I Saw Them In The Handmade Parade Singin' And Dancin' As The Drummers Played*

Sunday was the annual Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade. This is the event for organised groups who make things to parade through the streets of the town. This year's theme was the Great Flood of Boxing Day 2015.We went there on the bus with Esmé and saw everything.

Anxious for the 12 noon start, delayed, officers on stilts from the Embassy of Cardboardonia, police Valley Road.

We can hear the drumming now and in the distance dimly a swaying mass waving flags slowly approaches.

First the sirens sound the wailing alarm as on Christmas Day when Ez asked 'Is there going to be bombing?'

The swaying massed drummers herald the coming storm with its consequent devastation on Boxing Day.

A grimy stream of debris flows downstream, overwhelming the flood defences.

Polluting everything in its path, sweeping downstream every kind of detritus.

Swamping the old industrial town to an unprecedented depth, mixing a foul concoction of sewage, debris of every kind in the unstoppable rain water which overflows both the river Calder, its tributaries and the Hebble Navigation canal.

But it ends. A fanfare leads the busy workers.

With their long-handled sweeping brushes, fresh from the broom cupboard, workers start the clear-up.

Eventually cleaner waters flow again in proper order through the valley.

While the goddess nature looks indifferently upon it all.

Thus country players show due respect to the goddess in celebration of the  better times she portends.

The acolytes of the sun god.

But first the Lion who speaks to our pride in the valley, its communities and of our endurance.

The dancers lead the sun god who makes life on Earth possible. And woe betide those who heed not this morality tale.

Knowing the routes, we quickly move off towards the final destination via the special Dellen trail. What fun to walk past silent cars on Market Street! For now, going nowhere at all.

We catch up with the parade on the canal bridge at the end of Holme Street.

The Lion god is passing into his domain.

All with dancers, fanfares, drummers and many flags.
"There's always got to be someone in a hi-viz jacket hasn't there."

The parade has passed.
Then did a great multitude of the people process into Calder Holmes park - at Christmas completely flooded.

Even to touch the sacred banners of the dancing crews.

Where diplomats discuss detente and such.

Then home to Walsden by train this time. Look at those crowded platforms on both the up and the down. We're going two stations on the up and have to change at Tod. Can you believe that? But only a six minute wait.

* With acknowledgment to The Saw Doctors Macnas Parade