Blimey, the weather’s wild today! Hope you’re all safely inside, warm and dry. J
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Longton ‘Pig Walk’ tells a story
“The real story is the way that the town is coming together to make things happen for itself.” Isla Telford, Urban Wilderness CIC.
Longton has a story to tell and you can be part of it. The Pig Walk Parade, this Sunday (21st April) tells a heritage story from the 1880’s: John Aynsley was the Mayor of Longton and won the land for Queen’s Park in a bet with the Duke of Sutherland. He drove a pig from Trentham into Longton, and won the land for the Park and the money to build Longton Hospital.
Longton Carnival and Pig Walk Parade is a full day’s programme profiling local talent alongside world-class artists. It is the town’s chance to celebrate the continuous collaborations and initiatives which are becoming the stamp of a town striving towards a new future to match its proud industrial and cultural heritage.
Isla Telford, Co-Director of event organisers Urban Wilderness CIC, said: “As an arts organisation we always look first at the skills, talents and collaborations that we have on our doorstep. We work from a large shop in Longton Exchange and this event is made with and by our neighbours in Longton. You can see from the programme that we have incredible talent right here, in Longton. Trentham Brass Band are award winners, Circus in a Box have performed all over the world, and our stage performers Poppy Blond and Kira Mac have featured on BBC Introducing and The Voice. We’re so proud to bring them all together.
“That said, we’re not afraid to bring in world-class artists like Shademakers to bring the wow factor. Shademakers costumes have been in some of the UK’s highest profile events over the years, including the Queen’s Jubilee Parade and London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, and they’ll be in Longton on Sun 21st April!”
The organisers are also keen to support the development of local talent. The event will launch KILNE, a 20-piece drum and brass band who have ambitions to tour and showcase Stoke-on-Trent talent all over the UK.
The event is testament to a collaborative spirit in Longton that goes far beyond a single day.
Jen Harper, Co-Director of Urban Wilderness, said: “This is only the second year we’ve run this event. This year the event is about four times the size, and that is thanks to the efforts and energies of key stakeholders in Longton. Longton Victorian Market are opening for the first time on a Sunday in over 150 years. Gladstone Museum are open to the public for free, with a programme of family theatre. Duchess China 1888 are opening their doors for factory tours. Our long-term partners Longton Exchange make the event possible through opening up empty shops, and they are providing the Family Bandstand Stage. Longton Central Hall having an Open Service, and The Glost House have arranged a community litter pick the day before. It’s incredible.”
Chris Ward, Manager of Longton Exchange, added: “Longton Exchange is a key part of the town centre offering. Working with Urban Wilderness in delivering a fantastic fun filled event to bring the full carnival atmosphere to Longton is meant reaching far into all areas of the community, including local diverse catering businesses to bring an exciting food offer to the day.”
The Carnival is funded in part through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund awarded to Urban Wilderness to support their work to connect communities and change perceptions of Longton.
Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council Jane Ashworth said: “I am delighted the Pig Walk Parade is back, last year’s event was a great success which saw thousands of residents gather in the streets of Longton. Supporting events like this in our town centres not only increases footfall but makes our city more vibrant and showcases the fantastic creative organisations we have.”
Laurel Gallagher, Co-Director of Urban Wilderness, said: “Being in Longton every day we’re acutely aware that it’s going to take more than one day a year to make meaningful change to the town. Our heritage architecture is in urgent need of attention, we do have some lovely shops but many of them are struggling, and we know that many families are in need of help and support. What is positive about Longton is the amount of organisations who are actively working towards change. We connect monthly through the Town Forum to share our ideas and initiatives, and we have more plans to generate more investment for Longton.”
The Carnival & Pig Walk parade was attended by almost 8000 people last year, and with such a full programme the organisers are expecting large numbers of people this Sunday. Shops, cafes and buildings are all opening their doors for the day, all keen to welcome new visitors and show that Longton has a lot to offer!
[The Editor is looking forward to attending! and the weather’s currently forecast to be sunny and dry!]
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