I welcome the return of Chorlton Arts Festival, and along with it that silly but happy publication which goes under the name of Chorlton Weaklie News.
And for those who don’t know, there is a connection between the two.
After a break of a few years the very successful Chorlton Arts Festival returned in 2019, and despite the best efforts of Colin Covid in 2020 it is back this year.*
Its Festival Director Peter Topping commented, “Things are looking positive at the moment and we are hoping to not only have art displayed on hoardings, fences, outside walls and in windows, but indoors if permitted and, for good measure, we will go virtual again.
One thing is for certain, Chorlton Arts Festival is definitely ON THE ROAD AGAIN.”
And that brings me to Chorlton Weaklie News, which is also produced by Peter, and carries regular updates on the Arts Festival.
I have been reporting on the newspaper from when it first hit the streets back in February 2020.**
It is, to misquote that Woody Allen film, All the Chorlton News you wanted to read but didn’t know where to look. It is silly, irreverent and at times quite topical.
So here in no particular order are, “Bodies Found in Southern Cemetery”, “Books Discovered in Chorlton Bookshop” and “Dead Shark Found in Chorlton Diving Club Pool”.
My favourite to date is “Mysterious Container Found on Doorstep”, which breaks the news that “In the early hours of the morning a man was seen lurking around doorsteps depositing glass containers with a white liquid inside”.
The inspiration for Peter’s flight of fancy was “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”.
All of which led Peter to compile his “counter factual Chorlton news stories” into a book, which he called Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton.
The book is available from http://www.pubbooks.co.uk/ or Chorlton Book shop, 506 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AW 0161 881 6374.
And that is it. Any one wanting to sign up as an artist or to volunteer have until June 1st, and all you have to do is go the Chorlton Arts Festival link.
Location; Chorlton
Pictures; Arts Festvals banners on Beech Road, 2021, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, remaining images, courtesy of Peter Topping, 2021
*Chorlton Arts Festival, www.chorltonarts.org
** Chorlton Weaklie News https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search?q=chorlton+Weaklie+News
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