Ilkeston - Diamond Jubilee Weekend
w/e 03 June 2012
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Compared to the Golden Jubilee ten years ago, the build up to
this weekend's Diamond Jubilee celebrations seems to have been
rather low key although most of the charity shops in town have
had patriotic window displays for some time. This one in the
Albion Centre actually included a visit from the Royal couple
themselves.
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Towards the weekend most of the pubs in the Market Place started
to sport flags and bunting. The observant among you will also
notice that the King's Head has recently undergone a refurbishment
and reverted to this name after a number of years when it was
called the Moon and Sixpence.
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On Saturday Avago Crafts had a market stall outside the King's
Head where plates could be decorated with a Jubilee theme.
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There was also a Jubilee theme at the Burger Bar outside the
Town Hall where the tables were clothed with Union Flags. The
Town Hall itself, draped with bunting, will be the site on Monday
evening for a gathering of folk to watch the lighting of one
of the beacons that are to be lit all over the country.
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Several of the market stalls also had Union Flag bunting whilst
St Mary's Church was flying the national flag of St George.
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The Co-op was also flying a flag of the Union variety and most
of the shop windows featured displays with a red, white and blue
theme.
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Ten years ago, the Golden Jubilee coincided with a World Cup
year and back then it was not unusual to see vehicles with both
Union and St George's flags attached to them. Although the Euro
Championships are shortly to begin there aren't as many flags
visible as back then but some motorists have again brought out
the emblems for the Jubilee.
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Perhaps the most significant display of patriotism in Ilkeston
though can be seen on the large island at the southern end of
Châlons Way where the Union Flag has been recreated in
red, white and blue flowers on each of the five beds on the island.
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A much smaller but nonetheless patriotic display could be seen
in the two tubs outside St Mary's Church on Sunday morning where
the conifers had been supplemented with red, white and blue flowers
together with a small flag.
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It was on Sunday that the rains came and put a damper on many
street parties in the borough that the newly installed Mayor
of Erewash Councillor Jennifer Hulls together with her husband
Bob were to attend in the afternoon with more lined up for Monday
and Tuesday. They did find time in their busy schedule on Sunday
morning though to be in St Mary's for a Special Diamond Jubilee
Service led by the Mayor's Chaplain for 2012/13 Reverend Michael
Petitt. The service was followed in the Cantelupe Centre by a
piece of Jubilee Cake baked by Pauline Hyde and a sparkling toast
to the Queen.
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