Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Unless you happen to be a Tibetan Monk living half way up Mount Everest you would be hard pressed to have missed the fact that for the last four days the country has been gripped in a patriotic fervour. Whether you are pro monarchist or pro republican, it can have hardly escaped your notice that there were some celebrations taking place.

Whatever your feelings about the monarchy, it is not very often that one gets the chance to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years on the throne is no mean achievement, (in all our previous history only one other monarch - Queen Victoria - has managed to achieve sixty years) and the past four days have shown the width and depth of feeling for the monarchy.

On Sat 3rd June the Queen and members of the Royal Family attended the Epsom Derby. Parachutists floated down holding a Union Jack, Katherine Jenkins – sang the National Anthem (in a very fetching dress!) and Camelot, the favourite, was the eventual winner.

Sun 4th June saw a most spectacular event - The Diamond Jubilee Flotilla sailing down the River Thames, with the Royal party in a magnificent “barge” specially built for the occasion - Spirit of Chartwell

On Mon 5th the Jubilee Concert took place outside Buckingham Palace on a stage built around the Victoria Memorial. Robbie Williams, Will-i-am, Sir Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Madness, Gary Barlow, Kylie Minogue and Stevie Wonder were just some of the attractions at this event, which spanned music over the sixty years of the Queen’s reign.

Tues 6th was the occasion of the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service held in St Paul’s Cathedral, with some magnificent and regal music being sung and performed.

We attended a street party on Monday by kind invitation of Rachel & Garry

Rachel (centre front in sunglasses)

Dot (about four rows back near the left, in sunglasses.) A photo like this appeared on the front of the local Bradford Telegraph and Argus newspaper on Monday.

There was plenty of evidence as to what the party was in celebration of.....

Cakes and buns entered in the Jubilee Baking Contest

We had our own Queen Hannah!

and even the dogs managed to muscle in on the act, suitably attired!

The Bentley Girls in party mood - Hannah, Rachel, Sarah and Dot and Olivia (Sarah's Daughter) on the extreme right.

It was our turn to throw a Jubilee Party on Tuesday, and we invited the immediate neighbours and family round. Here are some of the goodies which arrived........