Contents:
- Editor's welcome
- Dave Richardson: Man of Rochdale 2023 »
- Best in region for Rochdale BNI
- Wardle’s rare George V post box
- Access all areas at Hopwood Hall
- BLOKES at Hare Hill House - a safe space for men to socialise
- Hairdressing trend - Wednesday's bangs
- Benches for new Town Hall Square inspired by global fabric designs
- 11 years of bespoke slow fashion at Violet Flamingo
- Triple layer Easter traybake
- Rochdale Riverside Brick Show
- Nature’s Elements: discover your inner magic
- Historical follies photographed from unique aerial perspective
- Lamb shanks with mashed potatoes and roasted root vegetables
- Springhill’s Volunteer Appeal 2023
- 10 years of comedy with ACE LIPS
- Seasonal small business markets at Hare Hill House
- The financial habits to make 2023 less taxing
- Ian Henderson becomes Dale’s all-time record goalscorer
- Gardening tips for spring
- Legal changes ahead for businesses
- Dani Burke: mental wellness through art
- Why spring can still get up your nose
Spring 2023Dave Richardson: Man of Rochdale 2023
Dave Richardson is this year’s Man of Rochdale: awarded the title for dedicating the last six years of his life to raising over £140,000 for a hydrotherapy pool in the community.
Humble Dave puts all his efforts down to his late wife, Rose, who passed away in March 2021 after a 27-year-long battle with Parkinson’s.
Indeed, upon receiving the Man of Rochdale plate bearing the names of all the forebearers, Dave said: “I must dedicate this to my wife.”
They met on a night out at the Derby Hall in Bury when a 19-year-old Dave asked Rose, then 17, to dance. They were engaged in 1966 and married in 1970 before having three children – David, Linsey and Steven – then three grandchildren; Will, Max and Nell: Nell being born the day after Rose passed away.
Over the years, the couple helped raise over £300,000 for various causes, including the Pendlebury Children’s Hospital in 1972 after son David was diagnosed at birth with an adrenal condition, which improved when he was one.
A fundraiser night at The Carlton during the 1990s helped raise money for the long-running Kelly’s Kampaign, contributing towards six adolescent cubicles at the Christie. 14-year-old Kelly, the daughter of Rose’s best friend, had been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer: at the time, there were only children and adult wards.
The husband-and-wife-team also helped looked after disabled children and provide respite care through Take a Break, taking the children on trips to pantomimes and the Blue Planet aquarium.
“I was Father Christmas a couple of times,” Dave says. “You get more out of it when you see the people you’re doing it for.”
Rose was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was in her 40s and joined the local Parkinson’s Society group – though Dave tells us Rose didn’t want to go at first.
Not letting her diagnosis stop her, she received an NVQ in business studies and also studied floristry: Dave’s living room is still filled with Rose’s arrangements.
“There wasn’t a dedicated Parkinson’s nurse then,” Dave explains. “It was going to cost £40,000 to fund one for two years, so we met them in the middle and raised money for one.”
As Rose’s condition became worse, she applied to use the hydrotherapy pool at Salford Royal Hospital, where she was a patient. However, because she lived in Rochdale, she was not eligible to use it.
An alternative, slightly closer to home, unfortunately proved to be unsuitable.
The only solution was to fund their own in their home borough and the ‘Hydro16’ campaign was born in 2016.
Rose and Dave were given a glimmer of hope when Castleton ward councillor, Billy Sheerin, said he would try and help them bring a hydrotherapy pool to the borough.
“Billy showed Nick Crewe – who bought Castleton baths – the plans we’d made up, and he gave them to the builder. He showed me around the rooms at the baths, gave me the biggest hug, shook my hand and said, ‘get on with it!’” Dave recalls.
“Rose sent in an application for funding from Viridor, which we found out we’d got six weeks before she passed. She was absolutely pleased as punch,” Dave beams. The Mayor’s charity – which Dave was involved in fundraising for over several years – also made a donation to the campaign.
Rose’s legacy – now named HydRose in her honour – will be available for people with all kinds of neurological and physical issues to use with fully trained staff on hand.
Dave is clear that he doesn’t want anyone to miss out on the benefits of hydrotherapy: “Anyone who has Parkinson’s can apply to the local Parkinson’s group for funding. There’s also the Rochdale Fund for Relief in Sickness, which could help cover session costs.”
Reflecting, Dave added: “This isn’t down to just one person. We filled halls on numerous occasions and it’s down to those people, those who attended. The Rochdale Freemasons donated towards funding the disabled toilet; Fred Eyre is a patron; Jimmy Cricket’s Wooden Hut Club of old entertainers all came to the functions. If people didn’t come, we wouldn’t have the fundraisers.
“There’s so many people we owe thanks to; it’s all because of them and Rose. “Rose and I were a team together in the fundraising.”
HydRose at Castleton Health and Leisure Centre is expected to open in late spring.