The flags and the red, white and blue decorations are on display in Swanage’s town centre, ready to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.
The national event will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023 and many in Swanage will be watching the coronation ceremony on TV, although some are heading up to London to watch the royal procession along The Mall.
Swanage Town Hall flying the Union Flag
Coronation plans are more subdued than the Platinum Jubilee
It’s less than a year since the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and while there was a huge street party in Swanage to celebrate that event, the plans for the coronation locally in 2023 are more subdued.
Rather than a big street party, there are around 15 organised tea parties across Swanage, with some residents applying for a road closure and others holding parties in their gardens.
Patriotic shop window displays in Swanage town centre
The Big Lunch
Nationally, it’s being encouraged for communities to hold The Big Lunch on Sunday 7th May 2023 but in Swanage they are taking place across the coronation weekend.
Each official party in Swanage has received a party pack, paid for by donations and a Swanage Town Council grant, containing red, white and blue paper plates, cups and napkins to help get everyone in a celebratory mood.
Depending on the weather, there’s bound to be picnics on the beach and at Prince Albert Gardens over the long weekend.
The Diamond Jubilee Coach is embossed onto The Mowlem
The Big Help Out
On the coronation bank holiday Monday 8th May 2023, the public are being encouraged to spend the extra day off by volunteering.
In Swanage, as part of The Big Help Out, local community organisations and charities will be setting up information stalls on the terrace area off Shore Road between The Mowlem and the information centre, from 11 am to 2 pm.
There will be 16 organisations taking part including the Stroke Association, Swanage Pier Trust, Linking Lives, Swanage and Purbeck Rotary and the Swanage Volunteer Bureau.
Everyone is welcome to come along and find out more about what they do.
Red, white and blue shop window display
“Doing things for others makes you feel good”
President-elect of Swanage and Purbeck Rotary and part of the organising team, Dai Hounsell said:
“I’d urge people in Swanage to come along and have a chat. A community like Swanage relies on volunteers to ensure its vitality and wellbeing.
“Sadly, inevitably, volunteering faded over Covid but we now need to encourage people back. The main incentive is that volunteering and doing things for others makes you feel good and that’s a great reward!”
Flags festoon Swanage town centre
Coronation weekend May 2023
Saturday 6th – Coronation Day
- 10.20 am The royal procession leaves Buckingham Palace heading to Westminster Abbey
- 11 am Coronation ceremony starts
- 1 pm The royal procession leave the abbey and return to Buckingham Palace
- 1.45 pm The Royal Salute takes place
- 2.15 pm Royal family members appear on Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast
Sunday 7th – The Big Lunch and concert
- 8:00 pm Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle begins with performers including Lionel Richie and Take That
Monday 8th – The Big Help Out
- 11 am to 2 pm In Swanage, community organisations and charities will be setting up information stalls on the terrace area off Shore Road between The Mowlem and the information centre.
Swanage Town Mayor Tina Foster and her consort Leslie Parkinson at the Mayor’s Coronation Ball
The Mayor’s Coronation Ball was held at Swanage Bay View
The Mayor’s Coronation Ball
The curtain raiser to the celebrations in Swanage was the The Mayor’s Coronation Ball that was held on Friday 28th April 2023 at Swanage Bay View.
The black tie event was well attended with dancing to the bands Fever Street and The Rat Pack.
The evening raised £2,180 which was donated to the charity Heroes Haven Swanage, which provides affordable holidays for disabled, injured and visually impaired serving and ex-serving members of the Armed Forces, their immediate family and carers.
Linda Welsh, part of the organising team and trustee of the Heroes Haven, was delighted at the money raised for the charity
Great sea views from Swanage Bay View
