Staffordshire Day

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Staffordshire Day

Location(s)| Staffordshire
Country| England
Inaugurated| 1 May 2016 (2016-05-01)
Organized by| Staffordshire County Council
Website| www.enjoystaffordshire.com

Staffordshire Day is celebrated on 1 May to promote the historic county of Staffordshire. The initiative was launched in 2015 by South Staffordshire MP, Gavin Williamson. Williamson gave the rationale for the celebration: "I’ve seen other great counties pay tribute to their history and traditions and I think it’s only right that we honour the wonderful County of Staffordshire. There is so much to celebrate from history, food, tradition and people that hail from this extraordinary area".[1]

2016 was chosen for the first celebration as it marks the 1,000th anniversary of the first mention of the county of Staffordshire.[2]

Williamson proposed that Staffordshire Day be held on 18 September, the birthday of Samuel Johnson (born in Lichfield).[1] Staffordshire County Council took the idea on board and held a poll to decide the date. The candidate dates were:[2]

* 1 May – the anniversary of the founding of Josiah Wedgwood & Sons
* 5 July – the anniversary of the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard
* 6 September – to commemorate Charles II hiding in a South Staffordshire oak tree after the Battle of Worcester
* 18 September – the birthday of Samuel Johnson
* 27 September – the anniversary of the death of James Brindley

The poll was held in July 2015 and the chosen date was 1 May receiving 36% of the votes cast.[3]

## Staffordshire Day 2016

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Over 50 events were held across the county on Sunday 1 May.[4] Locations included Lichfield Cathedral,[5] Alton Towers,[6] and Rudyard Lake.[7]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Let's celebrate annual Staffordshire Day". Express & Star. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
2. ^ a b "Staffordshire Day set to be introduced after county celebrates 1,000th birthday". The Sentinel. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
3. ^ "Staffordshire Day". Staffordshire County Council. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
4. ^ "Inaugural Staffordshire Day takes marks 1,000 years". BBC News. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
5. ^ "Staffordshire Day celebrations taking place at Lichfield Cathedral". Lichfield Live. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
6. ^ "Oatcake enthusiasts invited to join Staffordshire Day at Alton Towers". Uttoxeter Advertiser. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
7. ^ "A Day at The Lake taking place at Rudyard Lake certainly has the wow factor for a family day out". Leek Post & Times. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.