New Year, New Levenshulme

Well, Kind of.

As I announced here last year the time has come for me to hand over the reins of the good ship LoveLevenshulme and I'm pleased to say that two willing and able seapeople (let's not be sexist, eh?) have stepped forward:

Stewart Spaull is a self-professed jazz-obsessive, long distance running, ale lover - all good qualifications to run a local blog, I'm sure you'll agree. He says "It was jazz that brought me to Levenshulme in mid-2009 on a fortnightly basis, to co-present Jazz Train on ALL FM (with Jason Cooke) every other Sunday afternoon. Such was my affinity with Levenshulme, I moved here just after the first wave of the heavy snowfall last year.

"It's a great place with so much to offer: the Levenshulme resident can shop for all their everyday needs in a variety of different outlets, drink inexpensively in friendly pubs, enjoy excellent Nepalese cuisine, walk along streets populated by friendly people and reach the centre of Manchester in seven minutes by train. I am very interested in writing about what's happening in Levenshulme -- its people, its social issues and its local history -- as well as in promoting the place I have grown very quickly to love. It's a vibrant community with a character all of its own. Love Levenshulme? I certainly do."

Laura Bentley is also a Levenshulme-resident (pretty much a pre-requisite for the position, I suppose), having lived in the area for nearly 5 years now. She's originally from the Midlands, I moved here as a student and never left. She works as a Designer for a sportswear brand, runs a personal blog and is a frequent participant in the Blue Bell pub quiz.

So, over the next few weeks I will start handing over the technical behind-the-scenes gubbins (oh it's all very complicated, don't you know) and Stewart and Laura will start running the show. I'll still keep a hand in and add the odd post every now and then (and probably incessantly bother them with things I think they ought to cover, as if it's any of my bloody business any more) so it's not a final farewell but I hope you'll join me in thanking Stewart and Laura for signing up and wishing them the best of luck. As always please email any ideas of things to go on the blog or any suggestions for Levenshulme related projects to lovelevenshulme@gmail.com.

HAPPY NEW LEVENSHULME!