Latest Word on the Street
by Colne Life magazine
We're hitting the streets of Colne once more to chat with locals and discover hidden gems we might've missed.
Meet… FAYE, TOM, AND EMMA MITCHELL at Colne Library
What’s your take on Colne?
“We take Colne for granted. Living in such a beautiful area becomes routine, but there’s plenty to explore. We’ve enjoyed events like the Christmas Light Parade and Easter at Colne. It’s all free, which is fantastic. There’s Punch and Judy, face painting, arts and crafts, free mini-golf, archery, and donkey rides. Colne Library is great, too, and the children are currently in the Lego Club. I also work at a local school, which keeps us quite engaged with everything that’s going on. Emma is on the student council and recently won a competition to design anti-littering posters for the town’s digital boards.”
Hidden Gems?
“We live near Knotts Lane, so we often walk up to the old air raid shelters. From there, you can enjoy views across Pendle Hill, and there’s a small stream for paddling. My son Tom loves riding motorbikes, so we’d appreciate a pump track closer to home.”
Meet… SYLVIA HOLGATE at Sylvia’s Flowers and Gifts, Colne Market
What’s your take on Colne?
“I’m originally from Bradford but have lived in Cowling for about thirteen years now. I’ve had the stall in Colne Market for three years. It was disorientating at first when the markets closed, and we relocated here, but now we’ve gotten used to it. My expertise is in flower arranging, but we also sell a few things for gardening and decorating outdoor spaces, as well as crystals and incense. Colne’s great because everyone’s so friendly. I like to meet people, and everyone’s lovely to talk to.”
Hidden Gems?
“There are some lovely independent shops. I’d also recommend Wetherspoons for the food and to nip in for a coffee. The sweet shop Sweets N Treats is also a highlight.”
Meet… PETER ROBERT RILEY at Colne Library
What’s your take on Colne?
“I’ve lived in Colne for about 40 years but was born in Nelson. I like Colne because of the town’s rich history—the buildings are very historic. Unfortunately, in the 1970s, quite a lot of Colne was demolished. It could have been a jewel
in East Lancashire, but all those fantastic buildings were knocked down. I was a postman in Colne, and every street holds memories for me, going back 30 years to when I was delivering.”
Hidden Gems?
“They organise a lot more events here than they do in Nelson, with Christmas and the light switch-on being notable. Colne Library is also good. My grandchild is downstairs looking for a football book, and I’m reading about Wallace Hartley. The book was £300 on Amazon as it’s out of print!”
Meet…GINA LANGLEY at Colne Town Hall
What’s your take on Colne?
“I’m originally from Barrowford but moved to Colne a few years ago. It’s just more convenient, with plenty of shops, and you don’t always have to drive everywhere. I appreciate that as a council, we get involved in the community, providing entertainment and activities for families free of charge so that people who can’t necessarily afford to take their kids out for the day can still have fun and make memories.”
Hidden Gems?
“There are loads of lovely boutique-type shops, and it’s the same with pubs. At the Town Hall, we’ve got three micropubs on the same street! We also have the Pendle Hippodrome just across the road. That should be ready to reopen in time for the Blues Festival this summer.”
Meet… Craig Holden at The Sweet Shop at Colne Market
What’s your take on Colne?
“I was born in Colne and have lived in Nelson. We started here on January 6th in this particular location, but I’ve been running the stall for four decades. Most of my regulars found us after the move from inside Colne Market. I specialise in traditional sweets that people might not have seen for a while—we have pear drops, for example.”
Hidden Gems?
“The Red Lion Hotel.”
Meet… MICK FREEMAN at Colne Library
What’s your take on Colne?
“Colne’s fantastic! I was born here, and I’ve played music in all the different pubs in town. I play the accordion. Currently, I’m writing a book about my life playing music in Colne—it’s called ‘The Misfit Music Man’. The staff at Colne Library have been brilliant and so helpful. They are outstanding. I couldn’t have finished the book without them. They can’t do enough for you. I’ve met some lovely people here.”
Hidden Gems?
“The pubs! Quite a few have vanished now, of course. The first CL pub I ever played in was The Queen Hotel.”
Share your views on Colne, email- editor@looppublishing.co.uk
ColneLife May/June 24
