Good idea, DJ!
Septimius Severus wrote:
Perhaps they can start the walk from the Bus Depot. After all, "we are just a bus stop in Wigan".
Where to start indeed!?
People will be coming from all directions. Fantastic if “the columns meet” to borrow a line from Flotsam & Jetsam’s “Changing of the Guard” (1937) but very hard to choreograph and stage manage.
One idea Bongser has is to begin at the Hilton Park pub (seems appropriate as it is named for our last ground) - just over a mile from LSV and a good few pubs passed on the way. It is also at the exact border of Leigh and Atherton (within a few millimeters!) and has been since Leigh was made a borough in 1888.
The other is The Thomas Burke ‘spoons where Vanners, Charlie and yours truly met up on Sunday. Bear with Bongser here.
WYSIWYG2 wrote:
I 'll start walking from Oldham down the M62! Should make the news.
Better still Vancouver Leyther could start walking next week once he's returned home lol
VL had never heard of Thomas Burke though he did spot that the statue near the entrance was of Pagliacci. As Ol’ Gramps Bongser was a big fan of “The Lancashire Caruso”, Bongser was able to fill Vanners in on a few details.
In 1909, Burke finished his shift down the pit and set out to walk the 42 miles to Blackpool in order to hear the great Enrico Caruso sing at The Winter Gardens. After the performance, he walked back again! (*)
Furthermore, Tom was “brung” up in poverty in Mather Lane to where in 1889, a year before his birth, Leigh Rugby Club (Union at that point of course) had relocated their “stadium”. Leigh stayed there until 1940 before moving to, what was later known as, Hilton Park.
Wherever it begins, there should be a brass band leading (sure they all know “The Entrance of the Gladiators” (Up the Comics), though “The Dambusters” would be more appropriate - or “Men of Harlech”}. Pause outside every pub to allow the solo cornet to play the reveille (spit, man, spit) and drag the Leythers from their pints - or bring their beer in plastic with them.76 trombones are unlikely to lead the big parade!
Other thoughts please.
