The official website which highlights West Norfolk’s events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is fully live from April 11.
It will have information about everything that is going on, as well as give people the chance to sign up to get involved in events to mark HM The Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
You can find it at www.platinumjubileenorfolk.org
WHAT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE:
MAP AND LISTING OF ACTIVITIES
One of the features of the website is a map of Norfolk showing all activity related to the Jubilee across Norfolk including events like street parties, the location of Beacons being lit on the evening of 2nd June, Jubilee church services, and church bellringing to coincide with the national Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on 3rd June.
Any individual or group organising an event related to the Jubilee can list it via the website. It will then appear on the map and also in a chronological listing of events, searchable by date and category of event.
STREET PARTIES AND THE BIG JUBILEE LUNCH
The Big Jubilee Lunch encourages communities to come together, celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little bit better and bring the Jubilee celebrations into the heart of every community.
Any Norfolk party can be listed on the website via the online form. More information about how to organise a street party and national events is available by clicking www.edenprojectcommunities.com/blog/the-big-jubilee-lunch
BEACON LIGHTING
In keeping with the long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations, Local Authorities and community groups are being encouraged to light beacons across the UK on the evening of 2nd June. Norfolk currently has over 90 Beacons registered, more than any other county. Beacons have to be registered via the national website below, but will automatically be added to the Norfolk website. For more national information and to register a Beacon, visit the specific Beacons website at www.queensjubileebeacons.com
CHURCH BELLRINGING
In collaboration with the Church of England and the Royal Household, it has been agreed that a focus for collective bellringing should coincide with the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s on Friday 3rd June, with full details to be announced. Anyone organising bellringing as part of this celebration in Norfolk can list it as an event on the website.
PLATINUM JUBILEE CHALLENGE AWARDS
Individuals or groups wanting to take part in these Awards, conceived as a tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh, whose own Award scheme has been so influential on the lives of generations of young people, can download a spreadsheet from the website to register the completion of their four challenges: Physical, Sustainable, Learning and Celebration. Once completed, the spreadsheet is then uploaded to the website, accompanied by the entrants’ evidence (photographic, written, or recorded). When entries have been successfully assessed, their Platinum Jubilee Challenge Award badges and certificates are awarded. This scheme is open for the whole of 2022.
TRIBUTES TO HM THE QUEEN
One of the main purposes of the website is to celebrate and acknowledge the life and achievements of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Individuals will be able to submit personal tributes online, on the theme of ‘What The Queen means to me’. These will be published on the website and it is hoped, published in book form at the end of the Jubilee year.
PLATINUM JUBILEE TRAILS
Four new walking and cycling Trails across the county, upgrading existing rights of way and opening up some new rights of way including Heacham to King’s Lynn, Gressenhall to Dereham, and Gayton to Castle Acre. It is hoped more will be added over the course of the year. It is anticipated that the Trails will be open for use from late Summer 2022. Details of each Trail will be listed on the website.
The Jubilee Trails will be marked and signed with unique Jubilee markers and promoted as the Jubilee Trails. Where appropriate trees will be planted along the trails and dedicated to The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. More information about this national environmental initiative is available at https://queensgreencanopy.org
A ROYAL SALUTE
This tribute to Her Majesty will be offered at the Norfolk Showground as the centrepiece of the 2022 Royal Norfolk Show by members of Norfolk’s performing arts community. There will be music from around the world to commemorate her unwavering support for the Commonwealth, there will be dancing and music from Africa, and to celebrate her lifetime of service to the country, the entire Showground audience will be invited to sing the National Anthem together with over 1,000 children and adults from across Norfolk and accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra.
Details of the performance are listed on the website, with information on how to attend, and links to the Royal Norfolk Show website. It is hoped that the performance will be livestreamed, to enable those who cannot attend in person to watch it. If this is not possible, the performance will be filmed and a recording will be available to view online after the event.
MESSAGE FROM NORFOLK’S LORD-LIEUTENANT
“The Queen is deeply loved here in Norfolk. In return the county wants to demonstrate our affection and enormous gratitude for Her Majesty’s 70 years of remarkable service. To achieve this aim we have put together a very special series of events to honour a very special lady. This brilliant website will facilitate involvement by all ages in what we hope will be a truly exciting, joyful and action-packed year ahead. Please join us at as many events as you can. I can think of no better way of honouring Her Majesty the Queen during her extraordinary Platinum Jubilee Year than this.”
The Lady Dannatt, MBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk