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Diamond Jubilee


Book your place at Diamond Jubilee Barr Beacon

Up to 200 residents will be able to join celebrations at a borough landmark next month when a beacon is lit in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year.

Barr Beacon will be lit on Monday 4 June 2012 as part of a celebration programme of events spanning the extended Bank Holiday weekend.

The Queen will light the National Beacon in London at around 10.30pm on Monday 4 June as the last beacon in the UK chain.

Beacons will be lit all over the country and abroad to commemorate the Queen becoming only the second Monarch in British history to achieve 60 years on the throne.

Advance tickets will need to be booked for the Barr Beacon event, which is expected to be extremely popular, and people will be able to do so from 10am on Tuesday 29 May 2012.

Chairman of Barr Beacon Trust, Councillor Adrian Andrew, said: "We are so proud that Barr Beacon is to be one of the sites taking part in the official celebration of such a momentous occasion.

"While we would love to be able to welcome everyone to this much-loved landmark we have to put people's safety first and that is why we have limited places to 200.

"We are announcing the arrangements for ticket bookings through all communication channels so that we try and reach as many people as possible, including those who do not have internet access.

"We are also asking community organisations throughout the borough to spread the word among all those they come into contact with.

"We have been informed that our beacon will be lit at 10.15pm and as Barr Beacon is Walsall's highest point the spectacle can be enjoyed all over the borough and beyond."

Tickets will be available from 10am on Tuesday 29 May and people can either telephone 01922 459813 to book or go to http://countryside.fikket.com and choose the 'diamond jubilee' event.

Proud day for Chuckery as Queen visits factory

Crabtree

Photo courtesy of The Crabtree Society

All the excitement of a Royal first in Walsall is captured in photographs and mementoes that form part of a special display at the town's museum.

The free display celebrates the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Crabtree factory in Chuckery on 24 May 1962.

The visit was particularly memorable as it was the first time a reigning monarch had ever visited Walsall.

Among the items on show are photographs of the Royal visit and examples of the products made by the Crabtree factory, as well as the special visitors' book signed by Her Majesty during the visit.

And it is a fitting addition to Walsall's celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year.

Crabtree's Royal Visit: A 50th Anniversary Display can be visited up until Saturday 30 June.

Jennifer Thomson, Walsall Council community history curator, said: "This was a very special time for the workers at Crabtree and local residents and the delight on people's faces is clear to see from all the photographs we have had loaned to us.

"JA Crabtree and Co Limited was the largest private employer in Walsall at that time employing around 2,000 people at its Lincoln Works in Chuckery.

"The firm made electrical switchgear such as light switches, plugs and sockets which were exported around the world.

"The visit was part of a small tour of the West Midlands which the Queen undertook on Commonwealth Day. She also met with local dignitaries in the Council House and reviewed more than 7,000 members of Walsall youth organisations in the Arboretum extension.

"The exhibition is well worth a visit as it evokes all the atmosphere of that unforgettable day."

The display is housed in Walsall Museum's Your Corner, a dedicated area within its permanent local history gallery, The Changing Face of Walsall.

This is a space where groups and individuals in the local community can put on their own displays on a variety of subjects, from aspects of local heritage to their own collections.

Anyone who would like items considered for display within the museum,is asked to contact 01922 653116 or email museum@walsall.gov.uk.

Remembering 60 years of Royal highlights

Historians and Royal fans alike will be all ears when the Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands gives a public talk on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr Paul Sabapathy CBE will be visiting Walsall Museum on Tuesday 22 May to share 'Highlights of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the role played by the Lord-Lieutenants in assisting the Monarchy."

The free talk has been arranged by Walsall Museum as part of the borough's celebrations for this Diamond Jubilee year.

Jennifer Thomson, Walsall Council community history curator, said: "We are delighted to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands whose talk promises to be fascinating for historians and fans of the Royal family alike,

"As well as focusing on the many landmarks of the 60 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the talk will examine the 500 year history of the Lord-Lieutenants.

"It is an important feature of Walsall's contribution to the commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year."

Mr Sabapathy a financial analyst and educationalist, is Chairman and Pro Chancellor of the University of Central England (UCE Birmingham), Chair of Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust, Vice-Chair of the NHS Confederation Primary Care Trust Network, a Committee member of the Higher Education Funding Council, a Trustee of the Bournville Village Trust and a member of the Lunar Society.

Lord-Lieutenants are the personal representative of the British Monarch in the shires and counties of Britain, and were first established by Henry VIII in the 1540s.

Traditionally they were responsible for raising and commanding the local militia but today their role focuses on carrying out duties on behalf of the Sovereign, arranging and escorting Royal visits, and participating in civic, voluntary and social activities within their lieutenancy.

The talk takes place at Walsall Museum from 2-3pm on Tuesday 22 May 2012.

It is free of charge but places are limited so advance booking is essential by contacting the museum on 01922 653116 or emailing museum@walsall.gov.uk to reserve your place.

This is part of a regular series of public talks on general, local and costume history and related subjects.  Details of other talks can be obtained by contacting Walsall Museum on 01922 653116.

Voices of Leckie event to celebrate Queen's Diamond Jubilee

A real trip down memory lane awaits visitors to an event at Joseph Leckie Academy this Sunday - organised in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year.

The Academy and the Joseph Leckie Community Association are celebrating the past 20 years of the school with The Voices of Leckie Oral History Project.

This is culminating in a free event on Sunday 29 April at the school in Walstead Road West that will give visitors the chance to view exhibitions and archived video footage, take part in discussions, share their memories and enjoy coffee, cake and 50s music.

Speakers will also be present at the event that runs from 1pm-3pm and free bunting workshops will also be held on the day.

Organisers hope to attract a good turnout of former pupils and help residents get in the mood for celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Few weeks left to get the party started in Walsall

Party food

Residents who fancy a right Royal knees up in their Walsall street to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee still have a few weeks left to sort out their parties.

Walsall Council needs applications for street parties that require road closures by 24 May 2012, giving people a month to make arrangements.

Budding revellers are asked to contact the borough's Safety Advisory Group which will consider any safety issues.

Traffic management officers will also consider if a road closure is appropriate at the same time and inform the organiser of the decision.

There is no cost to organisers for applications and the council has implemented all road closures which have gone through the application process so far.

A cul de sac or short crescent is likely to be ideal for street parties as it won't have an impact on traffic.

Jamie Morris, Walsall Council Executive Director (Neighbourhoods) said: "We fully support and encourage residents who want to mark this special Royal milestone and we are happy to help them as much as possible.

"We're inviting residents to contact the borough safety Advisory Group to discuss their plans.

"They have until 24 May to submit applications but the sooner we are notified of plans for any parties that may require a road closure the better.

"People also need to be reassured that while their particular street may not be suitable, the council can also offer advice on alternative venues that may be."

Twelve street parties have been given permission so far. These include Hereford Close and Greenwood Park in Aldridge, Hough Road, Pleck, Colliers Close in Willenhall and Daisy Bank Crescent in Walsall.

The Safety Advisory Group is currently contacting the other seven successful applicants.

Five requests are currently being considered and the group has had an additional 14 expressions of interest.

Jamie added: "The more the merrier as far as we're concerned. Walsall is ready to do the queen proud!"

For information and advice on street parties please contact Campbell Gray Walsall Council technical and safety development officer on 01922 650335.

Residents can also go online to http://cms.walsall.gov.uk/index/leisure_sports_community/street_parties_sag.htm for advice and guidance.

                                                                  

Royal theme for this year's Bloxwich Carnival

Bloxwich Carnival promises visitors a right Royal welcome in 2012 as it moves to a June slot to tie in with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year celebrations.

This year's theme will embrace the landmark anniversary by inviting Bloxwich Carnival Queens from years gone by to enjoy the event which is being held on Saturday 16 June.

And the competition to find a new Carnival Queen, princess and Rosebud will get underway on Saturday 21 April at St John's Methodist Church hall in Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, from 11am.

Budding Bloxwich ambassadors will be invited to step into the shoes of teenager Abigail Nicholls who has relished her role as 2011 Carnival Queen.

Carnival Princess Lucy Kirk and Carnival Rosebud Phoebe Willetts will also be stepping aside.

Contestants must live in the Walsall/Bloxwich area and need to be aged 16-24 for the Carnival Queen role, 11-15 for Carnival Princess and aged seven to 10 to be considered as a Rosebud.

The annual event is organised by Bloxwich Carnival Committee and supported by Walsall Council.

John Millard, Walsall Council park ranger, said: “Abigail did Bloxwich proud last year and we're looking for a worthy successor to take her place in 2012.

"The event has been moved from its usual August date to June 16 to tie in with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and we are urging past Carnival Queens to get in touch to join us on the big day."

Bloxwich Carnival traditionally draws thousands of visitors from the immediate community and beyond and organisers claim it is the Midlands' biggest.

Application forms can be downloaded via The Bloxwich Telegraph, the online community news, information and heritage magazine or collected from Bloxwich Co-op Travel in High Street or Bloxwich Library in Elmore Row.

Former Carnival Queens who would like to attend this year's event can contact John Millard on 07736 388409.

                                                                         

This page was last updated on 26 April 2013