Coronation Celebrations come to town
As Coronation weekend arrives, Bishop Auckland Town Council are thrilled to have supported numerous coronation activities across the town.
Mayor, Michael Siddle said “The Town Council are pleased to have supported numerous activities across the town to help the community celebrate the HM King Charles III Coronation. We decided to support a larger number of small community based activities rather than holding a central celebration in the Market Place like we did for the platinum jubilee last year. This was to fit with the national programme of events at the heart of communities. It has been great to have a mix of activities available in the town by providing the additional support to make the celebrations in the schools and care homes a little more special, as well as having a fantastic mix free to attend events for everyone over the last couple of weeks.”
The town council have supplied each primary school within the town council area, with a ‘Party Box’ to enable all 1500 primary age school children to have a coronation celebration in school. Each party box contained enough for every child to have a crown, a flag, crisps, raisins, cake and juice, plus bunting, commemorative flag, paper chains and ‘The New King’ Mr Men book.
All four care homes in the Town Council area have received a 12” square coronation celebration cake, baked at Longstaff’s Bakery on Newgate Street, plus a commemorative tin of short bread, flags, and union jack napkins, to help with their celebrations over the weekend.
The ‘Bishop Beefeaters’ are proudly back on guard in the market place kindly loaned to the town Council by King James WI.
The town council have also grant funded five community based celebration events:
- 22nd April – Wear Valley Community Action had a great free event which was very well attended.
- 5th May – St Johns School held a free community coffee morning.
- 5th May – Aclet Close Nursery have had a celebration with their children and families.
- 8th May – Girls Friendly Society, Henknowle are having a free community celebration at Henknowle Community Centre from 1230 with litter pick, and flowerbed planning plus picnic.
- 8th May – Auckland Youth and Community Centre, on Woodhouse Close, have a free family event from 1230, with 8th May disco, art and crafts, face painting, games and afternoon tea.
The activity has supported by the Town Council Coronation Budget and by Durham County Council (DCC) Councillor Andy Jackson’s coronation budget.