NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 2023
OUR NEW HORSE SCULPTURE IS BEING INSTALLED DURING THE LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER AND WE WILL BE HOLDING A " NAMING CEREMONY " DURING THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER INVOLVING ST MICHAEL`S PRIMARY SCHOOL.
WE HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT FLOODLIGHTING FOR THE MINING DISPLAY SHOULD BE INSTALLED QUITE SOON, THIS WILL DEPEND ON COSTS AND FUNDING AVAILABILITIES
Our new Willow Horse Sculpture is now ready and will be delivered soon,{ DELIVERY IS AUGUST 8TH 2023 }we will be putting it in place as soon as possible, but, the official unveiling won`t take place until St Michael`s Primary School is open following the Summer holidays.
PHOTO of the Pit Pony Naming ceremony held on October 4th 2023, the evnt was attended by an excellent crowd, including, Mayor of Wigan Kevin Anderson, Elected members, Wigan Deal partners, Steven & Rachael Nixon from Weldfast, Sculpturer Jane Foddy from Gingercat Willow, Revd Michaila Roberts our new curate, Residents of the village, Members of the Bridgers and the most important, Pupils and Staff from St Michael`s Primary School.
It was the pupils who selected the chosen name by ballot " HOWIE " An excellent and appropriate name.
we had a lovely surprise at the Horse Naming Ceremony, CORRIE SHELLEY the wonderful and celebrated folk singer informed us that she had written a special song for our pit pony, and, pit ponies throughout history, not only had she written the song she actually sang the song at the naming ceremony, both the song and CORRIE was AMAZING.
These are the lyrics of the song written and performed by Corrie Shelley
Escape from the Dark (Pit Pony's Lament)
© Corrie Shelley 2023
They lowered mi down hundreds of feet,
Mi handler he stood by mi side
‘N’ the light disappeared with alarmin’ retreat
As the panic it started to rise
Now I pull all the coal trucks everyday
Down in this dark dreary mine
‘N’ all that I get is a basket of hay
To never again see day light
Oh, Oh, down in the coal mine
Oh, Oh, breathin’ in dust
Oh, Oh, down in the coal mine
A pit pony’s life is a bust
Well, the noise of the pick axes hitting the seams
Hurts mi head ‘n’ mi ears
Mi handler he tells me all of his dreams
But we’ve both bin down here for years
So, they load up the tubs with the black diamond coal
Chain it to my harness hard
I wish I was as free as when I were a foal
But I’m only fit now f’t Knackers Yard
Oh, let mi escape from the dark
Oh, let mi feel sun
Oh, let mi escape from the dark
Where off in the fields I will run
Well, mi handler he sez I’ve worked hard all mi life
Mi handler he sez I’m now free
But I can’t see the fields that I dreamt of at night
Coz the sunlight well it’s blindin’ me
Oh, Oh, down in the coal mine
Oh, Oh, breathin’ in dust
Oh, Oh, down in the coal mine
A pit pony’s life is a bust
Oh, let mi escape from the dark
Oh, let mi feel sun
Oh, let mi escape from the dark
Where off in the fields I will run
Where off in the fields I will run
Where off in the fields I will run
With regard to floodlighting for the Mining Display, WIGAN MBC seem very reluctant to give us permission to go ahead with the installation of lighting for the display even though they have no apparent objections.
Chris Pennington of Wigan MBC { Street Lighting Manager } has visited the site and agrees that floodlighting would be possible and very complimentary for the area, without any detrimental affect from the lights or installation, SO why are they dragging their feet, it wouldn`t cost them anything and we would be very willing to pay for the power used to floodlight the display.
Wigan have supplied floodlighting to several display throughout the borough, including, at the Punch Bowl, Atherton, Mosley Common, Westleigh Trees Estate. WHY DENY HOWE BRIDGE ???
Comments