When Chorlton’s history bumped into a heap of poetry and a book launch

There is nothing quite as good as listening to live poetry and that was what Chorlton Library offered up yesterday.

Peter Topping, 2025

So, in the company of the poets Saira Anwar, Steve Smythe and Ann Delargy an appreciative audience came together to celebrate the launch of Peter Topping’s new book “Musical Poems and Pictures of Chorlton-cum-Hardy”.

The book breaks new ground, mixing his poems set to music and designed to "appeal to the visually impaired and hard of hearing as well as the young and old".*

By including a Navilens QR code on the front and back cover the text is accessible to everyone.

I had heard Steve Smythe on several occasions, but the work of Saira Anwar and Ann Delargy were new to me.

And of course there was Mr. Topping who took us through the writing, distribution and sponsorship of his new book along with his career as an artist.

All of which was peppered with Chorlton’s history, covering that old agricultural community, the coming of New Chorlton, Chorlton Park, and Chorltonville, to which there were the darker stories of the Great Chorlton Burial Scandal, the equally great Chorlton Church schism and the archaeological dig by the village green which turned up the bodies no one thought were there.

The appreciative audience, 2025

Anne Delargy, 2025

Steve Smythe, 2025

Saira Anwar, 2025

So, a good day.

Location; Chorlton

Pictures; Saturday September 13th in the Library, 2025, from the collection of Andrew Simpson and "Musical Poems and Pictures of Chorlton-cum-Hardy" with other books by Peter, are available from Chorlton Bookshop, Peter Topping, 2025

*Peter Topping, 2025, his books can be found in Chorlton Bookshop or direct from him at www.pubbooks.co.uk

Listening, 2025