Friends of the Manchester Centre for Regional History

The Manchester Centre for Regional History is committed to promoting the study of Manchester and the north-west of England and to encouraging research and activities which are accessible to a broad public.

To facilitate this, a group of Friends of the Centre was established in 2003. It helps the Centre to develop a welcoming community for the many enthusiasts who share their interests in local and regional history. In complementing the aims and activities of the Centre, the group has become a friendly and stimulating focus for the many people interested in the history of Manchester and its region, and helps the Centre to become more responsive to ideas from those who want to see research and teaching on the history of Manchester developed and extended.

Activities
Since its inaugural meeting in 2003, the Friends of the MCRH have celebrated the launch of Alan Fowler’s new book on Lancashire cotton operatives (2003); hosted a conference on the Butterworth collection of manuscripts and papers held in Oldham Local Studies and Archives (2003); and hosted a day school, 'Preserving the past? Issues of conservation and restoration in the north west' (2008).

The Friends have an active programme of speakers. For example, in 2007, Ron Marsden spoke about the Spanish republicans who were interned in Lancashire during WW2; in March, Mike Cresswell spoke about problems of health in Bolton; in April, Joan Clark described Victorian Alternatives to ASBOs; in May, Terry Mitchell talked about the origins of Manchester Gas. In June, Mike Rose gave a guided midsummer stroll in Angel Meadow; and in October we visited the Hack Green Nuclear Bunker in Nantwich. In November, Peter Maw gave a talk on canals in the first industrial revolution in Manchester was the talk given by Peter Maw, and in December, Alan Shelston spoke on ' A Dickensian Christmas'.

Forthcoming events programme
Programme 2011-12

Benefits
Friends of the Centre would get many benefits, for example, advance notice and invitation to all of our activities in a bi-annual newsletter; reduced subscriptions for the Manchester Region History Review and occasional pamphlets; reduced conference fees.

Previous events programmes
Programme 2010-11
Programme 2009-10
Programme 2008-9

Joining the Friends
New members are welcome to join at any meeting.
Subscriptions are £12 individual and £15 institutional (cheques payable to Friends of the Manchester Centre for Regional History).
Alternatively, you may fill in the application form.

Contact us
The secretary is Carole O'Reilly, email friendsmcrh<at>yahoo.co.uk; phone (work) +44 (0)161 295 6054.

You can write to us at:
Friends of the Manchester Centre for Regional History
c/o Manchester Centre for Regional History
Manchester Metropolitan University
Department of History and Economic History
Geoffrey Manton Building
Manchester M15 6LL