A visit to the Pomona Island - Manchester City 05-08-2015

Swanky pedestrian Lifting Bridge – Manchester Ship Canal


Trafford Road bridge.

Almost forgotten footpath alongside Manchester Ship Canal.

Once part of a busy water highway.

Overgrown vegetation hiding mooring bollards all along the canal.

The narrow Bridgwater Canal briefly running parallel with the Manchester Ship Canal.
Bridgewater Canal is the first canal built in England during the industrial revolution.

The slice of waste land is called Pomona Island. The land was originally known as Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens later home to botanical gardens and Royal Pomona Palace during the 1800’s.
It was almost surrounded by factories during the industrial revolution. When a nearby chemicals factory exploded in 1887, the palace was badly damaged and eventually demolished. 
Although earmarked for high rise development it is a wonderful area for wildflowers,grasses, young saplings and wild life.



Rosebay willowherb and golden staff.



    
                                                                                  Feral snapdragon?

Iron Footbridge.

Cobbled road and metal kerbing.
 
Paving near the old timber lock gates.

Stockton International Riverside Festival 2015 - Stockton on Tees 01-08-2015

Girl performing continuous cartwheel.


Trinity Church and Green.

Metal trapeze cyclist  moving back and forth on a wire.

Preparation for the Trinity Fire Garden – Cei Carabosse are famous for their beautiful fire gardens and installations. Trinity Church and Trinity Green were transformed into a garden of fire using candle power in suspended terracotta pots and gauze bowls - Simply amazing.

M & Mme Poiseau – Compagnie L’Arbre a Vache

A funny, gentle story of an elderly couple who have fun teasing each other. M Poiseau organises a surprise birthday party for his wife that she has dreamed of for 75 years. Two old lovers who live life to the full without worrying about tomorrow.
The best show at the festival!

Didsbury – Manchester 28-07-2015

The Mersey – walk on and the river joins the Ship Canal.

 
Old carved seat alongside the River Mersey.

Rowan trees.

Didsbury Sluice Station beside the River Mersey

Didsbury Flood Storage Basin.

River Mersey and Didsbury Sluice Station – Murals painted by Parrs Wood Secondary School pupils using their best designs for the project.

More Durham Miners Gala – Durham City 11-07-2015

Photo by Alan
His dad - Ralph Gray was a member of the Clarion Cyclists Club during the 1930’s

Durham Miners Gala - Durham City 11-07-2015

The Gala developed out of the miners' trade unionism, with the first Union being established in 1869   The Durham Miners Association organised the first Gala, that was held in 1871 in Wharton Park, Durham. The Gala was not held during the 1st and 2nd world wars.





An estimated 175,000 strong gathering of people were at this year’s Durham Miners Gala  - the biggest for 50 years!
It was the 131st Miners Gala here in Durham City where miners of old used to march from their pits, headed by their own brass bands gathered for ‘The Big Meeting’




My Union at the Gala!

NCCC Ist Thalmann Battalion - 12th International Brigade



International Brigade flag and Banner - 1936 to 1939

A Morning Star Photo

And this coffin will be wheeled out — literally, it is on wheels — at future Galas as a reminder of the lasting hatred felt towards the woman responsible for the destruction of Britain’s deep-mined coal industry.
The coffin was made by ex-miner Mick Woods, who worked at South Yorkshire’s Manvers Main colliery which was shut by the Tories in 1988. Later he worked at Kellingley in Yorkshire, Britain’s last operating pit.
Mick was involved in organising the funeral pyre lit at Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire on the day of Thatcher’s funeral, April 17 2013.


IN memory of Bob Crow 1961-2014  who said ‘If you fight you may lose but if you don’t fight you will always lose’