A Brass Band.

No Parade can be Successful without Bands. This is one of the many on this parade. The Drummers give a great beat too Manchester's Marching Irish Population.

Irish Elf ?

The Wee Man or Leprechaun looks out from the Truck and Keeps his Eye on the Crowds who are enjoying the Parade.

Irish Transport..

The Irish are renown for being in the Building Trade. So the more enterprising of them have moved into Heavy Plant. The Waggon is festooned with the Irish Tricolour Flag and Balloons. Also notice the Irish Harp between North and South printed on the Front of the Waggon, meaning they are now joined together as one.

Vintage Tractors

These two vintage Ferguson Tractors on the wagon in the St Pat's Parade. (Why? ) The Fergie's as they came to be call were made between 1946 to 1956. Harry Ferguson was the Designer and it was Taken on by Massey Ferguson. Very popular in Australia and New Zealand. Some 20,300 were made.

Tractors in St Patricks Parade

This Year St Pat's Parade was very Fragmented due to the Parade Route Crossing the Manchester Tram Lines. It meant that the Parade had to keep stopping to let the Trams through.

Tin Plate Workers

The Tin Plate Worker's Society with the usual Scales of Justice and the All Seeing Eye of God and a Union Jack. You Get the Message. (Don't mess with Us)

The Atomic Bomb.

This Painted Banner was made in the 1950's by an Amateur Painter. Nevertheless the message is very effective in putting the meaning across.

The Battle's Won.

This Banner is about Victory for Britannia's Sons and now we are all Free from all the despots, so it says. It's about Workers and the Bosses. ( I think )

S D F.?

Social Democratic Federation. They Stand for Justice not Charity. Which I think means Fair Shares for All? Has anybody got any other Idea's?

The Co-op Shop

This is a typical of an inside of a Co-operative Shop from the 1930's. It was kept simple and spartan because money was tight. All Co-op Members with their Dividend got a share of the profits.

Co-operative Society

The Co-operative founded in Rochdale 1844 was designed to sell food and goods to the working men at reasonable prices. If they did, you got Divdend Points which added up over the Year, and probable would have bought the Christmas Dinner. By 1872 there were over 300 shops in the north of England. The CWS was formed ( Co-operative Wholesale Society ). It is still going today. ( Better Than Ever )

The P F A.

This is a surprise! A Professional Footballers Trade Union. I think must have been formed before the Big Wages of Footballers of today. The P F A was founded in 1907 when the Football League ratified a wage of £4 pound a week. It is still going strong with 4000 members. It recently raised a Million Pounds to build a new wing of a Manchester Children's Hospital. Garry Nevile (ManU ) Instigated this.

The Toilers?

The worker shakes hands with his boss, and in the back ground a Lady of Justice looks on. She is their to make sure that worker and boss get a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. A Propaganda Statement? LOL.

The Dockers

One of the Most Militant of the Trade Unions was the Dockers Union. Dockers had to assemble at the Dock Gates and were hand picked to work inside. If there were know Ships, or your Face didn't Fit you went home. That's no way to Earn a Living.

The Sea Side for All?

This Banner Extols the Working Men and Women Leisure Time, if they join a Trade Union. A Fair Days Pay for a Fair Days Work.

Coach Builders

This is one of the Best Banners I have ever seen. The United Kingdom Society of Coach Builders. They were Established in 1834. On one of the Shields there are represented England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales Motif's.

Long before the NHS.

This Great Banner depicts the Medical Profession long before the NHS. The scene's show's Hospital, Ambulance, Doctors, and of Course a Matron. I think this Trade Union is still going? The National Health Service Started in 1948.

A Sculpture

This Sculpture represents the Working Men and Women tied to the Clock. They had to work long hours to make a living for their Families and Children.

The Wood Workers.

This Superb Banner made in Silk, by the Huguenots Weaver of London with Work Shop Scene's of the Wood Workers at work with their Tools. Makes you want to join the Union. ( Yes? )