Wokingham Today

Borough prepares for a right royal celebratio­n for Queen’s Jubilee

- By DANIEL BLACKHAM dblackham@wokingham.today

WOKINGHAM is preparing for its biggest-ever celebratio­n, as the borough marks the 70th anniversar­y of the Queen’s reign.

From today through to Sunday, hundreds of events will take place across every corner of the borough, and for every age

Each of the days will feature something different.

Today will see beacons lit in towns and villages, as communitie­s come together for an evening of song and ceremony. They include a lighting up in Sonning, in Hurst and in Woodford Park in Woodley.

Friday sees a special one-day festival take place in Twyford, while Hurst will hold a sports day.

There are two music festivals taking place on Saturday, in Hurst and in Wokingham town’s Elms Field.

The latter, organised by Wokingham Town Council, will feature bands playing music from every decade of the Queen’s reign.

On Sunday, there will be church services all paying tribute to the monarch’s 70 years of service, before street

parties and festivitie­s take place.

One of the first events took place yesterday in Dinton Pastures.

Wokingham Borough mayor Cllr Caroline Smith unveiled new signage around Black Swan Lake: the walk has been renamed Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Walk.

There is also a bench positioned by the lake, overlookin­g a bird feeding area.

The event tied in with the

Queen’s Jubilee green canopy project, a call for the nation to plant trees for future generation­s. Wokingham Borough Council has planted nearly 20,000 trees over the past six months, and will plant more in the autumn.

One of the areas chosen will be dedicated as part of the canopy project.

Ahead of the weekend, Cllr Smith said: “This is an absolutely wonderful event and I am so honoured to be the

mayor of Wokingham during the Platinum Jubilee.

“After the last two years it is really exciting to celebrate something so magnificen­t.

Cllr Smith will be hosting her own party to mark the event.

She said: “I will be having a little informal party in my front garden on Sunday and there are more than 90 street parties planned across Wokingham Borough.

“It is lovely to see communitie­s coming together.”

Cllr Smith added: “I would like to extend my congratula­tions and sincere gratitude to Her Majesty The Queen after an incredible 70 years of service.

“Also good wishes to all Wokingham Borough residents celebratin­g this marvellous weekend, this is a special occasion and I hope everyone enjoys it.”

Our team will be out and about across the wekeend. Don’t miss our brilliant Platinum Jubilee souvenir special next week.

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 ?? ?? OPEN: In one of her first acts as borough mayor, Cllr Caroline Smith unveils a new Platinum Jubilee bench and walk in Dinton Pastures
OPEN: In one of her first acts as borough mayor, Cllr Caroline Smith unveils a new Platinum Jubilee bench and walk in Dinton Pastures
 ?? Pics: Stewart Turkington ??
Pics: Stewart Turkington

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