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Word on the Street Spring 2023
by Colne Life magazine
Colne Life took to the streets to discover exactly what a few of our local businesses think of our home town. In this edition we chatted to a couple of new businesses and also one that’s over a century old to ask them what makes Colne, ‘Colne’…
MEET… DAMIAN MANVILLE
Rock and Roll Motorcycles
FROM BANDS TO BIKES
I’ve been repairing bikes for three years, working out of my garage, but I’ve had the workshop now for three weeks. I’m selling bikes, performing repairs and service works. I’ve also put in a couple of ramps so that people can rent them and do their own repairs and I’ll be around if they need a hand. The name came from my history of playing in bands. I played in the band Hate Syndicate and we were signed to a local label – I’m a bit of an aging rocker now but still very much into my music.
Why Colne?
I’ve been hanging around Colne for years. There’s a good community in Colne and it’s been a good place for us to live. I lived here for a good twenty-odd years. Colne didn’t have a bike shop, so people are quite glad I’m here so they don’t have to go all the way to Keighley. I’m friendly and and I’m quite cheerful, a lot of the bigger bike shops, no one even speaks to you for ten or fifteen minutes, so I want to help people out and make them feel comfortable.
MEET… AARON BANCROFT
Unique Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
FROM CARS TO CARPETS
“I have a mobile valeting company and we set up Unique Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning in January. The other day, we had one guy cleaning a client’s car and another cleaning the carpets – double whammy! We offer a fully insured service on carpets, wood floors, tiles and anything upholstered, with uniformed staff and we can take card payments.”
Why Colne?
It’s where I live, I’ve lived here all my life. The people are friendly and it’s a nice place to be. A lot of the time people who live here like to use local companies too.
MEET… LARA ODDIE
Oddie’s
SINCE 1905
We started in Colne in 1905, that was my great grandfather. We ended up moving to Market Street in about 1938 and we’ve been there ever since. I worked in my summer holidays when I was about thirteen. I then went to work for Warburtons and then to Martins before returning to work with my father at Oddies. I’ve been here 30 years and I’m currently Managing Director.
Why Colne?
It’s hard to imagine Colne in the 1900s, it must have been such a different place. We started off at Primet Bridge close to where the bridal shop is now. Today we have 16 retail outlets spread all over East Lancashire, but there’s a really nice feel to Colne, I think it’s all the independent shops. There’s a really nice feel to Colne…
MEET… FIONA SUTTON AND JOY BLAKEY
Clifford Smith and Buchanan
FROM HOUSES TO HOMES
We’re a traditional high street estate agent and solicitors and we’ve got a lot of experience between us. We know the area. We understand that a home is more than just a home and we know that buying and selling is more than just bricks and mortar.
Why Colne?
It is a nice friendly town with good facilities and it’s on the doorstep for open countryside in every direction. There’s such a lot of events for families put on throughout the year from Colne BID and the BID has managed to get a lot of grants to improve the theatres and lift the town centre and shops. It’s a good place to live and there’s some lovely people and some quirky characters about.
It’s a good place to live and there’s some lovely people and some quirky characters about…
MEET… MARTIN KEGG AND NEIL EARNY
Horsfield Upholstery
SETTING UP A SHOWROOM
We sell luxurious bespoke furniture and soft furnishings made to order with our own showroom to visit and view our range. We have a full range of upholstery services and can create bespoke furniture in a shorter time frame than the big chains.
Why Colne?
It’s a fairly friendly town and everyone knows everybody. We’ve been given so much help by local business to get started. Local artists have even provided us with art for our showroom. We’ll be having a proper launch in a couple of weeks for everyone to come down and take a look round.
To share your views on Colne email- editor@looppublishing.co.uk
ColneLife Spring 23