Bolton marked a historic day in style today, Sunday, as the town proclaimed Charles III as the new King.
The proclamation ceremony took place on the steps of Bolton Town Hall at 3.30pm, with a sizeable crowd gathered in Victoria Square to witness it.
Mayor Cllr Akhtar Zaman delivered a speech from the steps, with members of the council, clergy and their families stood with him.
Following Cllr Zaman’s speech, the square sang the national anthem, and then gave three cheers for the new King.
Members of the council, including the mayor, then descended the steps to speak with members of the crowd.
After the ceremony, Cllr Zaman said: “It was a lot of emotions.
"On one hand it feels very sad, for the Queen passing away, who served Great Britain and the Commonwealth brilliantly, in some very hard times over the last 70 years.
“She led Great Britain and the Commonwealth in an exemplary manner.
“I feel very optimistic about the future of this country.
"Some of the people I spoke to on Victoria Square are full of hope, they’re sad, but excited to have a new King and going forward hope things will get better, as they have been doing over the last few years.
“It was a great event and nice to see so many people out there. It’s a historic event, I feel privileged to be part of it.”
Council leader Martyn Cox added: “If you are under 75, it is a unique experience.
"The ceremony, in the age before mass media, social media, this is how the public would find out they’re going to get a new monarch.
“And it’s a tradition I’m glad to be able to carry on in Bolton and Greater Manchester.
“The mayor did a wonderful job of it this afternoon. It’s great to see so many people here at the proclamation.”
Cllr Cox highlighted another ceremony that will take place following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
He said: “I’d just like to say we’ll be having a service at the parish church next Sunday in memory of Her Majesty.
“The public are invited to join us in remembrance of the late Queen.
"We’re encouraging people to come along and join in, in what will be a moving service.”
Bolton Labour leader Cllr Nick Peel also gave his thoughts on the ceremony.
He said: “I think it’s just amazing.
"Everybody here was part of history.
"It’s one thing watching it on TV from London, but being part of it is an amazing thing, probably a once in a lifetime thing to be part of.
“We’ve built on tradition.
“It’s from the pre telephone, television age, needing to put out around the country the news.
“It’s great to do these things.
“Bolton always does events like these very very well, like Remembrance Sunday.
“It went like clockwork, and I felt the mayor gave a very powerful address to the people.”
READ MORE:
Bolton set to mark proclamation of King Charles at Victoria Square
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