The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
Report from Kelly Green with additional photos from Alex Wonner
Tristan da Cunha's Platinum Jubilee celebrations on the 2nd June 2022 started at 7:00pm with a reception at the Prince Philip Hall.
The reception was opened with a speech from Acting Administrator Helene Jaumotte, followed by prayers and blessings for Her Majesty from St Mary's and St Joseph's Churches, let by the Rev Margret Van den Berg, and lay readers Carlene Glass-Green and Anne Green.
Acting Administrator Helene Jaumotte reads her opening speech, and Rev Margaret Van den Berg leads prayers and blessings along with island lay readers Carlene Glass Green and Anne Green |
St Mary’s School Choir then sang the Song for the Commonwealth, 'A Life Lived in Grace', which had been written and composed specially by Lucy Keily, from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria. There was a Toast to Her Majesty the Queen and everyone sang the National Anthem
Everyone went outside at 9:15pm to see the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacon on the 1961 volcano. It being winter in the South Atlantic, people needed to wrap up well.
Two views of Tristan's Jubilee Beacon alight on the 1961 volcano |
Afterwards, the community enjoyed the rest of the night with socialising and dancing. The Seven Seas girls did all the catering and decorating. The children also painted jubilee pictures.
The centrepiece of the celebrations, including a specially baked Platinum Jubilee cake |
Anyone watching Sky News at 8:40pm Tristan time may have been pleasantly surprised to see Conrad Glass - Tristan's policeman - being interviewed about the island's Jubilee celebrations.