Burnham's Pride event to take place on July 27

Burnham’s hugely successful Pride event is back for its third consecutive year this summer.

The day-long event will take place on July 27 at the village’s Royal British Legion (RBL) with music, information, stalls, food and drink and performances from local groups and national LGBTQ+ icons.

Club chairman Ellis Brickley, who conceived the idea for Burnham’s first Pride event and has managed the previous two events, is at the helm again this year and is looking for stall holders and volunteers to help run the day.

She was one of the first organisers within the RBL to organise an inclusive Pride event out of the nation’s 2,500 branches and is overseeing its growth year on year.

Previous years have seen students from Creative Academy Slough take to the stage and Mr Gay UK performed in front of jubilant crowds at the club’s Gore Road outdoor events space.

Headlining the 2022 and 2023 events were Homoparody who previously performed at London Pride’s 50th celebration.

Ellis hopes that this third Burnham Pride event will continue to celebrate the

LGBTQ+ community and stresses that everyone is welcome to join in.

Funding in the past has come from Burnham Parish Council and the Beeches Community Board, who contributed money to ensure cover entertainment costs.

In the run-up to the past two Burnham Prides, Burnham Parish Council flew the rainbow flag on the lawn in front of Burnham Park Hall, the council building, and councillors attended on the day.

Official organisations also representing on the day in the past have been The Terrance Higgins Trust, The Beaumont Society and Support U. It is hoped that they will be there again this year to offer support and information to those visiting.

When Ellis launched Burnham Pride in 2022 the idea was to inform and entertain but also to ensure that the village and this part of South Bucks was firmly on the Pride map.

“There was literally nothing about in the area to celebrate and acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community so I thought ‘why don’t I do something here?’,” she said.

“We have members from all different walks of life, and with the Legion’s new diversity initiative we wanted to pave the way forward.”