Rochdale shopping centre celebrating 40 years

Tory MP Michael Howard at Rochdale Exchange with Mike Matthews who was manager from 1996 until 1999

Rochdale Exchange is marking a milestone anniversary this September as the centre hits the big 4-0, and to mark this very special occasion, the centre is hosting a day of birthday celebrations.

To get the ruby celebrations started, the centre team is calling upon the services of the local community to help collate old photos and memorabilia dating back to when the centre first opened to put on display for everyone to enjoy.

With the celebrations taking place on Saturday 15 September from 11am until 4pm, visitors will be able to enjoy a range of festivities including a 1970s-themed arcade games, which will include a selection of vintage games for the general public to have go all for free.

Lorenzo O’Reilly, Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre manager, said: “The whole team is really looking forward to the day of celebrations.’’

A specially commissioned, four-tier birthday cake will take pride of place with birthday cupcakes handed out to shoppers throughout the day.

One lucky person will have the chance to take the top tier home as part of a prize draw, with a host of other top goodies also up for grabs.

This will also be the last chance for people to take a turn on the centre’s life-size interactive game, Space Gems. This was first launched in July as part of the build-up to Rochdale Exchange’s anniversary and has seen more than 1,500 people take part.  

Lorenzo added: “As part of our celebratory plans, we want to recognise the centre’s history in the town and how it has been shaped over the years by the ever-changing retail landscape. By creating our commemorative display of photographs and inviting members of the general public to donate their own memorabilia we will be able to share personal recollections of the centre’s journey over the last four decades.”

Looking back over the last four decades, the retail landscape of Rochdale Exchange has changed significantly.

Mike Matthews, who was the centre manager from 1996 until 1999 oversaw a lot of positive change over that period. He said: “It was a great time to be managing the centre. We were delivering huge investment projects such as the refurbishment of both the interior and exterior of the centre. We also purchased the open market and market hall from the council, and re-developed this space creating a fantastic shopping experience for the local community.

“Rochdale Exchange was a bustling hub for the local community at a time when such stores as Littlewoods dominated the high-street.”

The Tory MP Michael Howard visited Rochdale Exchange in the late 1990s to open the centre’s brand-new CCTV security hub which covered all areas of the town. The project was the brain child of Mike Matthews, whose team installed and managed the hub - Mike was manager from 1996 until 1999.

For those who would like to submit an item to the memorabilia exhibition, please email Sian Brumby at sian.brumby@bewonder.co.uk or send to Sian at Bewonder, City Point, 29 King Street, Leeds, LS1 2HL.