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Historic anniversaries for Windsor in 2009
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Painting by Annick McKenzie - canvas prints available for a very reasonable recession busting price. Cheer yourself up and buy one today!
WINDSOR AND THE ROYAL BOROUGH MARKS HISTORIC ANNIVERSARIES IN 2009 Windsor and the Royal Borough will be marking several key anniversaries in 2009; its 500 years since Henry VIII ascended to the throne; local artist Stanley Spencer died 50 years ago and the Windsor Festival will be celebrating its 40th birthday. Windsor Castle played host to Henry VIII and his court on many occasions; he died in 1547 at the age of 55 and is buried in St George’s Chapel at the Castle next to his third wife, Jane Seymour. Open from 8 April 2009 until 21 March 2010, an exhibition in the Drawings Gallery at Windsor Castle will mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne. Some of the most important and beautiful treasures to survive from the king’s reign will be brought together from the Royal Collection and the St George’s Chapel archives. Through paintings, drawings, miniatures, prints, books and manuscripts, the exhibition will explore the life of a king who had a profound impact on British history and whose fascinating story continues to generate widespread interest today. A range of anniversary china, exclusive to St George’s Chapel shop, will also be available from March 2009. The designs are based on the stained glass picture of the monarch in the South Quire Aisle of the chapel; motifs from the wooden oriel window placed in the chapel by the king for his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, and from his coat of arms in the vaulting above the organ loft. The china will be available from the shop in the Dean’s Cloister at the chapel exit or by mail order (www.stgeorges-windsor.org). Associated with British monarchy for nearly 1,000 years and one of The Queen’s three official residences, Windsor is the largest inhabited castle in the world covering some thirteen acres. The Drawings Gallery is included in a visit, which also takes in the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St George’s Chapel, (www.royalcollection.org.uk). Artist Stanley Spencer Also within the Royal Borough, the Stanley Spencer Gallery in the Thames side village of Cookham will be running an exhibition from May to November marking the 50th anniversary of the local artist’s death in December 1959. Focusing on Spencer’s river paintings, displays will include ‘Swan Upping’ – one of his major works;‘Turks Boat Yard’ and ‘Dinner on the Hotel Lawn’. The gallery, which was opened in 1962 three years after the artist's death, houses a collection of more than 100 of his paintings and drawings. In 2007 it was awarded a large grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund which enabled the former Methodist chapel to be transformed into a stunning exhibition space (www.stanleyspencer.org.uk). 40th Windsor Festival Windsor Festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009 with a host of special events to mark this important occasion. Founded in 1969 by the great violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin and Ian Hunter as artistic directors, the festival has presented events in St George’s Chapel and the State Apartments of Windsor Castle since its inception as well as Eton College and other venues around the Royal Borough. This tradition continues today. For 2009 the Windsor Festival will be organising two important events - the fifth Spring Weekend which will take place between Thursday 12 and Sunday 15 March, and the main Festival from Sunday 20 September to Sunday 4 October. Highlights will include top-quality concerts within Windsor Castle while the highly popular literary series will also continue with presentations and book signings from well known authors and figures from stage and screen. Team all this with a programme of heritage walks and tours, which provide a fascinating insight into the local area, and it is easy to see why the Windsor Festival has a national and international reputation as one of the most vibrant, exciting and enjoyable Festivals of its type (www.windsorfestival.com). Further details about the Royal Borough and accommodation suggestions can be found on www.windsor.gov.uk; to request a copy of the Visitor Guide call the Royal Windsor Information Centre on 01753 743900 or email Windsor.tic@rbwm.gov.uk. For those planning a short break assistance with booking somewhere to stay is available by ringing the accommodation hotline on 01753 743907 or email Windsor.accommodation@rbwm.gov.uk. |
