UPDATE: NOW FOUND

Can You Keep A Secret? The Rise & Fall of the Yorkshire Luddites

The Swan Inn, Dobcross 19th April 2012. Tickets available www.mikron.org.uk £10 (£8 concs)

Written : Maeve Larkin

• Directed : Marianne McNamara
• Music directed : Rebekah Hughes

Riots in our city streets, the worst economic crisis for decades, a long war fought abroad with no sign of progress.

Sound familiar? Welcome to England 1812. Whilst the country’s elite enjoy lavish balls and chattering salons, textile mill workers fight for their livelihoods by smashing up the machinery designed to replace them. Luddism - a fight for rights or fear of progress? Direct action or mindless vandalism?

In the back room of a Yorkshire pub, a young lad is ‘twisted in’. He takes the oath of secrecy and joins the Luddites. But why won’t he give his real name, calling himself instead after the movement’s mythical founder, Ned Ludd? What is he hiding? And who was Ned Ludd anyway?

In the bicentennial year of the Luddite risings, which took place around Marsden West Yorkshire, who better to illuminate their story than fellow Marsdeners, Mikron – with their unique blend of humour, history and harmonic arrangements!

Michael and Tim are looking forward to the challenge ahead. “We are very excited at the prospect of continuing Ali’s good work,” said Tim. “The Swan is a very special place and its role at the heart of the community is so important for the village. We will do our level best to keep the spirit of the pub alive.”

Readers will know that Tim and Michael are active participants in village life. Michael has produced the Dobcross Diary for the last three and a half years. Tim is currently the Deputy Chair of the Dobcross Village Community (DVC) and has enjoyed producing the Dobcross fundraising calendar. Together they enjoy organising village events including the “Evening of Champions” concert last November and the popular Christmas Quiz nights at the band club. (Those of you who don’t know Michael and Tim personally will surely have seen their house on Woods Lane at Christmas time!)

As landlords at The Swan, Michael and Tim bid a warm welcome to all residents and visitors. Both Michael and Tim’s  backgrounds are in customer service. Tim has a wealth of experience in the licensing trade having run the Lancashire Fold and The Olde Boar’s Head in Middleton. “Customer satisfaction is the key to what we do. We know what we expect from a village pub, so we will make sure we deliver the highest standards,” assures Tim.

 "We realise what a life-changing decision we are making by committing ourselves in this way and we are aware how much hard work lies ahead. We are doing it because we love Dobcross and truly believe that The Swan should always be at the heart of what makes living here so special.”

Both Tim and Michael have long associations with Dobcross which pre-date their moving into the village almost seven years ago. Tim has been coming here for Whit Friday  & other events for the past thirty years and Michael can trace his family history back 160 years in Dobcross.

Tim and Michael’s new roles at The Swan will allow them to continue and enhance their commitment to village activities. By making The Swan the new headquarters for the Dobcross Diary, Michael will continue to support local clubs, societies and businesses.

The current landlord, Ali McGregor, has done a fine job looking after this historic pub for more than 12 months and in January he announced plans to pursue new projects and to spend more time with his family. We join the village in extending our thanks and very best wishes to Ali, Glenys and their family.

Ali would like to thank all his customers and wishes Tim and Michael all the very best for the future.

Tim and Michael plan to open the doors on Thurs 22^nd March. (Open as usual until Monday 19th March)

Hope to see you there!

 Coming Soon to The Swan:

Fri 6th April: GOOD FRIDAY MORRIS DANCING IN THE SQUARE

Sun 8th April: EASTER SUNDAY TRADITIONAL LUNCH (12-6pm)

Thurs 19th April: LIVE THEATRE - “CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?” a play about the rise and fall of the Yorkshire Luddites performed by the Mikron Theatre Company upstairs in The Swan’s function room.

Please contact Maureen on 07971 846563 or maureenwray@yogayourself.co.uk to book your place. £7.50 for the 90 minute class. This will be refunded if you go on to book a block of 5 yoga sessions.

Refreshments are offered at the Civic Hall, Uppermill. Anyone who cannot attend the funeral, may pay their respects at the Civic Hall.  Family flowers only, donations in lieu of flowers
to Diabetes UK or MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians)

If you need any further information please contact the Funeral
Director, Mr David Cook, Saddleworth Funeral Services 01457 874357.

OPEN DAY FOR SADDLEWORTH HYDRO The Open Day will give potential investors a chance to find out more about the hydro project and talk to the Directors and hydro experts Water Power Enterprises (h2ope) in person. “We’d like people to come and join us for a cup of tea and to have a chat about the community hydro scheme. People who’ve already invested will be on hand to share what motivated them to buy shares and we’ll be having short tours to show people where we’re hoping to site the turbine. Having a sense of what the hydro will look like and understanding where the water will come from makes the project all the more real” said founding Director Bill Edwards. Saddleworth will be England’s first ‘high head’ community-owned hydro, using head from the 90ft dam at the Dove Stone reservoir. A 51kW turbine will be installed generating 170,000kWh/year electricity, enough to power 45 homes. In addition to a grant by Defra and the European Agricultural fund for Rural Development, the recently launched share offer for £120K will cover the outstanding cost of the project. So far, £30K has been raised via the community share offer. Directors are hoping to offer 4% interest on shareholdings from year two. There’s a minimum shareholding of £250 and a maximum of £20,000. EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) status has been granted, so shareholders with more than £500 worth of shares can apply for EIS tax relief at 30%. For example, anyone buying £1000 worth of shares will in fact be spending only £700. Individuals hoping to be eligible for EIS tax relief must invest a minimum of £500 and keep the shares within the company for a minimum of 3 years. Saddleworth Sailing Club, Dovestones Reservoir 11am-4pm

The cost is £5.00 per person which includes return executive coaching to and from the Echo arena (note approximate walking distance to Liverpool One is 15 minutes, Albert Dock attractions closer by). Please see website: www.liverpool-360.co.uk for more information on what the city has to offer.

The 1.6 acre site for the project extends approximately 40 feet into the field behind the family’s home and across towards the garden centre (and down the slope to the road) and the northern boundary is to be wire fenced and hedged. The  public’s right of way along the footpath from the Church down to Brookdale cobbled lane will be maintained.

Police have recovered a number of firearms following an armed robbery of a pharmacy in Delph. Shortly after 3.35pm on Monday 16 January 2012, police were called to the Co-operative Pharmacy on King Street, Delph to reports of an armed robbery. A man had walked into the pharmacy and demanded prescription drugs. As he did not have a prescription the pharmacy manager refused. The offender then produced a high powered air rifle and demanded the drugs. He left the shop and was followed by a member of the public. The gun man shot at him twice and went into a house close by. The member of the public was not hurt.

Specially trained firearms officers went to the address on Grains Road, Delph and a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery. He remains in police custody.

Police searched the address where they recovered a number of weapons, including three firearms and a machete.Following the arrest local residents reported a strong smell of chemicals in the area. A search of a nearby garage was conducted and as a precautionary measure six houses were evacuated. Nothing of concern was found and resident safely returned home. Inquiries are ongoing and police are continuing to search the surrounding area.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Reade, said, “I want to reassure the public that this is being treated as an isolated incident. Crimes of this nature are extremely rare. “Specialist officers responded quickly to initial calls of this robbery and a man was arrested shortly afterwards. Further inquiries led us to carry out a search at an address, which meant a small number of residents had to be temporarily relocated. However once we had made sure the area was safe, these people were allowed to return only a few hours later. “I want to thank the community for their cooperation over the last 24 hours. Extra patrols are in place to provide reassurance to the community.”

Kind regards,

Inspector Danny Milovanovic
Saddleworth and Lees NPU
Telephone 0161 856 8993

The judging of the Saddleworth Illuminations competition took place in December. Cllr Patricia Lord, Chair of the organizing committee 'I am yet again amazed at the continual increase in the number of people putting up illumined displays and the ever increasing standard of them. As ever it was difficult to find a winner from all the houses and shops we visited, starting at 4.30pm and not completing the judging at the Civic Hall until 11.00pm. My thanks go to the Parish Council Chairman, Councillor Bill Cullen and the councillors who braved the cold and rainy weather to visit properties from as far apart as Greenfield and Denshaw.'  

BEST ILLUMINATED SHOP WINDOW

Winner NK. Hair Studios, High Street, Uppermill

Second Prize Millgate Hair Studio, Millgate, Delph

Highly Commended All Wrapped Up, High Street, Uppermill

 BEST DECORATED SHOP WINDOW

Winner New to You, High Street, Uppermill

Second Prize Delph Post Office, King Street, Delph

Highly Commended Buckley No. 2, New Street, Uppermill

 BEST ILLUMINATED LARGE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Winner Mr & Mrs Powell, Annisfield Avenue, Greenfield

Second Prize Mr & Mrs Robinson, Church Road, Uppermill

Highly Commended Mr & Mrs Kershaw, Thornley Park Rd, Grotton

 BEST ILLUMINATED MEDIUM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Winner Mr & Mrs Hall, Claytons Close, Springhead

Second Prize Mr & Mrs Percival, Claytons Close, Springhead

Highly Commended Mr Kershaw & Ms Williams, The Paddock,Greenfield

 BEST ILLUMINATED SMALL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Winner Mr Kershaw & Ms Whalley, Lowerfields, Dobcross

Second Prize Mr & Mrs Morris, The Square, Dobcross

Highly Commended Mr Newbold & Mr Powis, Woods Lane, Dobcross

COMMUNITY PRIZE

Winner Claytons Close, Springhead.

The results of “Dobcross in Lights” were announced at the Band Club last night. There had been several hours of “heated” debate by the three judges and there were many properties that deserved a mention. In the end it was decided to award three runner-up certificates this year.

 Highly Commended were:-

Dave Morris, Saddleworth Bank

Mike & Tim, 4 Woods Lane

45 Nudger Green

And the overall winner was once again Gary Kershaw, 5 Lower Fields.

For any villagers with young children this display is worth a visit. You can see some of the rear garden lights from the bottom of Nicker Brow.

 http://www.itv.com/granada/wheres-fred25644/ WATCH IT HERE!