Members of the Wigan Diggers’ Festival Committee were saddened to hear of the loss earlier this year, of veteran Labour Left-winger Tony Benn, who was the winner of our first ever Ged Winstanley Spade Award in 2013. Due to illness, Tony was unable to come to our Festival last year in order to receive the award in person. We are all deeply upset by his passing and send our condolences to his family.
Sadly, Tony Benn and the artist Taxi Driver didn’t manage to make it. Tony Benn due to a viral infection. But this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the estimated 2500 crowd who attended the event during the course of the day.
Here is just some of the feedback we’ve so far received:
Mike Matthews (Wigan Town Centre Manager)
“Looked like another great festival. I popped back to see Merry Hell and the stage looked brill.”
Bolton LG Unison Branch Members
“We had a brill time and will now put this in our branch’s sports and social events calendar and organise to come again next year, cheers for a great day. We started off the day in the opening march round wigan, I watched the film with a couple of others and a few went to the talk with Jon Gurney and we ALL enjoyed the live acts xx brilliant. Oh yes we did a bit of drinking as well. The t-shirts went down well.”
David Thompson
“Good doo yesterday joined republic don’t remember gettin’ back to Lytham!”
Paul Messenger
“Got to say I had a top day and will definitely be going again next year.”
Cllr Terry Halliwell
“It is my opinion that the work you have done to promote the town of Wigan and our socialist celebrity will be remembered for many years to come. From humble beginnings you have developed the festival from a Town event to an emerging national event. Truly excellent work, you deserve a vote of thanks for the hard work you have put in.”
Ken Scally
“A massive thank you to the organising committee for their efforts and I was privileged to be invited to perform a few industrial Lancashire folk songs and a bit of music hall comedy for the crowd. I enjoyed myself immensely and felt honoured to be part of a commemoration of a part of Wigan history which is still relevant today. Well done Diggers”
Ray Che Eckers tagged this event:
“Great afternoon spent at the 3rd Wigan Diggers’ Festival”
Yvonne Fovargue MP
“Great turn out for @WiganDigger festival at the Wiend. Well done to organisers. Encourage all to visit during day.pic.twitter.com/g8zxFWM5Jp”
Norma Stout Wigan Green Party
“Congratulations. The whole day was Super.”
Sue Lees
“It was a great day today, thanks to everyone for organizing it and to the performers, the stall holders and everyone else who was involved. Also a big, big thanks to those folk who must’ve done a sun dance early this morning because I never thought for one minute the weather would hold out as it did.”
Caroline Eyre
“Another truly amazing day…roll on next year! Many thanks to all involved,we had a blast all day and met some lovely people.”
Emily French
“A huge thank you to everyone who organised the brilliant day that was Wigan Diggers’ Festival 2013!”
Kevan Heyes
“Belting day yesterday, best Diggers Festival so far, feeling it this morning though.”
Phil (Durham Scratch Choir)
“On behalf of the choir I would like to thank you for inviting us to participate today. We all thoroughly enjoyed the day – the acts, the atmosphere and of course the sentiments shared. The organisation was great and I’m sure the festival will continue to flourish.
Best wishes”
Peter John Fox
“Great day at the diggers. BFAWU members send a message of solidarity”
Bill Blunt
“A great day, yesterday! Thanks to all concerned for making it happen!”
Jo Pitchford
Just got home from and amazing day at the Diggers – met so many amazing people – beer tent people you rock and you were amazing xxx
Wigan Diggers' Festival 