Let the Jubilee celebrations begin!

Tomorrow sees the start of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations where the nation will be reflecting on the remarkable 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign. 

Across Sutton, there are a number of Jubilee events planned for the four-day celebration, and several are taking place over the next couple of weeks. I’m really looking forward to catching up with neighbours and friends at one of the Big Jubilee lunch events.

It’s fantastic that residents from over 150 streets in the borough have successfully applied for their streets to be closed in order to celebrate. It will be great to see children playing in the streets - a reminder of what life was like in 1952 when Queen Elizabeth began her reign.

For us in Sutton, the celebrations for the extended bank holiday weekend will begin tomorrow evening from 9pm when - along with the rest of the country - we will light two beacons to commemorate Her Majesty the Queen being the first British Monarch to reach the milestone of a 70 year reign. These are taking place in Cheam Park and in the St Helier Open Space, and everyone is very welcome to join in.

At the heart of many of Sutton’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations will be our wonderful volunteers and community groups. I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting many of them over the past years and I have seen first-hand the great work that they do to help and support people living in Sutton - not just in tough times, but also the fun times too!

Food from all over the world will play a big part in all of the events and I’m looking forward to hearing about the delicious treats made by everyone. I’ve enjoyed discussing whether or not friends and colleagues will be attempting to make the Platinum Pudding - which looks delicious but not that simple to make!

I really do hope that everyone has a wonderful Jubilee bank holiday and that you get to spend some precious time with the people you care about. 

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the sun will shine for us this weekend and the rain will stay away. But we’re used to the unpredictable British weather, and nothing will deter us from a most wonderful celebration as we honour a most extraordinary monarch.