Community · Salisbury
Former High Street shop owner Susi Mason to lead Salisbury’s 800th anniversary
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
After forty years as a fixture of the city’s retail scene, Susi Mason is spearheading plans to mark the 800th anniversary of Salisbury’s charter in 2027.
A familiar face from Salisbury's High Street is moving from the world of independent retail to the heart of the city's future celebrations. Susi Mason, who ran the gift shop Casa Fina for four decades, has been appointed to lead the preparations for Salisbury 800, a major city-wide programme marking 800 years since the signing of the city's charter in 2027.
Ms Mason, who arrived in the city in 1983 to establish her business alongside her mother, has transitioned from shop management to coordinating a vast network of community groups, businesses, and local authorities. The project aims to honour the city's heritage while fostering a sense of civic pride through a year of events spanning arts, sport, wellbeing, and local history.
The foundations for this celebration were initially laid for an event in 2020 to mark 800 years since the laying of the foundation stone for Salisbury Cathedral, but those plans were curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Mason saw the 2027 charter anniversary as an essential opportunity to restart these efforts and solidify the city's community identity.
Collaboration remains the central pillar of the project, with Ms Mason working alongside the Salisbury City Council, Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury Museum, and Salisbury BID. Her efforts have already successfully mobilised a network of approximately 300 individuals, including volunteers, professionals, and local charities.
Beyond the events calendar, a key initiative called 'Salisbury Changemakers' is being launched to highlight the contribution of volunteers who maintain the city's essential services and community life. Ms Mason describes her ambition for the anniversary as being less about looking back at eight centuries of history and more about encouraging residents to take a renewed appreciation for their home.
“I would love there to be lots of people saying that they love the place that they live in,” Ms Mason said. “We live in an amazing place and we should all go around with smiles on our faces.”
The project is currently in the planning stages, with ideas flowing in from across the city’s diverse community groups. For residents and local organisations interested in participating, the ongoing planning phase invites contributions from anyone willing to lend skills or time to the programme as the city moves towards its landmark year.
Source: Salisbury Journal — Salisbury · View original