ALCESTER hosted one of the largest coronation celebrations in the district on Sunday with an estimated 2,000 people gathering on High Street and Church Street for the Big Lunch.
The event started with a parade of the Court Leet and dignitaries, led by the White Hart Morris Men before an official opening ceremony took place at the gates of St Nicholas’ Church.
The crowds were welcomed by high bailiff Marc Venables before town crier David Parkes gave the proclamation for King Charles and Queen Camilla and the Rev Katie Cross led a prayer.
While coronation celebrations of old included competitions for ham slicing and treacle pudding eating, entertainment in 2023 included Alcester Victoria Silver Band, children’s rides, Morris dancing and live music from Pat Austin and Emma Kotka-Pearsall, and the Sally Rose Band.
Marc, one of the organisers, said after six months of preparing for the event he couldn’t stop smiling throughout the day: “I was very nervous, especially with the weather Saturday which I thought could have been a big dampener, but then I knew Alcester wouldn’t let its spirit be affected because of rain and would have come out regardless.
“The fact that the sun shined, and we have got so many people enjoying themselves in a very friendly, relaxed environment, having fun is fantastic.”
The coronation was also marked with the unveiling of two new benches on Centenary Field while the events in London were live-streamed at St Nicholas Church for 130 people. Then, on Monday, the Eric Payne Community Centre was packed with people who reminisced over pictures of old Alcester, courtesy of former grocer and town councillor, John Bunting.
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