Star date: 15th January 2012

CARRY ON CLARION – THE PAPER THAT CHANGED LIVES

The Clarion
Working Class Movement Library
Until March 30th free

The Salford Star can only dream of what the 19th Century Clarion newspaper achieved during its print time. The paper inspired its readers to set up the famous Clarion cycling clubs, as well as bands, choirs, rambling clubs and it even had its own café in Manchester.

Now, as part of the 2012 Manchester Histories Festival the Working Class Movement Library has launched a major exhibition about the Clarion and is putting on loads of events to go with it…

More details here…

THE CLARION – A PAPER, A MOVEMENT, A WAY OF LIFE

Set up by socialist Robert Blatchford in the 1890s, The Clarion newspaper was, what we'd call today, a `lifestyle choice' as well as a top read. It inspired its readers to set up clubs and activities reflecting its values – and these ranged from the famous Clarion Cycling Club (which is still going), to choirs, bands and rambling clubs with attitude. It even had its own Clarion Café on Market Street in Manchester.

Now, as part of the 2012 Manchester Histories Festival, the Working Class Movement Library on the Crescent has launched an exhibition featuring all things Clarion - books, sports trophies and memorabilia, newspapers, and programmes for musical events. Also on display is an original Bolton Clarion Scrapbook, dating from 1898, with an electronic copy `flipbook' that you can browse.

Alongside the exhibition are Clarion themed events ranging from a cycling day to music to talks (see below for full details).

A newspaper with a caring heart and soul? How quaint. All we get now is the top selling Daily Malice…

The Clarion – A paper, a movement, a way of life…
Working Class Movement Library
The Crescent
Until March 30th free
Open Wed-Fri 1-5pm

Further details click here.

Clarion Events…

Sunday 26 February: Clarion Cycle Day
The Clarion Cycling Club, riding penny farthings and vintage cycles, will be at the People's History Museum in Manchester during the morning. Then, at noon, there's a guided family cycle ride with the Clarion cyclists to the Working Class Movement Library where Clarion tea will be served (see here for full details).

Saturday 17th March 2pm: Bolton Clarion Choir and talk
The Bolton Clarion Choir, along with the Bolton Clarion Cycling Club, is still going strong and it will performing songs of protest and celebration, followed by a talk about the Clarion movement from Denis Pye, author of Fellowship Is Life: The National Clarion Cycling Club 1895-1995.

Wednesday 28th March 2pm: Robert Blatchford
Deborah Mutch, Senior Lecturer in English at De Montfort University, Leicester will talk on Robert Blatchford's journey to socialism, starting with the founding of the Clarion and then focusing on the literature that made The Clarion famous.