Congratulations and jubilee-tions!

Posted 1st June 2022

queens_platinum_jubileYou’ll can’t fail to have noticed that our monarch is celebrating a very special milestone this year, and the nation will join Her Majesty the Queen in marking her Platinum Jubilee between June 2 & 5.

Here is a peek at some of the events happening across Milton Keynes to celebrate.

Thursday, June 2

Things will be taking a fiery turn at Milton Keynes Museum with the lighting of its beacon. 

Gates open at 7pm, and the beacon will be lit at 9.15pm. Entry is free.

> In CMK, The Parks Trust will host a Beacon Lighting Ceremony at 9.45pm – choosing to illuminate the Light Pyramid. Milton Keynes Brass will be live at the MK Rose from 9pm and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Alexander Boswell will give a speech.

> Beacons will also be lit at Hanslope Recreation Ground, at Hindhead Knoll in Walnut Tree and at the Wavendon Recreational Ground.

> Earlier in the day, a Jubilee Parade and Ceremony will snake a trail from Midsummer Boulevard to MK Rose and Campbell Park from 10.30am, followed by celebrations in the park from 11am. Details were still being finalised as Pulse went to press.

> Wavendon Parish Council is holding a Cream Tea in St Mary’s Church Rectory Garden between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Tasty scones and tea? It can’t fail to be a royal success!

> Head to All Saints’ Church in Loughton between 11am and 4pm for a Flower and Cake Festival (which will be running daily through to Sunday).

A beacon lighting ceremony is planned at MK Rose on Thursday 2 June

Friday, June 3

Newport Pagnell watering hole The Kings Arms is hosting a Kings Army Jubilee Street Party, beginning at 1pm.

The family-friendly bash will include bouncy castles, children’s entertainment and music.

A magician will ensure a magical atmosphere for youngsters.

> A Community Picnic will unpack at the Wavendon Recreation Ground from 2.30pm. 

Bring your chairs and food and get involved – the Woburn Sands Brass Band will provide the soundtrack.

Garden fete games will feature, and little people can get involved with wellie wanging!

> Bletchley Town Bowls Club, located on Princes Way, invites you to its Jubilee Festival from 2pm.

Saturday, June 4

Milton Keynes Museum has partnered with Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council for a Big Celebratory Party.

The royally good afternoon will include music and arts and crafts, and if you think you’ve got a good swing, you can step up for a game of crazy golf. Or perhaps you’d be interested in the Kings and Queens pageant? The Museum will also be hosting a proms finale and more.

The party will run from 1pm until 7.30pm and entry is free. 

Head to miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk for details.

> In Hanslope, residents will be limbering up for a Sports Day to mark the Jubilee!

> Little Brickhill Street Party will run from midday to 2.30pm and under 13s can get involved in a fancy dress of any theme. Over 13s have a red, white and blue theme. If you feel like channeling your inner Mary Berry, a cake competition with a royal theme is waiting for your submission.

Little Brickhill organisers have gone all out for these celebrations, which will also feature Best Dressed Dog and Best Decorated House in the village. There will be no special treatment if you enter your corgi, mind you!

> In Newport Pagnell the Platinum Jubilee is being marked with a Vintage Day, which will run from 11am through to 5.30pm.

The whole town will be ‘dressed’ for the celebrations, which will feature staged entertainment, indoor displays from the period, and dozens of vintage stalls.

A living history museum will be set up, and a vintage fashion show will show you the ‘current’ 1950s trends to adopt.

Add in singers and dancers and a live band paying homage to the period, and you’ll be ready to bop. If you do want to get your boogie on, take a trip to Bury Field where the dance floor will be set.

Beautiful bodywork will be on display at the vintage car and military vehicle show, and it’s such a big ‘do’ that the Rt Honourable Winston Churchill will be stopping by. 

For more details click to newport-pagnell.org.uk 

Sunday, June 5

Big Local Conniburrow is among those parishes taking part in the countrywide Big Jubilee Lunch.

The community bash will include a bouncy castle, arts & crafts, soft play, garden games and a live band.

“We wanted to bring the celebrations to the heart of the community to share friendship, food and fun with each other and to let people be a part of history,” said organiser Leigha Britnell.

Email contact@biglocalconniburrow.org to book a table. On the day, take along your grub and get stuck into a right royal feast!

“Anyone can turn up for the event,” Leigha told us, “There are 35 craft and trade stalls to peruse as well as free face painting and activities.”

Magic Karl
Catch Magic Karl at the Big Jubillee Lunch in Conniburrow

MK-based family and children’s entertainer Magic Karl will perform throughout the afternoon, and live music will come from covers band, Wired.

> Another Jubilee Lunch is set for the grassy area around Broughton Pub, between midday and 3pm.

Pack a picnic, or feel free to share your signature dish with your community.

Music, magic, inflatables, fete style games and food vendors will all feature.

> Other areas holding Big Lunch events today include Hanslope (theirs will take over the High Street for six hours from midday) and Wolverton Recreation Ground (midday-4pm) in Stony Stratford with magician Mr Custard, a coconut shy and music from the New Bradwell Silver Band. 

If you are able, please pack a tin or two of something to pop into the MK Food Bank Collection being held at the event.

Leon Recreational Grounds Park will be the setting for a Big Lunch in Bletchley, running 1pm-6pm, and in Walnut Tree, bring your picnic blankets and hampers to Hindhead Knoll between midday and 3pm.

> A special service to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be held at St Mary’s Church from 3pm. All are welcome.

> Milton Keynes Chorale present their concert to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with Crowning Glory, at MK Theatre. One hundred and twenty singers from MK Chorale, Polymnia, Musical MK and Oxford Pro Musica Singers will combine talents and vocals to deliver pieces by Handel (Zadok the Priest), Elgar (Nimrod) and Walton (Coronation Te Deum). 

A rousing evening will reach its end with a big finale featuring a fresh arrangement of the National Anthem.

Tickets start at £15, the show goes live from 7.30pm. Visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes