Over the May bank holiday weekend, a host of events, parties, and musical performances were held across England to celebrate the first coronation of a British monarch in over six decades. In Wantage, despite the poor weather, hundreds of locals gathered in the Market Place on Saturday to watch the coronation service at Westminster Abbey on a giant TV screen. Dressed in raincoats and armed with umbrellas, the crowd enthusiastically cheered as they witnessed the Archbishop of Canterbury place the St Edward’s Crown on King Charles III’s head.
Behind the TV screen, a stage featured live performances from local bands, including The Undercovers and White Ridge. Further entertainment included Morris dancing as well as dance and kickboxing displays. Attendees also enjoyed food and drinks provided by local street vendors, such as Fallow & Fields, Surf’n’Fries, and In Fine Spirits, offering everything from hog roasts to coronation chicken.
Andrea Yates, the Town Centre Manager, highlighted the community’s resilience and spirit: “The weather’s not great at all, but people have come out to support the event, along with businesses and the community. The one thing about Wantage is that everyone really does come together at events like this.” Andrea recounted a memorable moment where a couple arrived early, set up a table and chairs despite the rain, and celebrated with a bottle of Moët.
A notable feature of the celebrations was a specially baked coronation cake, topped with a design by seven-year-old Millie Sayer, a student from Stockham Primary School. Millie won a town-wide competition for her creative depiction of the St Edward’s Crown. She shared her thoughts, saying, “I chose a crown because the coronation is about the King being crowned. I was really surprised and excited to win, especially when I saw how many other people had entered.”
The celebrations extended to local schools. At Wantage CE Primary School, staff and students marked the occasion by dressing in red, white, and blue. Activities included a coronation tea party for nursery and reception children, maypole dancing, and a school-wide picnic. Headteacher Andy Browne expressed pride in the school’s festivities, stating, “The coronation is an event that we will all remember for the rest of our lives, and we were proud to celebrate it together.”
In Didcot, Manor Primary School embraced the coronation with a special event featuring a flypast by RAF Benson. Students also participated in creative activities, made crowns and Union Jack flags, and sang coronation-themed songs during a special assembly. Jessica Robinson, the headteacher, emphasized the significance of the day: “It is very important for us to mark the occasion of the Coronation, as it is a once-in-a-generation event within our history that everyone can be involved in.”
Celebrations covered nearby communities, too. In Boundary Park, a large audience enjoyed a performance by the ABBA Angels Tribute Band. In Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, eleven bell ringers marked the Coronation with an hour-long performance, followed by a vibrant street party in the village on Sunday. Dorchester-on-Thames and Wallingford also hosted street parties, while Wallingford’s Castle Gardens featured a spirited performance by the Wallingford Tuneless Choir.
To cap off the long weekend, the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, operated by volunteers, participated in the national “Big Help Out” initiative on Monday. This event encouraged volunteering, with many visitors showing interest in becoming involved. Mark Savery, who managed the ticket office, described the day as “a great day of volunteering” that attracted both paying passengers and potential future volunteers.
For detailed information on local events or to discover nearby businesses and services, visit the [Wantage Business Directory](https://wantage.com/directory/). You can also [submit your own listing](https://wantage.com/submit-listing/) or share details of an upcoming event by [adding it here](https://wantage.com/submit-listing/?listing_type=clubs-groups-and-events).
