Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June 2022
June 2022 marked Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th year of service, becoming the first British monarch in history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.
An extended bank holiday ran from June 2 to June 5 and provided an opportunity for communities across the United Kingdom to mark the occasion.
Wellingborough Town Council held a ‘big lunch’ to mark the occasion at Croyland Park.
The Big Jubilee Lunch
The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual celebration for neighbours and communities. Every year parish and town councils across the country organise or help organise a Big Lunch in their community. In 2022 The Big Jubilee Lunch celebrated The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. The Big Lunch concept was started by the Eden Project in 2009 and has grown every year since. The Eden Project produces a pack of information full of ideas, inspiration, and tips to help you get started.
From 2 to 5 June 2022, people everywhere were invited to throw open their doors and take to their streets, gardens, and neighbourhoods to share food, have fun, and get to know each other a little better.
A Big Lunch was everything from a small gathering in a garden, park, or driveway, to a larger party with trestle tables down the middle of streets. The idea was that by starting simple, all sorts of friendships, ideas and projects can come out of a Big Lunch. It gets people together and talking — and with a few inspired folks, it can lead to people doing more within their community and tackling the issues that matter to them most.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) organised a Big Lunch at Delapré Abbey and Park in Northampton on Sunday 5 June and North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) planned a Big Lunch on the same day, at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.
Wellingborough Town Council held their own Jubilee Big Lunch event on Croyland Park.
Despite the cold and drizzle, the Mayor opened the Town Council’s Big Lunch event to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Picnic tables were full, children and adults played with the giant games and rode on the ride, enjoyed the Rock Choir and Neil Richardson’s entertainment, and a delighted resident, Guosne, won the hat competition whilst the dogs strutted their stuff in the arena for the dog show with the Northamptonshire Dachshunds group.
Northamptonshire Jubilee Pageant
The event was organised by the County Lieutenancy, facilitated and supported by Local Authorities (West and North Northamptonshire Councils with Northampton Town Council) and sponsors.
A unique parade was organised, including a procession followed by an original service on the Market Square in Northampton and a short address by the Lord-Lieutenant.
The Northamptonshire Jubilee Pageant took place on the morning of Saturday 4 June 2022. Up to 2,000 people were involved showcasing the county’s youth, cadets, military, community groups, the emergency services, the volunteer sector, and the NHS. There was uniformed and civic representatives from across the county of Northamptonshire.
Royal Activities
The Royal Family plans for the event:
Thursday: Trooping of the Colour and a UK wide of Lighting the Beacons
Friday: A service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul’s Cathedral
Saturday: Derby at Epsom Downs and a live concert at Buckingham Palace, “Platinum Party at the Palace”
Sunday: UK wide Big Lunch and The Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Visit the dedicated Jubilee website for further information.
More information on the Queen’s special weekend can be found on their dedicated website.