THE end of the 800th anniversary year for the signing of the King John Charter will be marked at the weekend. Celebrations to mark the end of the charter year will be held on Saturday where Royal Navy ship HMS Hurworth will host a service on the quayside.

THE end of the 800th anniversary year for the signing of the King John Charter will be marked at the weekend.

Celebrations to mark the end of the charter year will be held on Saturday where Royal Navy ship HMS Hurworth will host a service on the quayside.

Winterton Marine Cadets TS Fearless will lead a procession, including mayor and mayoress Terry and Jenny Easter, from the Town Hall to the quay shortly before 2pm with residents being asked to line the quayside.

The service will be led by canon Michael Woods in his last civic engagement before his retirement and will include readings from the vice lieutenant of Norfolk, Lady Knowles and deputy council leader Barry Stone.

At the end of the service sirens from boats in the harbour, including lifeboats from Gorleston, Caister and Hemsby, will sound along with the bells at St Nicholas' Church in Yarmouth.

The 750 tonne vessel will arrive in Yarmouth on Friday and commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Charles Maynard will host a reception attended by the mayor and mayoress and other invited guests.

Lt Cmdr Maynard said: “We are very much looking forward to spending time in Yarmouth and fell honoured to have including in this important celebration. I hope as many Yarmouth as possible will be able to attend the event.”

Councillor Bert Collins said: “All through the year we have celebrated the achievements of the borough without paying due attention to the wealth which has come from the sea and the river.”

HMS Hurworth, which is named after a village in County Durham, is making the first of two potential visits to Yarmouth. The Hunt class mine counter measure vessel is also pencilled in to return in September for the Maritime Festival. The ship carries a crew of 45 many of them clearance divers whose job it is to swim to mines in order to place explosives.

The charter was granted to Yarmouth in 1208 by King John bringing freedom to the borough forever. Celebrations have included a visit by The Princess Royal in June, a medieval banquet, and a painting by local artist Ernie Childs using faces of today's residents depicted in 13th century dress and exhibitions.