Holly Holy Day organisers watching the weather !
Organisers of Holly Holy Day are keeping a close eye on the weather, ready for the traditional celebration of the civil war siege and battle in Nantwich, being held this year on Saturday 21st January.
Holly Holy Day Society spokesman Shaun Cafferty said
"A repeat of the wind and rainstorms of recent days would be more than a nuisance, but this is the 40th anniversary of the event being commemorated with a battle re-enactment and over the years we have got used to dealing with all sorts of weather! The last 2 years were very cold, as it was for the original battle in 1644, and the biggest problem was looking after the performers on the stage in the morning - it can be hard to play a musical instrument with numb fingers!
The Sealed Knot soldiers who parade into town and then 'fight' on Mill Island will do so in practically any weather conditions though, and many of them will be travelling long distances to do so. In the past we have seen contingents from as far away as Cornwall and Aberdeen. We will just need to keep an eye on the level of the river and the ground condition of spectator areas, but this is something we have worked with safely and successfully in the past, and can adjust to. We will be keeping our fingers crossed anyway!"
The Society have transformed the event in recent years into an all day affair, which has brought a welcome boost of extra visitors to the town, and made it less weather dependent.
Shaun explains
"There are many attractions now in the town centre during the morning before the battle, most of them completely free and designed for people of all ages. Last year many people from Crewe, Middlewich, Sandbach and other nearby towns chose to shop in Nantwich that day, and to enjoy the fun. This year there will again be a number of acts on the stage, together with a children's entertainer, and a variety of street amusements. There are demonstrations of musketry and wargaming at the Museum and the popular Living History exhibition will be with us again, where 17th Century life is re-enacted, as well as music from that period. Colour will be added by the Town Crier, and the Mounted Civil War troopers, and this year we will see traditional rustic entertainments on the streets too. We just want everyone to come out and have a good time, and it needn't cost anyone a penny!"
Programmes for the event are now available free of charge from a number of Nantwich shops and pubs as well as the tourist information centre at the Civic Hall and the museum. They are also available from the Martin&Co offices on the Nantwich Rd in Crewe and will be available on the day as well.
