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READER MESSAGES
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CONTRIBUTION - Short story by Jean Vann kj.vann@virgin.net |
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The Mancunian Postbox
The red post box was very proud. It had been made in the factory
and now it was ready to go out to work.
"Well. Lad. You'll see life as it is. You're in the centre,
in Corporation Street We've given you extra paint and extra strong
steel. You'll last for ever. You're an IMPORTANT post box"
Now he had never heard the name IMPORTANT but he liked it. He
supposed it came because he was 'portly'- the Supervisor. "The
portly chap, over there" he had heard them say.
For years he stood there in the centre of the city. People posted
letters and cards and important packets. At first, when he was
young, the road was very busy with horses and carts. The carts
came through to the market at the back and the barrow boys pushed
their handcarts past him. One day all this changed. People were
in uniform, and many of the ladies and men who posted letters
in him were crying.
He heard them talk of 'The War' and he saw soldiers marching
away. They never came back.
When it was over, the sense of jubilation in the street quite
tired him out. They were shouting, cheering and waving flags.
But then the centre was quiet again, Sad faces, no work and people
just walking round. There were more cars now and fewer horses.
He saw grim faces and talks of another war.
This one was different. Overhead the planes droned and he heard
the people say. 'Liverpool is getting it tonight.' He wondered
what they meant. He caught glimpses of pictures in peoples' papers
of damaged buildings, and stretcher-bearers carrying people out
of the ruins.
Then one night, he knew. 'The Blitz' they called it. These planes
dropped massive explosions out of the sky. The buildings crashed
around him, glass shattered and there were fires burning. The
post box was very frightened but he was not called IMPORTANT post
box for nothing. He stood very still and tried to not think about
what was happening. When he looked back on that time, he did not
want to remember it. . He could see the people thought the same.
They patted him as they went past.
'Good for you. At least they didn't get you!'
After the war was over, the street became busy again. H watched
the faces of children delighting in the first Christmas lights
they had ever seen. The post box was happy. He hated the dark
'blackout' as they called it. There were things to buy in the
shops, and the city got busy again. Part of the street was shut
and became 'pedestrianised', which just meant there were no cars
and people walked around.
He liked it, No traffic fumes, and the people were happier and
posted letters more. It was June 15th 1996 when suddenly it happened
again. The police were clearing people. The postbox had a sense
that he had been here before!
He looked for the planes, but this time there were no planes.
Just the blast, smashing glass, ripping off tiles, destroying
buildings, once again. A lot of people took pictures of the post
box. Yes, he stood through this as well.
When it was all over, he wondered if it would happen each night
like it had before. But no, that seemed to be all. Just the one
blast. The damage was amazing, broken glass everywhere, and a
massive crater. He was taken away while they rebuilt and he sat
in the Altrincham Bag Depot, wondering what would happen to him.
'Don't you worry, lad.' the supervisor said. 'Youíll go
back. You're part of us now. A real Mancunian. You're famous.
Look, they've even got your picture in the paper.'
IMPORTANT MANCUNIAN post box slept the years away. He needed
a rest after all that excitement, Then one day he got a new coat
of paint. 'You're going back,' said the proud postman. 'And you
and I are going to be on the tele! They built you to last.'
IMPORTANT MANCUNIAN postbox was very pleased. Fame at last. The
television reporter talked to his postman and said. 'So he's here.
Ready for the new Millennium.'
IMPORTANT MANCUNIAN postbox wondered what would happen then.
He expected he'd be in the thick of it, but he'd survive, even
the Millennium,. He looked at the tall glass buildings and the
windmills turning. 'Wonder what a milliennium is exactly?' he
pondered.
Copyright Nov 1999 Jean Vann
kj.vann@virgin.net
Back
to the Eyewitness in Manchester Newsletter Feature:
Greetings
from the New City Centre
|
Envelope-to: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
From: "George Coney" <george@cybertrn.demon.co.uk>
To: <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com>
Subject: The New Manchester
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 12:16:59 -0000
Organization: Cybertron Limited
Dear Aidan, I just read your excellent newsletter about the new Manchester
city centre.
As a Manchester resident I was very interested to read your thoughts.
Like you I was a bit doubtful about the new Exchange Square. I find
the windmills and railway wagon seats particularly ugly. But perhaps
they will grow on people and to at least the design is bold and wacky
(to paraphrase from your article)!It is good to see risk taking design
instead of the bland designs we often get.
I don't think it would ever be a good idea to try to recreate buildings
from the past (except in special circumstances such as the historical
reconstruction of the Globe Theatre in London). When past styles are
imitated in modern architecture the result is almost always awful. That
was tried a great deal in architecture in the 80s and results were not
impressive. Architecture should reflect its own time and not be ashamed
to do so.
The new M & S, Arndale facade and especially the new footbridge are
unashamedly contemporary. So what if the street furniture in Exchange
Square is 90's/Millennium style, this is 1999!! The old buildings in
Manchester were built to suit the tastes of their own times, we should
build for the tastes of our time.
I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments on the sad lack of development
of the Old Fire Station on London Road, are there any plans to do anything
with that magnificent building?
But I love the "fan-heater" car park. A great contemporary building!
We should renovate and convert Manchester's old buildings to preserve
them where we can, but not be afraid to build bold modern contemporary
buildings. We do not want Manchester to look like a tacky museum of
fake old buildings!New architecture should be bold and unashamedly contemporary,
not a pastiche of anachronistic styles.
I do hope the council do not get the go ahead to build an office block
in Piccadilly gardens, that massive open space in the middle of our
city is a unique feature of Manchester which should be preserved.
Keep up the good work.
Best Wishes, George Coney
George Coney
Cybertron Limited
Chorlton
MANCHESTER, UK
email: george@cybertrn.demon.co.uk
There's one building in Manchester that's an attempt at a copy of
an old style of architecture from the 13th and 14th centuries. It's
a bit of a pastiche, with lots of fake old fashioned bits, made to look
like something from a medieval cathedral. It's also in an alien style
- imported from the Flemish region. It was built not too long ago (well,
about 125 years ago) and cost the council a huge amount of money, which
could have been spent on other things. At the end of the war there was
a suggestion to pull it down, as it wasn't big enough for the job, but
they decided to save it.
I'm glad they did, as it's one of my favourite buildings in Manchester,
none other than Manchester Town Hall! And if it had been destroyed in
the war, like the Assizes Building in Strangeways, by the same architect,
Alfred Waterhouse, they should have rebuilt it, like they've done with
the old town centre in Dresden.
Thanks for your contribution! Back
To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com
From: "Duckworth Paul"
paul.duckworth@fujitsu.com.au
Date: 9 Dec 1999 13:52:00 +1100
Dear Aiden, I much enjoyed your latest article on the centre of Manchester.
The panoramic photograph of the Mitre Hotel,Shambles and Corn Exchange
was most eyecatching and reminded me, very much, of a Lowry painting.
I am surprised that no-one else has remarked on it. From the photograph
it would appear that the area has a very artificial look about it, far
removed from the original, but I have to reserve judgement until I can
see it for myself. There seems to be a lack of letters from readers
over the last few months, which is a pity as I find they add to your
already excellent articles.
Keep up the good work, we all enjoy it. Regards Paul Duckworth
Yes, I was surprised when I viewed that photo - it looks like it's
almost turning into a painting. The reason for this is that it is actually
seven photos stitched together using Photo Vista. It softens the the
images when it blends them together - I also lightened the darker areas.
In addition, the new pubs, though carefully designed to blend in with
their new surroundings, actually contrast very strongly with the buildings
on either side, making it look as if they've been "pasted"
in, as, in a sense they have. I think the new location works quite well,
but now that they've been moved from their original location, they will
always feel artificial and not the genuine article. Go to the Bells
of Peover if you want to see a genuine old pub next to a church! As
for the lack of messages, I was having difficulty keeping up with the
volume of mail recently. I hope to streamline the reader messages, but
for the time being, I'll include selected messages, including this one!
Thanks for contacting! Back
to NEW CITY CENTRE
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