Fountains focus of a patriotic wave

LANDMARKS in Yorkshire hosted services and events yesterday to mark the climax of the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee.

Thousands of events have been held across the region ranging from street parties to services in cathedrals as a wave of patriotism has swept the nation.

Among the locations which hosted a service yesterday to mark the Queen’s 60-year reign was Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.

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A 50-strong congregation travelled to the World Heritage site for the service which included prayers written by children from across the world for the Church of England.

The Rev Caroline Falkingham, the rector of the Fountains Benefice, conducted the service after she had overseen similar events at Mickley on Monday and Sawley on Saturday.

She said: “It has been important for so many people to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, especially in the setting of worship.

“The Queen has made no secret of the fact that she gets her strength from God, and we wanted to celebrate her special qualities during the service. To have everyone singing the National Anthem in such a wonderful location as Fountains Abbey was a very special moment.”

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Celebrations continued yesterday in another of the region’s famous buildings when a “street” party was held inside Ripon Cathedral.

The cathedral’s Nave was transformed into the party setting with 60 guests chosen for their memories of the Coronation Day in 1953.

Soup, sandwiches, cakes and trifle were served to the guests by youngsters dressed in clothes from across the decades of the Queen’s reign.

The guests were chose from entrants to a competition for the most interesting pictures or memories from their own Coronation Day experiences back in 1953.

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Visitors to the cathedral up until Sunday will be able to write a message to the Queen by contributing to a Jubilee Thanksgiving Book which will be sent to Buckingham Palace.

Elsewhere in the region, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Dale Smith, and the Lady Mayoress, Margaret Smith, were served afternoon tea in the Winter Garden in Ilkley as part of the Jubilee celebrations.

At Huddersfield Open Market in Brook Street, the emphasis was put firmly on the Queen’s younger subjects with free face painting and even crown making on offer for children.

In South Yorkshire, celebrations continued at Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster, which recreated a visit from George V in its 1912-themed Diamond Jubilee party.

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Revellers in Barnsley, meanwhile, enjoyed a traditional tea party at Wentworth Castle Gardens.

In Chesterfield, a Jubilee concert at the Winding Wheel featured the Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra and the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir.

In Sheffield, people made their own entertainment as street parties continued across the city. One of the busiest street parties took place on Bramwith Road in Fulwood, where guests included the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Coun John Campbell.

Residents in the East Riding parishes of Kirk Ella and West Ella completed five days of celebrations with a barbecue at Hull Golf Club last night.

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The event followed a street party in South Ella Drive and a Jubilee-themed fair which culminated with the lighting of a beacon at St Andrew’s Church in Kirk Ella on Monday night.

The programme, organised by Kirk Ella and West Ella Parish Council, began on Thursday with a coffee morning, Jubilee quiz, tombola and raffle at the Wheatsheaf pub, and also included a family Jubilee walk along the Kirk Ella heritage trail on Saturday and a hog roast in the churchyard on Sunday.