MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
13/5/22
Celebrations are afoot for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with special events, family trails and crafts at The Commandery, Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle, and Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
The fabulous fifties will take over Hartlebury Castle on Bank Holiday Thursday 2 June: when visitors are invited to dress in their best 1950s gear and have a sing and dance with the fantastic Bluebird Belles as we revel in the decade The Queen came to the throne. Step into the past and experience Worcestershire County Museum’s Lavish Living exhibition which celebrates life in the fifties in the County including glorious costume and a 1950s room setting.
Younger visitors can get stuck into Coronation Crafts and will be able to construct and decorate a mini wooden royal carriage and make a sceptre to take home. They can explore the Castle and Museum with a jubilee-inspired family trail. Coronation Crafts runs from Tuesday 31 May to Friday 3 June, and the trail from Tuesday to Sunday 5 June (usual admission + £2.50 per child for crafts).
The Worcester Reenactors will bring The Commandery’s historic past to life in a day of Jubilee jubilations on Friday 3 June. In a beautiful building and gardens famous for Royalist connections, there’s no better setting in which to tell the stories of the Royalists and Parliamentarians in the Civil War.
Children can turn themselves into a majestic queen or king by creating Royal Revelry crowns and sceptres, then follow a family trail around The Commandery to discover fascinating regal figures who have ascended the throne since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The crafts and trail are available from Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June (usual admission + £2 per trail/craft).
The independent canal-side café Commandery Coffee will be open with homemade food and wonderful coffee.
At Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, kick off the Bank Holiday with a relaxed evening of live music, themed cocktails, and test your knowledge of all things royal with a quiz fit for a queen at Museum After Hours: Jubilee (Wednesday 1 June, 5.30 – 8pm). Vintage singer Melissa Hollick will be performing – she will cover a range of classics from across the decades. This social evening is also a special opportunity to see the spring exhibition, Hokusai’s Great Wave: Reflections of Japan, after hours before it closes on Saturday 2 July.
“The Platinum Jubilee is fast approaching and there are plenty of fantastic events to get involved with at The Commandery, Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle, and Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum. Where better to soak up the atmosphere of the occasion than at one of Worcestershire’s historic sites?” says Commandery Manager Rachel Robinson.
Extra charges apply for some activities; please see the website for full details www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Images attached show:
Lavish Living at Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle [Fabulous Fifties]
A living history demonstration at The Commandery [Jubilee Jubilations]
Opening hours
The Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester is open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm, and Sundays, 11am – 3pm.
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, Foregate Street, Worcester is open: Monday to Saturday, 10.30am – 4.30pm. Closed Sundays and bank holidays including Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June.
County Museum at Hartlebury Castle is open: Tuesday to Friday, 10am – 5pm; Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, 11am – 5pm. Closed Mondays.
Events listings
The Commandery
Royal Revelry and Family Trail – Saturday 28 May to Sunday 5 June.
Turn yourself into a majestic queen or king by creating your very own crown and sceptre. Then, follow a family trail around The Commandery to discover fascinating royal figures who have ascended the throne since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Usual admission + £2 per trail/craft.
Jubilee Jubilations – Friday 3 June, 10am – 5pm.
A day of living history: the Worcester Reenactors will bring to life The Commandery’s historic past. Families can have fun with the Royal Revelry crafts and trail. Usual admission + £2 per trail/craft.
Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle
Fabulous Fifties – Thursday 2 June, 11am – 4pm.
Revel in the decade The Queen came to the throne! Dress in your best 1950s gear, enjoy live music from the fantastic Bluebird Belles, visit the Lavish Living exhibition that celebrates the ‘50s in Worcestershire, and handle objects from the decade. Usual admission + £2.50 per child for Coronation Crafts.
Coronation Crafts and Family Trail – Tuesday 31 May to Friday 3 June (trail to Sunday 5 June).
Construct and decorate a mini wooden royal carriage and make your own sceptre. Usual admission + £2.50 per child for crafts.
Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Museum After Hours: Jubilee – Wednesday 1 June, 5.30 – 8pm.
Live music and themed cocktails: the perfect way to start the jubilee celebrations. Vintage singer Melissa Hollick will be covering a wide range of classics spanning the decades, and you can test your knowledge of all things royal with a quiz fit for a queen. Free entry; cash bar.
For more information or further images please contact Alice Benbow, Museums Marketing Officer: alice.benbow@worcester.gov.uk / 01905 361828.