#LancashireDay reaches ‘grand’ 74 million

The county shone brilliantly around the world and celebrated proudly on Lancashire Day 2017, with figures released by Marketing Lancashire, the organisation charged with promoting the county on a national and international stage, showing a reach of 74 million for #LancashireDay*, beating last year’s record of 60 million.

Marketing Lancashire led with a campaign, which launched on 16th November, to get the county trending on #LancashireDay, with the public invited to share what they think is ‘grand’ about the county.  With the added benefit of those sharing photos and facts about Lancashire, being entered into a ‘grand’ prize draw to win a gourmet overnight break at Hipping Hall, a year’s supply of Dewlay Lancashire cheese and a year-long subscription to Lancashire Life.

Marketing Lancashire also worked with government departments to share messages across the Northern Powerhouse, BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) and DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) social media channels resulting in #LancashireDay being the second most used hashtag by UK MPs on Monday 27 November, the government’s release of its #industrialstrategy being in 1st place.

Interactions with people in 1098 locations were also recorded throughout the duration of the campaign, with people from Ottowa in Canada, to Wellington in New Zealand, across Europe, the USA, Africa and the Far East sharing messages and wishing Lancastrians everywhere a ‘Happy #LancashireDay’.

Conversations around the world started in the early hours with Marketing Lancashire interacting with proud Lancastrian Simon Gibson, a retired building services engineer, now resident in the Philippines, who shared his photograph and the message “We fly the flag at our home in the Philippines every day #LancashireDay”

Throughout the day retweets and messages came from an array of well-known Lancastrians, organisations and influencers; names from TV news including Beccy Barr, Steve Saul, Kay Burley and Richard Frediani, from sport Andrew Flintoff, Carl Fogarty, comedians Johnny Vegas and Jack Whitehall, West End performer Jodie Prenger, and ‘Line of Duty’ actor Craig Parkinson.

Events that took place on and around Lancashire Day included: live readings of The Lancashire Day proclamation, pledging allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke of Lancaster; the first Lancashire Business Day Dinner organised by Lancashire Business View in partnership with Marketing Lancashire; a Taste Lancashire Feast created by four of the county’s leading young chefs, inspired by Lancashire produce, held at Hipping Hall; as well as a whole range of events celebrating Lancashire culture and heritage in libraries, visitor information centres and attractions across the red rose county.

Lancashire Day, celebrated on 27th November, was established around 20 years ago by the Friends of Real Lancashire to mark the day in 1295 when the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by Kind Edward I, to be part of what later became known as ‘the model parliament’.

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive at Marketing Lancashire commented “We are delighted that so many people engaged with #LancashireDay from public figures and organisations, to the business community and ex-pats all over the world.

“The people of Lancashire are generous, warm and hospitable and this was there for all to see on #LancashireDay.  There’s a strong and emotional connection through our culture, our heritage and our daily life that binds us together and every year on Lancashire Day it is evident how proud we are of this wonderful county.

“It is our privilege at Marketing Lancashire to promote Lancashire every day of the year and we’re always thrilled to hear what the county means to the people who live, work or study here, as well as from those who might be far away but thinking of home especially on Lancashire Day.”

*Statistics source Twitonomy

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