Midweek Musical Delight at St Mary in the Baum!

Every Wednesday at 12:30pm, enjoy the Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts at the stunning Grade I listed St Mary in the Baum church, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ.

Admission is just £6. As a “not for profit” initiative, your entry fee and donations directly support talented musicians, the historic venue, and music resources.

For details, contact Dr. Joe Dawson: 01706 648872.

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

• • Wed 18/06/2025
    Ying Cheng piano (Tunghai University Taiwan, RNCM)

Here are the next events to whet your appetite.

2025 June

• • 25 Jun
    Saxophone Duo: Alvin Wong (Hong Kong & Northwestern Universities & Royal Conservatoire Antwerp) & Calvin Wong (Iowa, Indiana & Texas Universities)

Previous Performance Reviews

Telemann Baroque Ensemble – Peter Collier harpsichord, Alastair Roberts flute, Sarah Snape violin, Rosy  Hickman and Roger Bisby cellos

Meet the sumptuous Baroque ‘House band’

The Toad Lane Concerts provide platform opportunities for musicians of all kinds. Instrumental and vocal soloists, ensembles and choral groups form part of a schedule for everyone. Of many excellent freelance players in the Northwest, the Telemann Baroque Ensemble is sort of the ‘House Band’ of Toad Lane Concerts, as they come at least once a quarter; each time with a slightly varied line up.

Lynch pin and sweet-talking director Peter Collier (harpsichord) is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and London University and was director of the Baroque Week Summer School for over 40 years (www.baroque-week.org.uk) for which he has built up a library of several thousand music scores.

Alastair Roberts started to play the flute at the age of 12 yrs. He graduated from the RNCM and was Head of Music in a comprehensive school whilst continuing to play regularly as a soloist and with the Cheshire Sinfonia and Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra.

Sarah Snape (violin) trained at York University and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies. She was a member of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and upon returning to the UK played with the Northern Ballet Theatre Orchestra. She then freelanced for many years with the Liverpool Philharmonic, the Manchester Camerata, the Northern and Scottish Chamber Orchestras. She now teaches from home and in schools and plays regularly with chamber ensembles.

Roger Bisby was taught to play the cello from the age of 11 years by his grandfather, who had been a musician in a theatre orchestra all his life. Music has always been a great source of enjoyment to him. In his day job Roger read Chemistry at university and became Professor Emeritus of the University of Salford. Although he has played in several orchestras his main commitments nowadays are with the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra and the Telemann Baroque Ensemble.

This visit introduced a new personality into the mix, with another cellist, Rosy Hickman. She started playing cello at the age of 7 and later studied cello at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Having obtained a PGCE as a primary music specialist, she came to Manchester where she quickly joined several local amateur orchestras.  She is currently principal cello in both Sale and Lancashire Chamber Orchestras, and a member of several others. Rosy’s contribution was not just doubling the bass line but also enriching the texture as a tenor might – like adding cream or brandy to the sauce (apologies to chefs).

This undoubtedly contributed to the sumptuous sonority of today’s ensemble in the unusual repertoire of Flute, Violin, 2 Cellos and Harpsichord in Telemann’s 7th Paris Quartet in D major and the Paris Quartet in G major. In between these two suites of dance movements the strings and harpsichord played the attractive Sonata in G major Op 37 no 1 by JB Boismortier. A terrific ‘House Band’ in this acoustic!

Wednesday 4 June 2025 – Eccles Community Choir – Director Angela Rowley

The Toad Lane Concerts provide platform opportunities for musicians of all kinds. Instrumental and vocal soloists, ensembles and choral groups form part of a schedule for everyone. Today’s visiting choir made a welcome return.

‘Singing for pleasure and friendship’ is the proud motto of Eccles Community Choir; mixed voices and mixed ability, they were established in 2009 as an independent, true community choir. Open to all adults (without auditions) and striving to keep subscriptions as low as possible enables anyone to join. They also keep in close contact, via a website, a Facebook page & group email and WhatsApp; plus, a ring-round system for those not online. Every effort is made to build a cohesive musical community.

Musical director, soprano and adjudicator Angela Rowley ARCM does not tolerate ‘dumbing down’ however. As one member put it, ‘Every practice session is also a two-hour singing lesson.’  She does not shy away from sophistication or working towards perfection and her charges seem to thrive on it. She leads by example and gave a poignant, musical solo performance of June by Quilter.

Accompanist John Stott, also arranges music for them, as does choir member Alex Gilchrist. These two exchanged roles today amid the programme, with John singing Handel and Alex at the piano.

The opening Baroque grandeur of Gloria by Vivaldi led to the delicate On Wings of Song by Mendelssohn and the romantic show song, I’ve never been in Love before, from Guys and Dolls. This contrast of styles was typical of the eclectic mix of the programme.

The Lord of the Rings medley by Howard Shore was particularly effective, making use of the choir’s variety of tone and exploiting the superb acoustic at St Mary in the Baum. Angela was able to shape some of the phrasing as she would with a more experienced group.

More variety with Raindrops keep fallin’ on my Head by Burt Bacharach, side by side with two numbers from Strauss’s Vienna (attractively arranged by Alex Gilchrist) and Lullaby of Birdland by Shearing led to the final medley, The Beatles in Revue. The audience left happily humming the timeless tunes of the Fab Four.

But most of all, the choir clearly shared their pleasure and friendship with the audience who eagerly await their next visit.

May 2025 Concert Reviews

Click HERE to see the May 2025 concert reviews

April 2025 Concert Reviews

Click HERE to see the April 2025 concert reviews

March 2025 Concert Reviews

Click HERE to see the March 2025 concert reviews

ORTOA Celebrity Recitals at Rochdale Town Hall Organ

Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 1 pm – Edward Taylor concert organist

ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association est.1908) are back at the newly renovated town hall presenting top performers at the JJ Binns organ. The new time for this set of four recitals is Tuesday at one pm.

Edward Taylor is currently the Assistant Organist and Director of Consort at Carlisle Cathedral. He also leads a busy freelance career and is in high demand as a concert organist, conductor and accompanist.

He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists having graduated from the University of Leeds and studied at the Strasbourg Conservatoire.

Edward’s vast organ solo repertoire consists of works spanning five centuries. In 2009, Edward held a fund-raising event in which he completed a 12-hour organ marathon, showcasing 12 consecutive themed hours. However, his carefully tailored Rochdale programme promises gems by Bairstow, Rowley, Cocker, Hollins, Whitlock and Vierne, along with Jongen’s Sonata Eroica.

He is also a busy choral director and Musical Animateur in which he provides choral training in Primary Schools throughout Cumbria. All this alongside playing the organ or directing the choirs at Carlisle Cathedral.

Edward has appeared on several CDs; and his You Tube channel, which he started during ‘lockdown’ currently has 275 videos of organ music, mainly performed on the cathedral organ in Carlisle (@edwardtaylororganist). Follow Edward on Facebook and Instagram.

ORTOA 2025 further events on Tuesdays at One!

Tuesday July 15th at 1 pm – LEE LONGDEN Cinema Organist

Tuesday Sept 16th at 1 pm – ALEX FISHBURN (from Liverpool Cathedral)

Admission £10 (concessions £8) concerts last one hour. Card or cash at the door or visit www.rochdaletownhall.co.uk/events or iao.org.uk/ortoa

Previous ORTOA Performance Reviews

250520 ORTOA Review Keith Hearnshaw

MPs’ and Peers’ Information and Discussion Event: –
House of Commons, 29th April 2025

The Stronger Together campaign is intensifying its efforts to protect England’s irreplaceable peatlands by seeking a ban on wind farms on protected peatland through proposed amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

This push complements their Parliamentary petition, which so far has garnered nearly 8,000 signatures (see petition here).

You can play a vital role in this campaign by writing to your MP as soon as possible. Encourage them to support these amendments and attend the House of Commons event on 29th April (10 a.m. to midday), where the amendments will be introduced.

Below is a template letter you can use to contact your MP. You can find your MP’s contact details HERE.

LETTER TO YOUR MP

Subject: Support Amendments to Protect Peatlands in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Dear [MP’s name],

I am writing to seek your support for amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that would ban wind farms on protected peatlands in England. If your schedule permits, I also invite you to attend an informational event on this critical issue in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29th April, from 10 a.m. to midday (room number to be confirmed).

This event, organised by the Stronger Together to Stop Calderdale Wind Farm campaign and sponsored by Conservative MP Robbie Moore (Keighley and Ilkley), will feature Richard Lindsay, an internationally recognised expert in peatland ecology and conservation. Richard, Senior Research Advisor to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Head of Conservation Research at the University of East London, will present scientific evidence supporting the amendments and answer questions from MPs and Peers.

Peatland is one of the world’s most biodiverse and carbon-rich habitats, often called the “Amazon rainforest of the UK.” Full-depth blanket bog alone stores an astonishing 1,600 tonnes of carbon per hectare—four times more than tropical rainforest. Tragically, peatland is also one of the most threatened ecosystems.

Wind energy developments on peatlands risk undermining their critical carbon capture function. Construction activities and subsequent drainage can dry out the peatland, releasing vast amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere. Restoration of damaged peat can take over 150 years, rendering this destruction irreversible within the typical 40-year lifespan of a wind farm.

Regrettably, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as currently drafted, is poised to weaken environmental protections for special conservation sites, including protected peatlands.

More than 30 environmental charities have already warned that the Bill undermines the Government’s pledge of a “win-win” for nature and development, threatening to erode environmental laws (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/charities-challenge-ministers-fix-planning-bill-or-nature-will-pay-price).

While proposed amendments such as reinstating the Habitats Regulations represent progress, they still allow significant loopholes. These gaps enable infrastructure projects, including wind farms, to proceed even on irreplaceable habitats if specific derogation tests are met by the Secretary of State. (https://saverestorewalshawmoor.wordpress.com/2025/04/08/angela-rayners-ministry-says-no-need-to-ban-windfarms-on-protected-peatland-were-not-convinced/).

I strongly urge you to:

1. 1. Support the proposed amendments to protect peatlands. (https://saverestorewalshawmoor.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/proposed-pib-amendments-to-ban-windfarms-on-protected-peatland.docx)
   2. Attend the House of Commons event on 29th April, 10 a.m. to midday, to learn more from the experts.

Protecting our peatlands is essential to preserving biodiversity and combating climate change. Your support can make a significant difference for future generations.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address and Phone Number]

Fire and Rescue Service – Wildfire Safety Advice

Wildfires are a serious problem in our area. The Fire and Rescue Service deal with more and more fires on moorland and grassland each year, with many sadly being caused by the actions of people.

There are many ways you can help to avoid wildfires starting. It is especially important to be very wary of wildfires when out camping, caravanning and using disposable barbecues.

Wildfires are becoming more common each year. Climate change is also a factor because it means some areas are drier and more likely to set alight. But with your help, we can reduce the number and seriousness of wildfires in our area. This will stop them causing costly damage and endangering lives.

We want people to stop using disposable barbecues in the countryside to reduce the amount of harm caused by wildfires.

Wildfires are easily started and can spread rapidly putting people, property and infrastructure at risk. The terrain makes them challenging to firefight and demands large amounts of our resources, as well as from the resources of our partners. Lancashire Fire and Rescue knows only too well the devastating effects of wildfires following a fire on Winter Hill near Bolton in summer 2018 which destroyed 18 square kilometres of moorland. Despite this, we continue to experience avoidable fires in open spaces across the county, causing long-lasting harm to wildlife, habitats, and biodiversity. The threat to the environment and our communities can be significantly reduced if people enjoy the great outdoors without using disposable barbecues.

How you can help

You can help look after our area if you’re out enjoying the countryside, parks or beaches or even at home by following this advice:

• • Never use disposable barbecues on moorland or grassland. Please pack a picnic instead.
  • Avoid smoking on moorland. If you do, always extinguish your cigarettes and other smoking materials thoroughly.
  • Do not dispose of cigarette butts out of car windows.
  • Never leave bottles behind, as sunlight can become focused as it shines through glass, starting fires. Please take your litter home with you.
  • Keep children away from lighters and matches.

If you are a landowner or manage land, please only carry out controlled burns if absolutely necessary and within the legal timeframe each year. It is very easy for controlled burns to get out of control and cause unintended wildfires.

In the event of a wildfire

• • If you see a wildfire, call 999. Don’t assume someone else has.
  • Provide as much information as you can about the location, size, terrain and any other relevant information.
  • If you need to, move to a place of safety and don’t try to tackle the fire.
  • Stay away from the area and adhere to road, footpath and other closures. They may be dangerous and you could block access for emergency services.
  • If you are nearby and affected by the smoke, keep windows and doors closed.
  • If you observed anyone on open moorland lighting BBQ’s, campfires or other ignition sources please call 999 and inform the Police who will then enforce the appropriate legislation.

Scout Moor 2 Wind Farm Consultation.

If you are going to any of the Cubico “In-Person” consultation events the following link has some helpful ideas for questions you might want to ask Cubico to answer.

https://saynotoscoutmoor2.org.uk/questions-for-cubico/

Please share this post.

Scout Moor II Wind Farm – Stage 2 Consultation

Cubico has launched the second stage of their consultation – you can find out more HERE.

This includes the following “In-Person” consultation events:

• • Tuesday, 1st April – Bacup Cricket Club: 1:30pm – 7pm
  • Wednesday, 2nd April – Norden Methodist Church: 1:00pm – 6:30pm
  • Thursday, 3rd April – The Ashcroft, Whitworth – 1:30pm – 7pm
  • Wednesday, 23rd April – Cowpe Community Hall: 1:30pm – 7pm
  • Thursday, 24th April – Edenfield Community Centre: 1:30pm – 7pm

We encourage you to attend, ask questions and make your views known.

RMNF supports the “Say No To Scout Moor 2” campaign who have studied the glossy claims from Cubico and made a series of observations which you might want to talk to them about. Please click on the following link for more information – We Challenge Claims in Cubico’s Stage 2 Consultation – Say No to Scout Moor 2

Cubico consultation proposals for a wind farm at Scout Moor and Rooley Moor.

Please click here to see FINAL Cubico – Consultation Approach Note March 2025

The RMNF Trustees have sent the following letter to all our Rochdale Councillors in response to the consultation approach detailed by Cubico that can be seen by clicking on the link above.

STARTS

Dear Councillors

The Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum (RMNF) trustees are concerned with the proposal from Cubico in the attached document for school engagement.

We believe it is important that children are not exploited for commercial or political gain. With this in mind, we suggest any Cubico engagement with schools should only happen after the planning application for Scout Moor II Wind Farm has been determined.

However, if you decide to allow Cubico to expand its educational outreach before any planning application or planning decision is made, we suggest it is important this does not bias the planning process. The educational packs Cubico propose to provide must inform children and their parents they are only receiving this information because there happens to be a planning application to build a wind farm on Scout and Rooley Moor. Incorrect messaging could confuse children, especially if Cubico only extol the virtues of wind farms and the planning application is refused. It therefore seems appropriate to explain to the children that Government policy on this matter is not a “one size fits all” solution and that the Local Planning Authority officers must consider the pros and cons of each planning application. It would be helpful to explain to the children all the planning issues that must be considered, for example environment, visual impact, noise, heritage etc. There might even be an opportunity within certain age groups for children to debate moral issues concerned with the application of Government policy and if it is right commercial organisations will only consider saving the planet for profit.

We invite the councillor with portfolio for education to work with RMNF, Rossendale Civic Trust (copied) and any other appropriate organisation to ensure the Cubico educational packs contain the appropriate information to best inform children about this planning application and all the issues that must be considered. In doing so you might inspire interest in politics and planning as well as renewable energy.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

RMNF Trustees

ENDS

England’s Cotton Famine, John Bright, and Lincoln

The RMNF trustees are grateful to the Abraham Lincoln Association (ALA) for making their members aware of the plight concerning an aggressive application to build a wind farm on Rooley Moor that will destroy the tranquil and historic landscape of the Cotton Famine Road. Please see page 2 of the newsletter below.

The RMNF trustees are concerned any application to further industrialise our moorland is in direct conflict with our charitable objects. We believe the benefits of the Cubico proposal do not outweigh the negative impacts, which go beyond the obvious loss of amenity, environmental and visual impacts 21 wind turbines each 180m high would bring.

RMNF members have consulted with our local Labour MPs who seem intent on toeing the party line despite the negative impacts on the very poorest in society this development would bring.

There is a stealth tax on all domestic energy bills. It accounts for 16% of the final price of electricity and 5.5% of the final price of gas. It is a government policy that doesn’t discriminate and penalises the poorest in society. We suggest winter fuel payments are simply a way for the government to further subsidise the energy market.

Cubico will not share their numbers, we have asked but they hide behind commercial sensitivities, so we’ve looked at similar windfarm operations whose accounts are available to the public and the profits are frankly obscene.

We invite Cubico to refute our calculations that suggest over a 40-year period Cubico’s Canadian Pension Fund Owners will make £4.5 billion profit after tax in return for £56 million business rates and a £20m community “wealth” fund. Not a bad return on a £200m investment that will ultimately be paid for through the price we pay for energy (the UK is in the top 10 of countries in the world for the most expensive electricity).

The RMNF trustees will be inviting all our local Labour MPs and Labour Councillors to meet with RMNF members so they can explain their reasoning for openly supporting the Cubico proposal for a wind farm.

We expect RMNF will have to seek legal advice to put up a defence to protect our moorland, so if you are able please give a donation by clicking HERE.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the Abraham Lincoln Association newsletter.

Click HERE to see the ALA 2025 Spring Newsletter

Manchester, cotton and transatlantic slavery.

The Science and Industry Museum are planning an exhibition that will open in 2027.

For more information click HERE

Here is the latest edition of the Lancashire Local History Federation newsletter for February 2025

LLHF newsletter Feb 2025