What a happy and glorious Bank Holiday weekend celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years of her reign.
I know many of you travelled to London to watch, and even take part in, the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the Service of Thanksgiving, the Party at the Palace and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and many more of us watched the TV coverage from home. Although the Queen could not attend all these major events, she sent a message of thanks to all those who had taken part in the celebrations, saying she had been ‘inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days’.
Kindness, joy and kinship was certainly evidence in the plethora of Platinum Jubilee events which took place across Brentwood and Ongar over the long Bank Holiday weekend. I travelled across the constituency to attend as many events as possible, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people who had made a huge effort to organise street parties, hang bunting and flags, decorate churches and even knit Royal scenes.
Kelvedon Hatch’s Parish Council oversaw floral tributes in the church, as well as a display of knitting depicting HM the Queen and her corgis. Local businesses and residents were celebrating together in Shenfield, while the sun shone on those gathering at the White Hart in Moreton, where the Morris Dancers were in full swing. And, as always, Brentwood’s glorious parade of independent shops in Crown Street threw a great party for all those in town on Friday. Add to all these the massive party in Ingrave and Herongate and we can consider the Platinum Jubilee well and truly celebrated.
After four days of celebrations, with millions of people taking part around the world, this feels like a fitting tribute and celebration of HM Queen Elizabeth’s service to us all in the last seventy years.
Long may she reign.
