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ASDA employee hailed a ‘hero’ after helping to save an elderly shopper’s sight

Ophthalmologist Michael Stokes immediately referred the shopper for further examination after picking up warning signs.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st March 2021
ASDA Eastlands

A local ASDA employee has been hailed a “hero” in a viral post after helping to save the sight of an elderly shopper following a routine eye test.

Michael Stokes – who has worked as an Ophthalmologist the ASDA Eastlands superstore for 18 years – has received a Customer Service Award after immediately referring 75-year-old Eileen Mansell for further examination after he picked up warning signs that he wasn’t happy about when she attended a routine eye appointment.

Michael referred Eileen to Arrowsmiths Opticians in Manchester for a second opinion.

A scan later revealed that a blockage to a cataract in her right eye had caused the pressure to build up to a potentially serious level, and Eileen was then sent to the Royal Eye Hospital, where she underwent an emergency operation.

Explaining the sight-saving situation, Michael said: “I saw her for a routine eye test as there was a history of glaucoma in the family.

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“She didn’t have have classic symptoms or pain or anything and wasn’t complaining of any issues, but I noticed a few things that had started to change since her last eye test. The pressure in one eye had gone up quite a lot and this made me want to delve into it a bit deeper.

“I really thought this needed to be looked into further.

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“Eileen came in afterwards to see me and said the hospital had told her that if it had been left any longer then she could have lost her sight.”

https://www.facebook.com/Asda/posts/5125167657554597

Chadderton resident and great-grandmother Eileen – who has been one of Michael’s customers for the past eight years – said: “I’m so grateful to Michael.

“I really can’t thank him enough [and] he is such a treasure for ASDA to have.

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“I just went in for a routine eye test as I had no symptoms at all [but] thankfully, Michael spotted what he did otherwise I could have lost the sight in my eye – and having your sight is such a precious thing.”

A post sharing Michael’s success on ASDA’s official social media platforms this past weekend has since seen him go viral after it amassed over 13K interactions, shares and positive comments from members of the East Manchester community and beyond.

Lisa Casey – Customer Trading Manager at ASDA Eastlands, who nominated Michael for the Customer Service Award – said: “Afterwards, Eileen came in and she was so over the moon. She was just so happy with the service from Michael [and] through his due diligence, he potentially saved her from losing her sight.

“We are all dead proud of Michael.

“He is a really nice, approachable, friendly guy, and a valued member of the team.”

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A massive bowling, games and entertainment bar is coming to Manchester next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones New social club and games bar coming to Manchester

A popular bowling and table games bar that has already proved a hit in Liverpool is coming to Manchester for the very first time next year.

If you’re from the North West, PINS Social Club may not be a new name to you; nevertheless, this will be its Manc debut, with the location not only their first beyond Merseyside but just their second site to date.

As the name would suggest, PINS is primarily about bowling and socialising, but there is plenty more going on at this social club as you’ll find out soon enough.

Scheduled to open in late spring 2026, Manchester and our nearby neighbours in Liverpool are about to strike up a firm party partnership.

new PINS bowling alley coming to Manchester city centre
prviate games lounge manchester
roccos bar area pins social club
CGIs of PINS Social Club Manchester (Credit: Supplied)

Selecting the shifting face of Sunlight House for the space – already home to the likes of Schofield’s Bar – the 25,000 sq ft unit will span three whole floors, offering a next-generation social and entertainment experience in one of Manchester’s most stunning buildings.

A Grade II-listed, Art Deco structure, Sunlight House is undergoing a major £35 million refurbishment, with ‘grade A’ offices set to take up a significant chunk, but it’s soon set to house the latest PINS venue.

Sitting on Quay Street, just off the main Deansgate strip, the busy Peter St corner, and adjacent to Spinningfields, PINS Manchester is springing up right in the midst of arguably the city’s busiest stretches for nightlife.

Promising not only bowling, darts, and table games like pool, shuffleboard and beer pong, but karaoke, live music and all the biggest sporting events on the box, PINS Social Club really does aim to be a one-stop shop for all your needs on a night out.

For instance, their food offerings will run all the way from breakfast through to the late evening, and PINS Manchester is also set to feature a main stage on the ground floor for “electric half-time shows”, with the gaming mezzanine looming just above.

Not only is this going to be PINS’ biggest venue yet, but it’s well and truly on track to be one of the biggest hospitality openings coming in the next 12 months.

Headed up by MD Daniel Kelly, who has also been helping run the resurrected Almost Famous brand here in Manchester, the team knows all about this city. Speaking on the announcement, Kelly said: “Manchester is a city that thrives on energy, culture, and community – everything that PINS is about.

“This new venue will be our biggest yet, offering a bold and exciting social space that’s purpose-built for entertainment, competition, and ultimately, having a great time. We can’t wait to bring our concept to Manchester’s incredible social scene. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.”

Julien Buronfosse, Managing Director at Karrev (the estate company who have leased the building to the business) added: “The PINS offering is diverse, dynamic and will provide tenants and the local community with an unparalleled leisure experience.

“We wanted to work with an operator that understood our vision of breathing new life into a historic building, contributing to the new era that Sunlight House is entering. The building has ambitions to be much more than Grade A office space, with a specific emphasis on community building. The addition of PINS to Sunlight House will contribute greatly to that.”

Consider us here at The Manc Group VERY excited for this one.

Sunlight House redevelopment Manchester.
As you can see, they’ve got plenty of room to work with. (Credit: Calmafftaylor via Wikimedia Commons)

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Featured Images — CGIs (supplied)/Wikimedia Commons

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Lemn Sissay OBE pens powerful poem about Manchester City for Black History Month

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lemn Sissay MBE Man City poem

Lauded local poet Lemn Sissay MBE has penned a moving poem in collaboration with Manchester City, looking back on the club’s cultural past and key persons of colour for Black History Month.

Born in Orrell in the borough of Wigan, the published author, playwright, and BAFTA-nominated broadcaster has made a name as one of our region’s most notable wordsmiths, so it’s no wonder that he was selected by the Cityzens to touch on this particular topic.

Sissay, also a former Chancellor of the University of Manchester from 2015 until 2022, was the first Black Writers Development Worker in the North and was awarded an OBE for his service to literature back in 2010.

Teaming up not only with Man City but the club’s first-ever Black footballer, Stan Horne, as well as other senior stars from the Maine Road days, all the way up to the modern Etihad era.

‘The Stadium Speaks’ by Lemn Sissay – a poem commissioned by Manchester City for Black History Month 2025

Entitled The Stadium Speaks, the public reading of the verses runs for just under two minutes, but even in the relatively short space of time, there is so much power in this poignant poem.

Roping in help from other past players like Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater, as well as current stars like Ruben Dias, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Jeremy Doku, each line leaves just as much impact as the last.

Just as importantly, they were also joined by Jahmal Williams-Thomas, City Matters’ Black and Mixed Heritage representative, Bing Findlater – the Official Supporter Club’s Equality and Inclusion Lead, as well as several other City fans and staff who work throughout the Eithad Campus.

Each individual who lends themselves to the performance delivers their part perfectly and from the heart; after all, Black culture isn’t something strictly celebrated during the month of October, but throughout communities all year round – as it should be.

Sissay, 58, clearly relished the chance to dive into how Greater Manchester‘s history intersects with not only football, but racism, equality, progress and more.

Speaking via a statement on the club website: “Manchester felt like home to me, the moment I stepped foot across the boundary. I came here very early on, when I think I was 13, I came to see Manchester City play. The first time I came to this city was to see City.

“I want the poem to be owned by the person who’s in the stand watching the game. And I wanted the poem to be owned by the person on the pitch who’s playing it. And I want them to feel proud reading it.”

The post goes on to reiterate that just like all teams throughout the football pyramid, racism and discrimination in all its forms should not and WILL not be tolerated.

Asking supporters to step up and speak as and when needed, City fans can report abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour to 07700151894, which will make security aware of what has been witnessed.  

Feedback can also be shared anonymously by texting the specific block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number; if in doubt, talk to a steward or police officer at the game.

Elsewhere, the official MCFC Supporter Charter sets out their zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination, and fans can also report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly HERE.

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Featured Images — Philosophy Football (via Flickr)/Manchester City

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