Communities reunited at Salix Homes exhibition

Old friends and former neighbours were reunited at a special photography exhibition to celebrate the changing face of Salford.

More than 500 people attended Our Salford: Bygones and New Beginnings at the historic Ordsall Hall on Friday, October 30hosted by Salix Homes to celebrate the city’s social housing through the years.

The exhibition brought together old communities as people reconnected with childhood friends and former neighbours to share memories and reminisce over times gone by.

Visitors were able to take a trip down memory lane and browse old photographs of streets and communities as well as catch a first-look at some of Salix Homes’ exciting regeneration schemes and plans for the future.

Lee Sugden, our chief executive, said: “The face of Salford has changed massively over the past 50 years and this exhibition provided an opportunity to celebrate that past and recognise those strong-knit communities that make this city what it is today.

“The exhibition was a resounding success and it was wonderful to see former communities, friends and neighbours reunited. We had people attend from as far afield as Milton Keynes and North Wales, and it was apparent that even though some people had moved out of the city that Salford spirit never leaves you.

“Thanks to our ambitious investment plans over the next five years, the face of Salford is changing again and we are looking forward to the bright future ahead, but as part of the future it’s important that you recognise and celebrate the past, and we were very proud that so many people were able to join in those celebrations with us.”

Jimmy O Neill, who grew up in Ordsall, donated photographs from his childhood to the exhibition. He said: “All my childhood was in the Ordsall area and it was a lot of fun. We didn’t have two pennies, but we looked after each other. This exhibition has brought all those memories flooding back.

“My opinion of Salford is that it’s the rock of the earth. If you have got friends in Salford that you were brought up with then you have got friends for life. The best thing about Salford is the Salford folk.”

The exhibition featured a collection of photographs from Salford Local History Library as well as rare images taken by celebrated photographer Laurie Asprey, who captured the slum clearance in Ordsall during the 1960s and 1970s.

The exhibition marked the transfer of more than 8,300 homes from Salford Council to Salix Homes, which took place earlier this year, and has unlocked £75m funding to invest in improving homes and communities in Salford over the next five years.