Sheffield retro: Childhood memories of Whitsuntide and brass bands

It was then a moveable religious festival and included many steadfast English customs, but by the end of the 1970s everything had changed. Whit Monday was one of the biggest and most enjoyable days in our social calendar.

Most parks in Sheffield held a Whit Sing. Our local park was Firth Park and I would walk down there with my mum and dad and sister from Sheffield Lane Top to enjoy the festivities.

Soon the magic began. The spine-tingling sounds of brass bands. From Shiregreen, from Page Hall, from Fir Vale and from Sheffield Lane Top. Bands from the Boys Brigade, Sea Scouts, Sunday Schools, and the Salvation Army. The Sunday school queen with her attendants resplendent on the back of a B & C milk lorry wearing beautifully embroidered robes and carrying fresh flowers. Church members walking behind the Sunday school banners. Over thirty churches were represented.

Each church had its own designated area. Eventually everyone was in place and the singing started. The sound of favourite hymns rising into the air above the park.

And then, the games. There were egg and spoon and sack races. Football and cricket. Dads taking their suit jacket off and rolling up their shirt sleeves to show off their prowess. Chance to meet people you hadn’t seen since the same time last year, picnics sitting on the grass.

How sad it was when the day was over and it seemed such a long time until it was the Whit Sing again. But, we still had Whit Tuesday which was Star Walk day. It was sponsored by The Star and started from Kemsley House, the home of the newspaper back then.

The route of the race was roughly about 12 miles and could command large crowds all the way along it. Many of the participants were not very serious, having decided to enter after consuming a few too many pints of John Smiths in the pub, but it did include many members of Sheffield United Walking Club and provided some seriously good athletes.

For those of us of a certain age, Whitsuntide remains an indelible memory of our childhood.