A musket volley echoed through the city as Worcester marked the anniversary of the pivotal Battle of Worcester, fought on September 3, 1651. This battle, a decisive victory for Parliamentary forces over the Royalists led by Charles Stuart (later Charles II), effectively ended the English Civil War. The day’s commemorations included the planting of an oak tree in Fort Royal Park, a parade by re-enactors in period attire, and a Drumhead Service at Fort Royal, which featured musket volleys and a moment of silence. Daniel Daniels, chairman of the Battle of Worcester Society, spoke at the service, highlighting the profound cost of the conflict.

Daniels reminded the gathered crowd of the immense toll the war took, with one in ten men perishing—a death toll greater than both world wars. Around 3,000 soldiers and countless civilians died in the battle, and 10,000 prisoners were taken, many of whom were sent to the colonies, never to return. He reflected on the significance of Worcester, where the last Royalist hopes were extinguished, and how Cromwell’s victory sealed the fate of the English monarchy. This outcome paved the way for the development of modern democratic ideas and affirmed the supremacy of Parliament, ending the bloodiest conflict in British history.