Ilkeston - On Parade
w/e 04 May 2014
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Parades and processions through Ilkeston are not
uncommon with annual events like the Carnival in June and the
Christian Walk of Witness at Easter but to see two within a week
is a little unusual.

St George's Day on April 23rd was celebrated on Sunday 27th with
the annual parade and a service in St Mary's Church where standard
bearers from the various different age groups of the Scouting
movement provided a guard of honour.
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After the Sunday afternoon service, the groups lined up by the
church wall to begin their parade.
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The parade which marched down Market Street, along Coronation
Street and then back up South Street into the Market Place was
led by Ilkeston Brass.
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As the back of the procession was still marching up South Street
the front was already lining up around the Market Place.

The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Val Clare was then presented
to the different groups. It was encouraging to see so many young
people from the local area involved in the scouting movement.
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As the parade was dismissed, one group found time for one last
photo for the album as they posed for family and friends on the
steps to the Memorial Garden.
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The second parade of the week took place on Tuesday evening April
29th when another guard of honour lined up outside the Town Hall
to welcome the East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadet Association
led by standards of the Royal British Legion into the Market
Place from Wharncliffe Road.
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Like the St George's Day parade on Sunday there was another good
turn out for this event and the assembled crowd was treated to
an excellent performance by the 126 (City of Derby) Squadron
Air Training Corps Rifle Display Team who received a resounding
round of applause on completion of their routine.
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These Tuesday evening images appear much brighter than it actually
was and the street lights were already beginning to come on.
This Motorbike Display Team who also provided some exciting entertainment
criss-crossing at high speed across the Market Place also had
their headlights switched on.
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The Mayor and her deputy were again in attendance and enjoyed
the main event of the evening, the Beating Retreat Ceremony by
the Nottinghamshire Band of the Royal Engineers.
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All the displays were watched by a large number of people including
invited guests that included HM Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire
Mr William Tucker and Mrs Jill Tucker. All the guests who had
earlier attended a reception in the Town Hall were seated around
the Cenotaph. Members of the public meanwhile sought every vantage
point with many overlooking the proceedings from the Memorial
Garden and the church wall.

As the light faded the Royal Engineers continued the Beating
Retreat Ceremony, playing The Last Post as the Union Flag was
lowered followed by the National Anthem. The event was then brought
to a conclusion as all the participants marched out of the Market
Place back into Wharncliffe Road to rousing music from the Royal
Engineers for dismissal.
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