Brief history of the Buckley Jubilee
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 Jubilee remains little changed today. 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.
The Buckley Jubilee has been held for 166 years on the second Tuesday in July. Restrictions on public gatherings due to the Corona Virus pandemic however led to postponement of the procession in 2020 and 2021.
This street procession on Tuesday the 12th July 2022 was the first to be held following restrictions and was a joyous occasion.
The march being played by the Royal Buckley Town Band was the Premiere of 'The Forefather'.
It was written by their Band Manager, Martin Bassett-Rhodes, and dedicated to Buckley mon Colin Smith, who died in 2019. Colin was age 81 and had played with the band for over 70 years.
This film of the procession taken in Buckley town centre, was recorded by Paul Davies, Secretary to the Buckley Society www.buckleysociety.org.uk
