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Weekend of partying as borough celebrates

Eleanor Harte
1/ 7/2004

ACCRINGTON town centre will be transformed this weekend as revellers gather for the biggest party Hyndburn has ever seen.

A packed programme of events has been organised to celebrate the borough's 30th anniversary and residents are being urged to join in the fun.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "We want everyone to help commemorate 30 years of the close-knit community that is Hyndburn today."

"This will be a fantastic weekend for all the family to enjoy. It's our chance to celebrate Hyndburn - and what better way to show our feelings for the borough at a time when it has never been more under threat?"

Tomorrow will see the new Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Miles Parkinson, officially installed during the annual Mayor-making ceremony.

This will feature a procession led by the Accrington Pipe Band, a traditional civic service with choirs of local schoolchildren and a civic lunch.

Residents can also visit Accrington Library, where they will have the chance to make their mark on local history by submitting ideas for artwork to decorate the area around St James Square, where the redundant fountains are being replaced with a landscaped area and old steam engine cog.

Artist Jill Randall has been commissioned to create metal cut-out panels for the rear of the area and residents are being invited to put forward ideas that illustrate Hyndburn's past, present and future.

Councillor Britcliffe said: "It's marvellous to see the transformation of this recent eyesore. We need these ideas from local people to make the site far more attractive and what better time to do it that during the Hyndburn 30 celebrations?"

Other events throughout the day include children's activities at Accrington Library, a radio roadshow on Broadway and a Seventies night in Accrington Town Hall.

On Sunday a memorial to the Accrington Pals will be unveiled at St James' Church gardens.

A family funfair will be in the town centre all weekend and there will be a continental market.

The celebrations have attracted extra cash from the Home Front Fund and also have the support of businesses and groups including Oswaldtwistle Mills, Naylers Printers, Accrington and Rossendale College and Accrington Flower and Garden Club.