A RALLYING call been issued to people to get involved in ‘the biggest celebration Worcestershire has ever seen’ to commemorate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Plans were officially unveiled by Worcestershire County Council today to mark The Queen’s 70 years on the throne when there is an extra bank holiday in addition to the spring one being moved meaning four days of celebrations from June 2 to 5.
Residents and groups are urged to organise street parties, Big Jubilee Lunches, beacon lightings and there will be other events, such as exhibitions and archive film screenings at The Hive and county libraries.
Worcestershire County Council is already heavily involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign with more than 6,000 trees planted so far and thousands more on the way.
The council has supported the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire to write to parishes, schools, business owners, land owners, community groups and others with details on how they can get involved with tree planting. And there’s still time in this planting season (which ends in March) to get involved.
Royal links to the county, such as past visits, and achievements in Worcestershire over the past 70 years will also be celebrated, including through a royal garden party.
The Queen visited Worcester in 1951 – before her Coronation – with then new husband Prince Philip and the Worcester Porcelain Museum in 1957.
The Royal Train has visited Hagley in 1957, The Queen came to Redditch in 1983 and Worcester twice more – in 1989 and to open The Hive in 2012.
Coun Adam Kent, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services and Communication, said: “This is such a momentous occasion and we really would like the whole of Worcestershire to get involved.”
He added the authority would work with district councils to ensure a simple straightforward process with no charge for any required permissions.
Support is available for communities via a £22million National Lottery fund and further details about planned Worcestershire activities will be announced in the next few weeks.
Residents and community groups who come up with ideas should share them with the county council as soon as possible by emailing [email protected]
A dedicated website, being created in the coming weeks, will detail all the events and feature downloadable resources.
A specially written county-centric song for schoolchildren to learn and sing is also planned.
