One of the tasks I set myself when I stood down from the City Council was to put together a spreadsheet of Gloucester’s historic anniversaries, so we knew each year what milestones the city should be marking – whether through a major event or something as simple as a social media post.

In recent times, we’ve had some amazing anniversary celebrations, such as the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III in 2016, and marking 1,100 years since the death of the Saxon Warrior Queen Aethelflaed in 2018. 2027 is a big year too, with the 700th anniversary of the burial of Edward II at Gloucester Cathedral, and marking 200 years since the completion of the Gloucester to Sharpness canal, allowing the Docks to receive traffic from the Severn Estuary.

150 years since the poem ‘Invictus’ was written by William Henley­

So, what is coming up in 2025? In my view, the biggest anniversary is marking 150 years since the poem ‘Invictus’ was written by the Gloucester poet William Henley. I’ll return to this subject in greater depth later in the year. In addition, it will be 275 years since John Stafford Smith, who wrote the music used for the American national anthem, was born. It will also be 175 years since the City Flour Mills (now an apartment building known as Priday’s Mill) in Commercial Road was built.

It will be 125 years since the public library opened in Brunswick Road. I’m sure there will be celebrations as it moves to new premises in the former Debenhams building, as part of the University of Gloucestershire’s City Campus. Railway buffs will look back with some sadness at the 50th anniversary of the closure of Gloucester’s Eastgate Station – although the city did get an Asda superstore in its place!

Perhaps more sensitively in today’s climate, it will be 750 years since Queen Eleanor expelled the Jews from the city’s Jewish Quarter around Eastgate Street. I hope this anniversary will be used to promote tolerance and understanding in the modern age.
If 2025 brings a special anniversary for you, congratulations! Happy New Year to you all.