Events in Rochdale - Town Centre

Bury & Rochdale Magistrates' Court is organisng an Information Stall in the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, to raise awareness of the Magistracy and the merger between the Rochdale and Bury Magistrates Courts and relocation to Bury.

The will take place in the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Area on Friday the 10 February, 2012, from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Magistrates and legal Advisers will be available there to answer any questions members of the public may have and will also provide the information about the new location.

The purpose of the stall is basically engaging the local community and raising their awareness about the magistracy and the merger of Rochdale and Bury Magisrates Courts. There will be information about the location of Bury Courts and how to get there. People will be able to write down their concerns and ask questions.

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on Mobile No. 07851 323 612 or Email: grshahzad04@aol.com or grshahzad04@ntlworld.com 

There’s going to be a lively evening of musical entertainment in Rochdale next month at the Mayor’s Ball, and you’re invited!

Tickets are now on sale for the annual event in February which raises money for the Mayor’s charities. This year these are Middleton Heartline, Springhill Hospice, the MaD Theatre Company and Demesne Digital Mammography Fund.

The lavish function will take place at the beautiful Rochdale Town Hall on Friday 10 February from 7pm until 1am.

You’ll be able to enjoy a drinks reception, followed by a fabulous three-course dinner. Distinguished guests will include the mayors of Greater Manchester and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, together with local business leaders.

Music and entertainment will be provided by the multi talented Johnny Sax, who has played with some of the world’s best swing, soul and jazz bands. The talented saxophonist who has accompanied artists including Diana Ross, Ben E King and Gene Pitney, will be performing some of the all time classics along with a spectacular light show. He’ll be followed by disco favorites to dance to night away!

Tickets are now on sale at £35 each. There will also be a raffle and auction. The dress code is lounge suits for men, and cocktail dresses or ball gowns for the ladies.

Tickets can be purchased by emailing michelle.hall@rochdale.gov.uk or phone 01706 924760.

All money raised from the event will go to the Mayor’s chosen charities.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many will be turning their thoughts to romance. But have you got what it takes to wow the love of your life? Whilst not everyone would describe themselves as a romantic, help is at hand for those wanting to write the perfect Valentine’s message in time for the big day!

Would be romance novelists can make a date with a top writer when she pays a visit to Rochdale. Award winning author Sarah Mallory hosts a romance writing workshop at Rochdale Central Library on Tuesday 14 February from 2pm-4pm. She’ll be revealing her secrets and outlining a step by step guide to writing your own romantic adventure.

Sarah writes for Harlequin Mills & Boon and has had a dozen books published, with fans of her writing across the world.

While the focus may be on romance novels, the techniques - including dialogue, characters, tension, pacing and settings - will also be relevant to all forms of popular fiction. The workshop can also be enjoyed by anyone just wanting to come along and have fun, even those with no writing experience.

The event is the latest in a programme of free literary themed events taking place as part of Rochdale Central Library’s ‘Maskew Collection’ series. Last year the council launched the extended ‘Maskew Collection’ – which comprises English literature and Philosophy titles including classic books for adults and children. It’s been made possible thanks to Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, and originally met in Rochdale library.

Places at the workshop are free, but booking is recommended. Call Suzanne Heslan, Literature Development Officer, on 01706 924933.

Reggae Reggae Sauce star Levi Roots will be coming to Rochdale in February to share his inspirational story and entrepreneurial skills with high street businesses across the borough.

Levi will be giving his top tips for business success during his keynote speech ‘You Can Get it If You Really Want’ at a high profile event to launch the Rochdale Borough High Street Foundation.

The Foundation will focus on creating new, sustainable high streets for Rochdale - and any business trading on a high street across the borough is invited to be a part of it.

This free event is taking place on Wednesday 15 February between 5.30pm and 8.30pm in the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall.

Other high profile speakers include Retail Champion Clare Rayner and Rochdale’s Paul Turner-Mitchell, who was recently named in leading fashion magazine Drapers’ top 100 power list for 2011.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Economic Development at Rochdale Borough Council, said high streets up and down the country are realising that change is needed if they are to remain vibrant places where people want to go.

Levi’s success followed a 2007 appearance on popular BBC television show Dragons’ Den where he secured £50,000 investment for a return share of 20 per cent of his company. His Reggae Reggae sauce was sold in Sainsbury’s stores across the country becoming the chain’s fastest ever selling product.

Demand for spaces at the event is expected to be high so early booking is recommended. Businesses interested in taking part should email lucy.pinto@rochdale.gov.uk or call 01706 926641.

An exhibition showcasing the work of two of Rochdale's freshest and newest artists, Helen McCarthy and Zak Hammouda.

Helen uses close up and macro photography to capture floral detail at its most striking and radiant. Zak uses acrylics on canvas to capture tones of an abstract lifecycle, through the movements of grunge, garage and pop art.

To attend the preview evening on Friday 3rd February please contact for an invitation.

A selection of works from the Art Gallery’s permanent collection exploring how artists capture different elements of landscape. Featuring both historic and contemporary works, artists will include Adrian Berg, Ivon Hitchens and Mariele Neudecker. The exhibition will also include a new acquisition by artist Vincent James.

The exhibition will include a new set of activities in our under 5s activity station linked to paintings on display and other hands-on activities for 5-12 year olds and their families.

They have dominated the Rochdale landscape for over 40 years; this year College Bank Flats, known locally as the Seven Sisters, will be the focus of seven films created by artists Catherine Corlett and Zachary Ingham.

During the summer the artists will create the films by positioning cameras at the top of each of the Seven Sisters. The cameras will be attached to sails, which will rotate on their axis in reaction to the direction of the wind and record panoramic views of Rochdale borough and the other towers. The films will blur both urban and rural landscapes and challenge our perception of the area.

The films will be installed at Touchstones Rochdale this winter. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of workshops for young people.

The Seven Sisters project has been made possible by funding from the John Grant Davies Trust.

Nora Fok is one of Britain’s leading contemporary jewellers, who works with quite ordinary materials to create extraordinary results.

The processes Nora uses – knitting, weaving, crocheting and knotting – transform linear nylon microfilament into simple and complex structures, inspired by her fascination with the natural world and the mathematical models that underpin it.

Much of her work can be classified as jewellery, but she pushes the definition to its limits making larger bodywear and pieces which stand independently as sculpture.

Manchester Diocese will be celebrating Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee with 12 acts of worship across the cities and boroughs of the diocese.

From February through to June 2012, these services will give thanks for Her Majesty, and celebrate local links between Church and Society. We ask clergy, congregations and communities to join us in worship.

Manchester Accession Service, 5 February; Bolton, 26 February; Tameside, 4 March;
Salford, 18 March; Rochdale, 25 March; Trafford, 29 April; Bury, 13 May; Rossendale, 27 May; Manchester, 3 June; Wigan, 10 June; Stockport, 17 June; Oldham, 24 June

Artists Lewis Brownlie and Jonny Boxall curated a group show, ‘Child’s Play’ at Spring Bank Mill in Whitworth in 2011 and now bring this informal collective to Touchstones Rochdale.