The Preston Passion

Hell he and welcome. Through the centuries Good Friday has been

marked with tales of Jesus, betrayal and arrest. In the next

hour thousands of people here in the city of Preston, Lancashire,

will watch a spectacle of music and drama retelling the Passion for the

modern day. We'll delve into the past and presence of Preston in

three new original pieces of BBC Drama reflecting the timeless

themes of the Passion theory and hue they connect with us.

In Victorian times, the Mayor must decide the fate of a radical leader.

In the First World War, the power of a mother's response to loss.

You're going to be all right. 2012, we explore a modern-day

reminder of self-sacrifice. This Good Friday hundreds of local

people will create the symbols of its story - the Crown crown and

late -- of Thorns and later the Cross in a mass spectacle in

something you have never seen before, in this, Preston, the

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Preston has had a Guild Year, which is a chance to show off its

achievements since the 12th century, and it's held every few years. 2012

is one of them. It's just getting under way. Preston's lifeblood was

once the cotton industry. The mills brought workers from overseas. That

led to modern day Preston becoming a diverse city and one proud to

keep as the city's emblem the Lamb of God, which is a good place, then,

for people of all faiths and none to come to understand more about

the meaning of Jesus and the Cross, # Walk upon England's

# On England's # Shine forth

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# Bring me my spear! # Nor shall my sword sleep

# In England's green The Holy Lamb of God, the Green and

Pleasant Land and the dark satanic mills, but what else connects

people to the Good Friday story? The Bible recounts how in Jerusalem

2,000 years ago Jesus was arrested, brought before the religious

authorities and then handed to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, who

would decide his fate. Before condemning Jesus to death, he's

presented as dithering in the face of an unpredictable crowd and

afterwards washing his hands of the decision. Some on the streets had

called Jesus King of the Jews prompting the soldiers to mock him,

forcing him to wear a Crown of Thorns as he faced his fate. In the

1840s, the Mayor of Preston faced a similar dilemma. Here mill workers

were causing a civil unrest, striking over pay. There was a

radical leader, an angry crowd and an authority figure needing

literally to read the Riot Act. I should warn you what we're about to

see, like the Passion itself, is brutal from the very start, and at

Sam, Sam, wake up. What? What is KNOCKING

I trust you have good grounds for disturbing me at this hour.

believe I do, sir. We're looking for Cleasby.

found him. Please, Sam. I've nothing to do

Here's your warrant, Mr Dodds. Make Get up! On your feet! We're looking

for Cleasby, George Cleasby. I am Have you nothing to say? Take him

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Upon the mains contained in the Act, made in the first... Agh! I've read

them the Riot Act. Would you stop fussing? Give them half an hour to

disperse, Captain Campell. Where is he? Below, had him arrested on your

counsel. Now this. Still bleeding. Many are the afflictions of the

righteous, my boy, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The

Lord delivereth him up to them all, Psalm, 34. Ca rbolic in warm water.

I had a dream, that man you're looking for. Tilt your head. I'm

sorry. Keep - keep still. Ah. Good. So what do we know about him?

not from these parts, by all accounts. And what has he to say

for himself? Keep pressing there. Nothing. He couldn't speak to me. I

tried. He speaks to them - 3,000 in the marketplace the other day -

plenty to say for himself - when it suits him, I suppose. Why didn't

you arrest him then? The man is allowed to go into the marketplace,

I believe. Is he allowed to preach sedition there? Sedition? Food and

pay - that's all this is about. No, Mr Mayor. That is not what this is

about. The social order in our great country is patterned on God's

divine providence. And to upset that order, which is what they want,

is to fly in the face of God. Now, there. Samuel, remember, you're a

mill owner, and your father was a mill owner before you. And what has

that to do with it? Gratitude. They should be grateful. Your family

brought prosperity into this town. Now your order books are bare. You

can't buy raw cotton for love nor money, and it's the same for the

other mills. We are, all of us, at the mercy of... God? The markets.

It's just that they can't feed their children. And I'm very sorry.

But the poor will never cease from the land, Deuteronomy, 15.11.

Ahh! Bishop! Bishop, are you hurt? This - this is revolution! Get

Captain Campell. No, no! You can suppress this unrest. You - now,

deal with it. Put it round his shoulders, Jack. That's it. Give us

your stick. Now put your hat on his head. Oh. Now, then. Would you look

at that? Ever so - a proper gent! LAUGHTER

Hey! Show a little respect. Your Release him. What?! I've just had

him arrested. Let him go among his people and stir them up. Then

you've no choice but to act. maintain order? Precisely.

whatever means at my disposal. 72nd Highlanders are at your

disposal. Very well. But on this condition - the choice is his. He

either bows to reason and flees the city or bares his breast for the

bull. Do you agree? The choice is yours, Mr Mayor. No. No. It's his.

I have a carriage waiting in the yard. And it will take you wherever

you wish to go, but you must first give me your word that you will

never return and you will desist from speaking in public. Do you

Now, I warn you - if you do not take this money, there is no help

# So you tyrants of proud Preston # Your race is nearly run

# As you will have to answer to for all you've said and done

# You may go to church or chapels # Your tyranny to hide - #

Captain Campell! Is # But there can be no religion

where such men as you preside. Release him. Release him!

# So you tyrants of proud Preston # You go to church and chapels,

your tyranny to hide # I've nothing to do with it. You

promised me. You have it. Now deal with it. They have had half an hour,

Sam! Sam, wake up. What? I had a dream - that man you're looking for.

Oh, please, Sam. Have nothing to do It was his decision. It was nothing

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# The chastisement of our peace The story of the crucifixion is

called the Passion from the Latin "sufferering". The cross is the

universally recognised symbol from which Christianity was born, a

movement founded on the belief that Jesus's self-sacrifice was an act

that brought hope to all those who survived him. That first dry, but

his followers lost their leader and a mother lost a son, and such loss

resonates here in Preston, where during the First World War, the

railway station was a mustering point for young men from Scotland

and the north of England being sent to fight in the trenches. The women

of Preston set up a free refreshment room for the troops. By

the end of the war they'd served hot tea and food to more than three

million men. That story was discovered through letters like

this one sent home from the front, and also through this - a hymn book

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given to a local soldier, and it Dear Ma, we've advanced three miles

I'll just go wait on the platform, shall I?

I'll wait on the platform.

Not long now.

Then we'll know.

One way or t' other.

I'll see to those sandwiches.

Send my love to dad.

As soon as I get back, we'll go see North End lose again.

You see looks on your mates' faces you don't see back home.

It's a blindfold look.

Say hello to Dolly Farmer for me.

I have been thinking a lot about her.

She's a sweet girl, Mum.

I think you'd like her if you got to know her.

We're getting quite settled here,

and I'm getting used to the booming of Fritz's guns.

I expect there will be cowslips on the path across from the church.

Why couldn't they have just sent another telegram?

That's what I'd like to know.

It's Joe Cotton's boy.

He's a Captain now, and he wanted to.

Well, you know, it's more personal, like.

Good of him to make the effort.

At least the waiting will be over.

Better knowing than not.

Well, that depends, doesn't it?

If it's him - if it's my Joseph, then I'd be proud.

He's done his bit for King and country.

"He calleth his sheep by name."

And if he's been called, then it's God's will.

Well, I know our Alf's all right.

How do you know?

That Terry, the butcher's delivery boy -

he's got a brother at the front, and his brother writes home

to say how he saw our Alf the day after the push and...

I'll go and fetch some more crockery, shall I?

It's just next door. Ask Mrs Carver to show you.

Now see what you've done - selfish, that's what you are,

selfish to the core, always thinking of yourself!

I was just saying!

Well, don't.

Can you see if your Alf's all right, then it's...

Thanks.

Thanks.

It's Tom, isn't it, your boy?

Thomas.

You haven't said nowt about him.

What's there to say?

He's my son, and I love him, and I just wish he was at home now.

Does Mr Melling know?

He wanted to come with me to meet the train,

but I didn't want to do that.

I told him it were tomorrow.

Why ever would you do that?

I don't know.

I just knew I didn't want him here, for his sake - and mine.

What about you?

Bill's been dead these seven years, and Alf's dad to the little ones.

Have you talked to your Reg about it?

Have you talked to your Reg about it?

Of course I have.

And what did he say?

What he always says - nothing.

He wouldn't know a bee from a bull's foot, that one.

Well, he must have said something.

Must he?

He was talking about your Joseph the other day in the Four Ale bar,

and he dotes on that boy.

Why don't you just keep your nose out?

Very sorry, I'm sure!

Damn!

Here, run it under the sink.

Come on.

There's lint in the cupboard, Mrs Cleasby, and iodine.

Sorry I'm such a nuisance.

Don't be silly.

Here.

Pass it here.

Will you see to the sandwiches?

Do you know what I miss most, apart from you, of course, Mother?

Wearing pyjamas.

Does that sound silly?

And a few hot baths are in order.

I'm scared, Mum.

There are men dying all around me.

I'm scared.

Do me a favour, Ma.

Ask Dad if he remembers wind in his face

coming down Lupton Hill on his bike.

I think about those days a lot.

I remember we used to walk on the Cragg in t' rain ,

but it weren't as cold as this.

I wish you could see me in my tin hat and gas mask, Mum.

Gas, gas!

You'd all have a good laugh.

When I'm marching it jiggles all over the' shop.

I've a job to keep the thing from falling off.

Have you talked to him yet?

Who?

Reverend Cookson.

Well, what did he say?

I have to put my trust in God.

Aye.

Yeah, he said the same thing to me,

and I'll warrant he said the same to Betty and all.

Now, the way I figure it, God's got to let one of us down.

I don't see it that way.

No, well...

I'm sorry.

It doesn't matter.

I want to say something.

How are we going to...?

How do you mean?

When we know who it is?

Well, there's biscuits in the Powell's tin, and...

What are we going to do?

You know what I ask myself? I keep thinking,

is this why I brought him into the world, such pain?

I remember the pains, and it weren't nothing, nothing like this.

Mrs Melling...

Is this why I nursed him at my breast,

why I picked him up and wiped away his tears when he fell,

so that he could be taken from me and thrown to the German guns?

And for what?

Mrs Melling.

You talk about duty and honour and glory, all of those things -

men's words.

Would you like to join me in a short prayer?

Almighty and ever lasting Father, by whose grace...

No need to look out for me, Mum.

You'll hear me whistling from halfway down Blackpool Road.

I'll have to close now

because there isn't much more to say at present.

Hoping you are well, your loving son, Alf.

The shelling is about the worst I've known

and the crying of the wounded and the dying such as I'll never forget.

God bless you, Mum. I'll close now

and pray that this is not the last letter I ever send to you.

Your loving son, Joe.

The queerest thing - last night I heard a nightingale sing.

I thought I were dreaming, but others heard it too.

I must have got lost.

Nowt lives in this place. Send my love to Dad.

I embrace you both, Thomas.

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Some of the lads went back the next night

to bury him and put up a cross.

It's just a rough thing, really, to mark where he is.

This is his.

It... He was shot in the side.

The bullet pierced the prayer book - and his heart.

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You should go home to your husband and mourn your son.

You don't understand.

These are all my sons.

Michael, you all right?

It's good to see you.

Hi, Ben.

Glad to see you.

# When I survey the wondrous cross

# When I survey the wondrous cross

# On which the Prince of glory died

# My richest gain I count but loss

# And pour contempt on all my pride

Many

Many people

Many people have

Many people have known the grief that comes from losing someone

close, personal loss that mirrors the loss Jesus felt that first Good

Friday. We're about to see the first of a number of letters people

of the city wish they'd sent to # For bid it Lord

# All the vain things # See, from His head

# Were the whole realm # That were an offering

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Christian tradition has for centuries predicted the Easter

story in the Stations of the Cross. These number the stages of the

Passion. The first is Christ's condemnation, continuing with him

carrying the Cross, falling three times, being mocked and abused by

some and helped by others, then finally, number 12 is the ultimate

act of self-sack fietion, crucifixion, an act that has

inspired others ever since, but what echoes of self-sacrifice can

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MUSIC: "Miserere" One, two, three, four, five. Agh!

Urgh! Bella, Scott's trying to do keepy-uppies, and he's rubbish at

them. Come and show him how it's done.

Ten, 11, 12, 13, 14... You all right? How's school?

What did you do? English. Maths, You are so '80s, '90s. I am a

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What's for tea? I'm hungry. Bella, All right, Bella? How's your mum

doing? Got any beers in here? Ahh! Do you want them? Go get them.

Oh, hiya! Oh, come here. Did you have a good day at school? Yes.

That's great. Come on through. I've There we are. Oh, is that for me?

Yes. Ah, thanks. Night-night. you know that new phone you have

been going on about? Let's make it an early birthday present, shall

we? Night-night. You all right, Bella? Bella? I'll

give you a hand. Here. Give me the other bag. Ta. How's your mum? All

right? So-so? Hey, love, I'm going to have to go now. Here you are.

You're going to be all right, love? My mum says if you need a place to

Hang on, ladies. Female in distress. Here. Use this.

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Bella, what's for afters? Tah-dah! I made it for you. Here. It's an

Easter garland. That's what Mrs Cummins says. It can be a crown!

Hansel and Grettle searched for the breadcrumbs, but the birds have

eaten them. They are lost in the forest. They see a house made of

gingerbread and sweets. "Hello, children." An old lady stands in

No matter what you do, Mum, I'll The photographs you can see

represent tributes by people here to someone who has made a sacrifice

for them. Others have brought pictures representing someone for

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Jesus' suffering and death on the Cross on a hill above Jerusalem

2,000 years ago is a story at the heart of Christianity retold

generation after generation. Self- sacrifice and loss, love and hope -

themes that you could find in any town and city in which we have seen

echoed in the lives of the people here. For Christians, this time of

year marks not an end, but a beginning, and that becomes clear

on Easter Sunday when the story of the resurrection gives a cause for

a celebration, and it's that upbeat side of this story that we turn to

now in the uplifting words about to be sung live celebrated by everyone

here and I hope at home too. Through the centuries, Christians

everywhere have put it like this - "God so loved the world that He

# Sometimes I feel like # Sometimes I feel like saying

# Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough

# And things go wrong no matter what I do

# Now and then it seems that life is just too much

# But you've got the love I need to see me through

# When food is gone you are my daily need

# When friends are gone I know my Saviour's love is real

# You know it's real

# You got the love

# You got the love

# You got the love

# Time after time I think # Time after time I think

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