Gondola

On Friday 1st March 2002, a Gondola was launched into the Rochdale canal at Redhill Street Ancoats. In preparation for a ceremony being performed by the MM2 Apartment Urban Regeneration Development as a premiere to the Ancoats area regeneration, along with restoration of the Rochdale Canal it is expected that a thriving local community will emerge, with the transformation of an old mill which will contain apartments, retail establishments and restaurants. all of which are concentrated in an outer square block with a central area which is a landscaped piazza.

Because the area used to be known as Little Italy, it was a nice gesture to invite a fine authentic Neapolitan tenor to perform at the ceremony. Senor Vittorio Pascarella. was accompanied by a violinist, their renderings of Italian classics delighted the visitors, favourites such as “O’ Sole Mia” and “ Sorento “ came floating on the air.

The ambience was added to by the “Gondola,” a genuine 54 year old craft, rescued from a breakers yard in Venice by Nick Birch who transported it home where he renovated it to pristine condition. A genuine illuminated certificate is displayed within a beautifully painted Venice scene inside the gondola.
Tom Connor