THIS year Millom Newtown celebrates its 150th birthday. HOLLY HARRISON looks at the important role the founding of the town played in the history of the community

A COMMUNITY is preparing for a major celebration to mark the 150th birthday of a modern-day town.

This year observes the 150th anniversary of Millom Newtown - an area of the town that was developed on the back of the ironworks industry.

The birth of Newtown symbolised a new age for Millom which has led to the close-knit, pioneering community it is today.

To commemorate this momentous landmark, councillors have decided to use this year’s Millom Carnival as the official celebration of the town’s birthday.

Judith Tyson, co-ordinator of the carnival, is delighted by the honour.

She said: “This year is just going to be even bigger and better than before.

“We’re trying to get all the local groups involved from dance troupes to singing groups, local bands, different stalls and charities.

“It’s about bringing everyone together - like a big family.”

Millom boasts a long history of street parades spanning more than 100 years and has always provided the opportunity for the whole town to come together.

Karen Jackson-Smith, secretary of the carnival committee, said: “It brings everyone together no matter what their background or age is. If people don’t get on, they do on carnival day and they just suspend all hostility.”

Despite a 20-year break between 2002 and 2012, Millom Carnival continues to hold a very special place in people’s hearts - regardless of their age.

Mrs Jackson-Smith said: “Everybody gets involved. All the elderly people make the effort to come out or stand at the windows and wave and that’s what makes it.

“It makes you wonder what kind of memories it brings back. It’s a day to celebrate being from Millom.”

Despite its successful past, organisers are now turning their attention to the future and are looking to bring in a new tradition this year.

Mrs Jackson-Smith said: “This year we’re trying to get a Carnival King who will be picked at the same time as the rest of the royal family on February 19.

“He must be between 13 and 16 years old and his name will be picked out of a hat.

"This year is special because we've never had a Carnival King before."

In addition to the crowning of the Carnival King, organisers are looking to invest in a giant 110ft marquee and introduce a whole host of new acts, bands and entertainments coming from across the whole area.

In this iconic year, people across Millom are preparing to celebrate and sing out their praises for the town and its birthday.

Denise Burness, mayor of Millom, said: “Since it began again the carnival has been a centrepoint in the social calendar of Millom and has gone from strength to strength.

“This year will have more of an impact because it will be celebrating 150 years of the naming of Millom.

Mrs Tyson said: “The carnival goes back more than a hundred years and has always been something very special to Millom.

“It’s Millom’s day and now it’s Newtown’s birthday.”

Mrs Jackson-Smith said: “It’s our heritage and it’s pride - the pride we have in our community.”

<u>Historic moments from carnival's past</u>

1939 - Outbreak of war looming

MILLOM Empire Carnival procession, on Saturday, halted at the town war memorial while the retiring rose queen (Miss Dorothy Metcalf) laid a wreath at the foot of the monument.

In the public park, afterwards, the new rose queen (Miss Elsi Usher), was crowned by Mr E. M. Sadler, who was presented with a beautiful bouquet.

1928 - Rain on the parade

RAIN interfered with the success of the Millom Empire Carnival on Saturday.

A sports programme and various competitions had to be abandoned and the crowning of the Rose Queen (Miss Mona Thomas, Holborn Hill) was performed by Miss GH Scott indoors instead of in the public park.

Three sisters sisters, who had not met for 12 years - Mrs Burns, of Ambleside, Mrs Atkinson, of London, and Mrs Perkins, of Millom - took part in the procession and each won a prize.

1928 - Trouble at the fair

ARISING out of an incident at the Millom Empire Carnival on September 8, a local police inspector, George William Wright, was summoned at Millom on Saturday for an alleged assault upon Joseph Kershaw, a joiner employed at Barrow-in-Furness, and residing at 85, Wellington Street, Millom.

Kershaw, who conducted his own case, alleged that Inspector Wright had pushed him on the chest, but witness could not go back far enough on the account of the crowd behind him.

The inspector then said: "I will take you down to the office if you don't get back."

The inspector walked away, pushing people back all the time and then stopped and shouted to witness: "You there with your hands in your pockets."

He replied: "They are my own pockets," whereupon the inspector returned and shoved him in the back into the crowd, holding him by the coat and saying: "I have a good mind to put you on your back."

Witness answered: "What for?" and the inspector got hold of him by his throat, running him back six or seven yards.