lane Co-op. Brenda 07525
071672 brenda.copnall@gmail.
com
French Circle Brush up on your
French with friendly native
speaker. Tuesday pm, St
Werberghs Church Hall 881 8314
Friends of Alexandra Park
226 7525
friendsofalexandrapark.org.uk
Friends of Chorlton Meadows
881 6276
friendsofchorltonmeadows.
blogspot.com
Friends of Longford Park
info@folp.co.uk
friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk
Grand Day Out Free computer
taster sessions for the over 50s in
Chorlton Library, Fridays 2-4pm
227 3700
d.gilligan@manchester.gov.uk
Greater Manchester Humanist
Choir Sundays 2.30-4.30pm,
Chorlton Unitarian Church
gmhumanistchoir@gmail.com
Happiness Group 2nd
Wednesday of the month,
7.30pm, upstairs in Lloyds
www.ManchesterHappiness.com.
Mary 07751 696055
Intergen Volunteer opportunities
for Chorlton residents 55+
to work with primary school
children. Estelle 264 0089 or
07946 761785 intergen.org.uk
Lipreading and Communication
Skills classes Free to deaf people
and their families and friends.
Wednesdays 1-3pm at Mauldeth
House 0161 832 0444 enquiries@
manchesterdeafstudies.org
Manchester Centre for Buddhist
Meditation Beginners meditation
classes, 8pm weekdays, 11am
Saturday www.samatha.org/

Manchester Flower Lovers’
Guild St Werburghs Church
Hall, Chorlton. Anne 881 6591
flowersnorthwest.net
Old Mancunians AFC Training
twice a week at Manchester
Academy 07855 947411
oldmancs@hotmail.co.uk
Royal Scottish Country Dance
Society Tuesday 7.30pm, Manley
Park Primary School, College
Road, Whalley Range rscdsmanchester.org.uk
Shakespeare House Community
Centre Whalley Range M16 8NR,
282 3205
admin@r-squared.org.uk
Simply Cycling Longford Park,
Athletics Stadium Mon & Fri
9.30-noon, Sun 1-3pm. All abilties
and ages welcome Sue 07753
428937 Helen 07871 621778
www.simply-cycling.org
Social Circle UK’s biggest social
& activity network dedicated to
providing free events.
social-circle.co.uk
South Manchester Book Club
Fortnightly at The Woodstock
Arms, Barlow Moor Road
southmanchesterbookgroup.uk
South Manchester Camera
Club Mondays 8-10pm,
Didsbury Methodist Church
www.smcc.org.uk
St. Clements Fellowship
Barbara 881 5912 or Ida 861 7158
Trafford Athletic Club Longford
Park. Mon & Thu 6-9pm.
Min age 9. Tonya 881 4488
www.traffordac.co.uk
Whalley Range Cricket & Lawn
Tennis Club 5-6: Fri 6.30-7.30pm,
Y7-10: Fri 7-8.30pm, Seniors
(16+): Tues & Thur 6-9pm. £4
Kingsbrook Road, whalleyrange.
play-cricket.com
Whalley Range Forum
JN8 Youth & Community
Centre, 82 Cromwell
Ave, M16 0BG 881 3744
communityforumwhalleyrange@
gmail.com
Whalley Range 4 Wildlife
wr4wildlife@yahoo.co.uk
wr4wildlife.wordpress.com
Arts & Crafts
Adventures in Painting &
Drawing Tutor led art group.
Tuesdays 1-3.30pm, Chorlton
Park Adult Learning Centre
rowojo@hotmail.com Penny 256
3528
Art Fusion Amateur artists.
Tuesdays 7-9pm at St Clements
church hall. Fiirst session free
then £5 ahomersham@ntlworld.
com www.artfusion.org.uk
Crafty Sew ’n’ Sews Friendly
sewing group with a professional
tutor. Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
(except second Monday of each
month) Co-operative Hall, Hardy
Lane. Angela 225 6931
Chorlton Alternative Art Class
Life drawing, all abilities welcome.
£6. Weds 7.30-9.30pm The Edge
Theatre
www.chorltonalternativearts.com
Chorlton Art Group Tuesdays,
10am-12 noon, St. Werbergh’s
church hall. Brenda
brensidebeck@aol.com
Chorlton Knits 1st and 3rd
Thursdays at Lloyds
Chorlton Mosaic Group Relaxed
Mosaic evening class, Thursdays
7.15pm-8.45pm tracey.
cartledge@icloud.com
Tracey 860 0387
Chorlton Sewing Club 1st
Thursday of the month
7.30-9.30pm Chorlton Library
chorltonsewing.wordpress.com
Co-operative Sewing Group
Fridays, 10am-12pm Cooperative
Hall, Hardy Lane Pam
07906 311455
Dolls House and Miniatures
Group 2nd Monday of the month,
8-10pm, Whalley Range venue.
Ann 07814 861285
Are you part of a voluntary or community group?
Tell us about it - editor@communityindex.co.uk
Manchester Sing Out Choir
(Gospel Choir) Tuesdays 7-9pm
St Johns Centre, Old Trafford.
manchestersingoutchoir.org
msochoir@live.co.uk
Stitched Up Textile workshops
881 7141 www.stitchedup.coop
Entertainment
Chorlton Film Institute
Ida - 19 March. 8.10 pm, film
starts 8.30 pm £5 St Clements
Church
Chorlton Folk Club Thursdays
9pm Ellesmere Rd Cricket Club
The Edge Theatre Singing, drama
and ukelele workshops 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 Groups
Breast Cancer Care
Walking Group Every other
Friday at Chorlton Water
Park bestfootforward@
breastcancercare.org.uk
Chorlton Anxiety Group 226 3871
Chorlton Good Neighbours
Support for older people
881 2925 helen@
chorltongoodneighbours.org
Manchester Diabetes Support
Network Mike 860 5688
diabetesinmanchester@gmail.
com
New Family Social UK charity
for LGBT adopters, foster carers
and their children. Meets every
month in south Manchester.
newfamilysocial.org.uk
Rainbow Families 07903 397108
rainbowfamilies@hotmail.com
Local MP
John Leech - MP
8 Gawsworth Avenue
M20 5NF 434 3334
johnleechmp@parliament.uk
31

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wine cellar • bathroom • wetroom
garage & loft conversions
Roy Nesbitt
homeware
gifts
& curios
www.DigVintage.co.uk
Tel: 0161 300 0530 Mob: 07921 710 563
www.bestcellarsnw.co.uk
Best Cellars North West • Unit 204
792 Wilmslow Rd • Didsbury • Manchester • M20 6UG
33

Drink
Smart
Want to
lose a few
pounds?
in
Chorlton
Sleep better
and feel more
energised?
Get a free and confidential
NHS Drink Smart pack
Simply text the word SMART followed
by your name and address to 81025.
Your personal details will only be
used to send your pack by post.
Standard text message rates apply
Save a
few quid?
© Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, Health & Wellbeing Service.
All rights reserved, not to be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission of the copyright owner. March 2015

Drink Smart in Chorlton
Free packs on offer
If you like to unwind with
a nice glass of something,
you may have experienced
first-hand some of alcohol’s
short-term effects - especially
when some evenings, the odd
glass becomes two or three
glasses.
Be it a bad night’s sleep, lack
of energy the next day or
weight creeping up, current
estimates suggest that over a
quarter of Chorlton residents
feel the effects of binge
drinking at least once a week.
This equates to over 3,000
adults in the area who might
not realise their drinking habits
are putting their long-term
health at risk, and around 700
children living with at least one
parent who regularly drinks
above the lower risk limits.
Free NHS Drink Smart packs
will be on offer to Chorlton
residents all through March as
part of a new campaign that
hopes to increase access to
self-help in the area. Packed
with handy hints and tips,
people will be able to check
how much they are drinking
and work out whether they
need to cut down.
For a free and confidential
Drink Smart pack by post,
simply text the word SMART
followed by your name and
address to 81025 (standard
text message rates apply).
35

karl hutton
fitted furniture
handmade furniture in solid wood
fitted shelving • bookcases • libraries • studies • alcove
cupboards • hand built kitchens
established in 2000
07989 891581 0161 860 4848
www.karlhutton.co.uk
N A Evans Electrical Services
Family run, serving South Manchester for 25 yrs
• 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
Tel: 0161 881 6705 Mob: 07711 032 761
Trustmark / ECA / City and Guilds / Part P and JIB approved/ MIET
36

Sport in Chorlton
By Geoff Garnett
Football: Unlucky
Range just lose out
Once more, heavy overnight rain saw many games
postponed, but Whalley Range FC were able
to play their delayed Lancashire Amateur Cup
quarter-final at Kings Road against Leigh Phoenix.
Range were hoping to join Bedians in the last
four, but were short of several key players due to
suspension, holiday and work commitments. They
were soon 2-0 down to a well-organised Phoenix,
but got their act together to level at 2-2 before the
break, with strikes from Damien White and Timmy
Kinsella.
With five minutes to play the great effort made by
the Range teams looked to have paid dividends as
a neat finish from Jimmy Gill gave them the lead
for the first time. But Phoenix grabbed an equaliser
in the dying seconds to take the game into the
dreaded penalty shoot out. Phoenix kept their nerve
to win 4-2.
Action from Whalley Range v Leigh
Phoenix (Phoenix in orange shirts).
Golf: White Rose star enjoys
the Red Rose experience
Chorlton Golf Club assistant
professional, Adam Hodkinson
(pictured) enjoyed a distinguished
career in Yorkshire as an amateur
at Hallowes GC, Sheffield.
Adam represented Sheffield,
Yorkshire and England at u16,
u18, u21 and men’s levels and
came very close to qualifying, as
an 18-year-old amateur, for The
Open Championship at Carnoustie
in 2007, losing out to Scott
Drummond in a play-off.
He joined the professional ranks
at the age of 20 and played for
three years on the Alps Tour. He
did reasonably well, winning one
tournament and finishing 13th in
the Order of Merit in 2010.
But an injury in 2012 saw him
unable to play for two years. He
began playing again near to the
end of the current season, winning
a pro-am and finishing fourth in a
PGA Order of Merit competition.
Adam, who joined the professional
team at Chorlton earlier in the
year, said: “I’m enjoying working
at Chorlton and have found it very
easy to fit in with the professional
team and the friendly members.”
37

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY
CLEANERS
• FAST DRYING SYSTEM
• FREE STAIN & ODOUR REMOVAL
• STAINGUARD PROTECTION
• 10% RETIRED PERSONS DISCOUNT
• ALL WORK IS FULLY INSURED
• ALL FURNITURE MOVED BY OPERATIVE
We are a local company based in Chorlton
Fully trained to
NCCA standards
Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE
07742 369 231
or leave a message on 0161 881 4822
contact@pro-fresh.co.uk
www.pro-fresh.co.uk
THE
WASHING MACHINE
WOMAN
Female Domestic Appliance Engineer
For repairs or service, call Lucie Brione
07766 704 851
luciebrione@hotmail.com
The Washing Machine Woman
Washing machines
Washer dryers
Tumble dryers
Electric cookers/hobs/ovens
Freestanding dishwashers
I’m a member of:
Seymour
Dry
Cleaners
172 Manchester Road Chorlton Manchester
0161 860 7024
Price List
3 Piece Suit ..................
2 Piece Suit ..................
Coats Full Lenth ............
Coats 3/4 Length .........
Trousers .......................
Jackets ........................
Skirts Plain ...................
Skirts Pleated ...............
Dresses ........................
Pullovers ......................
Shirts ...........................
Ties ..............................
£9.00
£8.00
£8.00
£6.85
£3.85
£4.85
£3.85
£4.85
£6.20
£3.50
£1.75
£1.75
all garments are re-textured & hand finished
Quality dry cleaning at the right Price!
38

Easy graft?
Chorlton’s new community garden
Between Chorlton Library and
the Sedge Lynn there’s a small,
but mysterious piece of waste
ground, enclosed by railings.
There’s actually nothing much
inside it, but that’s all about to
change…
Chorlton Traders, working with
Manchester City Council has
secured funding from the Clean
Green Fund to create a community
garden over the coming weeks.
The plan? To grow fruit - pears,
plums, currants, gooseberries,
raspberries, rhubarb, figs, cherries
- and more varieties of apple than
you can shake a stick at!
We’re lucky in Chorlton: Unicorn
stocks a wide selection of English
apples, but they’re actually just
the tip of the iceberg. There are
hundreds of apple varieties, but
the ones you tend to see in shops
What is grafting and why don't
we grow apple trees from pips?
When you're choosing an
apple tree there are two main
considerations: what variety of
apple you’d like, and how big you
want your tree to grow. The size of
the tree is determined by its root:
its variety, on the other hand, is all
and garden centres aren't
necessarily the ones that will thrive
here in the North. Hilary Dodson,
from the Northern Fruit Group,
has years of knowledge and
experience of what works best in
our very special climate.
Hilary will be running a grafting
workshop in March: find out how
to graft your own apple trees, help
make trees for the community
garden – and take something
about what’s above ground.
The grafting process involves
connecting a cutting (or scion)
from a tree whose apples you
want, to a root stock which will
give you the size of tree that's right
for your garden. It's the way nearly
all fruit trees are made and has
been for thousands of years.
home with you too! The grafting
wood you’ll be using is specially
selected to do well in Manchester
gardens.
Cost is £15, which includes lunch
and two apple trees to keep.
Places are limited and booking is
essential: lesley@communityindex.
co.uk
Chorlton Library Meeting Room,
Saturday 14th March, 11.30am-
4pm
You can grow an apple tree from
a pip. That said, even if you know
the variety, you can’t actually
be sure of the kind of apple
it will produce. Perhaps more
importantly in our urban gardens,
you have know way of knowing
how enormous your tree will
eventually become!
Chorlton Library Community Garden
Apple
Grafting
Workshop
Saturday 14th March 12.30 - 4pm
£15 including lunch and a grafted apple tree
to take home with you!
Delivered by Hilary Dodson of the Northern Fruit Group
working with Chorlton Traders
email: lesley@communityindex.co.uk to book your place
39

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41

Business Index
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.
Aerials
Dale Communications 40
Bathrooms
Bathroom Angels 7
GDA Home Improvement 27
Building & Maintenance
Best Cellars 33
Charity Shop
Sue Ryder 18
Chimney Sweep
Acorn Chimney Sweep 14
Cleaning
Oven Wizards 42
Profresh Carpet Cleaners 38
Copywriting
Chin Up Duck 24
Dry Cleaners
Seymour Dry Cleaners 38
Education
Alexandra Park CLC 25
Electrician
AM Electrical 14
Chorlton Electric 42
NA Evans Electrical 36
Energy Efficiency
Coldproof 14
Estate Agent
JP & Brimelow 22-23
Food & Drink
The Beagle 40
Horse & Jockey 8
PostBox Cafe 4
Unicorn Grocery 10
The Vegi Deli 15
Gardening
Fat Grass Garden Design 20, 26
Grass Roots 14
Green Designs 41
Gas Safe Engineer
Chorlton Gas 16
Select Plumbing & Heating 20
Health & Wellbeing
Acupunture Works 13
Alexander Technique 24
Butterfflies Holistic Therapy 6
Drink Smart 34
Interiors
Gatley Interiors 28
Leapfrog Home 27
Joinery & Furniture
Anthony Parker 16
Karl Hutton 36
Evolve Joinery 35
Locksmiths
Chorlton Locksmiths 40
Mortgage Advice
Pinkstone 14
Painting & Decorating
Alan Stuart 20
Carol Smith 6
Harlequin Decorating 36
Photography
Tara Leach Photography 27
Pet Adoption
PetPals 32
Pet Care
Clare’s Cat Care 16
Plumbing
BG Plumbing 35
Hana K Plumbing 38
Select Plumbing & Heating 20
Repairs
The Washing Machine Woman 38
Roofer
M Duffin 20
School Holiday Club
We Are Adventurers 44
Social Club
Social Circle 41
Solicitors
HLF Berry 17
Penine Kennedy 12
Slater Heelis 2
Tree Services
Tree Station 24
Web Design
Playfire Design 41
Vet
Manchester Veterinary Clinic 21
Vintage
Dig Vintage 33
We clean your oven…
so you don’t have to
Call today to have
your oven, hob,
extractor or Aga
professionally cleaned
Ian Glancy Mob Tel: 07580 765765
www.ovenwizards.com
881 8162
Domestic & Commercial Electricians
For all general electrical work
• No call out charge • Free estimates • Fully guaranteed
www.chorltonelectric.co.uk
42

We are
Community Index
We’re proud of where we live.
We shop local and support
independent business.
We celebrate the things that make
Chorlton & Whalley Range special.
We publish two free magazines: a Chorlton &
Whalley Range edition and a Didsbury edition.
Each goes to 5,000 homes in one half of each
area, then 5,000 in the other half the following
month. We also deliver to shops, cafes,
libraries and other places every month.
We keep our advertising rates as low as we can,
so we can offer a service to sole traders and
local independent retailers. We talk straight, we
don’t hard sell and we won’t go glossy.
Let’s hear it for butchers with plastic grass in
their windows; cafe owners who give names to
their coffee machines, and great builders that
take three sugars in their tea.
Keep the magazine handy and support the local
independent businesses that advertise with us.
Money spent local stays local, so let’s keep
South Manchester interesting.
Find out more about advertising with us at
communityindex.co.uk or call us on 07875 895 604