200th Birthday Celebrations For Brontes Gets Underway

Tuesday, 19 April 2016 14:23

Members of the Bronte Society joined Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey on the Terrace of the House of Commons earlier today to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charlotte Bronte.

The gathering marked the start of a five-year programme to highlight the bicentenaries of the births of each of the Bronte siblings.

Charlotte’s is the first birth to be celebrated this Thursday (21^st April), with Branwell to follow in 2017, Emily in 2018 and Anne in 2020.

Celebrations to mark Charlotte’s birthday will take place around the world on April 21^st. But primary focus will be on Haworth itself which will host a full day of community-led activities.

John Thirlwell, Chair of the Bronte Society Council, said:

“We at the Bronte Society have been planning these events for a number of years now. We are very excited to see the Bronte 200 launch on Thursday 21st April with a day of activities in Haworth, followed by a commemorative service in Westminster the following day. It was wonderful to come to the Houses of Parliament and help start the celebrations with Kris and other members of the Society.”

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