AFTER almost four years of planning, the celebrations for Marlborough's 800th anniversary are over.
Members of the 2004 committee headed by Coun Graham Francis, who became mayor in May, know that they have left the people of Marlborough, and the scores of people from outside who travelled in to enjoy the celebrations, with many vivid memories.
Coun Francis told the Gazette that the four days of celebrations of the town getting its Royal Charter from King John in 1204 had been a greater success than he had dared hope for.
"I believe this was an occasion that will be remembered by Marlborough people, the children in particular, for many, many years to come," he said.
The crowning event of the celebrations was the first royal visit in more than 50 years.
On Friday Prince Charles landed by helicopter at Marlborough College, where he met staff and students, before strolling down the High Street in the sunshine, bringing delight to the hundreds of people he stopped to speak to and shake hands with.
He was full of good humour and wanted to know all about the people he met, where they lived and where they worked. To three schoolboys who kept running ahead so that they could meet the royal visitor again he joked: "Are you stalking me?"
There were more smiles when he was joined at the Merchant's House by his companion Camilla Parker-Bowles. Together they looked around Wiltshire's two Bobby Vans, before parting so the prince could attend a reception in the town hall.
The royal visit was the icing on the cake. However, it was by no means the only event.
Among the highlights was the community play Wheels of Time, written and directed by the tireless and talented David Sherratt. It was a huge success as were the reconstructions of the Battle of Marlborough by the English Civil War Society on Saturday and Sunday.
Local undertaker David Hunter summed up the celebrations for many when he said: "For those of us who really love Marlborough the celebrations, and the royal visit on Friday in particular, was one of the proudest occasions we have had for a very long time."
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