An historic Leicestershire fair is one of many events to have been postponed across the country, out of a mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth II.
It has been confirmed that Ashby Statutes will take place a week later to allow for the mourning of the death of Her Majesty the Queen, who passed away last Thursday, September 8.
The annual event will now return to Market Street and Brook Street in Ashby from Friday 23 to Tuesday 27 September instead of a week earlier. Originally, the funfair was due to take place from Friday 16 to Tuesday 20 September.
North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has been working with Ashby de la Zouch Town Council and Pat Collins Funfair to put the event on.
Councillor John Coxon, Leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said: “Ashby de la Zouch Town Council fully supports the decision to postpone the annual Statutes Fair until the following week. This is a reasonable compromise.
“In our view, it would have been most inappropriate to hold the fair during a period of national mourning, but equally it would have been very disappointing to many people not to have been able to attend this excellent annual event for the town.”
A public lecture to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Ugandan Asians to Leicester has also been postponed until next month.
The University of Leicester has taken the decision to postpone Thursday’s (15 September) event, following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Migration and the Making of Leicester will now take place on Thursday 13 October at 6:30pm in Lecture Theatre 1, Bennet Building.
The Queen’s death means all planned public meetings of councils across the county are being called off until September 19 – the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.
“In line with national guidance, public meetings due to take place over the 10-day mourning period are being postponed,” said Leicestershire County Council in a statement.
Monday, September 19 will be a bank holiday to coincide with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral. This will mark the last day of the period of national mourning.
On the day, all schools and colleges will be closed.
Many businesses across the county have also made the decision to close on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral, including John Lewis, Waitrose and Primark.
Larger Tesco stores will be shut all day on the funeral, with Express stores remaining closed until 5 pm. Aldi and Poundland have also announced its stores will also be closed on the day of the funeral.
Others include Sainsbury’s, Argos, B&Q and Homebase, as well as attractions like the Showcase Cinema de Lux, Twycross Zoo and the National Space Centre.
