Warwick set for year-long 1,100th anniversary party

Warwick is all set to leap into spring with terrific line-up of events to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the town.
A large crowd gathers for a free concert in Market Place, Warwick, at the annual Warwick Folk Festival 2008.
Picture Submitted.A large crowd gathers for a free concert in Market Place, Warwick, at the annual Warwick Folk Festival 2008.
Picture Submitted.
A large crowd gathers for a free concert in Market Place, Warwick, at the annual Warwick Folk Festival 2008. Picture Submitted.

Warwick is all set to leap into spring with terrific line-up of events to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the town.

Festivals and choral concerts, parades, a special beer and the chance to take off from St Nicholas Park in a hot air balloon are all part of the festivities.

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Town centre manager Nicki Curwood is unlikely to know until the end of this month whether a member of the royal family will be visiting to join in one of the celebrations.

But invitations to Buckingham Palace have been sent out by not only the town council, but Warwick School and the managers of Warwick Castle.

The district council has set aside an extra £5,000 to cover security if there is a royal visit.

A new website has just been launched - www.warwick1100yrs.co.uk - and free booklets listing all that’s going on will be available from the Tourist Information Centre in Jury Street from Monday.

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Although, as it happens, the first date on the calendar of events won’t actually take place in the town.

It will be a gala concert featuring instrumental and choral groups from Warwick School, King’s High and Warwick Preparatory School due to take place in the Butterworth Hall at Warwick Arts Centre at 7.30pm next Friday (March 14).

Ms Curwood said: “This is going to be a thrilling year for Warwick with lots going on and the whole town getting involved.

“There’s even going to be a special new beer launched by Slaughterhouse Breweries to celebrate Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians, who established Warwick as a burgh, or defensive mound, to protect this area from the Viking invaders who were already occupying land further north.”

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