Bucklebury Council discuss plans for royal baby road sign
BUCKLEBURY could soon see a road sign erected to commemorate the birth of Prince George of Cambridge, who spent the first weeks of his life in the village.
The village’s parish sign committee initially met last Thursday to discuss the options and decide on a potential location for any new sign.
Their ideas were then put to the full council at a meeting on Monday, where all councillors were in agreement that something should be done to mark the historic royal birth and the village’s association with it.
One idea put forward was to add wording to existing signage, while other suggestions included a blue plaque to be located at the side of the memorial hall, or the possible erection of a new sign.
The council intends to look at their budget and make initial approaches to Buckingham Palace and the Highways Agency to see if there are any objections before continuing with their discussions.
One suggestion for the wording to add to existing signs was: ‘Parish of Bucklebury, family home of the Duchess of Cambridge, mother of His Royal Highness Prince George’.
Another was: ‘Celebrating the birth of Prince George, son of Her Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.’
A final suggestion was ‘Parish of Bucklebury, family home of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.’
Potential locations cited for the erection of a stand-alone sign included the bottom of Pease Hill, outside St Mary’s Church, opposite the Peaches store in Upper Bucklebury and outside the memorial hall.
The Duchess of Cambridge spent the final weeks of her pregnancy at her family home in Bucklebury and, less than 48 hours after the birth, caused a media storm by returning to the village with Prince William and her newborn son.
The first official family photograph was even taken in the back garden of the Middleton’s family home in the village.
The vice-chairman of the council, Barry Dickens, said: “After some discussion we decided that we should do something to celebrate the occasion.
“It was a historic event and one that I feel we should recognise.”
The council will meet again next month and hope to make a final decision by the end of the year.