Meet up to mark Peterloo massacre

A HISTORIC walk from Oldham to Manchester will be recreated to mark the 190th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre.

Fourteen people died in 1819 when the militia charged on a crowd of civil rights protesters in the city centre — including six from the Oldham area.

Oldham Community Radio is organising the walk to the Peterloo district on Sunday, August 16.

Station manager Dave McGealy said: “As a large number of the estimated 70,000 men, women and children present on the day were from the area now administered by Oldham Council, we believe we should acknowledge and commemorate the significant contribution made by local people to this defining event from British and indeed world history.

“We are inviting interested partner organisations, such as local historical societies, area or township committees, rambler and walking groups, trade unions, etc, to become involved in the planning and organisation of this event.”

It is intended for a small group of up to 10 walkers to start from remote villages in the morning and then be joined by additional walkers as they pass through neighbourhoods into a 250-strong procession by the time the city centre is reached around noon.

A small event will then be held before dispersing after a minute’s silence at 1.40pm — the time the original meeting was cleared.

There may also be processions from other areas like Tameside and Stockport.

A meeting will be held at Oldham Community Radio’s new Failsworth premises at Partington House, 2 Partington Street, today at 6.30pm to help plan it.

Interested parties can e-mail studio@oldhamcommunityradio.com or call 0161 682 5599.