The official HM The Queen’s 90th Birthday celebration for Cowes, East Cowes and the surrounding areas has been confirmed for Sunday 12th June.
The free community celebration will take part in Northwood Park, Cowes from noon until 17:00 on the 12th June, with a special church service on Cowes Parade at 11:00 to start the festivities. The Queen will be represented at the service by the Island’s Lord Lieutenant Major General Martin White.
The event forms part of a nationwide series of community based celebrations to mark this special Royal occasion, which starts in London on The Mall that afternoon. A wide variety of Cowes based organisations including the 5 main yacht clubs; Cowes Town Council; Northwood House; St Mary’s Church and other local charities have organised the event, with further sponsorship support by Red Funnel.
All local residents in the PO31 and PO32 areas are invited to attend, with large numbers of families expected in Northwood Park from 12noon where they can bring a picnic and enjoy a range of fun and traditional style family based entertainments suitable for this occasion including:
• Live music with The Bob Howarth Big Band, The Castle Jazz Band, David Thornton and the Brighstone Barnacles
• Family arena with Punch & Judy, falconry, children’s magic show, children’s races, tug of war and welly boot throwing competitions
• A free to enter children’s fancy dress parade (Prince & Princess theme)
• Cream teas & Pimm’s on the lawn, delicious BBQs and a fully licensed bar
• Bouncy castles and slides
• A range of traditional stalls and games
• Stands from local businesses
• A display of boats from the RNLI and Classic Boat Museum
• A special charity auction with range of experiences up for grabs
Earlier in the day the Wight Diamonds marching band will parade through the town from the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club at 10:30 to join the official service of celebration on Cowes Parade at 11:00 led by the Rev. Andrew Poppe of St Mary’s Church. The open air service is free to attend on the morning by all local residents, who are being asked to be in situ opposite the Royal London Yacht Club by 10:50 where a limited amount of seating will be available for the elderly and less able. After the service the marching band will lead the crowd to Northwood Park for the festivities there.
Vehicle parking will be available in Northwood Park off Ward Avenue for the afternoon. A charitable bucket shake will be in operation for those using the facility.
The event will be raising funds for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, St Mary’s Church, Sea Cadets and the RNLI.
More details can be found on the events facebook site www.facebook.com/queens90thbirthdaycowes.
