The book I have done about Joseph Higginson will be available soon from St. Mary's Heritage, in Stockport Market Place. Unfortunately they do not have a direct phone number, but if you live some distance away by all means contact me at mike.kiernan@ntlworld.com and I can arrange to get a copy to you. I have also suggested his name be put forward for the Blue Plaque Scheme, for his contribution to the development of Reddish Village.

One of the 'leg-pulls' I have with the good lady wife, Iris, is when I say to her "You know Every Street in Manchester!" She comes from Manchester anyway and would be familiar with the place. Of course the joke is that there is an 'Every Street' in Manchester, it's in Ancoats! She kept threatening to take me into Manchester to see the John Rylands Library, and today we did just that. It is quite surprising though how little I know about Manchester. Of course I know it is an historic city, bathing in the glory of its one time prosperity. These days, once beautiful ornate buildings are looking decidedly shoddy, with rotting window frames and doors where the paint has long since peeled off even to the bare wood. The John Rylands did not disappoint though, with its vast collection of books, some so rare that they cannot be read perhaps. Then there was Lincoln Square, where there is a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The American Civil War caused great hardship to our local towns because of the cotton famine. The blockade of cotton from the southern states meant much unemployment and suffering. But at the time, friendships were formed with Lincoln and his government because of it. Lincoln corresponded with local people and great links were forged with the American nation. These are things you discover when you visit a place and it shows you how little you know. Finding out is great.

Today two kids came into the Houldsworth Pub, to use the toilet. They were carrying skateboards. They went out, and I thought that here was an opportunity to engage with them. Unfortuately, by the time I went outside, they were high-tailing it down the street. Later though, they came back, and I went over and suggested that maybe they should have a skate park, and I gave them the e- mail address of a local councillor who may be able to help. I also suggested that they should design a skate park themselves, and submit the designs to the Council. These kids need something like that, and I know that there are designs on paper for the improvement of South Reddish Park, on Reddish Road; Why not include a skate park ? after all, it is now, along with BMX, a recognised Olympic sport, if I'm not mistaken. If you are a skateboarder, or a BMX freak, get into your local councillor's ribs or your MP, and demand a skatepark/BMX park ! These kids are our future. We should not deny them that freedom of expression that we had in our day, so long as it promotes a sense of responsibilty to our society. We of our generation, forget the foolishness of our day, and condemn the foolishness of future generations, without trying to understand where they are coming from. Only by engaging with them can we do that ! Think about it.

Well, one of the things I want to do is get myself together a 'Fred Dibnah' kit! I have the flat cap and glasses, but what I needed was a jacket and a pocket watch. Just today, I got the latter, a pocket watch off a market stall, for the princely sum of six quid! But the thing is, it looks the part. So now, all I need is the jacket and a stripy shirt, and my journey to the dark side will be complete! Ooops, sorry, that was a Star Wars quote. But seriously, It would be nice to keep alive Fred's memory, but at the same time, to try and promote the history and heritage of our own town. I can think of no better way than using any latent talents I may have for the betterment of our town of Stockport.There are members of Stockport Heritage Trust who do exactly that, sometimes dressing in period costumes. One of them, John Bardsley, who covers the local history of Romiley, dresses as 'Mr Pickwick' and he looks every bit the part! at such functions as the Chadkirk Festival. And the men of the 'Roman Army' who attend every year, go to great pains with their authenticity. I hope I can do the same. I am proud of them.

Yesterday, I went to St. Andrew's Church, on Hall Street, where the Stockport Heritage Trust were celebrating their Tenth Anniversary, in St. Mary's. I am proud to be associated with the group, and will do what I can to support it in my own limited way. It is not just about ancient history, although that is important enough, but the fact that the vast majority of good people in Stockport need to feel that their lives have counted for something. There have been a lot of changes in our town, and not always for the good, but changes nevertheless, and people have had to deal with them. We, who are called 'local historians', are interested in those changes, and are often on hand to record them. I personally do not regard myself as a 'local historian', because the term implies that you are some kind of expert, which I am not. As far as I am aware, there is not, in fact, any formal qualification in local history, but maybe there should be. But who would teach us about our history? No, maybe it is best left in the hands of those who genuinely care about our town, and the various districts and villages which make it up, both for the past, and for the future. Members of the Trust give of their free time, because they recognise that the history and heritage of our town is important, and in a sense, they are helping to promote our town through their efforts. For people who are looking for old school photographs, for example, there is a vast collection, and pictures from the past of how an area, or a village used to look, it's all there, although you might not always find what you are looking for. And if you have such photographs, why not donate them, either to keep, or be copied? Here's to the next ten years, and the next!