Findhorn to host Coronation screening, ceilidh, Big Lunch street party, flotilla and Big Help Out clean up over this Bank Holiday weekend
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FINDHORN is going all-out to celebrate a momentous occasion in British history.
A packed weekend of activities is planned to mark the coronation of King Charles, starting with a screening of the event at Royal Findhorn Yacht Club (RFYC) on Saturday May 6 followed by a ceilidh in the James Milne Institute (JMI), a ‘Big Lunch’ street party in the afternoon of Sunday, May 7 and volunteering on May 8 as part of the bank holiday Monday ‘Big Help Out’.
RFYC will be open to non-members for the weekend. The coronation will be screened on a big TV and the bar will be open from 10.30am. Tea, coffee and cake will also be available.
Findhorn Coastal Rowing Club is organising the Coronation Ceilidh with the Dunphail Ceilidh Band in the JMI from 8-11pm. Tickets cost£5 and are available from Findhorn Village Store.
Captain Claire Weller said: “We’re hoping it will be as popular as our Hogmanay ceilidh! We will be erecting a marquee too so even more folk can take part.”
The celebrations will continue on Sunday afternoon with a Maritime Pageant and a Coronation Big Lunch street party. Volunteers will launch the Moray Gig - which travelled to London for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames in 2012 - ahead of the events.
Director of The Findhorn Village Conservation Company and Findhorn Village Centre, Cathy Low, is coordinating the celebrations.
She said: “Local boats will come together in the bay at around 2pm on Sunday afternoon. Participants will include Findhorn Coastal Rowers, RFYC, The Moray Gig and Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO). The rowers will be offering free rowing sessions from noon. Findhorn Residents’ Association will set up tables in the marquee on the grassed area at the side of the JMI for residents to join the Coronation Big Lunch street party from 1pm. There will also be a coronation-themed art competition with entries judged by residents who lived in the village at the time of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Winners will be announced at the Big Lunch.”
The weekend will culminate with the Coronation Big Help Out on Bank Holiday Monday, May 8.
RFYC commodore, Michael Barron, said: “People will have the opportunity to take part in a bayside beach clean or by contributing to ‘The Big Tidy’ at Findhorn Bowling Club. Volunteers should muster in the yacht club garden at 10am. Litter pickers and rubbish bags will be provided but they should bring their own gloves.”
Bowling Club committee member, Joan Miller, said: “Helpers for The Big Tidy should meet at our club at 2pm. Jobs will include painting, strimming and weeding. Tea, coffee and cakes will be provided for all helpers and the club will arrange a free come-and-try session for anyone interested.”
Convenor of Findhorn Dunes Trust, Timothy Finnegan, will lead walks to the dunes on Monday at 10.30am and 2.30pm to remove non-native seedlings and saplings damaging the dune heath. Both will start at the playpark/tennis courts and last for 90 minutes.
Timothy said: “We shall walk towards the wind turbines and learn to identify Scots Pine from invasive Lodge Pole Pine. We’ll explain about the dune heath and lichens. There will be a short demonstration of removal then volunteers can have a go for as long as they like. Please bring tough gloves.”
For more information email findhornvcc@gmail.com or call/text 07949321216.
