Today (27th May 2022) the Town Mayor, Councillor Michael Siddle attended the Jubilee Party at Cockton Hill Junior School as a start of the Mayor’s Jubilee activities.
After opening the celebration Mayor Siddle said: “It has been lovely to see the children participating in such a lovely celebration, it has been such a shame that the weather let things down, but lots of fun has still been had. This Jubilee really is a once in a lifetime event, it has been great to be here today as part of the overall celebrations of the Town.”
“The school, have also taken part in the Jubilee Jog, which the Town Council have supported though the Angel Trust to help ensure that the children receive a memento to remember this special event, and the jog has had over 3,000 participants which is amazing. It has been wonderful to the celebrations today, a really good way to start the countdown to the other Town Council activities taking place over the bank holiday weekend.”
“We are thrilled to be an official Jubilee Beacon Town, with our beacon being lit as part of our Platinum Party celebrations next Thursday, where there will be a Full Moon Street Market and entertainment in the Market place from 6pm. This is followed on Friday with our Platinum Car Show, in collaboration with the Northern Bygones Society, and then on Saturday we have a free children’s fun fair in the Market Place, along with the sold out Platinum Picnic at the Castle grounds, in Partnership with the Auckland Project. We have tried to support and arrange a range of events to be as inclusive as possible.”
“It is lovely to see the town start to turn red, white and blue as people start to decorate for the celebrations. The knitted Beefeaters are very special and the work that has gone in to them is outstanding, King James WI have made great job of them. Don’t forget that there is a competition in every ward for best dressed windows, don’t forget to let us know so we make sure we take a look at yours as part of the judging next week.”
The Town Council are hosting a range of events across the Jubilee weekend as well as supporting others, these include:
- Supporting the Woodhouse Close Community Centre and Auckland Youth and Community Centre event on 1st June 2022.
- Supporting the Wear Valley Community Action Event on at Henknowle Community Centre on 2nd June.
- Platinum Party and Beacon Lighting event Market Place, Bishop Auckland on 2nd June.
- Platinum Car Show, in Partnership with Norther Bygones Society, Market Place, Bishop Auckland on 3rd June.
- Platinum Fun Fair, (small free fun fair for children under 8 years old), Market Place, Bishop Auckland on 4th June.
- Platinum Picnic, in partnership with The Auckland Project, at Auckland Castle on 4th June.
Combined Church Service, by Bishop Auckland Churches Together, Auckland Castle on 5th June
Across the weekend there will also be a display of knitted bunting and knitted jubilee Beefeater Soldier’s knitted by King James WI in the Market place, and on Fore Bondgate.
There will be a ‘Find our Queen’ free trail in the town centre – sheets can be collected from the Town Council stand at the beacon event or No.42 over the weekend.
There are also other activities to see including a display of jubilee flags designed by school children of the town in No.42 Market Place, coordinated by the Angel Trust and kindly displayed by the Auckland Project. The Auckland Project are also working with the Bridge Creative to run a pop up Royal Teas event in No.1 Market Place, where attendees with receive a wonderful talk by renowned Royalist and memorabilia collector Anita Atkinson.
