A new space in Haslingden

We had an exciting day as we've managed to sign a 3-month lease on a pop-up centre right in the heart of Haslingden - 69 Deardengate! It's the little shop squeezed between Impressions mens hairdressers and the Quick Save convenience store! It once used to be part of Haslingden's National Westminster bank. 

There's lots to be done before we can move in...and with the month of Ramadan about to start we've decided not to open up until later in the summer. But from June onwards we'll be cleaning, painting and furnishing the premises in readiness. 

The idea is to be a community space where people can meet, hold classes and workshops, and have small exhibitions. It's not a large space by any means, and so the focus will be on providing a room and sessions for women from the South Asian communities. Arry Nessa is coordinating the project with support from Horse + Bamboo; if anyone wants to know more then please contact us on 01706 220241 or bob@horseandbamboo.org. Watch this space...!

Mrs Azfar

Recording interviews with some of the first people from South Asia to travel to Rossendale and make it their home is still continuing as part of our project. We've already reached the number we expected, but we're continuing to add a few more interviews from people with unusual stories, and to achieve a good balance of gender and language backgrounds.

Today I went with Shamshad Khan and we interviewed Mrs Azfar. She lives in Weir, near Deerplay, on the moor between Bacup and Burnley - well apart from the South Asian communities at the other end of the Valley, in Haslingden or Rawtenstall. She has spent half a century living and working like this; a life with her own family and children but cut-off from most of the local South Asian community.

To live so apart is unusual in itself, but the Azfars lived and worked a small hill-farm, with 9 acres of land. She and her husband farmed sheep and cows, and she still retains their land which is 1600 feet above sea level. Today the weather was unusually glorious, but it must often have been a hard life. Her story is all the more fascinating as the idea of farming was a dream of her husband, now sadly passed away. He didn't come from a farming background in Lahore, and in fact was a draughtsman when they married - but they saved to fulfil his dream and buy their land in Weir. Finally, when farming was no longer sustainable they built and operated a petrol station across the road, where she says they made many friends. Now she lives with her daughter Ayesha and her husband and family.