Outdoor Civic Service – a first for Ferndown
For the first time in Ferndown’s history, the civic service hosted by the town’s mayor, was held on King George V Playing Field outside the town council offices on 11 July.
The Mayor, Cllr Mike Parkes also stepped away from tradition by choosing to have the proceedings led by a Humanist celebrant David Hewitt who said the service would be secular in nature, but all inclusive.
He welcomed all with faith and those with none.
After greeting dignitaries and guests, the mayor gave a brief history of Ferndown, including a snippet about the bygone zoo and its lion, saying that he hoped those attending would leave with at least one fact about Ferndown that they didn’t know before.Readings were given by the Scouts, the Ferndown ATC and the Town Clerk, Vanessa Ricketts and a musical interlude was played for reflection.
The service ended with ‘God Save the Queen’. Following a hog roast and drinks, the mayor produced a gigantic two foot chocolate cockerel, presented earlier in the year by Ferndown’s French twin town of Segres, and broke it ceremoniously to share with the entire gathering.
Thank you to the Mayor Mike Parkes and Ferndown Town Council for a fantastic night.