Coverage by Gary Skentelbery & Paul Jackson
VIDEO & PICTURES:- IT was rather a strange feeling today as thousands of people took to the streets for Warrington’s 184th Walking Day – with not a brolly or cloud in sight.
Sunglasses and sun screen were the order of the day with temperatures soaring up to 27 degrees.
All very different to the usual forecasts of overcast skies and – if you were lucky – light rain or showers.
Umbrellas and raincoats were left at home and instead the walkers were carrying plentiful supplies of cooling drinks.
Road closures started to come into force from 7.30am as churches in outlying parts of the town prepared to walk into the town centre.
Children and adults from most of the town’s churches, Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies were taking part in the Walk, together with a number of marching bands. As usual the parade was led by the contingent from Warrington Parish Church.
The Mayor, Cllr Karen Mundry took the salute from a raised dais outside the Town Hall’s famous Golden Gates and after several thousand walkers passed she joined the end of the walk with her consort son Jason and attendants.
Many town centre roads were closed to vehicles but buses were running, using diverted routes as an estimated 3,500- 4,000 people took part in the walk.
Mayor, Cllr Karen Mundry, said: “It has been an absolutely fantastic Walking Day. It was lovely to see so many families, children and people of different faiths and cultures coming together for this wonderful occasion.
“I felt very emotional, waving to everyone as they walked by. It brought lots of memories flooding back of when I was a child, taking part in the procession.
“I’d like to thank everyone who played their part in making the event such a success, including all of the emergency services and the people who worked behind the scenes to ensure the event ran smoothly – especially on such a hot day.”
Walking Day has been traditionally held in Warrington for more than 100 years, as a celebration of faith and community and once again, people of all ages, including faith groups, schoolchildren, musicians, scouts and brownies took part in the event.
Always one of the most vibrant and exciting days in Warrington’s calendar, Walking Day was established as a step towards the erasure of historical differences between the various churches and their ecumenical aims.
