Please note, this is an archived story. Please check the date above.

Joan, and her husband Thom, with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor John Smith

We had a personal tour of the Manchester Town Hall narrated by the councillor and his lovely wife Marie. After our tour we visited with the Lord Mayor in his apartment.

Here we were joined by John Risby and his wife Chris. It was a real honour and great fun. The Lord Mayor is a regular and down to earth fellow. We were served tea by his attendant in beautiful teacups but the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed.

The Lord Mayor cracked jokes and made us feel as though we had known him for a long time. It was obvious from his comments that he had read my Crumpsall Impressions articles. I was flattered.

I presented him with a booklet that my class and I put together along with a Crumpsall Lane Primary School tea towel and a school uniform tie. At the end of our meeting we took photos with the Lord Mayor and said our thank you and good byes. It was a great honour. It was a meeting we will never forget.

That was not the end of Manchester hospitality for the day. We all walked down to Lincoln Square to view the magnificent Abraham Lincoln statue. Bill explained to us that during the American Civil War the cotton workers in Manchester refused to process American cotton picked by the slaves.

Abraham Lincoln was very grateful for this support. As a result the people of Manchester erected a statue in his honour. We found this story very moving.

We then went to beautiful St. Mary's Catholic church or what Manchester people know as the Hidden Gem and that it is. We all said our silent prayers and thank you.

Next it was an invitation from the Risby family for a drink of Old Speckled Hen at the City Arms pub and then on to Leoni's Italian restaurant for a fine dinner. We sat and talked for hours.

It was a great day. We felt like we were with old friends. Finally it was time to go and Bill presented us with a miniature pewter replica of the Manchester Town Hall. It will have a special place in our home and our new friends already have a special place in our hearts.

It is with tears streaming down my face that I must say good bye to Manchester and its wonderful people. Not in my wildest dreams did I expect to become so attached to a place and its people. THANK YOU MANCHESTER. We will be back.