Wicksteed Park celebrates centenary a year late due to Covid

The park has been open to the public since August 1921 but events to mark its 100th birthday were postponed due to the pandemic

One of the UK's oldest theme parks which has had to "fight" to reach its centenary year will finally celebrate the occasion later.

Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, opened to the public as a free space in August 1921.

It was the idea of the inventor and playground manufacturer Charles Wicksteed.

It was not able to mark its 100th birthday last year due to the pandemic but will hold celebrations later.

The park was the idea of inventor and playground manufacturer Charles Wicksteed, pictured in the car, who believed all children, no matter how rich or poor, should have somewhere safe to play outdoors

The original Witch's Hat was one of many playground rides invented by Mr Wicksteed...

...it has been replaced by a much smaller version in the heritage playground

Part of the centenary celebrations will include a regatta on one of the park's lakes

The log flume, which opened in 1926, is the oldest of its kind in the UK

Wicksteed Park's pavilion opened with the park in 1921...

...and was restored in 2019 as part of a £2.5m project to renovate parts of the park

Entry to the park and gardens, which has been popular with families for 101 years, is free, but visitors have to buy wristbands or tickets for the rides and attractions

The park's trading company went into administration in 2020 and was taken over by Wicksteed Trading Limited

Oliver Wicksteed, chairman of Wicksteed Charitable Trust, said they were "determined" to properly celebrate its centenary, albeit a year late

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