A community is tuning up for a century-old musical tradition this weekend.
Longwood Sing, now in its 140th year, will be held tomorrow (Sept 8) from 2.30pm.
The event takes place in the shadow of the Nab End Tower at the end of Longwood Edge Road in the village.
Dubbed the ‘mother of all sings’ the event features a brass band concert with popular hymns to sing along to and performances from Crow Lane School choral club and the Outlane Singers.
An address will be given by Trevor Lloyd, of the Jubilee Centre, Paddock.
Funds this year will be raised for the Jo Barnes Fund which offers small grants to environmental projects.
Green campaigner Jo, 62, of Slaithwaite, died in February 2009. She was chairman of the River Colne Project for nine years.
Last year Longwood Sing broke with tradition to raise money for the family of local soldier Anton Frampton killed in Afghanistan.
Event organiser Charles Ross said last year was an opportunity to show support for a local family affected by tragedy.
This year it was decided to support a fund which operated within the wider Colne Valley.
Changes have been made to the sing site this year.
Part of the banking has been cut away to create a new sing area for those who struggle with the steeper steps.
Charles said: “This will allow people to ‘sing up’ to the gathering.
“This is actually a reflection of the original days before the trees, cemetery and amphitheatre existed.
“The band used to gather on the hill and play down to the villagers on the road below.
“This year promises to be another grand event”.
