Fun in the sun, anniversaries and new town square opens in memorable year
IN our second and concluding instalment of our review of the year, Jon Macpherson looks back on the stories and pictures that made the headlines between July and December.
JULY
THOUSANDS of people basked in glorious sunshine as they enjoyed the annual Roar in the Gore and Stanhill Village Fete.
Students across the borough dressed up in style for glamorous prom nights.
AUGUST
DISABILITY campaigner Zack Kerr celebrated after his tireless efforts secured £2 million to ‘open up life opportunities’ for himself and others.
More than 100,000 people signed his petition to convince the government to install Changing Places Toilets at English motorway service stations.
There were tears, hugs and exciting plans for the future as pupils celebrated record A Level and GCSE results.
SEPTEMBER
ACCRINGTON’S new £2 million town square was officially opened with a weekend featuring three big events.
There was a flurry of fun and excitement for the borough’s first evet Chocolate Festival, Soapbox Challenge and Rally Challenge.
Former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh returned to her roots to officially launch a new Forest School.
The actress was the special guest at Hyndburn Park Primary School in Accrington where she studied as a youngster while living in Church.
OCTOBER
ONE of the country’s oldest amateur theatre groups celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special performance of The Full Monty.
The Accrington Theatre Group was formed in 1893 and over the decades has entertained crowds at the Princes Theatre, The Hippodrome, Accrington Town Hall and the Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre.
NOVEMBER
MORE than 500 runners pounded the streets for the annual Accrington Road Runners 10k.
Race organiser Neil Thompson said the day could not have gone better with 70 children also taking part in a junior race.
Thousands gathered across Hyndburn for Remembrance Sunday commemorating 100 years since the end of the First World War.
Crowds braved poor weather to line the streets and also took part in parades and services to honour the nation’s war heroes and the Accrington Pals.
There were large turnouts at the cenotaphs in Accrington’s Oakhill Park and Rishton, Mercer Park in Clayton-le-Moors, and the war memorials in Oswaldtwistle, Church, Huncoat and Memorial Park in Great Harwood.
DECEMBER
THOUSANDS of people again defied the persistent wind and rain to enjoy the Accrington town centre Christmas festivities and lights switch-on.
Townships across Hyndburn got into the festive spirit with a series of lights switch-ons, markets and nativities.
A ‘priceless’ festive music video made by staff at a convenience store became an internet sensation on Facebook.
The viral Spar Oswaldtwistle video featured members of staff singing their own version of The 12 Days of Christmas and using everyday products available at the store.
THIS week our Time-Trip feature takes a look back at what was happening in and around Oswaldtwistle in 2008.
Our first picture of the week (above) shows St Andrew’s Primary pupils Nicholas Martin, 10, and Jesica Moore, 11, with PSCO Rikky Gallacher during National Cycling Week.
Our next picture (right) is a great snap of Chloe Sidwell 10, Madison Kirkbright, nine, and Georgina Grangle, nine, in The Dream, Sparks presentation of Shakespeare for Kidz at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre.
Next (bottom right) shows Oswaldtwistle Garden and Allotment Society chair Mike Ormerod and vice chair David Paintin showing off the Best in Show winners.
Our final picture of the week (below) is of Flour Power who came to West End Primary School, Oswaldtwistle. When visiting, Warburton’s bakers showed the children including Georgia Smithies and Matthew O’Connor, both nine, the finer points of the bread maker’s art.
In our weekly TimeTrip feature we publish a set of pictures taken by our photographers which have appeared in the paper in years gone by.
» If you have any pictures you would like us to feature here, send them to communities @ menmedia.co.uk or submit them via our Facebook page.