Greater Manchester’s NHS is being plunged into ‘special measures’, according to a staff briefing, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
09.04.2024 - 05:57 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Generations of people who grew up in Greater Manchester will remember the familiar sight of the 'pop man' - or 'mineral man' - rattling down the street with a wagon full of bottles.
Lorries making weekly deliveries of lemonade, cola, cream soda, dandelion and burdock, and pineappleade were once common in many parts of Britain, especially in the north of England. In Greater Manchester, drinks companies like Alpine and Corona made deliveries, but others also remember Full-Swing and AA.
And while 'pop' being delivered straight to your door has mostly disappeared - much like deliveries from the milk man - the industry gave many young men their first taste of work, and even a trade that would continue through their lives.
READ MORE: These brilliant nicknames from a lost Greater Manchester world are still funny today
READ MORE: 'It weren't all sweetness and light, but it made me the person I am'
A few weeks ago, the Manchester Evening News ran a story on people's memories of the 'pop man'. We've since spoken to two former 'pop men' who worked during the 1980s and '90s, who shared their experiences of what it was like working on those wagons.
Dave Schofield, 57, from Stockport started off in the pop trade as a 'van lad' in 1983 just after he left school. Dave, who started at Alpine, said everybody joined as the company 'gave you free driving lessons'.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
He eventually went on to be a driver and later a supervisor for the company. Despite working on a milk round when he was younger, Dave said he found his first taste of working on the 'pop' vans to be a 'big shock to the system'.
"At the time it was very hard work and it
Greater Manchester’s NHS is being plunged into ‘special measures’, according to a staff briefing, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
Two new giant artworks have been unveiled in Altrincham as part of a new initiative that celebrates the town's bright future. The murals have been created by Manchester-based artist Caroline Dowsett, who is famous for creating colourful pieces from shapes and lines that are inspired by the everyday.
Travel down Bury New Road towards Salford and you'll notice a new addition to its growing hub of fast food spots. In the case of this new stop-off though, its bold orange and blue signage is particularly hard to miss.
In 10 days time, Greater Manchester will go to the polls to choose its new mayor.
A former Greater Manchester Police officer's behaviour has been described as 'extremely odd' after she kept her uniform and some equipment when she was resigned from the force.
The iconic Spitfire will fly over the skies of Greater Manchester next weekend (April 26 to 29).
Greater Manchester will see a mixed weekend weather-wise - with sunshine and showers predicted. According to the Met Office, it will remain mostly dry today (Saturday) after a chilly start.
Buying a property that needs work doing to it can be a great investment, especially if you manage to snap one up at a cheap price. By doing a DIY renovation and keeping costs low, you can significantly increase the value of a house and go on to sell it for much more than what you initially paid for it.
A mix of showers and sunshine are forecast in Greater Manchester today.
One of the region’s largest hospital trusts, employing more than 20,000 people, has launched a major redundancy scheme and frozen recruitment in a bid to cut costs.
Now that the days are longer and brighter it’s the perfect time to get outside and explore the beautiful landscapes we have right on our doorstep. We’re spoilt for choice in Greater Manchester with miles upon miles of gorgeous countryside to visit nearby.
Stockport’s historic Bramall Hall will host a plant fair next week with some of the country’s most respected specialist nurseries - including RHS medallists - selling flowers, shrubs and more in the grounds of the Tudor building. The Plant Hunters’ Fair will take place on April 17 and will raise funds for Friends of Bramall Hall and Park.
Actor Simon Bird has been filming scenes for the return of a popular Channel 4 show in Stockport today.
A major Eid al-Fitr celebration will be returning to Greater Manchester next week to mark the end of Ramadan.
A popular family-run bakery and deli in Salford has announced it is set to open a new pizzeria later this month aiming to ‘redefine’ Manchester’s pizza scene.
The cost of renting is continuing to soar across the UK - and Greater Manchester is no exception. Rents have now risen by 8.8 percent across the country, with prices up by as much as 20 percent in some areas.
A pub operator championing local communities has won a prestigious award naming it the best of its kind across the country.
A new banking hub in Stockport will open this week, it has been confirmed. Located in the Village Square in Bramhall, it will offer counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
The M.E.N recently reported on the scale of demand for high school places in Trafford, the only Greater Manchester borough which still has a state grammar school system decided by the 11-plus exam. Here, the M.E.N's Damon Wilkinson writes about how Trafford came to be the only borough in our region which kept a selective school system which defined post-war Britain - but only survives in a few parts of the country today.
Greater Manchester councils have announced their plans for rubbish collections and recycling centre opening times over the Easter bank holiday weekend. With Good Friday and Easter Monday upon us, changes to waste and recycling pick up schedules are sometimes made.