DARWEN folk are gearing up for a party destined for the history books!

The town is celebrating the centenary of famous Darwen Tower and hundreds are expected to catch up with the festivities which will culminate in a triumphant walk from the town hall to the tower on Sunday, June 22.

Darwen MP Janet Anderson is in no doubt where she'll be that day!

She said: "I'll be right there with the walkers. I went up last September when we celebrated the anniversary of the freedom of the moors.

"I wouldn't miss this year's event for the world because it will be a real coming-together of local people. It's going to be a great day for Darwen."

Janet will be joined on the walk by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Peter

A special guest, William Whalley from the USA, will be remembering his grandfather, whose building company constructed the tower back in 1897.

The walk will start at Darwen's municipal buildings at 10.15 and will go via Punstock Road and higher Bold Venture.

A brass band will be playing at the tower and there will be a kite flying display and poetry recital. Commemorative scrolls will be handed out to the walkers and there will be special "Darwen rock" for the youngsters.

The event will conclude with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.

A hundred years ago thousands flocked to the tower for the cutting of the first sod on June 22. And there were thousands more for the official opening in September,1898.

Work had gone on throughout the winter and summer. Two stonemasons from Wheelton, working for local contractor James Whalley, did most of the work using stone from the nearby Red Delph quarry.

Peter Brindle and Harry Flew walked to work over the moors every morning and then walked home again.

The tower was still not finished when it was officially opened by the Rev. Duckworth. More than 3,000 people braved a bitterly cold East wind to watch the ceremony and afterwards there was a bonfire.

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