In the mid-19th century three devout Buckley non-conformists, Edward Davies, Joseph Griffiths and Richards Roberts, were involved in the Band of Hope movement encouraging children in Sunday schools to sign the temperance pledge and sing temperance songs.
The Jubilee officially began in 1857 as a temperance movement meeting, succeeding earlier community gatherings. By the end of the 19th century it featured brass bands leading a procession through the town with each church displaying their own banner. The origin of the annual Jubilee is contained in the Bible i.e. LEVITICUS Chapter 25 Verse 9
The Jubilee remains little changed today. The Buckley Jubilee has been held for over 160 years on the second Tuesday in July. Sunday schools from churches and chapels in the Buckley area come together to take part in a procession through the town led by the Royal Buckley Town Band. The film demonstrates the strength of faith and community spirit which still thrives in Buckley to this day.
The annual procession begins with a short service held on the Higher Common during which the Jubilee hymn, written by Reverend E. Wyn Parry for the centenary in 1956, is sung accompanied by the Royal Buckley Town Band. After the procession ends, the children are treated to tea and games back at their own Sunday school.
This film is of the 2018 procession as seen and recorded by Paul Davies, Secretary of the Buckley Society www.buckleysociety.org.uk , using a Samsung Galaxy mobile telephone. His efforts illustrate how a thoughtful deployment of the, now ubiquitous mobile-phone can enable any member of the public present at the time, to capture local cultural events for posterity.
This item was post-processed for online presentation by Flintshire Community Heritage volunteer, John Butler in June 2020.
