Pendle Hill Properties help celebrate Candy Bomber's anniversary

Padiham on Parade is a well-loved, flagship event for Padiham and always sees a huge turnout. The 1940s-themed weekend is back this weekend, 24-26th June, beginning on Friday night with a ticket-only Ballroom Blitz in Padiham Town Hall Ballroom, with live entertainment including a brass band, and a pie and peas dinner served in a mess tin!

On Saturday 25th June, which is National Armed Forces Day, a full-size replica Hurricane plane will be displayed outside the Town Hall, and from 10am inside the Town Hall 1940s singers and performers will provide live entertainment, with a Café Rene serving refreshments and cakes. Classic and military vehicles will be on display around the centre, with live entertainment on the plaza including a ukulele band, a drumming band and the Rossendale Clog Dancers. Fun for all the family includes a funfair, Punch and Judy and a Story Teller in the library.

Pendle Hill Properties will be attending in costume in an airbourne military jeep, handing out small parachute soldiers with candy tied on to replicate the story of the Candy Bomber, Col. Gail Seymour Halvorsen, an American pilot who gained fame for kindly dropping candy to German children during the Berlin airlift of 1948. Halvorsen's operation dropped over 23 tons of candy to the residents of Berlin, and made him a national hero, after which he was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. Local primary school children will be invited down to collect their free treat.

On Sunday 26th June, there will be a parade of Chelsea Pensioners, Veterans, Cadets, civic dignitaries, school children and re-enactors through town to the Town Hall, led by the Accrington Pipe Band – followed by a short service on the Town Hall steps. From 12 noon the Town Hall Ballroom re-opens for live entertainment and Café Rene, which continues till 5pm. There will also be a fly past on Sunday afternoon, weather permitting – the time to be confirmed on Facebook.

Andrew Turner, managing director of Pendle Hill Properties was delighted to be able to support the event. He commented: “Padiham on Parade has been a superb event in previous years and I’m glad to see it return. It’s a fitting commemoration for our military services, and also a wonderful family day out. I can’t wait to see everyone dressed up and enjoying their day!”

You can find out more about Padiham on Parade by visiting their Facebook event page, Padiham on Parade 2022.

Further information about Pendle Hill Properties can be seen on their website: www.pendlehillproperties.co.uk