Manchester Hospital Parade Cup

Hospital Parade cup with decorative curved handles, made by Birmingham silversmith J. Gloster Ltd. in 1930. It is inscribed:

'Newton Heath, Miles Platting and Collyhurst

Hospital Parade

Presented by Newton Heath Licensed Victuallers 1931

Winners

1931 Miss Lancashire's Nippies

1932 Miss Mckiernan's Babes

1933 Miss Lancashire's Nippies

1934 Aspin's Nippies'

Teams of nippies competed for this cup, which was awarded at a series of hospital parades held in North East Manchester. ‘Nippies’ was the affectionate nickname for waitresses renowned for 'nipping' around the J.Lyons and Co. tea rooms. We do not know what competition these women won, but they were raising money for their local hospitals.

Hospital parades were popular in towns and cities across Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Local people organised these events with neighbourhoods and firms competing to create the best float. There were brass bands, competitions, stalls and refreshments.

After the Second World War, the arrival of the NHS made hospital parades less common as the government rather than local people took on the burden of funding the country’s hospitals. Some parades stopped completely but others turned into carnivals which still collect money for hospices, ambulances and other local causes.