Bay by day

Calendar boys . . . Ray Sidlow and Stan the horse

Horse Stan a calendar pin-up
Artist David Ford is renowned for his paintings capturing the spirit of local scenes.

And the picture he chose for the 2011 fundraising calendar for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice appeared as a vision as he drove through Chadderton Fold.

“I suddenly spotted a man leading a horse, the light was really good and it looked perfect,” said David, from Saddleworth.

“I stopped the car and asked could I take some sketches and he said ‘yes’.

“I didn’t know him, but I got to know him.”

He was 71-year-old Royton man, Ray Sidlow, his horse is called Stan, and David called the front cover of the calendar “Ray and the bay.”

Ray is a die-in-the-wool horseman, and has driven his older horse, Major, in a Bradford cart at many local events over the years.

The pair have taken part in Failsworth Carnival, and in St Patrick and St George’s Day parades, and even carried a rose queen at a festival.

Stan is a striking 14-hands high, four-year-old bay gelding with four white socks.

His owner, who keeps him in Chadderton Fold, said: “I was very pleased when David stopped and asked if he could paint Stan.

“My son, Simon’s, wife, Michelle, does some voluntary work at the hospice and I was more than happy to be able to help out.”

The Kershaw’s calendar, with Ray and Stan on the cover, is out now and on sale for £3.25 at the hospice and at a number of locations around Oldham, including hospice charity shops, the Salt Cellar cafe, Church Lane, Oldham, Gallery Oldham, and local health centres.

Inside, monthly scenes cover many local sights and vistas, from the pavilion in Chadderton Hall Park and the glass canopy at the former Mumps railway station, to local businessman, Frank Rothwell’s “Hollinwood” sign in the snow.