Musical stars aimed to hit the top notes
●●10 years ago: WO Rochdale groups were hoping to strike all the right chords in a major competition.
Rochdale Music Service’s Youth Wind Band and Community Wind Band were performing at the National Concert Bands final at Gateshead’s Sage Theatre.
It was the first time the Community Wind Band had reached that stage and the fourth consecutive year the Youth Wind Band had made the final.
Head of the service Fred Bowker said: “We are in with some of the big boys so it is a real David and Goliath scenario but we are getting used to that by now.
“Everyone is getting really fired up and there is a good feeling about the service.”
TGIRLS from Samba Dance and Fitness in Whitworth danced their way to success in the freestyle championship’s at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Thirteen girls aged from five to 16 went to the competition, many of them accompanied by their mums.
Dance teacher Sam Cawley said: “As it was Mother’s day, we had wondered about going.
“Now we are so pleased we did.
“It was the icing on the cake for the mums and we made a full day of it in Blackpool.”
In the rock ‘n’ roll section three of the girls won solo events - Ashleigh Blythe, aged 10, Charlotte Dudley, aged 15 and Josie Lewis, aged 16.
Some of the other Whitworth dancers were also placed, as well as earning first and second prizes in team events.
Sam said afterwards: “We were elated to come away with so many trophies.” A presentation to their longest-serving member marked a breakfast meeting of Soroptomist International of Rochdale.
Mrs Sybil England, who was president of the Rochdale branch in 1956-1957, received a certificate commemorating 55 years’ service.
It was signed by Mrs Hilary-Kay Young, president of Soroptomist International of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Soroptomist organisation has branches worldwide and boasts thousands of members.
It supports many charities, both in this country and abroad.
In South East Lancashire, in which the Rochdale group is included, there are 20 branches. TEENAGERS from across Rochdale united for a dance and drama extravaganza at the M6 Theatre.
Organised by the youth service, the event provided a showcase for the borough’s young talent, with several groups in attendance.
Among those performing was the Gals 4 Life, from Wardleworth Youth Base, whose drama ‘Behind Closed Doors’ aimed at discouraging their peers from following the crowd.
Rick Walker, of Cartwheel Arts, was another teenage performer who attended the ‘Snapshots’ event in Hamer.
He said: “The main themes of the night were the relationships between groups, peer pressure and sexual health. A number of groups were working on art projects and the results were really good.
“It was a fun evening with a very boisterous audience.” GIRLS stepped out in style as they grabbed their pom-poms for a week of fun.
The group which was from Wardleworth and Kirkholt enjoyed a range of activities, from cheerleading to football, at Rochdale Judo Club and Deeplish Community Centre.
The Active Communities Project for Women and Girls was funded by SportEngland.
The project also arranged a sports leadership course.
Coordinator Sabrina Butt said: “The course brought girls together from different areas.
“They brought in their brothers and sisters on the last day of the course and carried out coaching sessions for their assessment.” HEALTH bosses put their best foot forward in a bid to promote exercise and fitness.
The Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust board took a lunchtime walk through Wardleworth before their meeting.
Chairman John Pierce said: “Many of our board enjoy walking but are so busy during the week that we find it difficult to fit in the recommended daily amount of physical exercise.
“We recognise that a healthy workforce is an efficient workforce and want to promote the benefits of lunchtime walking among our staff.”