Community groups throughout Shildon have been making their final preparations for Saturday’s people’s celebratory parade being held to mark the two-hundredth year since the first steam hauled passenger rail journey set forth from the town.
The Little Street Cavalcade at Shildon takes place at around 10:00am on Saturday 2 April, the same day as a special civic “Spirit of the Railways” celebratory fun day organised by Shildon Town Council in Hackworth Park, to which the parade will march.
Anyone wishing to enjoy the event and cheer on the different bands and groups will be able to spectate along the main shopping area of Church Street, at the Town Square or the top of Central Parade.
Then, if they wish, they can tag on at the end of the parade and make their way to the park for fun and festivities.
The groups, uncertain of what the official S&DR 200 celebrations held in store for Shildon, first brought representatives together in November 2024 and agreed that they wanted to do something themselves to recapture some of the magic of the last major milestone back in 1975.
The town once had a grand reputation for holding street parades to mark major occasions such as the commencement of its first fresh water supply in 1868 and the opening of its recreation ground in 1912.
Many remembered that a parade was part of the 1975 Rail 150 celebrations, so the groups sought the support of their Town Council to approve the idea and help organise road closures.
“We knew that it was unlikely that Shildon would experience anything this year on the scale of the spectacle of the 1975 Exhibition and Cavalcade of steam locomotives, however much we dreamt of that happening again for the benefit of those too young to have witnessed it.
“But we were still inspired, so we agreed that a street parade showing off the best of Shildon’s spirit and resilient community was something we could definitely do, and invited the whole town to be part of it.
“In years gone by, Shildon people weren’t afraid to organise celebrations amongst themselves rather than sitting back to wait for someone else to do something – we still have it in us to do that.
“The Town Council’s officers have been really supportive which has been great, and it’s right that we tie our parade in with the fun day they have worked hard on.
“Shildon may not have had the wealth or influence back in 1825 to have featured in the historic railway company’s name, but for many years after we were its most important railway operating town, and later one of the country’s major rail engineering centres.
“It’s right that we should celebrate and be proud of that.
“It’s such a key milestone and there is a danger many of us will just let the occasion pass us by. Whatever happens this day will be ours.
“It will be caught on video too, and we hope that in 2075 perhaps people will gather to watch what we did in the here and now.”
As well as the community groups showing off what they have made, there will be bands and historic vehicles.
The organisers are also thrilled that their parade is going to bring steam to our main shopping street to create a special atmosphere for the parade, though we’re told that folk will have to wait to come and see how they’ve arranged to do that.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
