A POPULAR Halstead rock band provided the soundtrack to the town’s coronation celebrations.
Halstead residents were delighted to welcome The Beavers to the town’s public gardens on Sunday.
The five-piece band, from Halstead, specialises in 50s, 60s, and 70s music.
They also performed in the town as part of Halstead Town Council’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as residents celebrated the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II in June last year.
The glorious sunshine proved a welcome change from Saturday’s damp conditions, although royalists weren’t put off by the rain, heading out to watch the coronation of King Charles III on a big screen in the public gardens. Both events were arranged by Halstead Town Council.
Thousands of music fans descended on the green areas on Sunday, enjoying a glass of bubbly and a dance. Many partygoers rushed to dance in front of the bandstand at the end of the set.
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Braintree councillor and Halstead mayor Jackie Pell, who was re-elected to represent the Halstead Trinity ward in last week's Braintree Council elections, opened proceedings and was delighted to see everyone enjoying themselves.
A Halstead Town Council spokeswoman said: “On Sunday Halstead’s favourites, The Beavers, played for four hours in glorious hot sunshine, constantly engaging the audience, encouraging them to clap and sing and dance.
“There were at least 2,000 people sitting on the grass surrounding the bandstand, covering every green area, enjoying a glass of wine or a beer and a snack, and revelling in the great music and the weather.”
The town council thanked residents for being environmentally conscious, with its spokeswoman saying: “Council staff encouraged the audience to dispose of their rubbish throughout the afternoon, and as everyone left there was not a beer can, ice cream wrapper, or bottle in sight on the grass, which is so carefully tended by the Braintree Council gardeners.”
At one point, the ice cream seller had to call for backup, as the queue snaked across the gardens, while the coffee and burger sellers were also kept busy all afternoon.
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