Last night I was in Bournemouth’s Lower Pleasure Gardens for the launch of the town’s 200th anniversary celebrations.
The event at dusk was very low key with a small crowd. There was no public transport available! But the fireworks by the Bourne stream with The Pavilion as a backdrop were an impressive start.
In June 1810 Lewis Tregonwell rode over from Mudeford with his wife to the Bourne valley and together they decided to buy a plot of land on the almost deserted heathland. They built a house which survives as part of the Royal Exeter Hotel.
There is  a programme of celebrations. Events include a performance of Percy Whitlock’s ‘Song of Bournemouth’ at St Stephen’s Church on Sunday 2 May and an exhibition at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum which is on the coast path.
More information will appear here during this year.
