Adlington Carnival brings the village together in celebration (From Chorley Citizen)

Adlington Carnival brings the village together in celebration

3:58pm Thursday 19th August 2010 in Adlington

Journalism graduate Matthew Fairhurst gives his first hand account of Adlington Carnival.

In the quaintest marina village on the outskirts of Chorley, the tiny cobbled streets of Adlington come alive for a weekend of fundraising merriment. The majority of the 6,000 local residents pack the flag laden streets in their droves to welcome the annual carnival on this simmering August morning. Exuberant balloon sellers and fancy dressers gather round the Rivington and Adlington brass band as they trumpet their way through the village.

Nothing sums up the community spirit more than all 25 brass men pumping out a rapturous chorus of happy birthday to start the procession and wish the carnival veteran and local legend Mrs. Margaret Halliwell a happy 99th birthday.

The retired school caretaker and her family have been involved with the carnival since day one and each year let familiar and unfamiliar faces pop into her house and enjoy the tea and sandwiches which she has lovingly prepared that morning. Son Errol and daughters Barbara and Hilary championed the Adlington community spirit and reminisced of the times they kept the carnival alive by selling tea and coffee in the streets just to aid this partnership of home grown trade and local charity. Back then, the village was a hive of industry, boasting eight mills, one marina, Leonard Fairclough’s stonemasons and the world famous Weston’s biscuit factory. With the intention of boosting local trades and generating community spirit the carnival was devised Between cheering on the passing floats and wishing every passer by a good day, Errol says, “There’s a great community spirit at carnival time and that is what this village is all about. You kick one in Adlington and we all limp. It really is a nice little village, built on gradely Lancashire folk.”

Errol then has to stop as his mum is pulling at his shirt sleeve. The gracious dame, now in a wheelchair, leans in to him and comically says, “I want to go on the field.” At just one year shy of the century, she shows off her jamboree spirit and is in luck as that is exactly where the procession is heading.

Having circled the village with floats decorated with everything from the sweet transvestites of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (put on by the local White Horse Pub) to Dr. Who’s Tardis and Daleks, local revellers flow onto the Park Road field where three marquees have been erected.

Each float has their own charity in mind, with the main proceedings going to the North West charity Derian House Children’s Hospice. Spokesperson for the charity, volunteer Lynda Edwards said, “Money raised today will go to finance a new teenagers unit and so all our children make the best of their time with us.” The Chorley hospice, on Chorley Road, is dedicated to bettering the lives of terminally ill children. The funds for this fine cause are generated mainly by Lancashire based businesses pitching stalls across the field. From the sweet shops at the entrance, through the tens of local stalls and onto Gypsy Rosie Lee’s Palmistry, each trade is based within a stones throw from the patch of grass they stand on. Penned in by monster trucks, marching bands and bouncy castles these local merchants enjoy the banter with passers by as they ply their trade. A community spirit thought to be lost in the world of today is alive and well in Lancashire.

Even the looming clouds above cannot put a stop to the fun as the sun cracks through and lights the centre circle where event organiser Sue O’Brien relays act after act of Lancastrian flair. Aside from the Accrington Pipe band’s highland flinging, Mrs. O’Brien talks of how much effort has gone into this year’s carnival. “It takes around a year to plan and is a bit of a nightmare but I love it.” With around £35,000 to source before the carnival can go ahead, Sue spends the whole year organising fund raisers from a sleigh drawn Santa at Christmas to Easter Bingo. A little flustered but still strong to the cause, Sue has a few seconds to say, “Every year, it’s worth it” before rushing off to guide the Carnival Queens off the stage. These young girls come all the way from Partington, Greater Manchester to get in on the fun. Their organiser Jackie Taylor has 41 years experience at organising charity showcases for local beauty Queens where she has raised thousands of pounds to help train carers with ChildLine. She says “It’s a great organisation and I wish it was going when I was younger”. Jackie takes her Queens all around the Lancashire borough so just has time to wave at the crowd before setting off on her next showcase in North Wales.

With the glorious sun showering the Carnival Queens’ dazzling dresses, there is just time to stand back and enjoy a lovingly crafted butterfly cake from Sweet Annalise of Heskin. These locally sourced fancies go down a treat when perusing Hilda Harris’ Apron stall where Hilda Harris (82) herself knits baby-warmers as quick as she sells them. A glance to the right and there are two men juggling and fire breathing courtesy of Custard Storm Productions, it all goes into the surreal but very entertaining cocktail which is this convivial carnival.

After judging the fire breathing and mingling with Darth Vader, carnival Chairman Alan Birtwistle (81) relinquishes his comparing duties and reflects on another year at the helm. “It’s been a good year, we’re always in the hands of the weather but this time it’s gone brilliantly”. Over his 30 years of local fete commitment Alan has seen many famous faces come and enjoy themselves in Adlington. “We had Cilla Black on over 20 years ago. She did the usual meet and greet and finished the day topping the cabaret bill. It just goes to show what this village can do.” Post-Cilla, a pack of celebrities from Frank Bruno to Cannon and Ball have graced the stage with this years star being Burnley boy Jody Latham, famous for playing outspoken ‘Lip’ in Channel 4’s Shameless. On the celebrity front Alan says, “We understand most parents will not have much free time so we bring in a star to entertain them while their kids can play on the amusements. Everyone is happy.” It must be this desire for fun which has seen Adlington Carnival become the only remaining local street fair. With neighbouring Standish, Leyland and Chorley all going under in recent years through lack of interest, it begs the question: What now for Adlington? Alan looks up and bellows, “We’ve dug in and said we’ve got to keep the carnival going, so that’s what we’ll do. This village deserves it.” Here, here Alan!

So as the confetti settles on the ground of this merry village, today has shown little old Adlington is not only a business bee-hive, but also the home of a caring community, the kind Lancashire should take pride in. This mini-metropolis has come alive year after year and if this weekend is anything to go by will do so for years to come. Roll on next year!