This morning cycled to Halifax. I’ve walked in the Blackstone Edge area above Littleborough a couple of times and wondered what it would be like to cycle up the A58 Halifax Road which climbs steadily from Littleborough to Blackstone Edge Reservoir.

Halifax Railway Station and my bike

It was heavily overcast when I set off just after 08:30am and by the time I’d reached Horwich the cloud was so low I couldn’t see any of the moors around Rivington Pike. Passing Bolton it started to rain but only lightly. I took minor roads to the B6196 through Ainsworth and on to Bury. Then it was through Rochdale and on to Littleborough where I stopped briefly to have a couple of pieces of jam on toast that I’d brought along. In Littleborough I took the right branch to head up the Blackstone Edge climb along the A58. The road gradient is very well engineered so the gradient is even all the way up. The profile below shows that clearly. Near the summit is the While House Inn with the Reservoir on the left. Over the summit I left the A58 and turned left along the B6138 to take the long descent through Cragg Vale and in to Mytholmroyd. I turned right on to the A646 and followed it through Friendly and on to the outskirts of Halifax. There is a huge tower on the right and I left the main road here and descended past Savile Park then down in to the town and on to the Railway Station. I arrived at midday and only had a short wait for the train to Blackburn where I got off to cycle home.

the route to Halifax

the profile

This evening caught the train to Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station then walked across town to meet members of Chorley Photographic Society near Victoria Railway Station. The weather started to deteriorate and light rain soon became quite heavy. The planned evening of photographing models in the city centre became quite difficult as the only shelter was under a tree.

Piccadilly Railway Station looking almost deserted

The Top Lock Inn on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. It used to be called The Anchor.
The lock gate in the foreground is interesting as it used to mark the junction of the Lancaster Canal and the Leeds and Liverpool canal before the whole 127miles became the Leeds and Liverpool canal..

This evening cycled to Brindle and the Cavendish Arms to check out the 2nd annual Beer Festival. There were many different beers available so I tried a pint of Lancastrian Gold then one of Red Murkin. The process was to buy a pint glass for £2 then tokens for £1.20 which get you half a pint. The glass cost is refunded if you hand it back. I kept mine. They had a band on who were not very good and way too loud. When the band wasn't on pre-recorded music was played which was equally doubtful and too loud. I left after 2 pints.
 

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Chorley's annual walking say was blessed with a nice sunny and warm day. The route and spectators weren't as big as they used to be but it was nice to see all the groups in the procession.

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The same view 3 weeks ago on the 5 Jun 2010

This morning was the funeral of Jim Hubbard (1937-2010) at Pleasington Crematorium. I left my car at Withnell Fold and got a lift from Dean to Pleasington. We left his car in a small car park some way off as we knew many of Jim’s friends would be attending and parking could be a problem. The funeral was at 10am and as we expected there were so many people there that the chapel was full, the foyer was full and some people had to remain outside. Jim was respected, liked and loved by all who knew him and the mood was of celebration of his life. The readings at the service reflected this and told tales of his life and achievements. One of my problems was struggling to remember the names of faces I hadn’t seen for many decades. Fortunately some of them couldn’t remember my name so I didn’t feel too bad. Afterwards we returned to Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club at the Withnell Fold cricket field.

Jim Hubbard (1937-2010)

The hearse arrives at Pleasington Crematorium

After the funeral we met at Withnell Fold Sports Club by the cricket ground

Withnell Fold cricket ground

The memorial bench to Jean & Jim's Golden Wedding anniversary 2005

I was chatting to Jean, Jim’s wife, who told me about their Golden Wedding memorial bench at the front of the club. They were married in 1955. It was positioned between the cricket field and tennis courts. The reason was so that Jean could sit on the left and watch tennis while Jim sat on the right and watched the cricket.

Withnell Fold Cricket team 1964.
Back row: B Yates, J Baxendale, K Shaw, A Bolton, H Shaw, T Clark, R Baxendale, I Smith.
Front row: D Rogers, C Bolton, J Hubbard (capt.), S Roberts, G Shaw, T West.

Withnell Fold Cricket team 1993
Back row: J Baxendale, K Shaw, A Bolton, J Bisby, R Baxendale, I Smith, J Pilkingto(Umpire)
Front row: D Rogers, C Bolton, J Hubbard (capt.), G Shaw, T West.
Note the 1964 picture at Jim's feet.

Whalley Banks

Mid morning out for cycle a ride via Mellor and Whalley. Then I had a look at the group of houses at Whalley Banks which are down a narrow cul-de-sac. I spoke to one of the locals who said that they don’t even have mains water and his son’s house get its water from a private borehole. I then cycled home through Great Harwood, Rishton and Blackburn.
 

John Mercer (1791-1866)

Passing through Great Harwood. The Mercer Memorial Clock tower is on the right. It was erected in 1903 to commemorate John Mercer of Great Harwood who developed an improved process of dyeing in the cotton industry. His invention enables much more vivid colours to be used and the process is still used today.

Jim after a game of cricket at
Withnell Fold in 2005

Jim in 1960

Withnell Fold cricket team in 1960. Jim is at the centre.

After getting just a brief view of the sun at sunrise I returned to Denham Hill to watch the sunset. The day had been mostly sunny so the chances of a clear view were good. I reached the trig point at 09:35pm and didn’t have long to wait before the sun’s disc descended into the Irish Sea.

Five hardy souls gathered on Denham Hill near Brindle to watch the Summer Solstice sunrise. The actual sunrise at this latitude is 04:39am BST but a bank of low cloud obscured the actual moment the sun rose above the distant hills. Fortunately the low cloud was fairly thin and the watchers only had to wait a few minutes to see the sun rise above it. Unfortunately another bank of cloud above began to descent and the sun’s disc soon vanished again. Denham Hill appeared to be the only clear mountain around as Winter Hill and Great Hill were covered by low cloud. Even the transmitter masts on Winter Hill were obscured.

A brief view of the sun's disc at sunrise

The sky was clear at sunrise and the temperature had dropped to just 1 degC above freezing. The early morning views were superb. This image was taken from my tent on Clough Head near Keswick. In the centre is Skiddaw and Blencathra to the right. It is a merge of 3 separate images.

Attended the 4th annual Community Archives and Heritage Group conference at the University College London. The theme this year was Sound and Vision: Our audio-visual community heritage. For the first time the lectures took place in room 106 of the Roberts Building.

The statue of Robert Stephenson
(1803-1859) at Euston Railway Station.

University College London

Cycled to Blackburn to catch the 8:48am train to Nelson. Then cycled via the A682 towards Gisburn but turned off earlier to follow the lanes to Rimington then over a high road to Downhan then Waddington, Hurst Green, Blackburn then home.

Waddington

After sending an email to Chorley Council a while ago about some of my thoughts about how the Council were performing I was pleasantly surprised to be asked to meet with some of the key officers to discuss the items further. Some interesting developments had taken place on their website and more were planned for the future. I hope some of my other thoughts can be considered.

Asim Khan, (Head of Customer, ICT and Transactional Services),
Me (a ratepayer),
Donna Hall (Chief Executive),
Councillor Eric Bell, &
Shelley Wright (Head of Communications, Marketing and Tourism)
 

Early evening visited the churchyard at Rivington Parish Church to check out the various stones that have been rescued from locations around the area

Rivington Parish Church

On the way home I took this snap of  Anglezarke Reservoir near the Waterman's Cottage

Cycled to Chorley then caught the 08:11am train to Oxenholme. I arrived just before 9am and set of to cycle home and check out some locations I’d not been to in a while. I set off along the B6254 then turned off to follow minor lanes past Tarnhouse Tarn and on to Hutton Roof. I stopped briefly to photograph St John’s Church and just as I set off again noticed a memorial stone in the graveyard with the name TB Hardy VC at the top.

St John's Hutton Roof

the memorial in the Churchyard

Theodore Bayley Hardy VC, DSO, MC
(1863 – 1918)

When I got home a short internet search revealed a fascinating story of heroism. He turned out to be Theodore Bayley Hardy VC, DSO, MC (1863 – 1918) and was the vicar at the church. He went to war in his 50s and was one of the most decorated non-combatants to be awarded the V.C. he was injured in 1918 and died of his wounds on 18 Oct 1918.

Bainsbeck House, Arkholme

I continued through Hornby and Wray then on to the road over Cross of Greet. Suddenly there was a loud rattling from my rear wheel which turned out to be the rear mudguard fixing having sheared off. I continued over the Cross of Greet, down into Slaidburn and home via Whalley and Blackburn. It sounded like I was riding and boneshaker bike over cobbles.

the route from Oxenholme back home.

profile of the route

I was out for a cycle ride along the line of the old Roman Road at Affetside near Bury. I stopped briefly to look at the wayside cross and speak to a couple of men who were setting up tables and chairs for their Annual French Boules Competition this afternoon.

Affetside Cross

Near the cross is this information plate.

It reads:

Above Belmont is this reservoir. We've always called it the Blue Lagoon. It doesn't look very blue at the moment as its almost empty. I took this snap this morning while passing on my bike.

As soon as the morning rain subsided I cycled to Pleasington Crematorium to see the memorial book open at the 1 June page and showing my Father's name. it is 31 years today since he died. I think of him often.

Pleasington Crematorium

The Book of  Remembrance