RECOMMENDED

●●Riverside Artisan Market (May 11)

RUNNING on the second Saturday of every month, the successful Riverside Artisan Market returns again to Rochdale Riverside this weekend. A big thank you to all our customers for helping us to grow this market every month.

A warm welcome is waiting from over 30 small independent businesses who grow, rear, make or bake what you see. All different, all quality and made by the people you speak to.

From artisan meats to hand made fudge and glass creations. From room sprays, wax melts, handmade soaps and quirky gift ideas. From preserves, chutneys, oils and vinegars to delicious savoury pies, sweet treats and fresh fruit and veg and so much more.

Come say hi, let us know what you think and while you’re here check out the great Rochdale Riverside and the other lovely places Rochdale Town Centre has to offer.

Cost: Free. Time: 10am – 4pm. Address:

Riverside Retail and Leisure Complex, Riverside Walk, Rochdale OL16 1TR.

●●An Evening of Sea Shanty Music featuring Lytham St Annes Sea Shanty Crew, including Pie and Peas Supper (May 11)

ORGANISED by Rotary Rochdale in support of the President’s Charity to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI and raise funds for the Lytham St Annes Lifeboat Stations.

Full details and ticket information is available on the Rotary Rochdale website.

Booking is essential Cost: £15. Time: 7.30pm. Phone: Linda M Mainwaring 07773 714 907. Visit: https://www. rotaryrochdale.org.

Address: Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, Lake Bank, Littleborough OL15 0DQ.

●●Edwin Waugh Dialect Society (May 14)

TONIGHT’S session is “Lancashire and its Cotton Industry” songs by Mark Dowding. Mark developed an interest in the songs of Lancashire in his schooldays by listening to Harry Boardman singing on various LPS. Mark eventually found himself at Harry’s folk club in Manchester for a few years and the banjo that Mark plays is one of Harry’s.

In the Chair: Marilyn Moore Edwin Waugh Dialect Society meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month (previously Wednesday) from October to June, commencing at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Methodist and United Reformed Church, Rochdale (between Rochdale Leisure Centre and Aldi). There is free onsite parking.

Annual subscription is £5, but voluntary donations at each meeting help defray the cost of the room hire. Your first meeting is free.

Formed in 1938 by a group of Lancashire Dialect enthusiasts, the objects of the society are the maintaining and increasing of interest in Lancashire.

At the meetings, members are entertained by a speaker or a performer.

Visit the link below for the full 2024 calendar.

Time: 7.30pm start – 9pm. Phone: 01706 826227. Address: St Andrew’s Methodist and United Reformed Church, Entwistle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ. Visit: https://www. edwinwaughdialect society.com/eventscalendar.html

●●Rochdale and District Camera Club (May 14)

TONIGHT is an outside event. You are more than welcome to come down to one of our club nights to see if you would enjoy joining the club. Visit the link below for the 2024 syllabus.

Time: 8pm. Phone: Pete Williams 07967

969136. Address: Syke Methodist Church Hall, Syke Road, Rochdale OL12 9TF. Visit: https:// www. rochdalecameraclub.org. uk Rochdale Photographic Society (May 15) Tonight’s session – practical evening, depth of field magic.

We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church, starting at 7.30pm prompt (doors open from 7.15pm). The door is kept locked so please ring the bell on arrival.

If you would like to see the club for yourself and meet our members, you are welcome to attend as our guest for up to three weeks before committing to membership. Annual subscription is £36 for single or £46 for joint membership.

A weekly room fee of

£2.50 is also payable on arrival at the meeting. Refreshments are 50p. Visit the link below for a full 2023 syllabus.

Cost: £2.50 for room fee. Time: Doors open

7.15pm, 7.30pm start. Address: Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP. Visit: https://www. rochdaleps.org.uk/ syllabus

●●Chuckling for charity – Petrus homelessness charity local comedy nights (May 15)

WE’RE keeping the laughs coming with another series of comedy nights in Rochdale and Bury! Hosted by our very own fundraiser by day, funny guy by night, Colin Manford, these nights are headlined by none other than Howard Anstock, a familiar face on the comedy scene who has played most of the premier comedy venues in the North West and beyond. They’ll also be joined by some fantastic supporting acts!

COST: £5. Time: 8pm. Phone: Petrus Community on 01706 526289. Address: The Grapes at Bamford, 69 Norden Rd, Bamford, Rochdale OL11 5PN.

Visit: https://www.petrus. org.uk/news/comedyclub-april-may-24-7249

●●Toad Lane Concerts – Rochdale’s Weekly Music at Lunchtime (May 15)

THIS week we have Margaret Ferguson soprano (Ghana, RNCM and Poland) and

Jonathan Ellis piano (RNCM and Manchester University). The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.

Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s.

The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteerenthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.

Cost: £6. Time: Doors open 12 noon, concert starts 12.30-1.30pm. Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872. Address: St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/st Mary’s Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ.