Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Wakeman, willow and woofs among Gloucestershire’s crowning glories
Tue 3 Apr is deadline to apply for coronation party road closures
Gloucestershire is gearing up to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III in style this May with events at Cheltenham’s Pittville Pump Rooms, at Berkeley Castle and in Cirencester, plus numerous street parties and community celebrations, not to mention the ‘Other’ Coronation Concert in Tewkesbury, starring Rick Wakeman, his son Oliver and guests, in aid of two Gloucestershire schools.
Gloucester Council encourages local people to celebrate with a party over the special bank holiday weekend, Sat 6-Mon 8 May, and says that, while licenses will not be required in the vast majority of cases, residents must be quick if they wish to shut their street, as applications close before Tue 3 Apr.
The Cheltenham Trust hosts a free community celebration at Pittville Pump Rooms, where the Coronation will be screened live on Sat 6 May, with a two day Party in the Park the following day featuring children’s activities, food and drink and live music plus a screening of the Sunday evening concert from Windsor Castle. Cam Parish Council hosts a family fun day at Jubilee Playing Field on Sat 6 May, complete with its popular themed community dog show. At Berkeley Castle on Mon 8 May guests can meet the “real” King Charles, namely the historical Merry Monarch with the II after his name, who is expected to have some advice for the new King.
Cirencester Town Council joins the national Big Lunch scheme, supported by the Eden Project and the National Lottery, to host a lunch for local communities in the town’s Abbey Grounds. It promises an artisan market, music, family activities and food, plus three willow play shelters created by local primary schools.
Finally, father-and-son keyboard maestros Rick and Oliver Wakeman, guitar guru Gordon Giltrap and singer-songwriter Carrie Martin are the stars headlining a special Coronation Day charity concert to raise money for two Gloucestershire schools. Taking place at Tewkesbury’s Roses Theatre on the big day itself (Sat 6 May), The ‘Other’ Coronation Concert promises “an evening of breath-taking virtuosity, great stories and beautiful song”, with all profits going to Cleeve School and Milestone School for children with special educational needs. “They’re the schools that my children go to and we wanted to do something to help them as we know they are always struggling for funding, especially special needs schools,” Oliver Wakeman told Primary Times. “We’ve had a great response to the concert, selling two-thirds of the tickets within 48 hours. We’re not sure if His Majesty will be able to attend though, I’ve heard he might be a bit busy on that date.”
Not all councils or communities had announced their coronation plans as Primary Times went to press, so look check our Facebook page www.facebook.com/PrimaryTimesGloucestershire/ for events announced in April.
Cam Coronation Celebration www.camparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/2023/02/cam-coronation-celebration-event-anounced
Cirencester Big Lunch in the Park coronation.gov.uk/event/cirencester-big-lunch-in-the-park/
Coronation Community Celebration, Cheltenham cheltenhamtrust.org.uk/events_/
Hurrah For King Charles! Berkeley Castle (See WOW, P11, on the digital magazine on our homepage)
The Other Coronation Concert rosestheatre.org
