24th Battalion Colour Dedication Service

[Robert Bonner]

The project to refurbish and frame the Colour of the 24th Battalion, by the Oldham Liaison of Ex-Service Associations, is now completed.  The 96 year old Colour will be re-dedicated on 24th March at 1400 hours in Oldham Parish Church and the ceremony will be conducted by the Bishop of Manchester. There will be refreshments afterwards.

An invitation to attend the service has been extended to all members of the forum and it would be very pleasing if we can give them support.

Robert

[iain]

I shall be there. Are you going Robert?

[Robert Bonner]

Iain.

I shall certainly be there - God willing...  and look forward to seeing you then.

Robert

[frogturn]

Hi ,I'm hoping if it all works out,to bring my father up to the dedication service,and perhaps take him to the manchesters museum-does anyone know if it has disabled access ,as he's not too good on his pins now.
thanks,Paul.

[harribobs]

iirc, the disabled access to the museum is through the town hall entrance ( on the main road) rather than the steps in the square

[Robert Bonner]

Correction.
The date of the ceremony is now Sunday 7th March at 2pm, not the 24th as originally anticipated.
As it is a Sunday the museum will not be open.

robert

[frogturn]

Shame about the change of date,we can't make it.We will be there in spirit though.
Paul.

[tisgrannie]

I will really try to get there. Look forward to it.
Best wishes to all.
tis

[Robert Bonner]

The Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication of the Colour of the 24th Pals Battalion held yesterday was a great success.  Very good to see Forum members Tis and Iain present together with many old comrades.  I suspect about a couple of hundred people present. 

The Bishop of Manchester gave what I thought was a really impressive address and Bill Mitchinson, co-author of Cotton Town Comrades,spoke in detail about the history of the 24th Battalion. The Colour itself has been lovingly restored and is now positioned in a large frame on a wall in the church.   

Well done to the Oldham Liaison of Ex-Service Associations who organised the work and especially to talented Susan Warburton who carried out the restoration of the Colour fabric.  Also to the local firms who provided the frame and the protective glass

[Wendi]

Wonderful Robert, thanks for letting us know.  I'm so glad it went well, and thanks again for keeping us updated.

....... one day I'm going to make it up to Manchester for "an event" 

Wendi