That was 2014: the Wythenshawe Reporter looks back over the year

As we look forward to a New Year, the Wythenshawe Reporter looks back over 2014.

The year started with the sad news that Wythenshawe MP, Paul Goggins had died in January while jogging with his son, sparking a by-election campaign. Also that month, police praised the bravery of the victims of a sex predator who raped three children as he was jailed for 25 years.

In February Mike Kane won the Wythenshawe and Sale East by-election, with UKIP’s John Bickley finishing in second place.

In March Wythenshawe Amateurs FC won a £100,000 super grant to get a new home.

In April it was revealed that more than half of male part time workers in Wythenshawe were not receiving a living wage and members of a Wythenshawe car theft gang were jailed.

In May Wythenshawe took to the polls again in the council and European elections and there was cup glory for Wythenshawe Amateurs  under-14 girls team.

In June Newall Green residents began to rally together to campaign to save historic Newall Green Farm after a fire ravaged the building .

The Olympic spirit was kept alive in July with the return of the Wythenshawe Games and a man who had been jailed for killing a Wythenshawe teenager had his conviction reduced to manslaughter following a retrial.

In August young entrepeneurs brought their retail bright ideas to Wythenshawe competing for the TestTown Wythenshawe champion’s crown.

An 88-year-old Wythenshawe man began a 20 year prison sentence in September after being convicted of historic child sex abuse and a talented young brain from Northern Moor, Aaron Darke (pictured) scooped a £10,000 prize for a visionary business idea.

In October a drug runner was jailed for nine years after £100,000 worth of cocaine bound for Wythenshawe was intercepted by police and South African activists visited the area to share their ideas about community.

And last month X-Factor’s Amelia Lily kicked off the festive season when she switched on the Christmas lights, Northenden Primary School was temporarily closed when it was hit by fire, the sister of Wythenshawe soldier Lee Ellis  killed in Iraq revealed how her poetry and campaigning work  kept her brother’s memory alive and Wythenshawe Town Football Club continued their impressive runs in league and cup competitions .