Mayor marks Lancashire Day 2020

Scroll down for Video

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, read out the Lancashire proclamation and raised the Flag of Lancashire in Littleborough and Castleton today (Friday 27 November) to mark Lancashire Day 2020.

Displaying the Red Rose of Lancaster, a flag raising is held every year on 27 November to commemorate the day in 1295 when Lancashire first sent representatives to Parliament. Lancashire Day was first held in 1996.

The Littleborough event is arranged annually by members of Littleborough Events and Association Forum (LEAF) at Littleborough War Memorial, but this year is the first time the Red Rose of Lancaster has been raised at Castleton's village green.

 

 

Mayor Sheerin said: "These were unannounced events so there was no crowding.

"I had an early morning rise, and was so pleased to be a part of this for Lancashire Day. It was special to me to be invited onto new patch in Littleborough, as I have not raised the Lancashire flag here before this year.

"I'm hoping that displaying the Flag of Lancashire in Castleton can become an annual sight at the village green."

Lancashire Day Proclamation

On 27 November 1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as 'The Model Parliament'.

The Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on 27 November:

To the people of the city and county palatine of Lancaster

Greetings!

Know ye that this day, November 27 in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty, the 69th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

God bless Lancashire and God save the Queen, Duke of Lancaster.