My Guild legacy arrived on 28th January a little earlier than expected (27th April) weighing just 1 kilo and was given a pink certificate of authenticity.   Thanks to the professionals at Sharoe Green Maternity unit who have given her and her mum excellent care, Katie Louise is now progressing well in her incubator on the Neo Natal Unit  which, again,  is also staffed by a  brilliant team whose standad of care is never less than excellent . She is my Guild Baby granddaughter who, like her Nanna, just couldn't wait to  be a part of the  2012 Guild Celebrations. I will enjoy sharing my experiences of this,  and previous Guilds, with her as she grows up and I hope when future Guilds come around that she remembers our time together.  Thats the magic of Preston Guild - every one leaves special memories and a lasting legacy for our descendents.    
 
Tass Cotton (Guilder) 
 

Blog by Guilder David Lawson

 
As a local "yokel" (geddit?) it's long been my ambition to be involved in a Preston Guild. I became a Guilder last year and I have enjoyed volunteering at events such as the 2011 Easter Monday celebrations, but due to studying and family commitments it is only recently that I have been able to give more time to our exciting programme of events in the run up to September's celebrations.
 
I received an email from Rob Pratten, our volunteers co-ordinator, to let me know the Guild Team in conjunction with St. George's Shopping Centre had organised a special launch event for this year's Easter Monday egg rolling celebrations held on Avenham Park. The plan? An egg and spoon race from the Flag Market, down Friargate and to the winning line at the bottom of Orchard Street. "Could you be a competitor?" Rob asked. "...There's a chocolately prize for the winner!" Well he didn't need to ask twice, challenge accepted!
 
So on Shrove Tuesday morning, there we were on Friargate to mark the 40 day countdown to Preston's famous and unique egg rolling eggstravaganza. We were joined by staff from the shops in St. Georges Centre, members of the press, the Mayor of Preston, the Royal Family (or four people in masks!) and of course, our very own egg on legs! (See Pictures!)
 
We were given our egg and spoons (boiled eggs, though I have to say I thought our festival director Stella Hall's egg looked suspiciously different to everyone else's - a rubber substitute?!?!) and off we went to the start line. Now of course, it's all merely a bit of fun... but that did not stop the competitors jostling for position as the Mayor made her way to the finish line to signal the start of the race - you could tell everyone REALLY wanted that prize!!!
 
THREE... TWO... ONE... AND THEY'RE OFF!!! I made a fantastic start - cleverly sidestepped the Rock FM mascot that was boxing me in on the start line, and shot ahead of the pack. Next? Disaster. With a sickening crack my egg hit the floor! Luckily, I was already a fair distance in front of the pack and was able to pick it up, cracked but intact, and carry on with the race. I knew I had lost a valuable few places though, and decided to hope for the best and hurry as fast as I could to the finish line... where glory awaited! In what was a close finish, our Mayor declared me the winner! Despite a huge protest from the runner-up (he didn't half get upset!) the result stood, and in front of lots of cameras I was presented with a huge Thornton's chocolate easter egg.
 
It was all great fun and as always, it felt an honour to be part of an event for this year's Preston Guild. (Yes ok, I admit the winning made it particularly memorable!) And although the chocolate egg looked extremely delicious, I decided to donate it to the residents of The Lodge Dementia Residential Care Home in Penwortham, where it was very well received by all! I'd recommend anyone to join us and become a Guilder - be a part of the "Proud Preston" spirit that is certain to make this Preston Guild the greatest we have ever held!
  

My Guild legacy arrived on 28th January - a little earlier than expected (27th April), weighing just one kilo and with a pink certificate of authenticity! 

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On Monday 30th January I attended another rehearsal for the Sing the Docks event taking place in July. We are now well into rehearsing the Guild Anthem. It's a very stirring song about pride, heritage and tradition. Now that we have more or less got the tune and the harmonies fixed in our heads we already make a very beautiful sound. Amazing when you consider that many of us lay no claim to being singers and have never been in a choir before. I am sure that by the time the Sing the Docks event takes place in July  we will be able to put in a very polished performance. Also joining us were Rob & Susie Kentell and Paul Russell. Together with other local songwriters, they had been tasked with writing songs about the docks through the ages. Rob & Susie sang about the time when the docks were thriving from a docker's perspective and also his wife's.  Paul Russell's song is about how the docks came to be built and the problems encountered in the process. All very interesting and thought provoking I thought. The choir then sang the Guild Anthem which was recorded by Preston FM and aired for the first time on Thursday 2nd February. I am sure the good people of Preston will have the chance to hear it again very soon and before long will be humming, whistling and singing it. It has been a real privilege to be involved and I would like to thank Pete Moser who, together with Lem Sissy, wrote the music and words to the Anthem and other songs too. Also Rose Hodgeson who helps to keep us all in tune and generally assists Pete. You are all doing a great job and much appreciated by the "Songwriters Guild".

I chose a cold damp day in January to check on the progress of the 5,000 bulbs planted by Guilders in the park in Winckley Square. It seems no time at all since we spent the afternoon on a scorching hot day at the end of Summer 2011 preparing the Big G. Progress is slow but sure, with the promise of a stunning display - eventually. Maybe in March I think.
 

On Thursday 19th January, representatives  from community and church organisations as well as local businesses attended a workshop meeting in the Guild Hall lounge to listen to a presentation by Liz Pugh from Walk the Plank who is helping to co-ordinate the various processions taking place in September Guild week. So great was the response from these groups that the presentation had to be done twice, once in the afternoon, the other in the evening and both were very well attended. A slide show gave some idea of previous Guild processions and also events from other cities and countries. It was also good to know that great impact can be achieved with very little outlay using recycled items and even old newspapers. Between now and September, there will be severel workshops taking place when Walk the Plank will provide expert advice and support for all the procession organisers including ideas and sourcing of materials and skills. After the presentation Stella Hall, Guild Festival Director and Phil Walsh, Assistant Director and Head of Community Programmes, were on hand to help answer some of the many questions raised by the various groups. The mayor Councillor Bobby Cartwright, was in attendance with her consort Councillor Neil Carwright and she thanked everyone for their participation and enthusiasm. It was a very interesting evening, producing lots of ideas and I am pretty sure everyone went away inspired to make this year's Guild processions the best and most memorable ever.

So, bloggers! It's Blue Monday is it? I am so excited about Preston Guild and other celebrations I cant even think about being blue on Monday or any other day. 2012 also includes the London Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubliee, so there's plenty to look forward to.

Went to a magnificent concert from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic yesterday together with record audiences at our beautiful Guild Hall, let’s hope that’s a sign of things to come throughout the year. I know we are already full next Sunday for the opening Ecumenical Service, and tickets have only just gone on sale for a fantastic Chinese New Year celebration on Friday January 27^th – see our events page for details. What better way of beating the blues than having something great to look forward to getting involved in!

In other news, I cant wait to hear from Procession producers this week at two public meetings on Wednesday January 19^th about their plans to work with us on Trades, Churches Community and Torchlight Processions for Guild week - now, thinking about Torchlight...that's a great way to light up a dim January evening! Preston College are also officially opening their state of the art new facilities this Wednesday. It'sgreat to know their students are getting involved with a special Guild welcome.

Look online and see how you can join in on www.prestonguild2012.com

Guilder Tass Cotton joins other members of the public at the Arts and Media Centre in Preston, for the first stage in creating a Guild Anthem and other songs with poet Lemn Sissay and composer Peter Moser. The Anthem and songs will make their debut at Sing the Docks 2012, a day-long singing spectacular at the Riversway Festival on 22 July 2012.

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Three German volunteers from Preston’s twin town of Recklinghausen have just spent two weeks working with the Preston Guild 2012 team, as organised by Jürgen Voges, the Secretary of Preston Twinning Partnerships. Here, the girls explain their experience.

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Guilder Tass Cotton talks about her recent experiences, starting with planting a special Guild flower bed in the park at Winckley Square.

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