Ashton-under-Lyne Brass Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club, 10 October 2021

Audience profit from highly enjoyable concert

Boarshurst Band Club’s journey back to brass gave us another enjoyable concert. This time with a brass band that was formed four years before last week’s band. As with last week’s concert, there was a welcome airing of one or two classic pieces. Though with half the number of solos as last week’s concert, a case of ‘quality not quantity’.

The Diggle Band: Sunday Brass at the Boarshurst Band Club (03 October 2021)

First concert at Boarshurst since March 2020 impresses audience with bona fide classics for all the family

Yesterday’s first concert at Boarshurst Band Club since the first lockdown was most entertaining and cathartic in equal measure. In one respect, it was great to see a return to normality at The Brass Band Mecca of the North. On the other hand, it made us slightly bleary eyed over the friends we have lost in the brass band movement since the pandemic began.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 05 September 2021

Bussing back to school the Oldham and Saddleworth way

For Oldham and Saddleworth bus users, there are very few changes of note. Besides three Stagecoach Manchester routes, there is welcome news for nocturnal ‘9 bus passengers.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 25 July 2021

Summertime service changes for Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers

Within a week of HM Government’s Freedom Day®, it will be business as usual for Oldham and Saddleworth bus users. As with our fellows in Tameside and Glossop, there will be usual summer times on Stagecoach’s routes, and the discontinuation of peak hour duplicates.

Oldham Bus Station Changes, 25 July 2021

Last Sunday in July sees stand changes for bulk of Oldham’s bus services

Almost a week after the abolition of COVID restrictions and social distancing measures, there will be further changes for Oldham’s bus passengers besides the usual service changes. From the 25th July 2021, a significant number of bus routes will see a change of stand position at Oldham Bus Station.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 11 April 2021

Forthcoming service changes for Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers

For Oldham’s bus passengers, there is little to report in April’s changes compared with Tameside’s changes. Stagecoach’s mere tinkering around the edges only affects one route.

New Ski Resort Set to Bolster Tameside Tourism

EXCLUSIVE: Multi-Million Private Sector capital scheme to transform Mossley and Saddleworth

The pandemic has been disastrous for our hospitality industry. Pubs have been closed for over a year with some facing depubification. With Brexit in full swing and many countries off limits to Britons thanks to COVID-19, the British tourism industry have changed the definition of Stay At Home. Instead of taking that holiday in Portugal, Spain or Turkey, they have chosen to Big-Up Britain.

Oldham and Saddleworth Bus Service Changes, 30 August 2020

A look at the more lasting changes that will affect Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers

Earlier on, we said there were no service changes affecting Oldham and Saddleworth bus passengers this autumn. At the time, we only knew about the withdrawal of South Pennine Community Transport’s 359 route and placed this in our Tameside and Glossop changes.

Tameside and Glossop Bus Service Changes, 26 July 2020

Diamond diversion sees 217 route extended to Wythenshawe Hospital

• Tameside gains direct bus link with Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wythenshawe Hospital;
• Stagecoach takes over evening journeys of Stockport – Ashton 7 route.

For the first time in over a decade, there will be no summertime retiming changes for Greater Manchester’s principal bus routes. Since 2008, Stagecoach and FirstGroup have changed their times to allow for lower traffic levels in the school holidays. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, no such changes were necessary.

Don’t Forget our Brass Bands!

East of the M60 hopes brass band music isn’t forgotten by HM Government funding pledge

On a normal Monday night, I would be writing a review of the previous night’s concert at Boarshurst Band Club. Since lockdown, The Mecca of Brass Banding has been quiet, leaving a significant cultural void in the hearts of brass band players and concertgoers.