Now there has been something silly going on in the world of publishing since December 2019, and it comes in the form of a broadsheet going under the title, of Chorlton Weeklie News.
Purporting to be a journal dedicated to investigative journalism it has lead with stories on “Bodies Found in Southern Cemetery”, “Chorlton Bus found on Moon”, and “Mysterious Container Found on Doorstep", along with “Books Discovered in Chorlton Bookshop”, and “Dead Shark Found in Chorlton Diving Pool”.
I am told that the public’s response to the news sheet has been very positive, with one chap writing in to complain about a story on the proposed revised route for HS2 through Chorlton and the construction of a new station to be sited in the township.
Pleased as the chap was, he wanted to know why the Government hadn’t considered a station in Wythenshawe which would assist the areas regeneration.
The news project is the work of Manchester artist and author Peter Topping, who saw the potential for a lighthearted news sheet which would promote the newly revived Chorlton Arts Festival.
And so, each week, a local business sponsored the print run and was featured on the front page of the paper.
And now Peter has compiled them into a book, along with a chapter on “Billy’s Weekly Liar".
This was a broadsheet sold in Blackpool from 1922 till the death of its creator, William Curtis in the late 1960s.
Mr. Curtis was the owner of Billy’s Joke Shop in Preston, where Peter grew up.
And rereading Billy’s Weekly Liar still has the power to bring a smile , which was in fact the motto of the paper …… “Smile Dammit Smile”, and it would be hard not to, with stories, like “Unconscious skeleton found on beach”, “A football scout from a Midland Club is interested in Dan Druff from Ayr” and “Brighton Prom stolen By Ladder Gang”.
Peter has always had an affection for this irreverent broadsheet from his youth and in writing the book he has uncovered fresh research on Mr. Curtis, which combined with Chorlton Weeklie News makes for a fascinating read.
It is called "Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton", which is taken from that earlier publication
As Peter says, “Dip in and out of the book whenever the mood takes you and soak in the laughter between these pages.
At times the truth is stretched to pen a witty yarn and as Mark Twain said, ‘never let the truth get in the way of a good story’, or did he actually say that?
Here we have 222 pages full of stories beyond belief, together with over 270 paintings, contemporary and period photographs, illustrations, documents and maps, based on the township of Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
A cocktail of side splitting humour mixed in with a measure of truth.
These mainly Chorlton based tall stories, with snippets of sometimes exaggerated testimony, and tales of disproportionate catastrophes and misfortunes, will appeal to the sense of humour instilled in the minds of every Chorltonian”.
I might add it should perhaps come with a Government Truth warning, but where would the fun be in reading the book?
So, I shall conclude by bringing out into the sunlight another of Mr. Twain’s comments …………. “Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please".
Something Peter has clearly done …………… and which may even yet leave an alternative Chorlton history for historians to pick over.
*With apologies to Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock, The Devil in the Dark, Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 25, March 9, 1967
I am told that the public’s response to the news sheet has been very positive, with one chap writing in to complain about a story on the proposed revised route for HS2 through Chorlton and the construction of a new station to be sited in the township.
Pleased as the chap was, he wanted to know why the Government hadn’t considered a station in Wythenshawe which would assist the areas regeneration.
The news project is the work of Manchester artist and author Peter Topping, who saw the potential for a lighthearted news sheet which would promote the newly revived Chorlton Arts Festival.
And so, each week, a local business sponsored the print run and was featured on the front page of the paper.
And now Peter has compiled them into a book, along with a chapter on “Billy’s Weekly Liar".
Mr. Curtis was the owner of Billy’s Joke Shop in Preston, where Peter grew up.
Peter has always had an affection for this irreverent broadsheet from his youth and in writing the book he has uncovered fresh research on Mr. Curtis, which combined with Chorlton Weeklie News makes for a fascinating read.
It is called "Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton", which is taken from that earlier publication
As Peter says, “Dip in and out of the book whenever the mood takes you and soak in the laughter between these pages.
At times the truth is stretched to pen a witty yarn and as Mark Twain said, ‘never let the truth get in the way of a good story’, or did he actually say that?
A cocktail of side splitting humour mixed in with a measure of truth.
These mainly Chorlton based tall stories, with snippets of sometimes exaggerated testimony, and tales of disproportionate catastrophes and misfortunes, will appeal to the sense of humour instilled in the minds of every Chorltonian”.
I might add it should perhaps come with a Government Truth warning, but where would the fun be in reading the book?
So, I shall conclude by bringing out into the sunlight another of Mr. Twain’s comments …………. “Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please".
Something Peter has clearly done …………… and which may even yet leave an alternative Chorlton history for historians to pick over.
*With apologies to Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock, The Devil in the Dark, Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 25, March 9, 1967
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