ON Sunday May 31 it will be 76 years to the day since John Hagarty led the Catholic church procession through Bolton town centre.

Now aged 83 John was a boy of seven years and 10 months when he was picked to lead the procession just three months before World War Two began in 1939.

Dressed in an elaborate white silk costume of smart trousers and braided jacket — with a white hat bearing a large feather perched on his head — this proud little boy was at the front of the massive walking day parade that drew thousands to watch and take part.

Each year a different church would be picked to lead the parade, explains John and this particular year it was the turn of St Mary's — which was situated when the Holiday Inn now stands in Bolton.

John was a pupil at St Mary's School and his family attended the church. St Mary's was one of seven Catholic churches in Bolton at the time — these were St Ethelbert's, St Edmund's, St Patrick's, St Mary's, St Peter and Paul's, St Joseph's and Holy Infant's.

The walking days were hugely popular events and benches and seats would be put out for spectators, explains John, who lives in Halliwell.

At the time young John was living with his parents, Mary and his father John (who was always known as Jack) and sister Patricia (who is now aged 80) in Derbyshire Street, off Waterloo Street in Bolton.

"I remember my mother was really proud when I was picked to lead the parade," recalls John, who explains that the role he took was called the earl marshall although he cannot remember what the "decorated stick" was called that he had to carry along the route.

It was clearly a very important role that John had to play in the parade and one that he can still remember all these years later.

John was at the front of the parade, just behind the four St Mary's church priests who wore black top hats for the prestigious event, he explains.

Little John was followed by the Rose Queen and her retinue and then the congregation members who marched through the streets.

The church congregation members assembled in Moor Lane in Bolton town centre for the start of the parade, walked through the arches and around to the town hall before heading down to the Commercial public house and then into Newport Street and Great Moor Street, recalls John.

They also took in Bradshawgate and Deansgate before heading back to the town hall where they would end the day.

The whole event would take several hours "I think it was about three hours" and was a day John can still remember today.

"I do remember it very well. It was a very exciting day and I can remember there were many people watching us and they were clapping as we went past," says John.

John, who has two children and five grandchildren, attended St Mary's School before leaving primary school for Thornleigh.

After leaving school he had a career as a joiner. Sadly his wife, Moya, who was born in Ireland, died three years ago.

He visited his sister's home recently in Deane where she located the photograph of John dressed in his finery for the procession.

Here at the Bolton News we discovered, in our archives, a photograph showing another St Mary's procession from May 1941 — just two years after John's special day — with another little boy wearing the costume of the earl marshall and a rose queen and her retinue preparing to take part in the event.

They all look so beautifully dressed and clearly proud to be involved in such an occasion.

Walking days were major occasions in the church calendar and much enjoyed in Bolton and other Lancashire towns.

They were events that involved huge preparations with those involved dressing in their Sunday best and proudly showing their affinity to a particular church.

Costumes would be carefully and expertly made — John's smart satin outfit was made to measure, probably by a seamstress from the St Mary's church congregation — and that included the "queen's" dress and her retinue's outfits too.

When times were hard and many local folk were hard at work in the mills or other typically labour-intensive work (John's father was a hod carrier) it was a refreshing break from all that exhausting work to enjoy a day of leisure among friends.

The church was very important to local people at that time — and that includes all denominations — and any event that was organised by the church was considered important enough to give up any other plans for the day to take part.

Life could be very hard for families and this was one day when all problems could be set aside and they could enjoy the festivities the walking day afforded.

Do you have your own memories of these special days? Perhaps you also have photographs you would like to share with other Looking Back readers.

If so get in touch with Gayle McBain on 01204 537269.