Wednesday 28 February 2018, 6.00 – 7.00pm

The Drag Ball: Exposing Manchester’s Hidden Past

In September 1880, Detective Jerome Caminada and his Manchester police force raided the Temperance Hall in Hulme. Once inside, they found 47 men, half of whom were in women’s clothing. It was an event that shocked both city and country, but who were these men and what became of them?

This free talk at the Performance Space, Manchester Central Library is presented by Tom McGrath, a PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University. Come along to find out more at 6.00pm, Wednesday 28 February 2018.

Trips & Adventures – 22 February 2018

The fantastic organisation Manchester Cares organised a trip to the Walter Carroll Lunchtime Concert Series at Manchester University.

Halle cellist and University cello tutor, Simon Turner and RNCM tutor and chamber musician, Paul Janes played two of the greatest duo sonatas for cello and piano: Beethoven Op 102 no 2 in D major and Debussy in D minor.

We were also treated to Three Tunes Heard in China, for solo cello: Seasons, The Little Cabbage and The Drunken Fisherman.

Tony, Alex (from Manchester Cares) and Pauline

Queer Solidarity – 20 February 2018

Today marked the 30th anniversary of the Section 28 demo in Manchester against the Local Government Act 1988.

Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the controversial addition of an amendment that stated that a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.

At a workshop last week we made placards:

On 20 February 2018 we re-enacted iconic scenes from the demo:

Trips & Adventures – 15 February 2018

We caught an early train at 10.03am to Clitheroe. For the train devotees there are hourly trains from Manchester Victoria operated by Northern. Usually, services are operated by Class 150 trains, but sometimes Class 156 and Class 153 operate the service.

We had a leisurely coffee and then a fantastic meal at the Conservative Club before heading towards Clitheroe castle, the town’s most notable building and one of the smallest Norman keeps in Britain dating back to 1186.

The views from the castle were very impressive, but it must have been the windiest day of the year – a good day to be playing with a frisbee – but not so good to keep on your feet.

Trying to avoid the wind inside the keep

Another photo from the robot exhibition?

Trips & Adventures – 8 February 2018

We went to Port Sunlight, via Liverpool, to see the exhibition “Model Image – Fashion and photos from the 1950’s” at the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

The exhibition captured the elegance, glamour and refined grace of the 1950’s featuring effortlessly stylish evening dresses and accessories and stunning prints by some of the most high-profile photographers of the decade.

We also viewed the rest of the gallery before enjoying coffee and cake in the cafe.