Free party held as a thank you

The former mayor of Chichester will fulfil his pandemic promise by hosting a free party at Priory Park this week.

Richard Plowman said all Chichester residents are invited to the ‘thankyou party’, called Over the Rainbow, in Priory Park today Thursday (September 30) from 5pm to 8pm.

During his mayoral term of office, councillor Plowman promised to throw a party for the whole of the Chichester Community to say thank you to the NHS, once the virus was manageable and most people had their jabs.

He particularly wanted to celebrate the achievements of St Richard’s Hospital staff but also ‘all the frontline workers’. Mr Plowman, who will be leading the parade as town crier, said ‘well over’ 1,000 people are expected to attend.

He added: “The people of Chichester stepped up during the pandemic and as a result Chichester had some of the lowest infection rates in the country and served by one of the finest hospitals, St Richard’s.

“I promised a party once we were through the worst of the pandemic. The main parade will be a fantastic colourful affair lead by a samba band, followed by Chichester Pride, the Covid-19 award winners and large contingency of NHS and front line workers followed by many colourful local groups.”

There will be colourful parades, the building of a rainbow by local children, entertainment led by Dawn Gracie of Dawn’s Vintage Do as well as music from the Chichester City Band and the Chichester Big Band.

Special Covid awards will be presented by the mayor of Chichester John Hughes to 30 nominated people.

UK Harvest and Nature’s Way foods will provide the food and there will be a grand finale of torchlight procession around the walls of the park with the Guildhall lit up in Rainbow colours.