Peachland parties for Queen’s jubilee
Red, blue and white British flags adorned the gardens at St Margaret’s Anglican Church and the Peachland Little School house Saturday afternoon as the Peachland Little Schoolhouse joined thousands of locations hosting a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee British Street Party to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign.
According to Gill Evans, one of the event organizers, British street parties started after the war when everybody spontaneously celebrated.
The street parties usually include quizzes, dancing and sing-alongs.
In keeping with British street party tradition, people brought their own food to the Peachland event. Organizers provided tea, lemonade and a cake decorated with the Union Jack.
Guests could decorate paper crowns and test their royal knowledge with a quiz about Queen Elizabeth II.
A sing-along led by Melita Ree included such familiar tunes as Bicycle Built for Two and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.
Val Smith was sporting a British bobby uniform, courtesy of Peachland historian Richard Smith.
Richard wore a Bombay bowler hat, like Winston Churchill would have worn. He also showed off the bronze medallion, he, along with every other school child in Canada, received in 1953, commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
For some, the street party was a chance to get together and celebrate.
For others, such as Claire Calder who moved to Canada from England in 2011, the street party was a little taste of home.
“We wanted something very British to do,” said Calder, who stopped by the party with her daughter Fern, 2, and Murphy the King Charles Spaniel.
She added the celebration was nice for Fern to see as COVID-19 had restricted travel to England.
Gail Mansell and her husband, Paul, who had worn the bearskin cap as part of the Welsh Guards in England before the couple moved to Canada 17 years ago, were enjoying traditional scones, clotted cream, raspberry jam and a cup of Rosy Lee, London slang for tea, with Chris and Denise Bryson, who moved to Canada from England 15 years ago.
“We’re not in England, but we want to celebrate,” said Gail.
Although clouds threatened the event before the sun shone through, the couples had their umbrellas ready for British weather.
For David Griffith, who was at the event with his wife and children, the street party provided relief from a little bit of homesickness for England.
“We’re Brits, we’re here to celebrate the Queen,” he said.
Along with the singing of God Save the Queen, organizers played the new Platinum Jubilee song.