Ordsall Undercover Issue 2

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UNDERCOVER Issue 2 January 2012

Ordsall community reacts to the Boxing Day shooting

AXE HOVERS OVER HUMPHREY BOOTH Ordsall’s Day Care Centre faces closure THE PEACOCK COMES HOME

The old school sculpture returns

ORDSALL JUNIORS The new superteam!

SHOWTIME Nigel Walker gets major exhibition at Salford Art Gallery

SAVE OUR STREETS How local people made history

NAG FOR ST NAG’S

St Ignatius Church to be born again?

Plus: What’s On In Ordsall…News…Views

ORDSALL UNDERCOVER W

elcome to the second issue of Ordsall Undercover. We first want to wish a happy and prosperous New Year to all our readers.

Secondly, we send our sympathy to the family of Anjuv Bidve. The loss of life is always tragic, but to be murdered far from home must be unbearable for his family and friends.

I find it hard to believe that a true member of our community could commit such an act.

This issue, we’ve tried to concentrate on the positive side of Ordsall, starting with the great news that the long lost Ordsall Peacock sculpture first sited at Ordsall Secondary Modern School is being returned to the community.

We also feature the all conquering Ordsall Juniors football team with the loudest fans in the league, Nigel Walker a top artist from the area whose work is getting exhibited at the prestigious Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and what seems like good news about St Ignatius Church. There’s also news and views from around the estate but to make this magazine even better we need as much input as possible from our readers.

We don’t blame the people of Salford “Anuj was our only son and we cannot comprehend this dreadful tragedy. We do not blame the people of this city for what happened.

The only person we blame is the man responsible for taking Anuj away from us in such a senseless act of violence on Boxing Day morning.

We have been deeply moved and have taken comfort from the hundreds of messages we have received from the people in Salford and Lancaster and especially the Indian community and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you.”

Extract from the statement read out by the family of Anuj Bidve at the vigil site on Ordsall Lane when they visited in early January 2012 see full feature pages 4-7.

If you’d like to get involved, have a story we should be covering or would like to write or take photos for Ordsall Undercover please let us know...

ORDSALL UNDERCOVER CONTACT DETAILS: E-mail: Ordsallundercover@ hotmail.co.uk Cover photo by Beckie Hough Phone: 079802 84137 Letters: Can be dropped off at the Welcome Inn pub on Robert Hall Street

Contributors: Lisa Heywood, Pat Simpkin, Emma Arnold, George Tapp, Sylvia Sharples, Beckie Hough, N. Harrison, Gail Skelly, Ken Williamson, Ian Birt, Nigel Walker, Amber Sanchez, Mike Atherfold, Madge Brown, Lawrence Cassidy, Dave Rooney, Tommy Hurst, Albert Spiby, Rev Sandra Kearney, Mike Scantlebury, Jane Wood, Ronnie Crowther, Caitlin Kelsall

Facilitated by Stephen Kingston and Steven Speed Graffiti artists leave message to Salford Council on the former graffiti wall by Ordsall Riverside

With thanks to: Ordsall Community Café, Ordsall Community Arts, Dave and Cheryl Jay, Ruth Abou Rached, Robert Jeffery.

Printed by: Caric Press Ltd, 525 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AQ Tel: 01202 871766 www.caricpress.co.uk

ORDSALL UNDERCOVER CONTENTS SHOCK AND DISBELIEF IN ORDSALL The community and the Mayor of Salford give their reactions to the Boxing Day shooting of student Anuj Abidve.

HUMPHREY BOOTH DAY CENTRE TO CLOSE? The old, the ill and the vulnerable bear the brunt of Salford Council cuts – the community fights back!

ORDSALL JUNIORS They’re only a season and a half old but top of the league!

THE ORDSALL PEACOCK COMES HOME! It’s been missing for years but Ordsall Undercover finds our peacock and gets it returned.

MARKETS FLEA SALFORD The famous flea and car boot markets at Salford Precinct close this month, as stall holders and punters get angry NAG FOR ST NAG’S Something is finally about to happen at St Ignatius Church – we pray!

ORDSALL ARTIST GETS RECOGNISED Nigel Walker gets a major exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery this year HOW ORDSALL PEOPLE SAVED THEIR STREETS 50 years of demolitions and degeneration THE ORDSALL PENSIONER The heat turns up at the BBC and the Government MEDIA CITY, MORRISONS, LPC, OCA, SPEED BUMPS AND DIVERSITY All the news and views from around the area LETTERS, LISTINGS, BOOKS AND FIREWORKS What’s on, what’s been, what’s good to read and what is yet to come…

Ordsall Events

The Mayor of Salford’s Message to the People of Ordsall After the candle-lit vigil for Anuj Bidve, Ordsall Undercover spoke to the Mayor of Salford, Councillor Eric Burgoyne, to get his reactions…

“I‘m shocked, shocked and more

shocked – that you cannot walk the streets with a group of friends without being accosted and murdered, a total pointless needless killing and I think tonight has shown what the people of Ordsall think about it.

It could have been anybody, anywhere, and someone’s come along, pulled a gun and shot him in the head, it beggars belief it really does.

There’s a lot of Ordsall people here but more than that, there’s people here from throughout the country. It was organised from London, we’ve had the Bishop come down from Lancaster, and the Bishop of Bolton who lives in Salford, plus local councillors.

One thing I would like to say is that the police have been absolutely superb keeping us informed and supporting the people of Ordsall. There are police here from other areas and they have nothing but praise for the people of Ordsall.

Ordsall’s had its problems in the past - as have other areas like Little Hulton where I live - but we’re leaving those behind.

Look at the investment that’s going into this area – a new Morrisons store that’s opened, all the new buildings, all the new houses, apartments, new roads, the park being upgraded, millions and millions of pounds being invested that nobody bothered to report.

Now, what sort of reputation is Ordsall going to get? And yet it’s no worse than anywhere else. It was just one person who took it on himself to get a gun from somewhere and shoot someone, for no apparent reason; a mindless slaying.

I think the people of Ordsall are shocked.

It will take time to adjust, if they ever do adjust, and I don’t know where we go from here.

My message to the people of Ordsall is to stick together, it’s not a bad place, it’s as good a place as any….”

“I don’t know where we go from here”

ORDSALL COMM On early Boxing Day morning, Lancaster University student Anuj Bidve, 23, was shot dead while walking along Ordsall Lane with a group of friends. The shooting drew the attention of the world’s media which reacted with understandable horror as it focused on Ordsall estate.

Here Ordsall Undercover gets a wide spectrum of comments from the community…

“I’ve come down to the vigil to show my respects, I think it’s sad that an innocent man gets shot for nothing. The feeling on the estate is that it’s not safe.

People are walking around on pins, everywhere you turn there’s police on every corner.” Ordsall teenager “Ordsall has been hit by a tsunami of bad feeling and negative news stories that could be undoing all the good work and improvements that have been happening recently.” Ordsall resident “I wasn’t here at the time but I heard about it from my flatmate and the BBC news. I was surprised and scared, I knew it was in Salford but not outside my window. I’ve lived here for seven months as an international student and I’ve never had any problems. Usually everyone’s fine around here. Now some of my friends have advised me to move…”

Ordsall based Vietnamese student “It’s a shame what’s happened to him, that should not happen on our streets, and the person who’s done that should be punished with his life. I do feel sorry for the kids on this estate, what have they got to look forward to? People and papers are quick at slating our kids, but that doesn’t tell the full story as to how they’ve got nothing on this damn estate to do, they’ve closed all youth centres.” Ordsall dad “It’s the first time I’ve been able to walk through the estate at night and feel safe because there’s so many police around” Ordsall mum “We’re not racist on this estate, this could have happened to anyone, anywhere” Ordsall mum “The sooner we get guns, all guns including police guns and villains guns, off our streets the better.”

Ordsall granddad

MUNITY REACTS “I’ve worked in Ordsall for nearly ten years and love it here. Everyone’s friendly and up for it and incredibly proud.” Ordsall community arts worker.

“Ordsall is a good place to live, we were all ashamed of what happened. Thoughts and sympathy go out to the family.”

Ordsall parent “We are the spirit of the real Ordsall” Ordsall resident “I was always wary about walking through the estate and I was just getting used to it…then this happened.” Quays worker.

“We’ve been called scum and everything but we’re not. There’s a lot of nice people in Ordsall. Just because a couple of people have done something terrible they’re blaming everybody. They are tarring everyone with the same brush.” Ordsall dad.

“Ordsall is the best place I have ever lived – no burglaries, friendly and active neighbours and a feeling of belonging. However, when I’ve seen hateful behaviour in the past my heart has dropped, but I have done nothing. This murder was different and I feel as if I have been able to talk and share.”

Ordsall resident

“It’s like a cloud has descended on the area. When it happened people were phoning and facebooking me, asking if I was ok, and did I want to stay with them.” Ordsall grandmother “I’m really, really proud of how the community have pulled together, showing a true Ordsall spirit.

Everybody is disgusted by the shooting and the weapon needs to be found. The vigil went well and most people who came thought it was a real tribute to the community, and Salford residents are saying that we do not want this sort of crime in this area. In my opinion the police have done a magnificent job in community relations with the residents, reassuring them by their presence.” Reverend Sandra Kearney “The candle lit vigil was a better reflection of our community and the whole of Salford than what happened in Ordsall Lane over Christmas. This is the best community I’ve ever lived in.” New Ordsall resident

HUMPHREY BOO CENTRE TO CLO Salford Council is currently consulting on the closure of Humphrey Booth Day Centre on Taylorson Street up by Nine Acre Court. And it’s provoked anger amongst those who care about our vulnerable and senior citizens…

B

ack in September, elderly local people were bemused when Salford Council told them they could no longer meet at the Humphrey Booth Day Centre for their social gatherings.

The Council blamed the cuts and a “capacity issue”, arguing that the centre needed to concentrate on its day care services for elderly and vulnerable people. Now, it seems, the Council wants to shut the whole building, along with day care centres in Little Hulton (Brierley House) and Irlam (Craig Hall).

Salford City Council’s website states that its day care centres offer “a safe, warm and friendly place where you can meet other people, enjoy a good meal and take part in a range of social activities…”

Ordsall’s Humphrey Booth centre itself became a refuge for up to forty users of the Broughton Day Service when the Council closed that down about a year ago. If the Ordsall centre closes people are really worried about the consequences…

“It’s a sacrilege” says Louise Williams “My elderly mother attends Humphrey Booth in Ordsall, after the one in Lower Broughton closed. Where will she and countless others go now?”

Her sentiments are echoed by Alice Searle, Chair of the Salford Pensioners Association…

“It is very difficult to believe that any Labour councillor would consider closing Day Care Centres, which are responsible for providing a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable citizens” she says “Many elderly people, who use these centres, remember the birth of the Welfare State which promised them a caring environment when they were old. This action is not that of the Labour Party which set up the Welfare State in 1946. There are many examples of situations where money is being found by the Council for more ‘glamorous’ projects.”

The possible closures come on top of the introduction of a £3.50 transport charge per day brought in for those who use the day care centres, as the cuts begin to bite Salford’s most vulnerable people.

By 2014, over £10.5million will have been wiped from Adult Social Care spending – despite findings from Salford Council’s own `budget consultation’ which showed this was one of the departments that the community said “Do Not Cut: It is very important that this service remains as it is now”…

Have your say on the closure of Humphrey Booth Day Care Centre e-mail comments to: humphreybooth.ordsall@salford.gov.uk

OTH DAY CARE OSE? Humphrey Booth Day Centre and the Loss of Services in Ordsall

by George Tapp THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE HUMPHREY BOOTH SALFORD FIRST CARING CITY IN BRITAIN Salford was the first city in Britain to put into practice the National Assistance Act of 1948, providing welfare for the vulnerable and elderly. An article in the Salford Reporter in July 1954 stated… “Salford

has become the first city in Britain to organise all its social and welfare services for the aged, the handicapped and the unfortunate, which it is the duty of all local authorities to provide under the National Assistance Act of 1948”.

There is now a campaign across Ordsall and Salford to save the Humphrey Booth Day Centre, which began with a public meeting on 14th January. Here Rev Sandra Kearney of St Clements Church gives her views…

The potential closing of the Humphrey Booth Day Centre is quite an injustice. First they cut facilities for social members attending and now Salford Council is considering closing the centre. This centre is a local facility and we need it for this area – not only for people using the centre now, but also for people in the future.

This centre is a local facility and we need it I know that Salford Council have been forced by the Government to make cuts but why should the most vulnerable be at the forefront? We will not take this lying down, we need to campaign for a change of course. Recently Ordsall Library was threatened with relocation but due to the reaction of local residents this decision was reviewed and rescinded.

This centre is essential for Ordsall and the surrounding area. It is up to you to join in this campaign to save the centre. Please voice your opinions, the more the better.

They built the Ordsall Day Centre for the elderly of the area with the Council running and staffing it – and for many years the centre was a major part of the day for our senior citizens.

The Centre used to serve ninety meals a day in the dining hall, plus `meals on legs’, taken to those who couldn’t get to the centre. It ran regular trips out to dances, dinners and shows, hosted bingo every week and provided annual holiday breaks to the Salfordian Hotel in Southport.

The Centre has easy access bathing facilities, chiropody and health checks.

Sheltered housing schemes, like Park House would also help to arrange support through the Centre for its clients.

Park House has now been demolished, replaced by developers building private housing.

Indeed, a lot of the redevelopment taking place in Ordsall seems to be at the cost of council services. Ordsall Lane and Quay 5 were at the cost of our council buildings. The new developments on the Humphrey Booth sheltered housing site and Monmouth Street Nursery School also resulted in the loss of services to our area.

As well as the Park House site, there was also the Collingburn Sheltered Housing land, another loss to our community. This also now has private housing built on it which is out of the price range of local people.

Is this the future for the site of Humphrey Booth Day Centre? Once again, Salford Council seems to be attacking the most vulnerable people in the community.

And once again, we are losing valued services…

THE ORDSAL IS COMING H For anyone who went to the old Ordsall Secondary Modern School, the peacock sculpture has great memories. When the old school was demolished, the peacock vanished but now residents working for Ordsall Undercover have tracked it down and negotiated its return. The Ordsall Peacock is coming home.

George Tapp takes up the story…

“The peacock is an Ordsall icon” says

Lee Ancough “When we left school we all had our photograph taken next to it.”

At Ordsall Secondary Modern School, later named Ordsall High School, the girls’ section had a peacock sculpture in its grounds next to the canteen.

The peacock, which was also the school’s emblem, was created, we’ve been told, after the school chose the sculpture over a small swimming pool.

And it stood for many years on the site – even after Ordsall High was amalgamated with Windsor High and Salford College took over the original site to form its Quays Campus.

When Salford College eventually moved out, the building was demolished along with Ordsall Youth Club and the land was sold to private developers. The peacock suddenly disappeared.

For years now, locals and ex-pupils have been asking the whereabouts of the peacock. Many of these people are now grandparents and feel that if it is still around it should be returned to Ordsall.

“The peacock was a landmark in the community, just like Stowell Spire and the blue cranes on the Quays” said Tommy Hurst “The peacock was bought with school funds and should be back in Ordsall and put in a safe

place, possibly near Robert’s Rainbow Garden at Primrose Hill Primary school, so grandchildren can have a peacock too.”

His thoughts are echoed by Mark Elerby who explained “I didn’t think much of it but we used to say `I’ll meet you at the peacock’. If it is found it should be brought back to Ordsall.”

Salford Undercover tracked down the peacock and it was found at Salford College’s Lissadel Street campus, hidden in bushes at the entrance and minus its original plinth. We wrote to the College asking for it back, and, after a meeting with Principal Martin Sim and John Walls, Director of Estates and Capital Projects, Salford College has agreed to return the peacock.

“Salford City College has been proud to have the bronze peacock on display at the main entrance of our City Campus Skills Centre on Lissadel Street since 1999” says John Walls “It is with great pleasure that we are now able to return the sculpture to the Ordsall community.”

We are currently making arrangements for the peacock handover, and Gill Harding, Head of Primrose Hill Primary has shown great interest in siting it within the school’s grounds. On its return, we’re planning a big celebration event …the Ordsall Peacock is coming home!

PEACOCK PEACE PARADE!

To mark the return of the peacock a parade is taking place on Friday 24th February at 6pm.

On Monday 20th February there are also special peacock workshops for over 8’s to make costumes for the parade. These will take place at Ordsall Community Arts in the Neighbourhood Building on Robert Hall Street from 10am-12 and from 1-3pm.

Further details from OCA: 848 8779

PEACOCK MEMORIES “When there was a fight at the school we would say `Meet Bridget Byrne and Pamela you at the peacock’” Wakefield (nee Haycock)

Lee Ancough

“If you wanted to take a girl out, you’d always say `Meet you at the peacock’…

Phil Hamer

“I have a lot of memories of the peacock, I’m glad it’s been found and I’m glad it’s coming back…”

David Lyons

“The peacock is part of Ordsall, it was on the school badge on our blazer. I lived opposite the peacock when I was at school and it changed colour with the weather. It should be back in Ordsall.”

Christine Race

LL PEACOCK HOME!

THE END OF SALFO

In the week of 31st January, the Thursday Flea Market and the Sunday Car boot sale at Salford Precinct will shut for the last time.

Here, Ordsall resident Amber Sanchez shares feelings about the closure with some soon to be exiled stall holders…

I

t’s Sunday morning, 7 am. I spring out of bed with excitement.

Most days it’s a massive effort to get up, especially in the winter when it’s dark. But not Thursdays or Sundays. Flea market days.

I look around my house; everything is second hand and much of it purchased at the flea market. Retro side lamp, rail of vintage clothing, old oak bedside table, Chinese rug, wicker basket…

Each thing has a story behind it, a warm memory, a friendship forged of a morning in Pendleton. Even my boyfriend – our first date was at the flea market and we courted there! We’re regulars of this vibrant, thriving community and many aspects of our lives, as with countless others, rely on it.

The market’s been at Salford Precinct for 23 years, and before

that some hundred years at Cross Lane. The two Annes stallholders selling second hand clothes and children’s toys - tell me they have been here the longest, their ancestors preceding them. Deborah Hall, affectionately `the 50p lady’, has had a stall for 20 years. January will see the end of the flea market which will be closed and redeveloped by owners Praxis (Salford Estates). “On 31st January our livelihoods are going from Salford market” says Gaynor Edwards, stall holder of 20 years Although some stalls will be accommodated in the new indoor market, there will be no room for second hand goods. Salford Estates blames the sale of counterfeit goods for the closure, but Ordsall Councillor Ray Mashiter says, “I see no reason why they could not accommodate a perfectly legal and thriving flea market...”

ORD FLEA MARKET

In a climate of poverty and unemployment, social unrest and rising cost of living we need this valuable resource more than ever. “On a Thursday and Sunday it’s absolutely heaving with people here” says Anne Brander, who’s had a stall at Salford Flea market since it opened “What are they going to do? No bargains for the Salford people any more.”

meet are friendly and fascinating; an MA Scriptwriting student at Salford University is even writing a sitcom based on the flea market called Another Man’s Treasure. It’s a rare social opportunity. Many, including the elderly, come weekly to Salford Precinct to shop and to visit the flea market, meet and converse with others.

Within walking distance/ short bus ride of Ordsall, Pendleton, Langworthy and Seedley, the flea market is a bustling destination for all kinds of people.

Alli Keetley says, “It’s like one big family” and is “devastated” about the closure of the flea market which she’s been on for 19 years. She is campaigning to save the market on Facebook and on Salford Council’s epetitions site.

The market offers alternative employment, opportunities to recycle and reduce waste, while providing cheap clothing, shoes, toys and uniforms for children. It also offers books, furniture and house wares to those who need them most. The flea market takes the strain out of day to day living on a tight budget and has just eased the pressure of Christmas.

At the flea market I’m able to source the weird, wonderful and obscure for my various creative projects. Visiting Dave’s stall is an education – he’s an authority on history and antiques, and always willing to share his knowledge. The characters you

Meanwhile, stall holders will be dispersed. Debbie tells me she’ll be at Conran Street market in Harpurhey, while I’ve heard others talk of the market at Openshaw. But nothing nearby, in walking distance as so few of us drive. Like Alli, I am gutted.

Gaynor Edwards, another stall holder sums up the mood…”It’s crazy, absolutely crazy” she argues “It’s like ripping the heart out of Salford.”

Photos of Salford Flea Market by Amber Sanchez

HOW ORDSALL THEIR STREETS As the wrecking ball crushed Ordsall over the years, people have been saving street signs as mementos of their old neighbourhoods.

Now they are bringing the signs out of their homes for unique exhibitions. Lawrence Cassidy, of the Re-Tracing Salford project, explains the background…

T

he Ordsall district once contained over 160 terrace streets, some with large families such as Rudman Street. However, the only surviving streets are now in The Barracks Estate, such as part of King Edward Street and Huddart Street. There are only a few streets left. But we have found that some residents have kept their street signs as memories of family, friends and relations.

Other examples are Jane Street, Regent Square and Isaac Street, a famous Ordsall street where Alastair Cooke lived.

Isaac Street was rescued by a teacher who taught at a local school, and saved the sign as the street was about to be demolished. Carol Davies (pictured) lived in the street and actually in the same house as Alastair Cooke, although at a different time period.

Some people have kept the objects for over thirty or forty years, having saved them from demolition teams in the 1960s and 1970s. Now, we are preserving these memories by collecting the objects and placing them on our online Streets Museum website and at our A-Z of Lost Streets exhibitions in Salford.

Re-Tracing Salford’s latest project, titled A-Z of Lost Salford Streets, involves collecting not only the street signs, but also family snaps and stories from residents who lived in now demolished central Salford districts. The project currently focuses on Broughton and Ordsall, but also includes other central districts such as Adelphi, Seedley, Whit Lane and other areas.

Isaac Street was rescued by a teacher who taught at a local school, and saved the sign as the street was about to be demolished.

Recent donations have included the Tintern Street sign, rescued

by Jim King, who saved it from the street wall just before it was demolished in December 1977. We also have West Park Street, loaned to us by Eva Brennan, which doesn’t have a post code on it, as they were only issued after the Second World War. Tatton Street was sent by Eddie Weinstein who had a shop on Regent Road and saved the sign from being thrown away in the 1970s. We’ve also got St James Street, saved by a resident whose husband had lived in the street all his life.

It is inspired by The District Six Museum in Cape Town, where whole areas were bulldozed but the street signs kept as a reminder of the former exiled community. Our A-Z of Lost Salford Streets exhibition has been touring the area, with a recent exhibition at People’s History Museum, Manchester, a current exhibition at the Chapel Street Gallery, and hopefully a forthcoming exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery in 2012.

The growing collection of snaps and objects can also be seen online at www.streetsmuseum.co.uk. This can be viewed all over the world. For example, we have recently had snaps sent from America and Australia, from Salfordians who left the city generations ago. It is now possible for them to view their former street from their homes abroad.

PEOPLE SAVED S‌

A-Z of Lost Streets can now be seen at Chapel Street Gallery, in the URC Church, near the Salford Arms Pub. It’s open 12-2pm every Thursday, until 31st March 2012, and you can bring along any old photos which will be scanned on the spot and handed back.

If you have any snaps, street signs or stories please contact Lawrence Cassidy on 07946 176291, or email: lor_cd63@yahoo.com

THOSE LOST STREETS UNCOVERED!

The photo on the back page of the last issue of Ordsall Undercover drew a lot of interest from readers, so we asked Lawrence Cassidy of the Re-Tracing Salford project to find out what the old streets were called.

Here he has sketched in the original streets featured on the photo which was taken in 1971. They are Oxford Street, Walmer St, Brighton St, Dalton St, Tatton St, Cavendish St, Clifton St, Vernon St Eldon St and Darley St. We’ve also included a photo of one of these lost streets, Walmer Street, sent into the Re-Tracing Salford archive

by Sylvia Main and family. You can still see some of the remaining large houses at the end of the street.

DEMOLITION

RIGHT OR WRONG?

Madge Bown looks at Ordsall’s roots and traces the constant upheaval of an area once known for its close family ties…

O

rdsall is a small triangle in the southern tip of the City of Salford. Surrounded on all sides by major roads, its streets were narrow, mainly made up of two up and two down houses with no hot water or inside toilets. The people were friendly and family orientated, many of the children living in the same street as their parents.

A lady called one day, she was doing a survey, and after a couple of questions she said, `You may think this a funny question but can you tell me where you live?’ I said `Ordsall in Salford’. She smiled and said everyone here knows exactly where they are, unlike Trinity where she found the majority thought they lived in Manchester.

The old families of Ordsall came to Salford in the late 1800s to work on the building of the canal. Some stayed on to make it their home and bring up their young children. Many of the people worked locally, the men on the docks or in local factories, the women in the mill on shifts (6 till 2, or 2 till 10), or in the clothing industry as machinists. In the early days people met and married within the estate thus building up a web of relations.

In the seventies, the City Council started to pull Ordsall down starting at the Lane and moving across the estate to Trafford Road. We were given a house with a garden or a maisonette, a lot of them built of concrete. People were moved from one side of the estate to the other, or from the top to the bottom.

`We are bringing people into the estate to share what has been built up over the years. So was it necessary to tear families apart to build a new Ordsall?’

As well as working in the area, people did their shopping on Regent Road where you could buy whatever you needed, from a packet of needles to a gas boiler or a bedroom suite. A councillor once asked me why the people of Ordsall don’t look outwards. I told her that we had no need, as we had everything we needed within our reach. This made us very territorial. A man was once asked by a newcomer why he walked from Weaste three times a week for a drink, his simple answer - `I was born here!’

During the upheaval many people lost their homes and were moved to other areas of the City. Not all of them wanted to go but they had no choice as there were not enough houses left for everyone. In the early nineties the powers that be decided that the estate needed refurbishing. The concrete houses were to be given a skin of brick and a driveway. This meant that some people would lose their home again.

We are now in 2012, and they are building again. But this time nobody is to lose their home. Instead we are bringing people into the estate to share what has been built up over the years. So was it necessary to tear families apart to build a new Ordsall? Some people will say it was for the better, but others say that the houses could have been modernised and some of the old buildings saved. They were happy the way they were, in their own little street with family and friends, some now feel isolated in their little flats.

Will the new houses being built today stand the test of time for a hundred years? Will the family once again form the base of the new Ordsall estate? Only time will tell…

`WHO AR ORDSALL JUNIORS – SHOWING MAN U THE WAY… Ordsall’s newest footy team might have been inspired by Manchester United but have already overtaken them when it comes to the invincible tag…

“O ur chant is `Who are we?’” explains Chez Moore, whose

son Cayne, plays midfield for Ordsall Juniors “We scream `Who are we?’ because that’s what people used to think of our team and our kids - `Who are you? You’re never going to get anywhere, you’re never going to do anything, you’re never going to be anything’…We were laughed at, jeered at, we had nothing. And the kids heard that for so long, that’s where we got the chant `Who are we?’ We started winning and, obviously, that was the answer!”

In fact, Ordsall Juniors haven’t stopped winning. As we go to press the team is currently eight points clear at the top of the City of Salford Soccer League Under 12’s second division, having won eleven and drawn two of their thirteen matches.

They’ve scored 63 goals in the process. It’s been an incredible story for a club that only formed last season after a coaching session on the Ordsall astroturf led by Manchester United.

“We’re unbeaten and we want to win the league and the cup” Paul “Some of the kids were down there, including my son, and came back mithering for a football team” recalls Paul Morris who now coaches and manages the team with Adam Hilton.

“A few of us got together, did some coaching courses, got a chairman and secretary and everything, and formed a team last season” Paul says “The parents gave donations, we did fundraising at Manchester United and the kids packed bags at Sainsbury’s to get the kit together. We came fourth in the Under 11’s league, undefeated in our last 15 games and we beat the champions.

“This season we moved up to the Under 12’s league on a full sized pitch, we’re unbeaten and we want to win the league and the cup” he adds “The support is brilliant. At home we get up to 70 people and against Boothstown we scored in the last minute to win 4-3, you should have heard the noise.”

“We just thought that there was something missing, there was nothing there for the kids…” Chez Ordsall Juniors get more supporters than most non-league senior teams. It’s about cheering the team but it’s more than that. The passion isn’t just for Ordsall Juniors, it’s for Ordsall’s community itself.

“We just thought that there was something missing, there was

RE WE?’ nothing there for the kids” explains Chez “So it was just a case of all the parents and Paul wanting something local for our kids.

Whether they were the best player or had no skills they could be on a football team, they could be part of something positive, rather than playing out on the streets or in a park that didn’t exist at that time. It was to give them something positive to do and teach them how to do things collectively as a group.

“You watch them now and how they’ve gelled and it’s like watching a different team” she adds “It’s lovely because they love it and you can see the passion in our kids, you can see that they love it. Every one of them wants to play, it’s brilliant.”

Organising the team is hard work. Last season Ordsall Juniors didn’t even have a pitch to play on, having to travel all the way to Littleton Road in Lower Kersal for home matches. This season, Salford Council has compromised on its fees, allowing them to play home games at Ordsall Park.

“We got the pitch for £200 a season, which isn’t too bad, but it’s still £200” Paul explains “And we train at Fit City every Wednesday for which they charge £22 an hour. We’ve got to pay it, we don’t get discount, even though we’re the local community.

“We want everybody in Ordsall to support us – the more support, the better we play…” Lyndsey “We’re still after a sponsor and are trying to do more fundraising so we can buy our wet gear and tracksuits for training and stuff” he adds “The parents have been great and are right behind it but it’s hard work when you’ve got a full time job and a family at home. It was just great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when we got our brand new kit this season…”

The team raised just enough money to buy the kits. And there was only one choice of colour…

“It’s brilliant, red and white, just like our United” says Lindsey Hernon, whose son, Nathan plays right back for the Juniors.

The team wore the new kit for the first time during the big derby game against Beechfield recently. And on the touchline the parents of both teams and the players, who all know each other were revelling in the rivalry. It ended 3-3 with Ordsall Juniors staging a stirring second half fightback, and the Juniors’ fan club in full song.

“We come out every game rain, snow or sun and the support just gets bigger and bigger, especially when we’re at home” says Lyndsey “We want everybody in Ordsall to support us – the more support, the better we play...” `Who are we?’ Ordsall Juniors! The invincibles that the Premier League neighbours across the road would do well to check out.

Ordsall Juniors play home matches at Ordsall Park on Saturday mornings. Check the City of Salford Soccer League website for upcoming games and results. www. cityofsalfordsoccerleague.com/divisions/under-12sdivision-2/

Photos by Beckie Hough

ORDSALL JUNIORS

Photo by Beckie Hough Front row left to right, Mason Watson, Lewis Gribbon, Kane Savage, Charlie Hilton, Dylon Kelly, Pavel Zuk, back row left to right, Mike Mpangani, Adam Hilton (assistant coach) Kieran Artus, Devon Haughton, Byron Ward, Jordy Mpangani, Kyle Cooney, Ezekiel Samuels, Daz Scott, Paul Morris, Callum Wilson, Paul Morris (manager) Kaythel (assistant trainer)

Photos by Amber Sanchez

NAG FOR S

The stunning St Ignatius Church has stood empty and derelict for almost eight years, left behind in Ordsall’s regeneration. But now there’s a new Archdeacon in town and hopes are rising for possible new uses for the building…

Jane Wood and Mike Scantlebury, from the Friends of Ignatius support group discover that things may soon be moving on, while Amber Sanchez details the campaign to save the landmark...

‘W ho are these workmen, loading a skip at the top end of King Edward Street?’

Residents on King Edward Street look out on a mournful site: a boarded up building. It was provided as a Rectory for St Ignatius Church behind it, a few years after the church was built in 1902. When the vicar of St Ignatius moved to a new house near Oldfield Road in the 1960s, the building became the Parish Rooms, which were used for meetings, activities and groups for many years. But ten years ago it was abandoned by the Church of England and sold to a property developer for £1.

The builder, Feltham’s, haven’t bothered to do anything with the place, and the roof now has holes in it where pigeons get in, and the floors have collapsed in several rooms. There was a rumour that the whole building would be turned into flats, but

the property market collapsed in 2008, and there seems no sign of development. Even though the Barracks Co-op painted the wooden boards on the windows a fetching shade of green last year, it hasn’t improved the view much.

Then, suddenly, a few weeks ago, workmen arrived and started cleaning out the place. They filled several skips with old doors and rubble, chipped off crumbling plaster, and replaced floorboards. At last, development is coming, we all thought.

Sadly, the truth is less exciting. Precisely because nothing is happening in the property market, the owners, Feltham’s, have no work for their staff to do, we understand, so they sent a couple of guys along to spring clean the place. There are no plans to create flats, develop the place or sell it off.

ST NAG’S!!!

Still, the bustle created a local stir and we made sure we kept an eye on what was happening. Coincidentally, one day, as we walked the dog past the old Parish Rooms, we literally bumped into a bunch of people coming out of the old church. Bearing in mind that the church is a separate property, we still asked for news about the workmen.

These men knew nothing about that. But one of them was the new Archdeacon of Salford; one was from Salix Homes; and one was the new two days a week Heritage Officer for Salford City Council.

This is all good news. The new Archdeacon is terribly keen to see some movement with all the abandoned churches in his area, and is happy to work with Salford’s Heritage Officer. It seems that he is very energetic, enthusiastic and, strangely, co-operative. The men were happy to share their email addresses, welcome news and proposals, and said they were even willing to meet up in the near future. This is a complete about face from the authorities, and promises some hope for the future.

Already the new Archdeacon has been asked to provide a letter of agreement that events and celebrations can take place outside the railings and around the old church, and he has agreed. This is a big leap forward! The next step is for the Friends of Ignatius to meet and agree plans and proposals to put to these new people in the Church of England and Salford Council.

After ten years of waiting, something might finally be about to happen!

Continued over...

ALFRED DARBYSHIRE Photos by Mike Atherfold and Ronnie Crowther

Amber Sanchez, a key figure in founding the Friends of Ignatius, mourns the Church’s loss and details the campaign and recent events to save it…

The night before Halloween, during a gothic,

multi media event and ghost walk, local people rallied to raise awareness of the plight of St Ignatius Church, a beautiful Romanesque building which dates back to 1902.

Once standing proud on the New Barracks estate, St Ignatius is now what the Victorian Society describes as a `crumbling gem’. It was deconsecrated and left derelict by the Manchester diocese in 2004, after the dwindling congregation moved to St Clement’s, and has since suffered at the hands of vandals and thieves, from the elements and from sad neglect.

The diocese, up to now, has been unwilling to collaborate with lay people, and has insisted that the church will be converted into flats by private developer, LPC Living. LPC however, have clearly told the Friends of Ignatius that plans are shelved. Lack of local agreement, in particular in relation to the building of further flats and a car park on the Croft, along with the economic downturn and the need for houses rather than apartments in the area, seem to have scuppered any and all development proposals.

In 2007 Salford Council was considering proposals to make the whole New Barracks Estate, including St Ignatius Church, into a conservation area. But this didn’t happen, and the estate was merely added to the bottom of Salford Council’s waiting list for Conservation Areas. Nor is St Ignatius nationally listed. It only features on a Council’s `locally listed’ catalogue amongst hundreds of other buildings.

Yet the building is of fantastic significance to

the area and to local people. Canon Wyatt, currently based at St Paul’s near Salford Precinct, has many stories to share about his beloved St Ignatius; countless weddings and christenings happened there, Graham Nash from the Hollies sang in the choir, and there is a memorial in the building to Ordsall soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

Meanwhile, local people have celebrated St Ignatius architect, Alfred Darbyshire, and his Church in a range of creative ways. Without access to the building, focus has turned to the surrounding area.

The Friends of Ignatius – a group of local people dedicated to preserving the church and its history - have made films, led ceramic and painting workshops and a memory day at Ordsall Community Café supported by The New Barracks Tenant Management Co-operative.

Most recently, via the Seven Sites project, the Friends animated the space around the building with a gothic night at Halloween Weekend.

Visitors came to the Salford Lads Club, were introduced to the ghost of Alfred Darbyshire (aka Albert Thompson, Salford personality), and led by a corpse bride (Trish Crowther), a monk and a nun around the Barracks estate and the church. Hopefully St Nag’s won’t become a ghostly memory itself…

Share your memories of St Ignatius, and follow the campaign to save the building on facebook’s Friends of Ignatius.

WWW.SEVENSITESPROJECT.TUMBLR.COM http://friendsofignatius.webs.com/

The architect behind St Ignatius was the eminent Victorian gentleman, Alfred Darbyshire, friend of Pre Raphaelite artists, Ford Maddox Brown and Dante Gabriel Rossetti amongst many others. He was close to Sir Henry Irving, the famed Shakespearean actor.

Born on the Adelphi (1839) and buried at Flixton (1908), he was a fascinating character but little is known of him now, possibly in part due to having no direct descendants and because, like so much of Salford’s heritage, very little of his work has survived.

Pendleton Town Hall – demolished. The original Palace Theatre on Oxford Road – gone. The Quay Street Abattoir – demolished.

St Cyprian’s Church, which once stood on the grounds of Ordsall Hall – demolished.

You can still see glimpses of Darbyshire’s quirky and eccentric style nearby: the Victorian modifications to Ordsall Hall, the Gatehouses at Alexandra and St Philip’s Park and The Marble Arch Pub on Rochdale Road.

THE ORDSALL PENSIONER A page by George Tapp, Secretary of Salford Pensioners Association A HEATED ATTACK tinues with pensioners by the Government con The attack onting tion, which Elec eral Gen the e allowance. Sinc

cuts to our hea ent and put 19 millionaires in the brought us the ConDem Governm re of what this system means cabinet, we have become more awa they are on. for pensioners, we know which side of cold related illnesses in just Last year 25,400 pensioners died what was the Government’s three months of the winter – and payments, increase VAT on fuel, ther action? It was to cut cold wea ease prices and push up the allowing energy companies to incr is simple - dead pensioners can’t retirement ages! Why? For me it t these evil actions. claim pensions! And we must figh from the pension fund each Millions of pounds are underspent ent to pay for bankers’ mistakes year to be looted by the Governm choice for pensioners is instead of increasing pensions. The er. between heating or eating this wint cold one, so please look out for a This winter is going to be a very the coming months. This is life vulnerable pensioners near you in or death to many of them…

QUESTIONING THE BBC AT MEDIA CITY

F

ollowing our article in the last issue of Ordsa ll Undercover, Salford Pensioners Association and Salford Against Th e Cuts staged a Quest Time protest outside the ion new BBC Studios at Me diaCityUK. We’ve been trying to ge t the leader of the pensi oners on Question Tim for two years and the e latest statement from them is that the bright and pressure would be lights too much for them! If tha t’s true, they should ha cancelled the Queen’s ve Speech this year as she ’s a pensioner…

At our Media City protes t against Question Tim e we gave out leaflets with a statement from Dot Gibson, general sec retary of the 1.5 million strong National Pension ers Convention which stated…”We were told representatives would our n’t be able to cope wit h the lights and the str of a live broadcast. It’s ess ridiculous and condesce nding and smacks of ageism. We have accuse d the BBC of ageism in the past as it seems they don’t want to ack nowledge our existence or our right to a voice society.” in All around the country, pensioners are leaflet ing studio audiences as go in to watch Question they Time but, apparently, people are not allowed watch the programme in to unless they put the lea flets in the bin.

Question Time’s whole attitude to pensioners is disgusting and we’re going to go away… not Anyone wishing to join the Salford Pensioners Association can phone George Tapp on 07935026865

ORDSALL ARTIST PAIN

Nigel Walker, born on Robert Hall Street, has given up everything to paint Salford and Manchester in all its mad realism. Harold Riley is a fan, and now a first major exhibition at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery is set for next year…

S

alford Precinct might not be the most obvious subject for a “beautiful” picture but artist Nigel Walker reckons it’s perfect.

And his canvas of the market is as stunning as any painting of Salford created by anyone since Lowry.

In Nigel’s work, the landmark buildings are merely the backdrop to a thousand characters and stories going off on the streets.

The picture features two fighting pigeons, a couple of disabled

people, a smoking hoodie and another pigeon lying dead on the floor. In the background are the school uniform and carpet stalls, and the scene is framed by towerblocks.

“It’s a real account of what’s going on and I’m so pleased with it because, while it’s really quite an ugly environment, I think I’ve made it look beautiful” Nigel explains “The heart of each area seems to be the precinct, whether that be in Swinton or Eccles, and it’s the people I’m interested in. It’s the people who make the areas.

“It might not be romantic but when you journey through, it’s things like the people or even cracked pavements that stand out in your mind” he adds “That’s what I’m trying to capture,

NTS SALFORD AS IT IS

rather than landmark buildings. I am keen to be associated as a Salford artist, a man who is capturing things as they are today.”

In Nigel’s work, the landmark buildings are merely the backdrop to a thousand characters and stories going off on the streets.

Another of his canvases, titled In England We’re Better Off, shows MediaCityUK at the top right corner facing Salford Lads Club and Pendleton’s Fitzwarren Court on the left. It’s almost as if they’re in direct opposition to each other, while further down the painting Salford’s poverty is depicted in derelict shops, tinned up houses and sad looking people sitting on street corners. There’s even a little shanty town added in there…

“I put it in to show that there are people who don’t really have a lot” Nigel explains “There’s this idea around the world that `in England we’re better off’, we all get projected as having this better standard of living but I wanted to show that we’re not necessarily better off.”

Indeed, as Nigel describes the painting, everything in it has significance. From the imposing China Sea Restaurant (Eccles

New Road) in the foreground representing Asia’s new economic dominance…to the shadow of a tree in the shape of flames symbolising the riots which he could see from his window… “It’s all political, I don’t paint something for the sake of it” he stresses “It’s not negative, it’s as it is.”

Born in Robert Hall Street, Nigel won his first art prize aged seven but the idea of being an artist was never considered by his family while he was growing up… “`You cannot make a living painting pictures, get a job!’ – they were right but I was never content” says Nigel “I spent twenty years getting jobs, following a career. I lost my daughter in 2000, I left work and struggled to stay alive if I’m honest. But there was always art. It saved my life.”

Nigel stayed out of Salford for eight years, travelling the world on a mountain bike and painting, “distancing myself from the loss of my daughter”. He spent time in the Asian Golden Triangle, staying 12 months in Laos, and the serenity and poverty are captured in a series of enthralling canvases. But it

was only on his return to Salford that Nigel says he found his true style, as a “tourist in my own city”…

“I returned from Cambodia in 2009 with the fresh eyes of a traveller and I was painting and painting” he recalls. Every day he would cycle through different areas of Manchester and Salford, using his mobile phone camera for reference points, and then return to paint through the night for up to ten hours, seven days a week.

“I want to try and give a sensation of what it’s like to go through an area” he says “I always have in the back of my mind that

if these paintings were to be transported to France or Italy to be exhibited, people should get a real sense of what it’s like to walk through Manchester or Salford. Like, I don’t want to go to Ordsall and paint Ordsall Hall, I’d sooner paint all the troublesome spots that everyone associates with the place. I’m not criticising it, I’m from there, but it’s just the reality.”

And it is a sense of the places rather than an accurate geographical record that is the power of the paintings, which feature real people…people shopping, busking, hanging about; just everyday life writ large and bold and stunning.

Peel Park, Salford On seeing the canvases, Harold Riley agreed and invited Nigel down to his studio where he suggested submitting the artworks to Salford Museum and Art Gallery for a possible exhibition on his recommendation. The Gallery too liked what they saw and invited the Ordsall-born artist to mount a show.

“It’s all political, I don’t paint something for the sake of it” “It’s on the same walls that held Lowry’s paintings that I visited as a child” says Nigel “If I got the opportunity to exhibit in the

main gallery or sell a piece of work for desperately needed cash I would take the exhibition. It’s the sense of pride and it’s what I’ve always wanted. When I was a child it was as remote as wishing to become a spaceman.”

Nigel Walker has produced seven prints of his work which are available at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery shop (and on its online shop) at £14.

You can follow Nigel Walker on Facebook

ORDSALL NEWS ROBERT HALL STREET SPEED BUMP MOUNTAINS F WHAT A MAYOR! ollowing complaints about the height of the speed bumps on Robert Hall Street, Salford Council has started lowering them to more acceptable sizes which will hopefully save the suspension and exhausts of many cars.

Councillor Derek Antrobus, lead member for planning at Salford City Council, told Ordsall Undercover…

“Traffic calming measures were put in place on the Ordsall Estate in response to a request made to the Ordsall and Langworthy Community Committee. However concerns about the height of the speed humps on Robert Hall Street were raised in November, which contractors are currently modifying to reduce their height, as well as installing bollards to increase safety and slow down traffic. We are hoping that all improvements will be completed by the end of the month.”

We have asked the Council to let us know how high over the legal limit the bumps were and how much it’s going to cost to reduce the height, and we’re currently waiting for a response…

On Thursday 26

th

January Salford people will get a chance to vote on whether our city should have an elected mayor or not.

The referendum will ask the question…

“Should the electors for the area of Salford elect a Mayor who, with a cabinet, will be in charge of our local services and lead Salford City Council?” with a simple Yes or No answer.

Voting will take place within the usual polling stations in Ordsall.

Get Your Creativity On Show At The Great Ordsall Community Arts Exhibition OCA’s Gail Skelly tells us how…

n at OCA and in the Neighbourhood We’re having an exhibitioApril for new artists and local people Building on Thursday 12 to display their art work.

th

We had a great exhibition, Lifting the Lid, last year organised

by Iain Earle who was working here at the time. Art in Ordsall is not new, OCA itself has been going for over 30 years, and we know there’s loads of creative talent out there – we’ve seen it! We don’t mind what you do – photography, painting, needlework, drawing, videos, ceramics, sculptures – it all counts!

Lots of people say to us they haven’t done any art since they were in school – but if you enjoyed it then, what’s to stop you now? We’re starting two art classes for adults, one to make crafts and jewellery and one as a basic introduction to drawing and painting. We also have a regular art group for the over 8’s called the Bee Garden on Thursdays after school – so we know there’s loads of artists in Ordsall already.

The exhibition will also have a Special Achievement Award, with a prize being donated of £50 worth of art materials to the winner.

For further details contact Gail at OCA on 848 8779

S

STOP THE CUTS!

S alford public sector trade union, UNISON, backed by

Salford Against The Cuts campaign, has called a public meeting for Saturday 21st January to `Say No To The Cuts!’

Increasingly, Salford Council seems intent on cutting public services to the city’s most vulnerable people, with proposals to close day care centres, including Ordsall’s Humphrey Booth (see feature), plus axing 30 jobs, or one third of all home care workers, and slashing £400,000 off Welfare Rights Service.

Meanwhile, 279 people at Salford Council earn more than £50,000 a year and the Chief Exec earns a £206,000 salary.

“We are helping to organise this public meeting because we

see it as vital that workers and users of key services like Day Centres work together to tell the Council that these cuts are not acceptable” says Steven North, Branch Secretary, Salford City UNISON “We only have to look at the anger that erupted over plans to close the library to see that the people of Ordsall have a recent history of opposing cuts in their community. I’m sure many will come along on the 21st and help us defend the Humphrey Booth Centre and other Day Centres and services.”

Public Meeting: Protect The Most Vulnerable!

Saturday 21st January 12noon – 2pm Everyone welcome.

Swinton Royal British Legion 3 Cheetham Road, Swinton M27 4UQ

LPC PAID ONLY £2.3MILLION FOR ENT SITE £50MILLION DEVELOPM O

rdsall Undercover can reveal that private developers LPC paid Salford Council a minimum of only £2.3million for the whole former Radclyffe School site which now includes £50million of developments including the huge new Morrisons store, the Travel Lodge hotel, eleven commercial units and 114 houses and apartments.

A Salford Council Development Proposal Notice dating from 2008 states that the reasons for the snip of a sale are that “It is likely to provide the largest single addition to the housing stock within the agreement, provides new local shopping facilities for residents in both the estate and Salford Quays and will act as a landmark of regeneration on the Trafford Road frontage.”

Developer LPC has masterminded the whole regeneration of Ordsall – have they been good to the estate or are they only interested in profit?

The next issue of Ordsall Undercover will look at this issue in great detail. If you have a any views please let us know. Contact details are on page 1.

DIVERSITY DANCING WITH JADE by 15 year old Jade A video of a dance routineamongs t the top five in Crowther has been chosen the country by superstar dance crew Diversity.

Jade, who featured in the last issue of Ordsall Undercover and has been dancing with the Kidzwidreams project and the Company Fierce crew, travelled to Pineapple Dance Studios in London last autumn to take part in Street Dance for Change, learning dance moves alongside members of the superstar street dancers. Her routine was video’d and shown on YouTube, with every viewing click worth £2 from sponsors AVIVA to raise money for the charity Railway Children which helps vulnerable children all over the world.

Jade raised just under £10,000 and her video was judged in the top five by Diversity themselves, who praised her clean execution of the moves. She’s now won an all expenses paid trip to see Diversity in April, with VIP front row and backstage meet and greet tickets.

ORDSALL NEWS OASIS ACADEMY STRIKES

In the weeks leading up to Christmas teaching staff at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK, the former Hope High School, went on strike for five days in opposition to 13 staff being sacked to save costs for the overspending school.

T

eaching unions are concerned that timetables for pupils at Oasis Academy, many from Ordsall, who are doing GCSEs next spring will be thrown into chaos.

Joe Langley from NASUWT The Teachers’ Union said: “It’s a disaster…the kids, have got to completely re-jig their timetable half way through the year. This is on the back of the best results this school has ever had last June and moving into a brand new school in September. It’s going to wreck the place. They couldn’t manage a whelk stall this lot.”

Meanwhile, teachers at the school who have now been forced to leave are convinced that the young people’s education will suffer.

“At the end of the day the kids are going to lose out most because they’re going to have no consistency in their teaching” said Adam Worsley, who taught GCSE P.E. “Part of the reason why the school had success was because the teachers were experienced in dealing with Salford children who can be quite difficult – they know how to teach them and how to get the best out of them. Now that’s completely gone.”

His thoughts were echoed by former RE teacher, John Bartlett, who explained that he was working with a group of GCSE students to try and get them an `A’ star before leaving school, which would have helped them get a university place.

“That dream was sold to them in lower school and they have worked really hard to achieve that - and that’s all gone” he explained “Initially I thought Oasis was forward looking, and the word they use a lot, `inclusive’. But over the last 15 months I’ve changed my feelings on that. It’s been very prohibitive and narrow minded, which is a great pity because we had the opportunity here…I think it’s a great shame.”

The pupils’ anger at the sacking of their teachers resulted in a riot at the school in November when classes walked out of school chanting `Save Our Teachers’, setting off fireworks and fire alarms…

“It was like St Trinian’s” one pupil told us “They always say that years 10 and 11 are dead important years for your GCSEs but the teachers that they’re getting rid of are the ones that teach them and they’re not being replaced. They are half way through teaching A levels, and we don’t know what we’re going to do. It’s just ridiculous.”

Meanwhile, plans to move into the new £22million school on Trafford Road in September are unaffected.

MORRISONS JOBS JUGGLING W

ay back in 2009 when plans for Morrisons were first announced, Salford MP, Hazel Blears said that “it is vital that the new jobs go to local residents” and when it opened in December she added “I am so pleased by the way Morrisons have engaged with the local community, actively encouraging people to apply for positions and offering support and training to equip applicants to succeed…”

According to Salford Council figures, just 36 jobs out of the 211 workforce at Morrisons have actually gone to Ordsall people, which is a mere 17%. When Ordsall Undercover tried to ask Morrisons press office how many of these jobs were on full time or part time contracts our calls were not returned. The head of press wouldn’t even give us an e-mail address so we could put our request in writing.

Just 36 jobs out of the 211 workforce at Morrisons have actually gone to Ordsall people Meanwhile, Salford Council seems to have forgotten where Ordsall actually is…

A press release issued at the time of the Morrisons opening told how Salford Council had “supported training for local people who had previously struggled to find work”. This was done through Salford City College and a company called Create which, according to Salford Council’s press release “set up training facilities at the City Council Broadwalk Centre, right at the heart of the Ordsall community, making the training easily accessible to residents.”

The City Council Broadwalk Centre isn’t in Ordsall at all. It’s miles away, down by the Precinct.

“We arrived in Ordsall following this summer’s problems determined not to be just another faceless retailer and knowing that the area had big challenges” said Morrisons Group HR Director, Norman Pickavance at the store’s opening “Our strategy was to act as a catalyst for community regeneration and bring together the different organisations working in the area. For us, this kind of engagement is win-win: people get jobs, regeneration receives a boost and we get the commercial benefits of being a valued part of the community.”

Ordsall Undercover would like to hear from anybody who has had any work experiences with Morrisons, either good or bad. Our contact details are on page 1.

RADCLYFFE PARK AND MEDIACITYUK GETS ITS OWN POLICE TEAM T

he new retail and housing developments around Radclyffe Park are to get a new dedicated team of eight police officers taken out of other areas in the Salford Division.

While the majority of the Ordsall area is not included in the team’s remit, the Radclyffe Park developments are part of the new Media City Neighbourhood Policing Team which will also look after Media City and Salford Quays.

“The Salford Quays Neighbourhood covers the whole of Salford Quays, Radclyffe Park developments and the Trafford Road Corridor which thus encompasses Media City” says a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson “It has been created to match the increasing demand in the area and to reflect the sudden rise in the residential and commercial population.”

Bookworm Caitlin’s Book Page I would like to tell you all about some of the books that I have been reading, and up to now I have read four series of books like Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Twilight and The Tales of Redwall. For my first article I have chosen the Percy Jackson series, written by Rick Riordan.

I

personally like Rick’s style of writing and choice of adventure slipped in with a little bit of Greek mythology and romance which I think is brilliant. Rick’s favourite types of books are Greek and Norse mythology which show in his writing.

The reason I like the Percy Jackson series is because there is so much adventure in the books and Rick has made the characters seem so real. It is unimaginable what could be happening in the world, that is why I like the series so much. I could actually relate to some of the characters but I do have a favourite called Thalia Grace.

She is a daughter of Zeus and is introduced in the third book called The Titans Curse. Grover Underwood was assigned to watch over her when she ran away from home at ten years old. On her journey, she met Luke Castellan and Annabeth Chase, that is where she is introduced into the series.

This book has inspired me to try and write my own stories, and could inspire one of you reading this book review to try and write something yourself. So, happy reading!

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan There are five books in the Percy Jackson series, and the first book is called The Lightning Thief, the second is The Sea of Monsters, the third is The Titans Curse, the fourth is The Battle of the Labyrinth and the fifth is called The Last Olympian.

The Percy Jackson series, plus the other books Caitlin mentions Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan, Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and The Tales of Redwall by Brien Jacques – are all available from Ordsall Library.

LIGHTING THE LEGEND 2011 Back in November, 1500 people packed the grounds of Ordsall Hall as a huge community lantern parade concluded with a giant sized puppet show and spectacular fireworks. Now thoughts are turning to 2012 which will see the 20th anniversary of Lighting the Legend, writes Gail Skelly, of Ordsall Community Arts…

W

hat a turnout! With all that rain as well! I was so proud of everyone involved that it was such a good turn out. We know everyone loves Lighting the Legend, but to get such a big crowd during such an awful rain storm was brilliant. I couldn’t see anything all night because my glasses were all steamed up and I know at least two people whose mobiles completely broke because they were waterlogged!

We’re thinking about next year already, as it will be its 20 year birthday. So we’re going to start early asking people for ideas and for photographs so we can do a big exhibition of it as well as the night itself. And we’d also like to find out people’s ideas for the theme this year. What do you think it should be about, and what would you like it to celebrate?

Can you tell us… * Who made lanterns for the very first parade? If you were ten then your own children might have made them or be making them this year? * What’s been the best Lighting the Legend?

The White Lady one in the early nineties? The elephant one in 2009? Which has been your favourite? * Have you been to every one or have you missed any? * Have you got any interesting ideas for fundraising for it?

Let us know in the OCA kitchen – we’re usually open but you can always get us on Friday and Saturday mornings, when we’re open for our new art courses, or at Bee Garden Club on a Thursday after school. Or pop into the Library and talk to Helen and Karen about it, they are happy to pass on a message.

Photos by N. Harrison

WHAT’S ON IN O ORDSALL LIBRARY Robert Hall Street 603 4097

ORDSALL YOUTH CENTRE Oldfield Road 778 0700

children aged over 6.

Sunday 29th January 1:30pm and 2:30pm free

Every Friday 10-11am: Stay and Play: Fun and games for under 4 year olds. Free.

Monday and Fridays 6:45-9pm 11-19 ages Games, sports etc – if the weather’s good the sessions are moved to Ordsall Park.

Tudors Live!

Meet Tudor characters and do fun Tudor stuff Sunday 5th February 1-4pm free

ST CLEMENT’S CHURCH COMMUNITY CENTRE

Wedding Open Day If you fancy getting married at Ordsall Hall this open day will aim to show you what it would be like, with a free glass of Bucks Fizz for anyone who attends.

Saturday February 11th 12-4pm free but must be booked in advance.

SALFORD LADS CLUB Opening Times: Lads: Monday and Wednesday 7-9pm Football, basketball, volleyball, snooker, table tennis and computer games Girls: Tuesday 7-9pm Dance, netball, volleyball, badminton, pool and computer games Junior Boxing: Lads and Girls 10-17 year olds Mon, Wed, Fri 5:30-6:30pm Senior Boxing: Wed 6:30-8:30pm, Fri 6:308pm Kidzwidreams Sports, dance and cooking Monday 5:30-6:30pm Tuesday 5-6pm Kickboxing with Manchester Cobras Monday 6:30-8:30pm Thursday 6:30-8:30pm Thai Kickboxing with Terry’s Tigers Tuesday Juniors 7pm Seniors 8pm For further details on any of these activities phone 872 3767 ORDSALL COMMUNITY CAFÉ 872 6011 Every Wednesday 2-3pm: Gentle Exercises for over 50s free Every Friday 1:30-2:30pm: Bingo £2.50 per card inc tea and biscuits And starting in November: IT For Beginners Further details on everything from the Café.

Hulton Street 872 0800

Every Monday 1-3pm: Carers and Toddlers Group Monday Night Dancing 7:30pm: All styles, all ages welcome and free!

Every Tuesday Oranges and Lemons Children’s Club 3:30-5pm: 4-11 year olds 50p Every Wednesday 1-3pm: Women In Stitches Wednesday Bingo Night 7:30pm: In the Church Hall WELCOME INN Robert Hall Street Every Friday Prize Bingo 8pm: raising money for St Clement’s repairs BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH AT ORDSALL PARK

Saturday 28 January 1-3pm free Make a brilliant bird calendar and find out about how you can get involved with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Meet Ranger in community garden near Nine Acre Court park entrance. Phone 793 4219 for more details ORDSALL HALL 322 Ordsall Lane, M5 3AN 872 0251 Spooky Sunday Stories!

As part of National Storytelling Week there’s going to be lots of scary ghost stories being told at the haunted Hall, only suitable for

Ice Magic Half term workshops creating a gliding ice skater – from Tudor ladies to ice hockey players. Suitable for children over 5, no need to book.

Wednesday 22nd February 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm and 2:30pm £1 Knitting Classes Beginners knitting course, teaching basic stitches and pattern reading. To book a place contact Hazel Fenton on 686 7444 or e-mail hazel.fenton@salford.gov.uk. Suitable for ages 14 and over.

Begins Tuesday 21st February for five weeks 6-8pm £25 Toddler Times Crafts, music and storytelling for under fives and families.

Every Wednesday during term time 9:4510:45am £1 per child.

SALFORD’S SPORTING STARS 22nd January to 17th June Exhibition of old Salford sports – see feature

SALFORD’S SPORTING STARS AT ORDSALL HALL

A sister exhibition for the Sporting Stars exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, this Ordsall Hall show of photos, objects and stories concentrates on the city’s older sports, from skating to archery, bull baiting to falconry.

You can find out why warfare and hunting were the starting point for some sports and discover some of the more gruesome pastimes connected to Salford. The sporting exhibition also celebrates the return of the Olympic Games to Britain this year.

“2012 presents a great opportunity to share some of Salford’s sporting stories” says Exhibitions Officer Amy Goodwin “This

exhibition helps to celebrate the Olympic year by uncovering some of the well known, and not so well known, sports that have a connection to our city.”

Meanwhile, at Salford Museum and Art Gallery throughout 2012 the sister exhibition features more modern sports including cricket, boxing, rowing, horse racing, swimming, cycling, rugby, water polo, football and running.

Salford’s Sporting Stars Ordsall Hall 22nd January to 17th June

ORDSALL SAYO ACTIVITIES AT FIT CITY ORDSALL Craven Drive 848 0646

Every Monday 6:15-7:15pm: ROLLER DISCO - SAYO’s fab roller disco welcomes everyone over 8 who can fit in roller skates up to size 8. £1.80 entrance.

Every Tuesday 4-5pm SAYO FC Football Training At Fit City Clarendon 9-11 year olds £1.50 includes match fees FIT CITY ORDSALL Craven Drive 848 0646 Every Monday 5-6pm: Adult Trampolining (17+) £3.60 Every Tuesday and Thursday 7pm: Zumbar Every Thursday 7-8pm: Adult Gymnastics (17+) £3.60 Every Tuesday and Friday: Kickz sessions with Man United Foundation 5-6:30pm 8-13 year olds; 6:30-8pm 13-18 year olds. Free Every Friday: Pre and Post Natal Classes Mums n Bumps – pre natal class 1010:45am Fit Mama – post natal class 11-11:45am ORDSALL TRUST SOCIAL A social gathering for anyone who wants to get involved or find out about the work of the Ordsall Trust, which aims to get things done in the area.

Wednesday 18th January 10am-12 at Ordsall Community Arts WOMEN IN STITCHES This sewing and craft club with attitude meets every Wednesday at St Clement’s Church 1-3pm. Everyone welcome.

NEIGHBOURS DAY A chance for local people to meet up and chat, and find out what’s happening in the area, what things there are to get involved in for both children and adults.

9.30am to 11.30am on Thursday 23rd February Everyone Centre in the Neighbourhood Office.

The Orlsorts Group This friendly drop-in group is called Orlsorts because that’s what they do. In the last two years they’ve been song-writing, telling stories, creative texting, making banners, films, radio programmes, everything really and everyone’s welcome.

Wednesdays 10am to 12pm in the OCA kitchen. Free.

Lantern Making Make lanterns for World Community Arts Day Friday 17th February 1-3pm for adults and 4-6pm for over 8s.

Peacock Peace Parade To celebrate the return of the Ordsall Peacock (see feature), OCA will be holding a Peacock Peace Parade at 6pm on the 24th February. On Monday 20th February there will be special peacock workshops for over 8s, making costumes for the Parade. 10am -12noon and 1- 3pm.

ORDSALL ACAPELLA SINGERS Tuesday nights 7pm-9pm at the Everyone Centre, 2 Robert Hall Street, M5 3LT, £3/£4 Open to all, no experience necessary. For more info phone Gail at OCA 848 8779.

ST. CLEMENTS COMMUNITY CENTRE Mondays Let Dance 7.30pm 50p Tuesdays Oranges and Lemons Children’s Club 3.30 - 5pm 50p Wed Family Bingo 7.30pm 50p per book COMMUNITY NOTICES PACT PACT, or Police and Communities Together, is a monthly meeting where residents can meet with local police officers, raise any problems or concerns and tell them what the priorities for estate should be.

Send your listings to Ordsall Undercover: Ordsallundercover@ hotmail.co.uk

The meetings take place at the Neighbourhood Office on Robert Hall Street at 7pm and the next PACT meeting is on 19th January, followed by 16th February and 15th March.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Ordsall and Langworthy Community Committee Here, Salford Council, the community and other organisations meet to discuss developments in the area. Anyone can challenge decisions, see where community money is going and find out what’s going on.

Although it’s called a `committee’, everyone can go and have their say…

Next meeting 6th March 6:45pm at the Neighbourhood Office, Robert Hall Street.

Ordsall Community Forum Your chance to meet up with other residents, the Council and other partners to talk about all the things that are important to the estate - from fun and festivals to roads and rivers.

You can have a say in local decisions made about everyday life in Ordsall. The meetings are every two months but if you can’t make it in the day let us know and we can put forward any concerns or questions.

Tuesday 7th February 10am and Tuesday 3rd April 10am Ordsall Neighbourhood Office, Robert Hall Street.

BIN COLLECTIONS BLUE BIN - Paper and cardboard Collected every fourth Wednesday…

25 January/ 22 February/ 21 March BROWN BIN - Glass, cans, plastic Collected every fourth Wednesday…

8 February/ 7 March PINK BIN - Garden waste Collected every second Saturday…

14 January/ 28 January/ 11 February/ 25 February

ADULT ART FOR BEGINNERS

Community artist Dave Rooney is running a ten week beginners art course for adults at Ordsall Community Arts.

ORDSALL COMMUNITY ARTS At the Neighbourhood Office, Robert Hall Street.

Phone 848 8779 Bee Garden After School Club Crafts, art, eco fun and more for over 8s Every Thursday 3:30-5pm free Beginners Art Class A free 10 week course from Saturday 14th January 10:30am-12:30 (see panel) 3-D Jewellery and Crafts from Friday 20th January A free 10 week course to make 3D crafts and jewellery

weekly basis, by learning new skills every week.”

“The Still Life course will involve learning different styles of drawing and painting and we will also be looking at different art movements” says Dave “It will give people a chance to improve their drawing and painting skills and also to create better works of art. This will be done on a

Community Arts Art For Beginners - every Saturday 10:30am-12:30pm at Ordsall carts.co.uk www.o see or 8779 848 on OCA at Gail t contac details For further

LETTERS PAGE Good Afternoon!

Hi

Great mag, just received it through the door.

It’s good to see you’re taking on local issues for the community and while it’s great to go on a crusade, I feel you need to provoke some self reflection.

While some of the litter on Ordsall comes from match days at Old Trafford, the vast majority comes from its residents (where else). I live on Taylorson St and the place looks like a rubbish tip at times. The park too is often a disgrace.

Especially in the summer when families are playing and then leave all their rubbish lying around.

Why should Ordsall have a litter bug? Why expect things? What makes the people here think they’re owed something? How about people stop messing their own doorstep and take their rubbish home for the bin. An especially important message for kids. Even better, pick a broom up and clean up - something I’ve felt the need to do on more than one occasion. At the very least take care of what’s outside your front door. If there’s less litter on the street people will be less inclined to drop.

Rather than moaning, let’s educate the kids and some adults, perhaps even organise clean up crews. That will send out a far stronger message about the people of Ordsall.

The other article I felt was counterproductive was the Media City/Morrisons feature. Sorry, it was a bit, ‘woe is me. I’m too thick and scummy to work at Media City’. Yes, you will need qualifications and expertise to work at Media City unless you’re a cleaner. I know some people won’t have had the easiest of rides but moaning isn’t going to change things. Have you contacted anyone about career paths or courses that might be more accessible and potential routes into media city? Surely that would be a much more informative and useful feature? Perhaps one for next time?

Just a couple of points I wanted to raise and sorry if it comes across as over critical or harsh. I believe what you’re doing is great and the community will really benefit from the magazine. I applaud you for taking the initiative and making it work so well on the first issue. Long may it continue.

While there will be times when you need to take on the council and corporations over false promises and injustices, I think you should take care on how you mobilise the community. The examples above are basically saying, rather than moan and give people a voice for pointless negativity, show what can be done and empower people. Tell people what they can do to help or improve the situation for themselves and the people around them.

If you can do that, then you will truly be doing this community a great service and will no doubt be a shining example of what such a magazine can achieve.

Thanks for your time.

Neil Kirwan

I read the first issue of Ordsall Undercover with great interest and would like to comment on the Graffiti Palace article.

As a keen runner I pretty much run along the canal every day and I love the graffiti I see there, I often stop to admire it. I have seen the artists doing their thing and I don’t feel intimidated by them and I don’t feel like they are vandalising the place. I used to live and work in Melbourne Australia, and one of their biggest tourist attractions are the laneways and graffiti spots throughout the city.

Melbourne loves its graffiti, it helps define the city and it draws in tourists literally from around the world to come see it. They hold laneway festivals and businesses around the area are booming with trade. If the council could think creatively enough and take inspiration from Melbourne they really do have a good opportunity on their hands in regards to wall space along the canal.

One idea could be to clear the wall once a year and hold annual Graffiti contests where artists from around the UK can come and re-decorate the wall/area? Holding an annual event or something along those lines, you know really making the space feel interactive I believe would draw attention to the area and help trade amongs t local businesses. Put forward the words “money making opportunity” to the council and they will most certainly sit up and listen.

I for one, am all for the Graffiti…long may it continue!

Letha Whitham

`Our Soil Was Never Tested’ Writes Brenda Naylor from Clarke Avenue Referring to the contamination of Ordsall (issue 1), our soil was never tested. I have lost one daughter with cancer and my other as daughter has had breast cancer and had to have a hysterectomy has but clear now is She else. re anywhe g travellin it prevent well to a check up every twelve months. at I am in full agreement with the people of Ordsall continuing to look the contamination issue. There should be an ongoing investigation and a solution found.

Brenda Naylor Brenda also added some of her Ordsall war memories…

19 Back in 1938 I was born on St James Street and lived at number married got I when Later sisters. and with my mum, dad, brothers I went to live at number 33. When I was little I remember my mum used to fill a black bag with food for us to take to the air raid shelters which were on the croft in St James. As soon as the sirens went we would get up and go across to the shelters, which were fitted out with bunks, and stay there until the `all clear’ went.

There was an unexploded bomb on the Sailsbury croft for a long while, and people were frightened of passing it. When the war was over the air raid shelters were pulled down, and after quite I some time they built Ordsall High School, which was about 1957. children my When . window parlour our from built being watched it to were born they went to the late Ordsall Board School and then on the High School…

MEMORIES

By Ken Williamson The memories of Ordsall from a long time ago

Will last me for ever come rain, hail or snow Climbing the wall at number eight dock My sole hanging off and a hole in my sock Flitting house on a horse and cart Neighbours waving as we finally depart Trains under Ordsall spitting out smoke Queuing at the gasworks for six pennyworth of coke Doris Watson’s meat and potato pie Barrage balloons swaying high in the sky The bandstand, the duck pond, the tweeting of a lark A founting, a summer shed in old `Oddy Park’.

The sergeant and constable walking their beat Running from the `dungeon’ as white as a sheet A chimney sweep with brushes and sack I picture these things when I take a look back These memories will linger, they’re stuck in my mind They make me keep going, they make me unwind.

Painting by Ordsall artist Nigel Walker.

Title: Pretty Big Girl Salford Market (oil on canvas) Nigel Walker will soon be exhibiting at Salford Museum and Art Gallery

ORDSALL UNDERCOVER E-mail: Ordsallundercover@hotmail.co.uk Phone: 079802 84137 Letters: Can be dropped off at the Welcome Inn pub on Robert Hall Street