Rochdale celebrates the Queen’s 90th and gears up for St George’s Day

Rochdale celebrates the Queen’s 90th and gears up for St George’s Day

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Patriotic colours have appeared around the borough as celebrations get underway for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Flags have been raised at businesses and homes, with one local man painting his railings white and red to mark both Her Majesty’s birthday and the up and coming St George’s Day.

Francesca Barker from Barker’s Bakery, Littleborough, has put on sale traditional British scones with jam and cream to mark the occasion.

Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Surinder Biant said: "The Queen's 90th birthday is a real landmark in history, and it is a great honour that Rochdale has been chosen to host one of the birthday beacons.

“The dramatic setting up on Blackstone Edge will mean our beacon can be seen for many miles around. It promises to be a special evening and I hope lots of people will look out for it up on the Pennine moors."

Rochdale Borough Council is flying the flag for St George’s Day by inviting residents to take part in celebrations at the annual flag-raising ceremony outside the town hall on Saturday 23 April.

The ceremony will begin at 10am with the reading of a St George’s Day poem. The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Surinder Biant, will then raise the St George flag outside Rochdale town hall, (where it flies 365 days a year alongside the Union Flag) to celebrate the day of England’s patron saint and promote pride in our national heritage.

Saint Chad, Rochdale Parish Church, will also mark the occasion by ringing the church bells at 10:30am.