Soap stars at local theatre

Posted on 03. Mar, 2011 by Lily in Culture, Event

The TV soap Emmerdale is well known for giving actors a leg up with their careers. Two such actors will be performing in Satin ‘n’ Steel an Amanda Whittington play at the Oldham Coliseum from 14 April – 7 May.

Roxanne Pallett and Oldhamer Matt Healy will play Teena and Vince respectively in a story of a jaded veteran performer (Vince) who as been “doing” the Northern club circuit for years, but his career has never quite reached the dizzy heights he dreamed of. When he meets aspiring karaoke singer Teena, he takes her on to add some glamour to his act. They fall in love and just as it seems that Teena’s dreams will come true, Vince’s secret threatens to shatter everything they have worked so hard for.

So, if you fancy a night out you can book your ticket on Oldham Coliseum’s website.

Sustrans cycling fundraiser

Posted on 02. Mar, 2011 by Lily in Event

When you live on the Pennines one thing you see for certain is plenty of cyclists.

So much so that last September saw the start of The Tour of Britain from Rochdale on the edge of the Pennines.

Sustrans has been doing a tremendous job over the years in campaigning for transport policies that consider walkers and cyclists as well as drivers. They have pioneered the National Cycle Network and delivered many low-carbon travel projects.

They are now writing to members asking for donations to help them carry on their work without funding the following projects could go:

• Planned sections of the Network might be shelved as council match-funding dies-up

• Our children’s cycling and walking projects and safe routes to schools are at risk

• Active travel projects with community groups across the UK are under threat

There are several ways of giving money. One way is to donate directly here.

Another is to join Sustrans on their funding raising bike ride Way of the Roses. It will be the first ever fundraising bike ride on the Way of the Roses coast to coast route from 20-23 May. The three day 170 mile route takes you from Morecambe in Lancashire to Bridlington in Yorkshire passing through Lune Valley, the Forest of Bowland, the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale AONB and towns of Settle, Grassington and historic city York.

So, if you are a cyclist why not sign up and help out. We at Pennine Life know several people who will be lending their support.

Observer Ethical Awards 2011

Posted on 27. Feb, 2011 by Lily in Environment, Event

The Observer newspaper is calling ethical characters to come forward and join their Ethical Awards this year.

It’s been six years since the Observer paired up with Ecover in bringing the country these awards which incidentally are now known as the ‘Green Oscars’.

Pennine Life would like to encourage its readers to submit any eligible projects they may know of or involved with. There are several categories to choose from. Types of projects can be for example, school recycling project, a brand that has green issues at heart or a local business that tries to put sustainability at the centre of its daily work.

The awards this year has some splendid judges and prizes so why not check out all the information here and put a project forward. Deadline is 11 March. You can also check out last year’s ceremony here.

Treasure Vintage Fair in Todmorden

Posted on 17. Feb, 2011 by Lily in Event, Local Business

Todmorden Town Hall is hosting an exciting new event on Saturday 19 February.  The first ever ‘Treasure – Vintage Fair meets Handmade’ event will present up to 30 stalls of  handmade pieces from local and regional artists and makers, alongside genuine vintage fashion and homewares from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.

Organiser Caroline Brown says,’Todmorden is the ideal location for an event like this with its beautiful, historic Town Hall, and its picturesque setting.  Todmorden and the surrounding area has a wealth of creative talent, and this inspired me to organise the event.  It will be a showcase for the best local and regional artists and makers, and it will be a place where the public can buy beautiful things from vintage and antique to handmade, re-made and upcycled.  It’s an enchanting, and also very environmentally friendly way to shop.  Buying second-hand is the best form of recycling – it enables you to buy something unique, well-made and with a history.  Similarly, when you buy from local artists you’re choosing a one-off creation, whilst supporting small local businesses run by talented craftsmen and women who help to give the town and the local area a flavour all of its own.’

The Treasure event will be full of stalls offering quality vintage clothing, jewellery, accessories, small furniture, kitchenalia, and more. Many of the stallholders are local vintage dealers who trade at other Vintage Fairs, such as Judith Mansfield who specialises in vintage sewing items including patterns and trimmings.  Judith lives in Todmorden and is over the moon that such an event is happening right on her doorstep, when she usually has to travel to Saltaire, Harrogate or Leeds to stand at a Vintage Fair.

Amongst the Todmorden artists and makers are Holly Elsdon-Smithers who sells vintage fabric alongside the purses and handbags that she makes from vintage fabrics, Samantha Hurst who handmakes silver jewellery and Emma Wilkinson who creates vintage inspired hats, jewellery and art.  Clare Ashton works in felt and stitch, drawing inspiration from near and far and lives and works in Todmorden, surrounded by the breathtaking Pennines.  Other makers are travelling from Haworth, Bingley, Huddersfield and Leeds.  Haworth-based jewellery maker, Leigh Shepherd recycles or ‘upcycles’ objects to create new pieces, using vintage scrabble, drafts and mah jong tiles as the basis for her jewellery.  Leigh recently completed an order for the British Museum and her work is popular all over the country.

Caroline encourages visitors to ‘make a day of it, whether you’re local to Todmorden or come from further afield and plan a day trip to the town.’  She says, ‘we’ve got Lulabelles Lunches, who usually operate from a pink vintage VW Camper, providing lovely vintage style refreshments, so it really will be a relaxing, fun day’.

Do Valentines Day the Green Way

Posted on 13. Feb, 2011 by Lily in Environment, Event

Instead of spending a fortune on cards and buying roses that are flown in from far and distant lands. Why not try to celebrate this Valentines Day in a more environmentally friendly way?

You can dedicate a tree to the one you love through the Woodland Trust and at the same time help to restore the UK’s native woodland heritage.

The Woodland Trust has planted more than eleven million trees, creating new native woodland throughout the UK. You can dedicate one, three or ten trees from a list of 23 woods across the UK. So why not check it out.

BBC UNCOVERS STORY OF FOOTBALL PIONEER

Posted on 12. Feb, 2011 by Lily in Culture, Event

The little known story of arguably one of the most important figures in the history of 20^th Century European football is revealed on BBC One on Monday.

Jack Reynolds’ name seems to have been lost in the mist of time yet his arrival at Ajax in 1915 changed the club forever and created a legacy that still resonates today. His remarkable story is told on Late Kick Off (North West) on BBC One, Monday, February 14^th at 11.05pm.

A former Rochdale and Manchester City player, not much is known about why Whitefield-born Jack left Manchester but after brief spells in Switzerland and Germany he took over a Dutch side which had never won a thing – Ajax Amsterdam.

But that all changed with the arrival of Jack who is today regarded as the club’s founding father.  Within two years he had led the club to their first ever trophy, the Dutch Cup, and went on to win a total of 8 League Championships during his 27-year association with the club.

But his legacy was about much more than silverware. Jack was a football pioneer and it’s said that he helped to revolutionise how the game was played.

Wim Schooevart, 94, knew Jack because both his father and uncle played for the first team. Wim, still the Ajax archivist, says Reynolds transformed the club by introducing wingers, something they had never been seen before.

He says: “Ajax always played football in the same way because of Jack Reynolds, always with an outside left and an outside right and always open play. He’d say, ‘left half to the outside right, right half to the outside left’, always long balls.”

Dutch author, Menno Pot, says Jack Reynolds created a lasting legacy, not only with the Ajax philosophy, but also with their world renowned youth development programme that he created.

“Ajax would never have become the force that they are now without Jack Reynolds. There’s no way. Basically everything that this club is about and everything that this club is known for was invented and introduced by Jack Reynolds.”

Jack retired from management in 1947 to run a tobacconists shop, but his football methods live on and are still practiced today at Holland’s biggest, most successful club.

His standing within Ajax is obvious to this day. The Jack Reynolds lobby greets VIP guests to the Amsterdam Arena and is home to the plaque which used to grace the stand named after him at the old De Meer ground.

Late Kick Off has also obtained never-before-seen footage from 1961 – club film of a special reception to mark Jack’s 80th birthday.

Late Kick Off (North West), BBC One, Monday, February 14 at 11.05pm. Viewers outside the regions can view the programme on BBC iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Private Lives warms Oldham Coliseum audience

Posted on 29. Jan, 2011 by Lily in Culture, Event

Looking for an entertaining evening on a cold winter’s evening? The latest at the Oldham Coliseum will certainly warm you up.

Private Lives, one of Noel Coward’s most popular plays, is a clever comedy about the relationship between love, jealousy and petty violence. Strange combination you may say but in a sense this 1930’s play reflects those couples that divorce in haste and fall in love again. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton come to mind.

The Oldham Coliseum and Harrogate Theatres partnership deliver a cracking evenings entertainment with this classy performance. In fact, back in the 1930’s this play may have been regarded as risqué by some.

The sexual chemistry between James Simmons and Jackie Morrison as Elyot and Amanda, the two main characters is palpable.

Both ex’s (Elyot and Amanda) have remarried after being divorced for five years and find themselves on honeymoon with their new partners at the same hotel. They meet and it’s not long before they realise they are still in love.

Morrison, petite in stature, gives a big performance as the manipulating and temperamental Amanda who, after meeting Elyot, decides to join him in running away from her new, boring, old fashioned husband, Victor, played by Christopher Naylor.

Simmons (Elyot) at first sight is a charming fellow but underneath is a macho bully who believes that ‘women should be struck regularly’ but on the flip side shows he can be gentle and considerate when, in the opening scene with his new wife Sybil (Maeve Larking), he tries to put her mind at rest by confirming his love for her.

Once safely away in a Paris apartment jealousy, love and hate all boil up into a froth when both Elyot and Amanda have a well-choreographed fight scene.

The costumes are well chosen; particularly the glamorous outfits for Amanda who looks fabulous in the vintage wear. The 1930’s set with the wind-up gramophone complements the cast.

An absolutely delightful play that is full of Noel Coward’s recognisable spirit and which is performed effortlessly.

Private Lives is running until 19 February so plenty of time to catch it.

Written by Noel Coward

Directed by Robin Herford

Designed by Michael Holt

Louise –             Tess Alshibaya

Sibyl –                 Maeve Larkin

Amanda –          Jackie Morrison

Victor –               Christopher Naylor

Elyot –                 James Simmons

Join Big Garden Birdwatch weekend 2011

Posted on 28. Jan, 2011 by Lily in Environment, Event, Home and Garden

Yep, it’s that time of year again and it’s this weekend. One of the favourite winter pastimes in the UK – the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend.

If you are interested in watching our feathered friends in your garden for an hour this weekend then check out the RSPB’s website to find out what to do. It only takes an hour of your time and great fun for children. All you need is a pen or pencil, some scrap paper or old envelope and an hour to spend watching the birds in your garden either on Saturday 29, or Sunday 30. Simply record the highest number of each bird species seen in your garden, or local park at any one time.

Support your local birds and give it a try this weekend.

Rochdale folk fundraising for poorly baby

Posted on 22. Jan, 2011 by Lily in Article, Event

A winter fair of children’s and baby nearly new sale is being held next Saturday 29 January at Sandbrook Primary School, Hartley Lane Queensway, Rochdale.

This special event is to raise money for a 16 month old baby girl from Manchester called Ruby, who was diagnosed with cancer in September and will perhaps have to travel to the US for life saving treatment.

So those looking for nearly new baby items pop along to see the bargains including prams, cots, toys, high chairs and clothes. There will be other stalls and a tombola.

Special guests will be there to sign autographs and have pictures taken. They include William Ash from TV’s Waterloo Road (Mr Mead) and a surprise star from Coronation Street.

Entrance fee is just 50p.

Fell Runners cake

Posted on 12. Jan, 2011 by Lily in Culture, Event, Food and Drink

Local Pennine Fell Runners in the Littleborough and Ripponden area were presented with this wonderful cake to go with their cups of tea and toast after their weekly run.

We are sure you will agree that it is certainly a wonderful cake – shame to spoilt it by eating it.