LOVELy JUBILEE ...come rain or shine!
City turns out to mark Queen’s 70-year reign
THEY honoured her reign in the sunshine... and the rain. Birmingham did the Queen proud over the extra long bank holiday weekend.
People turned out in their thousands to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with street parties in the suburbs and a major celebration in Victoria Square.
Donning red, white and blue clothes and hats, throngs descended on Birmingham city centre to join the fun where there was live music and entertainment over the four-day weekend.
More than 150 road closure applications were submitted to councils in Birmingham and Solihull for local events.
In Park Hall Crescent, Castle Bromwich, on Friday, organisers were stunned when more than 300 people turned up to their street party.
Party planner Lisa said: “I decided to organise a small street party.
“I thought around 50 people would turn up.
“But we had 319 people! One hundred turned up on the morning to help us set up and lots more have helped in the months leading up to it.
“Everyone has made it so easy for us. We wanted to bring the community together.
“Some people have been in the street for 40 years and only know their immediate neighbours.
“People really do know each other now. They were walking around saying hello.
“We’ve got a group together so you can ask if you need some help with this or that, especially for our older people on the road. So that’s what we wanted to do. It’s been fantastic, everyone has been really helpful and encouraging.”
Speaking of the packed city centre programme, Larwrence Barton, one of Victoria Square organisers, said: “We had over 60 artists performing live over the four days – there was the Best of British, amazing acoustic singers, a gospel choir, the Chinese dragon, Dohl drumming and loads more. There was loads of stuff happening and it was all free.”
Live music, dancing, entertainment, street food and a funfair were on the menu, with DJs and other street entertainment also involved.
Former Birmingham street traders Samantha and Allen Poole, from Great Barr, even made around 3,000 Union Jack waistcoats for the event and were in the square to join in the celebrations – modelling their waistcoats, of course. We came for a day out in Birmingham as we hadn’t been out in a long time,” Mr Poole said.
Dennis Jakes was there with his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He said: “I came to celebrate the Queen and the Jubilee. It’s a nice thing for everybody. I’m proud to be English, this is what it’s all about.”