Bacup held a Peace Celebration on 19th July 1919 in the grounds of Stubylee Park to celebrate the end of the Great War. The celebrations consisted of two Public Processions one from the Market Ground in Bacup the other from the Recreation Ground in Stacksteads to meet for a Divine Service at the park at 9.30am.The procession from the Market Ground in Bacup included: Irwell Springs band, Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, Police and Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Nursing Division, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Day School Teachers, Corporation Officials. Justices of the Peace, Members of the Town Council, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk. To name but a few.The route followed was:Bankside, Market Street, Newchurch Road, Newline to the Band Enclosure at the park entering by the Moorlands Gate.The Procession from Stacksteads Recreation ground was as follows. Stacksteads Prize Band, Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Tradesmen's Associations ( Stacksteads), Political Associations, Trades Unions, Workmen's Clubs, Recreation Clubs. Again to name but a few.  The route followed was:Farholme Lane, Newchurch Road, and Newline. Further celebrations were held in the evening from 6.30 to 9.0pm. Irwell Springs Band played a selection of Music in the band stand Stacksteads prize  Band played music for dancing in the Church Meadow at Stubylee. Bacup Change Band played music for dancing in the Maden Recreation Ground.Bonfires were lit on Greens Moor, Stacksteads and Deerplay Hill at Midnight and at the same time on Greens Moor a Firework display was held. A competition was held  to find the best decorated premises in the town to encourage the residents  to make the town look as bright and cheerful as possible. The land opposite the police station and the land at the back of the inside market was all packed with stalls ands amusements. Down each side of the Market brew would be stalls selling fruit, rock biscuits and ice-cream, coconuts and brandy snaps. Two or three stalls at the bottom of Bankside Lane were occupied by toy sellers, selling wooden trucks and trains. Union Street was  home to a tower like structure called the Helter Skelter, which you entered by a door at ground level, taking a mat with you up to the top level. Behind the helter Skelter were more dolly stalls and coconut shies, where the cry was " Three balls a penny". Children's roundabouts and Helms bicycles and hooplas which if you were lucky you could win a watch. Numerous shows were sited on this part of the fair including freak shows, lion shows and the inevitable boxing booths. The latter being run by Booths boxers who nightly challenged all and sundry to stay with one or the other for two or three rounds. Many a local lad took up the challenge and it was often said they were like lambs to the slaughter. Sedgewicks Lion show was often situated at the entrance ot King Street or Irwell Street, with members of the public being invited to enter the lions cage. Ten shillings being offered to anyone brave enough to do so. One man by the name of Tom Lord, licensee of the Waterloo Hotel once accepted the challenge but pulled out at the last minute.Roundabouts with their steam pipe organs spluttering out the best loved tunes of the days such as The Merry Widow, Oh, Oh, Antonio or Walking Out With Angeline or for a change some stirring march or other. Gaily painted and gilded these organs usually had a mechanical figure in front of them and as the organ played the figure would wave it's hands about as though conducting the orchestra. With three or four organs blaring out the hooting of the steamboats, the firing range the shouts of the stallholders and hawkers mingled with the shrieks of the children as they whirled round and round on the hobby horses the noise was like bedlam. Piebald horses gaily decorated and ridden by both men and women, small Shetland ponies prancing along behind the huge cars colourfully decorated announcing to the world that the Circus had arrived in town. Elephants, Camels and other creatures  marched through the town making their way up to the top of  Lanehead, near the cricket field. One story is told of two baby Elephants who along with their mothers were taking part in the circus about 1885. The mother Elephants were led along Lane head lane while the two babies were held back. Children of all ages sat on the cricket field wall and cheered the baby elephants on as they were let go to run after their mothers along Lane head. On July 9th 1913 King George and Queen Mary visited Bacup accompanied by Lord Derby of Knowsley  this was the first visit to the Rossendale valley by a reigning monarch. Shortly after noon the mills of Bacup were closed and  people began making their way towards Sandfield, on Rochdale road which was to be the area of the presentations of their majesties. All of the  local schools closed and each child along with class teachers made their way to the stands on Sandfield. By 2 0'clock  there was a fairly large  group of spectators most of whom had discarded their working clogs and shawls and donned their Sunday best for the occasion.106 policemen had  to be drafted in from outlying areas such as Manchester and owing to the fact that the train bringing them to Bacup was late the local boys scouts troop had to lend a hand with crowd control. Irwell Springs band played their part literally by entertaining the waiting crowds and then played the national anthem as the King and Queen Arrived. Many of the local old age pensioners had already been seated in Sandfield for a couple of hours by the time the king and queen arrived at 4.45. It is said the average age of  the old age pensioners was 76 the oldest being well over 90. The first old age pensioner to arrive at Sandfield was a woman from Stacksteads who had walked all the way. The King and Queen arrived in Bacup at 4.42 pm a few minutes before the scheduled time and after ascending the raised platform ere introduced by Lord Derby to the local dignitaries. The Mayor and Mayoress Craven Hoyle, Alderman J H Maden J.P C.C. and Mrs Maden, Mr Joseph Entwistle Town clerk and Mrs Entwistle, Mr James Shuttleworth J.P and Mrs Shuttleworth, Alderman Daniel Greenwood and Mrs Greenwood and Alderman Hardman and Mrs Hardman. The little ceremony over the King engaged in conversation with the Mayor whilst Queen Mary chatted freely with the Mayoress and was understood to remark upon the children present which was over 3,000. The Mayoress of Bacup Mrs Craven Hoyle wore a  outfit of light blue silk relieved with touches of black, her hat was of black tulle trimmed with a  mount of black feathers. Mrs J H Maden the Deputy Mayoress was in mourning for her mother  and  wore a gown of black charmouse and pearl ornaments. The King then walked along the platform and inspected the old age pensioners some of whom tried to rise in appreciation but were waved down to keep their seats by his majesty. After a stay of exactly eight minutes their majesties  rejoined the motor car for their journey forward to Rochdale. Prior to leaving however his Worship the Mayor called for there cheers for the King and Queen and also for the Prince of Wales.After the King and Queen had left the area all the children on leaving where presented with a box of Bourneville chocolates. Later at the Cooperative hall the pensioners where treated to a tea and supper by the mayor and mayoress. The first parade which was actually titled Bacup Carnival took place for the Queens Coronation in 1953, the parade gathered on South Street then made thier way through the town to finally assemble at Stubylee Park. By Amy Flynn All eyes turned upwards as the first few drops of rain began to fall. "Oh no, it couldn't rain today". Not today, for today was carnival day. In every district in the town, in mill yards and Sunday School pathways, lorries were being prepared for the big procession. First they had been washed down and were now being polished. For weeks men and women had been making paper flowers, painting scenery, building walls, and now - for it to rain. It just couldn't. But it did!! One fast, heavy shower, and then it was over, and out came the sun, struggling bravely to break through the grey clouds. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and went back to the tasks assigned them. The procession was to start at two o'clock sharp; and it was managing to keep fine. Crowds lined the route, spectators having come from all the surrounding towns. The men selling streamers and balloons were doing a roaring trade, "3 pence for a streamer, buy the kid dies a streamer - only 3 pence each". What a racket! Suddenly a voice was heard to say, "Listen, the band", and an unbelievable hush descended on the crowd. The carnival had begun. ........   Days Events At The Cinema Thursday 10th and Friday 11th July saw the Arts Cinema  (  now the Empire Theatre )  packed to bursting as Bacupian saw reproduced on the screen the whole of the historic ceremony  of local residents being presented to King George and Queen Mary. A cinematographer was especially engaged to film the whole incident. The film  measured twelve hundred feet and ran for approximately 25 minutes. Featuring the assembling of the school children and the arrival of the Territorial's from Burnley  under the control of Captain Sutcliffe. The boys brigade and the world famous Irwell Springs band led by bandmaster Walter Nuttall. The old age pensioners and the public in general all are shown enjoying the visit of  the King and Queen who are shown arriving along with Lord Derby who then introduces their majesty's to  the Mayor and Mayoress and Sir Henry and Lady Maden. The footage shows Sir Henry and Lady Maden in the sunken garden of Rockliffe house and features locals returning home through Rochdale road,  St James Street, Market Street.