MANCHESTER CHURCH LEADERS applauded the condemnation by Lord Samuel, the Liberal leader, of homosexuality and other grave moral offences. In a joint statement made in November 1953 they drew attention to a serious vice problem in Manchester. Evangelical teams work in Piccadilly where according to one church leader, 'the rise of homosexuality there and elsewhere is frightening'. Only the church could solve the problem they said. They called for the appointment of a Royal Commission to study homosexuality.

EWM says: In November 1953 the scientist, thinker openly gay man Alan Turing had only 7 months to live. He was arrested in 1952, charged with homosexuality, stripped of his security clearance and ordered to undergo hormone treatment. On 7 June 1954 he committed suicide at his home in Wilmslow by eating an apple poisoned with cyanide. Read the story of Alan Turing's life and achievements in 'Alan Turing, the Enigma' by Andrew Hodges.

PLANS FOR A £14M NORTH-SOUTH MOTORWAY through Lancashire have been unveiled. Part of the capital may be authorised for spending next year on selected sections. There will probably be two by-passes round Lancaster and Preston. These dual carriageways are the start of an ambitious plan for a new national road network. Drawn up by the Lancashire County Council supported by the Lancashire and Merseyside Industrial Development Association and the British Road Federation. The 63 mile highway will run from Warrington to the junction with the Manchester-Preston-Lancaster trunk road near the county boundary with Westmorland. The road will be 88 feet wide with 15 'flyover' connections. It will form part of the proposed national route from London to Glasgow and be reserved for fast traffic only.

EWM says: The Preston By-pass, completed in December 1958, was the first motorway in the UK. The Thelwall Viaduct, carrying the M6 over the Manchester Ship Canal, opened in 1963. It was rebuilt in the 1990's as a double viaduct. The M6 was completed in 1971. In December 2003, around one month ahead of schedule, the M6 Toll north of Birmingham opened to traffic. Find out all about the M60 motorway in a new book scheduled for publication later this year. I am providing photographs and descriptions, with essays by Peter Portland and Matthew Hyde.

PRINCESS MARGARET visited Manchester on Tuesday November 17th 1953. Visibility in Manchester was almost nil due to smog as she arrived at the Royal Exchange for a glittering ceremony to mark the reopening of the building. It was so dark due to the smog that a call was put through to the City Highways Department to switch on the street lights in Albert Square and Cross-street. The princess arrived at London Rd Station after a night of secrecy in the royal train, which was parked at railway sidings near Styal Cheshire. She declared the Royal Exchange open after a £760,000 rebuilding programme to repair damage sustained in 1940. After visiting the Town Hall she went to Platt Hall to inspect the costume collection, then to Mayes Gardens Ancoats.

EWM says: Princess Margaret died on 9 February 2002, nearly fifty years after her visit to Manchester. Her sister Queen Elizabeth, crowned in June 1953 remains as the reigning monarch more than fifty years on. The Royal Exchange, former home of the 'cotton barons' closed with the demise of Manchester's cotton industry, and was later converted for use as a theatre. Extensive repair and renovation took place after the bomb of 1996.

THE STREETS OF MANCHESTER were packed with Christmas shoppers during December 1953. The most congested point in the city centre was the pedestrian crossing at the top of Market-street.

With many more things off the ration or in better supply than last year, sales are expected to reach a record level, despite the fact that money is 'tight'. 20 extra police officers were on duty in the Market-street area, and traffic was reduced to a nose-to-tail crawl on Market-street.

Parking may now be banned in Manchester city centre because a town's meeting voted against the Corporation's plans to install parking meters in some streets. The city's Public Safety Committee is to consider plans to ban parking in the area bounded by five railway stations (Victoria, Exchange, Knott Mill, Oxford Rd and and London Rd). The Chairman of the Public Safety Committee Cllr Arthur Donovan said: 'Motorists have claimed that they have a right to park on the roads. They have no such right. The roads are made for the free movement of vehicles.' Fringe parking sites could be set up, and parts of the River Medlock covered over to provide parking areas, it was suggested.

EWM says: Market Street was pedestrianised in the 1980's. Parking in the city centre is still a contentious issue. Illegally parked cars are regularly clamped and removed by Manchester City Council. In 2004 it costs £1.80 to park your car on the street in Manchester city centre.

CHRISTMAS 1953 was mild and rainy. Lancashire County Police reported four deaths and four seriously hurt between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. There were scores of crashes in Manchester, with ambulances answering 100 emergency calls and 40 road accidents. In Salford there were 10 accidents with one person killed.

The Lord Mayors of Manchester and Salford gave statements to mark the New Year. Alderman Abraham Moss, Lord Mayor of Manchester said that although during the past year there had been many disappointments, the centenary celebrations and the coronation would provide happy recollections. Alderman Joseph Shlosberg, Mayor of Salford expected that 1954 would be beset with difficulties, including the maintenance of a decent standard of living, and the halt in the rise of the cost of living. He looked forward to steps towards the easing of tension in the world, improved relations between nations and the control of atomic energy.

EWM says: Christmas 2003 was also rainy. Despite the breathalyser, introduced during the 1960's, drink-related accidents continue to be a problem. Greater Manchester Police were disappointed to discover an increase in the number of people found to be over the drink driving limit over Christmas 2003.

Though Manchester and the wider world have changed out of all recognition since 1953, peoples wishes and aspirations for the new year remain the same. A very happy and prosperous 1954 - and 2004 - to all readers.

On completing this article on 12 Jan 04 I realised it was the 25th anniversary of the death at Wythenshawe Hospital of my father Bertie O'Rourke (Bartholomew O'Rourke), born 12 September 1908 Abbeyfeale Co Limerick Ireland. His vivid stories of life in the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's had a profound effect on me as a child. See my 'Magic of Manchester' article.

All photos and articles © Aidan O'Rourke