24 August 2017 – Trip to Grange-over-Sands

Grange-over-Sands was renamed in the late 19th or early 20th century by the local vicar, who was fed up with his post going to Grange in Borrowdale. However, in our opinion it should be renamed Gays-over-Sands or Hebden Bridge by the Sea!

We enjoyed our lunch time meals at the Hazelmere Cafe so we came back at the end of the trip for coffee and cakes. We were a bit disappointed that there was a limited choice as most of the cakes had been sold out.

The clean sea air and beautiful sunny day enhanced our visit. We chatted to a local woman with two dogs who showed us around and asked about the Big Pride Weekend in Manchester.

Whilst we were in the Roman Catholic church, someone (no names mentioned) let out the loudest fart (Number 5 on the Richter Scale). I don’t think Peter heard it as he was two churches further up the road.

17 August 2017 – Trip to Rochdale Fire Museum

We met up at the Gracie Fields statue outside the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall and had lunch at The Flying Horse Pub. Most of us enjoyed the wholesome pub grub but the cheese pie was only accompanied by 14 chips and the chicken was a little under-cooked.

The main purpose of the day was to visit the Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum which opened in 1983. We were given the privilege of a special tour for the group.

There was lots of exhibits to see and we learnt a lot about the history of the fire service. But the most fun was trying on the fireman’s helmets:

We relaxed in the Museum cafe with a drink and a biscuit and gossiped about all the scandals that Rochdale has seen … starting with …