As the Platinum Jubilee celebrations took place throughout Harrow over the weekend, one highlight was in Hatch End, at the Harrow Arts Centre’s Celebration Day.
With the carpark closed off, market stalls, funfair rides and street food vendors assembled, supported by a constant stream of live performers, singers and dancers at the stage area.
The celebration day, to mark a historic occasion for our nation, was attended by hundreds of Harrow residents and was an enormous success (despite the early rainfall which did not stop a few patriotic locals from coming down and enjoying the event!)
A special tree-planting ceremony took place to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to close the festivities, this followed the planting of a Willow tree in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee. This planting was part of the NCIL bid improvements to the green open space and follows a consultation earlier in March to turn this open up the banks of the river Pinn, creating a sinuous path around the park that is available to all.
There is hope for a flower meadow in the centre where the adjacent apiary can forage, alongside a shielded wild area of wetland to protect the local wildlife, creating a focal point for the friends of the park to meet, manage, refresh and tend the area. This will be a location for the residents of Hatch End to visit and refresh themselves.
Newly elected Hatch End Councillor, Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, who has been attending several Jubilee events across the Borough this weekend, was invited to say a few words to mark the occasion, reflecting on the importance of coming together and making new memories, before planting the Oak tree. This was alongside John Cobb, representing the Hatch End Association, and Cllr. Jean Lammiman, Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture.
Thanks must go to the organisers of the event, the volunteers at the Harrow Arts Centre and, of course, to HM The Queen – Long May She Reign!
