Friends of Real Lancashire (FORL) are reaching for the skies to celebrate “Lancashire Day” on Friday!

As founders of Lancashire Day 25 years ago, the voluntary organisation takes the lead in protecting, promoting and preserving the true identity of the red rose county.

On 27th November 1995, the late Peter Thurnham (MP for Bolton North East) spoke in the House of Commons and brought to the attention of MPs a particular historic day 800 years ago in 1295 when King Edward I summoned to Westminster elected representatives of Lancashire to attend what became known as 'The Model Parliament'.

Following this, the FORL Committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of the 27th November as a suitable date to mark Lancashire Day.

Yesterday, chairman Philip Walsh told QLocal: "Since 1996, Friends of Real Lancashire has been at the forefront of coordinating events throughout Lancashire.

"We have had town criers out in the county shouting theLancashire Day proclamation; there have been hot pot suppers; folk and dialect events; dinners and charity fund raisers, and we have also distributed Eccles cakes to food banks.

"This year, due to the COVID Pandemic restrictions, events have been curtailed somewhat so we have decided to take to the skies, hiring a plane to trail a banner to fly over much of historic Lancashire.”

The historic County covers an area of 1,909 sq. miles with a population of almost 5 million people from the River Duddon in the Lake District in the north to the River Mersey in the south and from the Irish Sea to the River Tame in the east; ironically the Forest of Bowland is in Yorkshire, as is Barnoldswick.

“The committee has decided to run a competition and we are looking for the best photographs,” said Philip.

“We are asking people to send in their photos of the plane and banner stating where it was seen, and we will give prizes for the best photos and use them on our website.”

To enter the competition on social media, send to #FORLor by email to enquiries@forl.co.uk

Lancashire folk may still hear their town criers in certain towns as some have created a socially distanced plan. For instance, Colin Ballard, Lytham’s town crier, has recorded a video in advance of the day and will be broadcast on social media.

Link to FORL here: http://www.forl.co.uk/