Didsbury Civic Society …… the one to join

Now I have pretty much given up joining things, as Grouch Marx once remarked, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member”.

But I put that rule to one side last week and signed up to Didsbury Civic Society.

Most people when confronted with a civic society, think of local worthies with more time on their hands, passionately interested in preserving open spaces from litter and graffiti, which they combine with a fascination for preserving the past.

None of which I would disagree with, but the Didsbury Civic Society is much more than just these things.

As it says on its web site, it “aims to represent the interests of residents of all ages in an ever-changing world by, supporting the needs of local businesses, ensuring Didsbury is well represented in any discussions with Manchester City Council and liaising with other relevant agencies and residents' groups, and promoting good planning policy which conserves the best of the present environment and ensures new development is of appropriate quality”.

And that in turn means “encouraging a greater awareness of local history, welcoming and encouraging local and council participation arranging visits, talks and social events to bring people together” as well “creating new green spaces such as the Jubilee Garden and the Stenner Lane Community Orchard” and “involvement with Didsbury in Bloom, Carols and Lights, Didsbury Festival, the Classic Car Show and the Guitar Trail”.

All of which I would suggest is far more than just a band of local worthies doing a bit.

And its latest newsletter carried articles on Margaret Ashton, Warburton Street, Didsbury’s Heritage Week, a new bakery and an opening discussion of the future of the township.

As a historian I confess I gravitated to the piece on Margaret Ashton, who was born in Withington and died in Kingston Road.  She was the first woman to stand for election as a city councillor, and was the first woman to be elected to the Council.

As a councillor she devoted herself to the issues of women's health and education, and campaigned to improve the conditions of employment for women. 

She supported new legislation to improve the wages and conditions of factory girls, to raise the age of employment of children, and to abolish the sweated system.  

And campaigned for an extension of the Parliamentary vote to women as well as campaigning for peace during the Great War.

Modesty forbids me from writing about the Warburton Street story, other than to say I wrote it and it focuses on some of the people who lived there during the 19th century.

But I will just refer to La Choquette, that new French bakery, the article on the Women’s Institute, and the coverage of local issues. 

So I rather think my subscription was worth it.

Location; Didsbury

Pictures; Warburton Street and Wilmslow Road, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Didsbury Civic Society, https://www.didsburycivicsociety.org/