From Bill Greenwood

Friday, 29 April 2011

I agree Ian, if it's a 'Not The Royal Wedding' party then why not have it on the Saturday, which is 'Not The Royal Wedding' day!

From Peter Robson

Friday, 29 April 2011

Quite a simplistic message that to be honest Ian. Firstly, it was the 'royal' family that called this wedding in consultation with the Government, clearly, due to working legislation that has been fought for down the years by the trade unions this was to be classed as a bank holiday hence the public holiday! I fully appreciate everyone will not have the day off today to spend time with their families etc. However, your point about moaning is mute to say the least. This party is about a community showing that it does not like what is happening and responding to this in a very specific way with community spirit. As for sitting around and moaning, I like to think of myself as a citizen and not a subject!

These people are mega rich beyond anything we could imagine. Maybe that is where the real vitriol should be aimed at! However, that aside, it does still amaze me how some strangers' wedding attracts so much attention and I think that needs 'unpacking' with a debate another time.

Peter Robson
SOS
Socialist Party Halifax
Unison.

From Em F

Friday, 29 April 2011

I don't think the Trades' attendees were moaning, rather just taking the advantage of a day off to enjoy themselves with music and ale even though they aren't royalists and so wouldn't want to hypocritically join an actual royal wedding celebration.

What did you do? Oh yeah, you sat around moaning about other people sat around moaning... tee hee!

From Ian M

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Nope, I spent the day with friends and family watching a wonderful spectacle that focused the eyes of the world on this great country in a positive light for the first time in a long time. I revelled in the pomp and circumstance and delighted in the fact that when I looked at the tv news, it was good news, if only for a short time.

I took great delight from seeing the millions of people, young and old who enjoyed a moment of happiness and shared a sense of pride in what we can achieve when we pull together. I did not sit around thinking how clever I am by being a stick in the mud who only sees the bad side in everything.

From Chris Day

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Many of Hebden's shops were shut down so that the owners could watch what has been called 'The X factor wedding' on television. Those of us without holiday pay lost a day's salary. The Guardian has dubbed this wedding: 'Britain's Marie Antoinette moment' and reminds us that: 'Back in the real world, below this thin layer of pomp, there is a social dislocation whose cracks are starting to emerge'.

In this real world, David Blanchflower continues to explain how the UK economy is being driven into stagflation by the coalition government. He reports that: 'Consumer confidence has collapsed from the moment the coalition took office. Yesterday the GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index, which started collapsing in May 2010, dropped three points this month to -31. April has seen decreases across all five measures; public perception of the country's general economic situation over the last 12 months and over the next 12 months, confidence in their own personal financial situation over the last 12 months and over the next 12 months, and the major purchases index.'

All this on a day when NHS hospitals have been told to seek 50% more savings by the government health regulator Monitor.

Congratulations Trades Club for staying open and providing an island of sanity in which to enjoy a welcome pint, with some pleasant music to listen to and some excellent home made cake (no reference to Marie Antoinette intended).

From Paul D

Sunday, 1 May 2011

I'm happy for people to do as they wish with their free time, including sat in watching a wedding on TV. But would like to point out that non-conformity is deeply embedded in our local history and culture and this is still evident today in events such as that held at the Trades. Just like it always has been, the town is still full of intelligent people doing things differently.

So, we should welcome this diversity not scorn it. The non-conformists of the 17th and 18th centuries gave us the freedoms we enjoy today, these freedoms were not granted by the monarchy, they were won with blood. It's now quite some time since the royalists were sent back to Burnley at the end of a pike, they never came back.

So well done to the Trades, the good humour of those attending and the continued tradition of doing things our own way. And well done for those couples choosing marriage and other forms of civil partnerhips, whoever their parents are.

From Graham Barker

Sunday, 1 May 2011

Whatever the condition of the economy and society, it's disingenuous to scapegoat the royal family for a state of affairs that a Labour government either helped create or did very little to prevent over twelve years.

It's also a bit rich to suggest that the NTRW party was 'a community showing that it does not like what is happening'. As far as I can make out, most of 'the community' quite enjoyed the royal wedding as a one-off piece of entertainment, which is all it was ever going to be for us plebs. I know I started off in a state of advanced indifference (up a ladder with a paintbrush, specifically) but by the end found myself quite moved and uplifted by it.

It was a well-handled do with a happy ending, and these days that's a rarity so it doesn't harm to give credit where it's due. Lampooning it to make a political point is fine, but pretending that you're storming the barricades of privilege and greed by holding a party in front of them doesn't kid anybody.

From Phil M

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

The Trades Club put on a wonderful alternative to the Royal Wedding.
Personally I wanted to see nothing of the Royal waste of money and everyone I spoke to down at the Trades were of the same mind. We enjoyed excellent local musical talent and supped some lovely local ale in a great community party atmosphere..

I didn't hear anyone moaning about the people who chose to sit and watch the telly all day so why would people moan about us choosing to do something different?

The event got mentions on BBC Radio 6 [Mark Radcliffe] and in several national newspapers, this can only be good for the Trades. It will also have helped boost the not-for-profit Trades Club's funds.

Massive respect and thanks to the hard working people of the Trades Club who organised this event!!

From Emma Romanowicz

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

I agree with Phil - we went and had a super time. The atmosphere was great and everyone was very friendly. A super way to spend an extra day off.

We further avoided all the coverage by camping the evening at the camp site near the New Delight, which I would recommend to anyone. A great day all in all.

From Paul Clarke

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Well done Phil M was putting the local killjoys right with your post.

Graham says 'most of the community quite enjoyed the royal wedding.'

Is this the same community where only two streets in the whole of Calderdale were closed for street parties and one of those was outside the Trades?

Why let the facts get in the way of a sweeping statement... I can see a pattern emerging here.

From Tony Zimnoch

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

A Grand Day!
Some photos via this address.

From Andy M

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Whilst there may have been very few actual street parties the roads were deserted as we travelled through Calderdale and W Yorkshire that morning so I would guess that a sizeable percentage, and possibly most, were enjoying the event.

Personally I'd like to see the monarchy scrapped and had no interest in the event but did attend a happy and and enjoyable street part in Kent later on!

From Phil M

Thursday, 16 June 2011

. . . and the great thing is we get to do it all again next year!! Not the Diamond Jubilee' Alternative bank holiday street party, yay!!
. . . any excuse eh.. :-)