A free exhibition celebratingchildren’s books including The Gurffalo, Zog, Stick Man and Room on the Broomis coming to Salford in time for the summer holidays.
The major new exhibit, which will celebrate author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s award-winning partnership, will open at The Lowry arts centre this summer.
Entitled Julia and Axel – Thirty Years of Favourite Stories, it will bring to life some of the best-loved characters in contemporary children’s fiction.
Kicking off in July before running through to the end of the year, those heading down can look forward to exploring an interactive “Storybook room”, as well as discovering snippets from the animated reimaginings of The Gruffalo, Zog and Snail and the Whale.
The exhibit will also explore how Julia and Axel have collaborated over the years to create some of the most beloved characters in modern children’s fiction.
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From the terrible tusks and terrible claws of the Gruffalo to the Witch, her cat, and her very tall hat, and Stick Man on his journey home to the ‘family tree’, the pair’s eccentric characters have captured the hearts and minds of children around the world.
The exhibition will open on Saturday 22 July at The Lowry and run to Monday 1 January 2024, giving families plenty of opportunities to visit over the course of the year.
Julia Donaldson says: “I am delighted that we are working in partnership with The Lowry on this exhibition and that they are celebrating 30 years of Axel and me working together. It is exciting to be able to share some ‘behind the scenes’ secrets with our young readers and to show what happens before a finished book is in their hands.
“I hope that it will help them to feel creative and to start writing and illustrating their own stories, so that we have new picture-book creators in the future.”
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Axel Scheffler says: “I find it hard to believe that it is 30 years since Julia Donaldson and I did our first picture book together with A Squash and a Squeeze. So much has happened since then and many children have now enjoyed our stories over the years.
“I am very pleased that The Lowry is hosting this special celebratory exhibition and that it will give families the chance to discover more about my illustrations and Julia’s writing.”
Michael Simpson, Director of Visual Arts at The Lowry, says: “This is a unique celebration of the creative partnership of Julia and Axel, whose stories and pictures are loved by children and grown-ups alike. We want every family to think of The Lowry as the place to go for a great day out.”
The Lowry Hotel is hosting a free men’s health check and Manchester’s first-ever ‘Shave-athon’ to support Movember
Danny Jones
Male health is something we still overlook far too often and there can be lots of stigma surrounding both men’s mental and physical health, so with that in mind, The Lowry Hotel’s spa and wellness centre is teaming up with Movember to help promote the charity and their important work.
To celebrate the end of Movember 2023, The Lowry and RE:TREAT will be holding Manchester’s first-ever ‘Shave-athon’ event, where blokes can turn up to the luxury city centre hotel to give their moustaches a free trim or go clean-shaven after 30 days of wearing face fur.
Better still, given the organisation’s unwavering commitment to men’s health, the spa will also be hosting a ‘Ball-athon’: a.k.a. free testicular scans to anyone concerned about any lumps, bumps or who simply fancies getting a quick check-up.
And don’t worry, the shaving will be carried out by male grooming experts and the basic ball observations done by a registered healthcare professional.
Credit: Supplied
While the event is completely free to attend, those who turn up will be encouraged to donate to the charity, no matter how small the contribution. This isn’t a Tesco advert but when it comes to stuff like this, every little bit really does help.
For anyone hesitant, all scans are completely confidential and non-invasive too, not to mention carried out within the privacy of The Lowry’s award-winning RE:TREAT treatment rooms, with medical reports able to be passed on to your GP if required.
The Movember Foundation marked its 20th anniversary this year and has raised well over £400 million for men’s health causes since it first began. Events are just yet another example of the amazing work they’ve been doing for two decades now.
The free shaves and ‘Ball-athons’ will take place on Thursday 30th November, with drop-in sessions open from 3pm-6:30pm. You can book your free ticket now.
You can find more information on the event and RE:TREAT on The Lowry website and for anyone who wants to help do their bit for Movember this year, you can donate to the amazing cause HERE.
The Salford takeaway sensation that’s been named one of the best burgers in Britain
Daisy Jackson
A Greater Manchester takeaway has just been crowned with having one of the best burgers in Britain, placing in an impressive seventh place.
Burgerism, which started life in Salford and now has sites in Gatley and Manchester too, said it was ‘unbelievably proud’ to receive the accolade.
The local business placed seventh in The Times’ Top 10 Burgers in Britain list, beaten by some massive names like Shake Shack, Patty & Bun, and MeatLiquor.
Burgerism even managed to place one above Hawksmoor, the steak restaurant that’s also famed for its burgers, with which it recently collaborated on a special menu.
Burgerism said it was ‘completely overwhelming’ to have been placed so highly on the list, which was voted on by some of the country’s top chefs.
They wrote on Instagram: “We are unbelievably proud, humbled and grateful to have been named in @thetimes Top 10 burgers in Britain, as voted for by some of the country’s top chefs, coming in at number seven!
“To think of where we started from just a few short years ago as a solitary shack in Salford to our meal deal ranking as Deliveroo’s most popular dish in Manchester and now to have top chefs singing our praises and naming us one of the best burgers in the country.
Burgerism in Greater Manchester has been named the seventh best burger in Britain. Credit: The Manc GroupBurgerism in Greater Manchester has been named the seventh best burger in Britain. Credit: The Manc Group
“It’s completely overwhelming and a testament to all of our wonderful team who serve countless burgers up expertly every day, never allowing our quality to dip even when they’re absolutely rammed with orders.
“Every one of them deserves all the praise in the world for getting us to this point. And obviously, you lot, our loyal customers who have come from all over the country, sometimes driving hours just to pick up a few meal deals and scranning them down in your car in the pouring Mancunian rain.
“Where would we be without you? Your support will always mean the world to us and we love serving you all.
“Here’s to cracking that top five next time.”
Burgerism first launched in 2018, quietly setting the standard for dark kitchens way before the pandemic made them so popular.
At times, it had queues outside its original Salford site churning out thousands of its popular smashed patty burgers a day.
Georgina Pellant -
24th April 2023 
