Rochdale’s Got Talent In Every Way
When I was a 12-year-old at Redbrook School in Spotland in the early 1980s, there was a talent contest that I’ll never forget.
From the top of the school assembly steps, a young girl belted out a fabulous tune and everyone could tell a star was born. Her name was Lisa Stansfield and she went on to sell 20 million records globally, even presenting a TV show on the way.
We’re all so proud of Lisa, and it was a particular pleasure to see her featured in the stunning murals that decorated the town centre recently.
There was a similarly electric feeling of being in the presence of star quality during the Rochdale’s Got Talent contest at the Town Hall last week.
From the tightly choreographed dancers to the guitar skills of the bands and the vocal range and stage presence of the young singers, it was a great night of entertainment that also raised lots of money for the Mayor’s charities.
And as I said on the night, Rochdale’s always had talent. Whether it was the skilled craftsmen who built our magnificent Town Hall’s fine wood ceiling and stained glass, or the Pioneers who defied the odds to launch a global movement, we have had plenty of talented men and women to be proud of.
But that talent needs to be nurtured, supported and promoted for it to realise its full potential. It’s why as Rochdale’s MP I do everything I can to get the town the government funding it deserves – and to publicise all the great people and great businesses in our town.
That’s why I was so pleased to visit Dunphy Combustion on Queensway to see Sharon and Eddie receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation from the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins, this month.
It was much deserved recognition for Dunphy’s pioneering work in creating hydrogen-compatible burners and testimony to how forward-thinking the company is, from building whole plant rooms to the latest cutting-edge designs.
It was 61 years ago that Sharon’s late dad Malcolm founded the firm. Malcolm was a council house lad from Firgrove who literally built burner prototypes in his bedroom and had the entrepreneurial nous to create a company that now employs hundreds of Rochdalians. Rochdale’s got talent, indeed.
I was also impressed by the passion of another home-grown family business, Clelland McIver, when I went to visit them at their expanded site on Kingsway Business Park.
Richard McIver (pictured below with Paul) and his team are doing a superb job investing in the very latest technology and local talent, just as his father Keith did when he set up in Smithy Bridge years ago.
To fully unlock the potential of future Malcom Dunphys, Keith McIvers and Lisa Stansfields, we need to invest in our borough.
So I was particularly pleased this month to have secured from the Government a £20m ‘Pride in Place’ fund for one of the most needy parts of Rochdale, Smallbridge and Hurstead.
This pot of £2m a year for the next 10 years is exactly the kind of long-term investment we need in our borough. Crucially, the priorities for how this money is spent will be led by the community.
With our football club also having their best start to the season for many years (though I hope I haven’t just jinxed the Dale’s chances!), there is no question that Rochdale’s got talent.
It’s a key part my job as MP to shout about that talent and to strengthen it.