News
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June 2010
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Newhey and Milnrow today (Saturday 5 June 2010) to watch the villages’ annual carnival.
The parade began at Haugh Lane close to Huddersfield Road and passed through the centre of Newhey and Milnrow before heading up to Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College for a summer fair.
As temperatures soared towards 24 degrees those watching were treated to musical delights, morris dancers and beautiful carnival queens.
The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, led the carnival, he said: “It has been a beautiful day, it is not often we get a day such as this for a carnival and it has brought a lot of parents and grandparents out, and of course lots of children.
“I have had a wonderful time. Thanks must go to the organisers, the schools and the pupils.
"I have been speaking to people along the way and they have all had a wonderful day.”
Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Irene Davidson added: “This is absolutely the best carnival we have ever had; the number of people that have turned up is great and we really appreciate that.
“We can already see from the collection buckets that we have raised a lot of money for local charities and we have sold 1,000 ducks for tomorrow’s duck race.”
The following groups took park in this year’s Milnrow, Newhey and District Carnival:
•Rochdale Heartbeat
•Milnrow Pre-school
•Warburtons
•LSK Dance Mania
•Prestatyn Queen
•Milnrow Queens
•Castleton Queens
•Champions Taekwondo
•High Crompton Morris Troupe
•St Anns Morris Troupe
•Milnrow Morris Troupe
•Milnrow Districts Guiding Association
•Hornets Rugby League
•United Co-op Band
•Rochdale Intermediate Youth Band
•Oldham Scottish Pipe Band
•Rochdale Labour Party
•Milnrow Cobras ARLFC
•Lisa Jayne Dance Academy
Report by Laura Wild of Rochdale Online
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May 2010
Sofia Meadowcroft, aged 13, who holds the position of Milnrow, Newhey and District Carnival Queen, will soon be seen on the hit TV series ‘Waterloo Road’.
Sofia landed the role as an extra, playing a student at the unruly school - set in Rochdale, in an episode to be screened soon on BBC1 and hopes this role may lead to further television appearances in the future.
Sofia said: "I was really excited to be on ‘Waterloo Road’ and will be watching out to spot myself when the episode airs. I’m hoping they’ll ask me to work with them in the future. I’m not shy, but my confidence has definitely been lifted after being crowned a Carnival Queen. We’ve been helping to sell duck key-rings for this year’s Duck Race and are looking forward to the Carnival, especially now it’s just two weeks away.”
Sofia, along with Carnival Princess Jade Beresford aged 11, can be seen at the Milnrow, Newhey and District Carnival parade on 5 June 2010, and afterwards at Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College on Cornfield Street.
This year’s procession, featuring Milnrow’s United Co-op Band, the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band and Rochdale Intermediate Youth Band, will begin at 1.00pm from Haugh Lane in Newhey. The parade will journey along Huddersfield Road and Newhey Road to the school, where there will be music, a fairground, a children’s magician, refreshments, displays, morris dancing, tombolas, a human fruit machine, a hoopla, plus lots of other stalls and fun activities.
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September 2009
The Milnrow, Newhey & Districts Carnival Committee invited applications from local charities and non-profit making community groups, to receive a charitable donation from the profits of the 2009 carnival. The efforts of all those involved meant that the duck race, street collection, and fund raising efforts on the day, raised £1,500 to be shared between three local causes.
Before the applications were received the members of the Carnival Committee decided to make a larger positive financial impact to a small number of local groups, rather than making a series of smaller donations to many groups as they have in previous years. They, therefore, decided to donate to just three groups this year, hoping to enable each to accomplish their plans.
After reviewing the nineteen applications received, the committee decided to donate funds of £500.00 each to: Milnrow Cobras ARLFC, Milnrow Pre-school, and Milnrow District Guiding Association.
Milnrow Cobras ARLFC are a relatively new club within Milnrow and Newhey, currently attempting to expand their number of teams. They presently have an under 12s and an under 13s rugby team established, and hope to soon include a team for under 10s. The organisation plans to use the extra money to promote the scheme and help to buy training equipment and kits for the players. According to the group’s administrator, Mr. Tony Dawson, this will “help us forge links with schools and help take rugby league back to grass roots, available to all - any age, gender or caste”.
Milnrow Pre-School have registered charity status for the work they do with children in the community. They plan to use the finds to purchase replacement pop up tunnels and tents, to aid the children’s physical development. “Children can crawl through these, helping them to strengthen their muscles and exercise”, says head of staff - Jean Ward. A new toy vacuum cleaner and a toaster for the Pre-school’s ‘home corner’ will also be funded, to help to promote imaginative play.
Milnrow District Guiding Association, plan to use the funds to contribute towards a local event to celebrate the 2010 National Centenary Year of the Guiding Association. “There are currently eight units in Milnrow, Newhey and St. Ann’s Belfield, providing activities for over 200 girls and young women between 5 and 18 years as Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section”, says District Commissioner Carole Holland. The event will “showcase the skills and opportunities guiding can give to all girls and young women” and will “celebrate the history and contribution guiding has made within the local area”. The celebration will include crafts, games and other activities, finishing the day with a traditional guiding campfire.
These same groups, and other successful groups from now on, will not be eligible for carnival funds in the following year; but can apply again after that.
Carnival Chairman, Paul Kettle, said, “All the applications we received were from worthy groups and charities, so narrowing it down to just three was a difficult decision to make. The successful groups each conveyed that their plans would make a difference to our community and I’m really pleased that we’re in a position to help them.”
Representatives of each of the successful groups received their awards, at the Crown & Shuttle on Firgrove on 14th September 2009.
Cheques were presented by Carnival Queens Sofia Meadowcroft and Jade Beresford.
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April 2009
And the Winner Is…
Milnrow, Newhey and Districts Carnival’s Art Competition Result Announced
The Milnrow, Newhey and Districts Carnival Committee have announced the winner of their ‘Design a Poster’ Competition as Caitlin Lomax.
Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College student, Caitlin, designed a poster to advertise this year’s annual Duck Race and will be presented with a HMV voucher for her efforts in producing a colourful, fun design, matching the criteria of the competition.
Caitlin’s design features a caped duck, about to cross the finish line at Station Road in Milnrow, with another duck following behind in hot pursuit of first prize.
Councillor Irene Davidson, who donated the prize for the competition, was thrilled with the quality of all of the competition entries, which are on display in the children’s section at Milnrow Library:
“I’d like to thank all the students who took part in the competition; the standard was so high, it was difficult to choose a winner! I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College staff for taking time out of their busy schedule to take part.”
Caitlin’s poster will soon be distributed throughout Milnrow, Newhey, Firgrove and Rochdale, to promote the sale of numbered key rings for the forthcoming Duck Race, scheduled for 7th June 2009.
Look out for key rings on sale at Milnrow Precinct from 10.00am on Saturday 9th, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of May 2009.
Each year the Duck Race helps to support the Milnrow, Newhey and Districts Carnival, when local residents wager £1 to support the plastic duck that corresponds to the number on their key ring. This year’s Duck Race first prize is £50. There will also be five runner-up prizes and a booby prize for the last duck past the finish line.
Any shops or businesses that are able to donate a prize or sell key rings, this year produced by Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, are asked to contact the Carnival Secretary on 01706 649 730 or email robertjhardy@live.co.uk
The committee will also be circulating Carnival posters to local shops, which have been designed in-house due to the absence of any competition entries in this particular competition category.
The Carnival will take place on 6th June 2009, with a procession, beginning at 12.30pm, from Belfield Lane, Firgrove, to Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, Cornfield Street.
The Carnival committee continue to appeal to community groups, schools, churches, businesses, clubs and organisations to call 01706 649 730 or e-mail us from this website for your entry forms.
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June 2008
Carnival season has begun in Rochdale, with Milnrow and Newhey carnival kicking off the series of events in traditional fashion. The carnival enjoyed the fine afternoon sun as the parade departed from Haugh Lane, Newhey.
The first carnival of the year took place on Saturday 7 June at 1.00pm, when children, parents, organisers and band members from across Milnrow and Newhey, and beyond, gathered ready for the parade to begin.
The parade was fronted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor Robin Parker and his partner, Mayoress Anni Jones.
They were followed by the Milnrow Band, who sounded out the carnival’s arrival for the hundreds who had lined the streets from Newhey to Hollingworth High School, awaiting the passing of the parade.
Twenty other community organisations joined in the fun, making the parade one of the largest in recent years. The Milnrow Youth Band and the Oldham Pipe Band provided further musical entertainment and the Carnival Princesses followed their carnival tradition of joining in the parade. Three Morris Troops were present, from St.Anns, High Crompton and Milnrow. Regular attenders, the children and staff from Newhey Primary School, were 'all at sea' with their aquatic costumes.
Milnrow Pre-School children were dressed up to suit their theme of 'The English Country Garden'.
The rest of the parade was made up of St. Anns' Guides, who went camping on their float, 'Lets Dance' dance group, and local charity group 'Heartbeat', who provide heart care for the Milnrow community.
The event ended at Hollingworth High School where there was a fairground and activities all afternoon.
Reporter: Jan Harwood, Rochdale Online News
Date online: 09/06/2008
