A Brief Report on The Lancashire Celebratory Meeting held at the Euxton Insty on Saturday November 23rd 2024

 The meeting was attended by twenty-one members and guests, including our speaker,  Peter Houghton, chair of Leyland Historical Society.

The meeting was opened by our President, Sid Calderbank who welcomed all present before handing over to Judith Addison to chair the meeting. 

Apologies had been received from Nick Oldham, Alison Chisholm, Mina Anwar, Dea Parkin, Jeanette Greaves, Cath Cole, Heidi Lancaster, Peter Jones and Tom and Heather Ungless.

Sid then introduced Tony Blagrove, Town Crier, who treated us to a suitably dramatic rendering of the Lancashire Proclamation. Everyone then stood to toast King Charles lll, Duke of Lancaster.

Hotpot was served, accompanied by drinks from the bar, alcoholic or otherwise, followed by a short comfort break.

The Bill O’ Bows award was presented to Michael L. Jackson who had taken over the post of treasurer at a difficult time.

Two nominations for the Angus Butterworth award had been received but the committee had been unable to choose between them, so the award was made jointly to Sally James and Sid Calderbank.

Sid then introduced Peter Houghton, who gave us an illustrated talk on “The Leyland Paralympics.”

Leyland involvement began in 1973, although the movement had begun in 1948, and from 1952 was a day event held at Stoke Mandeville owing to the hospital possessing a stadium. Southport Spinal hospital became involved in 1969, and patients would have to travel. An event lasting over a weekend seemed more desirable, so in 1973, arrangements were made to use the Fox Lane Sports and Social club premises once the cricket season had finished. Accommodation for competitors was at Weeton Army camp.  Peter was appointed treasurer in 1976 and served for 12 years. Fortunately, the committee members possessed a variety of skills and managed to have the event registered as a charity.

Accommodation changed to Washington Hall Fire Brigade Training Centre and the sporting venue to Fulwood Leisure Centre. By this time, teams were arriving from Newcastle, Leasowe and internationally from Sweden, Switzerland and France amongst others. By 1997, the accommodation had moved to the Hutton Police Training Centre and was organised in minute detail having a control room and first-aid room. Judith thanked Peter who received a round of applause. Sid treated us to a C16th dialect poem from Warrington about Gilbert Scott selling a horse and being cheated, much to the disgust of his wife. Then Tony Blagrove declaimed “Fost Day i’ Pit.” The 2024 LAA Anthology was distributed to members and the meeting closed at 3.10pm with Judith wishing everyone a safe journey home.

David Lythgoe

 

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