21st Century
2000
..... the first ever girls' individual chess championships was held when top strategists from Wentworth High in Eccles, Lowry High in Lower Broughton and Joseph Eastham High in Little Hulton joined with Bridgewater Independent to compete for the coveted titles. The hosts All Hallows, Weaste took the top prizes with Angela Hendstock taking the Year 9 title, Lauren Bernardo the Year 8 and in the Year 7 competition, Kathleen Bravender was second
2002
..... A City's Pride ..... the FIRST exhibition showing Salford's (England) entire collection of work by L S Lowry. It was the largest such public collection in the world and was displayed at The Lowry, Salford Quay's from March to September
2003
..... on July 27th Salford and Manchester hosted the FIRST ever International Union Triathlon World Cup event to be held in Britain. The race began and ended in front of the Lowry at Salford Quays and took in part of the city centre of Manchester. The event involved a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10k run
..... Phil Elliott and Paul Yarwood became the FIRST of 18 police community support officers (PCSOs) in Salford in January 2003 and although they do not have powers of arrest they can issue on-the-spot fines for offences such as littering, dog fouling and public order offences. Their main role is to act as a link between the community and the police on six beats around the Eccles area. As well as issuing fixed penalties they also have the ability to confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers. In 2003 it was the FIRST city in Britain to offer to pick up and recycle waste for every resident who wanted to take part. Those taking part were supplied with special boxes and bags that would be collected every week
..... Richard Branson opened his FIRST ' vehicle department store' when Virgin Cars opened in May 2003, the FIRST site in the world
..... Salford staged its first film festival with classics such as A Taste Of Honey, A Kind Of Loving, Love On The Dole and East Is East being screened alongside newer movies recently made in the Seedley and Langworthy area. The festival screening was held in November at the Red Cinema on Salford Quays
..... Summerville Primary School became the first school in Salford to receive an award under the prestigious nationwide Eco School scheme when they received a silver award in recognition of their efforts to act in an environmentally responsible way across all their activities
..... in December Salford launched a bid to become the North West's first Fairtrade City. Fairtrade is a way of buying and selling goods which ensures that producers get a decent price. To win the title Salford must prove that it is promoting products that give a fair price to struggling farmers in developing countries. Local supermarkets will be encouraged to follow the council's lead as goods are used at hospitality functions and Salford schools are already using Fairtrade products in staff rooms
2004
..... the North West's first medical and counselling service for victims of torture opened in Salford when the Medical Foundation For The Care Of Victims Of Torture North West opened at the Angel Healthy Living Centre on Chapel Street
..... the North West's First Thai Buddhist temple opened on Cheetham Street in Broughton
..... in July Blackleach Country Park in Walkden was named as Salford's first official nature reserve. The park was built on the site of the former Magenta Dye works. The area was heavily polluted and became derelict but was eventually turned into the wildlife haven it is today
..... a group of seven female childminders from Salford became the FIRST in the UK to achieve the Quality First award from the National Childminding Association
..... St George's R.C High in Walkden, a Salford secondary school which is one of the FIRST in the country to use CCTV to help teachers improve what they do in class
2005
..... new mums in Salford became the FIRST in Britain to be able to keep an eye on their newborn all the time via a hospital video link when Hope Hospital installed a camera that lets parents watch their tiny babies in intensive care incubators from another room. Hope Hospital is also the FIRST in Greater Manchester to open family rooms for parents of sick babies to stay overnight
..... Salford City Reds became the FIRST sports club in the world to use mobile text messages as tickets - August 2005. The trial was the FIRST practical test of the revolutionary system and the club now hopes to develop the technology further for when they move to their new stadium at Barton in 2007
..... fire crews in Salford became the FIRST in Britain to teach the public how to save victims of heart attacks and cardiac arrest when local people were invited to Broughton fire station for a two hour lesson in resuscitation. The first training session was on 29th September
2006
..... the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre, Peel Green, Salford is the FIRST ever museum dedicated to this particular musical instrument. Most of the exhibits have come from closed down old cinemas and ballrooms and the museum also houses a rare Console organ made in 1894