'But you know that I do love you - you're like Manchester...'

Belle Vue Zoo guide book, 1933

A lovely bit of reminiscence from Dad, prompted by the news that Manchester's Central Library is putting on an exhibition about the city's famous Belle Vue Zoological Gardens:

"Many happy hours spent at Belle Vue.. the fun fair, zoo and, later in life, the speedway ('Slant' Palin was the star of the track then) where you would come away covered in red dust from the shale track. Looking back, the animals were not kept as they would be now - but that's then and attitudes have changed, since. Easter was the time when you would get into your new clothes and Mum and Dad would take you to Belle Vue for the day - a great treat!"