Parades, fire and pride as we celebrate
BEACONS burning bright, civic parades, street parties and plenty of red, white and blue – Thanet's Jubilee celebrations were a fitting tribute to the Queen's 60 years.
Parties took place across the district. Beacons were lit in villages including Manston, Birchington and Cliffsend, and the towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. They were part of a global tribute, with 4,000 lit across the world.
Manston Parish Council chairman Jenny Fletcher said: "It was a great evening, with people of the village coming out to enjoy a very special event."
Thanet also had a place on the national stage. The Sundowner ship, which took part in the Dunkirk Little Ships rescue, joined the Thames pageant, travelling to London from its home in Ramsgate's Royal Harbour.
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Artist Ann Carrington, from Broadstairs, designed a magnificent flag which was flown from the Spirit of Chartwell, the ship which Her Majesty and the Royal party travelled on.
The Jubilee provided the perfect opportunity to come together and celebrate our own heroes and heroines.
At the Westgate and Westbrook Residents' Association party, president Eileen Cunnew was crowned queen for the day with fellow association member Barbara Whitlock her princess.
Many festivities looked back over the Queen's reign with historical displays in Birchington, Cliffsend and elsewhere.
In Reading Street, flags and banners used to celebrate the Queen's 1953 coronation were displayed during a Jubilee service at St Andrew's church.
The collection belongs to Fiona Willson, a teacher at The Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs.
She said: "I understand they had originally been displayed in the windows of Arrowsmith and Hall, a shop on Broadstairs High Street. They had been in my mother's loft for many, many years.
"I had forgotten about them but then when the Jubilee came round a light went on in my head and I fetched them down."
Fiona added: "I think it is absolutely marvellous to celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, she has been through an awful lot and its all been out in public but she still here and still smiling."
The medieval church of St Nicholas was overflowing with red, white and blue flowers. Bishop, the Rt Revd Trevor Willmott of Canterbury led a thanksgiving service. The weekend was extra special for Michaela Nicholls and Jordan Dadd who wed.
It was a busy weekend for the isle's two MPs who attended many events. Thanet South's Laura Sandys took part in the zumbathon in Ramsgate along with actress Brenda Blethyn and West End star Julie Forsyth. She also judged a baby competition at The Star Inn, Westwood, which hosted a fundraising day for the forces' charity the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
Thanet North's Sir Roger Gale officially opened Acol's fete and visited Manston among his weekend's duties.
Many places hosted street parties, including Ramsgate, where more than 300 children enjoyed a free tea party along the boulevard.
Hundreds of people turned out in Cliftonville for a street party in Athelstan Road with Roma music, karaoke, painting, netball, cakes and hotdogs. ICM, a Cliftonville band of Roma musicians, entertained the crowd.
The event was organised by Jenny Cranstone of the Dalby Square Project and Athelstan Road resident Dan Chilcott.
In Margate a service at St John's church on Tuesday marked the civic celebrations.
After the service the congregation walked to Hawley Square for the Fair In the Square.
St Peter's welcomed two special guests during it's celebrations.
Guests on the village tour were greeted by "Queen Victoria" lookalike who bestowed honorary knighthoods on the guests.
On Monday, she was joined by "Queen Elizabeth II". Villagers also held an indoor street party hosted in St Peter's church hall.
More Jubilee photos on pages 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18 and 19.
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