Derek Sharman was project manager for the Union of the Crowns 400 Festival, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland in 1603.
The Festival programme ran from March 2003 until May 2004 and involved over 100 events of all kinds, from historical reenactments to cross-Border sporting contests, exhibitions, educational and community activities, music and drama.
The Festival opened with a recreation of Sir Robert Carey’s historic ride from London to Edinburgh, carrying the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth and the succession of James VI of Scotland as King James I of England..Long distance cyclist Patrick Field from London carried out the ride, following the original route of almost 400 miles and completing the journey in under three days, as Carey had done four centuries earlier. At the end of his journey, Patrick was greeted at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh’s Royal Mi le by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 400 years to the day after Carey arrived in Edinburgh.
The menu on the left of this page will lead you to galleries showing a selection of photographs illustrating the main events and themes of the Union of The Crowns 400 Festival.
