SEPTEMBER
AN historic Rochdale town centre boozer was named Greater Manchester’s Pub of the Year.
The Flying Horse on Packer Street came out on top in real ale group CAMRA’s annual competition.
An expert team of volunteer judges drawn from the 9,400 members in the region visited unannounced and evaluated each. They scored the pubs on a number of features including quality of welcome, value for money, community focus and – most importantly – the quality of beers and ciders. MARKS and Spencer announced that it would move into a major development in Rochdale town centre, nine months after pulling out of the £80m scheme.
The retailer confirmed that it will now press ahead with plans to open a flagship store in the Rochdale Riverside development.
M&S had been the first major name to sign up for the development, which is set to transform the area around Smith Street and Baillie Street, announcing plans in November 2015 to close its Yorkshire Street branch and move to Riverside. A HEROIC hound who helped solve the mystery of a house blast in Rochdale has been awarded an animal OBE.
Labrador Cracker, 13, received the PDSA Order of Merit. The pooch worked as a fire service investigation dog for GMFRS for 10 years, before retiring last year and was trained to detect fire accelerants.
She helped the forensic team determine the cause of many fires and secured convictions of suspected arsonsists. Cracker attended over 650 incidents, resulting in 200 years of custodial sentences for arson-related crimes. HUNDREDS of spectators lined the streets for the Whitworth Rushcart procession. Morris troupes including the Britannia Coconutters and Whitworth Morris Men performed as the rushcart, decked out in heather picked from the surrounding moors, was led through the town.
There was also an arts and craft fair, fairground rides, face painting and other entertainment at the Riverside.