Take a step back in time next week as Queen Victoria arrives at Eastbourne Railway Station with a 17-strong entourage including Prince Albert, her lone piper, and ladies-in-waiting choir.
On Saturday 27 September, Her Majesty will travel all the way from London Victoria to Eastbourne in her own private carriage ready to provide a fitting opening for the town’s 5th Victorian Festival. Kicking off a week long of festivities celebrating the resort’s Victorian heritage, Queen Victoria will entertain crowds in front of the departure boards at Victoria Station before making the journey back to Eastbourne where she’ll be chauffered in an open top car ready to be enthroned in the afternoon concert at All Saints Chapel.
Eastbourne Borough Council Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said “What a fantastic opening to the Eastbourne Victorian Festival! The arrival of Queen Victoria at Eastbourne Railway Station is a rare sight and I’m sure fans of the popular monarch will all be there to greet her as she steps off the train! The line up for this year’s festival really is jam-packed and with plenty going on everyday of the week I would urge as many people as possible to get into the festival spirit and celebrate our Victorian roots.”
There’s a right royal programme of exciting activities taking place throughout the week long event that begins on Saturday 27 September and ends on 5 October.
From the world famous King Singers visiting Eastbourne for the first time with their a cappella vocal ensemble, to clarinettist Emma Johnson MBE, dazzling audiences at Eastbourne’s St Saviour and St Peter’s Church; Eastbourne is in for a bumper festival celebrating the town’s Victorian heritage.
TV addicts can look forward to finding out the secrets behind the show as Paul Atterbury and Hilary Kay of Antiques Roadshow fame will be on hand to regale festival visitors with secrets of the programme and how to spot a valuable antique.
There’s lots to keep the kids busy too as the Festival celebrates its 5th Birthday. Keen young footballers will take part in a special tournament at Eastbourne Borough Football Club’s home ground, Priory Lane, on Saturday 4 October, with teams from across the region all battling it out for the Victoria Cup.
And to top the week off, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre will stage this year’s Musical Hall under the direction of Sir David Buck. The town’s oldest theatre standing at more than 100 years old, tickets for the concert are on sale now.
For more information on the Eastbourne Victorian Festival and for a full programme of events visit the Victorian Festival website or pop into the Tourist Information Centre to pick up a copy.
More information on all of Eastbourne’s events can be found on the Visit Eastbourne website or by telephoning 0871 663 0031.
