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QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE
CELEBRATING THE Platinum Jubilee
This month we’re celebrating a very special occasion... a summer of events to mark HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We’ve a look at the monarch’s life as well as a round up of local events including the Rutland Show...
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PLATINUM JUBILEE
HM THE QUEEN VISITS LINCOLNSHIRE
It’s a time to celebrate the life, the longevity and the strength of spirit that has shone out over the 70 year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our platinum monarch...
AS FIREWORKS CRACKLED over London in the first few seconds of 2022, Her Majesty The Queen entered her Platinum Jubilee year. A few months earlier Giles Brandreth had written to the 95-year old monarch on behalf of the panel who awards ‘The Oldie of the Year Award,’ from the magazine of the same name. Her Majesty responded that ‘you are as old as you feel’ and so politely declined to accept the award, stating that she didn’t feel she met the ‘relevant criteria.’ Only a matter of days later though, The Queen cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland and has subsequently pared back the number of public engagements. In March this year, and having announced that Camilla will be styled Queen upon Charles’ accession, she permanently moved out of Buckingham Palace and now resides at Windsor Castle. Still though The Queen remains sharp of wit, stoic in her duty, and to her family, she’s a beloved mother and grandmother... and to her great grandchildren, their ‘gan-gan.’ This month the country celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of the most extraordinary monarch, and 96 years of life, longevity and spirit...
THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER: A Timeline of Queen Elizabeth II...
21st APRIL 1926: Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor is born to the Duke & Duchess of York at 2.40am in Bruton Street, Mayfair.
21st APRIL 1933: For her seventh birthday Princess Elizabeth is given a Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgi, the first of 30 Corgis she would own.
11th DECEMBER 1936: Edward VIII abdicates, so the Duke of York becomes King George VI, with Elizabeth the Heiress Presumptive. 21st APRIL 1942: On her 16th birthday, Princess Elizabeth inspects the Grenadier Guards. It’s her first public engagement. 20th NOVEMBER 1947: Princess Elizabeth marries naval officer Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey. They were together 73 years. 14th NOVEMBER 1948: Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten announce the birth of Prince Charles, first in line to the throne.
15th AUGUST 1950: The couple announce the birth of second child, Anne, in Clarence House. She is styled Princess Royal in 1987.
2nd JUNE 1953: Following the death of King George VI in Feb 1952, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation takes place in Westminster Abbey. 19th FEBRUARY 1960: The couple’s third child, Prince Andrew is born at Buckingham Palace. 10th MARCH 1964: The Queen gives birth to her fourth and final child, Prince Edward, at Buckingham Palace. >>
>> 2nd JUNE 1977: The Queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee with Commonwealth visits and the creation of a new public holiday.
21st JUNE 1982: Prince Charles and his wife Princess Diana announce the birth of William, the first of two children, and an heir.
20th NOVEMBER 1992: The Queen declares ‘annus horribilis’ after a fire destroys part of Windsor Castle and Charles & Diana separate. 31st AUGUST 1997: A year after their divorce is finalised, the Princess of Wales is killed in a Paris car accident. 20th NOVEMBER 1997: A garden party is held in Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Wedding Anniversary. FEB/MAR 2002: The Queen is sorrowful after the death of younger sister Princess Margaret in February and The Queen Mother in March.
27th JULY 2012: The Queen is seen to jump out of a plane and parachute into the London Olympics with 007, James Bond!
22nd JULY 2013: Prince William and Kate Middleton announce the birth of The Queen’s Great Grandson Prince George. 8th SEPTEMBER 2015: The monarch celebrates the longest-reign in British history, 63 years, surpassing Queen Victoria. 9th APRIL 2021: Buckingham Palace announces the death of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, at 99 years of age. n
PLATINUM JUBILEE
HM THE QUEEN VISITS STAMFORD
A PLATINUM WOOD FOR BURGHLEY
The Queen visited Stamford 10 years ago during her Diamond Jubilee tour to establish a new woodland area...
Below: The Queen meets crowds at Burghley House back in 2012 and greets Morcott Artist Mo Gardner. BACK IN 2012, the nation was preparing to celebrate an impressive 60 years of HM The Queen’s reign. The occasion was marked with a series of visits across the UK, and when a burgundy-coloured helicopter landed in the grounds of Burghley House, a huge cheer went up as a crowd of 10,000 people eagerly awaited a visit by the monarch and a picnic in the grounds of the property.
To mark the occasion the estate planted a 60-acre Diamond Wood in association with the Woodland Trust, and this year, as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, the estate will plant a further area of woodland, one of 70 similar sites across the UK.
“The establishment of up to 70 Platinum Jubilee Woods areas will be an exceptional contribution to The Queen’s Green Canopy, and it is entirely fitting that the first wood will be planted at Burghley House, with its historic Royal connections,” says Dan Rex. “Burghley’s latest woodland will add to the 60-acre Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Wood created with the Woodland Trust in 2012, which saw HRH The Princess Royal plant the first sapling. The Estate’s Platinum Jubilee Wood will bring a range of benefits, from boosting biodiversity to increasing the resilience of the landscape.” The Queen has also visited the area in 2001 when she enjoyed a tour around Uppingham accompanied by then Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Kennedy and the Mayor of Uppingham, Alan Snodin. The Queen afterwards visited the Sensory Garden for the Blind and Disabled in Oakham, and was received by the Chairman of Rutland County Council, Mrs Jane Bews, and the Mayor of Oakham, Mrs Joyce Lucas. The Queen also presented the county with a horseshoe when she visited in 1967, which is now proudly on display in the Castle. n
THE QUEEN’S CORONATION: 2nd June 1953...
Westminster Abbey had been the setting for every British monarch’s coronation since 1066. Though The Queen succeeded to the throne on 6th February 1952 upon the death of King George VI, there was a period of mourning to consider and lots of planning, so the event wouldn’t take place until a year later in 1953. The date in June 2022 for celebrating the Platinum Jubilee is therefore either a few months late – if you’re celebrating her ascension – or a year early if you’re using the coronation as the milestone. On 2nd June 1953, the coronation took place having been planned by the 16th Duke of Norfolk, Bernard FitzalanHoward. The Duke of Edinburgh wore full Naval uniform, The Queen’s Dress and those of her six ladies-in-waiting were designed by Norman Hartnell. Over 250 people were included in the procession, the ceremony lasted three and a half hours, and it was divided into six parts. Over 8,250 attended the ceremony, with 129 nations officially represented. There were 2,000 journalists and 500 photographers. 27m people out of a total population of 36m watched the event on TV. A further 11m listened to the event live on the radio. n
THE QUEEN IN NUMBERS: Facts & Figures...
n 3,500,000: The Queen has received over 3.5m items of correspondence during her reign. n 50,000: Her Majesty welcomes over 50,000 people to receptions, banquets and garden parties each year. n 200,000,000: Over 200m watched televised Golden Jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 2002. n 600: The Queen is the patron of over 600 charities and organisations from the RHS to Sandringham’s WI. n 341: In her busiest year, 2015, The Queen undertook more than 340 Royal Engagements. n 260: During her reign The Queen has made over 260 official overseas trips right around the world. n 30: A fan of Corgis, The Queen has owned over 30 during her reign, from starting with Susan in 1944. n 68: She’s opened parliament each year (68 times), and has missed only 1959 & 1963 when she was pregnant. n 200: The Queen owns all of the swans in the UK, and has over 200 racing pigeons too. n 1976: Her Majesty sent her first email from a British army base in 1976, and her first tweet in 2014. n 15: During her reign, The Queen has seen 15 Prime Ministers enter Downing Street.
The Royal Residences
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON
Official London residence with 775 rooms. Built on the original palace created by James I. Open to visitors from July. n
WINDSOR CASTLE, BERKSHIRE
Known as HM The Queen’s Easter Court as it’s traditionally an easter/weekend residence. Renovated and rebuilt C18th. n
BALMORAL CASTLE, DEESIDE
Queen Victoria & Prince Albert visited Balmoral in 1848 and fell in love with it. They purchased it in 1852 for £32,000. n
SANDRINGHAM HOUSE, NORFOLK
20,000 acre estate acquired by King Edward VII for £220,000 in 1862. George VI died at the property in February 1952. n
Absent from the county’s calendar for the past two years, The Rutland Show is back this month, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before with all the local entertainment, livestock and the area’s finest food and drink...
The Rutland Showground will come alive this month with the return after a two year hiatus of the area’s flagship county show. Organisers are promising a bumper event for 2022 which will not just provide the finest country entertainment but also celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee too. “After having to cancel the event for the last two years due to the pandemic, we are really looking forward to hosting our annual show again,” says the Rutland Show’s organiser Sophie Howsam. “It will give us the opportunity to once again showcase all aspects of our beautiful county and the surrounding areas.” “This year is a little unusual in the respect that we’ve decided to host the event on the Saturday of the extended Platinum Jubilee weekend, rather than on a Sunday.” “It’ll enable us to join in with the Jubilee celebrations with a range of displays and attractions across the site and it’ll mean we can really celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone.” “The atmosphere, we hope, will be akin to a street party, but of course the show has farming at its heart so it also promises rural entertainment in the main ring, an extensive shopping area, craft market and live music along with children’s attractions and lots of delicious local food and drink.”
Main Ring highlights for the 2022 show include displays of farming through the ages, scurry racing and a parade of cattle. However, from the 2018 show, organisers also introduced heavy horses to the programme, and their presence was increased significantly in 2019. “We welcomed back the heavies after a 64year absence, and they were so popular. Months of work are put in to preparing these amazing animals for the show ring, but the preparation, the practice and the time spent all results in a really impressive spectacle, one that visitors will definitely enjoy.” Speaking of horses, one of the most eagerly anticipated arrivals in the main ring will be Atkinson’s Action Horses, a display that combines adrenaline and acrobatics with the speed of the traditional Cossack trick rider. Benjamin Atkinson leads the team and says: “The display is all about the power and grace in the dance of dressage and the explosive style of performance as made famous by the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.” “The silent art of compassion and connection as horse and rider perform with absolute freedom all come together in a finale to move the soul and inspire the mind. A team of riders, trainers and performers create a show which proves the power of these magnificent animals.” With such a packed Main Ring timetable, organisers created The Rutland Ring, a second display area, when the show moved to its current site on the showground. This year, The Rutland Ring will host dog scent demonstrations, a dog show for the public to take part in, as well as a BMX display with stunt team MBE. Another highlight of the show is The Larder, which in previous years has featured over 50 local food producers and retailers and aims to reflect the diversity and quality of the food and drink on offer right across Leicestershire and Rutland. With around 12,000 visitors expected at the show, it’s unsurprising that the event attracts the best local shopping
Don’t miss the 188th Rutland Show too, with over 100 trade stands providing everything from products for the home and garden, like local artwork, Tickets are now on sale for the to agricultural machinery2022 Rutland Show. £11/adults, £2/age five-15, no charge and luxury sports cars, with for under-fives. Entry is via Porsche Leicester taking up advance ticket purchases only, see www.rutland their usual position by the showground.com. Main Ring. Meanwhile the countryside arena will host demonstrations of farriery, steam engines and vintage machinery, and there will be the usual display of classic and modern vehicles which will later take to the Main Ring to entertain the crowds. >>
The Rutland Show
Facts & Figures from 2019’s Event...
n 12,000+: The number of visitors expected. n 100+: Over a hundred trade stands on site. n 2,500: The number of hours it takes the team and its 100 volunteers to host the show. n 40,000: The number of steps walked by the Show Manager on the day of the event! n 560: Animals in attendance; 400 sheep competing, 70 cattle and 90 heavy horses. n The show spans 150 acres, across 13 fields. It offers 30 different types of entertainment!
PLATINUM JUBILEE
THE 2022 RUTLAND SHOW
>> “Putting together a show like this does take a whole year of hard work,” says Sophie. “But also we’re really grateful to the 100 volunteers who step in to help out in so many different ways.” “From its previous home at Burley on The Hill, the Rutland Show has steadily expanded in popularity and it needed to find a new home like its current site to do justice to its diversity of events and attractions.” “Accordingly, we’ve had to ensure that our traffic plan and site management is up to the job, and with more visitors year on year, we’ve this month created a second entrance to ease congestion at peak times, and we’ve dedicated more car parking space than ever so visitors have easier access to the site and will spend less time queueing and more time enjoying the event.” “We’ve created a show which ensures that there really is something for everyone to enjoy,” says Sophie. “The whole team is gearing up for a proper celebration of the countryside and to show visitors the diverse range of local products and entertainment that Rutland has to offer. With a chance, too, to wish Her Majesty a superb Jubilee summer, we’re confident that this year will be the best Rutland Show ever!” n
Find Out More: The 2022 Rutland Show takes place on Saturday 4th June at The Rutland Showground, Showground Way, Oakham LE15 7TW. Call 01572 757110 or see www.rutlandshowground.com for tickets.
Main: The show will feature 70 cattle competing for best in show, as well as 90 heavy horses and 400 sheep.
THE RUTLAND SHOW: Timetables for entertainment
IN THE MAIN RING:
8.30am Heavy Horses 10.00am Farming through the ages 10.30am British Scurry Racing 11.15am Atkinson Action Horses 12.45am Farming through the ages 1.15pm British Scurry racing 2.00pm Atkinson Action Horses 2.30pm Cattle Parade 3.00pm Heavy Horse Parade 4.00pm Vintage tractors show and modern machinery display IN THE RUTLAND RING:
10.30am Dog scent demonstrations 11.00am Ferrets 11.30am BMX Bike display 12noon Dog Show 1.30pm Ferrets 2.00pm BMX Bike display 2.30pm Dog scent demonstrations 3.00pm Ferrets
NB: Information correct at time of going to press but all times are subject to change.
The History of the Rutland Show
The Rutland Agricultural Society’s origins date back to 1788 and to the founding of the Leicestershire and Rutland Agricultural Society. its first supporter was the Earl of Winchelsea, owner of Burley on the Hill. The first Rutland County Show was held on Monday December 5th 1831 at an indoor riding stable in Catmos Street, (now Rutland County Museum), and was attended by 500 people. Eventually, the riding school soon became too small a venue and the show moved to South Street, Oakham (now Oakham fire station and South Street car park). The show then moved again to a 17-acre site in Barleythorpe. The 1965 Society’s accounts show that Rutland County Council eventually bought the original Barleythorpe site for £21,750. The show soon outgrew this site and in 1976 it moved out of Oakham to Burley on the Hill’s Court d’Honneur, supported by the goodwill of Mr Hanbury, who was President that year. In 2003, the show moved into the main Parkland area at Burley on the Hill. Around this time the show was struggling financially after a number of wet years, Chairman Steve Brewin struck a three-year sponsorship deal from John Barson of Burley Fires, which along with other sponsors and donations kept the show afloat. The move to the new Showground took place in 2014. The first show saw a huge increase in numbers through the gates as the sun shone and once again many visitors could walk to the new showground from town. n
PLATINUM JUBILEE
JUBILEE EVENTS IN RUTLAND & STAMFORD
SPEND THE JUBILEE WEEKEND GLAMPING IN RUTLAND...
ASHWELL PLATINUM JUBILEE FETE
A beautiful and unique glamping site, Briarwood at North Luffenham is offering a Jubilee-themed extravaganza with glamping from Thursday to Sunday, including a Beacon Lighting event with traditional fish ‘n’ chip supper, Jubilee lunch and afternoon tea, live music event and the planting of your very own tree on the site. Accommodation is in the site’s tipi-style tents with your own private bathroom pod plus sheltered dining facilities. Three nights accommodation is £600 based on a Thursday to Sunday stay for two adults and two children. See www.briarwoodglamping.com. n
A VILLAGE FETE IN KETTON...
Ketton’s village charity The White Bread Trust, is funding a hog roast that will be free for up to 400 residents of Ketton. The event will start at 12noon at Ketton Sports and Community Centre (KSCC) with local ice cream and the village fete which will include children’s games, stalls and lots more family friendly fun. Sunday 5th June, from noon. n
The village of Ashwell is planning a specially expanded village fete this year. In addition to the usual music, stalls, wonderful homemade cakes, vintage cars, dog show, Punch ‘n’ Judy show and much more, there will be a right royal celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee. 12th June, for more information see www.discover-rutland.co.uk. n
CELEBRATING THE JUBILEE AT SACREWELL
Fun and games for the whole family from 2nd-5th June...
Celebrate the Jubilee at Sacrewell Farm at Wansford. The farm, established by the William Scott Abbott Trust in 1964, will present children’s crafts and games, a Jubilee trail, tractor display and live theatre with George the Reluctant Dragon beginning at 5pm. Visitors can also enjoy rural skills, vintage games and craft activities plus food from local producers to buy in the artisan courtyard. See www.sacrewell.org.uk. n
THE JUBILEE AT PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL...
Peterborough Cathedral will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee by floodlighting the building in red, white and blue from Thursday 2nd June. Then, on Sunday 5th June from noon, and with other faith groups in the city, The Cathedral’s outdoor spaces on the green and Cloisters will be the beautiful setting for a picnic-style event followed by a Jubilee service of Choral Evensong. Look out, too, for outdoor theatre this summer with performances of As You Like It and a Midsummer Night’s Dream on 14th July. n
RUTLAND CELEBRATES A PLATINUM JUBILEE...
Series of jubilee events planned is revealed by Rutland’s Lord Lieutenant, Dr Sarah Furness
“Like so many people, I’m very much looking forward to celebrating Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. It will be a historic celebration. The Queen has served our country with distinction for seven decades, as both Sovereign and Head of State,” says Sarah. “She is a source of immense pride, inspiration, and comfort for countless people around the world, so I hope, like me, everyone in Rutland will take this amazing opportunity to celebrate Her Majesty’s reign and pay special tribute to a Monarch who is entirely without equal in so many of our hearts.” n Monday 23th to Friday 27th May: Community Decorations Week
Communities and local businesses are encouraged to decorate their village, street and home with bunting and flags to start the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in Rutland.
n Thursday 2nd June: Community Beacon Lighting
As part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, beacons will be lit in both Oakham and Uppingham. n Friday 3rd June: Jubilee Festivals
Music events will take place in Oakham and Uppingham, featuring local bands and dance groups.
See: www.rutlandlordlieutenant.org/ the-platinum-jubilee-in-rutland
