The official handover of the keys to to the BBC’s first building at Media City took place yesterday with a live programme from Salford Quays. Volunteer Chris Brannigan, club members Ryan Pinkney, Ryan Miller and project manager Leslie Holmes were invited down to be part of the programme. To hear the interview with presenter Peter Allen go to
Morrissey’s birthday events at Salford Lads’ Club got under way at 7am this morning with BBC Radio Manchester live outside the front door. It’s continued all day with fans from Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, USA ,Canada, Ireland and all parts of the UK. The weather was wet, wet, wet with the odd spot of sun, as the pictures show. Fans at the Club
The club set off today for the annual camp holiday to Aberystwyth in Wales with 30 lads and 20 adult volunteers. As well as the usual activities, like swimming, fishing, football, and an army assault course, watching TV will be an essential part of this years camp. The reason, is that everyone will be watching former Salford Lads’ Club member Kallum Higginbotham play at Wembley for Rochdale FC in the 2nd Division play off final.
The exhibition ‘Dirty Old Town’ is set in the Billiards Room and celebrates the significance of the area’s red brick streets. Artist Leslie Holmes has collected together a unique collection of archive photographs and pictures by local residents. A place that inspired ‘Coronation Street’ ‘A taste of Honey’ ‘East is East’ and ‘Dirty Old Town’. Downstairs in the Smiths Room, fans and club volunteers describe the impact of Stephen Wright’s famous image of the Smiths outside Salford Lads Club in 1986 and its effect today.
Exhibition dates 16,17,18,24,25 June. Open 12noon – 4pm. Admission Free.
Special events
Friday 16th – BBC Radio Manchester Live from the club 2-4pm
Sunday 18th Stephen Wright charity photo shoot 11am-1pm
Sunday 18th The Other Smiths perform live at 2pm. Salford Lads’ Club t-shirts and Stephen Wright prints will be available during the events but we don’t have credit card facilities.
The Front Row Arts programme on Monday 14th November,featured an item about the club and interviews with Andy Rourke, Stephen Wright, Archie Swift, Leslie Holmes, Stephen Lord and Stephen Buckley.
On the BBC news website yesterday was an item about Stephen Wright’s iconic photograph of The Smiths.It has been selected to be part of the collection in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
“Conviction”, a Reds Production for the BBC, was filmed inside the club. It starts on 7th May 2005 and continues on Saturday evenings for the next few weeks. The club was used as the set for the police headquarters. We think most of the actors and crew were Smiths fans, as many of them went away wearing our ‘Baden Powell to Morrissey’ T shirts!