Icy Reynard Street

This is how Reynard Street in the centre of town looked a couple of weeks ago during our first bout of wintry weather.

Despite the conditions, the charity shop in Quadrant House was open.

More snow is now forecast and today or tomorrow it may well look something like this yet again.

ABC Wednesday Q is for Quadrant House

Quadrant House is an office block at the end of Reynard Street.

It used to be the home of the AMI group before they moved to Phoenix House.

Currently it is occupied by the Beacon Association, a Christian charity. It is an accessible charity shop and they brew a mean cup of tea for 50p.

For more Q posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Weekend Reflections of Hyde Market

Hyde Market is reflected in the windows of the entrance to Clarendon Mall as a Hyde United fan talks with the lady who is collecting for the Lifeboat charity.

For more Weekend Reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

Weekend Reflections: Cancer Research Scarecrow

There was a scarecrow festival in Hyde a few weeks ago.

I've already shown you the scarecrow outside Greggs and Abbey Gallery's Mona Lisa.

Perhaps the scariest was the live one hovering in the entrance to the Cancer Research charity shop.

You'll find another two scarecrows on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more Weekend Reflections visit Newtown Area Photo.

A Glimpse of the Theatre Royal

It is a little difficult to get a full frontal shot of Hyde's Theatre Royal.

Here is just a glimpse of this Grade II listed building through the trees at the edge of Asda's car park.

Friday (10th) and Saturday (11th September 2010) are Heritage Open Days. Last year the doors were closed but I've been informed that the theatre will be open this year on Friday & Saturday between 10am and 3pm. Whilst it will only be possible to have access to the ground floor of the auditorium this year due to Health & Safety reasons, it will give you a rare chance to glimpse inside the wonderful Theatre and see why the Theatre Royal Onward Trust are so passionate about saving it!

My photographs of the inside from the 2006-2008 open days can be seen at http://www.geraldengland.co.uk/gx/royal.htm.

For the full history of the theatre and the fight to save it, visit the Theatre Royal Onward Trust website.

Photographs taken this Friday morning can be found on Hyde DP Xtra.

Etherow Riding Arena

The riding arena at the Etherow Centre in Broadbottom.

The Etherow Centre is a charitable trust that looks after a converted railway warehouse.

The property and surrounding land were purchased from British Rail Property Board in 1985. Renovation work began in 1986 and the initial phase was the restoration and adaptation of the lower floor to create an indoor riding centre.

The second phase of the renovation work in 1987 involved the adaptation and restoration of the upper floor to create a permanent indoor gymnastics facility.

In 1989 funding from Children In Need, small charitable trusts and individual donations enabled the building of this outdoor riding area for the Kingfisher Riding for the Disabled Group.

In 1997 a stable block was added.

In 2009 the Tameside School of Gymnastics moved to Pinfold in Hattersley and the upper floor of the centre was modified to provide a home for indoor bowling and other community activities. The Etherow Bowling and Activity Centre, run by Tameside Sports Trust features an indoor bowling green built to national league standard.

See Hyde DP Xtra for a view of the centre from Broadbottom station car park and The Etherow Centre's website for more about their work.

ABC WednesdayA is for Animal Shelter

The Tameside Animal Shelter can be found at the end of Raglan Street by the side of the Peak Forest Canal just beyond yesterday's photograph of a canal-user asleep.

They have a fund-raising shop on Reynold Street.

This part of the canal is called Over Yonder and on the other side are the old Adamson mills which can seen on Hyde DP Xtra.

For more A posts visit ABC Wednesday.

Friends of Sam Redfern Green

Another shot from this year's Gee Cross Fete.

The Friends of Sam Redfern Green, a group of parents who met through local mums and tots groups, aim to create a play-area on the Green.

The green was originally the site of the Queen Adelaide reservoir, which was built, in the late 1860s. See Old Hyde. The reservoir was well used by the community until the middle of the 20th century, older residents recall children swimming in it and picnics being taken there. The site was also home to angling clubs.

In the mid 1980s, local Rotarian George Wagstaff thought the area would be better used as a Green for the village of Gee Cross. Talks took place with Tameside MBC and EEC grants were obtained for drainage and sewerage though no money for embellishments. The Rotary Club of Hyde offered the use of some money left to them out of the estate of the late Samuel Redfern. The council approached the Countryside Commission who matched the money pound for pound. In exchange for their monies the Rotary Club entered into a covenant whereby they could use the Green one day a year for the annual fete.

You can see an extensive collection of my photographs from the fete at Gee Cross Fete 2010.

RNLI Charity stall

There is a charity stall most Saturdays on Hyde Market.

Recently the stall was manned by these ladies supporting the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

One of the stallholders recognised me and said she was a fan of this blog so of course I had to take a photo.

Tameside Animal Shelter Shop

The Tameside Animal Shelter has a charity shop on Reynold Street.

The kennels themselves are at the end of Raglan Street by the Peak Forest Canal.

Theatre Royal Trust Battles On

I've delayed posting this photograph of the Theatre Royal Trust's charity stall on the market some weeks back as their old website has been offline due to a hosting problem not of their making.

The Trust are battling to bring the theatre back into use. My own pictures of it, taken mostly from the Heritage Open Days in 2006-2008, can be seen at Theatre Royal Hyde.

The theatre trust now has a new website at http://www.hydetheatreroyal.co.uk/.

Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Association

The Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Association occupy these premises at the corner of Chapel Street and Henry Street.

Cake Stall on Hyde Market

The charity stall on Hyde Market last Saturday was run by Dukinfield Methodist Church.

In addition to the usual books, clothes and bric-a-brac, they had a range of cakes for sale. The lady on the left is Barbara who did all the baking.

We bought some of her scones and very delicious they were indeed.

Women's Institute at the Fete

One of the interesting stalls in the marquee at Gee Cross Fete was the one belonging to the local WI.

More photos at Gee Cross Fete 2009.

Theatre Royal Charity Stall

Most Saturdays there is a charity stall on Hyde Market.

The other week it was manned by members of the Theatre Royal Onward Trust.

For pictures of the theatre see my own Theatre Royal Gallery and for information about the Trust visit the Hyde Theatre Royal Onward website.

Still Following your Dream

Last year I published a picture of the Follow your Dream roadshow. They were back in Hyde last week, and showed us their banner which now features the picture of my son Craig with Gregg taken from my website.

Since last year they have been with the Special Olympics Team GB to the World Games in Shanghai. They have some pictures on their website.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Back in March I featured a charity stall in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

Yesterday, a local charity, The Genesis Appeal based at Wythenshawe Hospital, had a stall in Clarendon Shopping Centre. My wife made a donation and got a badge which the lady (on the right in the picture) duly pinned on my wife's cap.

How is your Blood Pressure?

Last month in the Clarendon Shopping Centre, the local Rotary Club, on behalf of the Stroke Association were measuring people's blood pressure.

Seven Springs Charity Stall

I've shown you a charity stall on the market before. The last one was in aid of Breast Cancer Care.
This one is in aid of the Seven Springs Summer Camp for Guides and Brownies.

Willow Wood Hospice

This charity shop next door to The Queens supports the Willow Wood Hospice.