BUNTING and buffets were the order of the day as people across York, North and East Yorkshire celebrated the wedding.
Streets, squares, pubs and churches hosted a variety of events with 150 residents gathering on York’s appropriately-named Westminster Road for celebrations including a high tea, fancy dress and face-painting.
Organiser Ben Warn, 40, said: “The kids and parents loved it. Of course, the highlight was the ceremony. Hopefully people will remember this day and what they were doing when they look back at pictures.”
Lisa Pearcy, 40, said: “It makes you proud to be British. It was a beautiful ceremony and I have to admit I cried. The dress was amazing.” Rebekah Try said: “The balcony kiss was the highlight for me.”
Residents at care homes including Broadway Residential Home in Fulford also toasted the royal couple with Birchlands Care Home in Haxby tying in their celebrations – including a sing-along, skittles and chairobics – with a naming ceremony with the Sheriff of York, Coun Richard Watson as a special guest.
“It has been a fantastic morning,” said activities co-ordinator Rosemary Cartmell. “They are all real royalists.”
Nick Roberts, manager of Dunnington Sports Club, said: “We normally show sports, but today we’ve had a bar full of people in for coffee, bucks fizz and bacon butties. It’s been busy, but a great atmosphere.”
A street party in Hunter’s Way, off Tadcaster Road was hailed a success after being organised by young friends Grace Smith, Anna and Paige, with local businesses donating goods including a three-tier pork pie cake.
In Crayke, about 300 people gathered to watch the screen on a villagers’ big screen or for a party. Allyson Rae, of Church Hill, said: “It went brilliantly.” University of York students watched in the sunshine after preparing bunting, Union Flag banners and a Union Flag sponge cake.
Biology student Ellen Broderick who celebrated with friends with a barbecue, skittles, cricket and Pimms, said: “The dress was amazing, though I wasn’t sure about the trees.”
There was a bouncy castle and live music in West Heslerton and a 1977 Silver Jubilee themed street party in Hardrada Way in Stamford Bridge, while neighbours in Pocklington’s West Green also hung out the bunting.
Scores of villagers headed to the Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn, where there were bacon butties in the morning and a complimentary afternoon tea, while its namesake pub in Lastingham held a best wedding hat competition.
In Old Malton, neighbours Betty Smith and Gillian Bushell arranged a street party, with a Victoria Sandwich cake competition sponsored by The Royal Oak pub.
Dozens of people attended the event, in Town Street, which also included a knobbly knees contest and plate decorating.
Zoe Hood, of the village shop in Castleton near Whitby, expected people to be celebrating into the night on High Street while in Rossett Way, Harrogate, more than 100 neighbours gathered to watch the spectacle and enjoy a street party.
Party organisers were also hoping to raise cash for Martin House Hospice in Wetherby through fundraising games.
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