Category: Saddleworth Independent

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   POPULAR train services are being reintroduced between Huddersfield and Manchester as students return to school from Monday, March 8. TransPennine Express (TPE) are bringing back two key morning services which are frequented by school children travelling between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. These are: 58 Manchester Piccadilly to…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   After a five-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Kershaw’s new state-of-the-art in-patient unit has opened, offering modern facilities for the local community. With more than 30 years providing free end-of-life and palliative care, the Royton-based Hospice has transformed itself from a dated cottage hospital building to…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   WHEN their annual holiday was cancelled due to lockdown a group of quiz buffs came up with an answer to overcome the disappointment. That’s why for the last five months the friends have held an online Sunday evening social with a quiz the focal point of the Zoom…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   WHEN Liz O’Donnell crossed the finishing line of the Oldham Hilly Half Marathon in October 2018, little did she know that soon her family, friends and colleagues would be completing similar challenges – to raise money in her name. The 46-year-old from Lees never considered herself a runner…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   OLDHAM RL Club’s head coach Matt Diskin will play 13 new signings in tomorrow’s (Sat) friendly at Featherstone, the Roughyeds’ first game in more than a year. The one missing new boy will be utility forward Shaun Pick, who has a calf strain. Diskin has confirmed that every…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   FORMER Saddleworth Rangers player Andy Joy completed his month-long challenge ‘Run for Jocky’ thanks to a little help from his friends. The 27-year-old prop, who now plays for Coventry Bears in Betfred League 1, set himself a target of running 200 miles during January to raise money for…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   WITH the current restrictions in place, people are looking for interesting, local walking routes to help maintain their health and well-being. Over the coming months I’ll share with you a selection of walks from my Saddleworth and Oldham Discovery Walks guidebooks. There is evidence of human habitation in…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   PLANNING is an important ritual at this time of year, from seed catalogues to drawing a plan of the vegetable plot. However, February heralds the first sowings: chillies and onions. Sown in a heated propagator I will care for these indoors until all signs of frost have passed….

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   DOVESTONE Women Institute’s fundraising for foodbanks has now topped a tremendous £11,000 and counting with the help of the generous community. The group launched their ‘Fabric into Food’ initiative last year, making reusable face coverings which are available for a small donation – but raising a huge amount…

First published in the Saddleworth Independent   THE green shoots of this year’s fruit and vegetables crop may be battling recent frosty weather but there is already some growth at the allotments in Uppermill. Thanks to a change of heart by the Parish Council, plot holders at the site by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal can…