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Tributes paid to a Manchester legend as Sir Howard Bernstein dies aged 71

He typified local government at its very best.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 22nd June 2024

Tributes are pouring in following the death of Manchester legend Sir Howard Bernstein, who sadly passed away at the age of 71 on Saturday morning following a period of illness.

Bernstein, the former chief executive of Manchester City Council who worked his way up through local office after starting as a junior clerk at the age of 18 back in the 1970s, is considered to be one of our most important figures and cultural contributors in the city’s history.

The Cheetham Hill-born councillor, who finished his career helping lead the UK’s Sustainability and Transformation plan footprint (STPs), retired back in 2017 but his legacy here in 0161 spans generations and is credited with helping bring the city into the 21st century.

He leaves behind his wife Vanessa and two children.

As you can see, countless local figures and peers who have undoubtedly followed his example over the past few decades have been paying tribute to the legend of local government, along with Mancunians who simply admired his work as a passionate and beyond-loyal city servant.

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Tom Bloxham MBE, chair of Manchester International Festival and local developers Urban Splash, said, “So sad to hear this morning”, while former Granada News reporter Rob McLoughlin called it “A tremendous loss to a city which looked battered and maybe economically finished in the early 80s.”

Manchester Evening News labelled him “a true hero” and the City Council’s Deputy Leader Luthfur Rahman OBE wrote: “Sad day for Manchester. Howard was a great public servant, he had the vision and ability to bring different stakeholders together to deliver for Manchester.”

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The MCC’s full statement on his passing should tell you everything you need to know about how important a character Howard was in this city’s story.

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Council Leader Bev Craig summed up his contributions perfectly, writing: “He had boundless energy, strategic vision and a passion for Manchester.

“In 46 years at the Council, serving as chief executive between 1998 and 2017, he played an integral role in the regeneration and economic growth of the city, from the city centre’s resurgence after the 1996 IRA bomb and the 2002 Commonwealth Games and transformation of East Manchester to the creation and extension of Metrolink.  

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“He was also integral in the establishment of strong working relationships between the 10 Greater Manchester councils, culminating in the establishment of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in 2011 and a series of historic devolution agreements which transferred power and resources away from Westminster and Whitehall to our region. He leaves an incredible legacy in the transformation of the city.”

Simply put, Manchester would not be anywhere near where it is today without Howard Bernstein and we have him to thank for a lot of what makes this modern, thriving city so great.

Our thoughts are will his loved ones at this difficult time. Rest in peace to a legend and thank you.

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

Featured Images — University of Manchester/NCVO London (via Flickr)

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Family festival Geronimo cancelled for good as parents slam ‘absolute farce’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Geronimo Festival has been cancelled for a second year. Credit: PR picture

Geronimo Children’s Festival, a popular family event that was meant to take place in Cheshire this summer, is ‘no more’.

The festival, sometimes dubbed ‘Glastonbury for kids’ has announced that it’s cancelling its summer weekender for the second year running.

In a statement, organisers blamed poor ticket sales due to ‘the great British weather’ and said that all ticket-holders will be refunded.

Its 2023 festival was also cancelled.

Geronimo was set to take place this year at Arley Hall between 23 and 26 August, featuring children’s entertainment, interactive musical experiences, food and more.

Parents who were looking forward to taking their little ones to the event have now slammed the cancellation as an ‘absolute farce’.

One wrote: “Aww so sorry to hear this we had an amazing time there 2 years ago and we’re so looking forward to going again.”

Another said: “Sad to see something so amazing 6 years ago has now gone to this.”

Someone else wrote: “No surprise there. Absolute farce.”

In its statement, Geronimo said: “With a heavy heart, we announce that Geronimo Children’s Festival is no more and our scheduled event on 23rd-26th August 2024 has been cancelled. We thank all those involved in it, the directors, staff and artists who all put their hearts and soul into the event.

“The great British weather is not always kind and with a huge percentage of festival-goers holding off booking until the last week, the event has become an unsustainable financial risk.

“Ticketline will arrange the face value refund of all valid tickets (including those rolled over from previous years) Please note we have no access to ticketholder details and are unable to assist with refunds directly. All ticket enquiries should be addressed to [email protected] or call 0161 813 2222.

“Thank you to all the families, performers and suppliers who made Geronimo Festival a magical experience for so many children over the last decade. We hope you will cherish the memories of your time in our festival fields and wish everyone a wonderful summer.”

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Featured image: Geronimo Festival

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Parents of Dillon Duffy issue urgent appeal to help find missing Oldham teen last seen in London

Danny Jones Danny Jones Missing Oldham teenager Dillon Duffy updates

The parents of missing Oldham teenager Dillon Duffy have issued an urgent appeal to help find their son who disappeared last week.

Dillon Duffy, 18 from Chadderton, was reported missing on Tuesday, 18 June last week after he was thought to be on the way to work.

He was dropped off by his mother outside the local Asda supermarket on Milne Street, saying that he wanted to grab a bottle of water before his shift, but the teen decided instead to jump on a train to Stoke at around 3.35pm from Manchester Piccadilly before boarding another to London.

CCTV footage confirmed the last-known sighting of the youngster arriving at Euston station and the Metropolitan Police‘s missing person unit is now said to have taken charge.

Dillon was last seen wearing the black North Face jacket pictured, as well as black and grey Nike trainers with white soles. Although his head is recently shaved, he is described as having ‘dirty blonde’ hair. It is also thought he could be carrying a large blue Simpsons blanket that is missing from his room.

Speaking to the Oldham Times, mum Donna Duffy said: “It’s obviously a big police area and they’re inundated with missing persons cases, so we’re not really getting anywhere with that at the moment in terms of footage.

“It’s vital that we get some CCTV footage of where he went after Euston station, my sister managed to get some footage for the police but that trail isn’t being chased.

Even more concerningly, Ms Duffy went on to detail that Dillon left a note for his family telling them he was feeling low and that they found internet searches relating to depression.

“We don’t know what frame of mind he’s in”, said Donna, “[but from his Google history it shows he was feeling really low and I’m feeling really sorry for him because I didn’t know he was feeling that way. I just want him to reach out so we can help and support him.”

She also told the MEN that the young man had been deemed “low risk” by police because he is 18 but they are unsure whether he even has money and are worried as there has been no social media activity.

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With Dillon’s father having driven the 200 miles to London immediately and spent six days searching for his son non-stop along with some other friends and family, she admitted the search thus far has taken its toll, with the distressed dad having to come back home “due to his own health.”

He even drove up to Bridlington in Yorkshire due to a hunch based on Dillon’s search history but the pair have now come “come to a standstill”, with Donna adding in a post online that she had been “stood aimlessly in Manchester Picadilly train station” in hopes he might return from the capital.

Numerous accounts across various social media platforms are now trying to spread the word in an effort to locate him. More than 26,000 people have also joined the ‘Help Find Dillon Duffy’ Facebook group and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

You can also call or text the UK’s official missing persons hotline on 116000 and cite the reference number: 24-096945.

The search for fellow missing teen Jay Slater also continues as efforts to find the 19-year-old from Lancashire have now been stepped up.

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Featured Images — Family Handouts/GMP/Met Police

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