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From: "Douglas Minke" dgminke@sentex.net
To: "Aidan O'Rourke" aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
Subject: Trafford Centre
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 10:29:52 -0500

I really like Eyewitness News in Manchester and print it out for my Mum. My brother Graham Connor, who lives in Waterloo, told me about it. My Mum is 88 years old and although she loves to visit Canada she still is a Mancunian at heart. As for myself I emigrated in 1964 and married a Canadian so this is my home now. Although I visit Manchester fairly often. The last time being September when the new Trafford Centre opened.

I went there a couple of days after the opening with my sister-in-law Ann Connor and we took along my Mum. It was quite an experience. My brother dropped us off at Selfridges where we left Mum having a coffee, and charged the entire length of the centre to pick up a wheelchair for her. We headed straight back without looking in any shops. Met Mum placed her in the wheelchair then took of to explore. By this time we were getting a little hungry so we stopped at several spots in the New Orleans section but we couldn't get served.

When we finally found a place to sit down and order it was in the Orient (right) and waiting time was a half hour, there was a mass evacuation and the next thing we were rushing out with my Mum walking as fast as she could and Ann and I carrying the wheelchair down three flights of stairs. Not an easy task. When we got outside there was some smoke and a lot of confusion. Someone said it was a bomb scare. So we decided to call it a day. We were faced with the task of walking all the way around to where we had picked up the wheelchair to return same. On our way back a fire truck arrived. Upon arrival at the wheelchair depot we discovered that things looked normal and people were just coming and going as if nothing happened. When we explained to the woman who took our wheelchair back what we had been thru she was not aware of any of it, and consequently was quite worried.

I really think that something is wrong with the alarm system when one end of a mall is emptied and the other end is unaware of anything being wrong. We returned home expecting to hear something on the news or at least read about it in the newspaper, but not a peep. Is this another bit of political manouvering? After all it could devastate shopping at the Centre if news of a bomb scare (real or otherwise) was to get out. Other than a bag of pasta, which by the way cost $10 I didn't get to see or buy anything else! Not one of my most best shopping days

I love to shop till I drop but not by a bomb!!!! Bye for now. Yours Moira Minke (nee Connor)

I didn't hear of this particular incident, but there have been others, including the death of a young boy caused by a piece of falling railing. This took place in "The Orient", and was very well publicised. Two shoppers were injured in another accident, and there was also a controversy when Trafford Centre bosses banned staff from wearing poppies due to uniform rules. They later relented under pressure from the public and the MEN. Come to the new Manchester city centre when it's finished - it's much much better! (and I'm not biased!)

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 19:41:44 -0500
From: peter and claudette foy pncfoy@skynet.ca
Organization: Home
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
Subject: Great Stuff
Hi Aidan , Just got through your recent collage of Manchester. It is well
worth the time to go through it. Can we have some photographs of Oldham
soon. Keep up the good work. Peter Foy London Ontario

Pictures of Oldham coming soon

From: "Clive Van Cooten" wwsongs@globalnet.co.uk
To: <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com>
Subject: Your work
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 21:07:42 -0000

Aidan Spent hours browsing through your pictures. Many, many stunning images. So you've finally managed to escape teaching have you? Good luck fro the future.
Clive Van Cooten E mail : wwsongs@globalnet.co.uk
Website: www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~wwsongs

Yes, I have, thank goodness!

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 00:16:47 -0500
From: David Boardman db@mail.espbed.edu.on.ca
Reply-To: db@mail.espbed.edu.on.ca
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: Congratulations

Aidan,

I'm sitting here writing to you on my vintage 6100 worrying about the odd noise it likes to make now and then. I'm ready for a G3 too but tell me why didn't you go for an iMac?

I just finished watching "Reckless" the movie with Robson Green and Michael Kitchen and made by Granada. I was enjoying the glimpses of the city that even after so many years is so familiar and so much part of me. Then I came up here and read the story of the brick throwers on the bridge. I suppose that's the essence of Manchester - a wonderful idea - a magnificent spirit and at the same time ugly, scruffy and at times ruthless.

Thanks once again for some great copy and brilliant pictures.

Oh, and thank you for settling a family argument. I recently found an old school friend who now lives in Blackley which my wife of Saskatchewan origin wants to call Black-lee, thank you for confirming that it is indeed Blake-lee.

Cheers

David

Although I think the iMac is a wonderfully designed computer, I bought a G3, as it has more expandibility and is slightly faster - I want to add a 21" monitor and powerful graphics card. Unfortunately you can't do this with an iMac.

Envelope-to: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
From: "Ryan Davis"ryand59@hotmail.com
Subject: movie
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 18:36:48 PST

A movie production company is about to Audition a Hollywood Movie using the Internet!! The movie's script by Stephen Gibbons, a writer/director from Manchester in the UK apparently was read and loved by Natalie Portman, who wanted to appear in the film but her agents felt as the budget is beneath $20 Million, it was "Beneath her!". Harry Shearer has signed to the project, and Henry Thomas as well as Brenda Blethyn are currently negotiating for their parts in the film. All the info is on their website which I found - http://www.chicmoon.com

Well, if Natalie Portman isn't taking part, I don't think I'll audition!

Stephen Gibbons was since featured in Manchester People

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:52:13 -0400
From: James & Linda Ollerenshaw Ollerenshaw@geocities.com
Subject: Thanks from Whitehouse
Reply-to: Ollerenshaw@geocities.com MIME-version: 1.0

Dear Aidan:

Thank you very much for the pictures you took of Daisy Nook! I grew up in Littlemoss just about a mile from the country park and worked at Daisy Nook Garden Centre for a few years prior to moving to Whitehouse, Ohio USA, eleven years ago.

I was so pleased to see pictures you took and look forward to seeing any others of the surrounding area you may have.

My wife and I look forward to your weekly reports as it keeps us updated with information that we wouldn't normally get.

Thanks again and keep up the great work!

James Ollerenshaw

Thanks very much, and keep reading!

Hi Aidan Once again thanks for all the great photos. My wife and I are Originally from Cheetham Hill and Higher Blackley, now Living in Sydney Australia for 32 years, We wouldn't mind a few Photos of these areas when you're passing if possible, if not it will not stop us enjoying your work as always.

Cheers Tony and Sylvia Usher

Thanks very much for the message. I'll try and get up that way soon, but I like to take photos during sunny weather, so I often have to wait! By the way, readers, Tony sent me this superb class photo of taken at St Marks School, Heath Street, Cheetham Hill, 1947. I'm sure he'd like to hear from other people from that school/year.

Here's one

From: "JAMES CUNNINGHAM" jcunny53@hotmail.com
To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
Subject: Miles Platting
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 06:17:00 PST

Hi Aidan (and anamaria?) First off let me say thanks a million for keeping all of us far flung Mancunians up to date and in the picture, I`ve followed "Eyewitness" almost since the first issue came out and the quality of both the words and pictures are way above anything else connected with the big M currently on the net. Just one thing is missing, born in Ancoats, I was pleased to see you have covered parts of the area with your trusty camera, but what about next door! Miles Platting! home of the brave (my mother and the rest of the family have lived there for over 20 years, which in my book makes them very brave). Not one picture in all of the "image collection", Tell me this is a mistake soon to be corrected and I will sing your praises from the mountain tops of Sweden.

Keep well, keep on yours Jimmy Cunningham

Have a look at pictures 628 and 632!

From: "Jane Macnaghten" macnag@centrenet.co.uk
Subject: King Rib
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 22:29:30 -0000

Did you report anything on the trade mission to Kuala Lumpur and the Manchester band King Rib who were a huge success out there?

I have above - thanks for reminding me of it. If anyone has any other stories they'd like me to investigate, please contact at any time!

From: "Gordon Adams"
mancty@hrfn.net
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 23:31:15 -0500

Dear Aidan, Glad I have found you again. I lost you for a time . There is so much on the Web it is difficult to keep up with everything that is going on. Your picture of the Christmas lights going on was great. A bit early, perhaps, but very nice. A very Merry Christmas from Williamsburg, VA., USA, the reproduced 17th Century City and the first capitol of Virginia. Gordon T. Adams

Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier each year. Did you hear about the local householders who put up their Christmas lights in September and keep them up till just before Easter! Does anyone out there know who these people are? I'd like to take a photo!

From: "Mary Hodgkinson" mary.h@home.com

Subject: A REQUEST FOR PHOTOS OF THE BESWICK AREA
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 11:45:19 -0800

Hi Aidan. It's Mary Hodgkinson again. I E-mailed you several weeks ago to compliment you on the fantastic photos you take, in and around Manchester. My parent's live off Sledmere Close, which is just off Grey Mare Lane. I know that area has changed considerably! The landscape is now quite flat and uninteresting. Still I believe the Market is still thriving!  Anyway Aidan, any photos of that area would mean a great deal to me. Thanks in advance.

Mary

Yes, I agree, that area isn't half the place it used to be, but there's still plenty to see there. I remember visiting Grey Mare Lane market as a child. Picture coming soon.

From: "henning hansen" henning_h_38@hotmail.com
To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
Subject: Manchester
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 18:12:15 PST

Hello there! Greetings from Norway to you. My wife and I visited Manchester in July this summer. Great city, nice city and most of all a friendly city. We stayed at Hotel Britannia on Portland Street, because our daughter was working there. She is still living and working in Manchester, and likes it very much there. She lives in West Didsbury on Old Landsdowne Rd. West Didsbury was also a nice place to visit. We are looking forward to visiting the city of Manchester again. Regards Henning Hansen, Elgveien 32, 4300 Sandnes, Norway.

PS: Where can I find maps over West Didsbury? DS

Glad you liked Manchester, and hope you'll come again soon. You'll soon be able to find overview maps of Manchester on this website. But for detailed street maps, you still can't beat printed ones. I use the Geographer's A-Z Greater Manchester street atlas, ring-bound, priced at £11.50. I'm also very keen on the Ordnance Survey maps. Please contact me if you'd like further details.

From: Ali1657@aol.com
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 14:42:18 EST
Subject: hello

The person of the week should be Sean a young boy age 13 who lost his father Nov 23,1997 and then his mum this morning at 5:30 am Nov. 22 1998. I became friends with Sean a month ago. He is with a heavy heart. I am Eleanore age 58 from Ohio in the United States. My e-mail is Ali1657@aol.com

Sean lives in Manchester, and Eleanore, in Mogadore, Ohio. She tells me she has corresponded with Sean via e-mail, but doesn't have any other details about him, other than that he lives in Manchester and his sister is at university here. She'd like to know his postal address so she can send help and condolences. Has anyone heard anything about Sean or know him?

Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 22:01:32 -0800
From: Craig And Lynwen craignlynwen@earthlink.net
Subject: Missing Home

Hi Aidan, my name is Hannah,

I was so pleased to find your website and be able see pictures from home..... your photographs are brilliant. I have been in America since August, I landed on the East Coast and have driven across country and am staying in Pasedena, LA for a while before returning home. It has been comforting for me to be able to have a read of the MEN on screen and keep up with whats happenin'(!) while on my travels. I don't suppose you could include a picture of Whitefield, I'll let you decide where!! I would be very grateful and this simple addition would do wonders for your portfolio to date. I look forward to hearing your decision,

Thanks & lots of festive cheer, Hannah.

Of course, I will include a picture taken in Whitefield - around Church Lane is nice. I need to wait for some good weather - don't despair, we should have some by Christmas!

Here it is

From: "Muirhead, Bill A" Bill.Muirhead@capgemini.co.uk
Subject: Manchester paintings
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 15:55:56 -0000

Aidan,

Whilst looking for information on where I can get prints of paintings of Manchester city centre scenes from earlier this century, I came across your pages on the Manchester On-line website.

Do you have any recommendations as to where I should look?

thanks, Bill

An ad appeared in the MEN of Tuesday November 3rd with nostalgic paintings of Manchester by Bernard McMullen. Phone 0161 203 5858 for more details.

From: "Josephine G. Moysey" josephinemoysey@hotmail.com
To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
Subject: Tom Bloxham
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 20:25:28 CET

Hi Aidan

My name is Josephine Moysey, and I am originally from Broughton in Salford, although I am now living in Derry, Northern Ireland, doing my degree. This may sound like a really bizarre question, but I was reading the stuff about Tom Bloxham on the Eyewitness thing on the manchester on-line website, and I was wondering if you knew of any way that I would be able to contact him? I think he could help me out a great deal with my dissertation.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million.

Josie

He's a very busy man, but if you write to Urban Splash (Properties) Ltd., Ducie House, Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JW. he may be able to help you. Please say you found out about him in Eyewitness in Manchester.

Aidan: I am a recent subscriber to the Internet and was amazed to discover your excellent collection of news and photos. I lived in Bury before coming to Toronto in 1972. Do you think you could show some pictures of Bury and also Whalley Range School off the Princess Parkway. Thanks. Janet Collier-Green

Yes, I've included those places on my list. Now all I need is some good weather!

Aiden, last week we found your Eyewitness in M/c site, it's great to keep in touch with the local news back 'home'. Lindsey, myself and our 3 children moved out to Calgary, Alberta in April 1997. It's great to see recent photos of those familiar and not so familiar locations. We knew the shopping centre in South Manchester had opened but your picture of the food hall was the first we'd actually seen of the place. What is the chance of a shot of Alkrington or Middleton in the near future? David and Lindsey

I've added those locations to my list, but give me a bit of time - I generally like to photograph only when the weather is sunny - this happens quite often, but not all the time! Very nice to hear from you - you're only recently gone - will you still be visiting when you've been gone as long as the next correspondent...

Super collection of excellent pictures.! I wish they were identified, everything has changed since I worked on Oxford St 1940-1942. I was straight out of school. Remember going into the basement every time the air raid sirens went!! Also going back to work after the Blitz, Piccadilly and Portland St were heavily bombed,What a mess!!!

Keep up the good work.

It's amazing the Blitz is so fresh in your mind! More detailed descriptions of locations will be included for each picture soon, and you'll be able to add your own comments on each picture as well. By the way, you have a great surname!

From: Linda Helm tlhelm@bellatlantic.net
Subject: Picture of Manchester Cathedral

I am interested in purchasing copies of the picture of Manchester Cathedral. Could you please supply the following information; Can you mail photos overseas? What are the dimensions of the pictures? How much do they cost? Can I pay by U.S. postal money order or do you require GBP? Thanks for your help. Tom Helm

Thanks for the enquiry. At the moment, I'm preparing a selection of prints for sale as postcards and prints 6x4, 10x8, 15x10 inches, and other sizes. I haven't fixed the prices yet. They will be available by mail, or as high resolution files for digital transfer. How many copies did you want to buy? It's the "digitally cleaned up" one isn't it, number 581?

We are reading your site on a steamy Sunday afternoon in Brisbane. The English are being hammered by the Aussies at present so we thought we'd cheer ourselves up with piccies from home. As we are from Newton Heath (15 years ago ), imagine our delight to see our old stomping ground the railway hotel at Berry Brow. Any further pictures of Newton Heath would really make our Xmas in particular Newton Heath cricket club. If you get hold of Albert Walsh tell him Benny said he has to buy you a pint.

All the best and Happy Crimble the Bennetts

There are some more of Newton Heath - just do a search for them. I've added Newton Heath cricket club to my list. Looking forward to my pint! This photo was taken next to Brookdale Golf Club.

Diann in Denver

Yes, that's a good idea. I may do a "guest book" where people can post "looking for" notices - there are plenty of other ones around, but an Eyewitness in Manchester one would be one extra opportunity for people to find each other. Have any other readers got ideas or suggestions?

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