While the actual date of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was February 6, celebrations took place over the special Bank Holiday Jubilee weekend (2- 5 June) to mark the historic occasion.
A number of national events and reflections were planned to mark the Queen’s 70 year reign, some of the many national celebration events included:
The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) – Thursday 2 June
Started at 11am, trooped by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division put on a display of military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade, together with hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses. This annual event has now marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. During the Queen’s birthday parade A Royal Gun Salute was fired. The event was screened live on BBC and Sky television. Once the parade ended the Royal Procession returned to Buckingham Palace, the Royal Family appeared on the balcony and there was a flypast to coincide with their appearance.
Platinum Jubilee Beacons – Thursday 2 June
Over 1,500 beacons were lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man. The principal beacon was lit in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace at 9pm.
Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral – Friday 3 June
Platinum Party at the Palace – Saturday 4 June
Airing live on BBC One, BBCiPlayer and across the BBC network, 22,000 people attended a night of musical tributes to celebrate the Jubilee.
The Big Jubilee Lunch – Sunday 5 June
Over 60,000 people registered to host Big Jubilee Lunches.
Platinum Jubilee Pageant – Sunday 5 June
10,000 people were involved, including the military, over 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public.
Biddulph Town Council organised and supported town events as shown below:
Thursday 2 June – Bank Holiday
Jubilee Proclamation Cry by Biddulph’s Town Crier, John Robinson, at 2pm on the Town Hall steps.
Town Cry Proclamation and Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting, together with a FREE Family Disco, piper, FREE Crafts and Food/BBQ at Knypersley Cricket Club from 7pm, beacon lighting at 9.45pm.
Saturday 4 June
Parish Jubilee Community Event and Big Lunch at St John’s, Knypersley, celebrating 100 years of the Parish of Knypersley. 12.30pm to 4.30pm. Bouncy castle, face painting, BBQ – ALL FREE, including food/drinks.
Sunday 5 June
Queens Platinum Jubilee Civic Service at Christ Church, Biddulph Moor at 2pm, followed by Afternoon Tea. FREE and open to everyone.
These FREE events were partly funded by an ‘Awards for All’ grant.
Friday 3 June – Bank Holiday
Biddulph Youth & Community Zone, Church Road hosted a street party at their new community garden at 12pm. A family fun event, with bouncy castle, kids disco and arts and crafts.
Jubilee Commemorative Coins
Biddulph Town Council commissioned a Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Coin as a gift to the children of Biddulph in school years 1 to 4.
The Queen’s Green Canopy
Initiatives including ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy’ will create a lasting reminder, generating the planting of large, celebration trees; new avenues of trees; urban planting and new woods to benefit future generations, together with protecting ancient trees and woodlands by launching training and educational programmes to highlight their value. The Queen’s Green Canopy continues throughout 2022 and into March 2023.
Working with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and residents we planted 420 trees at Thatcher Grove in November 2022.