General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
April 14th 2000
Location: Lancaster Cathedral
& Nelson Street
Photographer's Diary
14th April - St George's Day Parade
One of the bus drivers had gone on to me about a parade and uniform I was keen not to lead him on aware that I needed to get off and catch another bus. I gave in and he started telling me about his involvement in the Scouts and the St George's Day parade that night. Once I returned home I phones a sister in law who was a beaver leader and was told the Lancaster parade was due to kick off the following night.
It had been years since I raised my three fingers to my head in a cub scout uniform, swearing to do my best and serve the Queen. This was to be an experience I quite enjoyed. As the various troops lined up behind the courts in beautiful evening light I grabbed some pictures. It was the adults that fascinated me the most in their uniforms. It seemed half were very serious and the other behaved like private Bilko goofing about to the delight of their young followers.
The band started and they marched (or walked more to the point) up to the cathedral, flags flying high. A few passers by stood to watch but there was no other photographers, no publicity and little enthusiasm from anyone not in the know. Entering the Cathedral I spotted a woman I had had a dispute with over the licence for Folly Cafe. I avoided her and went upstairs to get some general pictures of the Cathedral.
Bored towards the end of a simple but nice service I returned downstairs. The Woman I was trying to avoid the was presented a cheque and later I was summoned to take some pictures for the paper. My luck.
The young people trouped out and started to head back to the cathedral. It was, I believe, a big event in their book - but hard to see how it might survive into the next millennium. St George seemed to have lost his cult status some years earlier. I think more people associated the name with the local pub than the Dragon slaying hero. I was sure I had a few good pictures and was pleased I made it.