Great Aycliffe Town Council presented a fantastic afternoon of fun and live performances in honour of the Coronation of King Charles III.
It was well attended with lots of Newtonians bringing along picnic blankets with cakes and nibbles and celebratory drinks of bubbly. Even our typically British weather wouldn’t deter them from a party!
The Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Councillor Ken Robson and the Mayoress both joined the assembled crowd chatting to friends old and new before the show began. Then the Mayor took to the stage to open the event and thanked everyone for coming on behalf of the Town Council and staff.
The Mayor said, “I was very proud, as Mayor, to be allowed to open our Newton Aycliffe Coronation Picnic in the Town Park.”
The event itself began with a magnificent performance by our talented Shine Community Choir which got the audience on its feet and in the mood to party. The highlight of the show, for myself, was giving out coronation medals to the members of the choir, even if it was in the rain. Thank you to the Shine Choir for your performance, it was spectacular.”
Meanwhile, with a flash of bright colours, the stilt walkers arrived and made their way around the park thrilling children and adults alike. We had a wonderful performance from singer, Jenna Highfield with a melody of many popular songs which got us all dancing and toe tapping. With this being Britain, we were cooled by a shower of rain, which sent some scurrying for cover under their umbrellas, but we Newtonians were determined to carry on regardless!
Aycliffe and Brancepeth Brass band kept the party going with a selection of tunes which delighted the damp audience. The Mayoress and I especially enjoyed the children’s performance as they were invited by the band leader to come forward and play percussion instruments.
Following this brilliant performance, the audience were enthralled to welcome our town’s very own Newton Aycliffe Pipe Band, who added some pomp to the show with their kilts and pipes.
As the sun began to dry everyone out, it fell to me to thank everyone for coming, all the council staff for their hard work in organising the show and, not least, the entertainers for their sterling performances”.
If you missed out on this celebration, do not forget that the Town Council are having another party in the Town Park on Sunday 2nd July to celebrate Aycliffe’s 75th birthday!