Bolton will commemorate Remembrance Sunday this year with specially-designed ‘Lest We Forget’ poppy markings painted on roads across the borough.
Remembrance Sunday parades all across the UK have had to be cancelled this year amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, 12 poppy signs with the wording ‘Lest We Forget’ are being painted near war memorials, or on roads where parades would have taken place across the Greater Manchester borough of Bolton.
Local highways contractor, Kays Traffic Management, offered to install the markings free of charge as a way of helping residents remember those who have died in conflicts around the globe.
Bolton is the first location in the country where poppy signs are being painted on the road.
The first four signs have been installed on Bradshawgate, near the Nelson Square war memorial in the town centre, on Darwen Road, near the Dunscar War Memorial, Knowsley Street – the nearest location to the Victoria Square Memorial – and on Nelson Street outside the army barracks.
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Poppy signs are also set to be painted near a number of other war memorials – Albert Road in Farnworth, Chorley New Road, Church Road/Market Street in Westhoughton, Manchester Road in Kearsley, Market Street in Little Lever, and Scholes Bank in Horwich.
Markings will also be installed on Belmont Road, Astley Bridge (near the Royal British Legion), and Manchester Road in Blackrod (near the cemetery).
Speaking on the alternative commemorations this year, Cllr David Greenhalgh – Leader of Bolton Council – said: “Remembrance Sunday is, for me, the most important day in the civic calendar, and I know how disappointed many residents will be that parades are unable to go ahead this year, and that services at war memorials will not be able to take place as they usually would.
“We were delighted when Kays offered their time and support for free and offered to paint these signs. This is just one of a number of ways in which we can demonstrate our commitment to never forget our fallen and will be seen by thousands of Bolton’s residents over the following weeks.
“I urge you all to still support the Royal British Legion who have been unable to do the same level of fundraising as normal.”
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Cllr Andy Morgan – Armed Forces champion for Bolton Council and ex-serviceman – added: “Remembrance Sunday commemorates everyone who served in the World Wars and subsequent conflicts [and] this year is the first year for decades we are not able to carry out our normal acts of Remembrance, so it’s really important that the public think of respectful and innovative ways of remembering veterans, both past and present.”
Shaun Hargreaves – Commercial Director at Kays Traffic Management – said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our support as a way of commemorating our war heroes.
“We hope that the road poppies will provide a reminder that although we cannot stand together in remembrance in person this year, we will never forget the sacrifice made by the brave men and women for our freedom.”
Here at Kays, we wanted to do our bit and pay our respects to the Poppy Appeal, so we’ve placed these poppies all around Bolton. Next week, we’ll be placing even more down for other councils – look out for them near war memorials and cenotaphs.@boltoncouncil#PoppyAppealpic.twitter.com/97N14l9hqQ
These road poppies will be popping up all over Bolton’s roads with thanks to Kay’s Traffic Management (who are doing this for free) and @boltoncouncil (as the first council in the country to do this). I’m a proud Boltonian today. We must never forget our fallen 🌹 pic.twitter.com/zxhfqcs3dv
Members of the Greater Manchester public and wider community who wish to pay their respects are invited to watch an online Remembrance Service taking place at Bolton Parish Church on Sunday 8th November.
It can be viewed via the Bolton Council website here, and will also be broadcast live on Bolton FM.
Wreaths can also be laid at any of the borough’s war memorials any time from Remembrance Sunday to Armistice Day, and the council is also encouraging people to mark Remembrance Sunday by taking part in a two-minute silence from their doorsteps at 11am on Sunday 8th November 2020.
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The best cheese tasting party in the North is BACK at a new Manchester venue
Danny Jones
That’s right, one of the biggest and best cheese tasting nights in the entire land is returning to Greater Manchester at a brand new city centre venue.
Not to be over-the-top, but this isn’t just another experience sampling possibly the greatest foodstuff on Earth, it’s a fully-fledged cheese-lovers’ party.
Some of you may have come across Homage2Fromage before, but for anyone unaware of the Yorkshire-born event, it started out as a monthly cheese tasting club and went on to expand across the dairy-adoring North at large.
Relaunching here in Manchester for 2026, all you lactose-intolerant people better watch, because Home2Fromage is coming back with a vengeance and heading to the Northern Quarter. Here’s how it went down the last time we visited one in Leeds:
Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate, Manchester and who knows where else next.
Posting up in a relatively recent addition to NQ‘s bar and restaurant scene, The Faraday – a pub on Lever St that replaces the old Seven Sins back in October – it looks set to be an ideal venue for the regular evening series.
Homage2Fromage will be making its Manc return this month, and better still, they’re holding a cheeky little giveaway to sweeten the pot.
As in the deal, we mean – not the inevitable bowls full of olives, chutney, oil and various other dips…
To welcome this celebration of all things cheese coming back to Manchester city centre, they’re giving away a bunch of free tickets: 20 pairs in total.
Worth over £50 a piece for each twin set of tickets, you’d be a fool not to at least throw your hat in the ring for this one.
As you can see, the competition closes this Thursday, 19 February, ahead of the full relaunch party next week (Wed, 25 Feb), and all you have to do to enter is fill out this super quick survey.
It really is as simple as that; a few quick words are all that stand between you and a potential mountain of cheese and more.
You can find all you need to know about the event right HERE, and in case you haven’t popped into The Faraday just yet, see more down below.
It’s still somewhat early days, but we can see ourselves spending a fair bit of time in this up-and-coming Manchester watering hole, especially when there’s cheese nights involved.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Publicity pictures (supplied)
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Mancs start crowdfunder for Mani mural in honour of late, great, local music legend
Danny Jones
A group of Manchester artists, audiophiles and residents have started a fundraiser to create a new mural in memory of the late, great local music legend, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Following The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player’s passing last year, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole have been finding ways to honour the Manc musician ever since.
Be it lining his funeral cortege from his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, or peers like The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess penning heartfelt tributes, anyone and everyone has found their own way of paying their respects in the months since.
Taking the sustained sentiment even further, local art collective GRIT Studios is now planning to erect a massive mural in his memory.
We’re doing a massive mural for Manchester’s most loved son – Mani. All profits to @maggiesmanc a charity that was close to his heart.
Writing on the fundraising page’s description, GRIT say: “Inspired by Ian Brown’s eulogy to Mani at Manchester Cathedral, a major community crowdfunder is being launched to create a large-scale mural honouring the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream and to raise funds for Maggie’s Manchester.
“The mural, which will be created in Failsworth, where young Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield grew up, has been initiated by the team at GRIT Studios following an overwhelming outpouring of love from fans across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“Mani’s brother, Greg Mounfield, is supporting this campaign and has facilitated a prominent, large wall space for the mural and chosen the design.
They go on to to explan that the piece “will be painted by the renowned artist Pic.One.Art, whose recent portrait of Noel and Liam Gallagher outside the iconic Sifters Records in Burnage became an instant landmark and received widespread attention.”
Speaking of Brown’s now viral speech, it still remains one of the most touching bits of public observance and shared mourning this city has ever seen – with a healthy little dose of Northern levity, of course.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
“Since Mani passed away in November, countless fans have expressed a desire to see a tribute in the place that shaped him in North Manchester”, they continue.
“GRIT Studios, the not-for-profit art studios organisation, has stepped forward to organise a community-led, crowdfunded project that celebrates Mani’s life, music and spirit.
“It will not only fund the creation of the mural, but all profits will go to Maggie’s Manchester, which was close to Mani and his wife Imelda’s hearts during her cancer treatment and for whom they fundraised.
With a target of £10,000 set and more than £6k already raised in just a matter of days, it looks to be a matter of when, not if, we’ll see Mani immortalised in paint, on brick and with typical Manc grit over in the borough of Oldham.
For anyone who wishes to contribute to the fast-growing Mani mural crowdfunder, you can do so HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
29th October 2020 
