Celebrating the life of a King (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Celebrating the life of a King

10:49am Saturday 21st October 2006

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THIS year's King Harold Day was a historic occasion with crowds flocking to Waltham Abbey to see a variety of medieval entertainment.

The highlight of the day was the special ceremony of flowers laid on the Harold Memorial Stone in the Abbey Churchyard to commemorate King Harold, the last Saxon King of England, who was buried at Waltham Church after his death at the Battle of Hastings.

Other attractions included battle re-enactments, archery displays, and Viking axe throwing.

A delegation from Bayeux in Normandy also paid a visit and were presented with mementos and a Waltham Abbey town plaque.

Joint organiser Tricia Gurnett said: "It was a huge success. There were crowds of people there all day. Last year there were 4,000 people and there were at least as many this year.

"We had a lot of new attractions. It was the first time we've had birds of prey and there were lots of new crafts."

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