Meet the Mancunian-8.4 – Andrew Alan Matthews transcript

Intro

Welcome to Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester. A warm Mancunian welcome from your host, Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. Thank you for joining me today.

Every Tuesday, I bring you the stories of Manchester's unsung heroes, the individuals who helped to create positive change in our community. My aim is to inspire you, dear listener, to follow your own passions, whether through volunteering or working in the social impact sector. I'm also keen to spotlight good causes and create more awareness and support for them.

Whether you're tuning in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or on my website www.meetthemancunian.co.uk, get ready for a season filled with inspiring tales of social impact within our beloved city.

Welcome to the fourth episode of Season 8 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester.

Passionate about art and poetry in the community. We hear from Andrew Alan Matthews, artist in this episode.

In Andrew's own words:

[00:01:11] Andrew Alan Matthews: I've been producing me Moss Side Nostalgia Collection for some years now. My first collection of me Moss Side Nostalgia Collection got sold to a private collector from Down South. He drove all the way on a Sunday to buy all the collection. He was so impressed with it. And I've been now doing more work on that collection just recently.

Trying to turn negative portrayal of Moss Side into a positive portrayal by doing poetry and paintings of the areas around Manchester and Salford. And especially Moss Side at the moment because that's what I'm concentrating on. So, the Moss Side Nostalgia Collection is all about bringing positivity to Moss Side.

Introduction to Andrew Alan Matthews

[00:01:49] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much, Andrew, for joining me today and it looks like the sun is slowly coming out.

[00:01:54] Andrew Alan Matthews: Dreary cities, Manchester, so I'm glad the sun's out today, so thanks very much for interviewing me today. I t's a pleasure.

Discovering a Passion for Art

[00:02:00] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us first about how you found your passion for the art. When did that start? Where did that start?

[00:02:06] Andrew Alan Matthews: I've always had a passion in art, always since being a small boy going to Salford Museum and Art Gallery on a day out with me mum and dad from Moss Side and seeing a painting called Famine by John Charles Dorman. It's a huge painting with a skeleton figure, look, with all wolves surrounding it in the snow scene. And imagine me, about five years old, standing in front of this painting, just was like in awe with the painting, going, wow, look at that painting. And that inspired me to become an artist.

I lived in Moss Side in 70s and 80s. And I used to draw Spider Man in class when I was at Clement Road Junior School in Moss Side. I was always drawing in my books instead of doing work. And on my school report the teacher had said to me, Andrew must pay more attention in class rather than drawing superheroes.

[00:02:55] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Like teachers do. They want you to focus on what they're teaching you, but it's nice that your passion started so early, and that painting had such an impact on you even at five. Have you gone back to look at the painting?

Exhibitions and Revisiting Influences

[00:03:08] Andrew Alan Matthews: I've just recently had an exhibition at a sort of a museum and art gallery with me Salford and Manchester by night collection. Was on there for six months and I went back to, to see the painting. And it was just as awe inspiring as well when I saw it.

[00:03:21] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'm putting that on my list of things to go and see because I'm very interested in that.

Moss Side Nostalgia Collection

[00:03:26] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Tell us about how you've now got involved with trying to bring positivity to Moss Side with your art.

[00:03:33] Andrew Alan Matthews: I've been producing me Moss Side Nostalgia Collection for some years now. My first collection of me Moss Side Nostalgia Collection got sold to a private collector from Down South. He drove all the way on a Sunday to buy all the collection. He was so impressed with it. And I've been now doing more work on that collection just recently.

Trying to turn negative portrayal of Moss Side into a positive portrayal by doing poetry and paintings of the areas around Manchester and Salford. And especially Moss Side at the moment because that's what I'm concentrating on. So the Moss Side Nostalgia Collection is all about bringing positivity to Moss Side.

[00:04:10] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: How do people get to see your work?

[00:04:12] Andrew Alan Matthews: They can see my work on my website, which is www.andrewalanmatthews.co.uk. There's lots of inspiring paintings and artwork on there which you can view. Hope and bringing positivity, especially Moss Side. I've done lots of paintings of Moss Side areas, such as Champs Camp Moss Side, also loads of different areas which you'll probably recognise, like the Heineken breweries down the road, the Parkside pub, the Beehive, the Claremont all these iconic pubs back in the day that have some of them gone. I think you'll really enjoy them.

[00:04:42] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I've had a look at some of them. They were very nice.

Challenges and Mental Health Journey

[00:04:45] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Have there been some challenges you've faced in this journey of, pursuing art and poetry?

[00:04:50] Andrew Alan Matthews: When I grew up, I was lucky enough to be employed as a design separation artist in the textile industry in the 80s and 90s. Did that for about 10 years, reproducing designs for all the major companies. Such as Liberty Designs, Sanderson's, and African Batik Designs for ABC Batik, which was then Tootle Textiles TFS.

I had a mental breakdown when I left that career, and I went to Manchester Metropolitan University studying a BA Honours Textile degree in the hope of becoming a designer. And I suffered many breakdowns over the years, so I've had lots of adversity, some difficult times.

But I've overcome them with use of me poetry and artwork and using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and friends and family around me. I was able to turn them negatives to positives really and that's what I'm trying to do now. Just spreading positivity with a positive message with me artwork and me poetry and I hope I'm doing that.

[00:05:48] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much for sharing about your mental health and the journey you've been on and how you've overcome these difficult times as well. And how you're trying to take those difficult times and then spread that positivity.

Impact and Community Work

[00:06:01] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Can you tell us more about the impact that you've made?

[00:06:05] Andrew Alan Matthews: The impacts I think I'd like to see that I'm making is I'm trying to turn a negative portrayal of Moss Side into a positive portrayal and just trying to spread the love, really. I think the impacts I've had I'm trying to do some positivity because at the Salford Museum in Argyll, we had donated a painting called The Lower Turks Head to Real Change Manchester.

They're a charity that help the homeless and get them back on their feet. They direct the funds correctly to the people who actually need it, rather than the gangs that go around exploiting people, trying to act as if they're homeless. I'll at least know that Real Change Manchester directs the funds to the people who actually properly need the help.

I think that's important to say really. I also work on Wythenshawe community team, the safety patrol most weeks. Trying to refer homeless people to rough sleepers to help them get them off the streets really and help them try to find a roof over them and get them back on their feet again.

I think it's important to do that really

[00:07:07] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: it's great to know that your paintings are being donated to homelessness charities like Real Change Network, and also that you're helping to keep Wythenshawe safe as a community and helping people who really need the help.

[00:07:19] Andrew Alan Matthews: It's important to keep the Wythenshawe safe and people who are homeless actually need the help. It's something that I'm passionate about really, which is reflected in most of my paintings. I've done lots of stories about the homeless -stories and poetry about it all on the homeless page on my website as well.

So if you go to that page you'll be able to see lots of stories and poetry produced about the homeless. Because when I worked as a claims advisor in the Co Op, I used to come down in CIS Tower and I used to see homeless people under the CIS Tower all in sleeping bags and in a desperate way and you wonder what you can do to help these people. And I think the only way I can really try and help people is through my art by spreading the positivity and spreading awareness about it.

[00:08:10] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you for keeping Wythenshawe safe as a fellow Wythenshawe resident and for all the work that you do. Really appreciate it.

Is there a common myth about art or your field of expertise that you'd like to bust, something that you'd like to clarify.

[00:08:25] Andrew Alan Matthews: Clarifying a myth? I say with my art is expressing. I do it on people, places and social issues. Guess in a way my message is trying to turn them negatives to positives and especially with me going through my mental health as well.

That's a message I'd like to put towards people, that whatever you're doing just be positive. And spreading the myth of mental health is lots of people have different types of mental health and some people can get stigmatised with it, especially me, but it's trying to understand and realise that.

Mental health is a big thing to be aware of, and the myth of somebody with a really serious health condition, and you just need to understand that not everybody's a mass murdering psychopath when they're undergoing mental health issues, but there are various levels of mental health as well.

[00:09:19] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I think that's such an important one and many of my guests have explored that because like you said, mental health and physical health, there are many kinds. It's not one size fits all. And people need support and a positive direction to get out of that cycle and many people do, so even if from rock bottoms, people like yourself have helped overcome that. So it's really inspiring.

[00:09:42] Andrew Alan Matthews: Thank you. It's definitely something that I've overcome now through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, me heart and me friends and family all around me have been able to overcome that negativity and turn it into positives now.

[00:09:54] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What advice would you have for people looking to start a similar movement in their local community if they've got a passion for the arts and poetry and they want to change things? How can they do that?

[00:10:06] Andrew Alan Matthews: I guess a lesson in life for me in particular is to turn a negative to a positive in anything you do. And be positive. So that's my message to you all. Just turn those negatives to positives and be positive.

I would say creativity is a really good, powerful tool to use in mental health therapy as well. So if you ever have a chance to do some kind of artwork or craft or anything like that, it's definitely something to use to help you.

[00:10:35] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That is a very great tip. I didn't actually know that creativity helps with mental health challenges.

An opportunity now for you to talk about anything I haven't asked you about. I know you wanted to talk about some of the work that you're doing more recently in favor of Len.

Len Johnson Tribute

[00:10:50] Andrew Alan Matthews: I've just done a painting of Len Johnson, the boxer. It was painted because my good friend Julian Brown is Len's grandson. I went into his house in Moss Side, and he said, come and have a look at this documentary about my granddad. And I was shocked how Len was treated.

And it made me want to do a painting for Julian just as a gift. And a poetry on his plight of what he was doing to help the community as well. And just to bring focus on that. So I did a painting for Julian and we then both decided, let's do something even more positive with it and see if we can get it sold or raise funds for it.

Julian who knows Lamin Touray, who's the organiser of the charity football match at FC United Philem Johnson's celebrity football match versus FC United Legends at Broadhurst Park Stadium. On Saturday the 18th of May 2024, with a 3pm kick off scheduled, we're just going to try and get this auctioned or sold through Lamin Touray is the organiser of the Chelsea football event, so we're hoping to try and raise some money for that cause, to put a statue up with Len Johnson in Manchester City Centre.

I think it's a really positive thing to do and Len did a lot of charity work around Moss Side as well so I think it's a fitting tribute really to put a statue of Len in Manchester. If I may, I can read out a poem shortly if that's okay.

[00:12:26] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Just before you come in with a poem, because we've got listeners from around the world, 50 countries now, can you tell us a little bit about Len Johnson as a boxer and as a charity worker and what happened, why was he treated badly?

[00:12:39] Andrew Alan Matthews: Len Johnson in the 1920s and 30s was a professional boxer. He did 135 fights around all of England, around the world and 1, 1 96 of them. But because of the colour bar at that time between the war years meant that a black man couldn't win, couldn't have a title because they didn't have two white parents, which, in fact, was outrageous, and I think he was trying to fight those injustices both in and out of the ring.

After his boxing career, he did lots of work for charity in and around Manchester just to help people in the same situation that he was in, facing racism etc as well. I think it's a very important message, especially today as well, when we're reflecting on the aspects of the past as well and try and move on with positivity in the future. So I think it's a fitting tribute really to do such a thing as that as putting a statue up for Len.

[00:13:37] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: And good luck with that. Yes, please do read your poem and thank you for sharing his background because it's good for the listeners to know more about him.

[00:13:45] Andrew Alan Matthews: That's good. This is a poem that I've done for to, to highlight Len Johnson.

Len Johnson, champion boxer,

robbed of his belt.

Boxing boards

should have had their collars felt.

Strategic, intelligent boxer

with an educated left hand,

he was a grandstand.

Slippery in defence,

never sat on the fence

in a 13 year

boxing career,

best middleweight boxer of his time,

then Len goes up a gear,

Fightin rule 24,

where no black man can win,

it's a sin.

Robbed of his belt,

boxing board

Should have their collars felt,

and Len a Labour activist

fought for equal rights,

British boxing colour bar

ended in 47.

Len was expressing

and impressing

his fights for civil rights

lives on

in his name.

he was top of his game.

A Mancunian boxer

civil rights activist,

shaking his fist

resistance fighter

in and out of the ring.

So sing his name,

boxing was his his game,

put up a statue in lens name.

[00:14:41] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: You want to describe your painting in any way?

[00:14:44] Andrew Alan Matthews: The painting is of Len Johnson. It's got the statistics in the background of his fights . And also the poem on the painting itself. And Len Johnson is in a stance where he was like looks like a resistance fighter to me and it was, he's an iconic stance. It reminds me a bit like Muhammad Ali, so that's how I would describe it.

[00:15:04] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you.

Signature Questions

[00:15:05] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I now move to the signature questions I ask all my guests. And the first one for you is, if Manchester was a colour, what colour would you think it would be and why?

[00:15:16] Andrew Alan Matthews: Blue, because I'm a Man City fan, so the city is blue, that's what I say.

[00:15:21] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That's good.

If you could choose a famous landmark in Manchester to represent you, which one would it be and why?

[00:15:29] Andrew Alan Matthews: That's a difficult one let me see. I would say Moss Side, because a landmark in Moss Side would represent me.

[00:15:36] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Which one?

[00:15:37] Andrew Alan Matthews: I'd say the Claremont pub, because , I would say the Claremont pub in Moss Side, because when I was younger, we used to knock about as kids doing Penny for the Guy, and messing around on Claremont Road, and on Kay Fork Street and Carlsbury Street, and I just had lots of fond memories growing up in Moss Side. If you ever get a chance to go on my website, check out my Moss Side Nostalgia Collection, you'll see what I mean.

[00:15:59] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I've seen some of that is really nice.

If you could trade lives with someone in Manchester for a day, who will be with and why?

[00:16:08] Andrew Alan Matthews: I would say Lawrence Lowry, my art idol. I would love to go back to the day when he was setting out, trying to be a struggling artist a bit like me, and then actually making it in big time. I'm hoping to be a recognised artist in my own right as well in the future. But I'd like to change places with Lawrence Lowry.

[00:16:29] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Sure, you're already a recognised artist, but more people will get to know soon.

What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far?

[00:16:37] Andrew Alan Matthews: Controlling your feelings and trying to be more positive in life. Because sometimes it's a difficult thing to do when you lose control and you do something that you really regret to do. And I think it's about controlling your feelings and trying to do the best you can. And to your fellow man, treat people the way you want to be treated and treat people with respect. And be positive. That's my message.

[00:17:03] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I really resonate with treating people not just with respect, but the way you want to be treated. It's a great guide because you don't want yourself to be ever treated badly. So, you must treat other people with that same kindness and curiosity. It's really important.

What's the most important personality trait someone would need to be successful in your role?

[00:17:24] Andrew Alan Matthews: To be positive, again, it all comes down to positivity. I think you need to have a positive mind. Sometimes when you've got a negative mind, it's very hard to snap out of. But if you refocus your mind and try and always try and look on the positive side of life. A bit like the life of Brian, the television film, always look on the bright side of life.

That's what me and my dad used to sing to ourselves - it brightens up a good, a bad day.

[00:17:50] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I also try to take a very optimistic lens in life and always believe people are basically good.

[00:17:56] Andrew Alan Matthews: That's right, definitely.

[00:17:58] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: How can interested people reach out to you and learn more? You mentioned your website, but do you want to give out your website address? Any social media?

[00:18:06] Andrew Alan Matthews: The best way to look at my artwork and also contact me is through my website which is www.andrewalanmatthews.co.uk .I'm the only Andrew Alan Matthews on the planet. They definitely brought them old when they made me, I think.

You can type in my name on YouTube as well and that'll bring up my website on my YouTube channel. There's a lot, there's hundreds of videos that you can delve into with all positivity in there as well.

[00:18:30] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you, Andrew.

Is there a funny or a heartwarming story you'd like to share with listeners?

Oh, there's so many funny stories? Guess one of them would be when it was outside the Claremont pub. When we was young boys, we used to dress up Guy Fawkes and put them in boxes outside. Climb on Pug and ask Pug had asked for donations and used to say penny for the guy, mister.

[00:18:53] Andrew Alan Matthews: And one particular night when we was doing this we asked for penny for the guy, a drunk came out of the pub and he stole the guy, legged it down the road with it. So, we wondered what can we do to do this. So we got Peter, put a bag on his head, drew on it and put him in the box. Another drunk came out of the pub booted him in the face and threw a banger in his lap. And we've, we thought he was dead, but kids, just being kids, we just thought he was so funny.

[00:19:18] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I hope your friend was okay.

[00:19:20] Andrew Alan Matthews: He was okay. Was a rough place to grow up in Moss Side back in the 70s and 80s. That type of thing was common occurrence really, just silly things that happened in Moss Side. As you'll see on some of my videos, I do short stories of poems, places and social issues and lots of stories about me growing up in Moss Side.

[00:19:37] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Would you like to share a poem about Moss Side with listeners to end the podcast?

[00:19:42] Andrew Alan Matthews: This one is about when we was growing up in Moss Side and when it was a Manchester City game on a match day usually on Saturday we used to mind cars for people and This one is what we used to get up to, so here we go.

Mind your car mister,

boy did we miss you,

kids hustling on the street,

guarding your patch.

Mind your car mister, we should shout,

I'm backstaying the moss,

people getting cross,

fountains are crowding,

fussing and cussing,

police on horseback,

moving the crowd,

shouting out loud.

Mind your car mister,

for a penny or two,

on cue for sweets and treats

on these mean streets. ,

Black Jacks,

Space Invader Chris,

Blind Saucers,

Midget Gems,

Jubblies, Bubblies, Bandersgalore,

we knew the score,

Football cards, you flick to the wall,

what a ball,

Then comes half time,

run to main road,

Man City opens the gates for the kids,

Running down tunnels,

getting into troubles,

Watching the game for free weekly,

Kip Hacks end with a friend

and I won't bend, ,

mind your car mister,

boy do we miss you.

So that's the Mind Your Car Mister one that I like.

[00:20:48] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you. You want to describe the painting

[00:20:50] Andrew Alan Matthews: Yes, the painting was there looking down at Terry Street looking onto Main Road football club. And it's just an iconic picture in there. And, it's just an iconic picture of Moss side. He was featured in the Athletic for the sports arm of the New York Times, and they did a whole article about it and also about Maynard and moving onto the Etta.

Yes, there's lots of Man City paintings that I've done as well, and short stories and poems as well on Man City.

[00:21:18] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you. That is very interesting.

Thank you so much Andrew.

Closing Thoughts and Farewell

[00:21:22] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: It's been a real pleasure and thank you for inviting us into the world of art and poetry and giving us a little picture of your world and how you're trying to bring a lot of positivity, how you overcome these mental health challenges and some of the other things that you've gone through.

So it's been great. Thank you.

[00:21:41] Andrew Alan Matthews: Thank you very much Deepa, it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you.

Outro

Andrew, I really enjoyed learning about supporting art and poetry in the community.

Dear listener, thank you so much for listening to the fourth episode of the Meet the Mancunian Podcast, Season 8. Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode. You can log on to www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to listen to all the episodes and learn more about my podcasting story.

Next week on Tuesday, 2nd July 2024, I speak to Steve Goodman about dance and music in the community. Thank you for joining me on the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester.

I hope today's conversation has sparked new ideas and inspired you to act in your community. A big thank you to my wonderful community for your continuous support and valuable feedback.

Your stories shape the very essence of my podcast, driving me forward with purpose. I am eager to hear your thoughts. Visit my website at www.meetthemancunian.co.uk to share your insights.

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Together, we're more than just listeners, we're a vibrant community dedicated to making a difference in Manchester. Spread the love by sharing, commenting and engaging with my guests and me. Keep fostering connections and always remember the power to change the world lies within each of us.

Keep fostering connections and always remember the power to change the world lies within each of us. Until next time!