Roger Sudell, Guild Mayor that year, is an ancestor of Sue Penrith (nee Sudell).

Film was taken of the event (I wonder if Mitchell & Kenyon were involved?)

The photo on the right is of Thomas Shaw - Joan Hardman’s grandfather, in 1902. He was a member of the Ripon Street & Garstang Road Guild Decorations Committee which collected subscriptions to provide a floral gateway across Garstang Road and window boxes for the houses on Ripon Street. The total cost was close to £300: what would that be in today’s money?

1922

There was also filming of this Guild.

"My brother carried a football on a wagon, representing PNE. (Joan Hardman)

The man on the left is Sue Penrith’s father as Abraham Lincoln in 1922 (Moor Park Wesleyan School) and on the right shows Dorothy Smith’s mum on the LH side of the photo, with the St. Paul’s contingent.

1952

(The films of the 1902 & 1922 Guilds were shown at both the Ritz and the Palladium cinemas.)

"Excitement came when 1952 actually arrived. This was a time of great activity, fun and friendship. We were used to the annual Whitsuntide Processions (the Whit Walks), when the Church of England and Roman Catholics walked round the town, but Nonconformists only walked ‘once every Preston Guild’.

(The photo shows June Robinson, on the left, with the Croft Street Methodist Sunday School banner.)

We had a brand new banner made for us by two ladies of the congregation. I was one of four steerers – holding on to long ropes attached to the top of the banner. There were four children each holding on to a shorter rope and, of course, two men holding up the poles of the banner. Turning corners en route was rather tricky: I had seen banners fall when turning from Friargate into Corporation Street! It was a long way from Fulwood and all around the town – AND I had been to see the Roman Catholic Procession in the morning!

I had two days holiday for the Monday and Tuesday of the Guild, then it was back to school. I was taking part in ‘Merrie England’ on Avenham Park. We had to be ready before the crowds came, so I rode pillion on a friend’s motorbike from Leyland to save time! (Joan Hardman)

Audrey Harrison recalls singing with the Cecilian Choir in ‘Merrie England’ (photo right) on Avenham Park, and testifies to the truth of the newspaper report which began, "Despite the bitterly cold wind which blew......" Her husband’s duty was to be always on hand with a flask of hot coffee!

Further to Roy Smith’s memory of the reading of the First Proclamation (on Saturday 16^th August), this was delivered by the Town Clerk, Mr W.E.E.Lockley, M.A.