A very warm welcome to the website of the Friends of Worthington Park in Sale.
We are a group established to work with Trafford Council, the local community and other partners to safeguard and improve the facilities in this local park.
We are proud to announce that, once again, the Park has retained the prestigeous Green Flag Award status.
We hope you find this site interesting and that you will visit often to find out what is happening in the Park. If you live locally, why not join us to help improve the Park. If you don’t want to get too involved, we would also welcome people who could help, even occasionally, at the events we organise in the Park e.g. help with erecting gazebos, staffing stalls etc.
Please download our Membership Form and email to volunteer@worthingtonpark.org.uk if you are willing to join our database of helpers.
On the 12th of August, the Friends of Worthington Park and Sale and District Lions Club had the pleasure of welcoming the direct descendants of Mary Worthington for the official unveiling of the Mary Worthington Lectern in Sale’s Worthington Park.
This Lectern complements the Blue Plaque installed on the 30th June 2025 recognising Mary’s philanthropy and her being the public benefactor responsible for the creation of Worthington Park, Worthington Primary School and other notable causes.
At the unveiling ceremony Helen McGlashan, Treasurer for the Friends of Worthington Park, spoke about the speech Alderman Morley gave when the Park was officially opened in June 1900.
Alderman Morley told those present he believed the Park would provide benefit not only for them but also to those in the future. He spoke about the children who were present growing up to be the men and women who would greatly benefit. He wished to express deep gratitude on behalf of all residents of Sale, for the generosity and bless the name of Mary Worthington for this magnificent inheritance.
The vision of the Friends of Worthington Park is “Worthington Park; a space with beauty, tranquillity and pleasure for all the community, at any time, in any season”.
This vision and Alderman Morley’s belief share the same gratitude for the way in which Worthington Park supports and enriches the life of the local, and wider, community. The Park has enabled so much over the years, and continues to do so; celebrations, coronations, jubilees, through the trying times of both world wars, and more recently a special place for escape during the Covid epidemic.
The Park has changed over the years, but it still held in great esteem and valued by all those who visit, those who volunteer their time and especially the children, our future generation.
None of this would have been possible without Mary Worthington’s philanthropic generosity with her being the benefactor who funded the creation of Worthington Park.
Mary was also heavily involved in Sale life. She judged competitions, hosted school children visits providing refreshments at her home Sale Old Hall and she formally opened Sale Library in March 1891. For many years she was a keen advocate for a day school in Sale Moor and took part in its management. This was Old Hall School, the School which Worthington Primary School replaced.
The Vision for the current day School sets out the belief all children possess unique gifts and qualities; as such they have the right to succeed, recognise their own greatness, and develop who they are in a respectful and caring environment. Like Mary they seek encourage a love of learning in everything the children do with their School moto being ‘We Only Reach for The Highest’ in the Worthy Way”.
When Mary passed away in 1904, her obituary stated she “was a considerable public benefactor, her support of movements with a philanthropic object was wholehearted and many institutions in Manchester will keenly feel her loss”.
Sale today has many legacies which we have Mary Worthington to thank for. The Worthington Park Lectern and Blue Plaque will ensure Mary Worthington’s name will never be forgotten receiving the deserved recognition for being such a magnificent benefactor and visionary.
Helen McGlashan, Treasurer, Friends of Worthington Park
To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Park by Mrs Mary Worthington, a Blue Plaque was today unveiled at the Cheltenham Drive entrance to the Park.
The Mayor of Trafford Cllr. Jane Brophy) was present and there were speeches from Helen McGlashan (Treasurer of the Friends of Worthington Park), Sarah Jones (Head of Worthington Primary School) and two students (Thomas Humfress and Annabelle Thompson) from the school read poems.
The blue plaque was then unveiled by Katy Wride (Chair of the Friends Group) and Helen McGlashan.
The Friends of Worthington Park Summer Picnic on 29 June 2025 was to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Park by Mrs Mary Worthington.
Join us for our Christmas Celebrations in the Park at 12.30pm on Saturday 14th December 2024. Sale Players will be singing at 1.00pm and Sale Community Band will play at 1.30pm. Sandra Claus has promised to be there! There will be drinks and free mince pies!
The Friends of Worthington Park are proud to have been awarded Level 5 – Outstanding by Britain in Bloom. Carol Smith, Katy Wride (Chair) and Susan Craig are shown with the award certificate.
Friends of Worthington Park 