Manchester awards prestigious Freedom of the City to 216-year-old local regiment
It's the highest honour that Manchester can bestow and is only given on very rare occasions. The ceremony will take place in St Peter’s Square next month, followed by a parade
The 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery has been given the Freedom of the City award – the highest honour that Manchester can bestow.
The Freedom of the City award, which is only bestowed on very rare occasions, is being given for its extensive and valuable service to Manchester for over 216 years.
Previous recipients of the honour include broadcaster Tony Wilson, the GB Olympic and Paralympic Cycling Team, Sir Bobby Charlton, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers), Professor Sir Andre Geim and Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov.
The decision to award the Freedom of the City to the 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery was moved by the Lord Mayor at a Special Meeting on 25 November 2020 at the Town Hall.
The public will have the rare opportunity to watch them in action, as the parade departs from St Peter’s Square after the ceremony. / Image: 209 Battery 103 Regt RA via Facebook
The 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery has served in the Boer War, WW1, Gallipoli, Sinai and, on the Western Front since its formation over 216 years ago.
Following the prestigious award ceremony, the 209 will march through the city with colours flying, drums beating, and bayonets fixed.
The public will have the rare opportunity to watch them in action, as the parade departs from St Peter’s Square past the Cenotaph, then onto Princess Street, then Cross Street, onto St Mary’s Gate, Deansgate, Peter Street and finally left back to its starting point.
There will be barriers in place so that the parade can be enjoyed safely and people are encouraged to follow the parade and to celebrate alongside the 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery.
The 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery has served in the Boer War, WW1, Gallipoli, Sinai and, on the Western Front since its formation over 216 years ago. / Image: 209 Battery 103 Regt RA via Facebook
Following a short Service of Blessings performed by Regimental Padre Rev. M.W. Johnstone CF. and an inspection of the Regiment, the Chief Executive Joanne Roney OBE will read the Resolution of Council conferring the Honorary Freedom of the City upon 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery.
Speaking on the decision to bestow the award on the 209, the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Tommy Judge said: “It is a great privilege to award the 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery the Freedom of Manchester.
“I would like to congratulate and thank them for their hard work and commitment to the people of Manchester over such a long period of time.
Speaking on the decision to bestow the award on the 209, the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Tommy Judge said: “It is a great privilege to award the 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery the Freedom of Manchester. / Image: 209 Battery 103 Regt RA via Facebook
“The regiment has a long and illustrious history with the city. the Lord Mayor of Manchester Tommy Judge said: “The significance of their work is integral to the history and indeed, the future of Manchester.
“It is a very proud moment as Mayor, and as an ex-serviceman to honour the 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery and, to watch the parade.
Lieutenant Colonel Taylor-Jane Fox added, “209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery are part of history today. Being awarded the Freedom of the City of Manchester is a great honour; to have the Battery written into the history books of this great city is a huge privilege and every soldier on parade is proud to be part of this significant event.”
The current 209 (The Manchester Artillery) Battery, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery continues to recruit and train Manchester citizens in readiness for the defence of the country at home and abroad.
The ceremony will be attended by The Lord Mayor Councillor Tommy Judge, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, Carole Judge; the Leader of the City Council, Sir Richard Leese; the Chief Executive of the City Council Joanne Roney OBE; the Master Gunner St James’s Park, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB; Honorary Colonel, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery, Brigadier Bill Kingdon; and Commanding Officer, 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Taylor-Jayne-Fox.
Feature image – 209 Battery 103 Regt RA via Facebook
News
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
“We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Council
News
The Lowry Theatre undergoes revamp following Biffa Award grant
Danny Jones
The Lowry in Salford Quays has had a bit of TLC with one of its biggest theatre spaces undergoing a pretty significant refurb this past month.
Following a well-deserved grant distributed via the Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through community and environmental projects across the UK, the legendary local theatre received nearly £75k last year.
As a result, all 440 seats and various other aspects of The Lowry‘s Quays Theatre have now been renovated and refurbished.
The short story is, she looks more gorgeous than ever – see for yourself:
Being initially handed over in March 2024, The Lowry was awarded a total of £74,816 to reupholster seating in the venue’s Quays Theatre with new padding and fabric.
After almost 25 years of constant use as one of the most popular theatres in the North, the seats in the Quays Theatre were much in need of a refurb, and with work completed in December, Lowry visitors can now enjoy watching the venue’s wide range of theatre, dance, comedy and drama in comfort.
The work was actually carried out between July and December, with seats being carefully removed in batches and reupholstered off-site.
This was made possible due to the Biffa Award’s most recent ‘Cultural Facilities’ theme, which aims to improve recreation, interest and education, drawing funds from the UK government’s wider Landfill Communities Fund.
The old fabric and padding were disposed of sustainably, with lots of it being repurposed where possible to minimise waste and all the new materials used meet current guidance for safety and quality.
The Lowry’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Development, Gwen Oakden, said of the long overdue update:“It is so important that our audiences are able to enjoy our world-class performing arts programme in a comfortable and welcoming space.
“For many visitors to the Quays Theatre, this is their first experience of live performance – often to see a family show or as part of a school trip. We really want it to be the best experience possible, and for them to begin a lifelong relationship with Lowry.
“As a registered charity, without the generous support of this Biffa Award, for which we’re hugely grateful, we couldn’t have carried out this important work for our audiences.
As we head into our 25th Anniversary year, we are delighted to be able to welcome audiences and visitors can enjoy the beautiful and revived Quays Theatre.”
As for the Biffa side of things, Grants Manager Rachel Maidment added: “We are delighted to have supported The Lowry in refurbishing the Quays Theatre seating, ensuring audiences can continue to enjoy performances in comfort.
“Through Biffa’s Cultural Facilities theme, we fund projects that provide engaging and inspiring spaces for communities. The Lowry is a key cultural venue, and we’re proud that our funding, made possible through the government Fund, has helped enhance the experience for visitors for years to come.”
Like most Mancs, we love The Lowry, so here’s to hosting countless more theatregoers in the most comfortable seats possible for generations to come.
We’ve been to some brilliant performances around here of late.
Georgina Pellant -
28th October 2021 
