NEARLY 4,000 walkers, accompanied by 10 marching bands walked through town centre streets today when what is believed to be the 176th Warrington Walking Day, got under way.
Joining the walk for the first time was six month old Thomas Derbyshire, aged six months from Latchford, who is pictured above.
Town centre streets were closed to traffic from around 9.30am until around mid-day and some shops closed.
The annual walk of Christian Witness has again been organised by the town’s churches and this year included a delegation from one of Warrington’s twin towns, Nachod, in the Czech Republic who are visiting the town to study school and education projects.
But Walking Day always attract visitors – some new and some returning home – and many of these joined the Walk or watched from the crowded pavements.
The official Walk started from the Town Hall at 10.30am. But many of the churches, schools and other organisations had walked in procession to the town centre earlier, with some on the road before 9.30am.
As usual, the procession was headed by the contingent from Warrington Parish Church and St John’s Mission Church, followed by St Mary’s RC Church.
They left the Town Hall, through the Golden Gates, around 10.30am, passing a raised dais where the Mayor and Mayoress, Coun and Mrs John Joyce, and warrington’s two MPs Helen Jones and David Mowat, took the salute.
Other churches and groups taking part included the Salvation Army, Elmwood Avenue Church, St John’s United Reformed Church, Our Lady’s, St Augustine’s Church, Latchford Methodist Church, Christ Church, Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School, St James Church, Latchford Baptist Church, St Benedict’s Church, Buckley Street Methodist Church, Friars Green Independent Methodists, Bold Street Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Church, Warrington Baptist Church, Wycliffe United Reformed Church, Youth for Christ, Society of Friends, St Andrew’s Church, St Stephen’s Church, St Barnabas’ Church, Workingmen’s Mission, Sacred Heart Church, St Alban’s Church and St Anselm’s Church.
Pictures show six month old Thomas Derbyshire from Latchford, enjoying his first walking day, youngsters from Our Lady’s Church, Latchford and Warrington Youth For Christ.
For more pictures from the event CLICK HERE
Click on the image below to see Warrington Walking Day Video.
var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(555049)a(1091669)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11);
document.write('
9 Comments
Thank you so much for the excellent walking day coverage. It makes me so proud to be a Warringtonian.
Wonderful pictures. Happy memories for each and every one of them. Long may it continue.
Just one note of regret – where were all the bobbies?. Each church at one time had their own especially for the day.
Happy Days
It was a truly wonderful day – thanks for the photos – long may it continue.
Great occasion, wonderful photos – keep up the good work.
All the kids on the photos looked absolutely lovely in their special day outfits 🙂 (as did the grown ups too of course) Lovely photos and lots of smiling faces… lovely 🙂
Great pics – everyone looks so happy – lets hope that Walking Day (as a Procession of Witness) continues for many more years to come. So what if it causes traffic chaos for a few hours – it’s a very important day for many people and part of Warrington’s heritage. And – it didn’t rain this year!
thats my lil brother on that photo 😀
he is a little cutie
Here’s a few old walking day snaps I found from 1954 (St Benedicts).
download…
http://www.radiofones.com/walking%20day%201950s.rar