A GIGANTIC illuminated crown is being installed in Stratford town centre to celebrate the King’s Coronation.
The crown – measuring 2.5metres in diameter and 3metres tall will be installed on the Market Cross Traffic Island on Thursday (May 4) thanks to the Stratford Christmas Lights Committee.
The tradition of Stratford residents coming together and building a crown is believed to have been started for the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838.
Pictures exist of crowns going back to King George VI’s Coronation in 1937 although famously the crown constructed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 didn’t light up with the local paper remarking
“Many townspeople made a special journey to Market Cross on Coronation night to see the crown on the traffic island lit up.
Unfortunately, those responsible had found it beyond their powers to illuminate it” – something the Christmas Lights Committee are keen won’t be repeated this year.
The crown’s construction has been made possible thanks to the support of Stratford Town Trust with materials donated by local companies Wright Engineering and Graham Martyn Builders with construction by MI workshops and the Christmas Lights Committee.
Matthew Coombes, Chairman and Director of Stratford Christmas Lights, said: “We are proud to be continuing the tradition of a Stratford ‘Coronation Crown’. We hope it encourages the town’s businesses and residents to join in the festivities as the country celebrates this once in a lifetime event.
“It seems appropriate when the main themes of the Coronation are community and volunteering that we can provide something that is a product of both. Thank you to everyone who has supported the project.”
The crown will remain in position alongside bunting and flags over the summer until late September.
