ROCHDALE

Rochdale is a large town on the River Roch in Greater Manchester. With a total population of 95,796, Rochdale is the largest and most populous settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.

Historically part of Lancashire, Rochdale rose to prominence in the 19th century as a major centre of textile manufacture. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution and amongst the first industrialised towns.

Rochdale is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement. The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society, founded in 1844, was the first modern cooperative.

Rochdale is named for its position on the River Roch at the edge of the Pennines. However, the Domesday Book records the name as “Recedham”, formed from Old English “reced” meaning "hall", and “ham” meaning "homestead". The name of the river is a back-formation from this Old English name. With time, the town's name changed to Rachedale and eventually Rochdale.

Rochdale was among the world's most productive cotton spinning towns.

Rochdale previously formed the County Borough of Rochdale local government district, which was exempt from the administrative county of Lancashire.

Rochdale has large white and Asian communities. Since the 2001 census the African, Chinese and Polish community has also grown rapidly. The White community makes up 88.6%, whilst the South Asian community constitutes 9.8% of the total population of the town.

Rochdale Town Hall, designed by W H Crossland, was completed in 1871. The original clock tower, which rose to 240ft, was destroyed by fire in 1883. The present shorter (and less flamboyant) tower was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1887.

The stained glass window on the south side is suggested to have been one of Hitler's high-priority items for acquisition, had he won the war. This is a myth, as any reasonable investigation into the technology available, and Hitler's known intentions, will show.

The front of the town hall has gargoyles and gilded statues of lions which bear the traditional emblems of Rochdale, Lancashire and Yorkshire. These are said to be a commemoration of the peace, to which Rochdale contributed, between the two historic counties.

It was on the balcony of this building that Rochdale's own Gracie Fields received the Freedom of the Borough to crowds of thousands who turned out to greet her in the pouring rain.

Rochdale's professional football team (Rochdale A.F.C.) play home games at Spotland Stadium, which they share with Rochdale Hornets Rugby League team.

Rochdale is twinned with the towns of Lviv in Ukraine, Bielefeld in Germany, Tourcoing in France and Sahiwal in Pakistan.

Bielefeld, Germany

Bielefeld is a district-free town in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on both the western and eastern slopes of the Teutoburg Forest. With its population of 326,000, it is the biggest city of the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region.

The name Bielefeld is derived from the old name “Bileveld”, which means "hilly field". The city is situated below a pass separating the Northern and Southern Teutoburg Forest. The centre of Bielefeld is situated on the eastern side of the Teutoburg Forest, but the modern city incorporates boroughs on the opposite side and on the hilltops.

Bielefeld was founded in 1214 by Count Hermann IV of Ravensberg to guard a pass crossing the Teutoburg Forest. Bielefeld was a minor member of the Hanseatic League since the 14th century, and profited greatly from its status as the "city of linen". The Sparrenburg Castle, was built in the medieval town around 1250 - it remained impenetratable throughout the Middle Ages although it decayed through the ages and was finally restored in 1879.

During World War II, the Bielefeld railway viaduct was the first target to be attacked with Barnes Wallis' Grand Slam bomb by 617 ("Dambusters") squadron of the R.A.F.

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv is a major city in western Ukraine, the administrative center of Lviv Oblast, and designated as its own district. It is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. In 2001, it had 725,000 inhabitants, of which 88% were Ukrainians, 9% Russians and 1% Poles, with a further 200,000 commuting daily from suburbs.

The city has many industries and institutions of higher education such as the Lviv University and the Lviv Polytechnic. It has a philharmonic orchestra and The Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lviv celebrated its 750th anniversary in September 2006.

Lviv is on the verge of the Roztochia Upland, about 70km from the Polish border and about 160km from the eastern Carpathian Mountains. Lviv's altitude averages 296m above sea level, although it has many hills. Its highest point is the Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle), 409m above sea level. This has a commanding view of the historic city center with its distinctive green-domed churches and intricate architecture.

The old walled city was at the foothills of the High Castle on the banks of the river Poltva. In the 13th century, the river was used to transport goods. In the early 20th century, it was covered in areas where it flows through the city. The central street of Lviv, Freedom Avenue (Prospect Svobody) runs right above the river and the famous Opera House.

Lviv and its population suffered greatly from the two world wars and the Holocaust. It remains today one of the main centres of Ukrainian culture and the origin of much of the nation's political class.

Tourcoing, France

Tourcoing is a city and commune of northern France, in the Nord département, located near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border. Its population in 1999 was 94,204.

One of the main sights of the city is the Church of St. Christopher, which dates from the 15th-16th centuries. The church is considered one of the most beautiful Neo-Gothic edifices of Nord. In stone and brickwork, it has an 80 m-high bell tower with more than 80 bells.

Sahiwal, Pakistan

Sahiwal is a growing city in the southeastern Punjab province of Pakistan and the administrative centre of Sahiwal District. Founded in 1865, the town was formerly known as Montgomery after Sir Robert Montgomery, then Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab. It took its current name in 1966.

Sahiwal lies approximately 180 km from the major city of Lahore. The population, according to the 1998 Pakistan Census, is 207,388. Sahiwal District is included in the former Multan Division. The people of Sahiwal are known as Sahiwalians.

The climate of Sahiwal district is extreme, reaching 52°C in summer, and cold in winter, down to -5°C. The soil of the district is very fertile. The average rainfall is about 2000 mm.

Sahiwal is famous for many things, amongst which are textile spinning and weaving, leather products and pharmaceuticals. The main crops of the Sahiwal district are wheat, cotton, sugarcane, maize and rice. Main fruits are citrus, mangoes and guava. Sahiwal is a green and fertile town with 11,522 acres under naturally grown forests.

Sahiwal houses several educational institutes of high esteem. DPS&C is one of the leading high schools of the country. Education for girls is also given prime importance. Government Pilot Higher Secondary School and Junior Model High School are noted to be the finest institutes. Government college for Women is the only Government institute for Women in the city.