Leyland Forum (Š 2004)

The Festival
Martin	What on earth has happened to the festival? It's the Queens Golden Jubilee, a time to party but there doesn't seem to be much happening. When it was the silver jubilee, we had a special edition festival guide, in fact I've probably still got it hidden away somewhere in an old box... Actually I'd like to know whats happening on jubilee weekend as I'm visiting family for a few days in Leyland. Martin In The Pink
Martin	I thought the organisers had an argument with the council. I don't know if it's a permanent thing or if they are waiting for proper funding. Would be good for the town to get it going again. Martin In The Pink
LDunlop76	quote: It's the Queens Golden Jubilee, a time to party but there doesn't seem to be much happening. Actually I'd like to know whats happening on jubilee weekend as I'm visiting family for a few days in Leyland. Martin In The Pink Haven't heard of much happening round here either! There were street parties for the Silver Jubilee - can't imagine many of those happening this time. If you're up for Jubilee weekend, Martin, why not have a forum meet?Just name the pub!
Martin	Good idea Linda, not sure how much I'm going to fit in the four days. I'm sure there will be pubs involved though.. There's a street party in Glastonbury high street for the jubilee, shame I'll miss it. Martin In The Pink
Peter119	The Festival is continuing, The Craft Tent from the field is now the Leyland at Leisure 2002, Craft & Local Societies Fair held at the Leyland Methodist Centre on Turpin Green Lane on Saturday 1st June. For more details see the website at http://www.houghton59.fsnet.co.uk/leylandatleisure1.htm we will have the morris dancers and hopefully a brass band or two Peter119
MartinRice	Peter I suspected that you might be a member of this forum and that you would have a thing or two to say about the festival. It probably hit it's best in the year that the theme was the curious combination of 'flowers and flight' when the Motors produced an amazing set of floats. These must have cost a fortune and probably had a detrimental effect on the share price. Local festivals down here in the South East are very drab by comparison. Martin
LeylandGB	I heard about the Festival being "no more". Thought it was a shame. I recall many happy hours tramping through the streets to the park with others from Methodist Youth Club and whatever idea we had for that year. I fondly recall lugging a large papier mache caterpillar head (a la Chinese New Year) for what seemed like miles!! Used to love the 5-a-side too...
joy	Can anyone tell me how long the Festival had been running, as when my parent's moved to Leyland 1963 and can't remember one been on then. first one I remember the main field was more towards the carpark than the duck pond. Did it have a break?
noel	quote: Can anyone tell me how long the Festival had been running, as when my parent's moved to Leyland 1963 and can't remember one been on then. first one I remember the main field was more towards the carpark than the duck pond. Did it have a break? The festival first started in 1889 and apart from the war ran until 1936 when it closed due to lack of funding. It started again after the war and I'm unsure of the date it restarted. I certainly remember as a child there being no festival . I've logged onto Leyland Morris Men's site. Their dancing, energy and ability to quaff large amounts of ale without collapsing, always inspired me. --------------- The first Leyland May Festival took place on 29th May 1889. It was organised by the teachers for the children of both the Day and the Sunday Schools of St Andrew's Parish Church, as an 'adjunct' to the morning perambulations of the local Friendly Societies. It was a great success and plans were put in hand for a bigger event the following year, and which was to include adults. Accordingly the men's Morris team first appeared in 1890 as an integral part of the May Festival. Very soon after their debut they were invited to an event in Chorley; this saw a Chorley team appear in 1891. The Chorley team, in turn, was invited to Horwich, and a Horwich team appeared in 1892. The visit to Preston in 1892 of both the Leyland and Chorley teams saw a Preston team emerge for 1893. So, like dropping a stone into a pond, the ripples spread outwards: teams appeared at Blackrod, Adlington, Mawdesley and Longridge and juvenile teams appeared at Leyland (1895) and at Preston, for example. But where did the people of Leyland get their idea for a Morris team? The first trainer of the Morris Dancers was Josiah Kirkman, head gardener for the Stannings family - owners of the local bleach works. Was it his idea? What was the source of his knowledge? The Abram team was already in existence, was there any connection? Some locals believe that representatives from Leyland had already visited Knutsford to see the May Day there (founded 1864) even before the first Leyland May Festival took place - no doubt to see what they could copy! Well, is it true? To date we don't know, but we do know that they were there in both 1890 and 1892. If they went to Knutsford before their own Festival began, might these people have brought back the idea for a troupe of Morris dancers? We know that visiting Morris teams were a regular feature of the Knutsford event, particularly the Godley Hill team from Hyde. Might they have carefully copied the steps and figures used by just one of the teams? Might they have copied fragments from several teams? Or might they simply have gained an overall impression, returned to Leyland and made the rest up for themselves?! We don't know. We do know that - apart from a break for the Great War - the Leyland Morris Dancers continued until 1936, when the May Festival ceased because of financial difficulties. Immediately after the Second World War the dances (the Street Dance and the Stage Dance) were revived by a mixed team from the youth club of the parish of St James, on the western side of Leyland, for their Parish Walking Day. Their leader and teacher was 'Gus' Harris of the 1930's Leyland team, with help from Jimmy Grant who had been leader of the Leyland team from the early 1920's. The appearance of this mixed St James' team at the Festival of Britain celebrations (1951) in Leyland, aroused interest (and, in some, annoyance!) sufficient to see a brief revival of the men's team. Again there was a lull until Mrs Hilda Ratcliffe - leader of the Leyland Folk Dance Group, and daughter of a past Leyland Morris Dancer - began to work towards a further revival of the men's team in time for National Folk Week 1967. Since that time the modern Leyland Morris Men have continued to keep alive the Leyland dances, and have added to them a wide variety of other types of dance. The team has a close relationship with the local community, and especially with the modern Leyland Festival - which is regarded as one of the highlights of their annual programme. The team have danced at venues as far apart as Kent and the Isle of Man, Devon and Scotland, and they regularly exchange visits with a dance team from Angers in the Loire Valley of Western France. They have been heard on both Local and National Radio, been seen on Regional TV and have appeared on the stage of the Dominion Theatre, London, and at the prestigious Sidmouth International Folklore Festival. The significant owl hoots in the night.
Martin	Blimey Noel, are you testing the limit of postings on here In The Pink
noel	quote: Blimey Noel, are you testing the limit of postings on here In The Pink It was a bit long wasn't it, sorry folks. The blank in my memory of it now is when did it shut again after the war (2nd). I remember my parents telling me it was starting again and we used to sit on the wall of her front garden back in the sixties. As for the morris men they must have been fit to dance like they did all the way from Centurion Way to Worden Park. The significant owl hoots in the night.
anacortesdamp	My "Cousin-in-law" (cousin's husband), Neil Wilson is an active member of the Leyland Morris Men. He lives on Dunkirk Lane, opposite the undertaker's. If I remember correctly, the Leyland Festival was re-started as part of the Festival of Britain (1951) celebrations and continued until the rhubarb about funding just a few years ago. I think Leyland Motors was instrumental in providing funds to keep it going, with contributions from other local companies and smaller organisations like Cannings (transport) and a lot of grunt work from the civic groups like Rotary and the various churches. Frank Damp Anacortes, WA, USA
Lady Griffin	Somehow a few postings on the festival ended up in suggestions re the forum along with the Roman chariots but am almost sure there was something pre 1951 or maybe it was unconnected with the festival proper. I thought it was the same time as the Victory Parade in London which would have been about 1946 to celebrate the end of the war.I remember lots of patriotic singing.
Doreen Hinks	I recall the Leyland festival it was a great and exciting day.. the Morris dancers were fantastic to see. I also recall 10 little nigger boys,(as if off Robertsons Jam) waliing in the parade.. I doubt that would be allowed to day in this world of political correctness. Oh dear sorry !!
Martin	Do you think we should have a 'Bring back the Festival' campaign? Something as big as the Leyland Festival should be able to pay for itself if run properly. I heard that the amount of money raised from local businesses at the last festival, was less than Ł100, now that tells me that the organisers didn't do their job properly. The funds are out there if you know where to look. <~~ getting his wooden spoon out In The Pink
Peter119	Its all yours then Martin, feel free to organise the next one, i'm sure you could do a better job, lol
Martin	If I was there Peter I might just do that. I've been following the Glastonbury festival this year, from planning application to opening the gates, The fence certainly did it's job well this year. The future of Glastonbury fest depended on keeping out the freeloaders and troublemakers. The police managed to prevent a fringe festival starting near Glastonbury too, this would have ruined the chances of next years application had the party crowds turned up in the town. In The Pink
Martin	Will we ever see the festival again? any suggestions?
Hayleypink	yes it sold out in 1 day at the beginning of this week. so yes, glasto fesitval is def on this year!!
Martin	I meant the Leyland Festival. It's a shame that you never got to see it Hayley.[:(!]
Hayleypink	OH OK, sorry just you were talking about the Glasto Fest up top. Yeh, but dont worry I still had a fab time in Leyland :)
Sandieh	Hi Doreen, I remember my older brother was one of the ten little nigger boys in the festival, I think they were from Mr Maps class at Leyland Methodist School about 1950.
noel	Well at least us Lostock Hallians can still afford to put a festival on.
Martin	quote: Originally posted by noel Well at least us Lostock Hallians can still afford to put a festival on. Is that Hallians or Lostock Hooligans? [B)] Well if they can afford to put on a festival, perhaps the council should put the taxes up so they can afford one in Leyland!

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