More than 100 young people and performers will come together this weekend to celebrate Oldham’s former sporting hero Henry Taylor.
Swimmers, artists and dancers will ‘make a splash’ as they represent the borough in the annual Manchester Day Parade on Sunday, June 14, from 1pm.
This year’s parade theme is Game On! and is a celebration of sports, play and games from the past and present featuring community groups from across Greater Manchester.
Oldham Council’s Art Development team is co-ordinating the borough’s entry ‘Swim Oldham’, which this year marks the life of Henry Taylor.
Henry, who was born in Hollinwood, is still the only British Olympian to earn three gold medals in the pool at one games – the 1908 competition in London.
The parade will feature swimmers from Chadderton Swimming Club, where Henry trained, swam and also worked as a lifeguard. The club is also celebrating its 120th anniversary this year as well.
Young people from Infinity Dance, Oldham Theatre Workshop and Young Oldham Dance Company will perform a specially choreographed routine.
And a giant structure of Henry ‘swimming’ through the water created by artists Mike Green and Gordon Banks will accompany the performers.
The performance will be a colourful and fun spectacle to mark one of the country’s unsung sporting heroes.
Manchester Day Parade started in 2010 to celebrate the creativity and diversity of the people and places of Greater Manchester. This year’s event features over 80 community groups and welcomes over 60,000 visitors.
Manchester Day is Sunday 14 June from 12noon–6pm in Manchester city centre. The parade starts at 1pm from Liverpool Road and ends at Exchange Square around 2.30pm. Visit www.manchesterday.co.uk for more details.
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