Raring2go! Gulidford

9 WHAT’S ON Raring2go! raring2go .co.uk O n Sunday 6th February 2022, Elizabeth II became the first monarch in British History to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. To mark the Queen’s 70 years of service, jubilee celebrations will culminate in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. The county archive, Surrey History Centre based in Woking, collects and preserves the records and archaeology of Surrey’s past and present. Delving into Surrey’s archives which are stored on 6 miles of shelving(!), here’s a snapshot of how Surrey celebrated past monarchy’s jubilees. Queen Victoria (1819-1901) is the only other monarchy who has come close to Elizabeth II’s reign celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Surrey joined in by holding sporting events, fetes, processions and dinners. At Hale 600 children were treated to a ‘Capital tea’, while the children of North Holmwood received a book about Victoria, her portrait and a Jubilee mug, The first ever Silver Jubilee celebration of a British monarch was George V on 6 May 1935. Sadly the King died less than a year later but in the archives, Surrey History Centre has images of jubilee celebrations in Whyteleafe, where the local fire brigade treated crowds to target practise trying to hit targets with water from their fire hoses. Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 marking 25 years on the throne. Surrey marked the event by lining the streets with bunting and union jack flags as well as carnivals and parades. Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this Summer The Golden Jubilee in 2002 was marked with a Surrey tribute concert and picnic at Loseley Park, Guildford and numerous street parties and events across the county. Souvenir programmes were often deposited into the archive after such events. In 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee year, many street parties took place as part of the lottery-funded ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ led by the Eden Project. The aim was to encourage neighbourhoods to come together to share lunch and form a community. With the Platinum Jubilee fast approaching, what are your plans to celebrate? Perhaps you can draw inspiration from jubilees in the past. Visit Surrey History Centre through June to view a Jubilee display and pick up free children’s craft packs. If you capture any moments from your Surrey Jubilee celebration, Surrey History Centre would love to add them to the collection to preserve them for future generations to explore. Please get in touch at shs@surreycc.gov.uk for further details. Left to Right: Banners and decorations in High Street, Guildford, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Guildford, High Street, decorated outside Tunsgate for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 1897, Godalming, High Street - view of the High Street during the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria