Ipswich Central’s Thomas Wolsey 550 Project culminates with parade through town by 300 school pupils
Hundreds of school children parading through Ipswich town centre in a colourful culmination of a project to celebrate the town’s history and one of its most famous sons.
The 300 schoolchildren paraded along a special ‘Cardinal Route’ between the waterfront and town centre last Thursday for ‘Wolsey’s Big Huzzah’, the culmination of the Thomas Wolsey 550 schools’ programme.
The procession was a collaboration between Ipswich Central founded Thomas Wolsey 550 Project, and the Suffolk Music Hub, with children from five primary schools across the town.
Kath Cockshaw, Thomas Wolsey 550 project director said: “Today has been absolutely brilliant.
“Wolsey’s Big Huzzah saw hundreds of local school children parade, sing Tudor songs, and dance along the Cardinal Route from St Peter’s Church to the Cornhill.
“Hundreds of spectators lined the route and gathered to watch Sidegate Primary School’s finale performance with Gecko Theatre on the Cornhill.
“What a way to engage children and their families in our town’s Tudor heritage and celebrate all that’s been achieved during the Wolsey 550 schools programme.”
Ipswich Central enabled the Thomas Wolsey 550 project as an 18-month heritage celebration for the town.
Lee Walker, Ipswich Central’s chief executive officer said: “By undertaking today’s parade, the Thomas Wolsey 550 project gave hundreds of school children a lifelong positive memory of the town.
“It was wonderful to see the Cornhill full of people of all ages coming into the town centre to enjoy the performance.
“It’s great that 300 of our youngest residents got to see the heart of our town as a platform for them today.
“I’m so proud of the Wolsey 550 team for the great work they have been doing with schools’ engagement using Wolsey’s story and legacy to educate and inspire the next generation.
“Wolsey’s Big Huzzah today was a fantastic celebration for the town.”
The primary schools that took part in the parade were Broke Hall, Ranelagh, Ravenswood, St Marks and Rosehill.
