THE COMMUNITY will parade through the streets of Redditch tomorrow (Saturday) as a week of celebrations to mark 50 years of the new town draws to a close.
From 12.15pm to 1pm there will be a procession from the Palace Theatre to the bandstand area where a series of performances will take place.
It is one of the final events in the So Redditch Festival which kicked-off last Saturday (July 26) with an exhibition by Redditch Local History Society featuring photographs of Redditch’s past, unseen for many years.
The following day the Kingfisher Shopping Centre hosted its family fun day while on Monday (July 28) 40 people, young and old, battled it out for the title of Redditch Monopoly Champion in a specially created speed version of the game played on the town’s own 50th anniversary board.
It was 11-year-old Carl Miles who was declared the overall winner and landed the £200 prize after collecting more than £4,000 in Monopoly money during his 30 minutes.
Crowds were then entertained on Tuesday by the antics of whacky painters Flhip Flhop out on Church Green before the Made in Redditch Market set up on Wednesday (July 30) selling a range of products made in Redditch or by people from the borough.
Yesterday (Thursday) another milestone was marked with a special tea party in Millward Square to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the first phase of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.
Centre staff served up free tea and cake while there was live music, salsa and line dancing to entertain visitors as well as face painting and balloons for the children. Free centre gift vouchers were also given away with those sharing a birthday with the centre entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth.
This weekend sees the launch of the first Redditch Music Festival in the town centre and on Sunday (August 3) a service of thanksgiving will take place in St Stephen’s Church.
Ken Williams, chairman of Redditch Town Centre Partnership which has been behind the anniversary celebrations, said: “It’s been wonderful to see the way the community has engaged with each other through these series of events and tomorrow’s parade will be the icing on the cake.”
Mayor Pat Witherspoon and centre manager Ken Williams enjoy the tea dance to mark the Kingfisher’s 40th birthday. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3114021MMR
Mackenzie Buckingham, eight, joins in with entertainers Fhlip Fhlop as part of Theatre Tuesday. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3114013MMR
Mal Sinclair tastes some local honey on the Made in Redditch Market with Bernard Luscombe, from Arrow Valley Honey. Picture by Marcus Mingins 3114016MMR
