Yesterday, Sunday the 15th of May, was Pentecost Sunday, and in the Masterflex area that means the start of the run up to one thing: Whit Friday, the Whit Walks and the annual brass band competitions.

Lancashire has a long tradition of celebration over this period, culminating in the Whit Friday ‘Scholars Walks’, dating back to 1821, which started to commemorate the coronation of George IV. All the children would have new clothes, whilst locals, friends and relatives would give a penny ‘for the new clothes’ and local churches and chapels would employ bands to lead the processions.

Since 1870, a brass band competition has been held in Stalybridge, with unconnected but similar events springing up in Uppermill and Mossley. These have now morphed into the widely known Annual Whit Friday Band Contests, with bands coming from far and wide to compete, and attracting thousands of visitors to the area every year.
Each contest is separate, with the ‘organised chaos’ of making the circuit of the various competitions, unloading, marching and playing, and packing up again to head off to the next of the 24 separate competitions being seen as all part of the fun.

Mills and employers in the area would traditionally shut down for this week, but sadly no more. Masterflex will still be working throughout, supplying hoses and ducting for many applications, from Dust Removal to High Temperature Fume Extraction.

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER
Tel: 0161 626 8066 Fax: 0161 626 9066

Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm

Email: marketing@masterflex-uk.com or www.masterflex-uk.com