A royal visit and a live TV broadcast are rumoured as part of the celebrations of Preston’s 2102 Guild.
City council bosses have announced their plans for the festivities which begin on the 3rd September 2012.
It follows a rule established in 1562 that celebrations should start on the first Monday after the Feast of Decollation of St John the Baptist.
Originally formed to look after the interests of local traders, merchants and craftsmen, today the Guild is a vibrant and multicultural celebration for the North West.
The 2012 Guild will open with its traditional, colourful procession and end with a firework display and civic reception.
Three balls, and two church services at Preston Minister, have also been confirmed for the next Guild.
Other rumoured projects include a Mr or Mrs Preston, and a building to serve as a legacy to the 2012 Guild.
In a bid to inject some spark into the landmark tradition councillors have discussed plans to employ a Mr or Mrs Preston as Guild director.
The Mr or Mrs Preston who will take up their post before the end of this year, is expected to earn a salary of more than 100,000.
Although no names have been released yet councillors are looking for a Preston equivalent to Sir Bob Scott, who was the mastermind behind the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Also rumoured is a new public building to be built to serve as a legacy to the 2012 Guild.
In September last year council members started looking for a suitable project to commemorate the celebrations.
The Guild Hall was constructed to mark the 1272 Guild, but due to delays it did not open un till after the celebrations. For the 1992 Guild no lasting memory was created.
Public art, conference facilities or a new area of parkland are just dome of the ideas put forward by the council so far.
Local people are now being asked what they would like to see to mark the Guild before any final decision is made.
To involve the people of Preston, market research will be carried out before plans are set down. The research will include what the peoples exceptions are and what events they would want to see.
Neil Young, Head of Member and Civic Services said: “The results of the consultations that we have held with the public to see what they want and what expectations they have of the 2012 Guild will be examined in May”
“The Capital of Culture organisers have also provided a help on how to arrange the next Guild properly and gain sponsorship”.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Guild marks a vibrant and multicultural tradition for the Northwest
Despite it being 4 years away Preston is already gearing up for the festivities of the 2012 Guild.
A royal visit, and a live broadcast from the city, are just part of the plans rumoured to inject some spark into the landmark tradition.
The celebrations start on 3rd September, the first Monday after the Feast of Decollation of St John the Baptist, following a rule established in 1562.
Dating back to 1328 when the first Guild was held, it was originally formed to look after the interest of local traders, merchants and craftsmen.
It worked as what is known today as a ‘closed shop’ allowing only members of the Guild to carry out business in Preston.
Today, the celebration brings the whole community together with a series of events and attractions.
The 2012 Guild will open with its traditional procession to reflect Preston’s civic pride and close with a firework display and civic reception.
In the past traders marched through the city wearing colourful costumes and carrying banners of their trades, to demonstrate the city’s power.
As well as the traditional processions three balls, two church services at Preston Minister and a reception for overseas visitors are also expected to take place at the next Guild.
Traditionally traders names were put on a Guild roll and newcomers were only able to trade with the Approval of the Guild.
Its regularly updated list ensured that traders were not falsely claming the right to trade.
Once a trader became a member they were required to come to Preston, to swear loyalty to the Mayor and the Guild Merchant by paying a small fee.
The gatherings for renewing membership were infrequent, the first recorded Guild celebration was in 1397, when it was two centuries old.
From 1542 celebrations took place every twenty years, for a father to pass on membership to his son.
In 1942, the sequence was interrupted for the first time in 400 years due to the Second World War.
With the UK holding the Olympic Games in the same year, sporting events are rumoured to take particular significance in the 2012 Guild.
The Queen, who is expected to open the Olympic Games, like Kings and Queens before her, will be invited to become patron of the Guild.
Along with the celebrations and civic pride, the Guild also provides a lasting legacy for Preston.
The city’s Guild Hall was built to mark the 1972 Guild, but due to delays did not open until after the celebrations. For Preston’s 1992 Guild no legacy was created.
Future legacies for the 2012 Guild are yet to be revealed, but local people are to have a hand in deciding what it should be.
So far public art, conference facilities or a new area parkland are part of the ideas put forward by the council.
Social events are the key to the success of the Guild. A highlight was the Mayoral banquet held after the civic procession on the opening day. Evening entertainment was provided by dances and costume balls.
The fame of Preston’s Guild is spread far and wide. 1782’s Guild was no exception, with the main roads leading into Preston, being blocked by traffic jams.
In the past when the railways were introduced each Guild special trains carried crowds into the city.
Every 20 years the Guild has adapted to change. Including new trades, events, new ways of celebrating the present.
The Guild’s rarity, made it an opportunity for feasting and social gatherings.
Celebrations were more than a way of showing the authority of the trades and craftsmen, it showed the importance of the town itself.
For five centuries the Guild Merchant controlled trade in Preston. In 1790 there was freedom of trade in the town, but the Guild tradition still continued, as it had become an important social event.
Nowadays the Guild is a vibrant and multicultural celebration for the North West. The next Guild to be held in 2012 is dubbed the ‘Peoples Guild‘.
It will involve asking the people of Preston what their expectations are and what they would want to see.
Market research will be carried out before councillors meet to discuss plans later this year.
Councillor Ken Hudson, leader of the council and chairmen of the Guild committee, said that the next Guild will be the peoples Guild.
He said: “ The council will do everything to ensure that Preston’s 2012 Guild is the most memorable yet by involving the people of Preston”
“Now that Preston has been made a city since we last held a Guild in 1992 people will except something different to what we did then. W have got to think a bit bigger for the 2012 Guild”.
A royal visit, and a live broadcast from the city, are just part of the plans rumoured to inject some spark into the landmark tradition.
The celebrations start on 3rd September, the first Monday after the Feast of Decollation of St John the Baptist, following a rule established in 1562.
Dating back to 1328 when the first Guild was held, it was originally formed to look after the interest of local traders, merchants and craftsmen.
It worked as what is known today as a ‘closed shop’ allowing only members of the Guild to carry out business in Preston.
Today, the celebration brings the whole community together with a series of events and attractions.
The 2012 Guild will open with its traditional procession to reflect Preston’s civic pride and close with a firework display and civic reception.
In the past traders marched through the city wearing colourful costumes and carrying banners of their trades, to demonstrate the city’s power.
As well as the traditional processions three balls, two church services at Preston Minister and a reception for overseas visitors are also expected to take place at the next Guild.
Traditionally traders names were put on a Guild roll and newcomers were only able to trade with the Approval of the Guild.
Its regularly updated list ensured that traders were not falsely claming the right to trade.
Once a trader became a member they were required to come to Preston, to swear loyalty to the Mayor and the Guild Merchant by paying a small fee.
The gatherings for renewing membership were infrequent, the first recorded Guild celebration was in 1397, when it was two centuries old.
From 1542 celebrations took place every twenty years, for a father to pass on membership to his son.
In 1942, the sequence was interrupted for the first time in 400 years due to the Second World War.
With the UK holding the Olympic Games in the same year, sporting events are rumoured to take particular significance in the 2012 Guild.
The Queen, who is expected to open the Olympic Games, like Kings and Queens before her, will be invited to become patron of the Guild.
Along with the celebrations and civic pride, the Guild also provides a lasting legacy for Preston.
The city’s Guild Hall was built to mark the 1972 Guild, but due to delays did not open until after the celebrations. For Preston’s 1992 Guild no legacy was created.
Future legacies for the 2012 Guild are yet to be revealed, but local people are to have a hand in deciding what it should be.
So far public art, conference facilities or a new area parkland are part of the ideas put forward by the council.
Social events are the key to the success of the Guild. A highlight was the Mayoral banquet held after the civic procession on the opening day. Evening entertainment was provided by dances and costume balls.
The fame of Preston’s Guild is spread far and wide. 1782’s Guild was no exception, with the main roads leading into Preston, being blocked by traffic jams.
In the past when the railways were introduced each Guild special trains carried crowds into the city.
Every 20 years the Guild has adapted to change. Including new trades, events, new ways of celebrating the present.
The Guild’s rarity, made it an opportunity for feasting and social gatherings.
Celebrations were more than a way of showing the authority of the trades and craftsmen, it showed the importance of the town itself.
For five centuries the Guild Merchant controlled trade in Preston. In 1790 there was freedom of trade in the town, but the Guild tradition still continued, as it had become an important social event.
Nowadays the Guild is a vibrant and multicultural celebration for the North West. The next Guild to be held in 2012 is dubbed the ‘Peoples Guild‘.
It will involve asking the people of Preston what their expectations are and what they would want to see.
Market research will be carried out before councillors meet to discuss plans later this year.
Councillor Ken Hudson, leader of the council and chairmen of the Guild committee, said that the next Guild will be the peoples Guild.
He said: “ The council will do everything to ensure that Preston’s 2012 Guild is the most memorable yet by involving the people of Preston”
“Now that Preston has been made a city since we last held a Guild in 1992 people will except something different to what we did then. W have got to think a bit bigger for the 2012 Guild”.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Cigarettes to be sold under shop counters
An article on BBC revealed that, the government are considering a ban on displaying cigarettes in shops.
The ban, under government plans being considered in England, is hoped to cut smoking and discourage children from starting. Tougher controls on vending machines in pubs and restaurants are also being discussed, and the public will be consulted on the proposals soon.
The smoking ban was understandable as it removes the possibility of passive smoking in the workplace, but a cigarette display ban is harder to understand.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was “vital” to teach children that “smoking is bad”.
“If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I’m willing to do that,” she said.
It is important to teach children that smoking damages you health, but the link between doing that and the removal of cigarettes from display is hard to see.
Blogger of the Confused Conservative said “If people want to smoke, are over the age of 18, they should be able to walk into a shop and purchase cigarettes. While perhaps putting them under the counter is would not require a huge amount of additional effort on the part of the smoker, it does seem that the government really is crossing the line”.
There is already an array of measures in place Cigarette advertising is already banned, the age limit has been increased to 18, there is additional tax payable, there is a smoking ban affecting many places, there are warning labels on packs of cigarette. Will this further measure really help? Is it necessary?
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Monday, 25 February 2008
Pro-anorexia site clampdown urged
Another great piece from BBC News on the health community's efforts to remove "pro-anorexic" groups from popular social network utilities like Facebook and MySpace was published yesterday.
BBC once again shares some of the relevant data. Research has shown that young women exposed to “pro-ana” websites felt more negative, had lower self-esteem, perceived themselves as heavier and were more likely to compare their bodies with other women.
Dr Ty Glover, consultant psychiatrist on the Eating Disorders Unit at Cheadle Royal Hospital, said it had proven difficult to shut down “pro-ana” websites, but the situation was slightly different for sites such as Facebook.
"Social networking sites can censor their material and we expect them to act responsibly," he said. We are horrified at the content of these sites and the tips they give on how to be thin. People with eating disorders are extremely vulnerable and often have very low self esteem, so pro-ana and pro-mia sites can be very damaging as they are sending out the wrong advice."
Fellow blogger David Wescott said: “Facebook and MySpace are currently hosting groups that tell sick girls, on the brink of starvation, to ignore health care professionals and continue to fast, and even provide advice on what illegal drugs to use to get thinner. And they apparently think that's OK, because it's been brought to their attention several times and they've done virtually nothing about it”.
BBC asked MySpace and Facebook to respond to the article MySpace said they're resisting censorship but at least they're doing something:"It's often very tricky to distinguish between support groups for users who are suffering from eating disorders and groups that might be termed as "pro" anorexia or bulimia. Rather than censor these groups, we are working to create partnerships with organisations like B-eat. We have also placed ads on pro-anorexia profiles for up to a year from the National Eating Disorder Association to target these groups with positive messaging about how and where they can get help."
Facebook, however, gave the same stock answer to BBC that has been used several times
“Many Facebook groups relate to controversial topics; this alone is not a reason to disable a group. In cases where content is reported and found to violate the site's terms of use, Facebook will remove it."
“Many Facebook groups relate to controversial topics; this alone is not a reason to disable a group. In cases where content is reported and found to violate the site's terms of use, Facebook will remove it."
Blogger David Wescott goes on to say: “Of course, "harmful" content does indeed violate Facebook's terms of use, and the medical community has been talking about the harm of pro-ana sites since at least 2002. As for censoring "controversial" content, we all remember that Facebook had no problem banning a member for posting a picture of herself breastfeeding two children”.
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Tesco backs cheap alcohol limits
Supermarket giant Tesco has agreed to work with the government on possible legalisation that would limit its ability to sell cut price alcohol.
The announcement comes after the British Medical Association, which says cut-price offers fuel binge drinking, has said it wants tougher restrictions on how alcohol is sold. Tesco says ministers must take the lead because competition laws stop retailers from artificially raising prices.
The UK's biggest retailer says it would be "commercial suicide" to act alone. And it said it was too simplistic to blame price alone for binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. However, the supermarket giant said it was prepared to take an active role in discussions about possible legislation on pricing and promotions.
Fellow blogger Chritian Quoter disagreed with the British Medical Association by saying “People who want to get drunk will do so. You cannot price them out of it without penalising the vast majority who are responsible consumers. Enforcing the laws on drunken disorderly behaviour is the remedy not curbs on sales, fiscal or otherwise. My experience is that the cheapest beer is not from Tesco at all.”
In December, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "It's not right that we still have three for two, or buy 3 bottles for £10 deals in our off-sales and supermarkets encouraging people to buy and drink more than they had intended.”
The announcement comes after the British Medical Association, which says cut-price offers fuel binge drinking, has said it wants tougher restrictions on how alcohol is sold. Tesco says ministers must take the lead because competition laws stop retailers from artificially raising prices.
The UK's biggest retailer says it would be "commercial suicide" to act alone. And it said it was too simplistic to blame price alone for binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems. However, the supermarket giant said it was prepared to take an active role in discussions about possible legislation on pricing and promotions.
Fellow blogger Chritian Quoter disagreed with the British Medical Association by saying “People who want to get drunk will do so. You cannot price them out of it without penalising the vast majority who are responsible consumers. Enforcing the laws on drunken disorderly behaviour is the remedy not curbs on sales, fiscal or otherwise. My experience is that the cheapest beer is not from Tesco at all.”
In December, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "It's not right that we still have three for two, or buy 3 bottles for £10 deals in our off-sales and supermarkets encouraging people to buy and drink more than they had intended.”
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)