DANISH STUDENTS COME TO SALFORD FOR A HISTORY LESSON FROM FLYNN

Today it was my privilege to show a group of 18 students and their teachers from the Ingrid Jespersens Gymnasieskole in Copenhagen , around the Chapel Street and Crescent area of Salford to learn about our city's history and culture.

They arrived at Victoria Station from Liverpool were they are based and soon they were outside Salford’s oldest chapel, the Grade II-listed Sacred Trinity Church were they learned about the history of the church and the significance of the war memorial and the link to Edith Cavell, who was shot in 1915 by the Germans who suspected her of being a spy.

Denmark was neutral in World War One and so it was new to them to hear about the appalling losses the Salford Pals regiments suffered on the Somme and the significance of the poppy on the war memorials.

They were both delighted and puzzled that the church held regular Goth music nights,  Samba classes, Viking re-enactment nights, art classes and LGBT meetings, all of this seemed anathema to their experience of churches in their homeland.

The Salford history walk took us to the site of the New Bailey Prison where the students were horrified to learn that public hangings were still taking place in Salford as late as April 1868.

I spoke about the Manchester Martyr's, Allen, Larkin and O’Brien who were hanged here in November 1867 for the role in the murder of Sergeant Brett.

It came as quite a shock to them to hear that these barbaric spectacles were considered days out, with crowds of 10,000 people attending, mothers and fathers bringing children to watch and with food and drink available all day.

Quite a few of the students were football fans and so I had to mention George Best and the numerous love trysts that he held at the now closed Brown Bull pub.

A visit to Bexley Square was next as they were regaled with the tale of the "Battle of Bexley Square" in October 1931, I have to admit they looked confused as I explained what went on that day and the police brutality that was meted out to the marchers, I also mentioned the importance of the Red plaque on the town hall.

Sadly Salford Cathedral was closed and so we moved swiftly on to the statue of the Lancashire Fusilier soldier and the Boer War memorial, they must have thought I was obsessed with war memorials as I [pointed out the one to the nurses killed at Salford Royal Hospital in the blitz.

They were interested to know about Marx and Engels and was it true if they had both drank in the Crescent pub...I tactfully explained that they both did meet in Manchester and yes they did have a drink together but not in this pub,  it was not even licenced then.

I have to say the pub looks a real eyesore, filthy windows, peeling paint, really shabby looking and an embarrassment to stand outside it and discuss it's history.

The walk ended at Lark Hill Place the Victorian Street at the Museum and Art Gallery, were some of the more adventurous students donned Victorian clothing and got into the atmosphere and mood of the street.

I have to say a massive thank you to Karen Marie and Karolina for their kind translation work, having to listen to me and their marvellous present, I was truly touched!

Many thanks and I look forward to doing it again, I really enjoyed it.