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Duke of Edinburgh marks centenary of park with visit

Sumaiya MotaraNorth West
News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, wearing a dark navy suit, sits at a table covered with a white cloth while signing a commemorative book at Stanley Park's centenary celebration. Behind the table stand two guests, one in a dark suit with a purple tie and another in a cream jacket over a patterned brown-and-cream dress with a gold mayoress chain. The hall is decorated with red, white and blue Union Jack bunting and flags, with banners reading “Stanley Park Celebrating 100 Years.” Guests seated at tables throughout the room watch the ceremony.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
The Duke of Edinburgh marked centenary celebrations at Stanley Park

The Duke of Edinburgh has visited a Blackpool park to help mark its centenary celebrations.

Prince Edward toured the Grade II-listed grounds of Stanley Park on Tuesday after he unveiled a blue plaque commemorating Dr William Henry Cocker, Blackpool's first mayor, on the Cocker Clock Memorial Tower.

The duke spoke to local school children, watched performances and choir singers, and signed the Stanley Park visitor's book before he left by helicopter.

Blackpool South's MP Chris Webb said: "It's great to have a royal stamp of approval and for the Duke of Edinburgh to give his time today to come and visit ahead of the 100-year centenary."

A schedule of maintenance and restoration works at the park is being carried out for the centenary, with Blackpool Council investing £500,000 along with £50,000 raised by the Friends of Stanley Park.

The MP said the duke's visit almost gave restoration work "the royal seal of approval".

"With the Friends of Stanley Park, Enverco, the council and so many volunteers, there has been a real graft... A lot of pride and a lot of love has gone into the park in this restoration.

"So many have put their blood, sweat and tears into it."

Webb said having the Duke of Edinburgh there had really given Blackpool the "boost" it needed ahead of the centenary on 2 October.

'A fantastic day'

Blackpool Council deputy leader Jane Hugo said she had given the duke a tour of the park, which the council owned.

"He was really impressed with the park," the cabinet member for climate change said.

"He loved the floral clock and he enjoyed speaking to the people that have been involved in the work on the clock and our gardeners.

"He was just really enthusiastic about everything that we were doing, it was a fantastic day."

News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A person stands in the foreground on a stone terrace overlooking a lake and parkland. The person is wearing a black baseball cap with the words “I ♥ BLACKPOOL” in white and red lettering, a large grey-brown faux fur coat, a black T-shirt with white text reading “OUR HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE,” and a silver necklace. Several other people are gathered behind the terrace, dressed in casual outdoor clothing including black jackets, hooded coats and light-coloured trousers. Trees surround the lake in the background beneath a cloudy grey sky.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
Sam Bell-Docherty co-founded House of Wingz, which performed for the Duke of Edinburgh

The duke spoke to community groups on his visit, including House of Wingz, a street dance group, which carried out a performance.

The group's co-founder, Sam Bell-Docherty, said the opportunity to perform had been "amazing" and "intimate".

"It was lovely," said Bell-Docherty. "He came over and spoke to us about street dancing and it was really nice."

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