Procession wows crowds

Mike Keegan

July 06, 2009

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FROM chips to smoking and boy racers to Peterloo - a parade celebrating the region was watched by thousands of people as it snaked through Manchester streets.

The only thing that wasn't Manchester was the weather - as the procession waltzed down Deansgate.

A tribute to those who died at Peterloo, some boy racers in souped-up cars and a controversial parade of smokers all featured as thousands lined the famous thoroughfare in glorious sunshine.

There were also a series of hearses carrying flowers spelling the name of a number of bygone institutions such as Wigan Casino and Love Saves the Day.

Setting off from the Liverpool Road end of Deansgate and heading for Victoria, the procession is one of the highlights of the £9.6m 2009 Manchester International Festival.

Fury

It was created by Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller, who sparked fury in some quarters when he advertised for smokers to take part.

The event is part-funded by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and city centre councillor Pat Karney said he would be launching an investigation into whether the cigarettes carried by some of the walkers were paid for by the taxpayer.

The smokers carried a banner reading 'The Unrepentant Smokers' and were closely followed by another group with a banner that read: 'Smoking Kills'.

Other standouts were a steel band performing Joy Division classic Love Will Tear Us Apart and an Indian piping band from Bolton belting out 'Scotland the Brave'.

Mascots from the region's sports clubs, including Fred the Red, Moonchester and Chaddy the Owl were also on hand.

A float titled 'The Adoration of the Chip' featuring a giant chip celebrated the world's first fish and chip shop in Oldham and tiara-wearing carnival queens from across the region waved from open top cars.

'Terrible idea'

Visitors John Cosgrove, 33, and Samantha Amor, 27, from Stoke, said they enjoyed the procession.

John added: "It's a great city and we love coming here."

His comments were echoed by retired Kiwi couple Derek and Dorothy Convin.

Derek Convin, from New Zealand, said: "Some of the themes were good and some missed the point but it's a great place.

But Coun Karney wasn't as sold on the work.

He said: "I thought the procession was a mixture of the really good and the really bad. The boy racers were a terrible idea and the hearses were naff.

"I thought the float depicting Manchester in 2050 was terrific.

"The smokers seemed bizarrely out of place. Puffing away in front of children was disgusting and I'll be checking if any public money was spent on those cigarettes."

Festival parade health warning

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David Meller (05/07/2009 at 18:18)

As one of the unrepentant smokers (indeed, I'm the one pictured above), I'll save Cllr Karney wasting more of his time: we paid for the cigarettes and cigars ourselves. Now maybe he can spend more of his time doing work that benefits Manchester's residents as a whole.

jongreg, irlam (05/07/2009 at 20:00)

Im an ex smoker and and really surprised about all the negative comments about this parade..
Are people really that stupid to think that because they have seen someone smoke in public that their children will start this habit???
If kids are going to smoke they will..its a phase that most of us went through..u either smoke or u dont!!
WHY on earth make such a big story about it and bring in to the forefront???
Mr Karney..get off your soapbox and stop claiming that it was you who singlehandedly brought in the smoking ban..It was a Govermental decision which has proved to be athorn in their side as now the Hostilary industry is going extremely quickly down the pan..
There is going to have to be a re-think about it otherwise within 3 years there will be hardly any public houses left that can sustain an income.

Greef, Salford (05/07/2009 at 20:01)

I do not want to be the person who puts a cloud over this afternoons sunny procession but i was ultimately dissapointed with this showcase and slighty confused over the whole festival itself. For a festival that no-one really wants at a cost of £9.6m it was somewhat amateurish and lacked feeling. The appluase from the croud lining deasngate was rather forced. It was very disfunctional which was the last thing i expected from a 'turner prize' winner.
Credit though to the ramblers, smokers and bygone funeral processions, they were/are very natural times and way of lives. Didn't get Elvis, roses, mascots or the boy racers and im especially bored of seeing that guy who does the tribal dancing who's getting banded around Manchester as if he's got something to say. He's rubbish in the street and he was rubbish at Eng Vs Arg at OT last month at half time. Bore off. I may be setting myself up here but I am rather confused over the whole Int.festival. Please someone remind me why it's here and who wanted it. I do not want to beast any of those people who took part in the procession, time and effort was clearly made which is testiment to our City's natural doings but as an observer i felt sorry for you.

Maynard Kitchener Lampwick Manchester , (05/07/2009 at 20:09)

When is Thick People going to realise, Smoking Kills, and its costing our NHS Millions of pounds, when they could be using this money for othere sources... Have the bottle, pack them in, save your money and holiday with it, i packed them in nine years ago, put £10 in a jar on what i would have spent them days, still do it today and at Christmas i have £500 to treat my family...

dave moran, Jersey (05/07/2009 at 20:22)

Well done smokers. I hope you had a lovely day and really got up the noses of the middle class hate mongers. Lets just remind everyone that as smokers we are tax payers and as smokers we pay £7 billion more every year to the state than non smokers. We pay three times more money in duty than it costs to treat, what the health service like to call "smoking related illness", but we are treated as if we are a burden. We are law abiding people that do not deserve to treated as social leapers. If tax money buys you rights then technically we have more rights to pursue our lives in peace then non smokers. Eat as much as you like, drink as much as you like and smoke as much as you like its your life not theirs and as everything carries VAT you've paid for your vice. Educate people yes but banning people from mixing with the rest of society because its frowned upon is nothing short of social apartheid.

Andanotherthing, Mcr (05/07/2009 at 21:14)

So no fags , no Cllr Karney unless he was sucking it all in at deansgate...nothing to wory about then.

munkiz (05/07/2009 at 21:37)

procession appeared to puzzle and delight in equal measure, which i imagine was exactly what Jeremy Deller and MIF 09 were after.

Whatever you think of the political positioning, so many people with so many smiles can't really be argued with. Brilliant.

Greef, Salford (05/07/2009 at 22:59)

It was a very forced applause from the crowd with polite smiles. Im very confused with MIF event. Not quite so convinced it's what the people of Manchester want. A poor amateur display for the procession from a 'turner prize' winner. Smokers, Ramblers & Funeral for bygones were great. The rest was forgetable. So too was last years event. MIF....not really for mancs.

Guten Tag, Manchester (06/07/2009 at 11:14)

I watched the parade and had a great day. Some parts were very amateurish, embarrassing almost. Lost at the boy racers. Hate smoking so refused to clap something that kills. Loved the steel band. I would assume creating, organising and controlling something like this is extremely difficult. Maybe this was his first attempt? Certainly seemed that way.

Angie33 , Manchester (06/07/2009 at 12:10)

Cant believe they didnt have a grumpy old men float.Bigots werent represented either.Its just not on!

citycentre, manchester (06/07/2009 at 12:15)

"Hate smoking so refused to clap something that kills", yet you didnt mind the motorists, whic, i understand results in a fair few deaths as well?

"The rest was forgetable. So too was last years event. MIF" that would be as there was no MIF last year.

saw most of this, and have to agree it did seem a bit amauterish in parts, maybe it was deliberate, a reflection on the city itself perhaps?

nyb, ex manc (06/07/2009 at 13:14)

I loved it.
It was brilliant and naff in equal proportions.

That's the point of parades/festivals, etc. Onlookers should be left wondering "what was that".

As for the killjoys and ban them brigade...I hope they got the message that it was all a bit of fun, and expression of free speech and inclusivity, unlike their own sanitised view of the world.

I look forward to next years event.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (06/07/2009 at 13:20)

I like that sign on the photo "Smoking kills", so does standing in the road love

Mark,Radcliffe. (06/07/2009 at 13:39)

Mr Karney would be launching an investigation to see if the cigarettes carried by the walkers were paid for by taxpayers...Why hasnt this Karney Krusade been done previously ?...Cirrhosis of the Liver kills..am sure it isnt only fruit-juices or water that are the available tipple at Town Hall functions,and definately paid for by the Taxpayer.Would it be that Mr Karney sees no harm in a free alcoholic drink ?

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (06/07/2009 at 14:02)

Cant believe they didn't have a grumpy old men float.Bigots werent represented either.Its just not on!
Angie33 , Manchester

That because most of them were on here typing away their gripes!
Actually they should have had MEN Commenter's section
.

AMG, Here (06/07/2009 at 14:03)

Smoking does kill, eventually, but we all die eventually. As for the cost to the NHS because of smoking related diseases, what abotu the tax raised on the sale of tabacco products? I reckon if you compare the two, the incoming tax is alot higher than the outgoing costs.

Smokers fund the NHS, and we're in a free country, I'm free to smoke, just as you're free to not smoke. Get over it.

easylad (06/07/2009 at 14:26)

as an NHS worker I consider myself in a pretty good position to state that obesity is currently a much bigger problem and far more draining on our resources than smokers are. ok two wrongs don't make a right but it is just a thought.

Angie33 , Manchester (06/07/2009 at 14:53)

Umpire2.No they couldnt have a float for MEN commenters.They would need armed outriders to protect them from assassination.

JTC Formerley JimC (06/07/2009 at 16:27)

dave moran, Jersey
5/07/2009 at 20:22

A great post.

I will tell you what is disgusting Karney, spending public money on you. anyting to get your mugshot in the media.

english charlie, suffolk (06/07/2009 at 20:29)

The oldest ever recorded person, a French woman 122 and the oldest living man in the world, a Britain 114, were both smokers.

griffin, stockport (06/07/2009 at 21:39)

AMG, Here

Smokers don't fund the NHS.

Numerous smokers of my aquaintance put forward this argument then they open another packet of duty free cigarettes smuggled in by friends.

And as for me being free to smoke or not, another spurious argument. I have to breath the polluted air which you exhale.

soapy57, rainworth (07/07/2009 at 11:40)

Well there's a surprise a anti smoker objecting to paying for the NHS! AS for duty frees if anti smokers are stupid enough to force the over taxation of a legal product it's little wonder that smokers will look for better deals. You brought this upon yourselves, you allowed it to happen, take some personal responsibility for your choice on smoke free lifestyles and pay up the loss of taxation.

Theowolfe (07/07/2009 at 12:31)

"I have to breath the polluted air which you exhale."

griffin, stockport

I would rather have a good lung full of "polluted air" than live with the fetid stench of self rightious, bandwagon jumping, illiberal sanctimony.

Whe all smoking has been expunged by fellow travelers of griffin, who next? We need to heed the warnings of Martin Niemöller.

griffin, stockport (07/07/2009 at 18:55)

Soapy 57

I don't object to paying for the NHS and the rest of your comment is banal.
If your tobacco addled brain can function for one minute, I was commenting on the argument put forward by many smokers that they pay high taxes on tobacco but then very often obtain duty free products thus cheating the NHS out of much needed revenue to treat the diseases which smokers inflict on themselves and others in their vicinity.

Theowolfe

Let's hope that the polluted air which you breathe causes your early demise thus saving the NHS £1000's in treating the self inflicted diseases you will surely contract.

Cookie Monster (07/07/2009 at 19:44)

Saw the parade - great fun, looked fab and I loved the fact that it stuck two fingers up at Pat Karney (who I love, by the way) and all the other anti-smoking fascists. But there was so much more to it than the smokers, it was a proper fun event. Yeah, it was a bit amateur, but isn't that what it was supposed to be?

Well done MIF, we had a smashing day out!

The Wisdom of Cooklie

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