This short documentary features the late Joan Hibberd, who lived to be 102 years old, a life long Socialst activist, who was born and bred in Trafford, south of Manchester.This film was made as she approached her 100th birthday. Directed by Simon Buckley Additional camera & editing Pete Tomkies With great thanks to the Joan, and all her family. Also, to Kate Green and Stretford Urmston CLP or supporting the film
Join Not Quite Light for an eclectic mix of field recordings and delicious music… This month we wander back through recordings from 2024, including a strange trip to Egypt in the Spring. Music features tracks by Morton Feldman, Fairuz, Julie Cooper and Vig Mihaly. LISTEN HERE PLAYLIST
MIDDLEWOOD LOCKS 7.27AM Walking towards Middlewood Locks, down Oldfield Road in Salford at around 6.40am, I was passed by a young man carrying on his back a case containing a tuba, or maybe a euphonium. His head was down, lost in thought as he made his way, I assumed, to some orchestral practice somewhere. I’m not sure why I found this slightly absurd, but I did. I wondered, should he practise at home, what it must be like living next […]
TUESDAY 14th October – Tuesday NOVEMBER 18th 2025 7.00pm – 10pm ( 6 weeks ) Learn how to explore the night with your camera… Maximum of 8 places to ensure one to one tuition. NQL HQ, GF 008, The Courtyard, Islington Mill, James St, M3 5HW Join artist Not Quite Light, best known for his twilight and night time photographs of the city, and learn how to observe the night time urban world around you, and the techniques needed to […]
Join Not Quite Light for an eclectic mix of field recordings and delicious music… On this show we wander back through the past two months, with recordings from Poland, Manchester and Salford. Music features tracks by Thelonious Monk, The Saxophones, Yamaneko and Henryck Górecki. LISTEN HERE PLAYLIST
Islington Way, Salford 6.44am The birds seemed louder on this morning, than they had been for any of the previous week. As I stepped out of Islington Mill, a robin bounced near my feet, as if leading me like a pied piper. It moved without fear, clearly used to people passing nearby. The only time it stopped was to listen to the melody messages flying through the air, an air which also carried a scent of change that raked my […]
DUCIE STREET, MANCHESTER 6.49am The Piccadilly Eastern sky was covered in cloud, so that no stars were visible. Blackbirds sang urgently, as if hurrying me up, worried that I’d not be ready for first light as I meandered around Ducie Street. The area was far from peaceful and quiet, even at this early hour. It felt as if nothing would remain the same for long here. A concrete mixer crept slowly by, looking for a place to settle. I silently […]
HULME PARK 6.34AM Hulme Park exists adjacent to the Mancunian Way, its grass and trees entirely overlooked by the phalanx of huge glass towers that have now formed up on the opposite side of the inner ring road, one of the many tarmac moats that encircle the city centre. Ahead of the following morning, I was out in the late evening scouting the landscape. In this semi-darkness, the sharp sheen of the block’s regimented elevation panels were criss-crossed with bands […]
FIRST LIGHT: 06.06 SUNRISE: 07.22 It was an odd morning, where I felt out of place, harassed by circumstance. It rained, quieting the birdsong. The man operating the car park was suspicious of my presence, and set me a deadline to leave. “Next time ask the boss for permission first” he said. There was no contact number on the signs, just warnings as to the cost of parking there without consent. Cars filled with construction men began to arrive, invading […]
This month it’s my 50th Not Quite Light show on reform radio. Hurrah! To celebrate I take a wander down memory lane, lisytening again to the sounds, voices and music from the past 6 years… Featured are snippets from artists Jane Samuels and Lucy May Schofield, poet Dom Conlon, the incredible 100 year old activist Joan Hibberd, and Bella, aged 5. Sound recordings are gathered fom Manchester, Salford, Cape Ann, Antwerp, Poland, Paris, Portugal and Hull… Music features tracks by […]