Feature

Manchester, the birthplace of the NHS – here’s how it all began

As the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary this week, we look back on its journey up to now.

The Manc The Manc - 4th July 2023

As the clock chimed 8pm on Thursday evening, pockets of sound began to erupt in the distance.

Scattered at first. Then it came closer.

Silhouettes of neighbours moved into view. Lights came on. Windows flung open. Whistles zipped through the air. An airhorn squawked from somewhere within the darkness.

Three years ago, clapping for our carers felt like a simple gesture – but will go down in history as one of the most emotionally overwhelming moments our country has ever seen.

We are indebted to our health service. And this spectacle of noise proved that most of us realise that. Without the NHS, Britain would not be so Great.

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At a time when nurses, doctors and carers are fighting for fairer working conditions, and on a day that marks 75 years since the inception of our NHS, we’ve opted to venture back to the beginning and investigate the origins of our unique healthcare system.

As it so happens, the NHS has roots right here in Manchester…

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nhs bevan
Image: It’s No Game/Flickr

On 5 July 1948, Health Minister Aneurin “Nye” Bevan successfully brought all healthcare workers under a single umbrella – creating a service that was funded through public tax and free-to-use when needed.

The idea was that everyone – rich or poor – could access any type of treatment they required at any time.

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It was a revolutionary, innovative and daring concept – and the principles on which the NHS was founded remain the same to this day.

Bevan visited Trafford General Hospital – then known as Park Hospital in Davyhulme – to kickstart the new regime, earning this healthcare facility the prestigious title: “The birthplace of the NHS”.

Sadly, Bevan would only see the NHS in its infancy. He passed away in 1960 from stomach cancer, sparking a mass outpouring of national grief.

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A local facility has been named in his honour (Nye Bevan House in Rochdale) and his title also appears on a leadership qualification supported by Alliance Manchester Business School (The Nye Bevan programme).

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But Bevan’s greatest legacy is the healthcare system he left behind – the same one that’s carrying Britain through its toughest fight since WWII.

Manchester played an instrumental role in the formation of the NHS, and that is something we, as a city, can be mightily proud of.

Featured image – Wikipedia

Feature

Inside Manchester’s pro-am padel tournament where the sport shone bigger than the celebs

Harry Quick Harry Quick Manchester hosts final round of pro-am padel tournament

We jumped on the court with Olympians, Footballers and TV celebrities to play the racquet sport that is sweeping the globe: let’s take a look inside the first pro-am padel tournament to ever take place in Manchester.

A host of famous faces gathered at Manchester’s newest state-of-the-art padel club, Pure Padel Manchester, for the fourth and final leg of the Pro-Am Padel Tour.

Whether it’s on social media, your mates in the office or your dad finding something as a substitute for the golf course, it seems like everywhere you look someone is telling you about the game of padel they have just had.

Countless sports personalities are getting involved which only highlights its ever-growing popularity and let me tell you, it’s clear to see why.

Household names from the world of sport and entertainment, including Olympic gold medal swimmer Adam Peaty and ex-footballers Phil Jones and Jill Scott were partnered up with top-level professionals to compete in a round-robin style tournament.

It’s fair to say even multiple gold medalists and Premier League winners had their competitive streak unleashed with this one and I’m going to say it… Peaty is definitely better in the water!

From the world of sport, we also saw former England and Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott, Olympic swimmer Matt Richards and Man United great Katie Zelem – who achieved MVP on the day despite having only played once or twice before. Well in Katie!

Taking to the court from the screen we had Coronation Street star Adam Thomas, actor and I’m a Celeb runner-up Owen Warner and Sky Sports presenter Kyle Walker.

If you are not familiar with the sport or you have been living under a rock for the past 12 months, Padel is essentially a combination of tennis and squash – but a lot easier to pick up for a first-timer.

pro-am padel tour manchester
phil jones
Brushing shoulders – and racquets – with some stars at the first-ever pro-am padel event in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Group)

It is widely considered the world’s fastest-growing sport with 30 million players enjoying the technical and social game from more than 100 countries, and is on a fast upward trajectory in the UK.

Although originating in Acapulco, Mexico in the late 60’s, it swiftly made its way over the Atlantic when Prince Alfonso of Spain built two padel courts in Marbella and the Spaniards took to it like a fish to water.

With over 4 million players from Spain, the Iberian Peninsula is considered the home of the sport but with facilities like this popping up in town, Great Britain is becoming a padel force to be reckoned with.

Pure Padel‘s indoor arena protected us from the wintery Manchester conditions for a full afternoon of non-stop action alongside a DJ throughout and some quality street food to help refuel.

One main takeaway from the day is that this is a sport that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age or ability. Yes, there is no denying that the professionals are different gravy and I’m sure I saw some of them give the celebs the runaround with one hand in their pocket.

harry playing
pure padel manchester
Pure Padel Manchester is a great facility, by the way – no wonder the Pro-Am Tour chose it. (Credit: The Manc Group)

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A few were trying the game for the very first time, so a few misplaced drop shots, nervy second serves and ‘name in the headlines’ smashes were always to be expected. As the day progressed, you could see the development in each one of the celebrities thanks to their professional partners.

Jill Scott said “It was an honour to take to the court with the pros but it’s made me realise I need a lot more practice. If you practice, you will see a big improvement quickly. It’s easy to get the bug for it.”

Whilst three-time gold medalist Adam Peaty added, “I enjoy how Padel brings out my frustration. It’s a very technical sport but it’s always fun. I’m still learning but really enjoying it.”

Although practice makes perfect, I’m not sure he’ll be swapping the goggles for a racquet any time soon. To sum it all up, the biggest takeaway from the entire experience was that it wasn’t the collective celeb presence that shone: it was was the sport itself and how big a boom it is truly enjoying.

If you fancy giving it a go for yourselves, Pure Padel Manchester over on Cheetham Hill is open to the public right now – you can find out how to book yourself HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Feature

Ravyn Lenae at Gorilla Manchester – Our ‘One Wish’ was granted

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

This was Ravyn Lenae’s first rodeo at Gorilla and it’s safe to say she had the Manchester crowd hooked on her live set like ‘Candy’ (sorry).

Only two lines in and three puns deep but Ravyn’s performance was nothing to joke about, especially with her to-die-for vocals and killer live accompaniment.

Her most recent album and tour are both branded, Birds Eye, and while Gorilla may not be the most panoramic place in our beautiful city to overlook the Manchester skyline, the bubbly and engaging crowd sure painted a pretty well-rounded picture of the Mancunian hospitality. 

The introduction to ‘Bad Idea’ feels like a spaceship descending to earth and it couldn’t be more fitting because let’s face it, an artist this good simply can’t be living on the same planet as us she’s simply out-of-this-world.

Similarly, the follow-up ‘1 of 1’ has an identical space-tech vibe with a static-filled opening and instrumental making it a perfect predecessor. These two tunes have impressive soundscapes with the live drums even more so helping to excite a sold-out venue.

Ravyn Lenae Manchester show
Ravyn Lenae wasn’t shy on stage, commanding the Gorilla stage.
Ravyn Lenae Manchester Gorilla
Lenae appreciating the roars of the Manchester crowd.
Credit: Audio North/The Manc Group

Seven tracks into the setlist, Lenae knows how to keep Gorilla at her fingertips performing hits ‘M.I.A’, ‘The Night Song’ and ‘Candy’ back-to-back-to-back – easily the holy trinity of track runs on this tour.

Taken from her debut outing Hypnos, the afrobeats and lo-fi inspired ‘M.I.A’ doubles as a dancefloor filler and an instant crowd pleaser, ironically we were lost in the music.

The middle of this three-track-run ‘The Night Song’ keeps spirits high and boosts our confidence as the 25-year-old has us singing, “Hair down, feeling alright/ Got my edges on tight, It’s a party tonight”.

Her sweet-named album track ‘Candy’ jet sets us to a tropical paradise with its reggae-fused rhythms, and after a full ten minutes of side-stepping and attempting to dance, the cold temperature outside didn’t even cross the crowd’s mind.

Besides being some of her best numbers, these three upbeat tunes take us through a small piece of her past three projects with each of the singles featuring on a different respective release from 2018 all the way up to present day.

Ravyn lenae showing some love to at the Manchester show.
Nothing but love from Ravyn Lenae and her crew for the Mancs.
Ravyn Lenae live
Lost in music, Lenae and band at Gorilla, Manchester.
Credit: The Manc Group

Steve Lacy produced ‘Sticky’ was another standout, her rocker chic-esque vocal style flaunts all over the live band’s arrangement as she flaunts, ‘What did you do?/ Got me confused’.

‘One Wish’ was ethereal; I may have an unfair bias with this single being my personal favourite in the American star’s discography, but the vocal delivery and Lenae’s characterisation elevated this to new heights – even better than its original studio recording, maybe.

Manchester never misses the chance for an encore, especially not when it’s the plucky guitar bop ‘Love Me Not’. Up there with one of her best.

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The crowd erupted as Lenae asked, “You want one more?”, before whistling, “See right now I need you, I’ll meet you somewhere now”, it was obvious concertgoers wanted this show wasn’t done.

The Manchester date marks the final show of the whole tour and Lenae was feeling very reflective during song breaks, telling the buzzy crowd, “I’m so grateful that I still get to tour this part of the world and I appreciate you all braving the cold for me”.

When you’re getting to witness someone as remarkable as Chicago-born singer Ravyn Lenae, a little bit of nippy Manchester weather is nothing!

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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