Oldhamers celebrate the King's coronation in style!

Date published: 09 May 2023


Oldhamers of all ages and faiths celebrated the coronation of King Charles III in style right across the holiday weekend.

Street parties were held throughout Oldham to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

The King's coronation ceremony took place on Saturday, May 6, with a service at Westminster Abbey.

For most it proved to be the first time they have witnessed the coronation of a British monarch – the late Queen Elizabeth II having been crowned in 1953.

Residents keen to mark the national event lodged more than 130 street party applications, with the council across the bank holiday weekend staging patriotic events, for which nearly 70 roads were closed.

Bare Trees Primary School created a King's Garden to celebrate the coronation. The Willow structure took two weeks to complete

Celebrations took place in neighbourhoods from Shaw, Royton, Uppermill, Watersheddings, Chadderton, Failsworth, Greenacres, and more.

Arguably the biggest knees-up took place on the Saturday outside the Old Town Hall in the town centre from 10am until 6pm, where the Coronation was streamed live on the big screen.

It was followed by an afternoon of live music and family entertainment including tribute bands with the likes of Do It Like Dua - A Tribute To Dua Lipa, Gladness, Queen II and Tania as Amy Whitehouse, with Oldham’s own The Threetles taking the stage.

There was Coronation-themed creative workshops for children and  family-friendly street performers, including the Bouncing Busby Guards, King of the Dinosaurs Tyrone the T-Rex and The Great British Garden Party.

Pictured (above) is a scene from Friday's coronation party on Blackshaw Lane in Royton.

There was a special Blackshaw Lane bake off competition, with residents challenged to bake a cake fit for a King!

There was also a King's karaoke tournament and then a Blackshaw Lane's Got Talent competition.

Residents also kindly donated a cake to Dr Kershaw's Hospice.


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