Well you're both right in a way - the Greater Manchester Council was abolished by Margaret bloody Thatcher in 1986 and many powers returned to the 10 individual local and city councils: but many of the administrative and planning functions (transport, employee pensions, etc.) are still coordinated through AGMA, the Association of Greater Manchester authorities, and 'Greater Manchester' is still, I believe, a recognised geographical region.

Sid, however, is probably still fully adjusting to Lancashire's territorial losses in the Wars of the Roses :)

Good list Les, it deserves a permanent home on a website somewhere. It also overlaps nicely with Pete Hood's directory of events in Manchester and Cheshire at http://www.zen37219.zen.co.uk/folkystuff.htm.