Can you help us to organise the annual Battle of Nantwich ?
The Holly Holy Day event is staged through the efforts of the Holly Day Society, which is a small group of less than ten unpaid volunteers who are committed to maintaining this special Nantwich tradition, for the good of the local community and local economy. The Society raises the necessary funding, co-ordinates the activities of those taking part, liaises with the local authority and emergency services, and carries out all the work required both before, during and after the event, helped on the day by a number of additional volunteers.
3 years ago the event was close to folding – after enormous personal efforts over the years the numbers of volunteers had dwindled, and finances were at a low ebb. Local authority grant money was shrinking, and the event had become over dependent on money received from those paying to watch the battle, which is naturally a very weather-dependent event. However, a rescue operation was mounted by fresh volunteers, and with help from the Sealed Knot – whose soldiers very much relish their annual pilgrimage to Nantwich, the experience and help of the Crewe and Nantwich Weaver Rotary group and the backing of Nantwich Town Council things were turned around. The then newly-elected MP Edward Timpson agreed to become patron and his office has provided invaluable support and assistance at every turn. More recently, major sponsorship from the Co-Operative Membership has provided better financial stability, though funding still remains a key issue.
Holly Holy Day has now been given wider appeal by having more (mainly free) attractions and becoming an all day event, with the afternoon battle re-enactment as its climax. Not only does this enable more members of the local community to enjoy it, we also attract more visitors to the town which is good for the local economy and helps justify support for the event by local businesses.
The Holly Holy Day Society meets one evening per month through the year to keep track of the actions being carried out by its volunteers, most of whom are squeezing this around full time jobs and families. So what happens behind the scenes?
Well, to begin with the money needs to be found. That means setting a budget, filling in grant and sponsorship applications, and approaching local businesses for practical support or financial help through advertising and so on. The event has to pay for insurance, fencing, toilets and first aid. The Sealed Knot soldiers have to be housed the night before at Malbank school, which incurs hire costs and security charges, and we also need to have food and drink to feed them after the battle. Money has also to be found for publicity, PA announcers and street entertainers, though we are fortunate that many of the staged attractions are performed by volunteer groups. In previous years, we have had to meet the police bill too, though this year they have agreed to provide their support free of charge, which is most appreciated. Conversely however, some of the services provided by Cheshire East council are now chargeable!
In terms of organisation, road and footpath closures have to be applied for and agreed; and permits sought from Cheshire East for use of the Town Centre and Mill Island. Risk assessments have to be prepared and agreement reached on how the battlefield and town centre will be laid out on the day, and the timings arranged. Emergency services approval has to be obtained. The town centre entertainments have to be booked, and staging organised, and the other groups involved such as X Academy, Nantwich Market, Battlefield Trust and Nantwich Players co-ordinated. We need to liaise with the Sealed Knot for their requirements, and approach Nantwich Museum and St Mary's Church for use of their facilities, all of whom are so helpful.
The website has to be maintained and kept up to date – again the work of an unpaid volunteer, Mark Wilcox. The event has to be publicised and press releases issued, posters designed and printed, and of course the programme put together and produced! In the weeks before - usually on a freezing weekend – the closure notices and advertising boards have to be put up by a couple of members.
On the day, the battlefield area has to be prepared and fencing put up. The various attractions have to be co-ordinated and the town centre staging arranged - and then taken down in time to allow the Sealed Knot parade at 1pm. The Pillory has to be unlocked for later use by the Nantwich Players. The horses (kindly provided free of charge by Corelia Maskell-Mosely) have to be brought in for the Sealed Knot's mounted troopers' parade, and steward escorts provided for them. Information has to be provided to the PA announcers, and safety and risk assessment details run through with the volunteer stewards in the town and on Mill Island, where admission booths need to be set up and staffed. The wreaths are brought to the Church Hall (where the VIPs are met and entertained), and the Holly button holes made available for sale. Soup powder, cheese, rolls and orange juice have to be collected. They are taken to Malbank School, where another group of lady volunteers (primarily from the WI), forego the afternoon's entertainment to prepare the food and feed the soldiers after the battle, as well as tidying up afterwards. A similar tidying exercise has to be done on the battlefield too, once its all over.
So as you can see there is a bit more to putting on the event than meets the eye, and it's the result of a lot of hard work by a small team of dedicated individuals, with great background support from local businesses and citizens who help in so many ways to make it a real community event. Without this work and support, Holly Holy Day would simply not happen any more, and we need to share the workload more widely if it is to continue. We are always therefore looking for individuals to help us with either the planning and organising throughout the year, or with the fetching and carrying and general helping on the days leading up to the event and on the day itself - every little helps, as the saying goes. For more information contact us via the website www.hollyholyday.org.uk or on 07711-402386 (Shaun Cafferty).
