By Richard Watkins
Location: St Peter’s Field (now Peter Street)
I can see the lads from Chadderton, their white and green hats standing out from the crowd.
‘Sithee Samuel,’ I say, ‘Can thee see t’ white and green flag? Our Frederick’ll be over there.’
Samuel tries, but cannot see, so I lift him onto my shoulders. He is a [...]

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By Lee Ashworth
Location: The Temple of Convenience, Great Bridgewater Street
The old ones are the best. Bands, tracks, friends and bars. It was starting to rain as we descended the steep steps to The Temple. Maybe we were looking for cover. Maybe we were enticed inside by the sound of Sweet Jane drifting up into the [...]

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By Emma J Lannie
Location: Sunbury Drive, Newton Heath
The newts are good at acrobatics. If you hold them in your hand, their tails cling round your finger and they dangle themselves all circus-like. We are in the shed. I am not allowed to play in the house. My dad doesn’t like having other people around. [...]

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By Neil Campbell
Location: Ashton Old Road and Audenshaw
I’d swept the walkway clear of fag dimps and gray sands of ash but dust was left in shapes of the brush.
‘I thought I’d told you to sweep up?’ said Alan, the foreman. ‘Do it again and show some heart.’
I pushed the shopping trolley with the bin stuck [...]

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By Anne Beswick
Location: Ripon Street, Moss Side
They gave us the bulbs free at school. With the soil and a bowl as well. All free, for nothing. ‘Are you sure?’ said Mammy, obviously worried about what it might cost if I’d got it wrong - but it was alright because I could say that the [...]

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