106-515: Longford Park is a public park in Stretford , Greater Manchester. It is in the east of the town and spans an area of 22 ha, making it the largest park in Trafford . Attractions include a pets' corner, a wildlife garden , bowling greens , tennis and basketball courts, a play area for children, a Scout group , disc golf course , and an athletics stadium. It was the site of a royal garden party in 1977,
212-529: A Bee Gees song ), which included Isle of Man musicians John Alderson on guitar, Stan Hughes on bass, and John Stringer on drums. The group was managed by Gibb's mother, Barbara, and had regular bookings on the island's hotel circuit. In August 1973, at the age of 15, Gibb made his first recordings at the Nova Sound Studios in London . The songs were "Windows of My World" and the country music number "My Father's
318-576: A seating capacity of 1,400 in the stalls and 600 in the circle, with a further 146 seats in the café area. When built, the cinema had a short pedestrian approach to the facade, which was removed when the A56 was widened. During the Second World War the building was used for concerts, including one given by a young Julie Andrews . It also played host to the Hallé Orchestra after the orchestra's own home,
424-399: A Broadway producer and financier for Joseph , "When Andy was at the theater, he was a joy. But he wasn't there enough", adding that of the five people to play Joseph up to that point, Gibb was the best actor. He also said after Gibb's death, "We'd lose him over long weekends. He'd come back on Tuesday, and he'd look beat. He was like a little puppy—so ashamed when he did something wrong. He
530-577: A Rebel". The second song was written by Maurice Gibb (according to a November 1973 fan club newsletter) who also produced the session. At the urging of his brother, Barry, Gibb returned to Australia in 1974. Barry believed that since Australia had been a good training ground for the Bee Gees , it would also help Gibb's career. Lesley Gibb had remained in Australia, where she raised a family with her husband. Alderson and Stringer followed Gibb to Australia with
636-660: A call with news like this. It was only a matter of time." Gibb's family said the cause of death was not an overdose , as some media reports suggested, but natural causes after years of substance abuse. Gibb's body was flown to the United States, where he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. The headstone reads "Andy Gibb / March 5, 1958 – March 10, 1988 / An Everlasting Love", after one of his hit singles. The Andy Gibb Memorial Foundation contributes to charities that Gibb supported, such as
742-612: A fashionable place to live in the mid-19th century. Large recreation areas were established, such as the Royal Botanical Gardens, opened in 1831. The gardens were sited in Old Trafford on the advice of scientist John Dalton , because the prevailing southwesterly wind kept the area clear of the city's airborne pollution. In 1857, the gardens hosted the Art Treasures Exhibition , the largest art exhibition ever held in
848-535: A later Hamon de Mascy gave the Stretford manor to his daughter, Margery. She in turn, in about 1260, granted Stretford to Richard de Trafford at a rent of one penny. The de Mascy family shortly afterwards released all rights to their lands in Stretford to Henry de Trafford, the Trafford family thus acquiring the whole of Stretford, since when the two manors descended together. The de Trafford family leased out large parts of
954-536: A proposal was put forward by Trafford Council to bring the Essoldo back into use as part of the new University Academy 92, to provide student amenities and other community facilities such as an enhanced library. The Great Stone, which gave its name to the Great Stone Road, where it was located until being moved in 1925, is one of Stretford's most easily overlooked landmarks. The stone is composed of millstone grit and
1060-825: A recording contract for release of a new album in 1988. He returned to the studio in June 1987 recording four songs; one of them, "Man on Fire", was released posthumously in 1991 on a Polydor Records anthology. Another track, " Arrow Through the Heart ", was the final song Gibb would record and was featured on an episode of VH1 's series, Behind the Music and released on the Bee Gees' Mythology 4-disc box set in November 2010. The songs were co-written by Gibb with Barry and Maurice. Their demo recordings with engineer Scott Glasel were heard by Clive Banks from
1166-805: A stage show featuring his hits as well as covers. He also appeared in guest-starring roles on television sitcom Punky Brewster and Gimme a Break! Following an extensive tour of East Asia , he regularly performed shows in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe . In 1984, he was the headline performer at the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile , performing two nights in a row. He also held a two-week engagement at San Francisco 's historic Fairmont Hotel in March 1986. In early-1987, Gibb went through another drug rehabilitation program and thought he had finally beaten his habits. Gibb now aimed to get
SECTION 10
#17330849056081272-552: Is 24 feet (7 m) high and 11 feet (3 m) wide at its base. It cost £2,000 to build, raised by public subscription and a donation from the Stretford Red Cross. The memorial bears the legend "They died that we might live" on one side, and "In memory of the heroic dead" on the other. It is a Grade II listed structure. Stretford's remembrance parade, which is made up of the Scouting, Girl Guiding and Boys Brigade divisions from
1378-559: Is a Grade II listed structure. Stretford Cenotaph, opposite the Chester Road entrance to Gorse Hill Park, was built as a memorial to the 580 Stretford men who lost their lives in the First World War. Their names and regiments are listed on a large bronze plaque on the wall behind the cenotaph. It was formally unveiled in 1923, by the Earl of Derby , Secretary of State for War. The cenotaph
1484-462: Is also a high proportion of non-white people, as 63% of residents were recorded as white. The largest minority group was Asian , at 21% of the population. In 1931, 19% of Stretford's population was middle class and 20% working class compared to 14% middle class and 36% working class nationally. The rest of the population was made up of clerical workers and skilled manual workers. By 1971, the middle class in Stretford had declined steadily to 15% whilst
1590-552: Is also thought to have been the base of an Anglo-Saxon cross shaft. A local legend had it that the stone was slowly sinking into the earth, and that its ultimate disappearance would mark the end of the world. When the Great Stone Road was widened in the late 19th century, the stone was moved back from the road slightly. In 1925, the stone was moved again, to its current location outside the North Lodge of Gorse Hill Park, about 328 feet (100 m) from its historical location. The stone
1696-516: Is generally flat, sloping slightly southwards towards the river valley, and is approximately 150 feet (46 m) above sea level at its highest point. The most southerly part of Stretford lies within the flood plain of the River Mersey, and so has historically been prone to flooding. A great deal of flood mitigation work has been carried out in the Mersey Valley since the 1970s, with the stretch of
1802-433: Is roughly in line with national figures, except for the town's relatively low percentage of agricultural workers. The 2011 census recorded the economic activity of residents aged 16–74 as 39.3% in full-time employment, 13.6% in part-time employment, 7.5% self-employed, 5.7% unemployed, 5.9% students, 9.5% retired, 5.6% looking after home or family, and 6.1% permanently sick or disabled. The 5.7% unemployment rate in Stretford
1908-501: Is slightly above average for the United Kingdom. Annual rainfall and average amount of sunshine are both slightly below the average for the UK. Stretford's built environment developed along the A56 road in two separate sections, corresponding to the original two manors. The area in the south, near to the border with Sale, grew around the church of St Matthew – an old alternative name for
2014-437: Is still a very significant source of employment, containing an estimated 1,400 companies and employing about 44,000 people. The main shopping centre is Stretford Mall in the commercial centre of Stretford, previously known as Stretford Arndale . It was opened in 1969 and changed its name in 2003. It is still (as of 2022) referred to as the "Stretford Arndale" on local bus timetables and recorded announcements. Stretford Mall
2120-429: The 2011 UK census , the Stretford area wards of Clifford, Gorse Hill, Longford and Stretford had a total population of 46,910 and a population density of 8,907 persons per square mile (3,439 per km ). Stretford residents had an average age of 36 years, younger than the 39.3 Trafford average. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. Of all residents, 42% were single (never married): in Trafford, 33% were single. Of
2226-522: The A56 Chester Road , follows the line of the old Roman road from Deva Victrix ( Chester ) to Mamucium ( Manchester ), crossing the Mersey into Stretford at Crossford Bridge, built at the location of the ancient ford. The earliest evidence of human occupation around Stretford comes from Neolithic stone axes found in the area, dating from about 2000 BC. Stretford was part of the land occupied by
SECTION 20
#17330849056082332-524: The Bee Gees , ABBA and Olivia Newton-John (duet with " Rest Your Love on Me ") at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly , which was broadcast worldwide. He returned to the studio to begin recording sessions for his final full studio album After Dark . In March 1980, the last of Gibb's Top 10 singles charted just ahead of the album's release. " Desire " (No. 4)
2438-614: The Celtic Brigantes tribe before and during the Roman occupation, and lay on their border with the Cornovii on the southern side of the Mersey. By 1212, there were two manors in the area now called Stretford. The land in the south, close to the River Mersey, was held by Hamon de Mascy , while the land in the north, closer to the River Irwell , was held by Henry de Trafford. In about 1250,
2544-599: The Free Trade Hall , was bombed and severely damaged during the Manchester Blitz of 1940. After a change of ownership in 1950, the cinema was renamed the Stretford Essoldo. It continued to operate as a cinema until 1965, when it was converted into a bingo hall, which it remained until its closure in 1995. The building has been unused since then. It was designated a Grade II listed building in 1994. In 2017
2650-619: The NBC television sitcom Gimme a Break! ; Gibb met Michaelsen when he had guest starred on the series for one episode. In 1984 and 1985, Gibb finished two successful contracts at the Riviera hotel in Las Vegas . His family convinced him to seek treatment for his drug addiction, which included a stay at the Betty Ford Center in 1985. It was during this time that Gibb began touring small venues with
2756-593: The River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal ; the Bridgewater Canal bisects the town. The town is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Manchester , 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Salford and 4 miles (6.4 km) north-east of Altrincham . Stretford borders Chorlton-cum-Hardy to the east, Moss Side and Whalley Range to the south-east, Hulme to the north-east, Urmston to the west, Salford to
2862-739: The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II . As the Manchester –Stretford border ran across the park until the Boundary Commission moved it in 1987, part of it (including Stretford Stadium ) was in Chorlton-cum-Hardy , although it was always administered by Trafford Council . Longford Park was the home of industrialist John Rylands , industrialist and philanthropist from 1855 until his death in 1888 and of his widow Enriqueta Augustina Rylands until her death in 1908. The house Rylands constructed in
2968-400: The 19,209 households, 33% were one-person households, 56% were married couples with dependent children, and 15% were lone parents with dependent children. Of those aged 16–74 in Stretford, 23% had no academic qualifications , higher than the 18% in all of Trafford. With 78% of residents born in the United Kingdom, there is a relatively high proportion of foreign-born residents reported. There
3074-503: The 63 seats on Trafford Council. The wards elect in thirds on a four yearly cycle . As of the 2014 local elections , all 12 councillors representing the Stretford area are members of the Labour Party. Stretford occupies an area of 4.1 square miles (10.6 km ), just north of the River Mersey , at 53°26′48″N 2°18′31″W / 53.44667°N 2.30861°W / 53.44667; -2.30861 (53.4466, −2.3086). The area
3180-637: The English branch of Island Records . Gibb never formally signed a contract, but the record label planned to release a single in Europe that spring, followed by another single that summer with the album to follow. In March 1988, Barry arranged for Island Records to sign Gibb, but when he arrived in England in January 1988, he panicked. Gibb missed meetings with the record company and blamed himself for his trouble writing songs;
3286-605: The Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team on his second album, Shadow Dancing , which was released in April 1978 and was his highest-charting album in America (No. 7) and Canada (No. 1). The title track , written by all four Gibb brothers, was released as a single in the United States in April 1978. In mid-June it began a seven-week run at No. 1, achieving platinum status and the honour of being Billboard 's No. 1 song of 1978. In
Longford Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
3392-464: The Great Plague of 1655–56 the holes in the top of the stone were filled with vinegar or holy water, through which coins were passed in the belief that would halt the spread of the disease. But the holes are probably too deep for that to have been the stone's original purpose. It may have been a marker on the Roman road between Northwich and Manchester, or some kind of boundary marker. The Great Stone
3498-550: The Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, and the subsequent development of the Trafford Park industrial estate, accelerated the industrialisation that had begun in the late 19th century. By 2001, less than one per cent of Stretford's population was employed in agriculture. Stretford has been the home of Manchester United Football Club since 1910 and of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864. Notable residents have included
3604-494: The Manchester market each week. Stretford also became well known for its pig market and the production of black puddings , leading to the village being given the nickname of Porkhampton. A local dish, known as Stretford goose, was made from pork stuffed with sage and onions. During the 1830s, between 800 and 1,000 pigs a week were being slaughtered for the Manchester market. Situated on the border with Manchester, Stretford became
3710-483: The Mersey through Stretford canalised to speed up the passage of floodwater. Emergency floodbasins have also been constructed, Sale Water Park being a prominent local example, lying immediately to the south of Stretford. Stretford comprises the local areas of Old Trafford , Firswood , Gorse Hill , and Trafford Park and represents the northeastern tip of Trafford . Its climate is generally temperate , with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean temperature
3816-418: The United Kingdom in January 1967 as his three older brothers began to gain international fame as the Bee Gees . In his childhood, his mother, Barbara, described Gibb as "A little devil, a little monster. I'd send him off to school, but he'd sneak off to the stable and sleep with his two horses all day. He'd wander back home around lunchtime smelling of horse manure, yet he'd swear he had been at school. Oh, he
3922-512: The United Kingdom. A purpose-built iron and glass building was constructed at a cost of £38,000 to house the 16,000 exhibits. The gardens were also chosen as a site for the Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1887, celebrating Queen Victoria 's 50-year reign. The exhibition ran for more than six months and was attended by more than 4.75 million visitors. The gardens were converted into an entertainment resort in 1907, and hosted
4028-518: The United States, Gibb became the first male solo artist to have three consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 , with all of the weeks at the top of the chart happening in less than year, from 30 July 1977 through 29 July 1978. Two further Top 10 singles, " An Everlasting Love " (No. 5) and " (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away " (No. 9), were released from the album, which became another multi-million seller. In 1979, Gibb performed along with
4134-588: The Wayside Chapel on 11 July 1976. "Kim breeds Staffordshire bull terriers and my sister does too", he once said. "We met at a dog show when my sister Lesley introduced us". In 1977, they moved to West Hollywood . Reeder recalled, "He became ensconced in the drug scene. Cocaine became his first love. He became depressed and paranoid." After they split up, Reeder moved back to Australia, where she gave birth to their daughter, Peta, on 25 January 1978. Gibb and Reeder divorced later that year. Robert Stigwood , who at
4240-525: The White City Retail Park was built. The arrival of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, and the subsequent development of the Trafford Park industrial estate in the north of the town – the first planned industrial estate in the world – had a substantial effect on Stretford's growth. The population in 1891 was 21,751, but by 1901 it had increased by 40% to 30,436 as people were drawn to
4346-434: The album while recording Hotel California . On Gibb's compositions, the tracks were a mix of country music and ballads . After the release of Flowing Rivers , Gibb revealed: I don't think you can pin any one thing on the way my voice and songwriting have developed. A lot of people say my album, Flowing Rivers , sounds like the Bee Gees , but if I sang or wrote any differently than I do now, it wouldn't be me at all. I
Longford Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
4452-574: The album's disappointing performance, coupled with Gibb's mounting drug problems, would lead to RSO Records dropping Gibb from its roster. Later in the year, Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits was released as a finale to his contract with RSO Records, with two new songs: " Time Is Time " (No. 15 in January 1981) and "Me (Without You)" (Gibb's last Top 40 chart entry) shipped as singles, before RSO founder Robert Stigwood let him go due to his cocaine addiction and behavioural problems. "After Dark" and " Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow " were non-single songs added to
4558-495: The album, the latter of which was a duet with P. P. Arnold , who had previously worked with Barry Gibb, including singing uncredited backups on "Bury Me Down by the River" from Cucumber Castle . Around the same time, Gibb was invited to sing the first verse on Queen 's " Play the Game ", and lead singer Freddie Mercury apparently was amazed with Gibb's abilities. According to some sources,
4664-509: The architect Henry Elder, it was the height of Art Deco fashion when it was opened by the Mayor of Stretford in 1936. Its unusual "cash register" frontage was intended to symbolise the business aspect of show business. The building incorporated many modern features, such as sound-proofing and under-seat heating, and it was also the first cinema in Britain to make use of concealed neon lighting. It had
4770-589: The area as well as the cadets finishes here, in a semi-circle around the Cenotaph whilst the public and independent representatives stand on the main road which is closed for the occasion. The march goes from the Metro Club to the Cenotaph and back, with the Boys Brigade Band striking up the music for this event. For more information, see Longford Park Stretford Public Hall was built in 1878 by John Rylands . It
4876-568: The authority to levy rates to pay for those services. The local board continued in that role until it was superseded by the creation of Stretford Urban District Council in 1894, as a result of the Local Government Act 1894 . Stretford Urban District became the Municipal Borough of Stretford in 1933, giving it borough status in the United Kingdom . Stretford Borough Council was granted its arms on 20 February 1933. The roses are
4982-638: The band Zenta, consisting of Gibb on vocals, Rick Alford on guitar, Paddy Lelliot on bass, Glen Greenhalgh on vocals, and Trevor Norton on drums. Zenta supported international artists Sweet and the Bay City Rollers on the Sydney leg of their Australian tours. "Can't Stop Dancing" (a Ray Stevens song which was later a US hit for duo Captain and Tennille in May 1977) was pushed for release, but ultimately did not, although Gibb did perform it on television at least once on
5088-460: The blitz of December 1940. Between 1972 and 1975, what is now a closed B&Q store (originally constructed as a multi-lane Bowling Alley) in Great Stone Road was the 3,000-capacity Hardrock Theatre and Village Discothèque, hosting some of that period's major artists in their prime. Led Zeppelin , David Bowie , Bob Marley , Elton John , Hawkwind , Yes , Chaka Khan , Curved Air and Lou Reed were amongst those who appeared. Tangerine Dream
5194-453: The cause of his chest pains. Shortly afterward, Gibb slumped into unconsciousness and died as a result of myocarditis , an inflammation of the heart muscle most likely caused by a virus. Years of cocaine use also weakened his heart. This diagnosis was supported by William Shell , a cardiologist who previously treated Gibb. Upon the announcement of Gibb's death, his ex-wife, Kim Reeder, was not surprised. "I always knew that one day I'd get
5300-623: The day. Andy Gibb Andrew Roy Gibb (5 March 1958 – 10 March 1988) was an English singer and songwriter. He was the younger brother of Barry , Robin , and Maurice Gibb , musicians who had formed the Bee Gees during the late-1950s. Gibb came to prominence in the late-1970s through the early-1980s with eight singles reaching the Top 20 of the US Hot 100, three of which went to No. 1: " I Just Want to Be Your Everything " (1977), " (Love Is) Thicker Than Water " (1977), and " Shadow Dancing " (1978). In
5406-478: The deal together, me and Barry locked ourselves in a bedroom and Barry just started writing. When Barry writes, it is very hard to collaborate with him, because he is so quick. And before I knew it he was starting to do the chorus of 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything', and I thought, 'Wow what a hook!'. He's an expert at his craft. Within about 20 minutes, he'd written a number one record; and then we went right into another one, '(Love Is) Thicker than Water'. Eight of
SECTION 50
#17330849056085512-491: The deal was never signed. By late January to early February in 1988, Gibb had seemingly beaten his drug addiction, regained his health, and was ready to begin recording a new album; however, he still suffered depression over his break-up with Victoria Principal. According to Robin Gibb, his brother "just went downhill so fast... he was in a terrible state of depression". During this period, Gibb slipped back into alcoholic habits, and
5618-587: The earliest forms of public transport through Stretford was the stagecoach ; the Angel Hotel, on the present day site of what used to be the Bass Drum public house, was one of the main stopping places for stagecoaches in Stretford, and the Trafford Arms was another. Horse-drawn omnibuses replaced the stagecoach service through Stretford in 1845. The Manchester Carriage Company 's tramway from Manchester to Stretford
5724-524: The early 1980s, he co-hosted the American music television series Solid Gold . He also performed in a production of The Pirates of Penzance and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Gibb would later have substance use problems and depression . He died on 10 March 1988 aged 30. Andy Gibb was born on 5 March 1958 at Stretford Memorial Hospital , Stretford , Lancashire. He
5830-503: The first speedway meeting in Greater Manchester on 16 June 1928. There was also greyhound racing from 1930, and an athletics track. The complex was demolished in the late 1980s, and all that remains is the entrance gates, close to what is now the White City Retail Park. The gates were designated a Grade II listed structure in 1987. The gates are not in their original position but were dismantled and turned through ninety degrees when
5936-517: The granting of Stretford's charter, on 16 September 1933. In 1974, on the formation of the new Trafford Metropolitan Borough, Stretford Town Hall was adopted as the base for the new council and renamed Trafford Town Hall; it was designated a Grade II listed building in 2007. The Union Church was formed in 1862, with John Rylands as its patron; he laid the foundation stone of its building in Edge Lane, close to Longford Park's southern entrance, in 1867. In
6042-424: The hope of forming a band there. With Col Joye producing, Gibb, Alderson, and Stringer recorded a number of Gibb's songs. The first was a demo called "To a Girl", with his brother Maurice playing organ, which he later performed on his television debut in Australia on The Ernie Sigley Show . Sigley later informed the audience that it was from Gibb's forthcoming album, however it was never released. In November of
6148-433: The industrialist, philanthropist and Manchester's first multi-millionaire John Rylands , the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst , the painter L. S. Lowry , Smiths front-man Morrissey , Joy Division front-man Ian Curtis , pop singer Andy Gibb and Jay Kay of Jamiroquai . The origin of the name Stretford is " street " ( Old English strǣt ) on a ford across the River Mersey . The principal road through Stretford,
6254-491: The land, much of it to tenants who farmed at subsistence levels. Although there is known to have been a papermill operating in 1765, the area remained largely rural until the early 20th-century development of Trafford Park in the Old Trafford district north of the town. Until then Stretford "remained in the background of daily life in England", except for a brief cameo role during the Jacobite rising of 1745 , when Crossford Bridge
6360-653: The latter part of the 20th century the church was converted into office accommodation but by the early 21st century was standing empty. In 2012 it was restored to its original use a church having been bought by the Church of Christ – Iglesia ni Cristo. Stretford Metrolink station is part of the Manchester Metrolink tram system and lies on the Altrincham to Bury line. Trams leave about every six minutes between 7:15 and 18:30, but every 12 minutes at other times of
6466-451: The mechanised cotton mills of nearby Manchester replaced handlooms. As Manchester continued to grow, it offered a good and easily accessible market for Stretford's agricultural products, in particular rhubarb , once known locally as Stretford beef. By 1836 market gardening had become so extensive around Stretford that one writer described it as the "garden of Lancashire"; in 1845 more than 500 tons of vegetables were being produced for
SECTION 60
#17330849056086572-400: The new single (" Words and Music "), Gibb prepared to go to Florida later that year and had his last recording session before moving to the US, including "In the End", "Flowing Rivers", "Come Home for the Winter" and "Let It Be Me" which were later re-recorded in Criteria Studios . Gibb at that time lived in Seven Hills , an outer Sydney suburb where he married his girlfriend Kim Reeder at
6678-411: The nights of 22/23 and 23/24 December 1940 alone, 124 incendiaries and 120 high-explosive bombs fell on the town, killing 73 people and injuring many more. Among the buildings damaged or destroyed during the war were Manchester United 's Old Trafford football ground , All Saints' Church, St Hilda's Church, and the children's library in King Street. Smoke generators were set up in the north of
6784-471: The north and Sale to the south. In 2011 it had a population of 46,910. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire , Stretford was an agricultural village in the 19th century; it was known locally as Porkhampton , due to the large number of pigs produced for the Manchester market. It was also an extensive market-gardening area, producing more than 500 long tons (508 t) of vegetables each week for sale in Manchester by 1845. The arrival of
6890-403: The park in 1857, Longford Hall, was demolished in 1995. It replaced an earlier house of the same name that had been the residence of cotton merchant Thomas Walker (died 1817) and subsequently of his sons Thomas (died 1836) and Charles. Today only the front porch, coach house, and the stable buildings remain. The estate and hall were sold to Stretford Council in 1911 after a poll of ratepayers, and
6996-418: The park was opened to the public the following year. 1st Stretford (Longford) Scout Group, who are one of the oldest Scout Groups in the UK, are based within the Shippon Complex which they call the Ranche. Longford Park is the home of Stretford parkrun; a free, weekly 5k running event. Stretford Stretford is a market town in Trafford , Greater Manchester, England, sited on flat ground between
7102-473: The railway in 1849. The completion of the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) in 1849, passing through Stretford, led to the population of the town nearly doubling in a decade, from 4,998 in 1851 to 8,757 by 1861. Because Stretford is situated on the main A56 road between Chester and Manchester many travellers passed through the village, and as this traffic increased, more inns were built to provide travellers with stopping places. One of
7208-413: The rear of the building, accessed via Cyprus Street. In 1940 the new Stretford Library was opened on King Street, and the public hall was rendered surplus. The building re-opened in March 1949 as the Stretford Civic Theatre, with a well-equipped stage for the use of local groups. After the Stretford Leisure Centre opened in 1983 now Stretford Sports Village, the Cyprus Street Baths wing fell into disuse, and
7314-437: The recording studio. He co-hosted the television music show Solid Gold from 1981 to 1982 with Marilyn McCoo . He also performed in Gilbert & Sullivan 's The Pirates of Penzance in Los Angeles and Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on Broadway . Gibb was ultimately fired from both Joseph and Solid Gold because of absenteeism caused by cocaine binges. Said Zev Buffman ,
7420-433: The red roses of Lancashire, and the lion in the centre represents John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster . Above the lion are a crossed flail and scythe; the flail comes from the arms of the de Trafford family; the scythe is a reminder of the agricultural history of the area; the thunderbolts above represent the importance of electricity in Stretford's industrial development. The boat at the bottom represents Stretford's links to
7526-419: The relief of the poor, Stretford joined the Chorlton Poor Law Union in 1837, one of three such unions in Manchester, before transferring to the Barton-upon-Irwell Poor Law Union in 1849. In 1867, Stretford Local Board of Health was established, assuming responsibility for the local government of the area in 1868. The board's responsibilities included sanitation and the maintenance of the highways, and it had
7632-460: The revitalised Bandstand show hosted by Daryl Somers . Zenta would appear later as a backing band for Gibb, but did not participate on Gibb's recording sessions around 1975, which featured Australian jazz fusion group Crossfire . " Words and Music " was released on the ATA label, only in Australia and New Zealand, owned by Col Joye , who also produced the Bee Gees ' first singles in Australia. It
7738-585: The same year, he recorded six demos—again produced by Joye—including "Words and Music", "Westfield Mansions", and "Flowing Rivers" (which was later released). What may have detracted from the "training ground" aspect of Australia for Gibb compared with his brothers was that he was relatively comfortable financially, mainly due to his brothers' support and largesse; hence, the group's sporadic work rate. Gibb would disappear for periods of time, leaving Alderson and Stringer out of work with no income. Despondent, Alderson and Stringer returned to England . Gibb later joined
7844-589: The sea via the Manchester Ship Canal. In 1974, as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 , the Municipal Borough of Stretford was abolished and Stretford has, since 1 April 1974, formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford , in Greater Manchester . Trafford Town Hall – previously Stretford Town Hall – is the administrative centre of Trafford. The constituency of Stretford
7950-455: The tape was found in 1990 in a search of Queen archives for bonus tracks for a CD but was not used. Since it has not been heard by any Queen collectors, its existence is somewhat doubtful, although record producer Mack has also confirmed that the version does exist. While taping The John Davidson Show in January 1981, Gibb met actress Victoria Principal . During their high-profile relationship, Gibb began working on several projects outside
8056-412: The ten tracks on the album were Gibb compositions, mostly written during his time in Australia. These included a re-recording of his previous single, "Words and Music". In September 1977 Flowing Rivers , with another No. 1 single " (Love Is) Thicker Than Water " (also co-written by Gibb and his brother Barry) to support it, quickly became a multi-million selling album. That single broke in early 1978 during
8162-665: The time that the Bee Gees' contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack were dominating the world charts. In the United States it replaced " Stayin' Alive " at the top of the Hot 100 on the day before Gibb's 20th birthday, only to be surpassed by " Night Fever " at No. 1 two weeks later. Both of the singles from Flowing Rivers were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales exceeding 500,000 units. Gibb then began work with
8268-581: The time was the Bee Gees' manager, signed Gibb to his label, RSO Records in early 1976, after he heard some of his demo tapes . Gibb soon moved to Miami Beach , to begin working on songs with his brother Barry and co-producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. In late 1976 in Miami , Gibb, with his brother Barry producing and recording in Criteria Studios , set about making his first album Flowing Rivers . Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh played on two songs on
8374-723: The town by the promise of work in the new industries at Trafford Park. During the Second World War Trafford Park was largely turned over to the production of matériel , including the Avro Manchester heavy bomber, and the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines used to power both the Spitfire and the Lancaster . That resulted in Stretford being the target for heavy bombing, particularly during the Manchester Blitz of 1940. On
8480-528: The town close to Trafford Park in an effort to hide it from enemy aircraft, and 11,900 children were evacuated to safer areas in Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, along with their teachers and supervisors. A memorial to those residents who lost their lives in the bombing was erected in Stretford Cemetery in 1948, over the communal grave of the 17 unidentified people who were killed in
8586-465: The town was Stretford St. Matthew. The northern part of Stretford was centred on Old Trafford, with undeveloped countryside separating them. During the 19th century, the sections merged. The western terminus of the early medieval linear earthwork Nico Ditch is in Hough Moss, just to the east of Stretford; it was probably used as an administrative boundary and dates from the 8th or 9th century. As at
8692-507: The vote. Stretford is one of the four major urban areas in Trafford; the other three are Altrincham , Sale and Urmston . The area historically known as Stretford, between the River Irwell in the north and the River Mersey in the south, has since 2004 been divided between the Trafford local government wards of Clifford , Longford , Gorse Hill , and Stretford . Each ward is represented by three local councillors, giving Stretford 12 of
8798-571: The vote. The Conservatives took 27.0% of the vote, UKIP 2.2%, the Liberal Democrats 2.0%, the Green Party 1.3%, and the Christian Party 0.2%. Green resigned as MP in 2022 to replace Hughes as her role as Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester , and the following by-election was won by Leader of Trafford Council Andrew Western , retaining the seat for Labour with an increased share of
8904-473: The week ending 30 July 1977, and again for the week ending 17 September 1977. "I Just Want to be Your Everything" was Gibb's longest-running chart single on Billboard, Record World, and Cashbox and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male at the 20th Grammy Awards . The song was later ranked No. 26 on Billboard ' s 55th anniversary All Time Top 100 . Gibb later recalled Barry's writing style: So, once we discussed it all and got
9010-515: The western side is a memorial to the casualties of the Second World War and to the east a newer section of the cemetery. Trafford Town Hall stands in a large site at the junction of Talbot Road and Warwick Road, directly opposite the Old Trafford Cricket Ground . Work on the building, designed by architects Bradshaw Gass & Hope of Bolton, began on 21 August 1931. The town hall officially came into use as Stretford Town Hall on
9116-548: The working class had grown to 31% compared to 24% middle class and 26% working class nationally. Until the end of the 19th century Stretford was a largely agricultural village. The development of the Trafford Park industrial estate in the north of the town, beginning in the late 19th century, had a significant effect on Stretford's subsequent development. At its peak in 1945 the park employed an estimated 75,000 workers; housing and other amenities had to be constructed on what had previously been agricultural land. Trafford Park
9222-561: Was Gibb's first single and was backed by another composition "Westfield Mansions". The single would eventually reach No. 78 in Australia and No. 29 in New Zealand . Gibb performed this song on Countdown on 7 September 1975. While in Australia, Gibb recorded demos of his compositions as well as his own renditions of old numbers. When Gibb had got the call from his brother Barry in June 1976 that he and Col Joye 's company ATA had proceeded with
9328-432: Was a little monkey!" Producer and film director Tom Kennedy described Gibb's personality in his childhood: Andy was always around—he was this cheeky little lad, Hugh and Barbara doted on him, so he would have a limo to go around London with his pals and twenty quid to go to the cinema. It was unheard of in those days! But he was just a cheeky little lad with a heart of gold. He used to try to get me to buy him beer when he
9434-590: Was all heart, but he didn't have enough muscle to carry through." An unnamed co-star in Joseph was quoted as saying, "I hear he spent most of his time in his hotel room in front of the TV. I guess he was frightened and insecure. That's what happens when you're the baby brother of the Bee Gees." Commenting after Gibb's death, Solid Gold producer Brad Lachman stated, "...[Andy] was a very charming, vulnerable and charismatic performer. He clearly meant well. He wasn't being difficult. He
9540-426: Was becoming erratic and that he was very, very thin. And Andy was a very kind person and a very gentle person, and some of his behavior seemed the antithesis of who I knew him to be. And over a period of ... deduction, I finally realized that it had to be drugs". Their romance ended shortly thereafter when she gave him an ultimatum to choose between her or drugs. After this, Gibb began dating actress Kari Michaelsen of
9646-487: Was built in 1879, terminating at the Old Cock Hotel on the A56 road, next to which a small depot was built to house the cars and horses. A 1900 timetable shows that trams left for Manchester every 10 minutes between 8:00 am and 10:15 pm. The horse-drawn trams were replaced with electric trams in 1902, and after the Second World War the trams were replaced by buses. The MSJAR railway line through Stretford
9752-709: Was built on the site of the original shopping centre in the former King Street. The Trafford Centre , a large shopping and leisure complex opened in September 1998, lies to the northwest of Stretford about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) away. According to the 2011 UK census, the industry of employment of residents in Stretford was 17% retail and wholesale, 11% health and social work, 11% education, 7% manufacturing, 6% transport and storage, 6% public administration and defence, 6% professional, scientific and technical activities, 5% hotels and restaurants, 5% construction, 5% finance, 1% energy and water supply, 0.06% agriculture and 5% other. This
9858-609: Was created in 1885, and existed until 1997, when it was replaced by the present constituency of Stretford and Urmston . Beverley Hughes was Labour MP during the New Labour government. Kate Green , a member of the Labour Party , became the MP at the 2010 General Election , with a majority of 8,935, representing 48.6% of the vote. She retained the seat at the 2017 General Election with an increased majority of 19,705, which represents 66.8% of
9964-536: Was demolished. The remainder of the building began to fall into disrepair, despite being designated a Grade II listed structure in 1987, until Trafford Council refurbished and converted the hall to serve as council offices in the mid-1990s. It was re-opened in 1997, once again named Stretford Public Hall. Stretford Cemetery was designed by John Shaw and opened in 1885. Its chapel is in the Decorated style , designed by architects Bellamy & Hardy, and quite elaborate. On
10070-549: Was designed by N. Lofthouse and is on the western side of the A56 Chester Road, opposite the Longford Cinema. Stretford's first public lending library was established in the building in 1883. On the death of Rylands in 1888, his widow placed the building at the disposal of the local authority for a nominal rent, and on her own death in 1908, the building was bought by Stretford Council for £5,000. Public baths were built to
10176-404: Was destroyed to prevent a crossing by Bonnie Prince Charlie 's army during its abortive advance on London; the bridge was quickly rebuilt. Until the 1820s one of Stretford's main cottage industries was the hand-weaving of cotton. There were reported at one time to have been 302 handlooms operating in Stretford, providing employment for 780 workers, but by 1826 only four were still in use, as
10282-464: Was electrified in 1931 and converted to light rail operation in 1992, when it became part of the Manchester Metrolink tram network. The first Metrolink tram through Stretford ran on 15 June 1992. Stretford was part of the ancient parish of Manchester , within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire . Following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, a national scheme for dealing with
10388-434: Was going through problems he couldn't deal with. He wanted everyone to love him. He had so much going for him, and he just couldn't believe it." In August 1981, Gibb and Principal released a duet of The Everly Brothers ' " All I Have to Do Is Dream ". This would be Gibb's last official single, and his last US chart entry, peaking at No. 51. Principal recalled after that, "Well, it became very apparent to me that his behavior
10494-447: Was high compared with the national rate of 3.2%. According to the Office for National Statistics estimates, between April 2001 and March 2002 the average gross income of households in Stretford was £415 per week (£21,664 per year). Longford Cinema, opposite Stretford Mall, on the eastern side of the A56 Chester Road , is perhaps the most visually striking building in the town. Designed by
10600-461: Was probably deposited as a glacial erratic . It is rectangular in shape, about 5 feet (2 m) wide, 2 feet (1 m) deep, and 3 feet (1 m) tall, with two 7-inch (18 cm) deep rectangular slots cut into its upper surface. Several suggestions have been made for the history of the Great Stone. There was a succession of plagues in Manchester from the 14th century onwards, and during
10706-525: Was receiving phone calls from brothers Maurice and Barry (one call Barry would regret making), with last-ditch efforts to get Gibb to stop. On 5 March 1988, Gibb celebrated his 30th birthday in London while working on the new album. Two days later, he entered John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford complaining of chest pains. At around 8:30 am on 10 March 1988, Gibb's doctor informed him more tests were needed to determine
10812-495: Was recorded for the Bee Gees' 1979 album Spirits Having Flown and featured their original track, complete with Gibb's original "guest vocal" track. A second single, " I Can't Help It ", a duet with family friend and fellow British and Australian expat Olivia Newton-John, reached the Top 20 (No. 12). In 1984, Gibb performed this song on the sitcom Punky Brewster in the episode "Play It Again, Punky" where Gibb guest starred as Punky's piano teacher. Despite being certified Gold,
10918-558: Was the last band to perform at the Hardrock, on 19 October 1975. In more recent years, Lancashire Cricket Club's Old Trafford ground, next door, has provided a concert venue for bands such as Oasis , Foo Fighters , The Cure , Radiohead , Coldplay , Arctic Monkeys and Pixies . Stretford's growth was fuelled by the transport revolutions of the 18th and especially the 19th century: the Bridgewater Canal reached Stretford in 1761, and
11024-489: Was the youngest of the five children born to Barbara and Hugh Gibb . His mother was of Irish and English descent, and his father was of Scottish and English descent. He had four siblings: his sister, Lesley; and three brothers— Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice . At the age of six months, Gibb emigrated with his family to Queensland , Australia settling on Cribb Island north of Brisbane . After moving several times between Brisbane and Sydney , he returned to
11130-478: Was underage—he would only have been about 11 or 12. Gibb dropped out of school at the age of 13, and with an acoustic guitar given to him by his older brother Barry, he began playing at tourist clubs around Ibiza , Spain (when his parents moved there), and later on the Isle of Man , his brothers' birthplace, where his parents were living at the time. In June 1974, Gibb formed his first group, Melody Fayre (named after
11236-415: Was worried about my own material really, really badly. I didn't think I was a good songwriter at all. I was a bit doubtful about my own performance. The first release from the album, and Gibb's first single released outside Australia, was " I Just Want to Be Your Everything " which was written by Barry, who also provided backup vocals. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting on
#607392