The One Man Show at Collect Art

Collect Art are pleased to announce the arrival of a new artist in town. ‘The One Man Show’ exhibition, due to take place on Friday 6th August from 6:30pm at Collect Art, will display some of Alan Knight’s finest pieces. An amalgam of Impressionism and Expressionism, the exhibition provides an inspiring end to the week.

The Profile of Alan Knight

"At the age of 17 I wanted to do Art, go to Art College, but my parents were dead against it. Nevertheless I applied to Bolton Art College to start a Foundation Course and was accepted. Parental pressure eventually won the day and I was persuaded to abandon any thought of an art career and settle down (“You’ll never make any money”) and take up a proper job. I started work for Manchester Council in the Direct Works Dept as an office boy and for three years I was utterly miserable.

The Brownsville Jug Band

However, during this period I had been learning the guitar and was running a folk club on High St in Central Manchester during the late 60’s. Later with my mates we formed a “jug band” called The Brownsville jug Band which developed to such an extent that at 20 myself and the four others went Professional and jacked in our jobs. Off we went to Sweden for 6 months, where we toured relentlessly only coming home when our visas ran out. We continued to work professionally back in the UK and I stayed with the band for a further 10 years. One of our agents in the early 70’s was Jasper Carrott, before he became famous, and it was he who suggested that we change our name to “Brownsville Banned“ because of some of the raw humour we employed in our sketches.

We did a bit of TV work including Opportunity Knocks with Hughie Green and appeared on Granada Reports and New Faces We made 2 albums ………… “In any Case” and “That’s Shoe Biz”. 

Discovering my true love

By my early 30’s I had enough and gradually got back to my first love, painting. In 1989 I did a Foundation course at Salford University, which definitely gave me the determination and single mindedness needed to pursue a career as an artist.

Once I had completed the Foundation Course I started painting furiously and also developed a huge appetite for studying art, looking at all types, styles and era’s of visual creativity. This thirst of knowledge and passion is still with me today.

I painted abstract for about 10 years and made constructions and assemblages, but gradually what I could see around me began to assert itself more and more in my work. Abstraction had become a dead end.

I met my partner in 2000 and moved to Stockport. I painted in the box room and stored paintings in the loft. Then in 2003 I had the chance of a small studio in Vernon Mill, Stockport and since then my work has developed and matured into an amalgam of Impressionism and Expressionism, though it is the expressive side I feel will gradually assert itself in the years to come. I am still at Vernon Mill albeit a studio twice the size but given the fact that I am somewhat prolific I still have little space".

Images of Alan Knight's work

View further details on Collects Art's last exhibition with Malcolm Croft.

Tweet

Winner of an afternoon Cruise and lunch on the Bridgewater Canal

The winning ticket for the Narrow Boat Cruise announced last Friday was Kath Davies. Kath and three friends will enjoy the Cruise on the Bridgewater Canal, a delicious lunch by a Professional Chef, and a Champagne reception.

Kath is a worthy winner as she has alot of involvement with Lymm Youth and Community Centre. The total raised was £700 which will be split between Lymm Youth and Community Centre and St Peters Church.

The draw took place at the Jolly Thresher, Father Michael of St Peters Church drew the lucky ticket.

Lyn would like to thank everyone who entered the draw.

Father Michael Drawing the Winning Ticket

Tweet

Spar and The Co-operative Support Senior Socials

Lymm Youth & Community Association continues to offer free monthly Senior Socials supported by the kind donations from Lymm Spar and The Co-Operative.

Last month, members of the Lymm Youth & Community Association committee attended the Community Day at Lymm Spar, where they were presented with a year’s supply of tea, coffee and sugar.

Senior Social in action

Each month, The Co-operative at Heatley Mere provides goods for cakes, sandwiches and teas. During the July Senior Social, Neil Fitzsimmons from The Co-operative came to see a Senior Social in action, meeting attendees and posing for photographs. This was a great opportunity for him to see how a small donation on their part, can make a big difference to a community. After the event, Neil said “everyone was clearly enjoying the activities and equally everyone was very kind and appreciative of the donations”.

Keen to get involved

The monthly Senior Socials at Lymm Youth & Community Centre continue to take place on the third Wednesday of the month from 2-4pm and they offer everyone a delicious afternoon tea, great entertainment and the opportunity to meet others from across Warrington South. If you are interested in finding out more about the socials, would like to help out or need some assistance in getting to the event, please contact Dave Fensom on 01925 753587, who will do his best to help you.

Above: Neil Fitzsimmons from The Co-operative (right) and Don Smith (left) address attendees at the July Senior Social.

Above: Staff at Lymm Spar show off the year’s supply of tea, coffee and sugar.

Above: Don Smith (left) and Neil Fitzsimmons from The Co-operative (right).

Tweet

Last Chance to Have Your Say

Over the past couple of months, Lymm Youth and Community Centre have been conducting a survey about our community and youth facilities. They will be publishing the full results in the next month, so if you haven’t yet completed the survey, this is your last chance to have your say.

There has been a fantastic response so far and the committee would like to thank everyone for their time and support. Almost everyone surveyed would like to see community facilities improved or maintained in the village and with over 85% of people surveyed agreeing that Lymm would benefit from a revitalised youth club, it is clear there is a demand for the centre. Over 80% of people think it would be a mistake if the site, along with the neighbouring car parks, was sold for redevelopment.

Great suggestions for improvements

There have been some great suggestions for improvements or new activities and facilities that could be offered at the centre, which the committee hope to act upon. It seems that many people are keen to get involved with their community or are interested in new activities at the centre, so we are calling upon you to make it happen. Lymm Youth & Community Association is always looking for people who would like to help out at the centre, in whatever capacity. For more information, please contact the secretary, Neville Davies on 01925 755757.

Voice your opinion in the Survey

If you would like to add your voice to the results, then you don’t have long left to complete the survey. Copies are available at Lymm Youth & Community Centre and a number of local businesses. Alternatively, complete the survey online at Lymm Youth Survey or print a copy of Lymm Youth Survey.

Additional Reading

• Lymm Youth Club from Bob Barr
• Article on Lymm Youth Club from Neville Davies
• Details on Lymm Parish Council

Tweet

A cycling success

Following on from the previous blog of the charity bike ride that travelled from Knutsford to Conway or Anglesey, the team of 25 cyclists did a fantastic job all in aid of the NSPCC and Francis House Children’s Hospice.

The Journey

Setting off on Friday 18th June, the team left from The Smoker Inn at Knutsford at 7.30 am heading for Betws y Coed approx 122km away. On the 2nd day the group split up, some heading off to Conwy 24km away, whilst the others pushed on to Rhoscolyn, Anglesey approx 68km.

Paul Burgess, one of the cyclists we spoke to, told us “The journey was cruel at times but the immense sense of satisfaction having completed the ride made it all worthwhile.”

The money raised

All the cyclists would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the trouble to sponsor them. They raised a total of £665.00 plus a gift aid of £173.46, giving them a grand total of £838.46 for the NSPCC. Also, Dominic Kinsella, who’s chosen charity for the bike ride was Francis House, has raised a total of £1,715.00 and counting! Well done everyone!

Tweet