Pat Burke, Ancoats, Manchester

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

It was with sadness that I heard Pat Burke had died on the 26th November 2014.  Pat Burke had been active in Ancoats for many years, recently supporting Ancoats Dispensary Trust, in its efforts to save Ancoats Dispenary.

img007 She was involved, with other Ancoats residents in the occupation of Ancoats Casualty, which took place between February 1987 and March 1989.  They were fighting to stop the closure of the casualty department, which the local Health authority had decided, had to close.  The story of the sit-in, is told in ‘Stitched Up! – Action for Health in Ancoats’ (Dunne, M.C., 1993).  Pat was one of the editorial group, along with Phil Burke, Joe Cromer, Jean Grey, Cathy Jackson and Craig Russell, which met regularly between 1991 to 1993.  There were two copies of ‘Stitched Up!’ available in the reference section of Central Library.

Local people's Commemmorative Plaque of the Sit-In

The last of years, she has been supportive of the Save Ancoats Dispensary Group, now Ancoats Dispensary Trust, in their efforts to save the old building from demolition.  Pat Burke’s Health Profile from ‘Stitched Up!, is below;

Pat Burke Pat Burke Health Profile

Dunne, M.C. (1993) Stitched Up! – Action for Health in Ancoats, Rochdale Alternative Press. 1993 Church Action on Poverty.

Birds of Manchester

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

Someone the other day mentioned that, they believed Thrushes were becoming a rare sighting.  I did mention, they do frequent Hulme Park and sometimes my garden, to feed on the berries. Though it had not happened this year, for some reason.  Later that day, as I approached my front gate, I was delighted to see a Thrush, fly out of my bushes.  Despite the constant war waged against nature by Manchester City Council and property developers.  It is nice to see we have a diverse range of birds, are still making a home in Manchester.  Below, There also photographs of the Ancoats Kestrel and Canada Geese with their Goslings by the Ashton Canal.

Birds of Manchester

A Thrush, but whether it is a Mistle Thrush or a Song Thrush, I cannot tell the difference.  Any help in identifying them probably would be appreciated, though I think, it is the more common Mistle Thrush.

Ancoats Kestrel
Ancoats Kestrel

DSC_0048 DSC_0049 DSC_0050Hunting for its dinner.  It can be seen frequently around Ancoats Dispensary hovering for its food.  Our local family of Crows are not too happy about it being in the area.  Then we have the Canadian Geese with their Goslings at different stages wondering about and foraging.

Canadian Geese
Canadian Geese

DSC_0059 DSC_0060 DSC_0061 DSC_0062 DSC_0063 DSC_0064

 

Urban Splash’s vision for New Islington.

Posted on by Patrick Sudlow

From Urban Splash’s own site: New Islington you can see from their images from their master-plan, they had no intention of preserving Ancoats Dispensary.  

Looking towards the centre of this image, just to the right of the grey and blue building is the site of Ancoats Dispensary but it has been replaced by another building. 

And in this image, just to the right of centre, the Chip building can be identified.  And in front of the Chip Building, Ancoats Dispensary has been replaced.  These images are from an Urban Splash web-site dated 2011, which shows Tom Bloxham and Urban Splash were not being truthful, when they said they were looking at options for Ancoats Dispensary.  It is obvious to most people, that they had other plans for the site of Ancoats Dispensary.  And if you view the time-line for Ancoats Dispensary, the roof was damaged as far back as 2005 and no attempt made to repair it.  Nor did Manchester City Council exercise their powers to repair and compulsory purchase powers to remedy such deliberate neglect/