Newark Dragon Boat Festival will go ahead in support of the Children’s Bereavement Centre and Beaumond House Hospice Care and will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
As events are postponed or cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, organisers have decided this Sunday's Newark Dragon Boat Festival will still go ahead.
The annual boat race along the River Trent is one of the largest charity events of the year, with 35 Newark based companies and organisations sponsoring teams to race, alongside a festival of entertainment in Riverside Park.
Organisers believe that the charity event should still take place because of the Queen's love and support of charities.
The two organising charities, Children’s Bereavement Centre and Beaumond House Hospice Care, said careful consideration had gone into making the decision.
In a statement, they said: "Following the very sad news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II both charities thought long and hard about whether to go ahead with the Newark Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday.
"However, after careful consideration we decided that we could hold the event and still be respectful to Queen Elizabeth’s memory during this period of mourning.
"We have planned a two-minute silence followed by the National Anthem at the start of the event.
"The Queen was so passionate in her support for charities. The Dragon Boat Festival is a significant date in our calendar, not only bringing local people together, but in raising income to support our work.
"As two local charities who offer support and help to those facing or having experienced their own personal loss, we felt it more important than ever to go ahead."
As the festival will take place on the River Trent and in Riverside Park, the landowner Newark Town Council has also issued a statement, saying: “Along with everyone across the country, we were deeply saddened when we heard the devastating news last week regarding the Queen.
"We believe she represented everything great about this country and like everyone else we are distraught to hear about her passing. After discussions with local groups and competitors for the Dragon Boat Festival for Sunday September 18, we’ve agreed that the race should continue in good faith.
“We’ll hopefully see hundreds of people coming together, although the mood will be different with the opportunity for us to pay tribute to the Queen.
"We have two great local charities in Beaumond House Hospice Care and Children’s Bereavement Centre that funds will be raised for which we think will be a fitting tribute to the Queen, who lived her life in the service of our country and its people.
“While we want competitors and spectators to enjoy the day, we will be encouraging everyone to be mindful of the very sad circumstances in which the event will be taking place and encourage them to show respect in whichever way they feel appropriate.”
