Colourful banner parade heralds book launch

OVER 50 colourful banners representing past industries in Frome were paraded through the town to mark the launch of a new book which features local people.

The book, Woking Memories – Frome Workers Tell Their Story was the culmination of over 90 interviews carried out by the community group, Home in Frome, with people reminiscing about working in the town.

The book is available to buy through Hunting Raven bookshop in Cheap Street.

It was launched with a colourful display of hand-made banners that paraded through the town on Saturday 27th of October. Each banner represented an industry which used to be found in the town.

One half of the parade began at Stony Street before winding down Catherine Hill, along Cork Street and into the Westway precinct, while the second half of the parade marched down St John’s Church steps and through Cheap Street.

The parade was accompanied by beating drums and trumpets. The banner carriers then lined up along the river side, where more banners arrived by boat to join the parade. The procession then made its way across Button Bridge to finish at the Cheese and Grain, where information about the book was read out to the assembled crowd.

All of the banners have now been hung from shops throughout the town.