A SMALL Warwickshire town could set a record today for the largest street party in Britain, with its mayor predicting 15,000 revellers will throng its medieval streets. Alcester will be laying on a jubilee lunch and party for residents and local parishes drawn to the town’s old-world charm and traditions that date back to King John.
Its 9,000 inhabitants have the knack when it comes to a knees-up with events held to celebrate the wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981, the 1953 coronation and in 1919 to mark the previous year’s armistice.
A good reason why the Midlands town has retained its traditions lies in the fact it still has its feudal court leet, the de facto form of local government that once held sway over medieval England. Members include the high bailiff, a low bailiff, a meat taster, a fish taster and an ale taster, whose prized job involves visiting pubs to make sure their beer passes muster.
The Alcester mayor, Lennox Cumberbatch, said: “We are having a two-day celebration for the jubilee. We have invited families from the town and surrounding parishes to bring their picnics and tables for the jubilee lunch.”
Last year’s royal wedding saw the town lay claim to the largest royal party when an estimated 8,000 attended but officials are predicting nearly double that this time.
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“A couple of weeks ago we had 12,000 people visiting for our food festival and I reckon we will hit 15,000 for Sunday and 12,000 on Monday,” said Cumberbatch.
The day will start with a parade, which will be led by the court leet in traditional robes through the high street before the mayor will formally declare the day open on the church green. Health and safety rules allied with food hygiene requirements mean that revellers will have to supply their own food and refreshments but all pubs and shops will be open.
There will be live music with bands, including the Kathleen Turner Overdrive, playing classic covers. Lifelong resident John Bunting, 73, said: “The high street is decked out and all the shops are putting on displays. It looks great.”
Bunting keeps a scrapbook of festivities stretching back to the coronation of Edward VII in 1902, which saw locals enjoy a tug-of-war, egg and spoon race and a 50 yard race for women over 30.
“As long as I can remember we have celebrated royal events in Alcester,” he said. “The biggest was the silver jubilee in 1977. It was so hot the children’s jellies wouldn’t set so they added all this gelatine at the last minute in a panic. The poor kids were constipated for weeks.”