Blackburn Coffin Parade 2012 (the one which used to be held in Bamber Bridge)

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The coffin parade held in Bamber Bridge whenever Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End are relegated or promoted did not take place this year.

Problems in Bamber Bridge to do with disorderly conduct last year led to police objections to this year's Rovers relegation party.

But some die hard Blackburn fans made a big effort to carry on the tradition. You can read more about that here.

These images document the result, a short march between two pubs near Ewood Park.

The parade in Bamber Bridge involved a huge part of the community and includes several dozen floats and an hour-long procession. It was a trvesty that the tradition was unable to continue.

NOTE: Images of previous parades can be seen in the features section of www.gazcook.com

Olympic Torch Relay 2012 in Blackburn

Saturday June 23, 2012. The Olympic Torch Relay came to the outskirts of Blackburn at 9.12am.

There were hundreds of people waiting for its arrival.

NOTE: The torch actually came via mini-bus to Blackburn from Preston. It is not physically carried by joggers throughout its entire route.

Do you believe in Christmas? In Blackburn? In November?

FESTIVE ADVERTORIAL: Merry Christmas! by Garry Cook, a documentary photography project now in its second year. END OF FESTIVE ADVERTORIAL (thanks for your time).
Believe it not - and believe me - Christmas is here.
These four images were taken on November 18 in Blackburn in the build-up to their Christmas lights switch-on. It's actually the second Christmas event I have attended this year.
Both events, this and at Albert Square in Manchester last Friday, felt sadly un-festive. Thousands turned up for both events (well, nearly a thousand in Blackburn) but the lack of festive food stalls and family sideshow activities gave both openings a rather limp feeling. We've still got a long way behind Europe when it comes to putting the fun into festivals. Ho, Ho, No.
Still, Whalley, Garstang and Rawtenstall can still show them how it's done with their upcoming Chritsmas festivals.
NOTE: O���ne of these images ������(���c���o���n���t���a���i���n���s��� white ���b���a���l���l���o���o���n���s������)��� ������w���a���s��� ���t���a���k���e���n��� ���������by four-and-a-half���-���year���-���old Teddy Cook (his first ���i���m���a���g���e��� on this blog).

Do you believe in Christmas? In Blackburn? In November?

FESTIVE ADVERTORIAL: Merry Christmas! by Garry Cook, a documentary photography project now in its second year. END OF FESTIVE ADVERTORIAL (thanks for your time).

Believe it not - and believe me - Christmas is here.

These four images were taken on November 18 in Blackburn in the build-up to their Christmas lights switch-on. It's actually the second Christmas event I have attended this year.

Both events, this and at Albert Square in Manchester last Friday, felt sadly un-festive. Thousands turned up for both events (well, nearly a thousand in Blackburn) but the lack of festive food stalls and family sideshow activities gave both openings a rather limp feeling. We've still got a long way behind Europe when it comes to putting the fun into festivals. Ho, Ho, No.

Still, Whalley, Garstang and Rawtenstall can still show them how it's done with their upcoming Chritsmas festivals.

NOTE: One of these images (contains white balloons) was taken by four-and-a-half-year-old Teddy Cook (his first image on this blog).

St George's Day in Darwen, Lancashire

Did someone say the English don't know how to celebrate?
April 23, 2010.