When Manchester Corporation and SELNEC Delivered Parcels

Did you know that Manchester Corporation and its successors used to offer parcel delivery services?

Today’s shoppers have a plethora of parcel companies at their disposal. In addition to Royal Mail plc, the likes of DPD, Amazon, Hermes and TNT compete for each customer. Parcels can also be retrieved from lockers in urban centres or supermarkets instead of Post Offices depending on their provider.

Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, December 2018: The Ashton Review of Shops

This month’s window on the shop windows

• Parking peeves put paid to takings and footfall in Ashton;
• Tameside’s Christmas countdown;
• Plus all the usual retail movements, with a holly leaf on top

Stamford Street’s state-of-the-art parking peeves

Dominating the local headlines over the last month is Tameside MBC’s state-of-the-art parking system in Ashton-under-Lyne. Since the start of this month, drivers wishing to park on Stamford Street Central have been compelled to pay for their parking by telephone. Drivers may pay for their parking space by SMS text message, telephone, or a smartphone app.

North West Bus Operators’ Success in UK Bus Awards

Stagecoach Manchester clinches Bronze and Silver Awards

Last week’s UK Bus Awards ceremony turned out to be a good one for North West bus operators. Holding on to their Top Three position as the Top City Bus Operator is Stagecoach Manchester. They picked up the bronze award in this year’s UK Bus Awards 2018. The announcement was made at a presentation ceremony in the Troxy Cinema, London on Tuesday 20^th November.

A Beginner’s Guide to Metrolink Zonal Fares

How Transport for Greater Manchester’s zonal fares for Metrolink trams will work

Travelling by rail-based transport in and around Greater Manchester can be a pain in the you know whats at times. On Network Rail metals, walk-on fares, advance purchase fares, and peak hour restrictions add to the confusion. If you take a Metrolink tram, another set of fares again but help is at hand, thanks to changes to its fare structure.

JP Executive Travel Driver Records Wanted

Did you, or do you know someone who worked for JP Executive Travel in 1992?

We have received an appeal for the drivers’ records for JP Executive Travel.

During 1992, the North Manchester-based bus company operated a number of routes in and around Middleton. Some services continued to parts of North Manchester, Oldham, and Tameside.

If you have any details of drivers’ records (i.e.: staff documentation, running boards), original copies are preferable to photocopies. High quality photocopies may be accepted in the absence of original hard copies.

If you can help, please telephone 0191 563 5076.

Boarshurst Silver Band’s Remembrance Day Concert (11 November 2018)

How Boarshurst Silver Band remembered the fallen in a slickly produced concert

The Pots and Pans Memorial which can be seen from all the Saddleworth villages. Image by Simon Wheatley, 2011 (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Some Rights Reserved).

More than anything, this year’s Remembrance Sunday had an added dimension. Not only did it fall on the 11 November (which is Armistice Day). This year also marks the centenary of the signing of the Armistice between allied forces and Germany.

How Stagecoach Manchester is Remembering the Fallen

Remembrance Sunday display to remember the 310 Manchester Corporation Tramways Department employees killed in action

• Free bus travel for Armed Forces personnel on production of HM Forces ID card on Remembrance Sunday;
• Stagecoach Manchester buses seen wearing poppies;
• Activity supports the British Legion’s ‘Thank You’ campaign marking 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Stagecoach Manchester will pay tribute to past and present military personnel this Remembrance Sunday (Sunday 11^th November). As part of a project initiated by retired Stagecoach Manchester bus driver, Martin Logan, the company will display Remembrance Crosses at each of its depots. There will also be remembrance crosses at the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. All of which are to mark the Armistice Centenary.

Diggle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (November 2018)

Another great concert with three great soloists, a duet, and a trio 

As the nights get darker and longer, the bright lights of Boarshurst Band Club are a glorious sight. Each Sunday at 7pm, magic and mystique awaits the concertgoer who enters The Mecca of Brass Banding. Last night, by 10pm, they were treated to a spellbinding performance by Diggle Band. 

Retail Comings and Goings in Tameside, November 2018: The Ashton Review of Shops

This month’s window on the shop windows

• Crawshaw Group administration sees closure of Ashton-under-Lyne and Hyde stores;
• Magpie’s Nest scoops Tameside Retailer of the Year award;
• Ex-Mettricks employee takes over Stalybridge butcher’s shop;
• Plus all the usual retail movements, as you would expect.

Remembrance Day, Sunday 11 November 2018: in just over a week’s time, the people of Tameside will be paying their respects to the fallen. As usual, parades will take place at most parts of the borough. Image of Hurst Cemetery memorial by Ian Roberts, 2008 (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Share Alike).

Crawshaw Group enters administration

In the last week we have heard about the Crawshaw Group going into administration. The butchery chain, which has branches in Northern England and the Midlands, recently expanded by adding Gabbot’s Farm to its portfolio. This September they agreed a deal with wholesale grocers Blakemore, adding Crawshaws products to Spar shops across the UK.