I was born on Empire Day,way back in 1937.
We lived opposite the Gas works main entrance and on the day all the huge horses were decked out with ribbons, red white and blue of course, horse brasses, bells etc and they were paraded along the road.Their manes and tails were elaborately plaited.
In those days also the Co-Op horses, milk cart horses and the bread van horses were also in full finery on that day
My Mum said it was because of Empire Day and in my naivety I thought how kind of them to do that for my birthday !!!!
I think it was so designated as it was Queen Victoria`s birthday.
May day was another occasion that this happened,after the parade we girls would choose one to
get dressed up in somebody`s mum`s net curtains ,she was the May Queen , home made paper bouquet , broomstick handle maypole with crepe paper ribbons and we sang at people`s front doors, got pennies and bought crisps and pop for our party which we held among the carved masonry stored on our local recreation ground from the bombed Manchester Royal Exchange.
It was like a castle, huge blocks and lovely carved details.
What a wonderful playground.
What simple pleasures -not a mobile phone or iPad in sight!
. Viktoria
