Marple Bridge Winter Wonderland 2005

Winter Wonderland has been a Marple Bridge tradition since 1986, giving local traders and others in the Marple Bridge Association a chance to say 'Thank You' to the village community for supporting them throughout the previous year.  Town Street is closed for the afternoon, and transformed into a Winter Wonderland where young and old come together for a festive fun day.

Along Town Street there are many craft, souvenir and food stalls providing mulled wine, mince pies, hot roasted chestnuts, candy floss etc. as well as more substantial snacks.

For the children Father Christmas is in attendance and they can also enjoy the children's roundabout, face painting, a Clown Workshop, jugglers etc.

The afternoon started with a Parade which left Brabyn's Park led by Father Christmas and the Snow Queen in a Horse Drawn Carriage.  After the parade, the multi-talented performers listed below kept the estimated 5,000 visitors entertained until the carol singing around the Christmas tree towards the end of the afternoon.   

2005 Star Celebrity Guest
Tom Hudson better known as Baz Wainwright in Grange Hill

Tom has just completed a new series of Grange Hill for Mersey Television which will be on your screens shortly. Tom who lives in Worsley trained at Manchester's Laine-Johnson Theatre School which has produced other famous names such as Tina O'Brien and Lisa Riley.

Marple Brass was formed in 1982 as a junior feeder band to The Marple Band. In 1986 as the Marple 'B' Band it continued to work it’s way up the promotion ladder of success,  twice representing the North West in the London finals of the Championships of Great Britain.  In 1997 the Band was renamed to it’s present reincarnation The Hawk Green (Marple) Band.  At the start of 2005 Phil Pavey took over the role of conductor with a busy schedule of engagements including playing in various parks in the summer, several “Last Night of the Proms” and Christmas Concerts

Heartbeat Chorus is a ladies Barber's Shop group formed nine years ago in New Mills by their dynamic Musical Director Lesley Carson and has grown from strength to strength starting with just six members, now having over forty. Heartbeat sing a diverse range of songs, entertaining audiences with close harmony unaccompanied music.  The Chorus has done well in competitions both in the UK and overseas.  

Probably the most hyphenated Morris Men in the world, the Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris Men were formed in 1975, and have become well known, with their colourful and traditional outfits, around the Peak District in the Summer and outside many local hostelries on Monday nights.  Since 1980 they have been members of the Morris Ring and regularly visit other areas of the country with their fertility dances.

The Powder Kegs are a Border Morris Side based in Whaley Bridge. The name comes from local links with gunpowder factories beside the Fernilee Reservoir.  The factories were built close to the reservoir, so that in the case of an explosion, water from the reservoir could be used to put out the fire.

You don't have to own a classic vehicle to join the Hare & Hounds Classic Vehicles Club, you just need to be interested in old vehicles. Since its foundation the club has expanded to embrace many types of vehicles, virtually anything 'old' on wheels!  It is a family orientated club, where age and sex is irrelevant and everyone is encouraged to join in.

This year sees the return of local band leader Ged Hone, who played at some of our early Winter Wonderlands, but his busy schedule has kept him away from us for a couple of years.  Since 1874, four generations of Ged’s family have been supplying music to Cheshire and beyond.  Ged will be entertaining you with a trio, playing some of the great jazz classics of yesteryear, as heard this year at the Chelsea Flower Show, and on the Orient Express to name but two.

When local lads Pete, Rob, Andy, Dan & Dunc leave college, they metamorphose into The Headlines, a rock band which is rapidly gaining an enviable reputation amongst those who know. According to Myspace Music their style is “Stomplicated angular post-indie power-pop jazz”.  Judge for yourself!

Also making music will be Lisa Brown  Who?  Lisa Brown is not a person but a four piece band from Stockport, being tipped for success on the BBC Manchester website at the moment.  Keep an eye on them, the’ll be going places soon

We are very pleased to have The Ludworth Primary School Choir once again to take part in Winter Wonderland.  The choir consists of about 60 children aged between 7 and 11, who practice each week and all enjoy singing.  They sing a range of music ranging from multicultural to pop music.  The choir is always very busy at Christmas time, performing in local residential homes, St Georges Church, Stockport and taking part in the Christingle service at St Pauls Church Compstall.

Also performing today are some of the Brabyns Preparatory School junior children singing and playing a selection of their festive favourites.  Performing Arts are an integral part of the school week at Brabyns, with many children choosing to sing, play brass, piano, woodwind, percussion or the guitar. The school offers the children many varied extra-curricular clubs, including ‘X Factor’, where junior children can enjoy performing, while infants sing their socks off at ‘Popsters’!  The dance and drama enthusiasts meet weekly, benefiting from expert training and enjoying the opportunity to display their developing talents both inside and outside of school.

Click image to enlarge

Back to Winter Wonderland Home >>>