What Parade? I didn't know there was going to be a parade.
We were in Accrington early this morning.
Ma didn't want anything special, so we just had a bit of an 'amble' around.
There were men putting barriers out in front of the Town Hall.....there were men in hi-viz jackets .....and chaps that had Steward on their jackets.
What was going on? As we went into the market hall a chap(well dressed and in a suit,heard us discussing the situation).Very kindly he enlightened us.
He told us that later on there was to be a Freedom of the Borough Parade.
Mm...that was interesting.
After we had been to Asda I told himself that I was going to stay in town.
I was going to watch the Parade and take some photographs. I always have a little camera in my bag. Had this not been the case, I might even have gone home and come back down with my new camera.
It was only 10 am...so that meant that there was quite a bit of time to kill.
I went and had a look at the 50% off sale in M&S. Nothing inspiring there. I went and had a look around the market. There seemed to be fewer stalls than ever.
I noticed some children with a teacher on Broadway. She was showing them the Pals banner and giving them some information about the pictures on the banner.
I think this is a really good thing. Our children should never be allowed to forget the sacrifices which were made on their behalf by lad only a couple of years older than these children were.
I made my way to the front of the Town Hall.
Flags were being placed in the barriers by council staff.
Photograhers were pacing the route of the parade...maybe they were planning the strategies.
Very soon long crocodiles of local schoolchildren were arriving and being shown to their places. They too, were given flags, for the waving of.
The streets had gone from being almost deserted, to thronged with people.
There was an electric air of anticipation. You really had to be there to understand what I mean.
Before long, buses were drawing up in front of the Town Hall. Civic dignitaries were disgorged onto the pavement.....the dignitaries made their way to the marquees at either side of the Town Hall...this afforded them a little shade from the very warm sun.
Numerous Mayoral vehicles pulled onto the car park at the side of the Town Hall and a variety of Mayors in their red robes and tricorn hats, chains glistening in the sunshine, were dropped off...the ladies all looked splendid.....summery frocks and posh hats.Glasses of water were handed out for them to sip while they were waiting(it could have been gin or vodka - but we wouldn't know).
Soon I could hear the booming of a drum and the sound of brass instruments.
I looked towards Little Blackburn Road and sure enough the procession was making its way down towards the Commercial.
It swung around the corner. Maybe they went to the war memorial near St James's church.
Then they must have come down the street where the taxi rank is,and back onto Church street.
They made their way to the front of the Town hall. The band played, people waved their flags, the children roared and clapped their approval.
the young soldiers(they all looked too young to have left their mothers) presented arms....wheeled and turned....stood to attention while the colours were presented. The Mayor walked the ranks and spoke to these boys.
Three cheers were raised for the soldires, then three cheers for the Mayor......then it was all over and they marched smartly to a waiting coach.
The civic dignitaries chatted with one another. I suppose that is what they call networking......they they seemd to retire into the town hall...maybe lunch was all laid out for them.
So that was it. The parade was over.It was a bit sad to see the discarded flags lying in the gutter.
I brought some home for the tinlids.
We were in Accrington early this morning.
Ma didn't want anything special, so we just had a bit of an 'amble' around.
There were men putting barriers out in front of the Town Hall.....there were men in hi-viz jackets .....and chaps that had Steward on their jackets.
What was going on? As we went into the market hall a chap(well dressed and in a suit,heard us discussing the situation).Very kindly he enlightened us.
He told us that later on there was to be a Freedom of the Borough Parade.
Mm...that was interesting.
After we had been to Asda I told himself that I was going to stay in town.
I was going to watch the Parade and take some photographs. I always have a little camera in my bag. Had this not been the case, I might even have gone home and come back down with my new camera.
It was only 10 am...so that meant that there was quite a bit of time to kill.
I went and had a look at the 50% off sale in M&S. Nothing inspiring there. I went and had a look around the market. There seemed to be fewer stalls than ever.
I noticed some children with a teacher on Broadway. She was showing them the Pals banner and giving them some information about the pictures on the banner.
I think this is a really good thing. Our children should never be allowed to forget the sacrifices which were made on their behalf by lad only a couple of years older than these children were.
I made my way to the front of the Town Hall.
Flags were being placed in the barriers by council staff.
Photograhers were pacing the route of the parade...maybe they were planning the strategies.
Very soon long crocodiles of local schoolchildren were arriving and being shown to their places. They too, were given flags, for the waving of.
The streets had gone from being almost deserted, to thronged with people.
There was an electric air of anticipation. You really had to be there to understand what I mean.
Before long, buses were drawing up in front of the Town Hall. Civic dignitaries were disgorged onto the pavement.....the dignitaries made their way to the marquees at either side of the Town Hall...this afforded them a little shade from the very warm sun.
Numerous Mayoral vehicles pulled onto the car park at the side of the Town Hall and a variety of Mayors in their red robes and tricorn hats, chains glistening in the sunshine, were dropped off...the ladies all looked splendid.....summery frocks and posh hats.Glasses of water were handed out for them to sip while they were waiting(it could have been gin or vodka - but we wouldn't know).
Soon I could hear the booming of a drum and the sound of brass instruments.
I looked towards Little Blackburn Road and sure enough the procession was making its way down towards the Commercial.
It swung around the corner. Maybe they went to the war memorial near St James's church.
Then they must have come down the street where the taxi rank is,and back onto Church street.
They made their way to the front of the Town hall. The band played, people waved their flags, the children roared and clapped their approval.
the young soldiers(they all looked too young to have left their mothers) presented arms....wheeled and turned....stood to attention while the colours were presented. The Mayor walked the ranks and spoke to these boys.
Three cheers were raised for the soldires, then three cheers for the Mayor......then it was all over and they marched smartly to a waiting coach.
The civic dignitaries chatted with one another. I suppose that is what they call networking......they they seemd to retire into the town hall...maybe lunch was all laid out for them.
So that was it. The parade was over.It was a bit sad to see the discarded flags lying in the gutter.
I brought some home for the tinlids.
