CityLife

Procession is a big festival hit

NO SMOKE WITHOUT IRE: Members of the Procession

THE ONLY thing that wasn’t Manchester was the weather as a procession celebrating the region waltzed down Deansgate.

A tribute to those who died at Peterloo, some boy racers in souped-up cars and a controversial parade of smokers all featured as thousands lined the famous thoroughfare in glorious sunshine.

There were also a series of hearses carrying flowers spelling the names of a number of bygone institutions such as Wigan Casino and Love Saves the Day.

Setting off from the Liverpool Road end of Deansgate and heading for Victoria, The Deansgate procession was one of the highlights of the £9.6m 2009 Manchester International Festival.

It was created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller who angered health groups by asking sparked fury in some quarters when he advertised for ‘unrepentant smokers’ to take part.

The event is part-funded by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and city centre councillor Pat Karney said he would investigate be launching an investigation into whether the some of their cigarettes carried by some of the walkers were paid for by the taxpayer.

The smokers carried a banner reading ‘The Unrepentant Smokers’ and were closely followed by another group with a banner that read: ‘Smoking Kills’.

There was also Other standouts were a steel band performing Joy Division’s classic Love Will Tear Us Apart and an Indian pipe piping band from Bolton. belting out Scotland the Brave.

Mascots from the region’s sports clubs, including Fred the Red, Moonchester and Chaddy the Owl were also on hand. A float bearing a giant chip titled ‘The Adoration of the Chip’ featuring a giant chip celebrated the world’s first chippy  fish and chip shop in Oldham.