Manchester Oral History: Alec Greenhalgh Interviews

This is a collection of oral history interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, mainly with people from Saddleworth. The interviews are mostly with people who were born between the 1890s and the 1920s and they concentrate on childhood experiences, including family life and village life.

The full length interviews are available in the Archives+ search room at Manchester Central Library. The British Library collection reference is UAP001. The local reference is MANOH.

Alec Greenhalgh interviews

Memories of sport from around the North West, digitised 2019-2021 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage at Manchester Central Library.

Sporting Memories

Piccadilly Radio was Greater Manchester’s first commercial radio station and it inspired listeners all over the North West with its mix of news, music, interviews, sports, drama and current affairs. Manchester Central Library’s climate-controlled archive vaults hold over 1,500 Piccadilly Radio master tapes, on obsolete and hard-to-maintain reel-to-reel format. This playlist includes a few short clips from the hundreds of tapes in the collection.

You can listen to these radio shows and more at the Sound + Vision pods at Manchester Central Library. You can search the catalogue for the rest of the Piccadilly Radio collection online https://gmlives.org.uk/results.html?#imu[search=piccadilly%20radio] (look for references PICC and PICC/2). 800 shows have now been digitised and are available at Manchester Central Library thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.

Piccadilly Radio

Samples from interviews of attendees for the women's march 2017

The march was held on January 21st 2017 in reaction to the political climate of the western world, in particular that of Greater Manchester, the UK as a whole and North America. 

All opinions stated belong to the individual, and are not representative of any company or establishment.

Women's March Manchester

Extracts from interviews recorded in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

In these extracts Alec encourages his interviewees to remember the layout and activities of their childhood homes.

Reference number: MANOH

Date of interview: 1988-1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interviews available at Manchester Central Library

Spaces and Places in the Home

Pauline Smith on coming out as a trans woman in Amsterdam in the 1970s.

Full interviews available at Archives+ in Manchester Central Library (ref M825). For more information see https://lgbt.foundation/prideinageing/lgbt-foundation-archive. If you are interested in being interviewed for the archive please contact prideinageing@lgbt.foundation.

Launched by Sir Ian McKellen in June 2019, Pride in Ageing has already made huge strides in helping to ensure that Greater Manchester becomes one of the best places for LGBT people to grow older. This programme was set up in response to concerns that too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people over the age of 50 are living in isolation and facing discrimination as a direct result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Laws change but attitudes can be harder to shift.

The initiative is ensuring that the voices of LGBT people over the age of 50 are heard when it comes to ageing policy and activity in Greater Manchester, with an advisory group of 18 LGBT community members at the heart of the project. The views of LGBT people in mid and later life are now also directly informing the services and support we deliver as an organisation.

Pride in Ageing is also set to launch a new quality assurance standard and social prescribing service, which will help adult social care services and housing providers to better support their LGBT residents and service users.

Pride in Ageing is funded by Manchester City Council, Age Friendly Manchester and Barclays.

Pauline Smith - coming out as a trans woman

Jo Somerset talks about discrimination and coming out at work in Manchester in the 1980s-90s

Full interviews available at Archives+ in Manchester Central Library (ref M825). For more information see https://lgbt.foundation/prideinageing/lgbt-foundation-archive. If you are interested in being interviewed for the archive please contact prideinageing@lgbt.foundation.

Launched by Sir Ian McKellen in June 2019, Pride in Ageing has already made huge strides in helping to ensure that Greater Manchester becomes one of the best places for LGBT people to grow older. This programme was set up in response to concerns that too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people over the age of 50 are living in isolation and facing discrimination as a direct result of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Laws change but attitudes can be harder to shift.

The initiative is ensuring that the voices of LGBT people over the age of 50 are heard when it comes to ageing policy and activity in Greater Manchester, with an advisory group of 18 LGBT community members at the heart of the project. The views of LGBT people in mid and later life are now also directly informing the services and support we deliver as an organisation.

Pride in Ageing is also set to launch a new quality assurance standard and social prescribing service, which will help adult social care services and housing providers to better support their LGBT residents and service users.

Pride in Ageing is funded by Manchester City Council, Age Friendly Manchester and Barclays.

Jo Somerset - discrimination and coming out at work in Manchester

Piccadilly Radio jingle for Mike Shaft

Mikey Dread explains to Mike Shaft why he operates his own music label.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC/228). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

Digitised thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Mikey Dread on why he runs his own label

TWO SIX ONE

PICC/228

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved. You can listen to the rest of the tape at Manchester Central Library.

Piccadilly Radio jingle: TWO SIX ONE!

The music sounds best on Piccadilly Radio!

PICC/225

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved. You can listen to the rest of the tape at Manchester Central Library.

Piccadilly Radio jingle

Clip from episode 13 of Mancunian sitcom Cromwell Mansions, featuring a young Caroline Aherne as Linsey, who is pregnant. Aherne was working as a receptionist at Piccadilly Radio when she got her big chance.

PICC2/78

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved. You can listen to the rest of the show at Manchester Central Library.

Cromwell Mansions

Drama about the partnership of Gilbert & Sullivan, produced by Tony Hawkins. In this clip the protagonists are yet to meet...

PICC2/10

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved. You can listen to the rest of the show at Manchester Central Library.

A Most Victorian Partnership: Gilbert & Sullivan

Animals in Church - St Peters in Ashton-under-Lyne

Piccadilly Radio Features Department 1974 - 1979

Roger Finnigan Archive

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved.

Animals in Church - St Peters in Ashton-under-Lyne

Kids talk about kissing

Piccadilly Radio Features Department 1974 - 1979

Roger Finnigan Archive

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved.

Kids talk about kissing

Clips from 1 hour special Uncle Sams Soccer Circus

Piccadilly Radio Features Department 1974 - 1979

Roger Finnigan Archive PICC/787/8

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved

Uncle Sams Soccer Circus: Soccerbowl 78 with George Best

Prostitution in Walley Range

Piccadilly Radio Features Department 1974 - 1979

Roger Finnigan Archive PICC/788/1

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved

Prostitution in Whalley Range

Interview with Philip Birch by Roger Finnigan about the launch of Piccadilly Radio, March 1995

PICC/803

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved

Philip Birch on the launch of Piccadilly Radio

Romanoff's Night Club advert by Chris Kay and Steve England Sonovox - 1970s

Steve England Archive PICC/824

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved

Romanoff's Night Club advert

Piccadilly Radio Record Company Jingles

Steve England Archive PICC/834

Copyright Bauer Media, all rights reserved

Piccadilly Radio Record Company Jingles

Ivan talks about what it was like being a singing miner and sings the Bradford Pit song.

MISCEL/994/20/1

Interview with Ivan Fryman (Bradford Pit)

Ads and promos made by Piccadilly Commercial Production Department, 1970s. Deposited by Steve England, Piccadilly Radio's Head of Commercial Production.

Includes ads for: ELCO Washing Soda, El Silvender, Stockport Express, K & J Damp Proofing, Ashton Discount Warehouse, The Hut, Norwest Camping, Goldspinner's Join The Party album and Slack & Cox.

You can listen to the full tape in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC/801). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Adverts by Piccadilly Commercial Production Department

Tony Hawkins introduces an episode of his classical music show Performance from early 1981 which features a recording of the Halle orchestra performing in 1980 to mark the tenth anniversary of Sir John Barbirolli's death. The orchestra plays Elgar's The Music Makers, conducted by Sir Charles Groves.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC2/195). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Tony Hawkins introduces 'Performance'

Mark Radcliffe introduces his new music show 'Transmission' and Stuart James lists the gigs on in the North West over the next week. We don't have an exact date for the recording but Steve Miro and the Eyes's new track Hammer and Tongs puts the show in 1980.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC2/306). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Mark Radcliffe introduces music show 'Transmission

Advert break in Mike Sweeney's show including ads from: Brewsters, Chevron, Homefinders Warrington and Leo's Superstore.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC/154). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Advert break in Mike Sweeney show

Andy Peebles reads out some requests and chats to guest Mike Harding. Includes ad break with adverts from Butterkist Corn and Mothercare.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC/807). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Andy Peebles, Mike Harding, adverts

Advert break in Mike Sweeney's Sports & Social show including North West Auto Mart and Bounce Softener. Mike then introduces the rest of the show.

You can listen to the full show in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref PICC2/235). Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

This item was digitised with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Advert break in Mike Sweeney's Sports & Social show

At 5am on the 2nd of April in 1974 a legend was born when the first Piccadilly Radio jingle hit the airwaves. All went fairly smoothly through the first news bulletin until DJ Roger Day's turntable malfunctioned so that the first second of The Beach Boys' Good Vibrations sounded positively squidgy.

You can listen to the full first hour of transmission in Manchester Central Library's Sound+Vision pods (ref DAVIES/50). Deposited by Neal Davies. Copyright Bauer Media. All rights reserved.

First minutes of Piccadilly Radio, 2 April 1974

Ken Howarth founded the North West Sound Archive in 1979. In this documentary, Ken discusses the work of the archive.

The documentary starts with the early years of Ken's oral history career from his first interview in 1972 when he set out to capture the last surviving voices and memories of the industrial revolution.

Ken recalls the equipment he used to record, store and provide access to sound archives. He also talks about the politics and fundraising involved in setting up and running the archive, and where he thinks sound archives fits alongside other kinds of local studies sources.

Ken discusses his typical working week including processes of archiving, copying, cataloguing, and working with the computerised catalogue. Ken also describes the motivation behind his local history series on BBC Radio Manchester.

Towards the end of the interview Ken shows off how the Prestel system allowed users to access the sound archive catalogue. He goes on to discuss the possibilities for digital sound archives.

The documentary is cut with clips from some of Ken's early interviews with canal workers, a woman who remembers her grandmother's Peterloo memories, a tram lamp-lighter and a striking fireman.

The documentary is not dated but may have been made around 1990, judging from the computer technology referenced.

Reference number: GRANEY/1196

Ken Howarth, founder of the North West Sound Archive

... there was a tackler and he'd only one eye. Millie, Millie Moorhouse's brother, he's dead now, and I think he had his eye knocked out with a shuttle, and I think his son did too! He had a son - Harry Birtwell - who had it ... I don't mean Harry, Millie's brother, Harry's nephew, and I think he had an eye knocked out with something too... 

MISCEL/1206/19

Accidents in the Cotton Industry

... I worked for a man who was a weaver. He was a very good weaver and these people, these good weavers took the young people in and taught them to weave. I think they got paid for it but I'm not sure, and they undertook to have young people, they used to call them tenters, and they undertook to have these young people and to teach them weaving, and we did ... they did teach us. And first of all ... first morning I went in and they put all the looms on and they nearly drove me mad. "Clackety, clackety, clack" and it was awful. But he showed me what to do and he's ... I couldn't hear him though. He had to come and shout in me ear and gradually we learnt to lip read and make signs like a lot of weavers do, and he showed me first of all how to set the looms on. Having learnt that I had to learn how to stop... 

MISCEL/1206/18

Weavers' Lip-Reading

... the thing I remember most was being wakened up in the morning with the clatter of clogs on Robert Street pavement, all the mill workers. That was my alarm clock when I was at school and the great doors of the mill being opened and you could hear the roar of the machinery, you know, and the great steam engines starting, you know, and going full blast. It frightened us as children. We weren't allowed to go close to the doors really, I think the men were frightened of us getting in and doing, you know, getting into trouble. Only at night... 

MISCEL/1206/17

Waking Up In The Morning

Sound recording of Lancashire looms, the workhorse of the Lancashire textile industry: (a) Multiple looms in weaving shed, at Grane Manufacturing Company, Haslingden; and (b) a single Lancashire loom recorded at Helmshore Textile Museum. 

MISCEL/1206/15

Lancashire Looms

Sound recording of a) spinning jenny, and b) improved spinning jenny, a machine invented by James Hargreaves c.1764, which allows a number of ends of cotton fibres to be spun simultaneously. Recorded at Helmshore Textile Museum. 

MISCEL/1206/12

Spinning Jenny

Sound recording of hand carding, the separation and alignment of the fibres of raw cotton using tow pads with sharp evenly spaced protruding spikes. Recorded at Helmshore Mill Textile Museum.

MISCEL/1206/5


Hand Carding

Sound recording of line shafting, a system of transferring mechanical power from a steam engine via shafts and pulleys to looms in the weaving shed. From the Grane Manufacturing Company, Haslingden. 

MISCEL/1206/4

Line Shafting

Sound recording of a mill engine starting up and running. The mill engine recorded in this case belonged to the Grane Manufacturing Company, Haslingden.

MISCEL/1206/3



Mill Engine

Mill Hooter

Depicting the sounds of a mill town in the early morning - mill hooters, clogs on cobbles, horses' hooves etc. 

MISCEL/1206/1


Street Sounds

Born 1941 in Harpurhey, David worked as an apprentice mine surveyor at Bradford Colliery between 1957 and 1962 during that time he lived in Clayton. David’s interview highlights a different perspective through his job role and other roles which played a part in overall pit safety.

David talks of colliers - being a hard life for those men and compares it to ‘working under a table all day’. Describes this and ‘having a 20 minutes break for a dusty sandwich and a drink of water.’
 
David responds to a question about the relationships between the people working underground and over ground. ‘Hierarchy’ of management structure. 

Camaraderie – everyone was looking after everyone else and a ‘tremendous care of the welfare of everybody’.  David describes there being no division but ‘a great universal common wish to survive and to be safe’. Talks of there being a ‘high degree of consciousness on making sure the job was done right’.

BRADFORD PIT/5/1

David Woods: safety and camaraderie at Bradford Pit (extract)

Womens March manchester

Katie

Womens march manchester

Helen

Eve-Marie

Anne

Alec Greenhalgh interviews an elderly Greenfield woman who remembers her childhood home.

This extract is from an interview in which the anonymous woman describes her childhood moving between relatively isolated Pennine villages (1898-1914). She recalls details about her school days, family and her working life, as well as traditions and customs.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/02

Date of interview: 1988

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library.

A Greenfield home

Alec Greenhalgh interviews Hilda Gibbs who remembers her childhood home in Hulme.

This extract is from an interview in which Hilda remembers her childhood in Hulme, Manchester (1911-1926). She talks about family life and the deaths of her parents. Housing and furnishings, along with hygiene are mentioned. She recalls WWI and the flu epidemic. Leisure time and entertainment also feature.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/15

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library

A Hulme home

Alec Greenhalgh interviews Mr. Beaumont who remembers his childhood home in Stalybridge.

This extract is from an interview in which Mr. Beaumont describes his childhood in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester (1924-1936). He talks about housing and domestic arrangements. School days and communal toilets are also included. Traditions during local festivals and holidays feature, along with leisure and entertainment. He also talks about death and funeral arrangements. 

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/47

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library

A Stalybridge home

Alec Greenhalgh interviews George Porter who remembers his childhood home in Rusholme.

This extract is from an interview in which George describes his childhood in Greater Manchester (1916-1928). He talks about domestic routine and chores. School days and games also feature. Hobbies and entertainment are included from comics to local theatres.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/32

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library

A Rusholme home

Alec Greenhalgh interviews Harry Glover who remembers his childhood home in Wigan.

This extract is from an interview in which Harry describes his childhood in Wigan, Greater Manchester (1928-1940). He talks about terraced housing and furnishings. School days and discipline are also mentioned. Shopping and traders also feature along with leisure time and local traditions and customs. 

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/38

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library

A Wigan home

Frank Allsopp reads 'The Messiah'. This is a short extract from a life story interview.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/46

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

'The Messiah' read by Frank Allsop

Frank Allsopp reads 'Ode to Standedge Bull' by Becket Whitehead. This is a short extract from a life story interview.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/46

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Frank Allsopp reads 'Ode to Standedge Bull'

Alec Greenhalgh interviews Hilda Gibbs who remembers going for rides in a sidecar on her father's motorbike. She describes the open fields in south Manchester and watching biplanes at the aerodrome.

This extract is from an interview in which Hilda remembers her childhood in Hulme, Manchester (1911-1926). She talks about family life and the deaths of her parents. Housing and furnishings, along with hygiene are mentioned. She recalls WWI and the flu epidemic. Leisure time and entertainment also feature.

This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted in 1988-1989 by Alec Greenhalgh, journalist and broadcaster, with people across Greater Manchester on childhood, school and early life.

Reference number: MANOH/15

Date of interview: 1989

Copyright: North West Sound Archive

Digitised in 2019 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview available at Manchester Central Library

Rural south Manchester by motorbike!

This extract is from an interview in which Annie Brookes recalls supporting Witton FC from Northwich, Cheshire. Annie describes helping prepare their ground, using a pig's bladder as football as child, working at ICI during World War 2, playing football at Bolton Ladies. Annie also describes playing for England against Scotland, compares the games of then and now. Annie mentions playing against Dick Kerr's ladies of Preston.

Reference number: OH/801

Digitised from cassette in 2016 by AMR Studios, Hyde.

Full interview available at Archives+, Manchester Central Library.

Annie Brookes remembers playing football with a pig's bladder

James Bradbury, born 1905, remembers his cycling days and starting up the Horwich Wheelers Cycling Club with friends.

Bolton Oral History Project interview with Mr James Bradbury, 4 November 1981. (BOLTONOH/58).

Digitised in 2020 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Full interview recording available at Bolton History Centre.

James Bradbury on cycling with the Bolton Wheelers club

Irene Stanley remembers being part of the 'Water Babies', a group of young girls who did syncronised swimming at Victoria Baths in Manchester.

Interview conducted by the Friends of Victoria Baths. Interview held at Manchester Central Library (ref: OH/1551).

Digitised in 2020 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Water babies synchronised swimming club at Victoria Baths

Olympic wrestler Albert Aspen talks about training, bodybuilding and weightlifting, exhibitions at parks and audience involvement.

Interview conducted by the North West Sound Archive. Interview held at Manchester Central Library (ref: OH/1666).

Digitised in 2020 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Olympic wrestler Albert Aspen talks about his wrestling life

Phyllis Walters remembers learning to swim at Victoria Baths in Manchester.

Interview conducted by the Friends of Victoria Baths. Interview held at Manchester Central Library (ref: OH/1501).

Digitised in 2020 by Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH), funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Learning to swim at Victoria Baths

The Greater Manchester Sound Archive is available at Manchester Central Library. The collection includes hundreds of oral histories, radio and music recordings.

You can check the catalogue at http://gmlives.org.uk. If you can't find what you're looking for in the catalogue please email us on archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk.

Unlocking Our Sound Heritage (UOSH) is an ambitious partnership project led by the British Library and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to address the threat facing the UK’s sound heritage. Sounds held on physical formats risk being lost as the carriers degrade over time and the equipment to play them is no longer produced. The project aims to transform access to and preserve the nation’s sound heritage, to create sustainable centres of excellence in digital audio preservation and to involve new audiences in engaging with their audio heritage in innovative ways.

Archives+ at Manchester Central Library is the hub partner for the North West region, which covers Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The hub will digitise around 15,000 recordings on 5,000 cassette and open reels held all over the region. The British Library will archive the digital files and provide access to a proportion of them online. The project will recruit volunteers across the region who will spend time learning how to sort, catalogue and promote the region's sound heritage.

We recognise that from time to time material published online may be in breach of copyright laws, contain sensitive personal data, or include content that may be regarded as obscene or defamatory.  If you are concerned that you have found material on our Soundcloud for which you have not given permission, contravenes privacy laws, is obscene or defamatory, or in terms of copyright law is not covered by a limitation or exception, please contact us at archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk.

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