Monday 18 August 2014

MIDDLEWICH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014 (ARCHIVED)

ARCHIVED


Photo: Middlewich Music Festival

There's already a lot of enthusiasm for this new Middlewich Music initiative, and we're happy to lend our support to it.
Since 1990 our town has gained a good reputation for folk music and its associated activities, but this kind of music is, it goes without saying, not everyone's cup of tea (including, we can assure you, several members of the original Folk & Boat Festival Committee!).
The Middlewich Music Festival aims to feature local bands who may not fit into the existing MFAB formula and, presumably, those from further afield as the idea finds its feet.
The exact format for the new Festival has yet to be thrashed out, and this will be done at the inaugural meeting which takes place at the White Bear in Middlewich on Wednesday 30th July starting at 7pm.
These are early days for the Middlewich Music Festival and the organisers would like to hear from anyone who'd like to be a part of the event, either as performers or on the organisation/administration side of things.
If you're interested email us on middlewichdiary@aol.com and we'll put you in touch with the team. And/or you can go along to the White Bear on Wednesday at 7!




UPDATE: (12th AUGUST 2014): After much discussion both at the inaugural meeting and later, it was decided that the first Festival would take place in the Summer of 2015 and that smaller events would be held in the meantime to build up the new festival's public profile
The first of these events was announced for the 20th September 2014
THE BEAR WYCH PROJECT
from 2pm until 11pm
The best of new music
(STRICTLY NO COVERS)





Thursday 7 August 2014

VETERANS: FROM WORLD WAR 1 TO AFGHANISTAN (BBC RADIO 1 DOCUMENTARY)



Here is a link to a BBC Radio 1 documentary, first broadcast on the 4th August 2014 on the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War and featuring the voices of those who have served in the British Army in Afghanistan together with archive recordings of veterans from the Great War.
The aim of the documentary is to show what aspects of war have changed over the years and what remains the same.
One of the voices heard is that of Pte Luke Hardy of Middlewich who did three tours of duty in Afghanistan, telling us just what it was like to serve as a member of the 3rd Parachute Regiment in the recent conflict. .

VETERANS: FROM WORLD WAR I TO AFGHANISTAN (BBC RADIO 1)



This link also appears on our MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR site

Since returning from Afghanistan Luke has started training to be a paramedic. He also works hard on behalf of HELP FOR HEROES.



100 YEARS ON...

Photos by Cliff Astles


On the 4th August 2014 at 2pm the people of Middlewich came together in the town centre for a short service to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War and to remember the fallen.
Among those in attendance, along with members of the public,  were the Mayor and Mayoress of Middlewich, representatives of the Royal British Legion and Town Crier Devlin Hobson who read his own poem about the War.
Middlewich's War Memorial was erected in 1934 by public subscription and originally placed at the junction of Lower Street and Hightown where once stood Butcher Lees shop (later to be converted into a bank) and the large gas lamp where our  Town Crier  of the time would have stood to announce the outbreak of war on the 4th August 1914.
Middlewich Town Centre  in the years leading up to 1914. (Courtesy of Kath & Barry Walklate)

The verse:

Through all eternity their names shall bide,
Enshrined as Heroes who for Empire died.

was written by Charles Frederick Lawrence, former Clerk to the Middlewich UDC and local historian.
With the demolition of the properties on Hightown in the early 1970s and the building of 'the piazza', the Memorial was moved a few yards further toward the Parish Church, and retained that position to within a few yards when the current 'amphitheatre' was built. Thus it has only been moved a short distance in the 80 years of its existence.

The original dedication of Middlewich's War Memorial by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and the Bishop of Chester, November 18th 1934. PHOTO: PAUL HOUGH COLLECTION
Crowds watching the procession in Wheelock Street  on 18th November 1934 . Note the White Bear sign on the extreme right PHOTO: PAUL HOUGH COLLECTION

Town Crier Devlin Hobson was on hand to mark the occasion by reading his own poem, which is reproduced below with his permission.
Devlin Hobson



Remembering the fallen
Cllr Paul Edwards, Mayor of Middlewich, lays a wreath on behalf of the Town Council and the people of Middlewich


Wreath Laying



Photo added 7th August 2016


Many thanks to   CLIFF ASTLES
                              DEVLIN HOBSON
                              MIDDLEWICH TOWN COUNCIL
                              MIDDLEWICH ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
                              GERALDINE WILLIAMS

This Diary entry also appears on our
MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR
site

Monday 4 August 2014

MIDDLEWICH REMEMBERS


Today, August 4th 2014 at 2pm, there will be a short service of Remembrance to mark the day exactly 100 years ago when Britain became involved in the Great War.
Town Crier Devlin Hobson will be there to read a special proclamation marking the occasion.

This Diary entry also appears on our sister site
MIDDLEWICH AND THE GREAT WAR