
DUCK SOUP IN VICTORIA PARK - WIDNES
An important event in the long march of Widnes history was the opening of Victoria Park on May 31st 1900. A plaque commemorating this event still stands at the entrance to the park in Birchfield Road. Mayor, Alderman J W Wareing in the presence of JS Sinclair, Borough Engineer and H S Oppenheim, Town Clerk and a large gathering of local glitterati opened the park with a civic flourish.
With this loyal dedication Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration was thus complete. The 34 acre park, named after the sovereign, included a bandstand, gardens, tennis courts and, of particular interest to ducks, swans and small boys, a lake.
‘I feel pretty, oh so pretty' …Cor, luv a duck!
‘I’ll bet you can’t do this’.

‘You’re just showing off’.

‘I’m not taking any notice of you’.

‘Ok, so now I’m looking’.
‘Right! Now it’s time for a dip’.
‘You go all day and don’t see a duck and then two come along’.
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 she had reigned for sixty-four years. Her death was the end of an era. Her legacy, at least in part, contained an uncountable numbers of green open spaces bearing her name. From Aberdeen to Zimbabwe a Victoria Park has for over a century done much to gladden the hearts of ducks, swans and small boys.
'Duck Soup In Victoria Park - Widnes' © Mary Hines is published by permission. Any persons or organizations wishing to reprint this work, in whole or in part, are invited to contact The Editor: screwsoaper@optusnet.com.au
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