THE weekend of July 21 – 23 will be a special one for members of Altrincham Court Leet.

They will be celebrating 727 years since the granting of Altrincham’s charter and the reformation of a Guild of Freemen of Altrincham from which future Provosts (Mayors) and the Court Leet will be chosen.

A Service of Inauguration of the Guild of the Freemen of Altrincham will take place at St Margaret’s Church, Altrincham at 3 pm on Saturday, July 22, led by the Barony Chaplain, Burgess the Rev Jerry Sutton.

On Sunday, July 23 at 11.30 the Provost of Altrincham will take visiting guests to a service at Dunham Road Unitarian Chapel.

An ale and wine tasting in Altrincham’s historic market quarter will start at 6.30pm on Friday, July 21st and, on Sunday, July 23rd between 9.30 am and 10.30 there’ll be a Discover Altrincham stroll.

The highlight will be the Altrincham Charter Dinner, a four course meal at the Cresta Court from 6.30pm on the Saturday.

Guests will include councillors, former mayors, representatives from other guilds and courts of the Freemen of England and Wales, local celebrities and representatives of local and national organisations.

The dinner is a celebration of the Charter and it is hoped that many local people will attend. Tickets are £30, with a discounted price for a table of eight.

The Court Leet want local schools and youth organisations to design the dessert, Greater Altrincham pudding, and make table decorations of coats of arms and heraldic shields.

A Court Leet ruled Altrincham from at least 1452 and was the forerunner of elected Local Government. It ceased to exist from 1937 when Altrincham became a municipal borough. However, in 1972 Roger, Earl of Stamford, reinstated it for ceremonial purposes as Altrincham was about to be absorbed into the new Borough of Trafford.

For further information contact Altrinchamcourtleet@gmail.com or telephone 07966 449 497