A special King’s Shilling Walk and picnic are being held in Nantwich and Crewe to commemorate 100 years since the start of the First World War.
Crewe and Nantwich & District Branches of The Royal British Legion are organising the King’s Shilling Walk and Edwardian themed picnic on Sunday August 3.
The sponsored two-and-a-half mile walk will go from the Barony Park in Nantwich from 11am, along the Sustrans route by the A530, to finish at Queens Park in Crewe.
Bae Systems at Radway Green are manufacturing and donating a commemorative “King’s Shilling” to be awarded to all those who finish the walk.
At Queens Park, a “Poppy Picnic” will be staged which will feature stalls and activities, music by Co-Op Funeral Band, South Cheshire Pipe Band and the Police Corps of Drums, and singing by local choirs including St Mary’s Peace Choir and Nantwich-based Funky Choir.
The event aims to mimic the events surrounding the “signing up for the King’s Shilling” – an enlisting in the armed forces when many people thought an easy victory would be had and that war would be over by Christmas.
There will be a service of commemoration at 2pm at the Boer War Memorial and people will be encouraged to plant a cross or poppy to remember the fallen in The Great War and in years since in a sectioned off area of the park.
There will also be a free shuttle bus service from Queens Park back to Barony Park.
Members of both Royal British Legion branches have been working with many others to get the event ready as a fitting tribute to all those who died and survivors who had to live with the horrors they experienced.
The Royal British Legion was formed in 1921 as a result of the Great War, starting as a network of comrades who met to talk through their experiences and receive companionship and support.
You can get Registration Packs for the walk by emailing [email protected] or calling 01270 569258.
You can also get them from The Royal British Legion Outreach Centre in Earle Street, Crewe, or from “The Pickle Jar” Café in Queens Park.
Registration is £5, accompanied children under 12 are free.
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