Celebrating 100 years since Priory Park was gifted to Chichester

Chichester has celebrated 100 years since Priory Park was gifted to the city by the 7th Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

In the classic Chichester fashion, the park played host to a huge array of events from live music, plays and even a parachute jump thanks to the Royal Navy ‘Raiders’.

The commemoration ended with an emotional ceremony fit for a duke, including a drum service, carrier pigeon release, a choir made up of 100 people, and finally the unveiling of a restored plaque.

Chichester resident, and one of the 100 choir singers, Sue Champion said: “It was a very moving occasion, the veterans marching and carrying their regimental flags was very poignant.”

The park was originally gifted to the people of Chichester back in 1918 not only as a recreational area but also a memorial for the fallen during the First World War. To address this there was a carrier pigeon release and a reading of the names of those who lost their lives.

Mrs Champion added: “The real highlight for me personally was the releasing of the pigeons… To see them taking to the sky representing each fallen local soldier was both amazing and humbling. It was a real honour to be part of the whole event.”