ILKLEY Town Council, alongside local partners, organised two events to commemorate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
A Civic Service was held at St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley, on Sunday May 7th, highlighting the role of local community as one of the themes of the Coronation weekend.
Several hundred people gathered alongside a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Martin Love, Ilkley’s MP Robbie Moore and Town and District Councillors.
A feast of coronation music including Parry’s “I was Glad” and Handel’s “Zadok the Priest” was performed by the choir of St Margaret’s augmented by local singers and trumpeters. Thoughtful prayers were shared by local young people, with one of the lessons read by the Head Student at Ilkley Grammar School. Attendees heard the Rt Rev. and the Rt Hon. the Lord Hope deliver a thoughtful sermon on the challenges facing a monarch.
On Monday May 8th, a lively and joyful celebration concert took place at the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens in Ilkley to an enthusiastic audience, again joined by a Deputy Lieutenant.
Talented local performers performed a variety of well-chosen and popular music. The Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band provided a thread running across the evening, and other performers included Ilkley’s Upstagers, Ilkley and Skipton chamber choir Pinsuti, and professionals Samuel Moore (guitar), Robert Voldman (piano) and Chris Why (tenor). Local compere Mark Gregory kicked the evening off and introduced the acts. The concert concluded with the whole hall joining together to sing the timeless words of William Blake’s Jerusalem and the National Anthem.
At both events, the Deputy Lieutenants delivered a message of thanks from Their Majesties, acknowledging the support from the local community at the Coronation.
A spokesperson said: “Ilkley Town Council would like to express its thanks to all those at St Margaret’s church and the Kings Hall who helped to organise these events, and to all those who performed or contributed in any way. We hope each event was enjoyed by those attending, and that participants found them a fitting way to commemorate the Coronation. We also thank the many individuals (including the Brook Street king and queen maker), businesses and community groups around the town, and particularly the Ilkley Carnival, for the efforts made by so many to decorate the town for the occasion.”
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