Shropshire schools to celebrate royal wedding

Schools across Shropshire will be taking part in a host of quintessentially British celebrations to honour Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.

Pupils, teachers and parents will be bringing glamour and sparkle to the county with street parties, "red, white and blue" celebrations and fancy dress events including past kings and queens of England.

Activities taking place include funfairs and maypole dancing with some schools staging mock weddings to get into the royal wedding spirit.

Frances Abela, headteacher at Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School, said: "We're staging our own wedding with a bride and groom and children dressing up as guests. We will also make a cake and commemorative plates."

Meanwhile Martin Purslow, headteacher at Martin Wilson School in Shrewsbury, said they would have a true British celebration with a funfair and Maypole dancing.

Candy Garbett, headteacher at the Priory School in the town, said they would hold a "red, white and blue" indoor party with traditional food including fish and chips and bread and butter pudding.

The event is run in conjunction with Shrewsbury Darwin Rotary Club to raise cash for Bikes for Africa.

Children and staff at Weston Lullingfields Primary School are planning a fundraising day on the eve of the wedding.

Staff at Buntingsdale Infant School and Nursery, near Market Drayton are helping to organise a street party.

In Powys, pupils at Leighton Primary School, near Welshpool, will don wedding outfits to celebrate. Graeme Mulvey, headteacher, said: "The pupils are very excited. We will be holding a street party in the school car park with bunting and flags."

Pupils at Sir Alexander Fleming Primary in Sutton Hill, Telford, will be dressing up for a mock wedding being run by Reverend Matthew Lefroy.

Teacher Katy Tomlinson, said: "It'll be a massive celebration and the children are really excited.

"We've even got life-size cut-outs of William and Kate for inside the church."

Ludlow Infant School is holding a parade and mock wedding with children walking to St Laurence's Church.

Mandy Lloyd, school administrator, said: "The children are all going to make their own wedding hats for the occasion."

Staff and students at Ifton Heath Primary School, in St Martins, and Maesbury Primary School, near Oswestry, are also holding street parties.

Is your school celebrating?

APRIL 13

Llandysilio Primary School, Four Crosses - holding a royal wedding picnic at noon.

APRIL 14

Leighton Primary School, near Welshpool - donning their wedding outfits to celebrate this year's royal wedding.

APRIL 27

Oakmeadow Primary and Nursery School in Bayston Hill - holding a celebration with children making commemorative plates and a wedding cake.

Queenswood Primary, in Ketley, Telford - taking part in citizenship activities, making patchwork artwork to mark the day and dressing up as kings and queens.

Oakengates Nursery in Telford - holding a wedding week event looking at the varying styles of weddings from different cultures as well as baking a three-tier wedding cake.

APRIL 28

Condover and Dorrington Primary Schools near Shrewsbury - hosting street parties open to all members of the community, starting at 1pm.

St George's Junior School in Shrewsbury - hosting a street party in the school playground with a finger buffet and children will dress up in their best wedding finery.

Martin Wilson School in Castlefields - holding a street party with children dressing up as past kings and queens of England or guests at the royal wedding.

The Grange Secondary School in Harlescott - hosting a fundraising street party at 1.30pm with pupils dressing in "patriotic" attire.

The Wilfred Owen School in Monkmoor and Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School in Castlefields - staging their own wedding with bride and groom and children dressing up as guests.

Weston Lullingfields Primary School - planning a day of fundraising in support of various charities on the eve of the wedding.

Buntingsdale Infant School and Nursery, near Market Drayton - hosting a street party

Shawbury Primary School - the PTA is presenting every pupil with a royal wedding mug.

Sir Alexander Fleming Primary in Sutton Hill, Telford - holding dressing up and getting together with Reverend Matthew Lefroy to hold mock wedding.

Newdale Primary School in Telford - holding a street party lunch with bunting.

Bitterley Primary School near Ludlow - holding a Wedding-themed non-uniform day.

Bishop's Castle Primary School - holding a red, white and blue themed non-uniform day.

Ludlow Infant School - holding a parade and mock wedding with children walking to St Laurence's Church.

Ifton Heath primary School, in St Martins - hosting a street party in the playground with games and traditional food.

APRIL 29

The Priory School in Shrewsbury - holding a "red, white and blue" indoor party open to all members of the public.

Ardwyn Infants School and Oldford Infants School in Welshpool - joining celebrations at Powis Castle.

Oswestry School - celebrating the day of the wedding with a street party-style lunch, a sports day and a large screen to watch the event.

By Sam Pinnington