Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Manchester in the annual Whit Walks parade.
The custom, where churchgoers dressed up to the nines march through the streets to demonstrate their faith, has somewhat lost its way in recent years, but there were still tenacious believers taking part from across Salford.
St Philips, All Saints and St Clements were among the churches to put paraders forward as they walked from Manchester Cathedral to Albert Square.
In February 2015 we published an interview with Salford mum Elena McKenzie, who was campaigning for more interest in the long-established tradition.
Read: Bring Back Whit Walks, Salford says
This stunning footage from 1949, acquired exclusively by SalfordOnline.com, shows parishioners of St Gilbert’s RC in Winton happily marching through the streets of Eccles, replete with garlands in their hair, carrying statues of the Madonna in wicker baskets.
WATCH: Unseen footage unearthed of Whit Walks in 1949
Elena, 33, was brought up in the Trinity area of Salford and remembers with fondness her days of walking at Whit with her local school.
She said: “It was fantastic walking along Chapel Street with your best Whit Week clothes on, the crowds would line the streets and cheer you along as you proudly marched to Manchester Cathedral.
“I think it’s terrible that these walks seem to be dying out, people remember them fondly and still talk about them many years later.”
This year, thanks to a fundraising event held at St Boniface’s in Broughton, the family was able to make costumes for all the children taking part, as well as hiring a band to lead them along Chapel Street in Salford.
“I went to Manchester Cathedral and had several meetings with Reverend Chow who was in charge of this year’s Whit Walks”, said Elena.
“We were given permission to take part in the walk and so I started making the children’s Whit Week clothing at once.
“I made about 25 costumes for the children whose ages ranged from three to 10-years-old.
“It took me six weeks with help from my mother to have them ready for the big day, with several fittings and missing children all add to the fun of it!
“We made sure the children got involved and for the last three Sundays the children at the St Philip’s Sunday School made the banners that they carried, sticking lettering and flowers onto the them.
“It was a great day out and the children loved it, the crowds cheered them along as they marched from the Cathedral to Albert Square in all their finery.
“Eccles Borough Band led us on the day and they were really excellent, so much so that we have booked them for next year.
“Afterwards we all went back to St Boniface’s social club, were there was a bouncy castle, a barbeque and a DJ for the children, the adults had their fun in the evening with a disco and bar, everybody really enjoyed the day and we are all looking to next year.”
