Salvation Army Hospital Ancoats

[Adsum]

The CWS biscuit works in Crumpsall was on Hazelbottom road, directly opposite Crescent road. There was a pub more or less next to it which I think was called The Swan. I went into it once or twice.
 
There was also a CWS on the corner of Grimshaw lane and Ten acre lane Newton Heath, opposite Mather and Platts. factory. AVRO used to build aircraft there in WW2.
 
 Up until about 10 years ago anybody looking closely at the exterior walls of Mathers would have noticed that it had faded green and black paintwork on the building. The reason for this is that the buildings were painted and disguised to look like a row of Terraced houses with gardens when viewed from the air by would be German bomber pilots

[cheethamgirl]

Thanks Adsum.  A bunch of us schoolgirls from Notre Dame used to walk there as a group each morning of the school holidays from Cheetham so I'm guessing it couldn't have been far.  The walk home in the evenings, when we were exhausted and our backs ached from bending over the 'web', as they called the conveyor belt, was not so enthusiastic. My dad kept telling me it was 'character building'. It certainly made me determined to work hard and pass my A levels so's I'd get a better job!  That said, there were some nice folks who had worked in the biscuit factory for around 40 years and loved it.  Mind you, they'd never worked anywhere else.

[john carrington]

Adsum your a wealth of accurate information, backed up with excellent picture. I doff my cap.     

[Adsum]

Adsum your a wealth of accurate information, backed up with excellent picture. I doff my cap.   

 
 
Thank you JC. I wish I could take the credit. However most of it is down to Google, tied in with my years as a cabby. 

[john carrington]

That's a hell of a combination Adsum. You should charge for your specialised knowledge.............

[Adsum]

That's a hell of a combination Adsum. You should charge for your specialised knowledge.............

 
 
I used to do. I was a Heritage tour guide. I used to charge 30 quid an hour for up to 5 people.   

[john carrington]

I like your style bro....................lol................

[cheethamgirl]

 
 
I used to do. I was a Heritage tour guide. I used to charge 30 quid an hour for up to 5 people.   

I have been asked to run a heritage guided walk near where I live, but it has been suggested I charge £3 per person for an hour's walk and talk. I take it your fee of £30 was for all five people, ie £6 each?  Maybe I need to up my fee?

[Adsum]

I have been asked to run a heritage guided walk near where I live, but it has been suggested I charge £3 per person for an hour's walk and talk. I take it your fee of £30 was for all five people, ie £6 each?  Maybe I need to up my fee?

 
Yes it was for up to 5 people, the fee was the same whether it was one or five, and it was a combination of cab and walking around town. I didn't dictate the fee, it was done by the Town Hall. I was pretty successful because something like 80% of the people who booked an hour went on to extend the tour by 2 or 3 hours.
 
 I hate to name drop, (Well actually I don't. I love it. )    I took Jeremy Paxman on the tour once. When I picked him up from his hotel he said to me in that bossy voice of his. "I've got one hour and one hour only." We finished up doing  four hours around Manchester one sunny Sunday morning, had a great laugh, and at the end he gave me a 20 quid tip. 
 
 
Your fee seems very cheap to me. Even if it's a large group, it's still not a lot of money. I know from experience that the larger the group, the more some of them will not fully absorb the message you are putting across.

[john carrington]

Great story so he's ok then when not in interview mode?

[Adsum]

Great story so he's ok then when not in interview mode?

 
I have met dozens of famous people over the years and with the exception of one, I have always found them charming. I think it's their dogsbodies and hangers on who do all moaning on their boss's behalf, to justify their salary. They are mostly no different than you or I. I was never star struck, never asked for autographs, (Except Cantona and Beckham for my grandkids). By being me and treating them as normal human beings instead of celebs, a lot of them would tell me amazing and sometime personal stories about themselves.
 
The old adage is true about cabbies. You cross them at your peril. 
 
I only wish that I had the talent to write a book, which I haven't. Some of the stories I or any other cabby could tell after years of driving a cab would open your eyes. 

[Wytchfynder]

Cabbies are usually good company in pubs    Always got an interesting and funny story to keep the laughs coming. Wise old owls on the qt too.

[john carrington]

[Ghost writer perhaps?quote author=Adsum link=topic=6999.msg177015#msg177015 date=1373135238]
 
 
I have met dozens of famous people over the years and with the exception of one, I have always found them charming. I think it's their dogsbodies and hangers on who do all moaning on their boss's behalf, to justify their salary. They are mostly no different than you or I. I was never star struck, never asked for autographs, (Except Cantona and Beckham for my grandkids). By being me and treating them as normal human beings instead of celebs, a lot of them would tell me amazing and sometime personal stories about themselves.
 
The old adage is true about cabbies. You cross them at your peril. 
 
I only wish that I had the talent to write a book, which I haven't. Some of the stories I or any other cabby could tell after years of driving a cab would open your eyes. 
[/quote]

[cheethamgirl]

Thanks for the advice Adsum.  My fee would in any case go to our local history and heritage group and the walk would feature locations pertinent to famous and infamous local residents, about whom I have written 2 little volumes, so the walkers may decide to buy a copy from me a the end of each walk. 


During years of working at airports, I have met tons of famous people. My conclusions are that the truly big stars and important folks are actually reasonable people and quite affable mostly, but some of the minor 'tin-pot' celebs, such as local footballers or local tv presenters, can be right up themselves and arrogant.  Some of the most patient, polite and charming folks I have met include Charlton Heston, Tony Curtis, Sacha Distel, Frank Zappa.  The wife of a declining rock star regularly throws a tantrum at Heathrow if she is not escorted to the front of the passport queue.  Once she shouted across to me and said 'Surely, I don't have to get in line behind THESE people', and the whole of the Kenyan Airways queue glared at her and then at me.  'You do now' was my response.   

[Adsum]

Thanks for the advice Adsum.  My fee would in any case go to our local history and heritage group and the walk would feature locations pertinent to famous and infamous local residents, about whom I have written 2 little volumes, so the walkers may decide to buy a copy from me a the end of each walk. 


During years of working at airports, I have met tons of famous people. My conclusions are that the truly big stars and important folks are actually reasonable people and quite affable mostly, but some of the minor 'tin-pot' celebs, such as local footballers or local tv presenters, can be right up themselves and arrogant.  Some of the most patient, polite and charming folks I have met include Charlton Heston, Tony Curtis, Sacha Distel, Frank Zappa.  The wife of a declining rock star regularly throws a tantrum at Heathrow if she is not escorted to the front of the passport queue.  Once she shouted across to me and said 'Surely, I don't have to get in line behind THESE people', and the whole of the Kenyan Airways queue glared at her and then at me.  'You do now' was my response.   

 
Some years ago a friend of mine started his own business as an electrician. One of his first decent jobs was to rewire a club a famous Coronation star was opening up. The club quickly went bankrupt and closed down. My friend never got paid. Some months later I picked up this "Star" who asked to be taken to the television studios. We were stuck in traffic on Deansgate when he demanded that I go faster. To which I replied, "Would you like me to go over or under the bus in front, or drive along the pavement"? He replied in a snotty voice. "Do you know who I am"? To which I replied. "Yes you're the bloke who owes my mate £3000 for wiring your club, for which you didn't pay him. He screamed at me to let him out of the cab. I kept my foot on the brake, thus keeping the doors locked and demanded my fare, stating. "I want my £1.80p. You may rip others off, but you ain't ripping me off".  He threw the money at me before storming off.