CROWDS enjoyed a jubilee celebration to remember as hundreds turned out at Welcome Home Field in Mistley to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee.
Taking place from 3pm until 10pm on Friday, residents of Manningtree, Mistley, and Lawford enjoyed an afternoon and evening of food and music, before the day concluded with an impressive fireworks display.
The events followed six months of planning and organisation from the eight members of the Party in the Park committee – although the numbers of people setting up the various stalls on Friday morning numbered close to 30.
Organising many of the events throughout the day was the chairwoman of Mistley Parish Council, Charlotte Howell, as well as chairwoman of Lawford Parish Council, Val Guglielmi.
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Ms Howell, 52, said a variety of sponsors were to thank for putting on the event.
She said: “We’ve been funded by some extremely generous grants and sponsorship – we received a grant from the Arts Council and a lot of local sponsorship that’s allowed us to deliver a fun and action-packed day for the community.”
The community budget, as well as money from Tendring Council, also helped put the event together.
It is not the first time jubilee events have been held on Welcome Home Field, with celebrations having also taken place in 1972 for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and in 1952 when Queen Elizabeth became the monarch.
The Party in the Park committee even went to the effort of collating a commemorative souvenir programme, where some residents of Mistley, Lawford, and Manningtree recount their memories from the silver jubilee and coronation.
Various pubs, such as the Red Lion, Winyl, and the Crown all provided drinks during the course of the afternoon, with food vendors from around the area ensuring the crowds – who enjoyed warm weather and sunshine – were well catered for.
A magician, competitions and other children’s activities were put on for youngsters, and a dog show was also organised to see who could bring the most jubilee-adorned dog.
Ms Howelladded: “It was particular important to bring the community back together again following the very difficult years we of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
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