Didsbury Community Index

communityDidsburyindex

July 2011

view online at www.communityindex.co.uk

5,000 copies delivered to Didsbury homes every month

15

please mention community index when responding to adverts

Mobile Email

07875 360 368 [email protected]

2

to advertise call Lesley: 0787 589 5604 [email protected]

Property Repairs Chimneys

PointingRoofs

Gutters

Free Est imates

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0161 789 664007944 729 608

3

PUBLISHERCommunity Index

EDITOR/ADVERTISINGLesley Swann

SUB-EDITORSam Paechter

CONTRIBUTIONSPeter Gidman, Katherine Watson,

Didsbury Dinners, Louise at RumpusManchester Athenaeum

Carol Thompson

COVER PHOTOGRAPHNick Holmes

CONTACT USTel: Lesley 0787 589 5604

[email protected]

DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT EDITION15th July 2011

ContentsMANCHESTER ATHENAEUMNeeds new members

DIDSBURY & SOUTH MCR CAR SHOWSunday 10th July

CHARITY GUITAR TRAIL Sunday 24th July

BARBAKAN DELICATESSENAward winning Chorlton Deli

DIDSBURY TAG NEWSSave more, buy better, shop local

BOOK REVIEWSFrom Louise at Rumpus Toys

REVOLVE MCR Mobile Bicycle Repair Service

DIDSBURY DINNERS RECIPEApple and Plum Crumble

LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Creating a resilient local economy

JULY IN YOUR GARDENKatherine Watson

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Serves 4–6

For the crumble 150g/5oz/1⅓ cups organic plain �our 150g/5oz/1½ cups organic porridge oats150g/5oz/¾ cup Fairtrade brown sugar3 heaped tsp ground nutmeg150g/5oz/⅔ cup margarine cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) chunks

For the �lling 700g/25oz cooking apples, cored, halved and cut into 1 cm (½ inch) thick pieces 300g/10½oz plums, stones removed, then quartered100g/3½oz/½ cup Fairtrade brown sugar1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon2 heaped tsp allspice5 tbsp/75ml cold water

Preheat the oven to 180°C /350°F/gas mark 4.Place the �our, oats, sugar and nutmeg into a large bowl and mix well. Add a few chunks of margarine at a time and rub into the �our/oat mixture. Ensure you lift and sprinkle the �our/oats/margarine up between your �ngertips. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside. Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon, allspice and 5 tbsp of cold water.Bring the apples to steaming point over a high heat then lower the temperature to simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.

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Spoon the apples and plums into an ovenproof dish, then sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top. Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the crumble turns golden brown. Serve with soya cream, custard or yoghurt.

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Apple and plum crumbleNicola Scott, Co-coordinator, Abundance Manchester, www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com

“A variation of the traditional crumble, this one was made with West Didsbury plums from our �rst picking of 2010! The sweet, soft fruit contrasts well with the tart apples.“

© Chava Eichner

© Chava Eichner

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view the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk

4

Company Registration 1596400 • Charity No. 326021

thinking about fostering or adoption?

Preston 01772 732 313 Didsbury 0161 445 2933

for more information please contact our dedicated team

The oldest dramatic society in the UK is looking for new members - both acting and backstage.

Would you like to brush up your acting skills and have good fun at the same time? This small and friendly dramatic society is having three summer meetings including play readings and workshops to look at plays they are considering for next season. Everybody is invited to have a go and join in; these meetings are very informal and enjoyable (no charge, just 50p for a cuppa and towards hire of hall).

Tuesday July 5thTuesday August 30th

7.30 pmSt. Nicholas’s Church Hall, Kingsway, Burnage, M19 1PL

Contact: David 973 9291 or Rosemary 445 6902 [email protected]

Manchester Athenaeum Dramatic Society needs new members

Established in 1983, a family run business where you can trust us when handling your garments...

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Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 8.30-5.30pm

Thurs (late night) 8.30-7.00pm

Saturday 8.30-4.00pm

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VILLAGE DRY CLEANERSSpecialist Dry Cleaners

Est:Over 25 years

5

A sunny Sunday afternoon in Didsbury Park saw over one thousand people attending the only Manchester Car show last year. The show attracted over 80 cars. The cars came from endless leaflet posting at local car shows.

The show is taking place again this year on Sunday July 10th 12-5pm and will be raising money for the Christies. Perhaps the greatest compliment paid last year was ‘How many years have you been holding this event? Our reply – ‘this is the first time’. A real tribute to the small, hardworking committee and you, the public.

See you there!

Didsbury and South Manchester Car ShowSunday 10th July

66DO YOU NEED MORE SPACE?

Structural Restraint & Repairs• Wall Tie Installations• Damp Proof Course Installation• Eradication of Wet Rot/Dry Rot• Full Modernisation & Renovation Works• Roof Chimney & Gutter Overhaul & Replacement• Damp Treatments for Cellars & Basements• Concrete Repairs• Qualified Surveyors•

Telephone: 0161 337 0707

www.broadoakpreservation.co.uk

Call us today for a free no obligation quote

We specialise in:Basement ConversionsGarage ConversionsProperty Refurbishment

Other services:

email: [email protected]

broadoak advert.indd 1 17/04/2010 17:43:11

77

please mention Community Index when responding to adverts

Near Didsbury Village, Manchester, M20 2SW

Sunday 24th July, from 1.30pm

Over the last two years the Charity Guitar Trail has been held in Fletcher Moss Alpine Gardens. Acoustic guitarists perform in the gardens along a winding trail which the public stroll and enjoy themusic. The Trail raises money for Music in Hospitals a charity which provides musicians to play in care homes, hospices and hospitals. The event has been re-arranged for Sunday July 24th (Lets hope for better weather this time!).

See you there!

Ps You could win a guitar!

If you would like to play, please contact us on:

Peter: 07930 342 142Sissy: 07928 447 150Fez: 07882 405994

www.charityguitartrail.com

Charity Guitar Trail 3Fletcher Moss Gardens

The Burton Road Clinic 121 Burton Road, Didsbury M20 1HZ

0161 446 2533www.theburtonroadclinic.co.uk

theburtonroadclinicOSTEOPATHY

Nicholas Vine & Carolyn GreenhalghRegistered Osteopaths

Osteopaths treat back and neck pain and muscle and joint problems such as whiplash, sciatica and headaches. These problems may be caused by manual work, computer use or stress. Osteopathy can

help with the mechanical effects of pregnancy – both during the pregnancy and afterwards, and with age related conditions and the pain of arthritis. We also treat sports injuries such as shoulder problems and

knee problems, and injuries due to repetitive actions such as playing musical instruments.

Appointments are available Monday to Saturday, including early mornings and evenings.

Alexander Technique

Sue Fleming MSTAT

www.alexanderteaching.co.uk

! 861 8848 mob 07796470163

The Burton Road Clinic Didsbury and

Chequers Road Chorlton

Pauline Leng MSTAT

www.alexandertechniquemanchester.net

! 445 8530! mob 07821470349

The Didsbury Holistic Centre and

Lidgate Grove Didsbury! !

individual sessions and groups

10 week introductory course

20 Sept 1pm Fallowfield

22 Sept 6.30 Chorlton

© Manchester Central Library

Barbakan represents independent retail at its best; part of the fabric of Chorlton and one of the finest continental bakeries in the UK. Established over 45 years ago, current owners Stefan and Joanna Najduch have spent the last 25 years making Barbakan the success it is today. The awards have stacked up and deservedly so; including ‘Best Food and Drink Outlet’ at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2009 and 2010, ‘Best Delicatessen in the UK’ at the Guild of Fine Foods in 2006 and have been runners up 3 times for ‘Best Independent Bakery’ at the prestigious British Bakery Awards.

The DeliBarbakan’s award winning delicatessen counter stocks traditional delights from all over Europe including Germany, Poland, Italy and Spain and customers come from far and wide knowing they will find that special ingredient they’re looking for. There’s a mouthwatering display of freshly prepared salads,

quiches, spicy sausages, smoked hams, salamis, traditional pates, olives, English and continental cheeses.

On the central isles you’ll find a wide range of pasta- including fresh pasta- jams, sauces and canned delicacies including delicious locally produced Chorlton honey.

If you’re stuck for a gift idea for a gourmet friend a Barbakan Food Hamper is a great option. Just choose what you’d like to put in and give them a budget - they’ll do the rest! Job done.

The BakeryThe extraordinarily energetic bakery with a team of no less than 12 Master Bakers works round the clock to produce the best bread you’ll ever taste.

Barbakan breads are made using traditional baking methods and authentic European recipes. Only the finest ingredients are used and the bakery gets through more than 9 tonnes of the

highest grade Rank Hovis flour every week. Each loaf is individually hand moulded and baked on the sole of the oven – no tins are used and this is what gives the

bread its original authentic tasty crust.

Over 50 different varieties are produced including Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Bread, Norlander Rye Bread, Margarita Olive Bread and of course the famous Chorlton Sourdough Bread.

The bakery also produces a fantastic range of cakes and pastries; including traditional Polish cheesecake, poppy seed cake and stollen as well as banana cake, American muffins, carrot cake and fruit cake.

Al FrescoBarbakan has recently expanded the outside dining terrace where you can enjoy coffee, tea, juice or a smoothie with your favourite snack from the deli or linger for longer over your lunch and watch the world go by.

On Saturdays the ‘Sausage Pan’ always attracts a crowd. One customer describes it as ‘The best hangover cure in Manchester!’

ServiceThe staff provide the friendly and efficient service you’d expect to find, but there’s definitely something special about the atmosphere in Barbakan.

With late night opening planned in the near future (Thursday and Friday evenings), why not give the supermarket a miss, cut out your Community Index discount voucher (see opposite) and give your taste buds a treat?

Barbakan Delicatessen

© Manchester Central Library

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67-71 Manchester Rd, Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester, M21 9PW Telephone: 0161 881 7053

10% OFF with this voucher in July 2011

*£5 minimum spend

*

www.barbakan-deli.co.uk

Award Winning Delicatessen, Continental Bakery and Specialist Cheese Merchants.

Freshly made Sandwiches, Soups and Salads. The Famous and Original BBQ Sausage Pan on Saturdays! Come and Eat on our Dining Terrace!

Barbakan Delicatessen

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Didsbury Tag NewsNATIONAL INDEPENDENTS DAy 4TH JULy - yOUR HIGH ST NEEDS yOU! You can help celebrate diversity on the High St and support your local, independent retailers on the 4th July. Across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local independent shop to keep the high street alive. With your Tagpassiton card you can not only show support, but save money at over 60 independent Didsbury businesses and also support a local charity, as any cards bought on the 4th July, whether on our website www.tagpassiton.com or from participating businesses, will have the whole profit element donated to a local charity. The Tagpassiton scheme has been designed to help community groups raise money; every £5 card bought from a charity, school or community group raises £2.50 for their cause. In Didsbury you can support Cavendish Rd Primary School, Broad Oak Primary School and Mencap (through the Co-op on Burton Road) by buying your cards from the school offices or in store. In addition Tagpassiton cards give you great savings time after time with fabulous independent traders in your local area. Didsbury, Chorlton, The Heatons, Levenshulme and Cheadle all have vibrant, independent businesses that are working together to encourage us to consider the community balance when we spend - so come along with a tagpassiton card in hand (or on key ring) and join in! Please visit our website www.tagpassiton.com for members and their offers and look out for our distinctive hand logo.

NEW OFFERS FOR CARDHOLDERS THIS MONTH INCLUDE:

10% off at One Stop Parties and sister company fancydress247.com. Just pop along to Northernden to visit these Aladdin’s caves. Specialties include Double Bubble Balloons and Nappy Cakes made to order. Dawn and Joanne are passionate about what they do and are always sourcing and bringing their customers the latest goodies. From cards to big events and for great customer service they are well worth a trip up Palatine Road.

10% off a single bike service with mobile cycle repair Revolve MCR (15% off multiple bike deals or cycle surgeries). Revolve MCR are a new cycle repairs service, the difference being that they come to you with a mobile

workshop towed by bicycle! Chief mechanic Dave set up the company after taking voluntary redundancy from his previous job, and looks forward to getting you rolling smoothly again! so no excuse to stop using our bikes..He’s just a phone call away on 07939 062 600 A number you’ll want to keep with you at all times!

Please see our website www.tagpassiton.com for details of these offers and many more. You can also keep up to date by following us on twitter @tagpassitonHere are a few of our valued longer standing Tagpassiton members and their generous offers. Our community is so lucky to have such a committed, varied, vibrant and interesting collection of independents.

Happy Birthday wishes to one of our original 10 scheme members for July. The Gentry Grooming Company has accurately been described as ‘like an old school barber’s shop with a modern vibe’ and Jon and his team have been putting the Great into British grooming in Didsbury now for 5 years, to the great satisfaction of all their customers.

The Gentry Grooming Company offers 10% off to Tagpassiton cardholders.

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Rumpus Toy Shop sells top quality children’s toys and gifts. Louise started out selling toys and books on Manchester’s Christmas markets and has now had a shop in Didsbury Village opposite the Post Office for 6 years. Rumpus stock a fantastic selection of children’s books and Louise and the girls spend many joyous hours selecting them. Louise tells us “We run a regular Saturday afternoon storytime session and our current favourite book is the hilarious ‘Hattie the Bad’ All are welcome to come and join the session.

Rumpus Toy Shop offers 10% off purchases over £20 to Tagpassiton cardholders.

The Alpine Tea Room is situated in The Croft, a large Victorian Villa in Fletcher Moss Park. This was once the home of botanist Robert Wood Williamson and his wife Emily who founded the ‘Plumage League, which then became the RSPB. It has been family run for 28 years. Opened by (the late) Jenny Martin, now staffed by her son and daughter Louis & Janine, with the help of her grandson Kane. They sell over 30 different teas and lovely home made cakes, baked locally, and

provide a welcoming atmosphere all year round.

The Alpine Tea Room offers 10% off to Tagpassiton cardholders.

Village Dry Cleaners (Chorlton) by appointment to the stars does Didsbury too. Only the best will do whenever Take That and other Arena artistes come to town. Dry cleaners of Distinction - in family tradition, Amir’s knowledge, expertise in preparation, and dedication ensures he’s the guru and can do what others can’t; especially in the exceptionally difficult fields of silk, vintage and wedding dresses. A family run business of 25 years standing in nearby Chorlton and a member of the Guild of Dry Cleaners and Launders with a handy delivery service to Didsbury too!

The Village Dry Cleaners offers 10% off Dry cleaning to Tagpassiton cardholders. T&C’s apply.

Wellington Garage in Withington is celebrating its 50th year in the Crawshaw family. Taken over by Ken in 1961 (who became a mechanic instead of a dentist due to the war) it has been run by son Tim now for over 14 years. One of Ken’s old customers is still

with Tim at 101. The garage used to be a coach house with stables and horseshoes are still being found whenever they dig. The family has a very long history in the area, as Tim’s granddad was a founder member of The Albert Club, West Didsbury. Wellington Garage is a thriving independent garage and gives a personal service you can trust.

Wellington Garage offers 5% off or £5 off your MOT to Tagpassiton cardholders.

Chorlton Wholefoods. When George retired 7 years ago Anna and Mike wanted this shop but the timing was not quite right (babies!). So this year, after such a long wait for their dream shop, when it came up in October 2010, they jumped in to provide an authentic wholefood shop with an apothecary that the community would cherish. They live by the motto of ‘be healthy, look after yourself and have fun; wholefood is for everyone’ Their delightful oasis is the epitome of ‘slow shopping’; they want their customers to feel the warmth and calm and be happy to wander at leisure, sit down, have a chat and take the time to sign their friends book. Deliveries of organic veg boxes is a service they provide to Didsbury too. (You might recognise Mike from his time as manager at MacLeod Bradley)

Chorlton Wholefoods offer 10% off orders over £10 to Tagpassiton cardholders

12CONGRATULATIONSIn the monthly prize draw for registered card holders congratulations go to Lucy Allison who won a £20 gift voucher to spend at Funk Boutique. Nikki has a wonderful selection of Bags, jewellery and accessories and with a motto of ‘Indulge-Inspire-Insist’ and famous for a range of eco-bags (the only stockist outside London -Marie Claire) the choice will be a very hard, but lovely one to make.

Don’t forget to register your cards for entry into the next draws!

DIDSBURy FESTIVALThank you to everyone who supported us at the Didsbury Festival. Nikki at Funk Boutique, Jon at Gentry Grooming, Steve at Social Circle, Louise at Rumpus, Sarah at Belly Button and Sarah and Leon at Feel Creative deserve a special mention for their generous donations of prizes for the Raffle we ran to raise funds for Didsbury Festival. We shared a stall with Lesley from Community Index who did a fantastic job of helping to sell Tag cards. Shafiq from Fresh Save provided strawberries and berries at an extremely reasonable price

for us to give away and Busy Bee (Chorlton) loaned us the HUGE Pirate. We raised £120 on the day for Festival funds.

Carol & Sam

Sarah - Feel Creative

* All types of Blinds for home and business

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The Family business established in 1977

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We are a local company based in Chorlton

Ring or email for a FREE ESTIMATE

07742 369 231or leave a message on 0161 881 4822

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13

Hattie The BadBy Jane Devlin and Joe BergerPublished by Puffin £5.99

Hattie was bad. Really bad. When I say bad, I don’t just mean forget-to-tidy-her-room, reading-comics-after-bedtime kind of bad. No, she was so bad, no-one was allowed to play with her. But it’s no fun being bad on your own, is it? So, she becomes Hattie the Good. Good Hattie tidies her room and goes to bed early. But nobody likes a goody-two shoes now, do they? The story ends with a laugh out loud

twist. This witty book contains the 3 essential elements of a great picture book: appealing illustrations, good writing and ability to entertain children and the adults who have to read the story again and again!

Recommended for 3 to 6 year olds, and all grown ups!

Available from Rumpus

TanglewreckBy Jeanette WintersonPublished by Bloomsbury £6.99

In a house called Tanglewreck lives a girl called Silver and her guardian Mrs Rokabye. Unbeknown to Silver there is family treasure in the form of a seventeenth-century watch called the Timekeeper, and this treasure holds the key to the mysterious and frightening changes in time. When Silver goes on the run to try and protect herself and the Timekeeper, a remarkable and compelling adventure unfolds.

This book is brilliantly written and structured. She has simplified her style to produce a compelling story for young

readers. I would pitch this for children from about the age of 10 through to about 13. The younger readers may enjoy it more if you read it with them, the language is not too difficult but they really have to keep their wits about them to follow the complexities of the plot. A truly excellent read.

Suitable for 10 to 13 year olds

Available from Rumpus

Book Reviewsby Louise at Rumpus Toys

DIDSBURYWINDOW CLEANING

houses • shops • flats • offices

Tel: 07936 884644didsburywindows.com

The Didsbury Handyman City & Guilds multi skilled Tradesman

Domestic & Commercial Public Liability Insurance

0777 852 3088

Environmentally AwareSmall works always welcome

Carpentry • Joinery • Electrical • Plumbing Kitchens • Fencing • Built in Furniture • Decks

Gates • Shelves • Locks • Hardware

call Nick

v

1414

Revolve MCRMobile bicycle repair serviceRevolve MCR is a new mobile cycle repair service operating in the city centre and south Manchester. The aim is to provide the best bicycle repairs and servicing around, whilst working in an ethically and environmentally sound way, and offering good value for money. We bumped into the owner and mechanic David Trainor outside Unicorn Grocery in Chorlton a couple of weeks ago, and he very happily agreed to speak to us.

Dave set up Revolve MCR at the beginning of this year after taking voluntary redundancy from his previous career as a quantity surveyor. He had known for years that he would rather be working in the bicycle industry, but only when compulsory redundancy loomed large did he actually take the plunge to set up Revolve. He wanted

to start a business which

he could take pride in and enjoy every day and so far Revolve has fulfilled his ambition.

The basic model for Revolve is simple – fill a trailer with tools and bike parts, and tow it (by bicycle, of course!) to wherever it’s needed. If you think this sounds remarkably similar to Monty Python’s Bicycle Repair Man (youtube it if you haven’t seen it), Dave wouldn’t argue. He has yet to don a lycra one-piece and cloak, though says he will consider it if

demand is high. Revolve will do almost any work, from punctures at the side of the road to race preparation and wheel-building, whether for mountain bikers or road racers. Revolve has about as little environmental impact

as any business you can think of, and by

default uses and supplies ‘Green

Oil’ oils and greases, which are 100% petrochemical

free and are made from naturally occurring oils and

plant extracts.

We asked Dave about his favourite bikes to work on: “I love them all! It’s lovely to work on top class road race or mountain bikes – I still get excited about

the beautifully designed and engineered components

you find on silly-money bikes - but

the most satisfying bikes are “every-day” bikes that lead a hard life; bikes that do a car’s job,

and get ridden

day-in, day-out by a dedicated owner who relies on it as their primary means of transport. They are quite often owned by the people who are most pleased to find we exist as a business; when their bike breaks they don’t have a car to take it to a bike shop with!”

Dave’s own bike addiction started as child, and during his teenage years he tried his hand at cross country mountain bike racing, road riding and touring (with his tent, sleeping bag and everything else on his back!) before settling into several years of what today is called freeride – basically playing out on mountain bikes – interspersed with the occasional downhill race.

He worked building bikes at Stif performance mountain bikes in

Leeds, and spent all his spare time

riding or working on his own and his

friends’ bikes. These days he divides his limited spare time between mountain biking

and relatively sedate touring, though his

stag-do last year comprised of a ride from Manchester to Amsterdam and back

again (details of the return journey are vague,

and may involve a train from Hull to Manchester!). He now lives in a terraced house so has had to limit his bike collection – Dave and his wife Lyndsay have “only” seven bikes between them, including mountain, touring and a 1950s

tandem.

Revolve MCR will be be put on hold over winter this year due to a delayed honeymoon

trip – Lindsay and Dave are starting in New Zealand at the rugby World Cup, and working their way home

through South East Asia and much of India –

mainly, of course, by bike. Should you need your bike servicing in the meantime, you can contact Dave on 07939 062 600 or find the website at www.revolvemcr.com.

Revolve MCR

07939 062 600 www.revolvemcr.com

“See how he uses a

spanner to tighten that nut!”

“Is it a quantity

surveyor? No! It’s Bicycle Repair Man!”

14


15

15

please mention community index when responding to adverts

Mobile Email

07875 360 368 [email protected]

1414

Revolve MCRMobile bicycle repair serviceRevolve MCR is a new mobile cycle repair service operating in the city centre and south Manchester. The aim is to provide the best bicycle repairs and servicing around, whilst working in an ethically and environmentally sound way, and offering good value for money. We bumped into the owner and mechanic David Trainor outside Unicorn Grocery in Chorlton a couple of weeks ago, and he very happily agreed to speak to us.

Dave set up Revolve MCR at the beginning of this year after taking voluntary redundancy from his previous career as a quantity surveyor. He had known for years that he would rather be working in the bicycle industry, but only when compulsory redundancy loomed large did he actually take the plunge to set up Revolve. He wanted

to start a business which

he could take pride in and enjoy every day and so far Revolve has fulfilled his ambition.

The basic model for Revolve is simple – fill a trailer with tools and bike parts, and tow it (by bicycle, of course!) to wherever it’s needed. If you think this sounds remarkably similar to Monty Python’s Bicycle Repair Man (youtube it if you haven’t seen it), Dave wouldn’t argue. He has yet to don a lycra one-piece and cloak, though says he will consider it if

demand is high. Revolve will do almost any work, from punctures at the side of the road to race preparation and wheel-building, whether for mountain bikers or road racers. Revolve has about as little environmental impact

as any business you can think of, and by

default uses and supplies ‘Green

Oil’ oils and greases, which are 100% petrochemical

free and are made from naturally occurring oils and

plant extracts.

We asked Dave about his favourite bikes to work on: “I love them all! It’s lovely to work on top class road race or mountain bikes – I still get excited about

the beautifully designed and engineered components

you find on silly-money bikes - but

the most satisfying bikes are “every-day” bikes that lead a hard life; bikes that do a car’s job,

and get ridden

day-in, day-out by a dedicated owner who relies on it as their primary means of transport. They are quite often owned by the people who are most pleased to find we exist as a business; when their bike breaks they don’t have a car to take it to a bike shop with!”

Dave’s own bike addiction started as child, and during his teenage years he tried his hand at cross country mountain bike racing, road riding and touring (with his tent, sleeping bag and everything else on his back!) before settling into several years of what today is called freeride – basically playing out on mountain bikes – interspersed with the occasional downhill race.

He worked building bikes at Stif performance mountain bikes in

Leeds, and spent all his spare time

riding or working on his own and his

friends’ bikes. These days he divides his limited spare time between mountain biking

and relatively sedate touring, though his

stag-do last year comprised of a ride from Manchester to Amsterdam and back

again (details of the return journey are vague,

and may involve a train from Hull to Manchester!). He now lives in a terraced house so has had to limit his bike collection – Dave and his wife Lyndsay have “only” seven bikes between them, including mountain, touring and a 1950s

tandem.

Revolve MCR will be be put on hold over winter this year due to a delayed honeymoon

trip – Lindsay and Dave are starting in New Zealand at the rugby World Cup, and working their way home

through South East Asia and much of India –

mainly, of course, by bike. Should you need your bike servicing in the meantime, you can contact Dave on 07939 062 600 or find the website at www.revolvemcr.com.

Revolve MCR

07939 062 600 www.revolvemcr.com

“See how he uses a

spanner to tighten that nut!”

“Is it a quantity

surveyor? No! It’s Bicycle Repair Man!”

call us today and get your business noticed

0787 589 [email protected]

communityDidsbury

index

May 2010

New free magazine - 4,000 copies distributed in Didsbury every month

AFFORDABLE EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING

REACH 20,000+ LOCAL HOMES!

15

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Serves 4–6For the crumble150g/5oz organic plain flour150g/5oz organic porridge oats150g/5oz Fairtrade brown sugar3 heaped tsp ground nutmeg150g/5oz margarine cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) chunksFor the filling700g/25oz cooking apples, cored, halved and cut into 1 cm (½ inch) thick pieces300g/10½oz plums, stones removed, then quartered100g/3½oz Fairtrade brown sugar1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon2 heaped tsp allspice5 tbsp/75ml cold water

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.•

Place the flour, oats, sugar and nutmeg into a • large bowl and mix well.Add a few chunks of margarine at a time and rub • into the flour/oat mixture. Ensure you lift and sprinkle the flour/oats/margarine up between your fingertips.Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles • breadcrumbs. Set aside.Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, • cinnamon, allspice and 5 tbsp of cold water.Bring the apples to steaming point over a high • heat then lower the temperature to simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.Spoon the apples and plums into an ovenproof • dish, then sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top.Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the • crumble turns golden brown.Serve with soya cream, custard or yoghurt.•

Didsbury Dinners RecipeApple & Plum Crumble - Nicola Scott, Co-ordinator, Abundance Manchester

“A variation of the traditional crumble, this one was made with West Didsbury plums from our first picking of 2010! The sweet, soft fruit contrasts well with the tart apples.”

Recipe reproduced from Didsbury Dinners: The Low-Carbon Community Cookbook, with kind permission from the editor Amanda Woodvine.

Serves 4–6

For the crumble 150g/5oz/1⅓ cups organic plain �our 150g/5oz/1½ cups organic porridge oats150g/5oz/¾ cup Fairtrade brown sugar3 heaped tsp ground nutmeg150g/5oz/⅔ cup margarine cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) chunks

For the �lling 700g/25oz cooking apples, cored, halved and cut into 1 cm (½ inch) thick pieces 300g/10½oz plums, stones removed, then quartered100g/3½oz/½ cup Fairtrade brown sugar1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon2 heaped tsp allspice5 tbsp/75ml cold water

Preheat the oven to 180°C /350°F/gas mark 4.Place the �our, oats, sugar and nutmeg into a large bowl and mix well. Add a few chunks of margarine at a time and rub into the �our/oat mixture. Ensure you lift and sprinkle the �our/oats/margarine up between your �ngertips. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Set aside. Place the apples in a saucepan with the sugar, cinnamon, allspice and 5 tbsp of cold water.Bring the apples to steaming point over a high heat then lower the temperature to simmer the mixture for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.

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Spoon the apples and plums into an ovenproof dish, then sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top. Bake in the oven for 25–35 minutes until the crumble turns golden brown. Serve with soya cream, custard or yoghurt.

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Apple and plum crumbleNicola Scott, Co-coordinator, Abundance Manchester, www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com

“A variation of the traditional crumble, this one was made with West Didsbury plums from our �rst picking of 2010! The sweet, soft fruit contrasts well with the tart apples.“

© Chava Eichner

© Chava Eichner

Didsbury Dinners is an 80-page A4 glossy paperback packed full of recipes from local residents and groups. Buy your copy for just £6.99 from The Albert Club and Didsbury Civic Society. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards promoting local food [email protected]

Every year hundreds of fruit trees in Manchester go unpicked. This is because people don’t notice them, can’t physically harvest them or there is just to much fruit at one time. Abundance is a team of volunteers who help harvest city fruit. They redistribute the surplus fruit to the local community on a non-profit basis. For further details or to get involved visit:www.abundancemanchester.wordpress.com

17

SALES: 0161 448 0622 [email protected] [email protected]

LETTINGS: 0161 445 2300 748a Wilmslow Rd Didsbury M20 2DW

www.jpbrimelow.co.uk

Advertising & MarketingTo remain current and in the forefront of people’s minds, we constantly strive to be creative in our marketing approach. We regularly develop our advertising and marketing literature to stay fresh and innovative, whilst staying true to our brand values.

We advertise in the local newspaper, The Didsbury Magazine, The Community Index Magazine and regularly tweet new instructions as soon as they come onto the market. You can rest assured your home is marketed to its’ full potential, until a successful sale or let is achieved.

Appy DaysOur free i-App helps you keep your �nger on the property pulse. It’s the fast, easy way to keep up-to-date with the local property market.

When it comes to selling or letting your house, you want to be sure you’re making the right choice of agent. You want to be sure you get the best price, in the shortest time frame with the minimum fuss.

At JP & Brimelow, we have many years experience selling and letting properties in South Manchester’s most popular and af�uent suburbs. We understand the unique nature of the area and the many attractions it has to offer. We also have the enthusiasm and determination to actively market your property to the most likely occupier, irrespective of market conditions.

LettingsJP & Brimelow offer a specialist letting department in all our covered areas and provide a tailored professional service second to none. We provide a let only service and also the more popular let and managed service, all handled by ARLA quali�ed staff to give you peace of mind that your valuable asset is in the care of professionals.

As part of our service, we provide dedicated property management and accounts departments to ensure your let runs smoothly throughout its’ term.

Our property services department based in the Didsbury of�ce are also on hand to deal with any maintenance, repair works, refurbishment or general building work, all completed by our full time and experienced workforce at competitive prices.

National & Corporate LinksBased on our quality of service, local knowledge and professionalism, JP & Brimelow have been hand picked by the Home Sale Network.

Home Sale Network members are Cartus’ preferred estate agency for corporate relocations. This gives the sale or let of your home national coverage to those looking to relocate.

Internet, Email and TextBespoke advertising, a tailor made property brochure showcasing your home, increased online presence, alerts by phone, text and email are just some of the services from our marketing package.

As well as our own website www.jpbrimelow.co.uk, we promote our properties on the nation’s most popular house buying websites. This gives your property instant national and international exposure and provides the buyer or tenant immediate images of your home.

Phone, email or text, we can use them all to keep you posted. Your potential purchasers or tenants will of course be updated in the same way, 24/7.

People FirstWe invest in and retain high calibre staff, with a dedication and commitment to customer service. So you’ll always see familiar faces every time you visit our of�ces.

We have the local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm

For a free, no obligation valuation on your home, call your local office today in Chorlton, Didsbury or Withington.

Advertising & MarketingTo remain current and in the forefront of people’s minds, we constantly strive to be creative in our marketing approach. We regularly develop our advertising and marketing literature to stay fresh and innovative, whilst staying true to our brand values.

We advertise in the local newspaper, The Didsbury Magazine, The Community Index Magazine and regularly tweet new instructions as soon as they come onto the market. You can rest assured your home is marketed to its’ full potential, until a successful sale or let is achieved.

Appy DaysOur free i-App helps you keep your �nger on the property pulse. It’s the fast, easy way to keep up-to-date with the local property market.

When it comes to selling or letting your house, you want to be sure you’re making the right choice of agent. You want to be sure you get the best price, in the shortest time frame with the minimum fuss.

At JP & Brimelow, we have many years experience selling and letting properties in South Manchester’s most popular and af�uent suburbs. We understand the unique nature of the area and the many attractions it has to offer. We also have the enthusiasm and determination to actively market your property to the most likely occupier, irrespective of market conditions.

LettingsJP & Brimelow offer a specialist letting department in all our covered areas and provide a tailored professional service second to none. We provide a let only service and also the more popular let and managed service, all handled by ARLA quali�ed staff to give you peace of mind that your valuable asset is in the care of professionals.

As part of our service, we provide dedicated property management and accounts departments to ensure your let runs smoothly throughout its’ term.

Our property services department based in the Didsbury of�ce are also on hand to deal with any maintenance, repair works, refurbishment or general building work, all completed by our full time and experienced workforce at competitive prices.

National & Corporate LinksBased on our quality of service, local knowledge and professionalism, JP & Brimelow have been hand picked by the Home Sale Network.

Home Sale Network members are Cartus’ preferred estate agency for corporate relocations. This gives the sale or let of your home national coverage to those looking to relocate.

Internet, Email and TextBespoke advertising, a tailor made property brochure showcasing your home, increased online presence, alerts by phone, text and email are just some of the services from our marketing package.

As well as our own website www.jpbrimelow.co.uk, we promote our properties on the nation’s most popular house buying websites. This gives your property instant national and international exposure and provides the buyer or tenant immediate images of your home.

Phone, email or text, we can use them all to keep you posted. Your potential purchasers or tenants will of course be updated in the same way, 24/7.

People FirstWe invest in and retain high calibre staff, with a dedication and commitment to customer service. So you’ll always see familiar faces every time you visit our of�ces.

We have the local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm

For a free, no obligation valuation on your home, call your local office today in Chorlton, Didsbury or Withington.

@jpandbrimelow

18

Over the past century, our economy has changed a lot. The world has become ‘smaller’ and more inter-linked, and the products and services we buy every day reflect this. Take shopping. In a single day we will use and consume products from countries all over the world, many of which will have been mass-produced by large multinational firms, transported thousands of miles, and sold through outlets present all over

the globe. When we do stumble upon a British-made item, it’s likely to have been produced at the other end of the country, road freighted to a depot somewhere else, and finally sold back to us by a (inter)national supermarket with a hiked up price and (in the case of food) considerably less fresh than it started out! These patterns of ‘globalisation’ now shape life as we know it, but it’s increasingly clear that they do damage too.

To the environment, to local communities, and to the people who produce the products we consume.

But there is an alternative, and the focus is shifting towards sustainable development that strengthens local economies. But what does it mean? Why is it a good idea? And how can we do it here in Didsbury and further afield?

Choosing to use locally owned and independent businesses keeps more control in the hands of local people, and it also ‘multiplies’ the effect that money spent has on the local area. A study conducted by NEF demonstrated that every £1 spent with a local supplier was worth £1.76 to the local economy, but only 36p if it was spent with (inter)national firms. It makes sense to spend our money in a way that benefits our locality instead of developers and shareholders.

We are lucky. In our area there is a pretty good mixture of small and medium sized independent businesses.

Often, very little of the money we spend day to day actually remains to benefit our local area, because even if we are, in a physical sense, spending our money close to home, much is siphoned off to the shareholders and managers of the chains and multinationals that now dominate our economy.

Our local economies should be under our control, and they should work for real well-being rather than just financial wealth. A resilient economy is one in which economic activity is based around many small and medium-sized businesses

Local and Independent

association of town centre management


19instead of concentrated between fewer and fewer mega-corporations, where local people have some control over local economic activity, where there is space and opportunity for local entrepreneurship and where local people (rather than, say, shareholders or developers) benefit from local economic ‘growth’. It’s about supporting both local produce (and producers), locally owned shops, services and businesses. Building strong local economies doesn’t mean that every community would be entirely self-reliant; it just means getting a balance between trade and local production by diversifying economic activity and shortening the distance between producers and consumers wherever possible.

Picture a £1 coin. Every time that £1 changes hands within a community it means an income

for a local person. The more times it changes hands, the better for that community. This is what the New Economics Foundation (NEF) term the ‘multiplier efect’; in that re-spending money locally ‘multiplies’ the local value of that money.

At the moment our economy feels more like a leaky bucket. In pour wages, salaries, pensions and etc, but most of it pours straight back out again, through chain stores, supermarkets and multinationals.

“Yet every outpouring is a potential local livelihood, local business, training opportunity. “Plugging the leaks”, as the New Economics Foundation calls it, has huge potential for economic regeneration, as well as for making communities more resilient in increasingly uncertain times.” Rob Hopkins (Transition Network)

So, what can we do?

On 4th July 2011 across the country, the public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local, independent shop to keep the high street alive.

Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with independent retailers and trade associations around the country to encourage the public to celebrate diversity on the high street and support their local, independent retailers

This is a great initiative, but let’s extend this single item on one day to the rest of July. Or, even better, lets change our spending habits for good.

Complete window •treatment design service, including FREE measuring

Curtains, hand stitched •with range of headings, borders or trimmings

Roman Blinds•

Bespoke Fabric Pelmets, •Shaped or Straight

Soft Furnishings•

To discuss design ideas call Joanne

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July In Your Garden Katherine Watson

Village Physio& Sports Injury Clinic

Back, Neck & Joint Pains• Sports Injuries• Ergonomic Assessments• Deep Tissue Massage• Podiatry• Pregnancy Massage & Pilates• Nutritionist•

Tel: 0161 448 7844

[email protected]

3 Warburton St, Didsbury Village, M20 6WA

Village Physio& Sports Injury Clinic

Back, Neck & Joint Pains• Sports Injuries• Ergonomic Assessments• Deep Tissue Massage• Podiatry• Pregnancy Massage & Pilates• Nutritionist•

Tel: 0161 448 7844

[email protected]

3 Warburton St, Didsbury Village, M20 6WA

www.didsburyphysio.co.uk

Village Physio & Sports Injury ClinicBack, Neck & Joint Pains• Sports Injuries•

Tel: 0161 448 [email protected] www.didsburyphysio.co.uk 3 Warburton St, Didsbury Village, M20 6WA

Nutritionist•

Ergonomic Assessments• Deep Tissue Massage•

Podiatry• Pregnancy Massage & Pilates•

Last month I picked up a gardening book by the once renowned advocate of cottage gardening, Margery Fish called ‘An All the Year Garden’ (1958). In a chapter entitled ‘They go on Blooming’, Fish recommends a range of perennials that have a long season of flowering and rather charmingly counters that whilst short lived plants such as Delphiniums, Lupins and Poppies are invaluable as spectacular punctuations in urban flower beds, “…it is nice to meet old friends who have no office hours and feel that their job is to go on producing flowers so long as the sun shines and there is a vestige of warmth in the air…” There are many perennials that provide weeks of flowering interest but for the sake of brevity I have chosen a handful that would particularly suit a cottage garden scheme. Top of any list must surely be an old friend, the

Geranium. Most of us will be very familiar with the common variety (endressii), with its small pink flowers and colonising habits and the stand-out ‘Johnson’s Blue’. But another variety, Geranium phaeum, is also a ‘good doer’ particularly in shade, where its purple/black flowers come in feathery profusions from early summer and continue for many weeks if dead-headed. Another stalwart for the cottage border is the Penstemon. As with many of these perennials, there are lots of varieties, giving a range of flower and foliage colour across the pink, purple, white spectrum as well as some reds and blues. Popular varieties include ‘Sour Grapes’ and ‘Alice Hindley’. I have two varieties of Astrantia that have been flowering in my garden now for over a month – the very standard but not-to-be-overlooked A.major with light white/pink starry flowers and

A. major ‘Rubra’ – a lovely deep red version. Another that has been flowering for a month or so is Acillea ‘Summerwine’ – flat red flowerheads in profusion atop cotton-lavender foliage, looking strangely at home with some purple Sedums and Stachys byzantina (silver lambs ears). My Gay Feather (Liatris spicata) has just come into it’s own and will last for a long time with candle-like, pink fluffy flower heads and keeping the backbone of the border together, the phlox is doing what it always does – providing solid texture and colour. So whilst not necessarily the divas of the border, these good-tempered perennials almost without fail provide a chorus of harmonious colour when we need it most.

Katherine Watson, Fat Grass Garden Designs

22

Gas SafeRegistered No. 196842

Select Plumbing & HeatingCentral Heating Installation

Power Flushing Servicing & Repairs

Gas Cooker & Fire InstallationsLandlord Safety CertificatesAll types of Plumbing Work

Fully Tiled Bathrooms

Contact Tony Goss0161 865 665707973 908 592

DEVINE KITCHENS

Tel: 0161 291 9680

A new kitchen can add both character and wealth to any home, and here at Devine Kitchens we have the expertise and knowledge to advise you on the best use of space, lighting, fixtures and fittings to help create that dream kitchen into a reality.

We have established an excellent reputation over the years for our high qulaity of workmanship and customer focus, all backed up with the various testimonials from our many satisfied clients. We have over 20 years of experience with high quality workmanship fitting kitchens that will inspire.

We have a vast range of kitchens from the classic styled kitchens, or the more contemporary designs.

Design Service Available

www.devinekitchens.co.uk


NACS memberwww.acornchimneysweepingservices.co.uk

Call John0161 445 3650

CHIMNEY SWEEPING SERVICES

Acorn

open fires, boilers Agas, multi-fuel stoves

birds nests removed

kar l hutton bespoke jo inery ltd

specialist in:

fitted shelving •

bookcases •

libraries •

studies •

alcove cupboards•

hand built kitchens•

loft conversions•

07989 891581 0161 860 4848www.karlhutton.co.uk

handmade furniturein solid wood

Useful Numbers

Business Index Please note: Community Index accepts no responsibility for transactions entered into or work undertaken by any of the businesses advertising in the Index or any loss, harm or damage arising from using any of the products & services listed.

23

Building & MaintenanceBroadoak Preservation 6Devine Building & Maintenance

2

Carpet CleaningProfresh 12Chimney SweepAcorn Chimney Sweeping services

22

Dry CleanersVillage Dry Cleaners 4ElectricianAndrew Maunsell 19Estate AgentJP & Brimelow 17FayreDidsbury Good Neighbours 21FloorsDevine Floorsanding 15Food & DrinkBarbakan Delicatessen 9

Fostering & AdoptionCaritas Care 4Furniture & JoineryKarl Hutton Bespoke Joinery Ltd 22GardensFat Grass Garden Design 20Gas EngineerSelect Plumbing & Heating 22HandymanDidsbury Handyman 13Homes & InteriorsJomo Intereriors 19Northwest Sunblinds 12www.planetvintagegirl.com 19KitchensDevine Kitchens 22LeisureSocial Circle 24OsteopathyBurton Road Clinic 7

PhysiotherapyVillage Physio 20PlasteringKieran’s Quality Plastering 15PlumbersSelect Plumbing & Heating 22RooferM Duffin 2ShoppingTagpassiton Didsbury 10Therapy & HealingAlexander Technique 7Window CleanerDidsbury Window Cleaning 13

please mention Community Index when responding to adverts

Didsbury Amateur Dramaticswww.celestaplayers.co.uk

Didsbury Civic Societywww.didsburycivicsociety.org.uk

Didsbury Cricket Clubhttp://didsburyccsports.co.uk

Didsbury Good Neighbourswww.didsburygoodneighbours.comMarie Greenhalgh07749 504298

Didsbury Over 50s Group247 2323

Didsbury Village East Residents Associationwww.dvera.co.uk

Didsbury Village Women’s Institutewww.didsburyvillagewi.co.uk

Friends of Didsbury Parkwww.friendsofdidsburypark.co.uk

Friends of Fletcher Moss ParkAlan Hill 445 1535

Friends of Marie Louise Gardenswww.marielouisegardens.org.uk

Oxfam Didsbury434 5380

South Manchester Camera Clubwww.smcc.org.uk

West Didsbury Residents Associationwww.westdidsbury.org.ukPam Siddons 445 5406

West Didsbury Society for WritersJane Woolley 957 1663

DIDSBURy ON THE WEBhttp://didsbury.fetch.it/

CouncilManchester City Council 234 5000www.manchester.gov.uk

Environment on Call 954 9000

Didsbury Library 227 3755

Local Councillors Didsbury East

Andrew [email protected]

Andrew [email protected]

David [email protected]

Local Councillors Didsbury West

Mark [email protected]

Graham [email protected]

David [email protected]

ServicesCitizens Advice 0870 126 4094

Gas Emergency 0800 111 999

GMPTE 0870 6082 608

Bus, Train & Tram 228 7811

Rail Enquiries 0845 7484 950

NHS Direct 0845 4647www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Police - non emergency 872 5050

Samaritans 236 8000www.samaritans.org

Community

Didsbury Community Index

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