PREPARATIONS are in full swing as plans take shape to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Fordingbridge.

A free community celebration will take place in June at the Recreation Ground. The event is being held by the town council in conjunction with Fordingbridge Events Group.

A special Fordingbridge Jubilee beacon is also being created and will be officially lit during the event.

On February 6, the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.

The celebrations in the town will take place on Thursday June 2 with a ‘Jubilee Picnic in the Park’ from from 3.30pm to 9.30pm.

Cllr Pete White said: “It’s really nice to have something to look forward to and to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne especially after the pressures of the Covid era.

"It will be nice to have the opportunity to gather the town together and hopefully have a memorable day after such a long spell of not being able to enjoy the fabulous Fordingbridge spirit in such a nice setting as the Rec and the river.

“Fordingbridge Town Council and Fordingbridge Events Group will be working hard together along with Rotary Group and local business to make it as successful as possible.”

There will be live music, a disco covering the musical periods of the Queen’s reign, as well as children’s activities. The Rotary Club

will also hold its charity duck race. On the day there will be a fully licensed bar and hot food provided by the sports club as well as other outlets supplied by local businesses.

Nicky Jenkins, the chair of Fordingbridge Events Group, said: “It is our first event that we have done in a while. It is great to be doing it with the town council.

“We’re all really excited about it”

“It feels really good to be working together to do a real community event,” added Nicky.

She says this will be a chance for people to “come and enjoy and relax and a days worth of entertainment to start the bank holiday in a good way”.

Fordingbridge Town Council will also be planting a Hornbeam tree to honour the Queen’s Jubilee. A ceremonial plaque will be unveiled during the community celebrations in June.

Mayor Edward Hale said: “It is very exciting to hear the plans which Fordingbridge Events Group has for celebrating the Platinum Jubilee this June. There will be a new beacon on the Recreation Ground so the town can be part of the beacon lighting all over the country.

"A Hornbeam tree is being planted as a lasting reminder. The town council is supporting the activities on the Recreation Ground which will be the main focus for residents to join together on the Jubilee Day.”

 

Get more Forest Journal news.

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.