District prepares to celebrate Queen's 90th birthday

THERE will be a right Royal knees up this weekend with a series of special events and street parties planned to mark the Queen’s 90th Birthday.

The majority of the Royal celebrations across the Herald’s patch will take place this Saturday and Sunday and a number of streets will be closed especially for events.

In Stratford, the celebrations kick off at Stratford Cricket Club tomorrow, Friday, which will be holding a birthday party for the Queen between 11am and 1pm.

The event has been organised by Heart of England Mencap.

The Willows Primary School will also host its party tomorrow, Friday, between 2pm and 3pm. Pupils will record their own student radio broadcast and wear hand-decorated crowns before enjoying a piece of cake.

Street parties will take place on Saturday with road closures in place on Wetherby Way, Great William Street and St Andrew’s Crescent in Stratford and at The Green in Alveston for celebrations.

Stratford Town Trust has helped ensure the town hosts a fitting weekend of tributes to the long-reining monarch by awarding £10,000 worth of grants to groups in the community for celebrations.

Among those to benefit from grants are Stratford Cricket Club and the Old Slaughterhouse and the Shakespeare Hospice, which will all hold events over the weekend.

The money has also helped fund parties on Saturday including at Wetherby Way, The Green on Bordon Place and The Green at Alveston, while in Bishopton a party on The Avenue also received a grant.

Other Stratford streets hosting parties on Sunday will be Beech Close, Broad Street, Albany Road, Kipling Road and Talbot Road, while in Alcester a party will take place on Riddell Close. The Friends of Rowley Fields are getting ready for a party to remember with a number of activities taking place at the site, between 1pm and 5pm.

The celebration, which is free to attend, includes a children’s grass maze, a miniature fairground organ, a vintage car display, a cake stale, raffle, wood carving display and a family treasure hunt.

All proceeds will go to the Stratford Cancer and Eye Hospital Appeal.

Wellesbourne’s annual Street Fayre will also take place on Saturday, between 12.30pm and 4pm, and will act as the village’s Royal birthday celebration.

Over in Mickleton, fancy dress, tractor rides and stalls will be the order of the day at 12 Acre Field on Saturday.

Events to mark the occasion in Henley will take place on Beaudesert Lane and Alne Close, while The Guildhall will host a Queen’s birthday party for 80- and 90-year -olds on Sunday while a Royal birthday party for children will be held at St Nicholas’ Church Hall on the same day.

A street party is planned in School Road, Snitterfield on Sunday. On Saturday the village will also host a treasure hunt from the Village Hall from 1pm, Afternoon Tea will be served between 2pm and 5pm, and children’s art and fancy dress competitions will be judged at 3.30pm.

Western Heights Road in Meon Vale, Church Lane in Lighthorne and Hamilton Road in Tiddington have also applied to hold street parties on Sunday as have the organisers of a party on Main Street in Moreton Morrell.

Lord Digby Jones will also attend a party at the Bridge Inn at Bidford on Sunday, while in Ettington the primary school is holding a picnic in the park between 2pm and 4pm, with live music, bungee trampolines, a Pimms tent and a bouncy castle.

Kineton will hold a number of events to mark the occasion on Sunday, including bellringing demonstrations at St Peter’s Church and the Scouts’ Royal Birthday Parade.

In Burton Dassett on Sunday Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Scouts and Brownies will fly their flags high, while at 10am All Saints’ Church will hold a special service supported by Gaydon Voices choir.

A street party takes place on Top Street, Northend, between 1pm and 4pm, on Sunday, which will include live music, games and activities. Those wishing to attend should bring their own food and drink, and seating for up to 100 people will be available.

In Dorsington an open gardens event will be held on Sunday with 12 gardens available to explore and admire.

The event, between 1pm and 5pm, will mark not just the Queen’s birthday, but the 40th year of open gardens in Dorsington.

In Chipping Campden, people are invited to the town square on Saturday with a picnic between 2pm and 6pm with organisers providing entertainment, and tables and chairs.

Chipping Campden will also hold its annual garden party at the Wilson Garden on Saturday in celebration of the Queen’s birthday.