How to plan a celebration for the coronation of our new monarch? This was the challenge colleagues and key community partners were faced with once the date of His Majesty’s King Charles’ III coronation was announced. Taking inspiration from the Trowbridge Town Council’s motto. Respice Prospice; we looked back to look forward.
Looking back and locating the minutes of the Trowbridge Urban District Council. Noting first that funds were set aside at a meeting held on the 24th July 1952 for a coronation sub-committee to be created. The second entry in the minute book dated the 19th February 1953 agreed a week long programme of coronation celebrations. This was our starting point and together with key partners in the community we are looking forward to the 6th May 2023.
Inspired by the celebrations of 1953 there will be entertainments in the park, including a plant and flower festival taking our cue from the King’s love of the outdoors and horticulture; this will take place in conjunction with a showing of the coronation at the Civic Centre and craft activities from Trowbridge Museum. Traditional tea dances and afternoon teas at Trowbridge Town Hall and Parade House. A coronation 5k will take place in Trowbridge Park, supported by Stampead Sports and Avon Valley Runners. We have engaged our local community groups to dress the town with woolly postbox toppers and bunting.
We also want to start some new traditions like the King’s Cup tennis tournament led by the team at Active Trowbridge; inviting Trowbridge schools to compete in a tennis competition, encouraging them to engage more in tennis and get active in the park. Park Yoga, returning in May, will also be invited to have a coronation theme and to keep with the active theme, residents and businesses can take part in a Window Wanderland trail decorating a window with a coronation design for people walking to find and explore their community areas. In addition, Clarendon Academy are supporting the trail creating large wooden crowns for businesses and community groups to decorate and display around Trowbridge.
The Town Council is here to offer its support to community groups and residential areas that may wish to come together to plan their own celebrations.
The wide-ranging plans we have in place for this once in a generation event, we hope will provide a little something that will appeal to everyone, unite the community in celebrating our traditions, creating some new ones, and looking forward to what the new Carolean era will bring.
If you are planning a community event or would like us to support you, please contact us ev****@tr********.uk
