Our World

Civic pride takes hold in Manchester

Slideshow

June 10th, 2012 by Jonathan Nicholson

Stockport, United Kingdom, Europe

Various arts, charity, community, public and private sector organisations gathered in central Manchester to celebrate diversity within the city. This event has been run annually since 2010.

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Cllr. Patrick Karney wearing the I Love Manchester logo. I Love Manchester was formed after the riot in central Manchester in July 2011. Their goal is to ‘harness people against anti-social behaviour.’.

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Two dancers at the front of the parade interacting. Whilst these dancers have no signs, the other groups did to show who they were.

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Some more dancers. Later in the parade some of the dancers would need refreshments due to the heat of their costumes. Free bottled water was given to people taking part in the parade.

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People looking onto the parade from a café on Deansgate. Whilst some people were able to look on from above the parade, most had to settle with a pavement position where the crowd was at least three people deep on both sides of the road.

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Street vendors also used the opportunity to sell various items like flags or wiggly worms.

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The theme of the parade was ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ and so some of the floats were depicting flight. Here some of the people on the parade are dressed as butterflies.

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A group celebrating the virtues of recycling as a form of waste disposal. They were using traffic cones as megaphones and plastic barrels as drums.

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The Societa Dante Alighieri was dressed as devils. The SDA, an international organisation based in Rome, seeks to promote the Italian language and culture in cities outside Italy.

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The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were on the parade dressed in fire safety equipment and signs. The yellow sign means flammable materials. Other public sector workers, like the Greater Manchester Police, were on the parade too.

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The Chatterbox Project is a group which helps on the theme of education for all ages, with adult education courses and after school activities. The float of an old woman sweeping also features ‘Coming from the Mill’ by LS Lowry as the apron.

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The Ancoats Brotherhood, part of the Working Class Movement Library, promotes the arts and organised lectures by leading intellectuals in working class communities. The Brotherhood was founded in 1878 by Charles Rowley who was an art dealer.

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The Irish Festival, with an Irish blood hound and flags of Ireland including the Tricolour, seeks to promote the culture of Ireland in cities across the world.

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Manchester’s Northern Quater has the most record stores per square mile than any other city and is also home to the record label, Fat City Records. The Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Pipe Band was formed in 1972 in London.

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The Christie Charity raises money for projects and equipment at the Christie Hospital which will be outside the scope of the National Health Service. The world leading hospital treats 25% of the UK’s cancer patients.

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Real Lives Wytenshawe sets out to challenge the negative stories and stereotypes of the area. A concord is being guided by dancing participants dressed as landing crew.

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The FC United float. FC United are run as a community benefit society, which is owned and run by its members. The club was founded in 2005 by supporters as a protest of the Glazer brothers’ takeover of Manchester United FC.

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LGBT Youth North West is a support group for people LGBT people in the North West of England. The organisation trains people on the different aspects of LGBT awareness and support for youth workers, volunteers and peer educators.

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The fun continues even at the end of the parade. Here people on a tandem bike attempt to lift off in their invention. Steampunk is a combination of Victoriana with Science-Fiction.

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A cross between a street cleaning vehicle and honey bee, complete with wings and antenna, came down Liverpool Street. The symbol of Manchester is the honey bee.

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Some workers from the Co-op came to give out goody bags to the participants in the parade. The Co-op was founded in Rochdale, near Manchester. The Co-op will be moving their head offices to Manchester in summer 2012.

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The festivities of the day continue into the evening with a concert and shopping facilities in Albert Square.

Various arts, charity, community, public and private sector organisations gathered in central Manchester to celebrate diversity within the city. This event has been run annually since 2010.