Platinum Jubilee Celebration

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was marked in style on 2nd June 2022 with a public celebration event, organised by Great Aycliffe Town Council.

The event, which took place on the Oakleaf Complex sports field, drew a crowd of more than 1000 people to help commemorate this historic moment. Residents brought their picnics, blankets, deckchairs and flags and settled back for an evening of entertainment, kicked off in style by Aycliffe and Brancepeth Brass band playing ‘God Save the Queen’ plus numerous other patriotic tunes. Children from the Shine Choir entertained the audience with their rendition of many popular songs, before local singer Jenna Highfield took to the stage to perform more classic hits, with enthusiastic accompaniment from all present.

The evening was completed by the Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Councillor Ken Robson, lighting a beacon, which was part of the nationwide tribute to Her Majesty, with more than 1,500 beacons being lit throughout the United Kingdom and UK Overseas Territories.

Winners of the Design a Crown competition from local schools took part in a lantern procession prior to lighting the beacon, whilst a lone piper played, creating an atmospheric finale at dusk to this historic occasion.