Sark’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations

A few weeks ago, Their Royal Highnesses the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived on Sark to mark both the 77th anniversary of the Island’s Liberation and the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Coronation. In 2022, after 70 years of service, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first ever British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee; grand celebrations are planned all across the lands and territories she oversees. There are already 2,429 public events and 2,579 street parties or private events registered at the UK Government website: Events – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022

Sark, of course, is planning its own celebrations and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee will be marked by a four-day fun filled extravaganza beginning on 2nd June 2022. Celebrations on Thursday 2nd June 2022 will begin at 1pm as Sark’s very own ‘town crier’, Peter Plummer, makes an official proclamation opening the event. The proclamation will be staged at Chris Rang’s ‘Sheep Race Field’ and as outlined within the official guide to taking part in the Jubilee celebrations, it is likely that the proclamation will run as:

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!

Today in our nation – and throughout the Commonwealth – we are celebrating our glorious Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Elizabeth – the second of that name – our most beloved Sovereign and Head of the Commonwealth for 70 years. How apt that this should be the Platinum anniversary of her accession – Platinum – that most noble of metals, more precious even than gold. And so it is in honour of this unique occasion that beacons will be lit this evening throughout the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK Overseas Territories – and in all the Capital Cities of the Commonwealth. Let it be known, in proclaiming this tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee, that we are one nation and one Commonwealth.

God Save The Queen!’

The words are from a time becoming lost – they resound with togetherness; the spectacle will prove rousing and Mr Plummer, the self-styled ‘King’ of Sark, will provide all necessary gravitas. The bar at the field will be open from 7pm and there will be food and live music. The music will be performed by six-piece Guernsey cover band called the ‘Underdog’ including: Carly (vocals), Tanya (vocals), Gareth (drums), Nathan (guitar), Steve (guitar) and Jordan (bass).

As part of the Platinum Jubilee festivities, beacons will be lit across all the territories and the Sark beacon will be lit at 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June 2022. Information on other Jubilee celebrations across the mainland, the Commonwealth and the other Channel Islands can be found at: The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons 2022 (queensjubileebeacons.com)

On Sunday 5th June 2022 at 10.30am there will be a special church service held at St Peter’s Church and this will be followed by a street party! There hasn’t been a street party in Sark since the Liberation Day celebrations on 10th May 2017. The 2022 Jubilee Street Party will again be held on the Avenue, with the party starting at 12:15pm! Alongside the traditional street party, there will be fun and games on the Avenue Green. All these events are open to everyone with both residents and visitors very welcome. The organisers are asking for people to volunteer and to contribute to the community celebrations: ‘everyone please brings along some food to share as part of our family friendly afternoon party.’ Volunteers are also needed and willing hands should please make themselves known, either by contacting the Sark Constable at [email protected] or by messaging the group’s Facebook page: #‘Sark celebrates The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022.’

The Sark Newspaper would like to wish the organisers every success with these audacious plans and wish all Islanders a fun filled extended Bank Holiday!

This article first appeared in the Sark Newspaper : May 27th 2022