Lancashire Day, 27th November, 2011, was celebrated with a concert at the Methodist Church on the Friday, and by a short ceremony at the War Memorial on the Sunday morning.
Two local bands, "Gifted" and "Thursday Folk", entertained a packed church with Lancashire songs, and the audience was treated to a splendid hotpot supper cooked by Eileen Longmore. Community awards were presented.
On Sunday morning, John O'Neill gave a brief history of the county of Lancashire, red roses were laid on the memorial, and the Lancashire Day Proclamation was read.
Why "Lancashire Day"? Because on this day in 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
Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Eleven, the 60th 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.