By Elvie Philipps, Member
With four days of parties, displays and pageant, you might think that the ultimate day could not get any better. We were there and can say firmly that it was a day like no other in the past and what’s more will probably never be repeated.
We made our way to St. James’s Park, having learnt that The Mall would be too full, and then we waited; and waited; and waited. After one and a half hours, our patience paid off and the parade began. We had prime position by the road and were able to see each element of the parade approach in the distance.
First, came the Golden Coach that was used in Her Majesty’s Coronation that made clever use of holographic images to recreate the vision of Queen Elizabeth as she was then. This was followed by a marching band and even before it came close to us, we started to feel the excitement. The distant drums started up a rhythm in the body which was not satisfied until they had passed us with all their military splendour and magnificence. Who cannot be moved by a military band in full spate?
There followed a succession of colourful floats and entertaining spectacles. The memorable ones being the Morris Minors, with every possible version of that famous marque, the bicycle group which just happened to include a tricycle ridden by a member of our family, Alan Thomas! Amongst the other displays were buses which commemorated each decade of the Queens reign; starting with a group of dancers dressed in attire of the 1940s. This to emphasise the fact that our beautiful Queen grew up during the second world war. Next, the ‘50s represented by people dancing to Rock N’ Roll and a bus upon which Cliff Richard in person was singing his first hit record “Move It”.
The 60s followed with a bus colourfully decorated in a psychedelic style playing music by the Beatles and a troupe of dancers in suitably colourful fashions of the day. Carrying on the motoring theme, a host of Minis drove along next, again including every possible model and variant including the Mini Moke, an off-road version.
Probably the biggest selling group of the 70s was Abba and the next float was devoted entirely to them.
Many celebrities were to be seen on these buses and floats; Katherine Jenkins, Chris Tarrant, Gary Lineker, Noddy Holder of Slade and even Basil Brush!
We ended the evening walking along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace amongst a huge throng of people and saw on the giant screens the Royal Family close up. The atmosphere was electric, and we felt blessed and privileged to have witnessed the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Something that we shall never forget and surely will never be repeated in our lifetime.
Happy Platinum Jubilee to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.