Call To Revive Whit Friday In Mossley
A bandsman walking through Uppermill on Whit Friday this year. People in Mossley are hoping to revitalise the celebrations there.
Local people are aiming to revitalise the Whit Friday celebrations in Mossley.
Danielle Etchells has begun a campaign on Facebook, in response to what she described as a disappointing turnout for both the walk and band contest in recent years.
She told Saddleworth News: “Last year I was really disheartened at the community. There was nobody really on the streets watching the walk, there were lots of gaps.”
Danielle, who has spent most of her life in Mossley and now lives in Ashton, added: “This year was better than last year, but it’s still a very small procession compared to what it used to be. When I walked as a child the streets were lined from Top Mossley right down to Bottom Mossley.”
Danielle suggested that one reason for the declining interest in Whit Friday in Mossley could be the number of commuters now living in the town.
She said: “Some people just aren’t aware of it early enough, and they can’t get the day off work. I think if they did they would really get into it, there’s so much going on.”
Danielle is also keen to see the band contest at Micklehurst, which hasn’t run since 2008, revived: “It stopped because of a lack of volunteers. There’s no reason why it can’t go ahead if we can get more people involved.”
The end of the Micklehurst contest means there’s now just one in Mossley every year. Annual contests have been held in the town since 1884.
She added that she’d like interested people to get involved using Facebook, saying: “People really look forward to Whit Friday, and I know a lot of people feel the same but forget about it once the day has gone. I want to keep that awareness going through the year.”
She continued: “When I was young, after Christmas and birthdays, Whit Friday was the next biggest day. Now I’ve got a little boy of my own I’m worried that numbers are dwindling and it won’t be the same for him.”
Danielle is hopeful that, with Whit Friday next year falling on 1 June, just ahead of the four-day weekend for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, more Mossley people will be persuaded to take the Friday off to make it an extra long celebration.
You can join the campaign by visiting the Facebook page here.
Full coverage of Whit Friday from Saddleworth News is here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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