|
T'TAY
DAY (Walking Day)
This
event takes place in June each year. It is a "Procession
of Witness" by the Mere Brow Methodist Church, Holmes
Methodist Church, Mere Brow Church of England Mission
and representatives of Our Lady's Roman Catholic Church
at Tarleton.
The
procession is led by a brass band and the Sunday School
banner is carried by members of the Sunday Schools represented.
Decorated floats carry the children who are too young
to walk round and some of our older members have now decided
to ride rather than walk.
T'tay
Day c 1925
Nowadays,
the procession sets off from Huntapac premises in Holmes,
follows Blackgate Lane towards Mere Brow along Mere Brow
Lane and turns left into Marshes Lane. It continues up
Marshes Lane as far as "Woodend", turns round
there and heads back to Ascroft's corner (top o't Broo'),
turning left into The Gravel and then left again into
Tabby Nook where the procession halts on the Green for
a short open-air service in front of the "old folks"
bungalows. The procession reassembles and proceeds to
Tabby Nook end and goes left into the Gravel as far as
the school where it turns round and comes back to Bank
Farm (top o't Broo'). Weather permitting, a service is
held on the lawns of Bank Farm.
Previously,
t'Tay Day was held on a Saturday. It followed a similar
route and arrived back at Sunday School for tea. After
tea, the band assembled on the "Tea Party" field
in Tabby Nook and everyone made their way down there to
listen to the band and watch the children taking part
in the sports and games.
Some
older residents can remember walking without a brass band.
The members of the procession and hymns as they walked
and would stop in front of any house where the occupant
was sick or elderly.
Walking
Day c 1970
Whether
we are walking in the procession or watching the procession
go by, there is a feeling of sharing in a very old and
great tradition.
Witnessing
for the Church, reassuring the village community of the
caring role of the Church, reaffirming the unchanging
message of the Church - that is "Tay Day".
|
