Stowmarket, Haughley and Stowupland celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation
Residents of Stowmarket, Haughley and Stowupland have been busy with afternoon tea, picnics, firework displays and 1000 cupcakes to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation.
Stowmarket kicked off the Coronation events on Saturday with an afternoon tea hosted by Jam Community Pot at the United Reformed Church in Ipswich Street.
Majority of the guests regularly attend the Monday Brew club held at the church and they enjoyed cups of tea, cake, scones and even danced to nostalgic music from the 1940s and 1950s.
Organiser Michelle Frost said: “When you’re going to have a party - you have a party.
“The feedback from the event has been amazing and everyone is saying how great the hall looked which is really appreciated.
“All the volunteers put in a lot of work so it’s really nice to see it all pay off.”
The afternoon was hosted by six volunteers and donations were made from Nisa and Tesco.
Stowmarket Town Council marked the occasion with its ‘Coronation and Cake’ event in Market Place where 1000 free cupcakes were given to residents while singing group Pop Chorus provided musical entertainment.
Town Mayor Cllr Barry Salmon, Reverend Michael Eden and the Royal British Legion gave speeches to praise the town’s community spirit and to honour the day.
More than three thousand people in Haughley enjoyed a barbecue, firework display and the lighting of a beacon which was organised by the Palmer family, who own Palmer’s Bakery, St Mary’s Church and the Parish Council.
Stowmarket Concert Band provided live music with renditions of The National Anthem, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Mr Blue Sky by ELO.
The beacon was lit by Kenneth Palmer, 78, who had assistance from his granddaughters Alexandra, 3, and three-day-old baby Harriet.
Organiser Kieron Palmer, 49, was pleased to help arrange the event as the family has a long history of hosting community events - including Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953.
More than 70 residents gathered at the Palmer’s household to watch the ceremony on the only TV in the village at the time.
Kieron said: “Everyone came out despite the weather and it was all such good fun.
“It’s really nice to see people coming out - we create memories and friendships that will last for years.
“When our children are older, they will look back and remember these things - so it’s all about bringing the community together to create memories.”
A beacon was also lit in Stowupland on Sunday which saw about a hundred people attend to enjoy a raffle and barbecue.
Children at the event played on a bouncy castle and chanted ‘light it up’ before the lighting of the beacon.
