The torch light procession had to adapt pretty sharpish due to the fact that there was no way this was going to be a quiet meditation walk, as it turned out it really didnt matter….everyone had a huge black rose to hold (Sophies symbol) one or two had pink ones to liven the display up a bit.
The young chaps at the front were full of red bull and monster and as a result were singing and chanting holding the S.O.P.H.I.E with pride as they chanted ‘S.O.P.H.I.E…peace and love and unity!More smiles and thumbs up from the thousands who turned up to watch…’I get it!’ a woman shouted to me…..that was enough!
Sylvia and Adam (Sophies mum and brother) turned up, which gave the whole evening a warm family feel, i think all of us in the parade felt like we had known each other for years never mind a day or a week or two.
Next stop, the Black Parade goes back home to Bacup where it all began, this will be tough but essential!
All finished! The day/s were a success after realising at the 11th hour that i didnt have a fire extinguisher on the truck. the ‘inspector’ was huffing and puffing as he walked around our very DIY truck criticising the makeshift handrails and the fact that we had flammables next to a diesel generator….blah b’blah, i thought i’d left my ‘real’ job to escape all this ….. obviously not!
Anyway, 5 mins before the parade was due to start we were given the green light which was actually a piece of green card and we were off.
After leaving the park where the various procession vehicles had collected we set off into Preston city centre for the Community procession, at the bottom of Moor lane i turned to my left to see an army of punks, goths and assorted metal types…It worked! I couldnt stop smiling and couldnt look at Donna for filling up with tears of joy.
The highlight was watching Neil from behind my drums singing ‘its your right to riot!’ with his ‘pussy riot’ balaclava on as we crawled slowly past the Harris museum…confetti falling down on us as the mayor and other VIP’s clapped and cheered us…smiling faces….old people in beige punking out to the Sanity Clause!
http://www.reverbnation.com/thesanityclause
