Thousands to help celebrate charter

THOUSANDS of people are set to celebrate a special Charter Fair.

Great Harwood Civic Society has organised the event in the town this weekend to celebrate their 50th anniversary and the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The fair will open at 12noon on Sunday, August 19, with a large parade featuring children from the town’s primary schools, local dignitaries and organisations.

The parade will also include Lord and Lady of the Manor Steve Aspin and Marian Smith being transported in a 1914 Scat car, the Mayor and Mayoress of Hyndburn, the Red Rose Jazz Band and a samba band.

Queen Street will be closed off between 8am and 6pm for fun and games and stalls from dozens of community groups and associations.

Peter Holden, president of the Civic Society, said they have been planning the event for more than a year and it will be as big as the Diamond Jubilee celebration.

He said: “We are expecting between 2,000 and 3,000 people. On a normal year we just have the charity stalls around the Towngate but this year will be much bigger.

“Everybody seems to enjoy it and if they do so again this time then it will be all worthwhile.”

Entertainment will be provided on the Town Hall square and in the middle of Queen Street including a Ukelele Band, the Rishton Boys Brigade Brass Band, wartime singer Maria and an Indian drummer.

Children will also be able to enjoy a Punch and Judy show, a magician, caricaturist, stilt walker and fairground rides.

Val Austin, treasurer of the Civic Society, said they are also looking to helping to boost local businesses.

She said: “It’s something that we celebrate every six years. This year it’s a double celebration because the Civic Society is 50 years old and it’s also the centenary of the end of the First World War.

“The event is to give all the organisations, associations and individuals in the town the opportunity to get together and inform people about who they are and try and get more members. We are all getting older and we need the younger ones to follow on behind us.

“In the past we have brought in burger vans and that type of thing, but we are not doing that this time. We wanted to give the shops in the town, especially the food shops, the chance to open and make some money.”