Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations

His Excellency Paul Farquharson and Mrs. Farquharson were pleased to take part in this year’s celebration of the genius of William Shakespeare. For nearly a hundred years it has been the proud tradition of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations Committee to invite Heads of Missions to represent their countries at the annual event in Stratford-upon Avon.

The weekend started on the evening of Friday 23 April with the Beating Retreat by the Band of the Royal Engineers, a Reception by the Worshipful Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and a candelit visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace; it end on Sunday 25 April with the Shakespeare Service in Holy Trinity Church and farewell Reception

The heart of the celebrations took place on Saturday, 24 April ; in the morning the President’s Reception and Procession through the streets of Startford; the unfurling of the nations’ flags and banners; the laying of flowers on Shakespeare’s grave; the formal Luncheon and speeches in the hall at Shakespeare’s old school.  In the evening guests were invited to attend a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Courtyard Theatre..