On the morning of Saturday 16th April 2005, Bolton Town Hall was encirlced by a symobolic chain of poverty. At 8am the chain was broken to represent to need to break the chains of poverty for the majority of the world's population.
Over 300 people came to the vigil on 15th/16th April 2005, despite the atrocious weather conditions. Together we demonstrated that there is a strength of feeling in Bolton about the billions of extremely poor people on our planet, and sent a message to world leaders that they must do everything in their power to finally MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.
On the morning of Saturday 16th April 2005, Bolton Town Hall was encirlced by a symobolic chain of poverty. At 8am the chain was broken to represent to need to break the chains of poverty for the majority of the world's population.
At 6.00pm on Wednesday 22nd June 2005, we were honoured to host those who were making their way from Birmingham, the last place of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit meeting to Gleneagles, near Edinburgh, the next place of the meeting. The Mayor told Simon Topping, the march leader, that it was the first time in the history of the borough that the start of a full council meeting was delayed, not even the outbreak of World War 1 or World War II had delayed a meeting, such was the importance held by the council for the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign.
The event was the biggest anti-debt rally in the North West of England prior to the Summit. Hundreds of people came to demonstrate that Poverty is Pants!
250,000 people were estimated to have attended this largest ever march in Scotland, ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles. Like Live8, which ran in parallel in London, this huge gathering was to send the clearest, loudest possible noise to the leaders of the eight richest nations that we want them to drop the debt of the world's poorest countries, send them more, better monitored aid, and to change the system of world trade which stacks against the chances for the poorest countries in the world ever getting themselves out of the situation where 30,000 children die each day unnecessarily.
Around 700 coaches went to Edinburgh, some 150 of those were from the North West region and Bolton sent at least 6 coaches as well as other people who travelled by others means. This event was the climax, so far, for many from Bolton who have been passionate to make leaders take note of public opinion on extreme poverty.
Bolton has taken this campaign seriously from the start with the interest and support for the journey of a number of female clergy to the 500-strong Vicar of Dibley march on 10 Downing Street in January 2005.
The organisers had done an excellent job in encouraging such a vast number of people to be there. Edinburgh was at a complete standstill. It was a very calm, peaceful demonstration, and even quiet at times, particularly at 3pm, when the whole of the mighty crowd fell silent for one minute to remember the innumerable victims of extreme poverty throughout the world.
BUT just a few times, there was a tremendous racket from the crowd. Whistles had been generously given out by several of the action groups around the rally.
The 2,400 strong Bolton MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY petition was given to Kirsty McNeil of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY team, who thanked Bolton people for signing this, and promised the signatures would be handed in by the same delegation who present the Live8 petition to the G8 leaders at Gleneagles later in the week.
Your stories of Edinburgh
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Miriam and I weren't able to complete the tandem ride to Edinburgh. We made it to Edinburgh by train though and had a fascinating weekend - I even met Billy Bragg on Sunday afternoon! It was quite an experience and one that we won't forget, one way or another!
Steve and Miriam Harrold
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I went to Edinburgh on the 2nd July and joined the other 230,000 people marching for justice. The noise was amazing with such a feeling of togetherness among the crowd. It was a long day but I wouldn't of missed it for the world and it is something I will always remember and something I will be able to tell my children and grandchildren if 2005 becomes the year
poverty becomes history. I will be able to say I helped make it happen.
Marie Harkin
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The main impression I had from the day was the vastness of the gathering; as we walkedfrom where the coach was parked we could see lots of other people heading in the direction og The Meadows which was the rally site, but we could not see the rally itself until we got there. I have never seen that many people in one place before, then I realised that I was only looking at a very small part of the rally, the crowd went on and on.
Robert Rudge
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After over an hour queueing to start the march we gave up and joined the last section of the march behind the Castle, in time for the effective minute's silence at 3pm, followed by cheers which rippled through the human white band round the city centre of Edinburgh.
Jill Hollyman
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Queues everywhere: several for the march, like streams joining a rive - almost impossible to find the start. People of every age; a vast variety of slogans, dress,banners, balloons - fantastically inventive.Great good humour all round.
Margaret Pollitt
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An amazing day! It was wonderful to see so many people with the same message, from so many places and so enthusiastic. The minute's silence at 3pm was very moving. Hope it has all been worthwhile and the G8 have taken note of the strength of feeling.
Vera Dudley
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I soon lost my companions in the crowds - and found myself, by chance, on the move and away en route for Princess Street, amongst good-tempered marchers of all ages. The highlights were the silence at 3pm and then the liveley African drummers in their scarlet outfits.
Kath Pollitt
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It's great to come and lend our support to try and change the world. You see what's been going on with the campaign, and you just want to be part of it. I'm coming back on Wednesday on the train for the next part of the protests. Daryl Morris
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What an amazing feeling to be there! And the G8 ARE going to listen!
Anna Forrest-Redfern
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It was an exhilerating experience to join forces with over 230,000 other people who share the passion and vision to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.
Stewart Forrest-Redfern
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Those of us who were together by the Bolton banner certainly made a lot of noise, shouting to the G8 to drop the debt, to give more and better aid, and to work toweards trade justice. Let's hope the G8 hear this clear, vital message given by the people of Bolton here, along with the 250,000 others in Edinburgh, and the billions of people watching the Live8 concerts at the same time. This has to be the largest mass statement of people power we have ever witnessed.
Rev Sue Forrest-Redfern
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The Mayor and Mayoress of Horwich with young people outside the Horwich Resource Centre on Saturday 10th September during Bolton White Band Weekend.
Councillor Bob Ronson with staff at the Horwich Resource Centre on Saturday 10th September during Bolton White Band Weekend.
Ministers and Stewards of the Victoria Hall, Bolton Methodist Mission wearing their White Bands. L-R: Sylvia Fairhurst, Christine Heppollette, Peter Mills, Janet Smith, Phil Mason and Fiona Key.
Members of the World Development Movement wearing their White Bands. Back L-R: Chris Hodgkinson, Margaret Pollitt,Hilary Murrant, Christine Walton, Sarah Wright. Front L-R: Chris Cresswell, Lisha Chauhan, Margaret Johnstone and Nick Wright.
A small selection of people from the Bolton and Rochdale Methodist District wearing their white bands.
Courtney Hargreaves, Joseph Parkin, Rachel Wright and Rebekah Fairhurst from the Victoria Hall, Bolton Methodist Mission.
Members of St Thomas & St John's church, Lostock, displaying their support on Sunday 11th September 2005.
Councillor Barbara Ronson, Leader of Bolton Council, and Councillor Bob Ronson with a Make Poverty History band around their car as part of Bolton White Band Weekend
The Mayor of Horwich, Councillor Stephen Rock, and the Mayoress of Horwich, Councillor Lynn Rock, wear white bands in support of Bolton White Band Weekend
St Bede's Parish Church, Morris Green, Bolton.
St Elizabeth's Church, Horwich.
Jubilant campaigners for MakePovertyHistory have today (Wednesday 9th November) won a new title for Bolton as home of the world's largest pair of pants, and Guinness World Records have been on hand to confirm 'that's official'.
With a giant waistband of 14.40 metres (47 feet) wide and measuring 10.48metres (34 feet) high the massive pants were laid out on the square in front of the Town Hall surrounded by local leaders, the Mayor of Bolton, and anti poverty campaigners from all parts of the town. Bolton Evening News editor Steve Hughes was an independent witness while Jenny Kelly from Trading Standards checked the measurements.
The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Frank White, said: "I never thought in my wildest dreams that as Mayor I would be measuring a pair of underpants but there is no finer cause than eliminating poverty. I am very proud of Bolton for leading the way in the North West in the MakePovertyHistory campaign and now for making it into the Guinness Book of World Records."
MakePovertyHistory campaigner and Lostock curate the Revd Sue Forrest-Redfern said: "Months ago, when I said in the heat of the moment 'Poverty is pants' I never thought that we would end up with Bolton going into the record books as a result. This has all grown from the support of local people for the campaign to end world poverty and it's been so good to be part of such a committed and enthusiastic group of people from all over the town. It is a fantastic achievement for Bolton and for the campaign to make poverty history."
Before the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July local campaigners discussed how to welcome a group of debt marchers heading for Scotland. Remembering the 'poverty is pants' line and wanting to raise a smile they hit on the idea of calling it a 'Pants to poverty' party.
Next they discovered Guinness World records keep records for the largest pair of Y fronts. It was an obvious step to make a record bid, with the slogan 'Bolton says Pants to Poverty'. A wide group of people came on board, with fabric from local suppliers Bolmoor, art work from Portfolio design agency and help to paint the slogan from Bolton Wanderers, the Reebok Stadium and local schoolchildren. Cheshire underwear firm Dewhirsts made the pants and Bolton Council offered practical support all along the line.
Today's record attempt was held to coincide with Guinness World Records Day - the biggest record-breaking event in history when records were broken in countries all around the world.
With important World Trade talks to take place in Hong Kong next month the hope is that the giant pants can make more appearances in the town including on the pitch at the Reebok Stadium for a Wanderers home game before Christmas.