Diggers Festival 2014
The train journey to Wigan was more or less uneventful, I half expected the trains to be busy but it was quiet.
The only problem was the change at Stalybridge which was a bus replacement service. It turned out to be comfortable as well as timely enough for me to get a sausage sandwich for breakfast from Delice de France at Manchester Victoria railway station where I boarded my last connection to Wigan.
From Wigan Wallgate railway station I made my way to The Wiend and I bumped into Huddersfield Anarchist Ian Brooke who pointed me in the right direction where I came face to face with a giant face; the enormous sculpture, The Face of Wigan by Rick Kirby.
Setting up was still underway so the opening events started later than advertised, this gave me the opportunity to have a look around to get the feel of the place.
As I wandered around the stalls I got the urge to write but had no note pad, I nipped back to the shopping area and found Smiths and two card shops crowded with shoppers but I was successful at a Pound Shop down a side street.
Heading back to The Wiend I arrived as the Liverpool Socialist Singers & Bolton Clarion Choir were in full swing with their opening songs. Then Gerrard Winstanley appeared played by Actor, John Graham Davies to perform a re-enactment of the occupation of St. George’s Hill. I was surprised to see he was assisted by Ian in period clothing wielding a trusty spade. (We call a spade a spade in the North of England).
I had a cider (Black Dragon) in the Occu-Pie beer tent as the official opening by John McDonnell M.P. began. He gave a good speech, mentioning that Tony Benn had opened the event in previous years. He also quoted Gerrard Winstanley talking about turning the world upside down.
“For freedom is the man that will turn the world
Gerrard Winstanley
upside down, no wonder he hath enemies”
At Joe’s Bar, (a gents hairdressers shop) David Malone gave a talk, it was quite inspiring and informative.
He spoke about the English Revolution, usually called the Civil War.
The period just prior saw the advent of the Public House – talking in pubs, that’s where the revolution is – the shouting is just the wave breaking on the shore, the talking is the real revolution.
What did you do in the war Dad?
“I don’t give a pin or a fart what the Minister thinks!”
Scotland say “well, up yours”
BLOG Golem – http://www.golemxiv.co.uk
Author and music promoter John Winstanley gave a talk about Gerrard Winstanley which should be pronounced Winstan-ley not Win-stanley; the talk was based upon John Guerney’s book “Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers life.”
Ice cream from Hyacinth – French Bulldog; ugly but cute
Dinner at the Coffee Bank, sausage casserole – very tasty
Then a last wander round and back to the railway station for the journey home.
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