2017 was the 6th year of Friends of Parkinson’s Park. We formed in 2011 when the fields developed by Crompton Parkinson to replace the old Kelcliffe Recreation Ground had grown into such a wilderness that people would not take their children because of the mess.
Our aim was to make the Park useable again; a landscape for local residents to build new memories to treasure.
A lot has been achieved through the ups and downs of the past 6 years with the input of many people. 2018 will hopefully see things develop further with the help of many more.
Happy New Year from
Chris, Jenny, Andy, Nicola, Barbara, Martyn, Josie, Colin and Fran
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It’s the taking part that matters at the Friend’s of Parkinson’s Park Lantern Parade, handcrafts, theatre, music all have a part to play, not to mention decorating streets and keeping the whole ‘show on (of off as the case may be) the road’. The 5th Parkinson’s Park Lantern Parade had all of the above as everyone joined in to light up Guiseley streets for the Winter Solstice and the coming of Christmas, and make a big noise about it.
Children had spent weeks making their individual lanterns, which they proudly paraded, whilst our special Guiseley Lanterns depicting Guiseley Wells, de Ward Cross, Theatre Button and Parkinson Clock, emerged out of history to glow once more, carried by eight strong lantern bearers.
Music included children joining The Sound of the Mills band to improvise on home-made drums (and adults on real ones) to the beat of “where does fabric come from”, ” the mill”, whilst at the Town Cross, Guiseley Brass Band gave the carol singing a warm Yorkshire glow. This year the Parade was led my Jacob Phillips and friends playing pied pipers in top hat and tails with the seductive call of saxophones. Then, of course there was the crowd, joining In the Bleak Mid-Winter, with a dash of Holly and the Ivy and Jingle Bells.
Another successful improvisation this year was decorating the route of the parade – residents on The Birches and Kelcliffe Lane, put out baubles, bunting and tinsel so that bare trees and cold bushes burst into glittering life as if in Narnia – one particular benefit of the bounty of charity shops. In the Park itself there were three decorated advent trees for people to go and add their own decorations during the season, and especially at midwinter on 21st December.
Safety, was a bigger concern this year. Terrorist attacks in towns meant that this had to be considered on the risk assessment. Nine marshalls as well as two PCs, worked in relay to watch out for cars, and keep the road and cross area free. A ‘bomb’ sweep was done before the parade started in the shadow of the Lily light especially commissioned this year to remember Wendy Fawell who was killed in the Manchester Terrorist attack in May .
Christmas would not be Yule without the plentiful supply of food and drink, and the Paraders indulged in scrummy little buns and mince pies made locally, whilst The Station helped provide the mulled (non-alcoholic) drink – all served by the Friends.
We’d like to thank everyone for the part they played to making this another successful year, and we look forward to bigger and better next year; so thinking caps on, what can you add to the Parade next year – let us know?
Here is the route we will use this year for the Lantern Parade led by our special feature Guiseley Lanterns made by Lucy Phillips. As Kelcliffe Lane has been upgraded, we’ll exit via the Farm Gate – this should be easier and stop the bottle neck at the Oxford Road entrance.
