Host of events in Shropshire mark Queen's coronation
Sixty years after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a host of commemoration events have taken place across Shropshire, with more still to come over the summer.
Her Majesty attended Wellington Civic Society's coronation celebration at the Buckatree Hall Hotel on Sunday – in cardboard cut-out form.
"It's the closest I am ever going to get to the Queen," joked Wellington Mayor Graham Riley. "It was a fantastic occasion."
Meanwhile, in Oswestry's Cae Glas Park a new mosaic was unveiled featuring the youthful monarch in profile.
The circular wall panel in the park's jubilee garden was created by artist Kevin Gibson and members of The Project Group. It was commissioned by Oswestry Town Council and unveiled to the public by new town mayor Chris Schofield. It comes weeks after a crown-shaped planter was unveiled in the park in tribute.
Mr Gibson said the mosaic was an interesting project to work on.
He said: "It took about three weeks to complete, with three other group members doing the flowers around the edge of the design. Getting the outline of the face and the crown right was awkward."
Councillor Schofield said:"It is just how I thought it would be.
"The face is like a Royal Doulton blue and it's an enhancement to the park. I think it's fabulous."
He added:?"This area has changed quite a bit in the past few years. We've got new benches which were only put in a month ago, the crown planter and now this wonderful mosaic, and I'm sure there will be more additions in the future."
Jo Davis, coordinator of The Project Group, which involves people in Oswestry who are in touch with mental health services, said it was a "good project to work on".
Members are already involved in a project at The Centre, the town's new youth building.
"We're making a large wall hanging," Ms Davis added, "and so it was great to get involved with this.
"We would love the chance to do more projects in the park."
In Shrewsbury town centre a number of shops teamed up to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.
The military memorabilia Award Store, on Princess Street, hosted an event with its neighbours on Saturday which saw the street turned red, white and blue.
Newly elected Shrewsbury mayor Councillor Jon Tandy also attended.
Lisa Walker, from Award, said: "The mayor was fantastic – he took the time to speak to all the shops involved and was saying he was really keen to help traders get more people into the town centre."
She added: "It was an event to celebrate the Coronation and raise the profile of our shops and hopefully get people to check out this side of town too."
This month, staff at Berrington Hall, near Leominster, will be putting on show the two chairs used at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey by the stately home's then owners, Lord Robert Cawley and his wife Lady Vivienne, as well as their official invitations.
Robert, the Second Baron Cawley and he and his wife were among about 8,000 guests from across the Commonwealth at the ceremony on June 2, 1953. Afterwards guests were able to buy the chairs they had sat on, with the money going towards the cost of the event.
Tina Salter, visitor and commercial operations manager at Berrington Hall, said: "The chairs are not usually on display but we are going to have them on display throughout June to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Coronation.
"We will also be putting on display the actual invitations Lord and Lady Cawley received to the Coronation."
Next month both the Coronation and the conquest of Everest will be reflected in shop windows in Bishop's Castle when it hosts its annual carnival on July 7. In the run-up shops will be competing in a window display competition.
Festival spokesman Martin Walter said: "Sixty years ago this month the UK had a double celebration, with Sir Edmund Hillary completing the first ascent of Mount Everest, closely followed by the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
"It seems fitting therefore that these two events should form the cornerstone of the 1953 themed window displays.
"The competition takes place every year and is designed to promote the forthcoming carnival, as well as being an opportunity to involve the town's many businesses in the event."
A cricket match is also to be held on July 1 for the carnival, from 5pm at Lydham Manor Cricket ground.
