Preston People' Festival's homage to past heroes

Preston hosted its annual People's Festival in the Flag Market and Church Street. Sonnenberg on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK 30-9-2017placeholder image
Preston hosted its annual People's Festival in the Flag Market and Church Street. Sonnenberg on stage. PIC BY ROB LOCK 30-9-2017

Crowds gathered at Preston People' Festival over the weekend to celebrate the city's past industrial might.

The brand new one-day community festival saw folk flock to the Flag Market, Lune Street, and Winckley Square to witness a range of contrasting and complimentary events.

One of the festival organisers, Janet Newsham, said: “We had such a good day. It was nice to see people coming to the Flag Market to watch the different acts.”

The aim of the event was to celebrate the ‘people’s heroes’ of the past. Winckley Square saw the return of the city’s suffragettes, an homage to Edith Rigby who set up St Peter’s School in 1899, allowing girls to meet and continue with their education beyond the age of 11.

Preston hosted its annual People's Festival in the Flag Market and Church Street. Sonnenberg on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK 30-9-2017placeholder image
Preston hosted its annual People's Festival in the Flag Market and Church Street. Sonnenberg on stage. PIC BY ROB LOCK 30-9-2017

The Flag Market treated the public to live music from the likes of Worldwise Samba and Preston People’s Choir.

There was also a street performance of the 1842 Lune Street protest, when people took to the streets to protest at wage cuts of up to 25 per cent.

Festival goers were invited to don fancy dress.

Rob Gregson and Charlotte Berry from the Tin Can People Theatre Company perform a 19th Century political discussion Photos: ROB LOCKplaceholder image
Rob Gregson and Charlotte Berry from the Tin Can People Theatre Company perform a 19th Century political discussion Photos: ROB LOCK
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