There has been a torchlight procession on every occasion of national rejoicing since 1887. This was for the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and was accompanied by all kinds of other celebrations over one weekend - even the inmates at the Workhouse received extra rations! Click here for more about Queen Victoria's Golden Jubileee. As the first one was so successful, it became a tradition to have a procession for all major Royal occasions, and some other local significant dates slipped in along the way - for example the 800th anniversary of the Borough of Clitheroe and subsequently 25 years later the demise of the same.

For a time, due to the lack of a suitable occasion, it was decided to have one every five years, but this proved too onerous and was discontinued. The floats are lavish affairs, and their themes are closely guarded secrets. Costumes are made, begged and borrowed and Clitheroe’s many charity shops come into their own. Every available wagon and other suitable vehicle is brought into use. The use of torches is decreasing due to the Health and Safety regulations, as they are literally flaming torches of wax and a little unpredictable. Music is loud and spirits are high. There is a real carnival atmosphere second only to Notting Hill!

This is not just any old procession — the whole town is closed for the evening (except of course for the local hostelries) and people from a wide area flock in to get the best vantage points. Bands are drafted in to accompany the floats and march around the town. The whole occasion is topped off with a spectacular firework display from the castle mound, visible for miles around.

Some characters make a regular appearance; Percy the Low Moor Pig, a ferocious beast on his four wheels, said to be a symbol of the community of Low Moor, where it was claimed that every inhabitant kept a pig so that nothing was ever wasted and the residents could live on the proceeds. The Gas Works dragon made several appearances, breathing smoke and flames, until he was retired and replaced with a dalek. There is a carnival King and Queen and a Jester, encouraging the crowd.

The programmes are fast becoming collectors items and the early ones especially are almost social histories in themselves, the rhymes referring to national and local politics in a rather uncomplimentary way.

Memories of Torchlights past from local author Sue Holden. Available from Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre.

Web space donated by Moorland School