“IT is the most wonderful street I have lived in,” and it was probably one of the most wonderful street parties as a community in Barry came together to celebrate the King’s coronation.
Residents of Heol Corswigen brought in the latest reign of house Windsor in style.
Families were out under the sun, with the temperature notching 20 degrees, ice-cold beer in hand, an array of goodies for all to eat on a long table, kids playing together in the street, and there was even a makeshift stock…
Heol Corswigen, between the Pencoedtre and Cadoxton
The street came together
One of the residents at the party was TVO Lamptey, who was there with his wife Aba.
TVO and Aba are from Ghana, one of the members of the Commonwealth, and a country the King visited as recently as 2019.
Ghana was so close to the King’s heart he invited the president of Ghana as well as the chief of one of the country’s most distinguished groups, the Ashanti people.
TVO and Aba Lamptey, originally from Ghana, love Barry
Isla and dog Cooper
Even though Mr Lamptey is over 4,500 miles from home, he said he felt very welcome in Barry.
“I am happy to come to this street because it is the most wonderful street I have ever lived in,” said Mr Lamptey.
“I like Barry very much. It is a nice place that I like to walk around.”
Jonah
In the stock!
Mr Lamptey is a retired sound engineer who worked recording events for radio in Ghana. He moved to Wales in 2019 after marrying his wife Aba, a care worker who has lived in the country since the noughties.
Julie
Mr Lamptey said he was “enthused” by the coronation.
“I watched it,” said TVO. “It was impressive. I liked the show and the music. I was actually very enthused.”
Ghana was one of the first countries south of the Sahara to gain independence from British colonial rule, which it did in 1957. However, the country is still a valued member of the Commonwealth.
Paul Healan
Mr Lamptey said that despite the weekend being a day of family events back home, people in Ghana would defiantly have watched some of the coronation.
“Ghanians have always had great interest in the British Monarchy,” said Mr Lamptey. “It is nothing new to us, but we have a good impression about it.”
Families having fun on the King's coronation
Goodies put on with the help of Barry Town Council
A street together
A street in Barry comes together for the coronation
Heol Corswigen, between the Pencoedtre and Cadoxton areas of Barry, did it in style with the help of chief organiser Mr Mark Ruckley.
The street has kept close ties since Covid, creating a WhatsApp group that has carried on.
Mark Ruckley, in the Union Jack blazer, helped put on the event
It was through the WhatsApp group that the street party was arranged and Mr Ruckley even managed to get a £250 grant from Barry Town Council, which he assured went only on the food…
“It’s been absolutely great,” said Mr Ruckley. “It’s great to see the street together for such an occasion.”
Did your street celebrate the coronation with a party? If they did, send some pictures to harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk – and they might get in the paper!
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