Cambridgeshire Prepares For Platinum Jubilee In Style

Communities across the county will be joining celebrations to mark Queen’s Platinum Jubilee across the Bank Holiday weekend and throughout June.

A week of Platinum Jubilee-themed celebrations starts on Monday as Cambridgeshire’s largest tree mazes, known as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Tree mazes, will be officially opened at Ely Country Park.

Around 40 community groups are benefiting from grants allocated by Cambridge City Council’s Platinum Jubilee grant fund, with money supporting street parties, picnics, garden parties, musical concerts, play sessions and more, taking place in the coming weeks in all parts of the city.

Groups applied for the Jubilee grants of up to £500 earlier this year, and applications were approved by the council’s four Local Area Committees, covering all wards of the city, in March.

As part of the city’s Jubilee celebrations on Thursday 2 June at 2pm The High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Jennifer Crompton, will read a proclamation from the front steps of the Guildhall on Market Hill. Ely Markets is holding a Jubilee Charter Market whilst Soham will host a Celebration event from 2pm on the Recreation Ground.

Then on the evening of 2 June the new Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Mark Ashton, will be among dignitaries attending a ceremonial beacon lighting at the Castle Mound on Castle Hill in Cambridge. In Ely, the city will light own beacon at St Mary’s Green.

Members of the public can attend the event, which is being organised by Cambridgeshire County Council with Cambridge City Council, to enjoy music and entertainment from 8.45pm, with the beacon due to be lit at 9.45pm by the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence.

On Friday, Ely Markets is holding a platinum Jubilee Market Celebration between 9am and 4pm. There will be street food, crafts, live music, dancing and family fun. There is also a Grand Jubilee Food, Drink and Craft Fair on Palace Green and St Mary's Green. Markets are also being held on 4th and 5th June.

Sunday 5th June sees Jubil-Eel Day taking place at Jubilee Gardens, whilst Burwell Museum holds Tea for the Queen. On the same day, a Jubilee Celebration Service takes plat at Holy Trinity, Bottisham and Littleport will stage its Platinum Jubilee Picnic, from 1-5pm at Peacocks Meadow.

Great St Mary’s Church at Senate House Hill is also holding some services and events to mark the Jubilee, including a choral evensong on Thursday 2nd June at 5.15pm, a performance of Handel’s Coronation Anthem on Saturday 4 June at 7.30pm and a choral eucharist on Sunday 5th June at 5pm.

Cambridge city council is holding a free open-air Jubilee concert at Jesus Green on Sunday 5 June. From 3pm-5pm people can come along and enjoy live music from Cambridge Groove Orchestra and Swagger.

If you're staging a Platinum Jubilee event let us know here https://www.star.radio/events/add/ and we'll let Cambridgeshire know!