All Aboard narrow boat trip for our JNR8 older people’s groups…
The Bridgewater Canal
Often considered to be the first “true” canal, the Bridgewater Canal was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley. The section from Worsley to Manchester opened on 17th July 1761; it was later extended from Manchester to Runcorn, and then from Worsley to Leigh. Coal was needed in large quantities to fuel the industrial revolution and the canal enabled coal and other goods to be transported efficiently and cheaply to the rapidly expanding towns and cities. Its success helped inspire a period of intense canal building although it later faced intense competition from the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and the Macclesfield Canal.
The canal is connected to the Rochdale Canal in Manchester, the Trent and Mersey Canal at Preston Brook, south-east of Runcorn, and to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh. It once connected with the River Mersey at Runcorn but has since been cut off by a slip road to the Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Navigable throughout its history, it is one of the few canals in Britain not to have been nationalised, and remains privately owned. Commercial traffic continued on the canal until 1974. By this time, canals were becoming more important as a leisure facility and pleasure craft now use the canal which forms part of the Cheshire Ring circular canal route.
For many years, the canal around Worsley was noted for the distinctive bright orange colouring of the water. This was a result of iron oxide from the mines tainting the water as the canal passes through Worsley. A £2.5 million remedial scheme was undertaken in 2013 to remove this colouration.
The Bridgewater Canal is owned and operated by the Manchester Ship Canal Company in conjunction with the Bridgewater Canal Trust.
Information from from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2300773
courtesy of David Dixon
- Nickname: Dave-D
- Website: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davedixonphotos/
Age-friendly Whalley Range event at Ivy Court, Chorlton
A welcome from Scheme Manager, Gloria Thompson
On March 17th, Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton held a Community event at Adactus Housing Ivy Court on Beech Road in Chorlton – to bring older people together to socialise, to enjoy a hot meal and to access information in good company.
Loren Grant of Foodwiser gave a presentation about food and nutrition: Foods to Remember – how food and lifestyle can help protect you from memory loss and dementia.
We were also really happy to welcome the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Carl Austin-Behan to the event to welcome everyone and to talk about the great work volunteers are doing in communities across Manchester – and of course to pose for photographs with everyone!
A huge Thank You to Trina, Andrea and Roger for all your help – and Una and Lotte for pampering and the bag-making workshop.
The Lead Station provided a delicious St Patrick Day themed lunch of Irish potato & chive soup and a selection of sandwiches including Guinness braised beef and Irish cheddar ploughmans… and our host – Scheme Manager Gloria Thompson – provided lots of tea and coffee, cake and biscuits!
Age-friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton is a local network and steering group aiming to support and engage with residents, to promote healthy ageing and access to information.
After the event Gloria said:
“Residents who attended are still buzzing about the information they received, the food and the visit of the Lord Mayor.
Comments about the event include, “The presentation on nutrition was excellentâ€. “I learned so muchâ€. “I would attend the event againâ€. “It great to see our lounge used for an event like thisâ€. “The person who did the hand massage even told me about oils that can help me sleep betterâ€.
See some more of the photos from the event below.
Thanks to our Age-friendly photographer Anthony Morris – who has an exhibition of his photographs in Chorlton library from 3rd-29th of April.
Chair of Whalley Range Community Forum Bill Williams – meets local historian – Bill Williams!
Dr S. Sinha and Mr Shah from the Indian Senior Citizens Centre
Photo: Andrea Marsden
Adactus Housing Group Ltd: photographs courtesy of Samantha Ryan from Marketing & Communications
Age Friendly Whalley Range and Chorlton event at Tangmere Court, Dudley Road on Thursday 17thNovember
Despite heavy rain, over 30 people attended another successful event held at the welcoming housing scheme in Whalley Range – Johnnie Johnson Tangmere Court.
The event was hosted by Scheme Manager Maureen Jarvis, Chris Ricard from Age Friendly Whalley Range & Chorlton and Loren Grant from Foodwiser.
The event featured stalls, entertainment and workshops, health and wellbeing advice, fire safety, bowel cancer awareness, Karen Kennedy promoted Care & Repair and energy bill saving information, an upcycling workshop from Stitched Up (mittens made from recycled jumpers) – and close up magic from Barry. Festive fundraising stalls sold gifts and craft items and Mourad Keemar from Transport for Greater Manchester came along to update residents about travel options in Whalley Range and Chorlton.
Loren Grant gave a presentation about nutrition as we enter the winter months including the importance of omega 3, vitamin D and some supplements.
We were pleased to welcome Dr Mike Eecklaers, Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group and a practicing GP in Gorton who led a discussion around access to health care services particularly for older people and addressing isolation/sharing information.
For lunch we shared 2 tasty freshly cooked soups (made by Chris and Loren!) served along with crusty bread and butter and baked potatoes – with refreshments provided by Maureen.
Photos by Anthony Morris and Andrea Marsden
Age-friendly Whalley Range and Chorlton event at Chorlton Good Neighbours
Thanks to Chorlton Good Neighbours for hosting our age friendly event as part of their weekly coffee morning.
There was a fantastic turnout of around 90 people – with regular coffee morning visitors,people who had attended the Chorlton Library event a few weeks ago – and people who had seen our poster in local shops and on the website.
Here are some fantastic photos of the event from our AFWR photographer Anthony Morris…
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