ACTON28: AGAINST THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC

Switching on my phone this morning, I rolled over and the messages started flashing up, “Sorry to hear of the news.” “Sorry about Manchester.” I counted them, ten messages but not one gave a clue about what had happened. I started to worry. I switched on the news via BBC’s website. A tear formed in my eye. A death toll and stark headline stared back at me. My family and friends are back home. I quickly established that my loved ones and friends were all safe. My sister Christina later told me she would pass Manchester Victoria station (next to, and above the M.E.N. Arena) on her way to Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale. Sadly, the targic news would mean that other families and friends would not have that same reassurance.

Manchester has always come together. My city has always been one of a multi-faith city,one full of strong philosophical mentalities and unity in eradicating hate. From the Manchester Village, to the Jewish communities to a vibrant diverse set of subcultures, from goths to Irish dancers to train-spotters, to sporadic parties of an epic scale. As a Mancunian overseas, a little love is needed to be shown, in any way possible. As an ambassador of my city, I must say don’t jump to conclusions, don’t hate and don’t let the cause of this atrocious event dictate how we live our lives, here, there or anywhere. No matter where we are Mancunians feel the love and support of the world. Miss Jiang, a senior teacher at my school, gave me her thoughts, for my home city, as I crossed the playground. These things matter. Love and respect ends differences. I may not be the Mayor of Manchester, a politician for my people or a superstar from the city where it apparently rains almost daily but I want you to know, Manchester has love for you.

Immediately, in the aftermath of the events, people donated blood, hotels opened their doors and soup kitchens supported Greater Manchester Police, the ambulance service and the fire brigade. Security staff at Manchester’s Arena could have been forgiven for fleeing. They did not. Mancunians never walk away from those in dire need. As blue flashing lights, sirens and helicopters skim overhead, my city is deeply in need of its people not to panic. Like attacks in Paris, Belgium, Boston and countless others, it wasn’t the first time and it will sadly not be the last.

Here at HubHao, Jodie Frain, our Content Manager is from north of Manchester, in a town called Rochdale. It is part of Greater Manchester. Manchester is often greater than its main city. It is a city mostly divided by red and blue football teams, but always comes together, and today more than ever. A city united today.

To celebrate the life of Manchester, I’d like to share some quotes with you. These sum up the spirit of the people of Manchester. The salt of the earth kind. We are strong and caring people, and community is at our core.

To my Mancunians, home and overseas, we are with you, no matter where we are. To those who want to be part of Manchester, we welcome you all. To those who have suffered loss, we show our condolences from the many people of Dongguan and beyond.

Facts about Manchester:

• Marks and Spencer’s first opened a store in May 1894 in Manchester.
• Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the Suffragette movement, was born andraised in Moss Side.
• Manchester is the largest of the ten Greater Manchester Authorities with apopulation of almost 500,000 people.
• More than 25 Nobel prize winners have come from Greater Manchester.
• Greater Manchester has four professional orchestras.
• Oldham was Sir Winston Churchill’s first parliamentary seat when he stood as a Liberal in 1900.
• In Manchester, a Chip Barm is short for a Chip Barmcake, essentially hot potato chips on a bread roll.
• Opened in 1761, the Bridgewater Canal was the first artificial waterwayfully independent of natural rivers.
• Greater Manchester has the highest number of theatre seats per head of population outside of London.
• Greater Manchester has six universities: the University of Manchester,Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton, The University of Law and The University of Huddersfield Oldham Campus.
• A car fuelled only by used coffee grounds made the trip from London to Manchester in 2010.
• The 2004 remake of the film ‘Alfie’ was based in New York but some of the outside scenes were filmed in Manchester.
• Greater Manchester county’s average annual rainfall is 806.6 millimetres compared to the UK average of 1,125 millimetres.
• Oldham is the birthplace of the world’s first test tube baby, Louise Brown in 1978.
• The Rochdale Pioneers opened the first Cooperative shop in Toad Lane in 1844.
• Black Chew Head is the highest point in Greater Manchester.
• Manchester has more than 500 licensed premises in the city centre which have the combined capacity of more than 250,000 visitors.
• Wigan is home to the annual World Pie Eating Championship.
• Stockport is home to the only dedicated hat museum and Edgeley Park football ground in Stockport is closer to the River Mersey than that of Liverpool’s Anfield.
• Sir Robert Peel was from Ramsbottom in Bury. He was Prime Minister, founder of the Metropolitan Police and the Conservative Party.
• The soap opera Coronation Street has been on TV continuously since 1960.
• The world’s first railway station was built at Manchester in 1830.
• Some well-known Manchester landmarks include: the Gothic style town hall, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Imperial War Museum North.
• On 26 September 1916, Bolton was the target for one of the first aerial offensives in history. A Zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy, dropped 21 bombs on the town.
• Manchester’s Arndale Centre, located in the heart of the city, is one of thelargest shopping centres in Europe. It has over 200 stores and attracts over 40 million visitors each year.
• Two of the world’s most famous football clubs call Manchester their home – Manchester Utd. and Manchester City. Manchester Utd.’s nickname of the Red Devils was taken from a local rugby team who wore red shirts.
• Manchester, it’s the British birthplace of vegetarianism. Look up Cowherdites.
• Mamucium, Its Roman name meant “breast-shaped hill.”
• The atom was first split in Manchester, in 1919.
• Rolls-Royce Limited was created over a famous lunch in Manchester in 1904.
• The first programmable computer was built in Manchester. The Small-Scale Experimental Machine, known as SSEM, or the “Baby”, was designed and built at The University of Manchester in 1948.
• Manchester started the Industrial Revolution in July 1761.