St Helens Pub Revives Years Old Traditional 'Whit Walk'
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A St Helens pub at the foot of the colossal public art sculpture the Dream - dubbed the 'new Angel of the North' - helped revive a traditional celebration last seen 20 years ago.
A procession of two brass bands, a May queen and 230 school children in fancy dress made their way from the former Sutton Manor Colliery Gates - which closed in 1989 - to the 66ft sculpture before arriving at the Marston's-owned Smithy Manor for the celebratory Whitsun Walk.
A Punch and Judy show, face painting and a disco as well as free lunchboxes were provided for families visiting the pub - and an outside bar was also erected for the thirsty adults taking part in the walk.
Made up of 90 individual concrete panels the Dream is part of Channel 4's The Big Art Project and was commissioned in partnership between the show and St Helens Council. It is being brought in sections to the of the former colliery, which at one time employed some 1,500 miners and produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal a year until it was closed in 1989.
Neil Halpin, licensee of the Smithy Manor said: "I think it is fantastic that we can revive an age old tradition, the customary Whit Walk hasn't happened since the mine shut in 1989. Everyone had a great time on the day and really helped bring back a community spirit that I've not seen for decades."
