Giant banner unveiled to mark Queen’s platinum jubilee
Former premier Sir John Swan has spoken warmly about his meetings with the Queen as a huge banner to mark the monarch’s platinum jubilee was unveiled in Hamilton.
Sir John, who resigned as head of government after voters rejected his push for independence in 1995, said that the Queen was always knowledgable about Bermuda.
The banner, which cost about $15,000 in donations from businesses and can be seen at Seon Place, 141 Front Street, marks the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
It came about when members of the community were concerned that there were no public plans to mark the jubilee in Bermuda.
Sir John told The Royal Gazette: “I met the Queen a number of times. She was always very encouraging and interesting.
“She has, of course, visited Bermuda in the past and knew what was happening here.”
Asked about his drive for independence, Sir John, 87, said: “I think the world has moved on. It is good to be part of the Commonwealth and have collaborative relationships.”
The Queen became monarch on the death of her father, George VI, in February 1952 and was crowned in June the following year.
The banner is part of commemorations planned for Bermuda to mark the jubilee.
A long weekend of celebrations across Britain, the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories will run from June 2 to 5 as the Queen becomes the first British monarch to celebrate seven decades of rule.
On June 2, Rena Lalgie, the Governor, will host the Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Reception at Government House with her husband, Jacob Hawkins.
Ms Lalgie will join David Burt, the Premier, to plant two commemorative trees on June 3.
On June 4, the annual Queen’s Birthday Parade will take place along Front Street.
The parade includes marching units from the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the RBR Band & Corps of Drums, the Bermuda Police Service, the RBR Junior Leaders and the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps.
Ms Lalgie will also present representatives of the uniformed services with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
The Queen’s platinum jubilee is being marked across the Caribbean with even the independent Bahamas honouring the occasion.
Residents of the Cayman Islands are getting an extended four-day bank holiday weekend.
Beacons will be lit across the islands and the territory’s air show makes a comeback to mark the royal event.
And there will also be a “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” green initiative.
The people on Montserrat will also have this Thursday and Friday as public holidays.
People in Turks and Caicos also enjoy two days off work and school in order to celebrate the longest reign of a British sovereign.
The Bahamas, which although an independent nation retains the Queen as head of state, is publishing commemorative stamps in the monarch’s honour.
On June 5, a service of thanksgiving will be held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton.
A jubilee service will be held on June 12 at St Peter’s Church in St George’s, also marking the tenth anniversary of the intituling of St Peter’s Church as “Their Majesties Chappell”.
The City of Hamilton will give its own tribute for the event, a spokeswoman confirmed.
A tree planting is planned for the city’s Queen Elizabeth Park, which was formerly Par-la-Ville Park before being renamed in 2012 to commemorate the monarch’s diamond jubilee.
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