THE hustle and the bustle descends upon Newton Abbot as the town’s Jubilee celebrations get today.
Mayor of Newton Abbot, Councillor Carol Bunday, said: ‘On behalf of Newton Abbot Town Council, I wish to pay tribute to her Majesty The Queen for her 70 years of public service.
‘Over the course of her reign, she has been a constant and positive role model for our country and has won recognition and respect from people all over the world.
‘The dignity she has shown throughout her years as our head of state has been exemplary and I offer our sincere thanks and respect to her for this.
‘It has been a particularly difficult time for so many people since the pandemic struck - we have all had to learn to live a different sort of life.
‘The Platinum Jubilee year offers an occasion for communities to come together and celebrate in hope and in reflection.
‘On behalf of our town, I wish Her Majesty the Queen a happy and healthy Platinum Jubilee year.’
It is the first time a Britih monarch has reached the milestone of a Platinum Jubilee and as such an additional bank holiday was granted, effectively giving the public a four-day weekend from Thursday, June 2.
Newton Abbot has a whole host of events planned in celebration of the Queen’s seventy years as head of state.
The Town Council, for example, have events planned across the four days.
On Thursday, June 2, a public address declaring the soverignty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, delivered by Newton Abbot’s town crier from St Leonard’s Clock Tower at 2pm.
A synchronised lighting of the town’s beacons at Highweek, Buckland, Wolborough is set for 9.45pm, rounding out Thursday’s events.
Two Sisters Dance Group and Forte will be struting their stuff from 10am with a series of performances throughout Saturday, June 4.
The Party in the Park from 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday at Courtenay Park will see out Newton Abbot Town Council’s celebrations.
A family friendly event, the party will feature a royal themed band concert with Spectrum Music and much more: face painting, balloon modelling, family craft workshops, a Jubilee selfie-frame and a food and drinks bar are among offerings.
Newton Abbot Museum will be present at the Party in the Park with a special Make and Create stall – calling upon Newtonians to help commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee by making flags sharing what one celebrate most in life.
In addition to the above-mentioned, a number of street parties are taking place in Newton Abbot such as those at Seymour Road, Marsh Road and Mellons Close to name but a few.