Lancashire Day celebrated in Littleborough

Lancashire Day was marked in Littleborough by the raising of the flag of Lancashire on Sunday (27 November).

Displaying the Red Rose of Lancaster, 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 was first held in 1996.

Mayor Ali Ahmed raised the flag and read the following proclamation in a short ceremony at Littleborough War Memorial organised by members of Littleborough Events and Association Forum (LEAF).

He was joined by the Mayor's Consort, Sultan Ali, and councillors Janet Emsley, Tom Besford, and John Taylor and Honorary Freeman of Rochdale, John Kay.

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-two, the first year of the reign of His Majesty King Charles III, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of His 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 people's pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

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 King, Duke of Lancaster.