Haslingden town centre.

Haslingden

Rossendale is made up of many small towns, villages and hamlets all linked together by hills and countryside.

Some more views across the Valley.

Elgin Street in Bacup, in the guiness book of records for the shortest street, until recently! Apparently, someone put a gate on a drive somewhere in Scotland I think, and called it a street, taking the title.

Compton's cross high on the hills above the valley. Against one of the multitude of beautiful views you can see when you walk the moors here.

The beautiful Crawshaw Hall in the heart of Crawshawbooth. Sadly, as with many of the 'great' houses in the valley this has been turned into a nursing home. What the valley needs is for the council and residents of the valley to acquire these old buildings, restore them and turn them into places for tourists to visit.

Most of the valley's buildings are built in the local sandstone quarried from the hills of Rossendale.

Here is how Waterfoot's beautiful arcade used to look.

This beautiful late victorian shopping arcade has been owned by some company in London for years and has been neglected terribly. There used to be an entrance underneath the clock which was blocked up long ago. My Aunt - Mary Starkie - had an ironmongers shop on the Burnley Road East side of the arcade and my mum used to be her shop assistant. I used to go to the shop after school and was fascinated with the arcade. Inside are more shops and the whole thing is covered with glass. Again, if I had the money - I would buy, restore and re-open this as it would have been originally.

A flower filled meadow above Crawshawbooth

View from above Cowpe reservoir looking down over Cowpe and Waterfoot.

More pictures

Four Ends Lane which leads down from Booth Road to Newchurch Road and Waterbarn/Brandwood village.

View from Waterbarn hill over-looking Brandwood which most people call Waterbarn. Water barn Green is in the centre of the picture. You can make out the white sight screen in the centre, which Stacksteads cricket team use for matches. Stacksteads Cricket Team have played here in their various guises since 1903. The developer wants to throw them off. But not of we villagers have our way. It is such a pleasure on a balmy summer afternoon to have the cricketers playing a match. I often sit in my garden and watch them (and I hate sport!! lol). But there's something very 'British' about it and I for one would hate to lose it.

The Beautiful Fearns Hall, up for sale again! But still separated into two houses. If only I had the money I would by both halves and turn it back into one house and restore it to it's original state. There are several ghosts said to reside here including 'the grey lady' who has been seen peering sadly through the windows above the door as if looking for someone. A coach and four is also supposed to be seen racing past the house in the dead of night. Oliver Cromwell is supposed to have stayed here.

This is Waterbarn Green which is what we are trying to save from development. The row of terraces is where my house is. View from Brandwood Moor overlooking The Glen and Waterfoot

Healey Dell

Before I go any further with this blog - I thought it time I shared some pictures of this beautiful valley with you. It really is a stunning place. It has it's grubby areas too - just like anywhere else, but these ar few and far between thankfully. The valley stretches east to west in the penine hills. At one end is Healey village and Healey Dell (which is half in Rochdale and half in Rossendale) - to Baxenden(home of Hollands Pies) at the other. Inbetween these two points is my wonderful valley and it's towns, villages and hamlets. It is the best palce on earth as far as I am concerned. The people are friendly with a great sense of humour. It is one of those places where you can still walk down the street and perfect strangers say hello to you or smile. The years I lived away from it while working in the theatre - I missed the place dreadfully. There's no place like home.

preposterous

Well it happened - on last nights' news - Sudanese calling for the death penalty for the teacher who innocently allowed her pupils to call a teddy bear Mohammed. Are these people insane? Muslim peers from Great Britain are heading out there to try and secure her release. Let's just hope they succeed. I was raised to accept everybody as an individual regardless of sex, colour, creed, race. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am extremely tolerant, but even I am getting a little weary of the way Muslims behave throughout the world. Eighty percent of the problems in the world seems to be caused by Muslims. If they are not fighting each other, they are terrorising someone else. This is not Islam! Certainly not judging by the Koran that I read.
And it is not the majority doing this, it is a minority. The vast majority of Muslims are ordinary, decent, hard working people, no different to anyone else in the world. It is a minority of extremists and they are spoiling things for all Muslims. Is it any wonder extremist parties are getting a foot hold in western countries, when faced with what we see around us? Ordinary westerners see the extremists from the Muslim world doing things like crashing planes into the twin towers in America, bombing the underground in London and now the calls for the teacher in the Sudan to be executed for an innocent mistake and they just see Islam as a threat! Something dangerous, something to fear. When really Islam is a beautiful, peaceful religion.

The affect this is having in the country worries me. We've already seen in recent years problems caused for British Muslims by the acts of extremists in other countries. This isn't fair. But how can the Muslim world expect the western world to respect Islam if all the western world sees are the horrors done in the name of Islam. We don't see the good. We only see the bad. And the bad is pretty horrific to westerners. Westerners don't see a peaceful, loving, tolerant religion. They see thousands of innocent people being killed in the twin towers, they see suicide bombers, they see different groups of Muslims in places like Iraq killing each other. They see Muslims in the UK not joining in with the rest of society. It's time we saw the true Islam.
I don't want the children in my family growing up in a world like this! I want them to grow up in a world where everyone is accepted for who they are as an individual. Where our differences are rejoiced in - not rejected. Where all peoples are tolerant of each others' beliefs and respect them. Where no-one goes around killing other human beings in the name of God. You cannot kill in the name of God - now that IS blasphemous! Thou shalt not kill is still a commandment to the best of my knowledge. It does not say - thou shalt not kill unless you are killing in the name of God! Thou shalt not kill - MEANS - thou shalt not kill! And anyone who kills, for whatever reason is breaking that commandment. There is no glory in it. Only shame. God created every single person on the planet. He loves us all unconditionally. To kill another human being for ANY reason is an offense to God, you are killing a part of God himself.

God gave us a wonderful planet to live on, which we are rapidly destroying. It is full of spectacular sights, wonderful creatures and billions of humans who are all unique! We should be rejoicing in that and not making a mockery of God by destrying it. Isn't it about time we all took a deep breath and made a choice to make this world a better place for our children and our children's children? We are only caretakers of this planet. For most of us - three score and ten is our average time here. Can we not decide here and now, that from this day forward we will all work towards a better world? Small changes are all it needs from each of us. A smile to a stanger. Extending the hand of friendship to a neighbour. Making an effort to be kinder to one another. To bite one's lip when we want to say so much. To count to ten when we get angry. Call round and see the old man or woman living on your street and check they are ok. Make a point of befriending someone of a different religion, so you can learn to understand them better and be more tolerant of their beliefs and more respectful of them so you don't inadvertantly offend them. It doesn't take much to do. In fact you were created to be this way naturally. Go on, do it today - you know you want to. And who knows - you may be surprised at what riches it may bring into your life!

Unbelievable

I had to write about the recent imprisonment of teacher Gillian Gibbons in the Sudan after being found guilty of insulting Islam by allowing her school children to name a teddy bear Mohammed. I'm sorry, but her arrest, charge and imprisonment is more insulting to Islam than calling a teddy bear after the prophet. What has been done to Gillian - in the name of Islam - is more harmful to the religion than anything she did in innocence. Is it any wonder westerners have problems with Islam when it's leaders do utterly petty things like this. I'm quite sure the prophet himself would not be offended by children naming a teddy bear Mohammed. Mohammed loved children and I can only imagine his pleasure that the children of his great religion would want to name their special toy in his honour.
I do not want to cause any muslims offence. I am not a muslim, but I have relatives who are. I have read the Koran and it is a beautiful book. I have sat with my nephews ( who I am happy to say are being raised without prejudice to any religion) and helped them say their Islamic prayers before bed. I am just glad that they are being raised with a knowledge of God and belief in things greater than ourselves.
If a religion can be offended by something as innocent as this - then where is it's strength? While I understand the upset that may be caused to anyone of any religious persaution at things deemed blasphemous - I was raised Roman Catholic - and in my understanding of blasphemy - only God Himself can be blasphemed, not prophets or saints or anyone else.
I know there has been a lot of response to this news by British Mulsims, most of whom think the Sudanese are being a bit extreme. And I am pleased they are speaking out on this matter. Too often we see the negative side of Islam and not the positive. I myself, although raised Catholic, am of no religious persaution anymore as from what I have seen in the world in my 44 years, most of the world's problems are caused by religion and different people's interpratations of the same book. Everyone has a right to choose a religion and not be persecuted for it. But at the same time, anyone has the right to choose to be atheist or agnostic. And I really do not believe that any country should be centred on any religion and certainly not it's laws. God gave us all freedom of choice, so to have a country where everyone is judged on one particular view of the world -whether they are a follower of that religion or not - denies our God given right to freedom of choice.
As I have said, I do not wish to cause offense to Muslims, or Christians, or Jews, or anyone but this act in the Sudan is really offensive to me. Surely, the leaders there could have used a little common sense and said; 'well, the teacher probably didn't fully understand the situation, so we'll give her the benefit of the doubt, explain how we feel and give her the opportunity to publically apologise for any offense caused however un-intentional'! Now wouldn't that have been the 'mature' way of dealing with the situation? Instead, what they have done by their actions, is caused the western world to look further down it's nose at Islam and see the extreme side of the religion. Which cannot be good for Islam.
The Koran I read, was much more tolerant than this. I can only assume that God Himself, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed and ALL the prophets look down on us with sadness at how petty and small minded we humans can be. God through the ages gave us such beauty, love and tolerance through many teachings, and all we do is make a mockery of those teachings.
This is why I now follow no religion. I KNOW God exists, he's proven it to me time after time. I would not be here today if it wasn't for God seeing me through some of the lowest points in my life. I know He loves me, just as He loves everyone else on the planet - regardless of sex, creed, age, nationality. He loves everyone of us unconditionally. It's just a pity we humans can't do the same.

Well, it's been about a week since I put my first entry on here. I've had a busy week finishing decorating our new home. It's taken 6 months to finish! That coupled with hospital appointments for my partner who is disabled and backwards and forwards to my parents who I alos care for, and still working on setting up my business and doing some costume making for a pub in burnley for their opening - I just haven't had time to write anything. But, I'm here now, it's Sunday morning, Neil's still in bed, and apart from the three cats, I'm on my own - BLISS! I do like quiet time on my own. I sit and think and commune with the world and the Big 'G'.
There is something I have thought about a lot in recent months which up until now, I have not commented on to anyone other than my partner and that is the murder of local girl Sophie Lancaster.
For those out there who do not know of her - I will give a brief synopsis of the story. She and her biyfriend were on their way home from a night out and were attacked by a group of youths - just for being 'different'. They were 'Goths'. The scum ( and I do mean SCUM) who did this are the lowest of the low. They brutally beat the pair into unconsciousness and both were left for dead in a local park here in Rossendale. Robert Maltby (Sophie's partner and fellow victim) fortunately survived the attack despite serious injuries. Sophie however, died later in hospital. My heart goes out to Sophie's parents and family, her boyfriend Robert and all those who knew this lovely girl. I can only imagine their devastation. And all this happened in my beautiful valley. Something I never dreamed possible.
But this is the way of the world these days - so they say. Well, we are ALL to blame for this. It is only this way because we allow it. This is NOT the way the world should be. But too many of us sit behind closed curtains and doors complaining of what goes on, but nobody (or very few) ever get up off their fat backsides and 'DO' anything about it! This country is full of 'good gonnas'. Those who are 'gonna do this' and 'gonna do that' but never actually do anything! There are lots of big mouths in Britain today willing to mouth off at every opportunity about the state of our nation. But that's all they do. Well I'm sorry, but mouthing off doesn't cut it anymore. If we are going to take back this country from the trash and yobs who are ruling our streets today - we all have to actually get off our arses and DO something.
As with many of these attrocities such as Sophie's story - the culprits are young people, who seems to have no respect for anyone or anything. Saying this, I do not want to label all young people with the same brush - as this would be unfair. I have worked with children and young people all my life and I know this isn't the case. I have worked with wonderful kids, but I have also worked with some dreadful ones. But I still believe there is no such thing as a bad child - just bad parents. Children need boundaries. They need discipline. Without it - they feel un-loved and insecure, and that's when they go off the rails!
When I was growing up we had discipline in schools. There was none of this 'political correctness' that said children should not be smacked. Parents were parents and not our friends. they only became your friends when you were grown, but even then - they were still parents. We didn't have gangs of teenagers roaming the streets terrorising everyone. If you gave cheek to a neighbour, you'd get a clip round the ear and they'd tell your dad and he'd give you another clip round the ear or worse!
Too many people are trying to be their children's friends and forgetting they need to be parents. Working with children all my life I've seen it time and time again. And children don't know where they are anymore. And they all know their 'rights' and use it to their advantage. Children should only have certain rights. They have the right to love, care and protection from the evils of the world and that is where their rights should stop. Parents should smack their children if they need to. No-one is saying anyone should beat their children. But a sound spanking when they've been really bad is needed.
Me and my siblings were terrified of my father growing up. We were scared to do anything wrong or we'd get a good hiding, but we knew we were loved and safe. At school we were scared to do anything wrong or we'd get the strap, or the cane. What have kids got now? A naughty step, detention or exclusion! Big deal! And that's what kids think too. They aren't afraid anymore and they should be. We are teaching our kids that there is nothing to fear and I'm sorry, but the world is a dangerous place and they need to know how to fear, for their own safety. Even animals smack their children. You watch a lioness with her cubs on a nature programme - if they are going 'too far' - she will smack them with her paw. She will not be brutal, just enough to warn the cub of danger and make it afraid.
Children are also being de-sensitised to so many things because a lot of parents let them watch tv in their rooms. How can you control tv in their rooms when you're not there? They will let them watch videos too old for them. I have been in people's homes where under fives have been watching horror films such as 'alien' and 'the ring'. I'm sorry, but if you are letting your child watch film like that - you are abusing your child in my book. Children need protection from parents like you!
Having children is not a right, it is a gift. And you are meant to nuture that gift and prepare them for adulthood, so they can go out into the world and be a decent human being. You are NOT meant to destroy their wonder or childhood by allowing them to see and do things that will damage them.
And parents also have to remember that they 'chose' to have kids, the rest of society should not have to 'put up with' your child's bad behaviour. Too many parents these days say; 'it's not my fault, I can't control them!' Well who's fault is it? It's your child - you are responsible - no-one else. If you cannot control your own children - then you have no business having them! And if you don't bring your children up right and control them so they behave well in the world, it could be your child that's up in court facing murder charges for the next Sarah Lancaster!

My beautiful valley

Hello, this is my first time blogging, so you will have to bear with me, and if you don't live in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire then this blog may not even interest you. Although, I am rather opinionated, so I dare say I will comment on everything else that goes on in this world other than my own home.
To start with, for those of you who read this blog who have never heard of Rossendale. It is a beautiful valley nestled in the penines on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire. I was born here on the front room of 87, Fairfield Avenue, Edgeside, Waterfoot on the 17th of December 1963. That makes me all of 21! I wish. No, actually I don't. I would hate to be so young again. I am happier in my 40's than I've ever been.
I love this valley and it's people with a vengeance. It is a fantastic place. After years working in the theatre and living up and down the country, I returned to Rossendale about 18 months ago to be close to my parents. Both now in their 70's, dad (who has angina) was struggling to cope with looking after mum who was in the early stages of Dimentia. I moved here with my partner of 7 years - Neil - he has Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) so I care for him aswell.
For the last 13 years before moving back to the valley - we lived in Manchester where I ran my own theatre company for children and did lots of workshops in schools and after school clubs etc teaching art, crafts and drama.
Since returning home I have involved myself in local issues. Particularly the area of Waterbarn where we live. I have lead the fight to save the land behind our house from development and have it declared a village green. It has been used by the villagers here for over 100 years and now someone wants to destroy it. But hopefully, Lancashire County Council will grant us village green status. Fingers crossed. The application has been in since August - to date - we've heard nothing from them other than a letter confirming receipt of out application.

The main reason I have started this blog though, is my concern for the Valley and it's people. While it is still a fantastic place to live, I don't hold out much hope for the future with concecutive councils destroying much of what we hold dear here. There is so much wrong with the way the council are doing things, and they never seem to listen to anyone. It's not too long ago Rossendale Borough Council was announced by the government to be the 'worst council' in Britain. Although the government now says it has improved - very few people here agree. They are still attrocious and seem hell bent on destroying our beautiful valley.

The first thing I noticed on my return home was - the bins! Rossendale seems to have become the wheelie bin capital of the universe. Most people having 2 or 3 bins each. Which, when you consider the amount of terraced housing here (many of which don't even have a back yard to put the bins in) the streets of this wonderful place is lined with bins. Of course we have to recycle - I probably recycle more than most - but is it necassary to have so many bins???
Even in the city of Manchester we only had one bin. Then a box for glass and plastics and a bag for paper etc. The council really needs to rethink this idea. They say they are so keen on attreacting tourists here (and rightly too - there are so many hills and walks) but is it aesthetically pleasing for tourists to see rows and rows of bins on every street corner instead of the beautiful buildings and the hills and parks?

My other major concern for my valley is, the buildings that are being erected! It seems the planning department is full of idiots! If this valley is to rely ever more on tourism, they should NOT be granting permission for some of the buildings that are planned. They already admit it was a mistake allowing the new Asda in Rawtenstall - it is ugly and has caused no end of traffic chaos in the town centre. The proposed new 'Valley Centre' is an abomination! This is just like all the 'boxes' that are being thrown up in Manchester and certainly NOT in keeping with the valley. And to top it all - they are allowing Hurstwood to build another shopping centre, hotel etc etc etc at Newhall Hey and on the site of Rossendale college. Again the plans by this local firm are not in keeping with the valley and should be fought tooth and nail by valley people. Why can't Hurstwood take their disgusting plans somewhere else? The houses they plan aren't too bad - but the retail and hotel buildings are an eyesore! Let's just hope it falls flat on it's face and get's no business then they might pull it down!

There was a time in this valley and country, where people took pride in their work. those days are long since gone. All you have to do is take a look at some of the terraced houses in the valley and the attention to detail on houses built for the workers is fabulous. Now all developers want to do is make money and build boxes and to hell with the rest of us! Well, I think it's time the 'little people' started taking back control! And putting a stop to this endless destruction of our valley. Maybe I should start my own party to run for election made up of people who adore this valley and want ALL of the people here to benefit?