Preston Guild is an historic and highly significant celebration for Preston, which has been held every 20 years since 1379, (except during the Second World War when it was delayed by 10 years to 1952).

The next Guild celebrations are in 2012 and Preston Council want to make sure that this Guild is one of the best Guilds ever.

In order to plan and prepare for the Guild, they are consulting with a wide range of people including local businesses and community groups to find out more about how people would like to celebrate the Guild and how they might wish to get involved.

The Guild is very much a community celebration and even though there will be a flagship programme of events and attractions, people will still want to celebrate the Guild in their own way.

For example, businesses may want to take part and "compete" in one of the traditional Guild processions; local clubs and societies may want to put on a special event or have themselves associated with the Guild celebrations; or even local communities and neighbourhoods may want to organise a street party to celebrate the Guild in their own way.

Whatever people want to do for the Guild, the City Council wants to help and support where it can, so that 2012 is fully enjoyed and fondly remembered as a "People's Guild".

To help start this process, in August and September 2008, they are holding a series of special Guild roadshows where we are inviting people to tell us what they would like to do as part of the Guild.

The Guild roadshows are taking place between 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. on the following dates:

Saturday 23rd August 2008 - Flagmarket, Preston

Friday 29th August 2008 - Deepdale Retail Park, Preston

Saturday 6th September 2008 - Flagmarket, Preston.

They would like as many people as possible to come down and have their say about the Guild. We would be very grateful therefore, if you and your organisation could please spread the word about these Guild roadshows and encourage people to take part and have their say.

However, not everyone will have the time or be able to take part in the roadshows, so they would still like to hear from you even if you cannot make it. The City Council would especially like to hear from anyone who would be interested in getting involved with the Guild and in particular any business, community, club, society or individual who would like to have an event as part the Guild.

Go to their website:

Visit us them on-line at www.preston.gov.uk/guild2012 and select "get involved" and complete the on-line form.

Or  email your name, organisation, email address and any suggestions for the Guild/Guild events to:

guild2012@preston.gov.uk

Or telephone Karen Ryding - Guild Administrator on 01772 906193 who will make a note of your contact details.

Once registered, they will keep you up to date on any Guild news and developments and will also be in touch to get further ideas and suggestions from you.