Hundreds of events planned to take place across the county on and around Somerset Day won’t be going ahead this year on 11th May due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, however Somerset Day is still set to be marked.
The ‘Why I love Somerset’ Campaign is being launched with the aim of replacing the hundreds of events due to take place across villages, communities and towns throughout Somerset with a celebration online, through social media.
‘Why I love Somerset’ will focus on communities, businesses and individuals joining together in the lead up to, and on Somerset Day itself, in celebrating our communities and our county.
On Somerset Day (May 11th), residents are being invited to post their ‘celebration’ of Somerset on social media and use the hashtag #somersetday
Organisers say: “We encourage everyone to tell us about everything they love about Somerset in lots of different creative ways, whether they choose to express it in pictures, music, art, words, baking, song or dance!”
In a message of support, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Annie Maw, says: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be patron of Somerset Day and I have great admiration for its foundation and for those who run it each year.”
“It is a celebration of this unique and wonderful county, the like of which exists nowhere else in the world, and of the marvellous people who live here.”
“This year, the true worth of the Somerset Day concept has been displayed. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the planned events and activities which we now look forward to, annually, have had to be cancelled.”
“Faced with the challenge of a locked-down community over the treasured May 11th, the directors of Somerset Day have stood their ground by rolling up their sleeves to reach out and support all kinds of endeavours and help them through this difficult time.”
“It is a real pleasure to be part of such a visionary practical response to what is happening. The links and connections which the scheme has established have proved their worth already.”
“As Her Majesty said in her recent address from Windsor Castle, working together we demonstrate those characteristics which our forebears showed to us through the two wars of the last century.”
“We are united and resolute and, thus, we can support each other as we face the significant challenges which this terrible crisis presents to each one of us.”
“Thank you to the whole Somerset Day team from us all, in Somerset. We will support you with your endeavours as you lead us through the next few weeks and months so that we can face the greatest challenge of our generation, together.”
