Special reports

Springhill Hospice Appeal

CAN You Spare A Minute? That's what we are asking Observer readers over the course of the year. To tie in with 25 years of fundraising for Springhill Hospice, we have launched an appeal which we hope will raise £75,000. This special section carries news about the fundraising and the hospice throughout the appeal. You can make a donation by going to www.justgiving.com/rochdaleobserver.

Rochdale Convent School - 100 years on

IT IS 100 years since the formation of the Rochdale Convent School - in the special section we tell the story of the school and the nuns who taught thousands of the town's children. Compiled by Helen Johnson and Chris Lloyd, with special thanks to the Pallottine Sisters and former convent pupils and staff.

Obituaries

IF YOU have lost a close friend, colleague or family member and would like to pay tribute to them in the Observer, please contact our newsdesk on 354321 or email rochdaleobserver@gmwn.co.uk. Tribute reports in the Observer are free of charge and are separate from the Family Notices service in our classified section but you can also ask your funeral director for a form to fill in and return to us. We are also happy to include a photograph of your loved one with the tribute report. Classified death notices, acknowledgments and in memoriams appear in our Family Notices section where you can leave your messages and create your own 'moving tributes' to your loved ones - go to www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/community/family_notices/

Days out in Rochdale

SUMMER is here at last and if you're hunting for ways of entertaining family and friends over the holiday period, why not beat the credit crunch and take a look at the fabulous attractions on our own doorstep? Maybe you haven't visited some of them for a while or perhaps you're in charge of finding something to do for visitors, whatever the reason you'll find something for everyone to enjoy within just a few miles With help from Rochdale Council tourism officer Tim Nuttall, here is the Observer's list of brilliant places to go without cranking up the miles.

Youth Matters

WELCOME to our regular feature on the activities of the town’s youth. The Observer teamed up with the council to keep you up to date with what young people are doing. For things to do, places to go and loads of useful information about activities in your area, click www.rochdale.gov.uk/whereitsat. Click on the stories below for more ...

Battle for Ding Quarry

RENEWED plans to re-open a Rochdale quarry, 12 years after residents blocked similar proposals, have been met with outrage once again.All the latest news on the campaign against the plans will appear here ...

The renaissance of Rochdale

PLANS to give Rochdale a major overhaul have been made available to the public. In this section, LAURA SHANNON gives you full details of what each developer has planned for the town centre, complete with images and video of each.