THE HULME TUNE

Your Hulme Community Reporter, Paul Ridyard, has been accepted on a course at the University of Central Lancashire. I’m going to do a BA (Hons) Journalism – Foundation Year Entry based at BBC Radio Lancashire in Blackburn. The course starts in September when I enrol at the main university building in Preston.

It’s a great opportunity for me to gain a qualification that would lead to doing a full-time 3 yr degree course. Will it be easy when I have a disability and claiming Incapacity Benefit, I wonder? After all, the Government would like to see us in employment. Are there opportunities for training and higher education, to give us a better chance of a career, or is the Government more concerned about unemployment figures? I am going to find out.

This Saturday I received the news that I was waiting for, that UCLan had accepted me on the course and had reserved me a place unconditionally. This was great news. Also, I got an email inviting me up to Preston for one of the university’s open days. This would mean forking out £8.70 for the train fare, but I was to find out later that this was an investment.

I got to the Open Day Registration Point in Foster Building (see pic above) and gave my name, received a bag, info I already had and a £1 drinks voucher (bargain). Cheapest coffee was £1, so it was a free drink on them.

While I was there I decided to hand in my acceptance slip to say “Yes” to the course and post my application form for my UCLan Student ID (they have a weird name for it, “Corporate ID”), but getting my passport photo proved to be a bit of a struggle. First of all I had to hunt for a photo booth. I tried the uni library and then the Students Union, eventually I found it. “FOUR POUND FOR 4 PHOTOS!” I shouted inside, in case someone heard me and threw me out – I only needed one. This was another unplanned expense. How much is it going to cost me before I even start studies?

OK, so £4.00 is not a lot. But, then add it to the £8.70 and you see it mounts up. £12.70 is still not a lot, you may think, but deduct that off my weekly benefit money and then you begin to realise that this venture to further my career opportunities is an even bigger sacrifice.

I went back to Foster Building and asked for change, seeing I only had £3.60 in change. The shop didn’t have any and neither did the restaurant. I was told that there was a newsagent close to the SU. So, sweating my shirt wet, I went back to the SU to look for the shop and get some change after buying a drink.

Finally, when I got my pics, I headed back to Registration with a sense of victory.. I did what I came to do. This meant missing the “Hello and welcome to UCLan” sleep-talk in the lecture hall further inside. Which didn’t really bother me at this point.

Foster Building was too warm, I was hot and my asthma was making me feel very uncomfortable. There was no air-conditioning and the doors that were automatic kept shutting. So, I went outside to cool off.

When I wandered back in, the receptionist was very nice and kind. She gave me a re-usable internal mail envelope and a pair of scissors with a cheaper branded version of the Pritt Stick. I stuck my pic to the form and put it in. Sigh of relief.

One of the welcoming staff called me over to ask me where I got my photos from. I was puzzled at first, because it was me who was asking 30 minutes before. Then I though it was amusing; but I was pleased to be able to help and pointed them in the right direction.

Time was heading towards 1pm and I deeded to get to the journalism talk in another of the university buildings. The information booklet for the Open Days at UCLan said that there was a shuttle bus that picked people up from the station and went round the campus every 10 minutes. I didn’t see one, but there were a few coaches parked up in the side street adjacent to Foster Building. My spine was hurting me and I didn’t want to walk. I asked one of the drivers for the shuttle, he said he didn’t know. Then he said he’d take me to the place. It was great, as I was the only passenger – a whole coach to myself!

When I arrived at the Greenbank Building, where the journalism course talk was, I was directed to the lifts and the second floor. I sat for 45 minutes in another stifling warm room. No, open windows or air-con. I was hoping that my anti-perspirant deodorant would keep working or I’d stink the class out. I then ate my chicken butties and finished my drink off while the talk started, after inhaling my asthma medication again.

The Course Leader, Shirley Lewis, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the range of different courses in Journalism that we could go on for a degree and the foundation. My plan was to do the foundation course, so I’ll have entry to university, then change to Film & TV to do a degree. Then, when the Journalism course touched upon Radio & TV studios, I realised that maybe I should continue in 2009 doing a journalism degree. This is why it paid for me to go on Sunday; otherwise I would have my sights set wrong. Most of the class was made up of 18yr olds with aging parents and not feeling intimidated or out-of-place, I said to one of the teenagers, “Please remember me next year as you do your degree, I might need your help!”

So, how should I, with a working class background, approach this course? Should I go dreading it and fearing the worse, knowing that, at the end of 1 or 4 years, I’ll be further in debt by 10’s of thousands of pounds?

I simple thought came to me. A few weeks ago I was watching a TV programme explaining how children take in more when learning is made fun for them. ‘That’s the key!’ I thought. My attitude is going to be one of excitement, adventure and it’s going to be fun. Fun learning, fun doing and fun meeting new people.

Today, Monday, I went to the student loan people on Quay Street and gave them my passport to photocopy for their records.

I thought about how much it would cost me to travel by train 2 days a week to do this course and any extra expenses on the way. I am hoping that the Government has made a provision for this through grants. If not, then there are bursaries. I hope that this expense will be covered somehow, as it’s going to be a long cold winter if not. Enough to put most people off higher education. I’ll let you know as soon as I get news.

I did bump into an ex-Manchester Metropolitan University student who works behind a bar on Oxford Rd. I thought it was strange that he had passed his degree, but was working as a bar tender. He told me that he took a film course that was just history and styles and that he couldn’t find work with it. He said that if he had waited until now, he could have gone on a better course.

This is not unusual with some university graduates. Another student, a few years ago, told me that his degree wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. This is shocking, but there are courses out there that could lead to a dead end. I did suggest he could do what his tutor did, those who can’t.. teach!

Finding the right university is equally important.

My bar tender friend said that he couldn’t go on another course to gain the degree that would give him a greater opportunity of finding a career in film. I asked, “Why not?” He told me that the last degree put him in too much debt. So, here is a young man aged about 22 with no job after his degree and in a lot of debt. I did suggest that he could do a postgraduate instead.

Choose carefully the course you want to do. Many parents push their sons & daughters in to courses what they think they should do. This is nothing but controlling. I’ve talked to a few unhappy students in the past and found that the course they were on was not their desired one, but pushy parents put them there. I did advise them to see a student adviser and one changed her course and is now very happy and has worked with needy children in under-developed countries in Europe, like Romania, fulfilling her dream. Fortunately for her, the advice came at the right time during her 1st year.

This student loan scheme was New Labours’ idea of student poverty and needs to be stopped. So that students who end up on the wrong course won’t literally have to pay (back) for their mistake for years to come. How many more students have wasted 3 yrs and got nowhere and have serious debts?

If I give my honest view in these blogs, then hopefully things can be done to improve life for others. Otherwise, some things would get over-looked.

Prayer is going to get me there!

Caribbean colour came to Hulme this afternoon. The Caribbean Carnival of Manchester 2008 graced the roads of Hulme, as the rain stayed off, to the delight of local residents, who viewed the parade from both sides and their balconies.

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, councillor Mavis Smitheman, started more than 20 troupes of costumed dancers and carnival queens, who danced and shook their booty to six steel bands and calypso music from the floats.

The carnival left Alexandra Park in Moss Side at around 1.00pm today, coming through Hulme around 2.10pm and then returned to the park via Aquarius Estate.

This gave our young people from Zion Arts Centre a chance to show off their costumes and their style of dancing.

The theme of this year’s carnival is ‘One World, One Carnival’.

The organisers of the carnival are also one of the winners of this years Nationwide Community and Heritage Awards run by the Nationwide Building Society in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Winston Lemington - Hulme & Moss Side Filmmaker
captures mother and baby enjoying the costumes and music.

Every one of these pictures you can download and keep if you are featured in them, but only for private use or social networking sites. Any other use is subject to copyright law.

For more info visit

www.caribbeancarnivalofmanchester.com

Was it the hottest new range, the sizzling styles or did someone burn the toast? Whatever it was, shoppers on Market Street today were treated to a bit of eye candy. Young muscular firemen, in full uniform, rushed into the USC store - much to the ladies delight. I think some of them had to be put out to cool down.

Looks like one woman has spotted something to fan her flames of passion.  But, before anyone can say “exclusive”, it looked like it was a false alarm. One shopper did manage to take a picture of 2 of the crew before they headed back to base.

Why are we the last ones to know about events in Hulme? There seems to be a famine of publicity when organisers stage events in the area. Last year it was the same. What’s wrong with using community websites, A4 posters and other means to tell local residents of the activities that go on in Hulme Park?

For the few that did see it though, MAGGs, Xcalibre and Manchester City Council blew up a row of bouncy castles type inflatables, had a fair-ground ride, music and a few portaloos. It was the first of 3 Family Fun Days with:

• Food and refreshments (missing today)
• Sport Activities (missing today)
• Face Painting (missing today)
• Martial Arts Workshop (missing today)
• Inflatables
• Music
• Children’s DJ & entertainer (goes with the music, still it makes it look like there’s a lot)
• Assault Course (the above inflatables)
• Raffles & Prizes (didn’t notice it)

5 out of 9 ain’t bad. However, it did have a rodeo rotating bull, exactly like the one at Manchester Mela in Platt Fields this weekend, not advertised on the flyer that I got to see.

I talked to a few of the parents who did enjoy it. One mum thought it was great, but wondered why there was no publicity. Another wanted more stalls offering information.

A few minutes later there came a gang of around 7-8 youths riding bicycles, the PCSO’s soon got to intercept them as I was leaving the park. Even as a reporter sometimes it’s best to stay out of the way and let the police get on with their job.

Manchester City Council really do reach out to communities and offer help and by putting on events like these they can reach people more effectively. But, I can’t help thinking that estates like Aquarius will miss out if the word doesn’t get around.

 The other 2 ‘Family Fun Days’

Wednesday 6 August from 12pm-5pm

The Manchester Academy School

Moss Lane East

Moss Side

Wednesday 13 August from 12pm-5pm

Richmond Park School

Cochrane Avenue

Longsight

There you go, the secret’s out.. now others can go and enjoy this free offering of entertainment for the kids! And.. it’s FREE - except the ice-cream.

Earlier this evening a thief abandoned a stolen large black motor bike on Old York Street corner of Royce Road, Hulme. Police surrounded the area while crowds of children gathered to see the chase. It did look like the offender, now on foot, ran into housing between Old York St and Dearden St, adjacent to the park.

Then an hour later police began to deal with an incident in Hulme Park. Again this called for 3 cars and 2 vans, another van was parked near the junction of Chevassut Street / Jackson Crescent. It’s not sure if the 2 incidents are connected or if this second one was brought on by local youths which had gathered.

The police refused to give me any information about these incidents. When I rang the police I was questioned myself. Was I a journalist? I told police that I was a community reporter for MCIN & www.mymanchester.net. That carried as much weight as a helium balloon on the moon and I was held in a queue while being transfered to control. I watched as my inclusive minutes tick by for 7 minutes. Finally, when someone could be bothered to answer the phone again, the police said the information was subject to “data protection”. Is that protected until MEN, Granada or BBC asks for it, I wonder? Why is it “protected” when we may see it in the press tomorrow?

It looks like the police were not willing to reassure residents if the thief has been caught or if he/she is still at large in the Hulme area. And, it isn’t clear if the police need any information from the public. So, this is all the police info I have - absolute zero!

CRIME IN HULME

I’ve talked to residents that would not normally speak to police or any press and they tell me about crime that has gone on in Hulme. Some fear reprisals if they did speak up. They tell me about people who have been mugged coming home from a local pub, another has talked about plasma screen TV’s stolen to order.

The good news is that one of the local Police Community Support Officers arrested a man while the burglary was still in progress. It was quicker for the PCSO to get there than a police vehicle with sirens blazing.

I wondered why there were PCSO’s during the day and none at night. You pay £300,000 for a house and pay taxes and council tax, you’d want the police patrolling regularly. While people are at work, their homes are empty and this is tempting for criminals to break-in. Hulme residents should take measures to prevent crime and can contact police for advice on making their homes & cars more secure.

Earlier this week, in a press statement, Greater Manchester Chief Police Officer, Peter Fay, who replaced the late Mike Todd, said he wanted more police to patrol during the day and that there was enough at night patrolling the streets. Which streets are those? City centre streets perhaps? I’ve not noticed any police patrolling Hulme at night. Yes, we do get the helicopter occasionally and a drive-by police van once a blue moon.

I, like many people, wonder.. why we don’t get police patrols at night? Why are we being bothered by drunken anti-social shouting and screaming and loud music in the early hours? As the police said to one resident, “You have to take it up with City Council Noise Pollution team” That can take a long time of sleepless nights. What if you drive for a living or are in the medical profession? Severe tiredness may cause lack of judgment, stress, ill-health and fatigue. Which means time off work, stress related problems or in some cases fatality due to fatal errors, because of some, often unemployed, anti-social boozed & drugged fueled neighbour that keeps the street awake at night.

Patrolling our residential areas at night is crime prevention, I would have thought - man charged with manslaughter of 63-year-old man “after police were called to reports of a disturbance on Saturday night.” Where were these police patrols that the GM Chief of Police said we had? Doing paper work, I guess. Why did this man not have the confidence in ringing the police, to then put himself at risk? I was assaulted when I asked one of my neighbours to turn his noise down. He was drugged fueled and drunk and threatening. I lost confidence in the police myself. But, it isn’t the police directly. It is the Government not doing enough to change legislation and releasing the police from stacks of paper work.

At present, in the Hulme and Moss Side area in the last month, there is an average of:

•  Burglaries to homes 31.
•  Violence against a person 45.
•  Theft from vehicles 38.
•  Theft from a person 9.
•  Anti-social behaviour 8.

It could mean that anti-social behaviour at night is not a priority.  Reported crime in the area has increased this month from 417 to 460 in total.

People can report any concerns they have to the police on 0161 872 5050 or through Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Leave a comment on what you think about the policing in your area.

HELP FOR EX-CONS

Ex-criminals, who have served their jail sentences,  are to be given help while living in Hulme under a joint scheme by People First HA and the Hulme-based organisation Ex-cell, they intend to start providing support services to the ex-prisoners soon.

I would like to know if these ex-cons were already living in Hulme before or have just come out of prison and been offered a flat or house straight away in this re-development area. Are ex-offenders jumping the housing queue? Should we give them a chance to go straight?

On one side, I can see that there is a need to put someone in a nice place away from influences that can draw the person back into crime and give them a fresh start to build their lives in a real positive way with support on every side.

On the other, there are those who have made new friends and connections in prison and even enrolled in further education in how to be a more effective criminal.

Let’s hope that this is a positive step to reform these people and make them into role models themselves, even on to mentor young adults in how not to do this life.

 What do you think - leave a comment.

OTHER NEWS

In the meantime,  police are becoming increasingly concerned for a 13-year-old boy who has been missing from home. Daniel Whitehead was last seen at his home on Walsingham Avenue, Middleton, on Monday 14 July 2008.

Daniel is described as white, 4ft 5ins tall with short brown hair, brown eyes and of a medium build. He was wearing a grey tracksuit, with black shorts and a red top underneath.

Police Constable Cathy Watts of Oldham police station said: “Daniel has been missing before. We are concerned about his welfare and we need to know that he is safe and well. If you have any information about his whereabouts please contact us.”

Anyone with any information should call 0161 856 9063.

Are they sure it was 70,000 Chrysanthemums that they laid in Albert Sq. for pay-per-view? Was it not 69,999? Can they do a re-count? Great for ‘guess the number of flowers’ competition. Who’s paid for this? Us, as in Man City Council? Arts Council? Save the Beetroot Chrys’s?

The best view was from inside the Town Hall of course.

Lay a lawn in the middle of Manchester and put a pretty pattern of Chrysanthemums from an old textile  design and what do you get? News coverage! But, what’s  it for?

It’s to promote Jo Vickers, who’s an artist and senior art lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and she has a business in wedding and events flowers called “Spectacular Space”. A great advertising publicity stunt. And just to stop anyone thinking about the environmental implications of pollution in transporting the things, they will be composted for recycling. Deep Purple is a rock band.

Did anyone pay a pound to go up scaffolding to see the view from above? Me neither! I hung around to see if someone would, but it remained empty. I did see an elderly couple coming down the steps, but I think they were looking for the toilets.

If Manchester City Council asked me, I would have told them how to make some money and get the publicity. Ditch the dead heads and put a few holes in it! 9 to be precise. Then charge £3 a time to business people who want to improve their putting on their lunch break, but wait until the warm weather comes.

It’s a girlie thing, yuk.

Now, if she did it as a Manchester United logo then I would respect her turf. Even volunteer to cut her grass, feed & weed the lawn and talk to the flowers to stimulate healthier blossoming. Then picnic and sun bathe in the rain and then build a 9 hole putting course around it.

Fore!

Kaite with Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in “Happy Days”.

TV legend Henry Winkler was at WHSmith in the Arndale today, Sunday 6 July. Many came to see him and he delighted children with his coin trick. He breaks a 25cent coin in his mouth and then it comes back as a full coin again. Henry was there for a couple of hours signing copies of his children’s book series about a boy called Hank Zipzer, ‘the worlds greatest underachiever’.

It started off a bit frustrating at first. First the Arndale security would not let us interview those that met him. Then the mic lead I borrowed from ALL FM crackled and popped. So, we decided to do the interview even if the mic lead wasn’t working. I know.. but what where we suppose to do? I wish I had my own equipment.

Finally, the mic lead worked and Kaite interviewed Henry for The Hulme Tune on Thursday 10 July. Kaite sat next to him and asked him about his dislexia and how much of the books’ character, Hank Zipzer, was based on himself. Henry talked about how much the books has been selling and what was special about 19th August 2008.

Afterwards, Henry gave her a kiss on the cheek and signed a copy of one of the books. Kaite was thrilled to have met him and couldn’t wait to tell all her family and friends across the world. WHSmith also took pictures, as well.

Tomorrow he’s off to a Stockport school to see the children. You can tell he really loves children. Henry is a real down-to-earth nice guy and WHSmith were hospitable, too - we appreciate that - thank you guys.

You can hear the interview on ALL FM on this Thursday’s show!

EMAIL THE SHOW

New musical drama series Britannia High was filming at the back of the Town Hall this afternoon around lunch time. The cast & crew were filming a music number.

Britannia High is a contemporary British performing arts school. The cast will play a close knit group of six students, all sharing the same hopes and dreams of success.

The drama series sees the students learning how to make their own mark on the world.

 According to the press release.

The drama series is set to air in Autumn 2008.

Britannia High - ITV Drama

No, not a rush for my autograph this time.. they were filming Arndale Centre’s  new TV advert. No more info than that really, but some nice pics. You may notice that these are the originals from my phone camera. So, they’re big and untouched by the free software Irfanview.

Royce Road, Hulme, was blocked off today for at least one hour between 5-6pm. Traffic was diverted by police as a few local Hulme residents demonstrated peacefully how they want to see Manchester City Council make the two halves of Hulme Park into one continuous stretch. Their argument is that children going from one side to the other could be in danger of traffic moving quickly along that part of Royce Road.

Parents are concerned about fast moving vehicles even though there are speed bumps and that these ramps won’t slow down boy racers. Yet, children should be accompanied by an adult if they are too young.

None of the demonstrators, however, was admitting as to who was in charge or who exactly organised the event.

Vanessa Hall, mother of a young son, tree surgeon and was elected Hulme Councillor 2003 -2008 for the Green Party, told The Hulme Tune, “As a parent myself, I don’t think its appropriate to have this road going through the park.” Vanessa, Chair of Manchester Green Party and their national spokesperson on women issues, went on to say that most parents think the road doesn’t need to be here.

Other Hulme residents, who live further along Royce Road towards City Road, argued that OAP’s who live local want the 263 bus to come back through St Wilfred’s estate. Last year, after money was spent on new bus shelters and raising kerb heights, the 263 was re-routed to go along Stretford Rd. This means that pensioners on the estate have to walk further while carrying heavy shopping across Stretford Rd at busy times.

Even though the Community Transport bus is available, local residents aren’t happy with the service. One woman, who doesn’t want to be named, told me, “People have to book the Community Transport bus the day before and not on demand as they wanted, then return at an exact time. Bringing back the 263 along Royce Road would benefit many. If Royce Road is blocked off then any hope of its return would be squashed.”

This is what Councillor Nigel Murphy had to say:

Royce Road Blockage - Cllr Nigel Murphy

You can listen to more of the interviews from this demonstration by listening to The Hulme Tune this Thursday 10-11am on ALL FM 96.9

A street in Manchester became the location for the new ITV 3-part drama series “Wired” today. Great Bridgewater Street, off Oxford St, was turned into Prince’s Street EC2, with a London bus and the bar “Temple” being a London Underground station. Some of the shots were filmed in London itself and today Manchester and then Liverpool next week.

WIRED stars Jodie Whittaker (Venus, St Trinians), Toby Stephens (Jane Eyre, Die Another Day), Charlie Brookes (Eastenders), Laurence Fox (Lewis) and Sacha Dhawan (Splintered, Bradford Riots) and is about a £250m Internet bank fraud. The gang use an innocent mum to steal money.

You can just make out Beetham Tower in the background.

The series will be shown on ITV in Autumn this year.

Now spot the mistake on the set?

The number at the bus stop is ‘2′ while the number on the bus is ‘96′.

A costly mistake, if it is a mistake that is, to come back to Manchester and shoot it again. Maybe, they just film the back of the bus? Perhaps, the bus was hijacked? Or, the bus got diverted? What if the mum is a bus driver and wanted to stop off at the bank?

Guess I’ll have to wait until the Autumn to find out.