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Did you know… the last time Clitheroe had a Golden Jubilee Torchlight Procession was in 1887, for Queen Victoria. The Preston Guardian recorded the celebrations: ‘On Saturday one of the largest and most successful torchlight processions that has ever been held in Clitheroe took place,’ and noted that long before the hour for the procession to start ‘considerable amusement was created by ludicrous figures constantly passing through the streets.’ ‘The route of the procession was through Castle Street, Parson Brow, Bawdlands, Eshton Terrace, Salford, Lowergate, Waterloo, Yorke Street and back into Market place where they dispersed. It was headed by four horsemen in grotesque consumes, and the members of Clitheroe Bicycle Club wheeling their machines. Afterwards came clowns on foot, bearing torches, with blackened faces, and horsemen in the costumes of the dark ages; Lancashire witches with their broomsticks; gentlemen in costumes of the time of Charles the Second; Spanish Grenadiers and Buffalo Bill, king of the cowboys. ‘Next came the steam fire engine drawn by four horses and manned by the fire brigade letting off fireworks and exhibiting coloured fires. Then came a jockey of the period, and an Australian rough rider, followed by Jubilee Christy Minstrels just returned from a Continental tour; clowns on foot bearing torches; the “celebrated prize band of the Royal Black Watch as it appeared at Tel-el-Kabir”; a lorry with Ethiopians changing their skins under the influence of Champion soap; a burlesque band; the members of the Ox Committee in a waggonette wearing their aprons and caps; a representation of John Bull and his trades on a blurry, torchbearers on foot, a smith at work, followed by Daughters of Old England who sang popular airs; Pluto, King of Hades in his chariot drawn by the horses of darkness; a band of highland pipers bringing up the rear. ‘It was estimated that from 60 to 80 horsemen and about 400 persons took part in this procession. This part of the Jubilee celebration has been so successful that a good many are in favour of a repetition this week. ‘Never in the memory of the oldest inhabitants has the ancient town of Clitheroe been so crowded as it was on the nights of the celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, nor have there ever been rejoicings on such an extensive and successful scale.’ |
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