Ellie Pride Annie Groves To my grandmother who was the inspiration for this book, and to my lovely husband who was there at its beginning but did not live long enough to see its end. Table of Contents Wednesday, 3 September 1902 ‘Ellie, why can’t we go without them? If we don’t get to Fishergate soon, there won’t be any places left!’ ‘John Pride, we can see everything in the procession just as well here at home on Friargate as we can from Fishergate,’ Ellie reminded her younger brother with neighbourhood loyalty. And it was true. As Ellie looked out of the parlour window of their home above their father’s butcher’s shop, she could see down into the street decorated with hundreds of yards of bunting to celebrate this, the first Preston Guild of the new century – and the first in the reign of the new King. ‘But the procession will be here soon and I’ll never see everything on the Textile Trades’ drays from inside! And everyone wants to see them,’ John protested, his lower lip protruding mutinously as he glowered at Ellie. ‘They’re going to have real working machines, and they’re going to be the best displays in the whole parade –’