Today is a Bank Holiday and it was also the annual Whittle-le-Woods Duck Race in the River Lostock. There were lots of events on Waterhouse Green and the 'Stone the Crows' dance group entertained the crowds. It turned out to be one of the most successful and best attended events since it started.

Burgers and Hot Dogs

Start of the Duck Race

Waiting for the ducks at the finish line

Stone the Crows

I was out for a cycle ride to the east of Darwen and decided to visit Hoddlesden as it's been a while since I'd been. It was a windy day with occasional patches of pleasant sunshine. Through the village I climbed the steep road up Pickup Bank and returned via Belthorn.

The War Memorial at Hoddlesden

Sam Hanna (1903-1996) was a Burnley born amateur filmmaker whose collection of 587 reels of mostly 16mm film was acquired by the North West Film Archive in Nov 2005.
Sam was a teacher and against strong opposition from the education authorities, pioneered the use of film in the classroom.
He is perhaps best known for the Old Crafts series which forms a unique record of such long-forgotten crafts such as brush-making, coopering, clog-making and charcoal burning.

Mid morning drove to Caton with Roy to meet Andy who let us in to the underground Lune Pumping Station which is also a store for many old documents. We were looking for anything relevant to Slaidburn and the Stocks Reservoir project. Unbelievably Roy found some drawings relevant to the project dating from 1911.

Some of the thousands of documents in store.

The massive underground pumping hall. In the middle is the shaft down to the water intake which is over 30m deep.

Late morning went for a cycle ride via Horwich then Farnworth, Bolton to take some photos of ‘Southfield’ house which is now Southfields Restaurant. It was the home of Annie Walker and was where the wedding reception was held after her marriage to Herbert Parke of Withnell Fold in 1887. I wanted to take a photo of the area where the group photo was taken.

This evening drove to Preston for a conducted tour of St Walberge’s Church by Dr David Hunt of the South Ribble Museum. The Church is on Pedder St. in the Maudlan area of Preston. The first part was built in 1854 on the site of the original Leper Hospital. The impressive spire was added later. It is 94m (309ft) high and is the tallest structure in Lancashire and the third tallest spire in England. Unfortunately we couldn’t go up the spire as a pair of Peregrine Falcons was nesting in it. We were able to stand outside and see the birds swooping around the tower. The main roof is supported on 14 hammerbeams and is extremely impressive. I’d assumed that St Walburge was a male saint but it turns out St Walburge's is dedicated to Saint Walpurga, an English saint, born 710 AD., daughter of St. Richard, a Saxon King. So, Saint Walburge was a woman!

I joined the Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club walking group for their monthly walk. We drove to Belmont then did a circular 6mile walk through Belmont and over Winter Hill. I'd walked to Withnell Fole to get a lift to Belmont. Back in the village I walked home via Miller Wood and over Denham Hill.

Withnell Fold walkers on Winter Hill

Descending back to Belmont.

The footpath emerges from Miller Wood.

The bluebells while walking home through Miller Wood.

I was out for a bike ride through Wigan and Up Holland. As I left the delightful Up Holland I found myself cycling though the design desert that is Skelmersdale. There was no provision for cyclists and Iwas gled to get out of the place and continue to Ormskirk where I walked and wheeled my bike through the town centre and open market. I returned home through Rufford and Leyland.

Entering Ormskirk is this statue of Benjamin Disraeli the Earl of Beaconsfield.

Ormskirk market

Music in Ormskirk

This evening I attended a presentation 'The Man Who Cycled the World' by Mark Beaumont at Burnley Mechanics. I first saw Mark's TV programmes a couple of months ago when he filmed his bike ride through the Americas. His cycling achievements are amazing and he is a very good speaker as well.

Mark during the book signing after the talk.

Mark shows a picture of himself aged 10.

One of Mark's bikes

10 Firwood Fold, Bolton.
Birthplace of Samuel Crompton (1753-1827)

Stone marker above the window.

It was nice to return to the White Wells Cafe and Spa above Ilkley. This time I was with Barbara and we had our lunch there.

Pie, peas and mash at the White Wells Cafe.

Stalybridge Railway station and Clock

It was near this spot where Jack Judge was inspired (partly for a bet) to compose the famous marching song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" in 1912. it was performed for the first time at the Grand Theatre Stalybridge.

St Helen's Well in Great Asby

ST HELEN'S WELL
Greet Asby fwolk rowl'd up ther sleeves
Ta clear t'owd well fra kelter and seeves,
Till yance mair clean fresh watter ran
A drink ta quench baith beast an' man.

The route

The Village Polling Station was open at 7am so I had a wander up at about half past to cast my votes for the Parliamentary Election and also the Local Council Election. There was no excuse for not knowing where the Polling Station was.

Early evening I went for a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool canal. I was surprised to see that nobody else was out walking. There were still lots of ducks out for company.