Welcome to my page about our home village of Reddish. The purpose of this page is to try and promote our village as a community, by showing just what activities we have in our village. We are currently in a time of recession, it's my belief we never really got over the last one. Now, we have people who are being thrown out of work. We need to 'pull together' as a community, because people need support at this difficult time. Don't get me wrong, I have no answers myself. But I hope that we can show that as a community, we can all stick together, and help people through this difficult time. I will add more to this as I go along, but it will be to show what institutions we have in Reddish, which may help people cope with their situation.

We are all members of the Reddish Community. We must do what we can to help one another out, through this time, through community centres, churches, and official bodies, such as local councillors and help centres, like the one at Houldsworth Square. You are not alone. 

OK, so where do we start? Well, how about despair. I lost my job in 2008, and I won't go into the reasons why, let's just say, my problem was not with the company itself, but certain individuals. I will say no more at this point. I could have despaired at this point, however I decided not to give certain people the satisfaction. I decided instead, to try and put something back into our local community. Suffice it to say, the people who tried to 'do me down', were not from our village, and many of them have a low opinion of it, and of us. Sad really.

When companies decide to re-locate, people are faced with a choice, they either go with the company, in which case, they either have the inconvenience of travel, or they leave. In either case resentment is the result. Those who chose to stay with the company feel perhaps that they deserve a higher status for their 'loyalty'. Whereas those who are recruited from the local community, and therefore do not have the inconvenience of having to travel, are resented by the other faction. So you have a polarisation between the two, with cliques forming, and personal vendettas which are not in the interest of the company. I am glad I finished there, because having gone through all the technical training, and having to learn the basics of electronics and being keenly interested in it, to take a job like that was a big comedown for me, even though I earned more money than I ever earned in the TV trade. Now, because of the recession, certain people no longer work there. They are not smirking now.

Moving on, what do we have in Reddish? in terms of community support, well, you might be surprised. In South Reddish, for example, there is the Community Cafe, at St. Mary's Church Hall, where between 10am and 3.30pm, on Wednesdays at the moment, you can have a snack or a meal and a chat with people and bring the kids. On other days, there is a mother and toddler group. There are other activities going on there also, I will give details of these later. There are also other groups, such as Friends of South Reddish Station, who are campaigning to get a regular service into Manchester Victoria introduced. Currently, there is one train a week through the station, to Stalybridge, with no return trip. There must be a lot of trains stacked up there! (just kidding!) But it is seen as one possible solution to traffic congestion in Reddish at rush hour.

Then recently, there was a mini 'fete' at South Reddish Park, off Reddish Road, where plans are afoot to refurbish the park. Perhaps one thing that is needed is an initiative such as has been done at the Bridge Hall Estate, with a brand new Community Centre and Council help centre, which has had a great knock on effect in the local community there, in terms of reducing the problems in the area, such as crime and anti-social behaviour. Maybe that's what we need in Reddish, and I know it would have the support of our local councillors, some of whom were present on the day. 

There is a local web site with information about Reddish with contacts for local groups and activities - www.reddish.info 

Over the years, the various hostelries of Reddish have often been closed, opened then closed again, which is a shame, because good Reddish folk are being denied their recreational facilities. The Grey Horse for example, had been shut for the best part of a year, but now the Holts Group have put investment into the place, and they are doing food and entertainment, and at last, the place is being run properly.

Similarly, the historic Houldsworth Arms, named after the square and clock which bears the name William Houldsworth, the well known former benefactor of our village, is now being run by people who actually care about Reddish and its folk, who are, after all, their customer base. Now, as I write in 2009, the pub has again changed hands, and is undergoing a makeover. The landlady of the Thatched Tavern has taken the Houldsworth on, and she is not beyond rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in. She can often be seen with a paint roller in her hand one minute, and the next she is down the cellar changing a barrel. I have a lot of respect for someone who is prepared to do that for the good of Reddish folk, and none for those who cause problems.

There is a lot of talk these days about the problems caused by so called 'binge drinking'. How many times have you heard people say "I'm gonna get p----d tonight. But getting drunk only causes problems, both with health and behaviour. My philosophy regarding drink is this, - If getting drunk was a consideration, I could do it quite cheaply. But I know at least one person who has died through drink, because of the availability of cheap booze. Pubs should be a part of the heart of our community. Many have done charitable acts in the past and raised money for good causes, that in itself gives people good motivation and a feeling of 'self worth', and belonging to something greater, in the way that sitting at home with cheap cans of booze could never do. If you need to drink, go to a pub, support it. Help with the social side, drink moderately, and you will be part of something more worthwhile. 

But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it will be some time before the work in the Houldsworth is complete. Unlike the Grey Horse, where the brewery undertook the refurbishment of the entire building, the Houldsworth makeover is being done without any input from the brewery, who own the building. Fortunately there are people around her with the skills needed, who are helping to turn the place around. The Houldsworth is a proper community pub for the people of Reddish, and in time it will be even better. Eventually, there will be food on the menu, as well as entertainment. But even now the place is buzzing. Now, local characters gather round the bar in the daytime, and laughter fills the place. The Irish have a word for it, the 'craike', or the 'crack' in English, atmosphere! as they take the rise out of one another! Let's face it, we need something to cheer us up these days! The place deserves to do well.

That's all for now but there will be more as I get round the village, and I will add contact numbers etc.