The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Celebration won’t reign on my parade
A PUB landlady whose 60th birthday falls amid the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations wants to throw a right royal party with a difference.
Frances Wade says that over the decades she has repeatedly had her birthday limelight stolen by the Queen’s various celebrations at key stages in her reign.
Mrs Wade was particularly annoyed that in 1977 and again in 2002 her 25th and 50th birthdays clashed with celebrations to mark the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees.
Now as the city prepares to celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s reign with her Diamond Jubilee, the landlady of The Heron in Stanground, Peterborough, is determined not to let her 60th birthday on Sunday, June 3, go unnoticed.
Mrs Wade is appealing for anyone in the city who is also turning 60 during the jubilee celebrations to get in touch so they can have a right royal knees-up of their very own.
She said: “When I was 50 I was landlady of the Coach and Horses in Fletton and I organised a four-day band event with 21 bands to celebrate my birthday, but everyone thought it was for the Golden Jubilee.
“The jubilees take over every time, it was the same with my 25th and I expect it will be the same with my 70th, as if the Queen is still on the throne there will be a platinum Jubilee. I’ve never had a proper birthday celebration.”
She added: “I’m determined to celebrate in style this year and have a big party and if there’s anyone around here who is 60 at the same time then we could celebrate together.”
Mrs Wade, who has been a landlady in Peterborough for nearly 13 years, blamed the Queen’s coronation for also pushing prices up.
She said: “If you want to book a band or a disco the prices are doubled, sometimes tripled, because they think it’s for a jubilee event.
“I had looked into going away to Dartmouth for a fishing trip for my birthday, but the hotel prices are astronomical because it’s a public holiday.”
Mrs Wade, whose partner, American blues singer Barry Homan, died in 2005, said she would now rather stay at the pub to celebrate with friends and regulars.
Anyone who also turns 60 during the Diamond Jubilee can contact Mrs Wade at the pub, on Southfields Drive, Stanground, on 01733 341480.
Mark Amps (31), of Thornton Road, March, celebrates his birthday on Christmas Day. He said: “I don’t get to have a party or see my friends as they’re with their families and I usually on ly get one present!”