Darlington’s Coronation celebrations went off with a bang as the market square and Cockerton Green was packed to the rafters with people watching the screening of the main event today (Saturday, May 6)
We headed to the market square to chat with locals and soak up the atmosphere and we bumped into Lee Morris, the compere for the day, who couldn’t wait for the afternoon’s entertainment.
From 9am the crowd began gathering in the marketplace in the build-up to the screening with refreshments available, which was welcome by all given the unexpected hot late Spring day.
The atmosphere increased very quickly as the ceremony began and with plenty of craft activities to keep children entertained, there was something for everyone.
Read more: Pictures as union jacks appear on homes & streets across Darlington and County Durham
After the screening of the Coronation, the entertainment added to the party atmosphere with a set from Soldiers of Swing from Britain’s Got Talent.
The duo got the crowd going with popular tracks such as; ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ from The Jungle Book, Frank Sinatra tracks including; ‘That’s Life’, ‘New York, New York’, ‘My Way’, and ‘Somewhere Beyond The Sea’ and the rather fitting ‘Kind of The Road’ by Roger Miller.
Although we knew the town would be busy, it surpassed expectations and it was great to see Darlington town centre so full of life.
One lady we spoke to, Alison Taylor, said: “We wanted to come and see the Coronation because it’s a big historic occasion.
“We’ve had a really good day, and it’s nice to see so many people enjoying themselves in Darlington.”
Read more: Live: Celebrations continue in Darlington and County Durham
Read more: Prince Louis leaves Coronation early after cheeky antics entertain viewers
Read more: 'I watched the King’s Coronation procession and the buzz wasn't as I expected'
Celebrations continued in Cockerton with a party on the village green. Students from HC Vocal & Performance Academy wowed a supportive crowd with their high-energy performances, showcasing some excellent local talent.
All the children were fantastic, but stand-out performances included renditions of; River Deep, Mountain High, Hallelujah, and a group performance of Revolting Children from the musical Matilda.
The students often perform at events organised by Cockerton Business Group and the children jumped at the opportunity of performing at a momentous occasion in a local setting.
Holly Clifford, who runs HC Vocal & Performance Academy, told The Northern Echo: “We only had a week to prepare something, but the kids were really enthusiastic and loved the idea of putting on a show for the Coronation.
“There’s not a big emphasis on being ‘perfect’, we just wanted the children to enjoy themselves and do their best and they absolutely did that.”
To get more stories direct to your email basket go here.
Singer of The Lakes also put on a stunning performance in Cockerton with classic toe-tapping tracks from the 1940s and 1950s and opened with ‘Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree’ by The Andrew Sisters.
Overall, it was a fantastic Coronation Day in Darlington, and with more events planned over the bank holiday weekend, including the Coronation concert which is to be screened in the market square from 8pm on Sunday (May 7).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here