Wednesday 6 April 2011

Charity to put 1,000 witches on Pendle Hill

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is aiming to put 1,000 witches on top of Pendle Hill, Lancashire, in a fundraising event.

The sponsored walk in fancy dress will take place on Saturday, June 11, as part of the annual Pendle Hill Challenge. Walkers are encouraged to dress as witch to celebrate the area's association with witchcraft.

In 1612, ten men and women who lived in and around the Forest of Pendle were hanged after being found guilty of murdering 17 people by witchcraft. You can read my review of the book on the historic witch trial A History of the Pendle Witches and their Magic here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/history-of-pendle-witches-their-magic.html

The fancy dress event this summer is in aid of raising money for a new base to help the mountain rescue team do their work.

Entry to the challenge is £15, but you get your money back if you raise sponsorship of £100 or more. There will be a prize for the best-dressed witch as well as other entertainment.

For more information contact Alwyn Hayes: alwyn124@hotmail.com or visit the website http://www.rpmrt.org.uk/eventdetail.php?EventID=17

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is a registered charity, made up entirely of volunteers. It is part of the national search and rescue service, called out through phoning 999, and covers 350sq miles across East Lancashire, Pendle, the Rossendale Valley and parts of Greater Manchester.

The photo of Pendle Hill in the snow was sent to me by Julian Jordan and was taken by his father.

Links
http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2011/04/02/witches-summit-event-will-spell-good-news-for-rescuers
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/07/history-of-pendle-witches-their-magic.html
http://www.rpmrt.org.uk/eventdetail.php?EventID=17
http://www.rpmrt.org.uk/index.php

1 comment:

Fearlono said...

I live at the bottom of Pendle Hill (and very near to Alwyn); this sounds like a great idea.
The mountain rescue do a great job, particularly on Halloween when the village is bombarded by "townies" who invariably get lost on Pendle after wandering up there in the dark wearing high heeled shoes.
On more than one occasion, members of the rescue team have been pelted with bottles and cans by these idiots, who in my opinion should be marched to Lancaster Castle to await trial for stupidity.