Tributes have been paid after the death of former Salford councillor Ben Wallsworth MBE, the man credited with transforming the former docks into Salford Quays.

Mr Wallsworth, 103, passed away in his sleep. Flags at Salford Civic Centre have been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“Ben was a true son of Salford, a giant in the history of our proud city.

“Millions of people now live, work and visit his legacy at Salford Quays and MediaCityUK every year. Ben’s vision was to create something new from a huge, disused site and the transformation of Salford Docks which he helped to kickstart has been described as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the UK.

“Equally important to Ben, who grew up in inner city Ordsall, was protecting and enhancing Salford’s green spaces. His idea to create Worsley Greenway continues to protect open land between Monton and Worsley from development to this day, a legacy Salford City Council fought to retain.

“Ben served his country during World War Two and Salford as a councillor for 44 years afterwards. He rightly deserved being honoured with the Freedom of Salford for his outstanding, lifelong contribution.

My thoughts are with his family and friends. He will not be forgotten."  

 

An engineer by trade, Mr Wallsworth joined the Territorial Army at 19 but signed up with the Royal Army Service Corps when it became apparent World War II was about to start.

His regiment fought through France towards Belgium and back to the beaches of Dunkirk where he spent his 20th birthday. He refused to abandon his Lewis gun en route as instructed and used it to defend his unit from aerial attacks when they were trapped on the beaches for three days and nights. He also took the gun aboard the ship which rescued them and it was used to protect the boat when it was attacked by German planes.

Mr Wallsworth was presented with the Military Medal by King George V in July 1940 for his bravery but didn't receive home leave until 1942. Ironically, the day after he came home for Christmas Salford and Manchester were bombed.

Mr Wallsworth became interested in politics after campaigning in Ordsall to open up school playgrounds in the evening to provide safe spaces for children to play. His idea led to Salford reviving play streets in the 1980s – an idea the city had pioneered in the 1930s – creating traffic free spaces where children could play safely.

Mr Wallsworth was elected to Salford Council on 9 May 1957 and, apart from three years between 1968 and 1971, served until his retirement on 10 June 2004. He represented Labour in Weaste, Langworthy and Blackfriars wards, leading on planning in the 1970s. He was also a prominent trade unionist and served as branch secretary for the Amalgamated Engineering Union for many years. He was Ceremonial Mayor of Salford from 2002 to 2003 and is thought to be the only holder of that office to also hold a Military Medal. He was awarded an MBE by King George V’s daughter, the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2001.

Mr Wallsworth, spent 44 years as a local councillor and is best known for creating Worsley Greenway and the transformation of the former docks into Salford Quays.

He was chair of the planning committee when Salford City Council used a derelict land grant to buy part of the former docks for £1 million in 1983. Within 10 years private and public investment in the area totalled around £280 million and has continued to grow ever since.

He was also a leading light in the creation of the Red Rose Forest project, which was launched in 1991 in the Croal-Irwell river valley, to plant a million trees across Greater Manchester and received the MBE for his contribution in 2001, presented by King George V’s daughter, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Salford in October 2019 aged 99, just a few days before his 100th birthday.

Former councillor Derek Antrobus who worked alongside Mr Wallsworth for more than 30 years said:

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“He was always keen on creating good spaces for people to enjoy their lives and he was a green campaigner before it was even a thing.

“He often talked of buses running on hydrogen gas which he had seen in Canada where he had family and in addition to Red Rose Forest and the Greenway he championed the council taking over Blackleach reservoir which many were not convinced about. Ben tenaciously fought his corner and we now have a beautiful country park. I often pause to think of him when I visit. I have many special memories of a wonderful man who did so much for Salford.” 

 

Tom Stannard, current Chief Executive of Salford City Council, said:

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“Salford has benefitted so much from the life and work of Mr Wallsworth. He leaves behind a real legacy in the green and urban spaces he helped to shape in the city he loved and our city is all the richer for it. ”

We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the friends and family of a fine Salfordian, Gordon Noel McKenna, who we are shocked to hear, has sadly passed away.

I, (Carl), had the privilege of working alongside Gordon during our campaigning to save the city's beloved 'Salford Children's Holiday Camp' in Prestatyn from closure, a place both he and I, loved and held fond memories of.

Gordon was an instrumental part of the team which convinced Salford City Council that the 'Jam butty Camp' now known as 'Salford By The Sea' was still viable and was still needed by the families and children of the City.

He made sure that the campaign was visible in both local and national media and would regularly appear on TV and Radio to champion the cause.

Photo ©: Gordon with Nick Abbott MBE at the BBC - Salford Foundation

If Gordon was not campaigning for the camp, he always made himself available to get his hands mucky and help with it's renovations.

It is a true testament to him and the rest of the team at the camp that it remains open for business and is thriving to this day, and it is true to say that Gordons hard work was integral to it's success.

Gordon was an amazing person with a wicked sense of humour, always willing to help and get stuck in.

Another sad loss to our City, he will be sadly missed.

It is incredibly sad that we unfortunately have to deliver the news of the passing of a truly remarkable figure in Salford Politics.

Former councillor, ceremonial mayor, planning boss and freeman of the City of Salford, Ben Wallsworth MBE, has died aged 103-years-old.

Ben was a visionary who saw the huge potential in the former docklands which had laid abandoned since their closure, convincing the council to purchase the land from Manchester Council for what in hindsight was a bargain price of just £1m. The site was duly transformed into what is now a hub for media and leisure, as well as the home to both BBC in the North and ITV.

Both the Quays and MediaCityUK have since gone on to be considered one of the most successful regenerations in the UK.

Ben was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during the Second World War, spending his 20th birthday fighting alongside his comrades on the beach at Dunkirk.

Ben repeatedly refused to abandon his firearm when instructed and went on to use it to defend his unit from arial bombardment by the Luftwaffe as they hunkered down trapped on the beach.

The honour of an MBE was bestowed upon him by Her Majesty the Queen in 2001.

In 2019 he was rightfully given the freedom of the city of Salford both for his 44-year tenure in council, serving in the Weaste, Langworthy and Blackfriars wards, as well as for his multitude of achievements whilst in office.

Ben was also a keen environmentalist whose legacy still protects land between Monton and Worsley from developers to this day in the form of the Worsley Greenway.

Speaking on Facebook, former councillor and colleague of Ben, Derek Antrobus, quite rightly described him as a true giant in Salford's story:

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"So sad to learn tonight of the death of Ben Wallsworth, who passed away in his sleep this morning, aged 103.

"Ben was a remarkable man and I had the privilege to serve as his deputy when, as chairman of the Salford Council Planning and Development Committee, he led the vision and the implementation of the creation of Salford Quays

"A former mayor of Salford, Freeman of the City and decorated war hero, so much can be said about him.

He was a true giant in Salford's story."

Our very own Tony Flynn, said:

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"A great man, a man I was happy to call a friend, he did so many amazing things in his life, spent many an hour in the pub listening to him, I will miss him. R.I.P. Ben."

He was held in high regard by all who knew him, not bad for a lad from Ordsall.

Ben will be sorely missed and was a credit to our City.

Photo ©: Derek Antrobus

Freedom Fibre has launched ‘The Freedom Fund’ – a community fund set to invest thousands of pounds in good and green projects in areas where it is rolling out its lightning-fast, full-fibre network. Community non-profit groups in Irlam (as well as Eccles, Swinton, Walkden, and Urmston) can apply for grants of up to £500 to help deliver their environmental projects.

Freedom Fibre’s Chief Executive Officer, Neil McArthur, said:

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"Last year, we became England’s first alt-net to establish a community fund that supports the environmental projects in the communities where we are rolling out our network.

“We’re building on last year’s successes by extending our fund to reach an even broader range of community groups, and I can’t wait to see what applications we receive this time round."

 

Freedom Fibre recently caught up with two of last years’ winners. The first winner was Friend’s of Irlam Library, which was successful in applying to the fund last year to improve the library’s courtyard, with the second winner being Prince’s Park Garden Centre in Irlam, which used its grant to improve its irrigation system.  

Applications of grants between £250 and £500 can be made online at www.freedomfibre.com/fund and must be made before 5pm on Friday 21st July 2023.

Residents interested in connecting to Freedom Fibre's full-fibre broadband network can register their interest at www.freedomfibre.com and our team will let you know if the network is available now or coming soon to your location.

At around 6.20pm on Saturday 24 June 2023, Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a stabbing outside a business property on Bury Old Road, Salford.

A man was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and was later released.

On Sunday 25 June 2023, proactive policing by officers from the City of Salford saw them obtain CCTV images that assisted their investigation, which led to the arrest of a man in Cheetham Hill 24 hours later. 

Hamzah Mohsin (28/11/1998) of Rothesay Road, Crumpsall was arrested and subsequently charged with section 18 assault, possession of a bladed article in a public place and attempted section 18 assault against another man.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday 8 August 2023.

Officers believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the wider community. 

A pioneering live test of a selection of new alert sounds for e-scooters is taking place on UK streets for the first time. Dott, the responsible European micromobility company, is testing the sounds which were developed by researchers at the University of Salford, in partnership with the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB).

The on-street testing aims to find which is the best sound to alert other road users, without interfering with the e-scooter rider or creating unnecessary noise pollution. The tests will take place on the streets around the University of Salford’s Peel Park campus this week. Different scenarios will be set up, with participants, including blind and partially sighted people in collaboration with RNIB, asked to comment on the suitability and preference of the sounds.

The tests mark the next phase of the project, following successful tests earlier this year in a virtual reality environment to find the best candidate sounds for these final field trials.

Dr Antonio J Torija Martinez, Principal Investigator at University of Salford, said:

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“These live trials will give us key data in making the final refinements to the sounds we have created specifically for electric scooters. We are aiming to make something that can be used industry wide and really help improve the safety of these scooters.

“The sound that is best at alerting road users and is also acceptable to the scooter rider will be the one we recommend in our final report.

“We are testing a series of carefully designed e-scooter sounds to find the right balance between maximum vehicle noticeability and minimum noise pollution.

“By working closely with the RNIB and blind associations across Europe, we can ensure that the sound we develop is the best fit for their needs.”

 

Robin Spinks, RNIB Head of Inclusive Design, said:

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“Electric scooters and other micro mobility vehicles present a significant hazard to blind and partially sighted people who may be unaware of the presence of a vehicle. We’re collaborating with industry and academia to test and recommend solutions which will enable much easier vehicle detection and improved pedestrian safety.”

Maxim Romain, Co-Founder and COO, at Dott, said:

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“We want to ensure that our vehicles not only work for our users, but are integrated into cities in a safe and responsible way, respecting all city residents. We hope that the development of an industry-standard sound will help the most vulnerable road users feel more confident whilst on the streets, improving the experience of shared micromobility in cities.”

Police searching for a missing Manchester man have sadly found a body in the Manchester Ship Canal.

Officers responded to reports of an abandoned vehicle close to Centenary Bridge at approximately 10.40am yesterday morning (Tuesday 27 June 2023).

A subsequent search of the nearby woodland was undertaken and colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and underwater teams were drafted in to assist the police with the search.

At approximately 6.20pm, underwater teams sadly found the deceased body of a man.

An investigation has been launched and a formal identification process is yet to take place, however, his family have been informed and continue to be supported by officers.

Emergency services including a specialist underwater search team were deployed to a stretch of water along the Manchester Ship Canal close to Centenary Bridge in Eccles this afternoon (26 June).

A small inflatable dinghy was seen being lowered into the water with two specialist officers onboard who were conducted a search of the water both under and around either side of the bridge.

The reason for the deployment remains unclear, as we await confirmation from Greater Manchester Police.

Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Kazeem who is 40 years old and want to make sure he is safe and well.

Police say that Kazeem works in Wakefield and drives a Silver Volkswagen Passat.

Kazeem lives in the Salford area and was last seen in Walkden Salford on 22/06/2023 possibly wearing a black top and a black baseball cap.

Anyone with any information about KAZEEM’s whereabouts should contact police quoting reference 1097-26062023

Just before midnight on Wednesday 21 June 2023 police received numerous reports of gun shots on Ermington Drive in Cheetham Hill.

On arrival, officers found an unconscious man in the street who had sustained a serious head injury. Colleagues from NWAS took the man to hospital, where he remains sedated in a serious but stable condition with his family by his side.

No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand of GMP’s Major Incident Team said:

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“I would like to reassure the community in Cheetham Hill that we are continuing our investigations and following all leads. I can confirm that this is a firearms enabled attempted murder investigation. This must be a very worrying incident for those living and working in the area.

"We have provided visible reassurance in the area in the form of on-foot patrol officers, vehicle patrols and covert patrols. Most importantly, all of our staff are there to listen and respond to anything you wish to tell us about this investigation or the wider issues being experienced by residents.  

"Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate violence of any form and we will continue to work together with partners to achieve this.

"If you know anything at all or have any footage that may be relevant please contact GMP on 101 and quoting the reference number 0001 of 22/06/2023.

"It is also possible to anonymously upload digital footage directly to GMP or pass on information using our Major Incident Portal link here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP23A65-PO1 

"Alternatively, you can report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

 

Friends of Ted Edwards gathered today at the Chapel in Peel Green Cemetery to say their final goodbyes to a truly remarkable man, he had been amongst other things, an author, musician, actor, teacher, cartoonist, coal miner, explorer, raconteur and trainee cosmonaut to name but a few,

Ged Todd welcomed the congregation and spoke lovingly of Ted and the number of years he had known him with tales of folk clubs, music, beer and real friendship which was obvious to see.

In an Eulogy delivered by his good friend Phil Cusack I learnt so much about Ted, his early life in Hindley Wigan, his army service exploits including one hair raising but hilarious tale of how Ted scrounged a flight home on a Canberra bomber from Berlin and almost dropped a nuclear bomb on Europe, by accident obviously, his appearance on television shows as a media darling following his exploits when he was exploring the Sahara Desert and almost died of dehydration and his subsequent books that followed, the most amazing man who I wish I had gotten to know better, Phil you did him proud. 

Bob Marshall another close friend of Teds had us in stitches with his memories of him and Ted, turning up a week early for a folk festival down South, driving home to Eccles and forgetting they had a French hitch hiker they had picked up in the back of the van who was heading for North Wales, he was dropped off in Irlam and pointed in the rough direction of North Wales, I think it's best to draw a discreet veil on the poaching of Deer in Tatton Park for legal reasons.

The music for the service was a recording of Ted singing his self penned songs including, Come on Lad, Coal Hole Calvary and Ladybird, the latter being covered by Ewan McColl no less.just yet another example of his prowess.

I must add that and I believe this to be true that Ted was buried wearing his cosmonaut suit, Ghurka sword in his right hand, and surrounded by ceremonial daggers. going out in style there Ted.

As Ted was lowered into the ground he had requested that the congregation should read his poem, Testament a lovely reflection on life and how we should enjoy it.

I will leave the last word to Frank Birchenough another good friend of Teds who sadly couldn't make the service but spoke lovingly of him in a conversation I had with last night, he said.

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"I certainly do not know of anyone else I ever met who wrote songs with Ewan MacColl, walked across the empty quarter of the Sahara and across Iceland just for starters.

I asked Ted in the Duke why it was so difficult to walk across Iceland, and he said "because it is a weathered volcanic landscape, and it is like trying to walk across a bloody big bowl of cracked Cornflakes you daft bugger" He also said being in a bar in Iceland and listening to the locals sounded very much like "being in a pub full of drunken Wiganers"

 

Ted you may have gone but one thing is for certain you will never be forgotten .

Raise a glass to Ted tonight, I certainly will... Cheers for everything

Free coaching and sessions are being provided to encourage more people to play thanks to Salford’s biggest investment in tennis in years.

Twenty-one courts at Albert Park, Boothsbank Park, Buile Hill Park, Eccles Recreation Ground, Lightoaks Park, Park Parr Fold Park and Victoria Park have seen over £660,000 of investment including resurfacing, line painting, new nets, lighting and secure fencing. thanks to Salford City Council, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation and the government as part of the LTA Park Project.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) invested £272,000 on improving court surfaces, new nets and electronic access gates across the city. Salford City Council added £272,494 for disabled access, enhanced fencing and flood lighting to courts at Parr Fold Park, much of which came from Section 106 payments made by developers.

To celebrate Salford City Council and Salford Community Leisure are holding an open day on Saturday 1 July at Parr Fold Park, Park Road, Walkden, M28 7DU.

Visitors can enjoy a tennis coaching session on the day from 10am to 12 noon with We Do Tennis – pre-booking essential at https://wedotennis.co.uk

From 12 noon to 2pm there will be tennis-based fun, suitable for all ages with no pre-booking required and the park’s Pavilion café will be serving Wimbledon themed refreshments all day from 9am to 5pm.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said:

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“This is the biggest investment in tennis in Salford in years and it’s great to see so many courts being brought back into use. Although we have contributed to the project, the council did not have enough money to do this alone so the investment from the Lawn Tennis Association is very welcome.

“Salford Community Leisure and We Do Tennis will offer a free coaching programme, with equipment to encourage children, particularly those who don’t normally take part in sports, and adults to have a go or improve their game.  SCL will also work closely with local schools to help children develop tennis skills in a familiar setting before introducing them to tennis in the park.

“There will also be local tennis leagues to encourage friendly and social competitions and the new booking system makes it easier to find, book and play in a local park court. For a small booking fee players can guarantee a court being available and the money from this will be re-invested to make sure the courts are maintained to high standards.”

 

Courts will be available to book in the next few weeks at https://lta.org.uk/play/ in Albert Park (3), Boothsbank Park (1), Buile Hill Park (2), Eccles Recreation Ground (2), Lightoaks Park (2) Parr Fold Park (6), Princes Park (1) and Victoria Park (4).

Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities providing a significant boost to sporting facilities. This funding is part of the UK government’s and LTA’s joint investment of over £30 million, to bring thousands of tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition brought back to life across Britain, and support a new generation of players to get active by trying the sport.

Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said:

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“After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts across Salford officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.

“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”

 

Sports Minister, Stuart Andrew MP, added:

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"We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health. The government and the LTA are working together to deliver thousands of refurbished courts across Great Britain, supported by £30 million of investment including across Salford.
 
"These improved tennis facilities will provide the local community with fun opportunities to get active and potentially become the next Andy Murray or Emma Raducanu."

Salford City Council has been named Overall DL100 Winner 2023 (Digital Leaders) and won Digital Public Service Innovation of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The DL100 list celebrates the teams and individuals demonstrating a pioneering and sustainable approach to digital transformation across the public, private and non profit sectors.

The council scooped both awards at an event in Leeds at the Royal Armouries last night during Digital Leaders Week – a celebratory week for sharing digital ideas and initiatives. The Digital Public Service Innovation of the Year category could be for an innovative product or service which delivered measurable impact in the past year. Salford won this category for the innovative way in which it delivered the government’s energy rebate scheme with its digital services team providing added value for customers.

Councillor Jack Youd, Lead Member for Finance, Support Services and Industrial Relations said: 

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“I’m extremely proud that Salford has been recognised with such prestigious national awards for its bold ambitions and innovation in the way we’re using digital technology to transform the city and people’s lives.”

“Delivering the rebate provided us with an opportunity to encourage residents to use our digital services to apply, highlighting the benefits of using them in future. We made it as customer friendly as possible, consequently reaching parts of the city that don’t usually digitally transact with us including many who live in the most deprived areas. This means we can now continue to reach out to them with ongoing support through digital channels making it easier for them to transact with us.”

The bespoke application process we created plugged into existing systems which help us understand our customer base better and identify other ways in which we could help residents. For example we can check households are getting council tax discounts they are entitled to, particularly with student households. Also, by supporting those who were struggling to apply online, we gained more insight into who in the city didn’t have digital devices. Through implementing the rebate scheme, almost 1,500 of customers without digital access have been helped with devices, connectivity and digital skills.”

 

Steven Fry, Director of Customer & Digital Services also commented:

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“We’re absolutely delighted to win Digital Public Service Innovation of the year as well as Overall DL100 winner for the second time. It is testament to our ambitious vision for the city to create a fairer and more inclusive local economy that ensures digital technologies are available to everyone. We’re proud to be the forefront on digital change, innovation and digital inclusion programmes to the benefit of our residents.”

The team at the Amazon Fresh distribution centre in Little Hulton is celebrating Armed Forces Day (24th June) by paying tribute to the veterans and reservists from the services community who work at Amazon across the UK.

Dave Barton, who works at Amazon in Little Hulton as an operations manager, joined the company in 2016 after a career in the military. Dave has been talking about his experience of leaving the military and joining Amazon ahead of this year’s Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Before joining Amazon, Dave had a 25-year career in the British Army, with postings all over the world. He enrolled to the King’s Regiment the age of 17 in 1987 and finally left service in 2013.

Over the course of his British Army career Dave saw the Berlin Wall fall and toured in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His career also saw him engage in public duties at landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. 

When he was about to retire from his role as a colour sergeant and instructor for armoured vehicles in 2011, he was called to one more tour to support his battalion’s deployment to Afghanistan which came with a promotion to sergeant major. His wife blessed his final act of service before Dave finally retired in 2013.

During his period of service, Dave was awarded ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ for saving his colleague’s life during an IRA bombing. He also received a commendation in Kosovo for his intelligence work with the German special police. 

Dave’s first civilian role was as a transport manager for a global chemicals firm. He was then head-hunted to be an operations manager for a large haulage company, and joined Amazon shortly after as a supervisor at an Amazon site in Manchester.

Since joining the company, Dave has been promoted several times, helped to launch multiple new sites in the UK and across Europe and now manages one of Amazon’s distribution centres in Manchester.

Speaking on his experience of joining Amazon, Dave said:

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“I had no idea what a career at Amazon would entail – I just wanted to try something new. Straight away, I found that the culture suited me perfectly, and a few of my colleagues, including my managers at the time, were also ex-military, so they understood me.”

Dave also explained the transferable skills he brought from the army to his role at Amazon, saying:

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“Getting stuck in, problem solving and putting your own stamp on projects are all skills that work both in the military, and at Amazon. Amazon really encourages ex-military team members to drive initiatives forward because we have great people-management skills, especially coming from roles like sergeant major, to make things happen and deal with problems. The culture is just bang on for ex-military people.”

At Amazon, Dave is also the UK communications director of the Amazon Warriors affinity group and Glamazon, Amazon’s LGBTQIA+ support network. As part of his work with the Warriors, Dave helps those who are about to leave the military due to illness or injury prepare for new civilian careers by hosting CV writing workshops and giving advice. He also promotes Amazon’s Military Spouses programme, which offers the spouses of servicemen or women the opportunity to be trained by Amazon and take up jobs in the locations their spouses are posted.

Many members of the military community join Amazon through the company’s military programme. The Amazon Military Programme offers members of the military community the opportunity to pursue a wide range of exciting new career paths. Last year over 350 veterans, reservist and military spouses joined in more than 35 different job roles including health and safety specialists, engineers and team leaders. These new employees joined more than 2,500 already employed at Amazon since it commenced its military programme in 2011. 

Emma Morgan, Programme Manager, Global Military Affairs at Amazon, said:

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“We believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn and develop and we are passionate about extending these opportunities to veterans, military spouses and reservists. People from the military community add tremendous value to our workforce and it’s fantastic to celebrate them during this year’s Armed Forces Day events.”

Any members of the company’s military community are part of the Warriors at Amazon affinity group. Warriors at Amazon includes current and former active military personnel, their families, and employees who support them. This group provides members with a professional network, organises community outreach programmes, and assists veterans during their transition into civilian life.

Amazon has 13 affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups. They play an important role in bringing employees together and create a sense of community globally, while encouraging inclusivity and diversity. These groups include Glamazon, the Black Employee Network, Asians@Amazon, People with Disabilities and Women@.

Amazon is also a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant, originally introduced in 2011, has a focus on helping the Armed Forces community to access the same support from government and commercial services as the public.

They first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013 and renewed its commitment in 2021, vowing to uphold its key principles and to demonstrate its commitment to serving personnel, reservists, veterans and families.

For any ex-servicemen or women considering a career with Amazon, Dave has some advice. “The first day after I left the military, I was standing in a shop with the trolley full of groceries thinking “what next?”. The bubble of protection I had of knowing how each day would look was gone, and I was scared. I want to tell anyone leaving the military that they shouldn’t be afraid to call for help, because the change is scary. Amazon has incredible opportunities available, and you’ll have people like me making sure you’re okay.”

Launched in 2021 the Amazon Corporate Military Internship Programme is one such opportunity. It offers a direct path into corporate roles in e-commerce for those transitioning from the Armed Forces. Those on the programme are supported throughout their transition to the corporate world, including a military mentor, tailored support from line management and an onboarding buddy.

To find out more about beginning a career with Amazon, visit Amazon Jobs

Ted Edwards, Eccles own, Indiana Jones funeral will be held tomorrow, Friday 23rd June at 10.20am. Peel Green cemetery, Eccles.

Ted was a well known character around the North West folk music scene and penned, The Coal Hole Cavalry which has become a folk club staple and recorded by many artistes.

However Ted will be best remembered for his love of exploring, exotic and often dangerous places, no, not Patricroft... he had  trekked across the Sahara Desert, walked Death Valley, the Grand Canyon in America, and canoed the length of the Everglades in Florida and attempted to become a Cosmonaut and took basic training in the Soviet Union all incredibly true.

It will be good to see his friends and admirers turn up for Ted's last crusade and I am certain it promises to be an event to be remembered for all the right reasons.

Cheers Ted, your were a rum 'un!

Planners have refused an application for a 52-foot high telecom pole near Salford Quays, amid the ongoing controversy about the masts across the country.

CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) submitted an application to the city council’s planning portal for the 5G mast on Broadway. It also included additional equipment cabinets. 

However, the application to ‘determine whether prior approval is required for the proposal’ was turned down by a planning officer under delegated powers without being debated by councillors.

Oasis Academy, Media City UK and Media City Nature Kindergarten were all identified as being within 300 metres of the proposed application site.

Under planning law, the telecommunications mast must be below 49.2 ft or 15 metres.

Members of Salford’s planning and transportation regulatory panel have recently expressed outrage at an ‘epidemic’ of ‘unsightly’ telegraph poles across the city and have demanded action from the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England and Wales.

Some companies with a central government procurement agreement are allowed to erect the masts without planning permission, whereas others are not. 

Coun John Warmisham has called the ‘ad hoc’ way posts can be erected ‘scandalous’.

Coun Philip Cusack, who since the local elections in May has become the panel’s new chairman, recently told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

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“There are poles springing up all over the place. One was put right in front of the bedroom window of one woman’s house and there is nothing we can do about it.”

Bereaved families in Salford have helped to raise £12,000 for Salford Heart Care.

The money has been raised from metal which is recycled after cremations in the city and with the full consent of the families of the deceased.

Following a cremation of a deceased person, the cremated remains contain metals; such as items used in the construction of the coffin, and on numerous occasions, orthopaedic implants such as hip and knee replacement joints. The metal is recycled through a specialised company and the proceeds are donated to local charities associated with bereavement support. 

It is all part of a charitable scheme operated by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), of which Salford Council Bereavement Services is a member.

The cheque was presented to Serena Rice from Salford Heart Care at Salford Civic Centre by the City Mayor Paul Dennett and Councillor Barbara Bentham.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, said:

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“Salford Heart Care has been in existence in the city since 1987 and it was an absolute honour to be able to present the charity with this cheque on behalf of our bereaved families. My thoughts go out to all those who have lost a loved one in our city.

“If people want to join in the activities of the group I would encourage them to look up Salford Heart Care and meet a fantastic group of people that they can join in with at their own pace.”

 

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Environment, Neighbourhoods, Sports and Leisure, said:

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“It is such a pleasure to be able to hear about all the great work that Salford Heart Care is doing, the charity is one of the unsung heroes that we have within our communities.

“The bereavement services team at Salford City Council treat all our bereaved families with absolute care and compassion. The recycling of metals is done with full consent of all families and is carried out with great dignity at our two crematoria at Agecroft and Peel Green cemeteries.”

 

Serena Rice, Coordinator of Salford Heart Care, said:

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“We’re delighted to be nominated by Salford Council’s Bereavement Services for this award. The donation will make a huge difference to our work and means that we can provide additional one-to-one counselling support to bereaved families across the city.  I would encourage anyone who feels they may benefit from bereavement support to contact our service. The Bereavement Support Group meets fortnightly on Tuesday mornings at Cadishead Band Room in Irlam.

“We also hold Healthy Heart Clubs across Salford offering gentle exercise, dancing, bingo, holistic therapies, day trips and group parties.”

 

For more information about the Bereavement Support Group or Healthy Heart Clubs, contact Serena on 0161 707 7402, email admin@salfordheartcare.co.uk or visit https://salfordheartcare.co.uk.

Salford Heart Care is a small, independent local charity with a team of more than 50 volunteers who are doing their absolute best for local people. Their aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of local people, prevent heart disease and heart attacks whilst reducing social isolation.

It seems that some Light 'Green' Fingered 'Sod' has declared a 'Turf War' with Winton's 'Mighty' Wanderers by bizarrely stealing a patch of grass overnight from close to the clubs pitch.. 

The football club which is located at it's hallowed ground just off Cranbrook Road in Winton, took to social media this morning to ask for their grass back.

The ridiculous 'theft' has left people in the area bemused and looking for lawn.

It is unclear if the police are involved as we suspect if found, those who took it will say the evidence has been planted.

As a Wintonian myself and not living too far from the club, I can only think that the deed was carried out either by an ardent fan of the club (and who wouldn't be) who wants it for their back garden or someone was just too cheap to buy their own. Maybe it was just someone from a nearby area who was jealous of our quality turf as they do say the grass is greener on the other side?

Winton has quickly been seen as the place in recent years due to our amazing Fish Bar, Local Pyramid (Google It) and legendary football club. The area is so popular that even Monton houses its Amateur Football Club here.

Many people have come to love the plucky little village and have put down Roots here. 

So to turn a negative into a positive we want to use this opportunity to give the club a mention for all it does in the local community.

If you have a child who is looking to join a local football team then why not join one of the finest in Salford.

https://www.wintonwanderersfootball.club/players-wanted

For more information on the club and what it does within the local community, please see this link: https://www.wintonwanderersfootball.club/the-club

Salford Red Devils say that they are thrilled to confirm their Armed Forces Appreciation Day will take place on this coming Sunday 25th June, before and after their Betfred Super League clash with Wigan Warriors.

Back and bigger than ever, their annual celebration is proudly in association with the Veterans Garage, Bury Veterans, Red Devils Parachute Display Team, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Lancashire, Combined Service Masters Team, Army Cadets Salford, RAF Cadets Bury and Cheshire Zorbs Inflatables.

It will be a day jam-packed with activities, for all the family to enjoy, with a mouth-watering Lancashire derby in between – so why not join get down to the AJ Bell and show your support for our incredible servicemen and women!

For this particular fixture, as a special thank you to those who serve, or have served as part of our armed forces, there is a ‘Forces for a Fiver’ ticket offer available by calling the stadium and quoting your service number or contacting your respective organisation.

Uniformed youth groups (E.G. Scouts, Guides, Cadets, etc) can also access free tickets in our East Community Stand.

For every 10 kids signed-up for this offer, one adult also goes free, with any additional adults able to purchase tickets for just £5. Click HERE to fill out the form and secure your place.

On the day, a stage will be in place on the South side of the stadium, where we are delighted to say Festival DJ and Host, Dave Sweetmore will be our MC from 12pm!

Then, at 1:15pm, local-lad and booming young artist, Alex Spencer – who some supporters may recognise from performances at Manchester City – will be playing a 30 minute set of all his popular hits.

Check him out on all his profiles by clicking HERE!

He will be followed by Chaddy and the Backhanders from 2pm, who will also be treating us to a 30-minute set, as a prelude to our 3pm kick-off!

A fairground – located on the north side on the stadium – will be open from 11am.

There will also be a 100ft inflatable assault course and zorbing arena on the 3g pitch, where prices start from just £4 when you show a valid match ticket.

On the South-West side of the stadium, a buzzing fanzone will be in operation. Alongside a wide-range of concessions, our official kit suppliers, VX3 will be also in attendance outside the club shop.

Whilst all this is going on, a Masters Rugby League game will be kicking-off on the Community Field at 1pm, with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers set to march the teams onto the field from 12:55pm.

On the West side of the stadium, like in previous years, there will be a modern military village on the south side, with recruitment stands for all branches of our armed forces in attendance.

Vintage vehicles will be located on the north side – provided by the military vehicles trust. There will also be opportunities to get involved with JIVE dancing in the same area from 1:45pm.

After all this activity, the main event kicks off at 3pm!

Cadets from the Army, RAF and Navy will be flag bearers around the pitch, with traditional flag bearers forming a guard of honour for the players as they emerge from the tunnel.

There will also be representation from the sea cadets on the day.

But before they enter the field, the Red Devils Parachute Display team will be jumping from a plane circling the Salford Stadium to deliver the match ball in style.

Before that, the traditional military canon will be shot three times.

There will be other activity around the showpiece match; including performances from the Fusiliers band at pre-match and at half-time.

The day doesn’t end on the final hooter too, with all pre-match activities open post-match for supporters to enjoy!

Bucket collecting on the day will be Broughton House, which provides nursing, residential, residential dementia and respite care to the wide military family.

Finally, for this event, a full travel plan will be provided in due course, but the Metrolink will be FREE for veterans to travel on game day.

This is in-line with TfGM’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and you can read more about just that by clicking HERE.

The 2023 Salford Business Awards have been announced and St Ann’s is delighted to have won the Excellence Award and Large Business of the Year.

The awards were announced at a ceremony at the Lowry Hotel, hosted by Radio 1’s Vicky Hawkesworth and were organised by the University of Salford, The Business Group and Salford City Council.

St Ann’s were praised by the awards judges for being thoroughly embedded in the Little Hulton community, with generations of people being treated across the area. They were impressed by the hospice’s ability to demonstrate excellence through everything we do with an extraordinary leadership team working extremely well together. The judges were particularly impressed by how staff led their vision and values.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice, said:

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“I am so proud of the whole team for this incredible achievement. Being part of the community in Salford is so important to us and we are committed to caring for the people who live there with care and compassion. It is a privilege to be part of these awards with the other amazing businesses in Salford.”

Paul Wainwright, Chair, The Business Group said:

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“It has been almost four years since we were last able to celebrate the success of Salford’s businesses and it has been amazing to do so again with the support and commitment from Salford’s business community. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners and thank you to the event organisers, sponsors and partners – without whom it would not have been possible to deliver such a spectacular event.

We are very proud of all of these businesses, their continued commitment to Salford and for creating quality, well-paid, safe employment for our residents and successful, sustainable businesses for our city and communities.”

 

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said:

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“I’d like to congratulate all the businesses who made it to the finals of the 2023 Salford Business Awards. I appreciate the past few years have been very hard due to the pandemic and cost of living crisis but I’ve seen the hard work and changes businesses have had to make to keep going through this incredibly difficult period.

“Collectively all the businesses employ a lot of Salfordians and create jobs and opportunities that both other businesses and local people can benefit from. I would like to thank them all for their efforts in creating growth in this great city.”