Back in the days of the Government's disgraceful Pathfinder scheme, which aimed to bulldoze affordable housing and replace it with expensive properties, there were huge pockets of community resistance in Salford. None more so than on Spike Island in Lower Broughton, where Riverside Island Tenants Association, or RITA, were determined that their houses would not be trashed.
"They could make a lot of money putting luxury apartments on here...It's near to town, the University and Salford Quays...People would pay good money for it, but at our expense..." Freda Rimmer told the Salford Star in a very early issue.
Indeed, Freda and the other women who ran RITA, discovered plans for the area that would have seen duck ponds and bistros built on top of their houses by Salford Council's chosen developer, Countryside Properties.
They called a meeting which around four hundred people tried to attend before the developer legged it in the face of huge opposition.
"People talk about the good old days but they weren't good old days, the conditions were horrible" Freda told the Salford Star "What was good was our strong community spirit. We want that old community spirit but in our current houses that's what we're trying to achieve..."
And they did achieve it...In 2008, the then Leader of Salford Council, John Merry, ran up the white flag, declaring officially that "your houses will not be demolished".
Instead, thanks to the RITA women, the homes were renovated and remain standing and affordable; although the fear is that, with the most militant tenants' association in Salford now gone, the developer will be back at some point in the future.
Freda's work with RITA didn't end with battling the Council and developers. There were kids' fun days, help with housing problems, community bingo and lots more.
"Freda was the stalwart of RITA, a good friend to many and will be sadly missed" says Debbie Prince, also a member of the former tenants group, whose own mother Madge, another stalwart of RITA, also sadly passed away this year.
Freda Rimmer was a proud socialist who cared so much for her community and its history. Intelligent, warm and with fire in her belly, she was another of those wonderful Salford women who were the social glue for the community. A true Salford star. She will indeed be incredibly missed...
Main photo by Steven Speed shows Freda (far left) with RITA women
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