Nothing to do in Chorlton … the new book … an invitation …. and a sneaky December announcement

It’s a simple idea which some may hail as a public service announcement and ultimately win Peter Topping and Andrew Simpson an award.

Andrew and Peter doing nothing .... or so it seems, 2021

Moved by the cries of Eric and his friend Edith that there is “nothing to do in Chorlton” Peter and Andrew have published a slim volume which will guide the reader through six locations where they will find lots to do.

And here is the fun bit, all you have to do, is find a spot in each of the six places to relax, and the book will do the rest.

So along with Meadows and Chorltonville we offer up the parish church yard, the village green, a 15th century building, and Scotch Hill.

Each location is filled with history and is designed to inform, entertain, and set the imagination going. 

There is the story of the burial scandal, the great Chorlton Church schism and the man who stole the village green as well as the Highland visitation and a lost watercourse.

Now with that quirky approach to book presentation, over the years Peter and Andrew, have launched their books in pubs, public libraries, Ken Foster’s Cycle Shop, and beside the Narnia Lamp post on Chorlton Green.

And the launch of nothing to do in chorlton follows the tradition, by sharing a night with Chorlton Voice (Chorlton Civic Society).  The event will take place tonight in Chorlton Library starting at 7.30 pm.

The Horse & Jockey, a venue to do nothing, 2021

Nor is that all because on Sunday November 28th you can walk the book, starting at he parish church yard and by degree taking in the old village green, the Horse and Jockey and Park Brow, reckoned “to be the most lovely spot in Chorlton”.

The walk will cost £5, and for all those that buy a copy, the book will act as a free ticket to the Sunday walk.**

Leaving me just to ponder on that December announcement, which follows hard on the sighting of the first adverts for Christmas in late October, the Christmas hamper offer in early November, and the first Christmas card on the door mat on December 1st.

So, our book is just the right size to fit in to a Christmas stocking and be the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas Day stroll, which for obvious reasons will require suitable stops, and if you delay till Boxing Day will have the added advantage of taking a break in either the Horse and Jockey or the Bowling Green which feature in the book.

Such outrageous self promotion.

Location; Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Pictures; Andrew & Peter doing nothing 2021

Painting; The Horse & Jockey, Peter Topping, 2021,  www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

*“Nothing to do in Chorlton” by Andrew Simpson & Peter Topping, is available from www.pubbooks.co.uk and also Chorlton Bookshop

**Thomas Elwood Chapter 4, Houses, The History of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, South Manchester Gazette, November 28th, 1885