Golcar Lily Day 2024 was a brilliant day of fun, smiles and sunshine

Thousands flocked to one of Huddersfield’s favorite annual events after the sun turned Saturday into the hottest day of the year so far.

Golcar Lily Day takes place on the second Saturday of May and is the third time in a row that it has been blessed with good weather.

One of the organisers, Sue Starr, said: “The good weather certainly brings out the crowds and it was a lovely day. We love to organize a free event that brings the whole community together and attracts visitors from all over the world.

“We’ve had some very cold and wet days in the past – I remember standing on the steps of Golcar Library once during an absolutely drenched one – so a dry day makes such a difference.

“The day started with a Big Sing with choirs and schools organized by Kirklees Musica at 11am and people who came to it then stayed all day as many people arrived in time for the procession through the village.”

Music features heavily throughout the day, sponsored by the By and Buy community store on Sycamore Avenue in Golcar. The day featured Huddersfield Wind Band, Golcar Band, Slaithwaite Band, Huddersfield and Ripponden Band, Vintage Brass Band, Honley Ladies Choir, indie folk pop band Fishing For Compliments and big band Sundown Swing.

Image gallery by Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE

The procession was led by the Slaithwaite Band and included re-enactors such as Medieval Normanis Shire Court, Sealed Knot English Civil War, 33.^st The Foot Napoleonic Fire Display team along with the Durham Light Infantry and the French Resistance from WW2.

The event also features games, crafts, displays and classic cars. The name Golcar Lily Day comes from the fact that the Lily flower grew widely in the Colne Valley before the Industrial Revolution, and next year’s event will take place on Saturday 10 May.

A planned flyover of a World War II hurricane was canceled at the last minute after the ground crew noticed a small oil leak just before it took off.

Sue said: “The pilot kindly called me about an hour before he expected to fly over the Colne Valley to explain what had happened and to wish him all the best for the day.

“And it was just that – one, if not the best, Golcar Lily Day we’ve ever organised.”

Written by ANDY HIRST, who runs his own freelance journalism agency in Yorkshire AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specializing in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.