The Mancunian Way: Manchester thanks a legend

Hello,

It feels only right to start today’s Mancunian Way with a nod to Sir Howard Bernstein, who died over the weekend aged 71.

I’ll be blunt. His name wasn’t familiar to me until the news of his passing came on Saturday - but without him, it is unlikely I would be in Manchester at all.

I moved to Manchester at 19 to go to university. Over the next few years, its swelling skyline slowly came to represent to me my own growth and evolution in a city that seemingly never wanted to stop. I am sure I am not the only one who felt that.

But the truth is, we wouldn’t be where we are today - a truly international, pioneering, cultural hive - without Sir Howard Bernstein. The former chief executive of Manchester council ‘was a fixer-in-chief whose visions reshaped Manchester’, writes our chief reporter Neal Keeling in this touching and fascinating dive into his career and influence.

Sir Howard's incredible legacy includes the regeneration of Hulme - one of the most 'important experiences' of his life - bringing the Commonwealth Games to the city; the success of Manchester Airport; the rebuild after the 1996 IRA bomb; the Metrolink network; the Bridgewater Hall; and devolution.

So I certainly have much to thank him for - perhaps you feel you do too.

Deli-cious

A popular Italian sandwich shop famed for its giant focaccia has revealed its expansion plans. Ad Maiora will be opening a new deli in Manchester city centre, but have not yet announced an opening date.

The sandwich shop, which has served up delights for the likes of Manchester City players Mateo Kovacic and Erling Haaland, shared its ‘next step’ with followers earlier today.

Ad Maiora is the brainchild of Sardinian couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinna who started their business out of their flat in Manchester's Northern Quarter. They both quit their jobs at the end of 2022 to start selling authentic Italian sandwiches, and now have two small kitchens in Manchester and Salford. More here.

Car boot craze

Emma Gill took on the much-loved Bolton Car Boot Sale - and reports that most people were there for just one thing.

Armed with £20, she went along and found pretty much everything you could ever want from a car boot sale in the car park outside the Bolton Wanderers stadium in Horwich. And best of all, you don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn if you want to nab all the best bits.

For £20, she bought a bag containing 770g of peppered steaks, 2.7kg of jumbo sausages and 3kg of chicken drumsticks. You can read all about her experience here.

Summer fair controversy

Families are being urged to boycott a Stockport park's summer fair as campaigners call for a donkey ride ban.

The event is planned at Cale Green Park in Stockport this Sunday, June 30, but the inclusion of donkey rides has sparked outrage from PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"Donkeys are sensitive, cautious animals who can become distressed, alarmed, or panicked when surrounded by loud, excited crowds,” says the letter, from PETA campaigner Molly Elsdon. “Because a donkey’s natural response to unfamiliar environments is often to freeze, frustrated or unruly riders at such events have been known to prod, kick, and scream at them, adding further stress to the animals’ experience.”

She adds that the 'practice of taking donkeys on the road and treating them as living carnival rides teaches children a dangerous lesson that animals exist merely for our amusement'. More here.

The cafe countering loneliness

A new café aimed at ending loneliness and isolation is coming to Bury. Run by the Salvation Army, the café will be open on Tuesday (June 25).

It will serve hot and cold refreshments for as little as 50p to help customers cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Captain Cor van der Woude, church leader of The Salvation Army in Bury said: “We wanted to create a safe and friendly place for people to meet, build friendships, find new opportunities and above all feel relaxed and welcome.” More here.

Weather etc

Tuesday: Sunny intervals changing to cloudy in the afternoon. 25C.

Roadworks: Narrow lanes and speed restriction of 50 mph due to long-term roadworks on M6 in both directions between J21A M62 J10 (Croft Interchange) and J26 M58 (Orrell Interchange).

Manchester headlines

• Locked up: A mum who told ‘deliberate lies’ to try and help her son get away with murder has been jailed. Maria Dambrosio, 49, has followed her eldest son Francesco Raji in being sent to prison. More here.

• Jay Slater: A desperate search is continuing to find a missing British teenager in Tenerife - now entering its second week. Updates here.

• Crash: A police officer has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash on a busy road in Tameside. More here.

Worth a read

Amid relics of Manchester's industrial past, 10 years ago, a new era for the North of England was ushered in. The Northern Powerhouse speech at the Museum of Science and Industry set out a vision of an interconnected region that, together, could 'take on the world'.

A decade later, the Manchester Evening News looks at what was promised and what actually happened. You can read it here.