Week Ending: Pro.Manchester; Rothschild; Business Heavyweights – with pics

LAST night’s busy business events calendar saw TheBusinessDesk.com team split three ways, to the Salford Business Awards, Rothchild’s 50th anniversary bash at Manchester’s town hall and finally to the Pro.Manchester annual dinner at the Midland Hotel.

Pro.Manchester chief executive John Ashcroft revealed that he once had a sideline in sheep breeding at his old family home and farm in Chorley, with herd numbers growing to more than 200 at one point.

But all could have gone awry when Henry, Ashcroft’s first stud ram bought at auction, was in fact found to be “firing blanks”.

“I was told I’d been sold a dud but there was only one way to be sure. It involved three men – one at the head, one holding a well positioned plastic bag, and another with an electric probe. I took the head end,” he said.

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Meanwhile comedian for the night was Miles Jupp. “I’m not just privileged to be here, I am generally. Things have been alright,” was the opening gambit.

He continued: “I’ve done a lot of dinners for nurses and firemen and the like recently and tonight it is an honour to attend a dinner with some real heroes.

“I’m not sure whether I’d describe myself as pro or anti Manchester really. I’m unconvinced. I’m a Manchester sceptic.

“What is Pro.Manchester? Basically it’s all the fun of the Freemasons but without the aprons.”

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ON Wednesday 12 men bravely took to the ring and helped raise £80,000 for the Factory Youth Zone Project in Harpurhey.

A full report can be read here, and a picture gallery, in glorious Raging Bull-style black and white, is now online.

The gallery does not feature “The MC2 Dolls”, a showgirls-style dance troupe that did a routine in the ring before the first bout. Try and think of a raunchier Pan’s People – if that’s possible.

The event was organised by MC2 supremo Mike Perls, hence the MC2 Dolls, who had “#thisismc2” on their bikini tops and bottoms, possibly placed there by an ad agency exploring exciting new channels called T&A Ads.

They were not MC2 staffers, but I couldn’t help wondering if there is not a male equivalent, a Chippendales-style troupe called The MC2 Boyz, led by Mr Perls himself being formed at The Boardwalk as we speak.