4: Serafino's Stone

Stop.

There on the corner of the road.

A monumental stone. With a rusted hook.

There’s space around the front to sit on it like a throne.

Go to it if you can.

It’s a popular spot to take in the sights.

New and old clashing together.

But this stone. This is for the Italian community.

Who brought life and character and colour to this grim part of Manchester.

Food, Music and tradition spilling out onto these streets.

Home sick Italians singing ‘O Sole Mio’.

Street entertainers wheeling barrel organs through the streets

That were manufactured here, two streets away.

Ice cream, families setting up businesses that still to this day provide

Ice Cream to Manchester and beyond.

But this stone is Serafino’s ,

A man who inherited the family tradition of helping others.

Serafino de Felice.

A man who said he inherited Ancoats, and the people.

That fought for his community, tirelessly.

When St Michael’s was shut down he lead the people.

He said…

“We are worried that this area will all become apartments and there will

be nothing left of the Italians.

We have a memory and we are going to fight for it”

To save the history of a community.

To keep the building serving communities.

He’s a monument.

And the weight of this stone is our reminder.

…

The tower of St Peter’s, the centre of our journey calls out.

Turn to it. Fitting perfectly between the buildings either side.

The perfect picture. Keep it in your mind.

But not yet, we’re not going back yet.

Turn left and walk on.

Look there ahead, in the distance. A great chimney climbing up the sky.

A monument of industry. A giant brick tower, the legacy of a Cotton mill.

Keep going, walk forward.

…

My growing up was kids playing in every street, swinging on lampposts,

skipping, football or bike riding , what’s happened to the children ?

Forward, that’s it, there’s something up ahead.