VE Day 80th Anniversary Proclamation

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The Town Crier Andrew Downing read the official VE Day 80th Anniversary Proclamation from the Town Hall terrace this morning.

Joining towns across the nation in VE Day commemorations, the official proclamation was read out at 8am to the assembled crowd of councillors, the Mayor of Stamford Councillor Kelham Cooke, town hall staff and members of the press and public.

VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations 

A man dressed in a traditional green ceremonial outfit and tricorn hat stands behind a railing, holding papers, in front of a historic stone building.

The reading is part of Stamford’s commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which will culminate when we join hundreds of communities across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and Overseas Territories in lighting a beacon as a symbol of unity and peace.

Please join us at the Recreation Ground from 8pm tonight, with the lighting of the Beacon taking place at 9:30pm. There will also be an introduction from Mayor of Stamford Councillor Kelham Cooke, a drumhead service, the reading of the official tribute, and music from Stamford Brass.

There will also be a VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration Event at Stamford Recreation Ground on Saturday, with live music, dancing, food stalls, entertainment, arts and crafts and lots more. Entry is free and the event will be opened by an RAF Lancaster flypast – please arrive by 2:30pm to ensure you catch it. A packed schedule of live music starts at 3pm – we hope to see you there!

 

Volunteer Celebration

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A team of volunteers have collectively given more than 1,000 hours of their time to support vital heritage work at Stamford Town Hall. The impressive total was achieved in the past year alone, with a team of volunteers dedicating their efforts to guiding, cataloguing, researching, and preserving our collections. An evening of celebratory drinks was held to recognise their incredible dedication to supporting and enhancing the heritage offering at the Town Hall, which is home to many significant pieces that form our Civic Regalia, as well as fascinating artwork and the renowned Phillips Collection. Heritage and Cultural Officer Victoria Newton said:

“We are privileged to be able to benefit from our volunteers’ expertise and enthusiasm for sharing their passion for the treasures we store here at the Town Hall, and we’re keen to celebrate each and every volunteer for the support they have shown Stamford Town Council over the years.”

Save the Date!

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Join Stamford Town Council in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day with the lighting of the Recreation Ground beacon. VE Day marks the end of World War Two in Europe on May 8, 1945. This year, hundreds of beacons will be lit across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories as a unified tribute at 9:30pm on Thursday May 8. Join us from 8pm for an evening of remembrance and celebration, featuring a drumhead service by Stamford Royal British Legion, the beacon lighting, and the reading of the official tribute. Then on May 10th there will be a VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration on the Recreation Ground featuring live music, a licensed bar and funfair, food stalls, face painting, historic exhibitions and more. Entry is free and there will be huge marquee for dancing. Join us between 3pm and 9:30pm – feel free to dress in 1940s attire.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Daniel Lambert – Leicester’s famous son, laid to rest in Stamford

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Born in Leicester on 13 March 1770, Daniel Lambert became internationally renowned for his remarkable size and widespread popularity. By the time of his death in Stamford in 1809, aged just 39, he was one of the most well-known figures of his era — so much so that a waxwork of him later toured the USA.

As a young man he had been a keen swimmer and rider but began to put on weight steadily once, aged 21, he became the Keeper of Leicester’s House of Correction, where he was respected for his interest in the inmates’ welfare. When he was made redundant, he made money from the curious who paid to see him in his rooms in Piccadilly and soon became famous and well-liked by all who met him. He even met King George III. He enjoyed the races and died in the Waggon and Horses Inn the morning after visiting Stamford Racecourse in 1809. By then he weighed nearly 53 stone (335kg).

A large crowd watched as his body was removed and transferred to an extra-large burial plot in St. Martin’s Churchyard, still a popular historical site today. This rare poster from the Phillips Collection at Stamford Town Hall advertises an exhibition of Daniel Lambert’s clothing at the London Inn, reflecting a broader tradition in which inns and public houses acquired curiosities to attract patrons. The Stamford Museum collection holds a set of his garments, while his top hat is preserved at the Town Hall. Notably, the poster also references Tom Thumb’s attire — a pair of his boots and gloves also form part of our collection. Visitors to Stamford Town Hall can view a portrait of Daniel Lambert, and another portrait can be seen at The George Inn, where his walking sticks are also on display.

 

Certificate of Appreciation

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A Mayor’s Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Jack Bon Holly in recognition of his bravery as a frontline humanitarian aid volunteer in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Councillor Yvette Díaz-Muñoz, Councillor Max Sawyer and Councillor Ed Fancourt joined Deputy Mayor Councillor Amanda Wheeler for the presentation of the certificate along with representatives of the local Ukranian Community.

Holocaust Memorial Day

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An open-air service was held in St Michael’s Churchyard to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which in 2025 takes place on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

Commemorations were led by Reverend Andrew Hollins from Stamford Methodist Church and Graham Berkman of the Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community. The service featured a two-minute silence, the laying of tributes and a poetry reading by Stamford’s poet laureate Caroline Avnit.

Attendees then returned to Stamford Town Hall to view an exhibition of artwork submitted by local schools and Stamford College. The students’ contributions are all based on this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day Theme, ‘For a Better Future’. The exhibition can be viewed at the Town Hall every day next week between 10:30am and 3:30pm.

Mayor of Stamford, Councillor Kelham Cooke, said: “Today’s well-attended service provided a poignant occasion to come together and reflect on the atrocities of the past, while ensuring we continue to remember and pay tribute to the millions of people who died in the Holocaust and victims of other genocides.

“I’d like to warmly invite the community to visit the Town Hall over the next week to view and reflect on the student’s impressive creative work, which forms a meaningful exhibition based this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme.”

Notice of Vacancy  

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Please find a Notice of Vacancy in the Office of Councillor for St John’s Ward

Celebrating our volunteers

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A team of volunteers have collectively given more than 1,000 hours of their time to support vital heritage work at Stamford Town Hall.

The impressive total was achieved in the past year alone, with a team of volunteers dedicating their efforts to guiding, cataloguing, researching, and preserving our collections.

An evening of celebratory drinks was held in December to recognise their incredible dedication to supporting and enhancing the heritage offering at the Town Hall, which is home to many significant pieces that form our Civic Regalia, as well as fascinating artwork and the renowned Phillips Collection.

Heritage and Cultural Officer Victoria Newton said:

“We are privileged to be able to benefit from our volunteers’ expertise and enthusiasm for sharing their passion for the treasures we store here at the Town Hall, and we’re keen to celebrate each and every volunteer for the support they have shown Stamford Town Council over the years.”

Christmas Tree in Red Lion Square  

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Thank you for bearing with us while we waited for stormy weather to pass before fixing the tree in Red Lion Square. Extremely windy weather had caused the tree to tilt at an angle and, while safe, we wanted to rectify the situation so the Christmas Tree could be restored to its correct position.

We’re glad to say, thanks to the help of local farmer Andrew Hinch and Peter Glassey from Burghley Estate, the tree has today been repositioned and straightened.

Stamford Town Council would like to say a big thank you to Burghley Estate for the kind donation each year of a tree for the whole town to enjoy.

Stamford’s Virtual Christmas Market

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Following the cancellation of Stamford Christmas Market, Stamford Town Council is offering a virtual Christmas Market featuring a range of products from the market traders who were due to take part in the event.

Due to Storm Bert, which caused significant disruption across the UK, the decision was taken to cancel the physical event on November 24 to ensure the safety of traders, visitors and residents.

The opportunity then arose to create a virtual market, signposting people to an online portal highlighting the digital shops of many of the traders who had booked to sell their wares at the Christmas Market. After hearing about the cancellation of the market, local business owner Paul Buckley volunteered to create and host Stamford’s Virtual Christmas Market.

The virtual market allows visitors to browse online shops and view social media pages to explore each trader’s range in more detail. From jewellery and home décor, to beer and pet treats, there are plenty of gift options for Christmas shoppers.

More businesses will be added in the coming days and the site has already received hundreds of hits.

Councillor Jo Winterbourne said: “It was extremely disappointing when we had to make the call to cancel the market, as so many traders had worked extremely hard to prepare for the event and were looking forward to a much-loved date in Stamford’s festive calendar.

“We’re so grateful to Paul Buckley for creating this opportunity for the businesses involved to showcase their products on another platform, providing a one-stop shop for those searching for the ideal Christmas gift.”