Yes there are Manchester ATCO's. This one was working Saturday evening on 119.525 along with two other guys. We had no reports of any problems with 119.525 all day. Just speaking with my pilot hat on. I've known plenty of occasions when I've had poor RTF quality on one frequency and then crystal clear on others. As Leeds is on 123.75 but we're using a 25kc spacing there might still be a problem with your radio. Asking us to speak more clearly is a bit of a strange request! I think if you'd just said I'm recieving you strength 3, or whatever, it would have certainly made me ask another aircraft on frequency to report on the quality of reception. The response would have answered your question. We don't bandbox, or use any cross-coupling on 119.525 but we do on the TWR/GMC/GMP frequencies.
Spiney