Article by Graham Wood, Street Support Network

​The People’s History Museum, with stories of the struggles of ordinary people, provided lots of ideas that have been expanded and explored to create Moving Panorama. The piece performed on Monday 11th June, combined visual arts with original songwriting centred around scrolling artworks that moved together with the songs to tell a story. The artworks, songs and poems reflected on the past but also gave voice to experiences in the present.

Lois Blackburn (arthur+martha) and singer songwriter Matt Hill (Quiet Loner) worked alongside people from the Booth Centre with the songs and artworks highlighting 21st century issues such as debt, living in poverty and lack of representation whilst also drawing parallels with similar struggles from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Moving Panorama explores the rich history of the streets of Manchester and people’s own personal stories and histories.

Here is another song from the performance:

Spinning Plates
by Lawrence McGill

I have 42 cliches in my life
And not one of them do I like
I walk and I walk and then I hike
Getting back on the horse is like riding a bike
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates

Only death can stop me or Stupidity awaits
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates
If money is the root of all evil
I never have any so I should be a saint

Tomorrow is another day, I intend to be there come what may
I have 42 cliches in my life
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates

Can’t let them fall down to blow up in my face
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Do have your finger in every pie
Keep the wolf from the door, we all know the score
You are the apple of my eye
My future is not written, my destiny awaits
Standing in a minefield spinning plates
​
Can’t let them fall down to blow up in my face
I’m standing in a minefield spinning plates.

​George’s Dining Room & Bar in Worsley have welcomed a team of volunteers and visitors from the Booth Centre, a day centre supporting homeless people in Manchester.
 
George’s and the Booth Centre have a strong connection thanks to the work of Foodinate, a restaurant initiative who provide meals for those in need and help with the fight against food poverty. George’s have three dishes on the menu – a starter of Spring Pea Soup, the main course Chalk Stream Trout and Duck Egg Crème Brulee dessert. When a diner orders one of these dishes, a meal is donated to the Booth Centre.
 
On Wednesday, George’s invited four people from the Booth Centre to experience life in the kitchen at George’s whilst supporting the Booth Centre’s catering training programme, helping people develop skills and confidence to gain work in the catering industry.
 
Urbanus Kinuthir and Megos Haile, who are both kitchen assistant volunteers at the Booth Centre, joined Head Chef Joe Mcleod in the George’s kitchen to prepare the Foodinate meals for their fellow Booth Centre visitors. Barry Lundy, Kitchen Supervisor at the Booth Centre was served alongside kitchen assistant volunteer Simon Ewiwilem.
 
Urbanus and Megus learnt how to fillet and debone a whole trout, produce a citrus mayonnaise and make the pea soup from scratch. Vital skills that can be taken back to the kitchen of the Booth Centre and presented to their visitors, ensuring they are offered a nutritious and varied menu.
 
Booth Centre kitchen supervisor Barry was pleased to have a day off! He said: “It was great to be able to visit George’s, see how their kitchen works and the efforts behind preparing their Foodinate dishes. Urbanus and Megus did a fantastic job and I was more than happy to sample their creations!”
 
Meanwhile, Head Chef Joe felt grateful to be able to help the Booth Centre and highlight the work of Foodinate. He said: “It’s so important for us at George’s to give back to the community and demonstrate the hard work of the volunteers at the Booth Centre. Having the guys in the kitchen making the Foodinate meals is an ideal way to pass on our skills and experience and I hope they will be able to use what they learnt for many years to come.”
 
George’s is co-owned by footballing legend Ryan Giggs. Speaking about the visit, he said: “I’m so pleased to be able to offer the Booth Centre our support, through Foodinate and our loyal customers we have donated thousands of meals to those in need. The guys did a great job in the kitchen today and we know where to look when we’re next recruiting!”