Celebration of county’s rich heritage

Celebrations were in full swing today as Lancashire Day was marked across the county.
Preston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire DayPreston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire Day
Preston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire Day

Proclamations were set to be read by town criers throughout Lancashire, and events are being held all week to mark the special occasion. Philip Walsh of the Friends of Real Lancashire said the day gave people chance to celebrate the county’s heritage.

He said: “It is recognising our heritage really, and particularly since 1974 when the administrative counties were born. In effect, because of the media attention of the administrative areas which people believe became the county areas, we have lost a lot of the important towns of Lancashire like Bolton, Salford, Oldham, Southport, Barrow, Ulverston.

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“All these are Lancashire towns which younger generations are not familiar with.It is important that we remember them, that they are part of Lancashire, otherwise people forget. We are the ones who push the county palatine and without our organisation it would be forgotten.”

Preston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire DayPreston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire Day
Preston Town Crier Mike Chapman celebrates Lancashire Day

He added: “It celebrates everything to do with Lancashire, the county palatine, not just the administrative area of Lancashire.”

Preston’s town crier Mike Chapman was due to read the proclamation outside the Harris Museum at 12pm today. Mike, originally from Surrey but who has lived in Leyland for most of his life, described Lancashire Day as a “special day”.

He said: “It is a beautiful place and I have enjoyed living here and I wouldn’t live anywhere else. If I get bored I go back to London but I can’t wait to get back to Lancashire. It is a marvellous place to live and it deserves to be celebrated.”

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Lancashire Day commemorates the occasion in 1295 when the county sent its first representatives to Parliament.

Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire Dr. Kadaba Vasudev and Friend of Real Lancashire David Russell gave the toast at Lancashire NightDeputy Lieutenant for Lancashire Dr. Kadaba Vasudev and Friend of Real Lancashire David Russell gave the toast at Lancashire Night
Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire Dr. Kadaba Vasudev and Friend of Real Lancashire David Russell gave the toast at Lancashire Night

Events have been going on all week, and today there were events planned across the county. A “Lancashire Neet” is planned for 7.30pm at the Museum of Lancashire.

The vice chairman of Lancashire County Council, County Counc Kevin Ellard, will be the chief guest and will read the Lancashire proclamation and later propose the loyal toast.

And Dewlay Cheesemakers got behind the day’s celebrations with their “say cheese for Lancashire Day” competition, encouraging people to post “selfies” at Lancashire attractions on Twitter.

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Commercial director Conor Daunt said: “Lancashire Day for us is about cheese. We like to think Lancashire cheese has a great story to tell.”

The reading of the proclamations were yesterday cancelled in Southport and Ormskirk due to illness.