Newham was awash in red, white and blue with many parties and celebration held across the borough for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Jubilee flags were flying across the borough as residents came together to celebrate The Queen’s record breaking 70-year reign as Monarch.
111 street parties and events received funding from Newham Council’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Community Fund which helped support community celebrations over this historic weekend.
Over 20,000 residents took part in these events with many more holding celebrations for their family and friends across the borough.
The Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE went along to many of the events to join in the celebrations. She said:
“It was truly amazing to be part of so many community-led celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee this weekend as we marked the 70th year of Her Majesty’s reign. Newham certainly celebrated in spectacular fashion.
“Fun, laughter, music and dancing at a range of wonderful and heart-warming street parties and celebration events in each and every neighbourhood in Newham with people showing their love and respect for Her Majesty The Queen and her dedication to our county.
“The Platinum Jubilee represented a wonderful moment for us to come together as a borough, and as a community, to celebrate this auspicious moment with the rest of the nation.
“Through our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund we helped communities organise events and it was so joyous to join so many.
“Seeing excited kids enjoy their first ever street party to some of our oldest residents talking about their fond memories of the Queen, it has been a truly amazing weekend.
“What a memorable and special Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend showing what’s so beautiful about our community.”
As well as street parties where locals enjoyed a right royal knees up; there were an array of events that highlighted the significance of the Commonwealth countries. From African theatre to an Asian Mela, the weekend was full of music, dancing, afternoon teas, picnics, BBQs, fetes, quizzes, with much joy and laughter.
On the Sunday, ‘A Right Royal Docks Jubilee!’ event at our historic Royal Docks was open to everyone. The Queen’s Baton Relay was welcomed to Newham – following its tour of 72 Commonwealth countries - with an exclusive performance by English National Ballet’s ENBYouthCo featuring local dancers.
The Queen’s Representative for Newham, Deputy Lieutenant John Barber Esq DL joined the Mayor at some celebration events in Newham. He said:
“Having worked in Newham for over 40 years I have found Newham to be a wonderful, vibrant and diverse area; and the community interact so well together and are able to deal with anything that occurs from COVID to happy events. I have watched the area blossom into what is a place you can all be proud of.
“The Royal Family, led by the Queen and her family, and before that her parents, have always enjoyed the interaction with those living in Newham, and it is wonderful that we can all come together as friends to celebrate the 70 years the Queen has watched over us.”
As part of the celebrations, the Council asked residents what the Queen means to them. One resident, Dellie from East Ham said: “The Queen has been a wonderful ambassador for the country and the Commonwealth. It is wonderful she has reigned for 70 years and hopefully more. “
It was fitting that our most senior residents – who share the longest generational links with Her Majesty – got the ball rolling with two special events in the grand surroundings of Stratford Town Hall on Thursday and Friday May 26 and 27.
The elders were treated to a slap-up lunch, singalongs, bingo, performance from the children of St Helen’s school choir Plaistow, afternoon tea - all rounded off by a good old knees up and a luxury goody bag to take home.
Among the guests was Edna Slight, who at 92, was one of our oldest party-goers. She remembers seeing the Queen when she visited Green Street, and also has vivid memories of Coronation Day.
Edna from Forest Gate said; “My husband was a policemen and was on duty in London when the Queen was crowned 70 years ago. I remember it was a very long day, but he came back with a boomerang from an Australian family! He said the family gave him the gift because he had lifted their young son on his shoulders to get a glimpse of the Queen as she came past. I still have the boomerang up in the house.”
And some of our youngest residents took part in the Platinum Pageant on Sunday. Pupils from Southern Road Primary School proudly represented Newham at one of the most memorable events of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.