On Sunday 22 April, Whitworth held its celebration of England’s patron saint, St George at an event organised by the Tourism and Leisure Committee of Whitworth Town Council.
Despite torrential rain and hail earlier in the day, the weather just held for the early afternoon procession along Market Street. Those processing included St George himself accompanied by a ferocious looking dragon (operated by children from St John with St Michael Primary and Committee member Janet Whitehead). Other participants included the Mayor and Mayoress of Whitworth, Councillors David and Lynda Barnes, members of the town’s various uniformed organisations, Whitworth’s famous Vale & Healey Brass Band, and the members of the Curtain Theatre Company in their Pace Egg costumes.
There followed a Service of Celebration at the Riverside (Civic Hall), led by the Mayoral Chaplain, Rev Lyn Woodall. The service included a performance of the traditional ‘Pace Egg’ play by the Curtain Theatre Company, and the winners of the primary schools colouring and poetry competitions were announced. All four Whitworth primary schools took part, resulting in hundreds of entries. The eventual winners were as follows:
COLOURING COMPETITION:
• Abbey Brooks, aged 7, from St John with St Michael Primary
• Amy Hanson, aged 8, from Tonacliffe Primary
• Jack Kennedy, aged 5, from Our Lady and St Anselm Primary
• Jade Stott, aged 8, from St Bartholomew’s Primary
POETRY COMPETITION:
• Scarlett Mullender from Tonacliffe Primary
• Tanya Prince, aged 10, from St John with St Michael Primary
• Oliver Jones, aged 5, from Tonacliffe Primary
Councillor David Chorlton, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Committee, said: “We estimate that around 300 people were in attendance and we offer thanks to all who turned up despite the weather. Many thanks are offered to all who assisted on the day - the Police, our marshalls, the Pace Egg performers, the Riverside staff, the Band, Rev Lyn, and our local uniformed organisations and schools.”
