Marple Bridge Winter Wonderland 2006
Twenty years is a long time. 1986 was the year that Hector Leigh and Ian Wilson hatched the idea of Marple Bridge Association during their lunch hour in the Royal Scot. Hector and his wife Pam had `Town and Country Clothes' which was where 'Coop Pharmacy' is now. Ian Wilson was the bank manager of the branch of National Westminster Bank which occupied the premises where `The Maple Tree' Chinese restaurant is now.
They asked Nigel Chadwick if he would be prepared to be acting chairman to get things started. He recalls being both flattered to be asked and suspicious, (as to why they had asked him) in equal measure! Hector became the first secretary and Ian treasurer. The first Christmas event that subsequently became Winter Wonderland was on the second Saturday in December 1986.
Everybody dressed in fancy dress, the shopkeepers provided complimentary mulled wine and mince pies, and the main attraction was Mellor Ladies Choir who entertained us with a selection of carols, accompanied by Marple Brass Band. The turnout was better than we had hoped for, and more enthusiastic than the event deserved, but was nothing compared to the number of people who come now. Just as well really, because it would be some years before shutting Town Street to vehicles became an option, so everyone who came to enjoy the event had to keep an eye out for the through traffic!
People and businesses have come and gone since then. Ian Wilson and Hector Leigh have both sadly passed away, but what they started has lasted two decades and culminated in
MARPLE BRIDGE WINTER WONDERLAND - 9th December 2006
The procession starts at 1.10pm being led by the magnificent Black Feathers team of four Belgium Blacks (Friesian) horses pulling a carriage. Riding in the carriage will be Father Christmas with the Snow Queen and Princesses.
Mange tout! This year we have as our star attraction la Crème de la menthe.
Arriving in his familiar yellow Reliant "Trotters Independent Trading Co" van direct from Nelson Mandela House in Peckham, Del Boy will be visiting Winter Wonderland for the first time. Don’t be a plonker, trés bien ensemble. Town Street will become Hooky Street for the day. Look out for telescopic Christmas trees as used by the Archbishop of Canterbury, or lovely jubbly Festive Pine Candles. Have your photograph taken with your favourite cockney wheeler dealer for a lasting souvenir and have a pukka afternoon.
Formed in 1985, the Pantonic All Stars Caribbean Steel Orchestra was created for the benefit of children in Stockport including support for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Bone Marrow Trust Fund. The Orchestra has performed abroad on many occasions, including Heilbronn, Germany, Barbados, Beziers and Valras Plage in France, and taken part in the National 'Music for Youth' Festival where they were presented with the Outstanding Performance Award twice and have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, London. In 1991 the band played for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth when she attended a ceremony in Mersey Square. The Orchestra has also been featured several times on television and radio in arts festival and youth programmes including Blue Peter (twice!) and the 'Young Entertainer of the Year' semi finals on BBC.
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 as conductor with a busy schedule of engagements including playing in various parks in the summer, several “Last Night of the Proms” and Christmas Concerts.
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.
When the Stockport Morris Men reformed in 1984 the main membership comprised Dads whose offspring were enjoying themselves too much in the guise of "The Fosbrooks". The team dances in the style of the North West Morris of Cheshire.
Formed from the dark fires of 2005, the Freely Moving band have grown from their first incarnation as a three piece to a new and exciting four piece lineup.
Their music swirls and pounds with guitar and piano driven hooks which will swirl and pound inside your head long after you leave the venue. Freely Moving is about keeping it simple, live, energetic, electric, and always moving freely.
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.
WINTER WONDERLAND PROGRAMME
1.10 Fancy dress parade (Theme: Disney Characters) leaves Brabyns Park
led by Father Christmas and the Snow Queen in her Horse Drawn Carriage
1:30 Opening Ceremony (Main Stage)
1:55 Pantonic All Stars Steel Band (Main Stage)
2:00 Chapel-en-le Frith Morris Men (Maple Tree)
2:20 Stockport Morris Men (Greenhouse)
2:25 Brabyns Prep School Choir (Main Stage)
2:40 Chapel-en-le Frith Morris Men (Browse)
2.50 Freely Moving Band (Royal Scot)
2.55 Hawk Green Brass Band (Main Stage)
3:00 Stockport Morris Men (Norfolk Arms)
3:20 Pantonic All Stars Steel Band (Main Stage)
3:45 Tree Lighting Ceremony
Carol Singing with the Hawk Green Brass Band (Xmas Tree)
Freely Moving Band (Royal Scot)
Stockport Morris Men (Browse)
All afternoon Visits to Father Christmas and Del Boy
Events organised by shops and local traders including free mulled wine and mince pies.
Multiple craft and souvenir stalls, Raffle, Children's Roundabout, Tombola, Face Painting etc.
Events at St. Martin’s Church and United Reformed Church
N.B. This Programme is subject to change. Times are approximate.
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