Freelance artist, Andy Barton with some of the children of Starbeck Primary and the papier mache Ox
Pupils at Starbeck Community Primary School have rolled up their sleeves and are busy getting stuck in to the memorable task of building a life-size, papier mache ox to form the highlight of the Diamond Jubilee weekend’s celebration – the symbolic recreation of the ox roasting, which took place on the Stray in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
With guidance from Harrogate-based, freelance artist, Andy Barton who has created the wire structure, pupils have taken the design-brief by the horns and have been getting creative with papier mache. It’s all hands on deck as the finishing touches are being made to the ox ahead of the Royal celebrations with representatives from Saint Michael’s Hospice, charity benefiter to the event, also offering a helping hand.
Harrogate’s iconic 200-acre Stray is set to be transformed into a culinary-extravaganza scene for a right royal knees-up steeped in history – in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June) where The Mayor of Harrogate Borough will have the honour of lighting the fire pit, when the symbolic papier mache Ox will be ceremoniously lit.
The Queen has granted special permission for a fire pit to be dug in the Stray, land that remains in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster. Also, Weeton’s will be donating an ox from its own heard of Red Polls, which is an offspring of Appleton Fourpence from the Sandringham Estate, the country retreat of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The Stray will be a hive of street food stalls and family-friendly entertainment, come down and enjoy one of Weeton’s delicious beef rolls from the real roasting, skillfully cooked by top BBQ supremo, Jeremy Ravenshaw Fowler, with all proceeds being donated to Saint Michael’s Hospice.
