Flag raised in Littleborough for Lancashire Day

Littleborough celebrated Lancashire Day by raising the flag of Lancashire on Saturday (27 November).

Due to a mix-up, the Mayor of Rochdale, Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, and local councillors arrived an hour earlier than the organisers expected, raising the flag and reading the Lancashire Day Proclamation before moving on to raise the flag in Milnrow.

Simon France, of Littleborough Events and Activities Forum (LEAF), which organises the Littleborough event, arrived before 10am for the ceremony, where he discovered an empty town square and the flag already flying.

However, with some assistance from fellow LEAF member John Kay – who explained what happened – and Gloria Warburton, the Lancashire flag was once again raised.

 

 

Mrs Warburton, who has been involved in community projects for many years, read the Proclamation as Mr France raised the flag.

Lancashire Day was first held in 1996; a flag raising is held every year on 27 November to commemorate the day in 1295 when Lancashire first sent representatives to Parliament.

Lancashire Day Proclamation

On 27 November 1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as 'The Model Parliament'.

The Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on 27 November:

To the people of the city and county palatine of Lancaster

Greetings!

Know ye that this day, November 27 in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-One, the 71st year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

God bless Lancashire and God save the Queen, Duke of Lancaster.