Eccles joined the Manchester Pride parade today with a stunning Alice In Wonderland themed giant float, complete with the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and a `real life' dormouse popping out of a teapot.
This year's Pride theme was `Once upon a time' and the community went to town with an added unique twist of `Eat Me!' Eccles Cakes. Backed by Bakestone, which has just started producing the local delicacy in the town for the first time in a generation or two, free cakes were handed out to the crowds around Manchester city centre.
"Loads of companies and community organisations have donated their time, or money or goods to make this happen" explained Bree Hughes of Eccles Community Float "They've all come together because they're proud of Eccles. We tend to get lumped in with greater Salford and our voice disappears a bit but Eccles has a lot going for it and we want to promote it."
Indeed, everyone got on board to make the Float happen in just five weeks - from the 2mms Youth Club, to Valtris Speciality Chemicals, which provided the truck, to Cromwell House Users Centre, to Tunny's scaffolding, to Start in Salford, to the Art and Craft House...
"Eccles' community is diverse, is more welcoming than any other place and the community spirit is alive" said Theresa Parker, Treasurer of Eccles Community Float "People around here are starting to band together and take a bit of pride in where they're from. This is the first year Eccles has had a float and it's been very exciting. Whether you're gay or straight you were going to enjoy it!"
After the success of the Alice in Ecclesland float, the next page turner is to Save The Crown Theatre from Mad Hatter developers who want to bulldoze the Grade II listed building... `curiouser and curiouser...'