WHITSUNTIDE IN CASTLE HALL

WHITSUNTIDE

A most wonderful time of year, the public profession of one's faith to the whole world - well Stalybridge at least! That is what it was supposed to be, but as a child this religious commitment was perhaps overlooked in the excitement of having new clothes
and getting to walk behind a brass band.

In the Castle Hall days it was traditional to walk on Whit Friday morning. Each Church or Chapel would meet at their own place of worship and begin their walk by parading around their own parish. It was customary for each walk to have their own brass band
and at least one big banner bearing the name of the Church or Chapel. The walks would be made up of all members of the
congregation - Sunday School children, choirs, Scouts and Cubs, Guides and Brownies, mothers with babies and toddlers and
finally the women and men. One highlight of the walks was that relatives and friends would run in and give you money.

Eventually all the Churches and Chapels would congregate on the market ground where a United Service of Witness would take
place ( for many years this was with the exception of St Peter's who chose to walk independently a little later in the day ). Each year
a different Sunday School had the honour of choosing the hymns for this service, their Vicar or Minister would deliver a short sermon and their brass band would play the music for the hymns. They would also lead the procession off the market ground. The service always ended with the singing of the National Anthem.

Whilst the service was in progress, all the banners from the various Sunday Schools would be leaned against the wall of the public swimming baths. A hasty retreat was made back to these by banner carriers, stringers and ribbon bearers in order for the
United Procession to commence.

There would be crowds of people both on the market ground and lining the streets, all dressed in their finery. People would greet each other fondly, many only seeing each other on this occasion. Almost all the shops were closed - in fact it was a real holiday in those days. The processional route included Trinity Street, Market Street, Melbourne Street and Grosvenor Street.

Eventually we would all break up and make our way back to our respective Sunday Schools where refreshments would be waiting
for tired and aching legs. At Castle Hall it was always a drink and a raspberry bun from Bessie Stubbs'. On our way back we would
have stopped to sing a hymn at the houses of a number of parishioners who were either too sick or to frail to join in the walks.

During the afternoon there would be games in Cheethams Park, then it was home for a rest before the evening's entertainment
- the Band Contest. This was held on the market ground and the bands would march along Corporation Street to reach the
Bandstand where they would perform their chosen piece. Bands would come from all over with famous names such as Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse and Rastrick putting in an appearance. Of course there were also more local bands like
Dobcross, Mossley and Hollingworth but when our own Stalybridge Band turned up to play. well,
I imagine the cheers could be heard as far away as Manchester.

At the end of a very long day, everyone would return home tired but immensely happy.