Talk:Heywood, Greater Manchester

Rewrite
I have just given the entire article a badly-needed rewrite: as entertaining as the old article was, about a half of the content didn't stand up to WP:V, WP:OR or WP:NN. I've also provided links for some of the other material, as well as doing the normal punctuation and typo spring-cleaning.

I've removed the following two sections and put them here because they might possibly be true, but I can find no reliable sources for them:


 * Heywood was also in the Guinness Book of Records for a somewhat more obscure reason in the 1970's. For three consecutive years running Heywood was home to the world's largest pork-pie. "Old Gracie," as she was known, stood proudly on display in the foyer of the civic hall. It was said that people could come from as far afield as Horwich to have their photographs taken next to the mammoth crust. Sadly Old Gracie's run was cruelly ended by the famously hot summer of 1976. Locals still talk of the huge dark cloud of bluebottles which descended on the town for three long months.


 * Only a few years ago Heywood was in the Guinness Book Of Records for most pubs in a square mile. That particular honour has since been passed on but there is still a large variety of watering holes to drink in.

If anyone can find reliable sources to back these claims up, feel free to reinsert the material along with a link to your source.

To carry on the article improvement, we could really do with some photographs of notable landmarks in the town, and a big expansion of the history section - if you have any good material on these, please include it! A   q    uilina   16:47, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

POV
The section on the town's regeneration is somewhat POV, particularly the criticism of the council. It needs rewriting by someone with a knowledge of the local issues. Jon Rob 09:19, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

Notable people
I've removed everyone from the notable people section who does not have a reference. I intend to search for some, but in the meantime have moved the list here. If anyone else can present references, please reinsert as appropriate


 * Space Monkeys, The last ever band signed to the legendary Tony Wilson's Factory Records, had a top 10 US College Radio hit 'Sugar Cane' in 1998 and featured in the soundtrack to the 'Sliding Doors' movie and 'Dawsons Creek'.
 * Carol Anne Lowry, Heiress to the works of L.S. Lowry, though not related.
 * Football player David Cross is from Heywood.
 * Pop band The Mock Turtles were formed in Heywood.
 * Heywood is home to several famous sportsmen, including footballer David Bentley and Lancashire cricketer Ian Austin. Rugby League legend and Superstars champion Des Drummond also currently resides in the Darnhill region of Heywood.
 * Former Everton and Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was born and raised in Heywood.
 * Footballer Jon Macken owns a house in Heywood but currently plies his trade away from the area.
 * Comedian Bobby Ball lives in the Queens Park area in Heywood
 * Chris Hewitt Record Company and Recording Studio mogul and Deeply Vale Festival Organiser lived in Heywood in his teenage years and promoted concerts in Heywood in his mid twenties.


 * When does a wikipedia article become authoritative ? References to most of these people/groups etc can be found by trawling through the records of the Heywood Advertiser.


 * Roger Fenton has a "blue plaque" at his old home - what is now the Crimble hotel for example. http://www.heywoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/388616_plaque_marks_fenton_birthplace


 * The Tittensor brothers ? http://www.heywoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1066906_soap_actor_on_assault_charge


 * Likewise, Peter Kane http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/sport-champs4.html


 * Julie Goodyear is VERY well known in the area - http://www.heywoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/513096_riding_plans_for_goodyear.


 * Lisa Stansfield was raised in Heywood, but the "records" show her as from Rochdale because, well, no-one has everheard of the bloody place - and your excessive edits are removing more of the likelihood they ever will.


 * http://www.heywoodadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/513866_playing_pooh_in_the_school_play_was_my_big_break


 * Steveastrouk (talk) 21:38, 1 October 2008 (:UTC)


 * Fine, stop complaining and add those references to the article (apart from the Manchester2002 one). Nev1 (talk) 02:37, 15 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Largely done. Can't find an authoritative reference to Carol Anne LowrySteveastrouk (talk) 20:27, 15 October 2008 (UTC)