It’s only 18 months since Rock Choir opened in Saddleworth, but its members have already broken a Guinness World Record, flash mobbed for Sport Relief, sung with comedian Jimmy Cricket in aid Comic Relief, performed to thousands of people at the prestigious Manchester Theatre Awards, and helped raise over £1 million for [...]]]>

Rock Choir

It’s only 18 months since Rock Choir opened in Saddleworth, but its members have already broken a Guinness World Record, flash mobbed for Sport Relief, sung with comedian Jimmy Cricket in aid Comic Relief, performed to thousands of people at the prestigious Manchester Theatre Awards, and helped raise over £1 million for charity!

“Rock Choir is the UK’s largest amateur contemporary choir and has 16,000 members,” explains local Rock Choir Leader Phil Reynolds. “There are no auditions and you don’t need to read music, yet we make a fantastic sound and get invited to sing at all kinds of exciting events, many of which support charities and local causes.”

Phil trained at the Royal Academy of Music and went on perform worldwide, before becoming Director of Music at schools in Oldham and Rochdale. He joined Rock Choir in 2011 and uses his experience to teach the Rock Choir members in Saddleworth, Middleton, Hyde, Norden and Littleborough.

“We’re singing at Littleborough Arts Festival, and at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium for the Pennine Hospitals NHS Trust Annual Awards,” says Phil.

“We’re also looking forward to Rock Choir’s own huge summer concert at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. New members are always welcome and if you love to sing then Rock Choir could be just what you’re looking for. We even offer a free taster session so you can see if you like it.”

Saddleworth/Oldham Rock Choir meets on Thursday evenings, from 8pm, at Uppermill Civic Hall, Lee Street, Saddleworth, OL3 6AE.

To find our more and book a free taster session visit www.rockchoir.com or telephone 01252 714276.

Mike Sweeney and friends (Photo: Stuart Coleman Photography©2013)

The festival Programme will be as follows:

Thursday 13th June - An evening with Victor Brox, 8pm at the Hanging Gate.

Friday 14th June - Mike [...]]]> The Diggle Blues Festival returns to Diggle in June with a fantastic line-up of performances from some of the North West’s leading blues artists.

Mike Sweeney and friends (Photo: Stuart Coleman Photography©2013)

The festival Programme will be as follows:

Thursday 13th June - An evening with Victor Brox, 8pm at the Hanging Gate.

Friday 14th June - Mike Parker, 7pm at the Hanging Gate.

Zodiacs, 8.30pm at Diggle Band Club.

Saturday 15th June - Charlie White, 2pm at the Diggle Hotel.

Bourbon Street Preachers, 3.30pm at Kilngeen Hall.

Bluzebox, 6pm at Diggle Band Club.

Arthur Cale and Mick Spag, 8.30pm at the Hanging Gate.

Sunday 16th June - Big Joe Bone, 1,30pm at the Hanging Gate.

Mike Sweeney. Paddy O’Hare and the Collective, 4pm at Diggle Band Club.

Babajack, 6.30pm at Kilngreen Hall

The Diggle Blues Festival Festival is a free music festival renowned for its live music and family friendly venues. For more details go to: https://www.facebook.com/DiggleBluesFestival/info

This promises to be a fantastic show and tickets can be purchased in advance or on the door.

Fly tipping around Saddleworth - Photo: Stuart Littleford

A large amount of builders rubble has also been dumped at Denshaw, along with a number of oil barrels scattered around Lark Hill, Dobcross, in recent days.

This [...]]]> Fly tipping appears to be on the increase around Saddleworth in recent weeks with a number of large furniture items dumped on moorland.

Fly tipping around Saddleworth - Photo: Stuart Littleford

A large amount of builders rubble has also been dumped at Denshaw, along with a number of oil barrels scattered around Lark Hill, Dobcross, in recent days.

This photo was taken at Brunclough Reservoir, Standedge, and has been reported to Oldham Council’s environmental section, they are taking firm action against anyone caught fly tipping.

On September 27 last year a Neighbourhood Enforcement officer discovered fly tipped trade waste – black bags and a tailor’s mannequin - on open ground on the corner of Honeywell Lane and Kings Road, Oldham.

Evidence recovered at the scene was traced to a clothing shop on Hollins Road.

The shop owner, Said Haydar, 26, was interviewed and admitted placing the bags of clothing wrappers into the van of his friend Mohammed Usman Ali before he drove away from the premises.

The 28-year-old said he had been travelling along Honeywell Lane when he spotted other fly tipped waste so he decided to dump the rubbish on the land, which is owned by the Council.

On May 2 at Oldham Magistrates’ Court Haydar, of Ashton Road, Hathershaw pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching a Duty of Care for Trade Waste and was fined £200 and ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £200.

To stop people breaking environmental laws and to help improve the Saddleworth area, the public can report fly tippers on: 0161 770 2244 or by sending an e-mail to environmentalhealth@oldham.gov.uk

Liberal Democrat councillors for Saddleworth North, Garth Harkness, Derek Heffernan and Alan Roughley, wanted everybody in their ward to be a full voting member of a community group which has no membership fee.

Cllr Derek Heffernan

Cllr Alan Roughley said: ”The Localism Act purpose is to pass down decision taking to [...]]]>

Cllr Garth Harkness

Liberal Democrat councillors for Saddleworth North, Garth Harkness, Derek Heffernan and Alan Roughley, wanted everybody in their ward to be a full voting member of a community group which has no membership fee.

Cllr Derek Heffernan

Cllr Alan Roughley said: ”The Localism Act purpose is to pass down decision taking to local people as far as is possible. it will become important and any community which is not able to come together and voice their opinions will tend to lose out so we want to encourage strong community groups that represent the whole area.

“That is why we got together and offered £500 each. Community groups and elected members need to work together to improve the area and not compete.”

The three councillors have offered a payment of £500 to each community group in their ward with the condition that everyone they represent is a member and there is no membership fee. Dobcross, Delph, Denshaw and Diggle groups have all accepted this offer.

Cllr Garth Harkness said: “We are delighted by the response from the community groups and that everyone who lives in each of the villages is now a member of a community group.

“We want to encourage people who may have been put off getting involved before to now do so.

“Community groups should not be political platforms but a place to work together. We look forward to working with each of our groups.”

The three councillors had a meeting to encourage the setting up of a community group in Austerlands. The meeting was a great success and now is up and running holding some fundraising events.

Cllr Derek Heffernan, a resident in Austerlands said: “It is great news that we now have a group in Austerlands and Scouthead. The first meeting of the new group was a success and the enthusiasm was contagious. I am delighted that our whole ward now has community groups and everyone is a member.”

The Saddleworth Group of Artists has a long history of distinguished members.

The 2013 Summer Exhibition presents an opportunity to see for yourself how well the standard is being maintained.

An original painting may be be a joy for life and you will find a wide range [...]]]>

Spring Morning, Snowdonia, oil by Sheila Dewsbury

The Saddleworth Group of Artists has a long history of distinguished members.

The 2013 Summer Exhibition presents an opportunity to see for yourself how well the standard is being maintained.

An original painting may be be a joy for life and you will find a wide range of subjects at very reasonable prices.

So enjoy a local celebration of the arts of painting and drawing presented by the Saddleworth Group of Artists in the Saddleworth Gallery and Museum, Uppermill, starting Saturday June 1st and remaining on view until Sunday June 30th.

The gallery is open Monday – Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. See: http://www.saddleworthartists.co.uk/

For further information contact: Ron Etherington  01484 845255  ronaldetherington@googlemail.com

There have been continuing complaints about the service provided by First Bus in the Saddleworth area: abrupt cancellations, lateness, missing out sections of the route, performance in wintry weather, high fares etc.

For the first time First Bus managers will be answering questions from their customers at meetings of the [...]]]>

Bus service under scrutiny

There have been continuing complaints about the service provided by First Bus in the Saddleworth area: abrupt cancellations, lateness, missing out sections of the route, performance in wintry weather, high fares etc.

For the first time First Bus managers will be answering questions from their customers at meetings of the Traffic & Transport Committee of Saddleworth Parish Council and District Partnership, which are held in public.

The committee has been collecting complaints and seeking answers from the company over the last five months and are intending that customers will in future be able to put questions directly to the company and receive answers at each of their public meetings of which there are five each year.

The first such meeting at which First Bus will be present will be at 6.30pm, Wednesday 8th May at the Civic Hall, Uppermill.

The meeting will be chaired by parish Cllr Royce Franklin who explains, “First Bus managers will give a presentation to reveal how they intend to improve local services and will answer any questions put to them by the audience. I really welcome their willingness to take part and hope that this will be a start of a new level of cooperation which will quickly lead to higher standards of service.”

Oldham Council along with Trading Standards are encouraging people to collect any scam mailings they receive and drop them into the designated yellow ‘Scams’ bin in Oldham Library and Learning Centre, Greaves Street.

The campaign is part of National Scams Awareness Month (May 2013)

There [...]]]> Saddleworth residents are being encouraging to fight back against fraudsters.

Oldham Council along with Trading Standards are encouraging people to collect any scam mailings they receive and drop them into the designated yellow ‘Scams’ bin in Oldham Library and Learning Centre, Greaves Street.

The campaign is part of National Scams Awareness Month (May 2013)

There are hundreds of scams: fake lotteries and prize draws, bogus health cures, dodgy investment schemes, pyramid selling, phishing – to name just a few.

Every year more than three million people in the UK fall victim to scams losing hundreds and even thousands of pounds.

Trading Standards Officers are warning people to look out for key signs that something is a scam like being contacted out of the blue, requests for money in advance or telling you to keep it a secret or that you have to respond quickly.  If it seems too good to be true – it probably is.

If somebody thinks that they have been scammed, they should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to help stop it happening to others.  If you’ve paid for goods or services by credit card you have more protection and if you used a debit card you may be able to ask your bank for a chargeback.

Get advice and report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or online at www.oldham.gov.uk/tradingstandards

In order to protect yourself from being scammed, never give out contact details such as your name, phone number and address or financial information to strangers or to people who should have this information already. Always shred anything containing your personal or bank details.

If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up.

A jet fighter has been photographed over Saddleworth Moor, Denshaw, this afternoon, in what appears to have been a near miss with a helicopter.

Very close indeed. Photo: Stuart Littleford.

The helicopter was dropping material on the moor at around 5.15pm from a hopper slung underneath.

The [...]]]>

The jet fighter close to the Chopper. Photo: Stuart Littleford.

A jet fighter has been photographed over Saddleworth Moor, Denshaw, this afternoon, in what appears to have been a near miss with a helicopter.

Very close indeed. Photo: Stuart Littleford.

The helicopter was dropping material on the moor at around 5.15pm from a hopper slung underneath.

The fighter approached at high speed – it did not appear to notice or move away from the chopper.  A group of ramblers said the aircraft had come “very close indeed” and had been very lucky not to have collided.

A Diggle woman has launched a new website to provide information to help patients suffering and recovering from breast cancer.

The site will help people to make the right decisions and choices about their treatment at the crucial time in their breast cancer diagnosis.

Jo Taylor, is [...]]]>

Jo Taylor - Photo: Stuart Coleman Photography©2013

A Diggle woman has launched a new website to provide information to help patients suffering and recovering from breast cancer.

The site will help people to make the right decisions and choices about their treatment at the crucial time in their breast cancer diagnosis.

Jo Taylor, is a 6 year breast cancer survivor, and through her experiences has created the website www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk  which was launched on the 6 year anniversary of her diagnosis with Breast Cancer.

The website will provide information on breast reconstructions by means of a BRA -Breast Reconstruction Advisor, which will contain photos of patients reconstructions for other people to be able to view (with a secure login) to help them make reconstruction decisions.  The site will also help people to find surgeons, consultants, Hospitals and Cancer Networks.

As well as providing diet, exercise tips, and health information, there will also be daily news from the UK and around the world on breast cancer to keep you up to date with new developments in treatments etc.

The name and idea of Jo’s website evolved and grew over the last year creating something truly ‘unique’ to give valuable information under one roof, and taking the stress out of having to keep searching the internet for information.

Jo’s idea to help others bring an awareness came as a complete ‘eureka’ moment when she was involved in a photo shoot and article for Red Magazine back in September 2009 with 3 other friends whom she met through the Breast Cancer Care Younger Women’s Breast Cancer Forum.

Jo is very passionate about the breast cancer message and helping people to make good sound decisions.  She is a true ‘advocate’ for breast cancer and lives and breathes better lifestyle choices for her own health sake.

She regularly runs and cycles, and loves to take photos when out and about in the fantastic Saddleworth scenery where she has lived for 7 years with Jeff her husband and their two children, a son aged 8 and a daughter aged 6.

Last year in May and September, Jo, with the help of 2 close friends, raised over £1000 for Cancer Research UK and MacMillan charities by running a 10K Race for Life and cycling a 50 mile memorial charity bike ride. She is a keen exercise fanatic and shows that you can achieve fitness even after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Jo now needs your help. She is building a catalogue of online photographs of reconstruction surgery with details of where and when the surgery took place, and who the consultant was. This information will be held on the website with a secure login so that this can be available to patients only.

If you have had reconstruction surgery or you know someone that has, Jo would request your help and to contact her via email or twitter to find out more, and how you can be part of this new initiative to help yourself and others.

Website – www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk

Follow Jo on Twitter, @abcdiagnosis