Whitworth Rushcart

Whitworth Rushcart Celebrations 2014 with Whitworth Morris Men pulling cart

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Organisers have hailed this year’s Whitworth Rushcart as one of the best of recent years. The annual event was held on Sunday 7 September in glorious late summer weather and attracted around 1,500 people over the course of the afternoon.

The festivities began with a procession from North Street up to the Riverside, featuring the Mayor and Mayoress of Whitworth, morris dance troupes, the Whitworth Vale and Healey Bands, the Thwaites Shire Horses and dray (cart) and of course the rushcart itself, resplendent in purple heather collected from local hills in the weeks before the event by the Whitworth Morris Men and pulled by the men themselves.

Following the procession, celebrations were centred on the Riverside. Inside was an arts and crafts fair, featuring local artisans and displays from the local Historical Society and Photographic Society. On the car park there were rides provided by L J Leisure, more arts and craft stalls, Punch and Judy, refreshments and performances from the various morris dance troupes, including some audience participation.

The event is organised by the town’s Tourism and Leisure Committee.

Committee Chairman, Councillor David Chorlton, said: “This is certainly the largest turnout we’ve seen in recent years, helped of course by the amazing weather on the day.

"It really was a lovely afternoon; we’ve had some lovely comments and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. It takes a full year for the committee to organise the rushcart, and I offer my personal thanks to all who volunteer on the committee for making the day such as success.

"On behalf of the committee I would also like to thank all who helped out at the rushcart, including our local police, marshals, stallholders, dance troupes, and the staff at the Riverside who worked tirelessly.

"Special thanks as always go to Clive Morton, the heart and soul of the rushcart, whose input is invaluable.

"We will debrief this event and then start to look forwards to 2015s offering.”