HAPPY AND GLORIOUS: Dozens of events in Dorset to mark Queen's 90th

A number of events are taking place across the county to mark the occasion with residents asked to raise a toast to Her Majesty.

The Queen turned 90 earlier this year but her official birthday falls on Saturday, June 11.

Picnics, street parties, exhibitions and tea parties are among the events taking place in Dorset on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council isn’t organising an event for the Queen’s birthday but a street party is being held at the Nothe Fort on Sunday evening between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

The Fort will be decorated with bunting and balloons and people are encouraged to bring along a picnic tea. There will also be musical entertainment. A limited number of places are available and entry costs £2.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Richard Kosior encouraged people to celebrate the occasion.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to wish Her Majesty the Queen a very Happy 90th birthday. This special occasion is a wonderful chance for communities to come together and celebrate the day.”

Similar events are also taking place in Portland, Dorchester and west Dorset.

On Friday, Action for Children will host a garden party from 9.30am to 11.30am at their Castle Road premises on Portland.

Sue Turle, children’s services manager for the Weymouth & Portland children’s centres said: “Having a garden party is a great British tradition and everyone is looking forward to a lovely day celebrating with Her Majesty. 

"We’re all very proud the Queen is our patron and I think she’ll approve of all our children and their families getting together to spend time with each other and have some fun in her name.”

The following day a ‘Party in the Park’ event will take place in Victoria Gardens, featuring music from the Weymouth Concert Brass Band. This will take place between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, in Dorchester, a picnic style street party event will mark the royal occasion in the Borough Gardens.

The event will take place on Sunday running from noon to 8pm. There will be live music and a big screen featuring live coverage from The Mall, London, where a giant street party is due to take place.

Patients in Dorset County Hospital will also be afforded the chance to engage in the celebrations.

Ridgeway Radio will broadcast live from St Peter’s Church, Dorchester, on Saturday from 10am, as it puts on a special service to mark the Queen’s birthday.

The nation is being encouraged to sit down and eat with their neighbours on Sunday in streets and community spaces.

Dorset County Council said they had received 26 applications for street parties and road closures at different points over the weekend.

Street Closures (approved by Dorset County Council)

Saturday

Winterbourne Kingston - Church Street

Tarrant Hinton - Gunvile Lane

West Street, Bere Regis - West Street

Winterborne Zelston - The Street

Apple Grove, Christchurch - Apple Grove

Chelmsford Street - Chelmsford Street

Church Street, Upwey - Church Street

Broadmeadow, Weymouth - Broadmeadow Turning circle

Hardy Avenue, Weymouth - Hardy Avenue

Sunday

Broadwindsor Fun Day - The Square, West Street

Milton Road, Wimborne - Milton Road, Wimborne

Westfield Close, Wimborne - Westfield Close

Hinton St Mary - Ridgeway Lane

Richmond Road, Swanage - Richmond Road, Swanage

Witchampton and Crichel - Pound Hill, Witchampton

Market Place, Blandford - Market Place, Blandford

Langton Herring - School Hill, Langton Herring

Orchard Street, Blandford - Orchard Street

Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth - Lower Sea Lane

Lower Street, Okeford Fitzpaine - Lower Street

Lyme Regis Civic Parade - Pound Street, Broad Street, Bridge Street and Church Street

Bosley Way, Christchurch - Bosley Way

Flambard Avenue, Christchurch

Bell Street, Shaftesbury - Bell Street

Freda Way, Christchurch - Freda Road

A NUMBER of parishes will mark the Queen’s birthday by celebrating their area’s own history.

Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth, is hosting an exhibition illustrating the life of the parish and its inhabitants over the Queen’s lifetime.

Memories provided by parishioners will be on display, whilst a flower festival will also take place.

Both will take place between Friday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. On Saturday night, St Nicholas Church will be showcasing music and other memories from 1926 up until today as part of a talent show.

This starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. On Sunday, a thanksgiving service will be held at Holy Trinity, starting at 10am.

Janet Hall said: "I saw something saying that the Church of England wanted people to do this to celebrate the Queen as she has given great service and she's head of the church.

"We are celebrating the parish, the people who have lived here over 90 years and what's happened to them. 

"It's given us a chance to go out and speak to elderly people. The elderly people are sometimes left out of these things but this time this is who we need to hear from.

"There have been quite some amazing things happening in that time."

Janet said those interviewed had contributed to books which will be on display at the church. Interviews have taken place since the winter.

She said: "We are just getting the exhibition into place. There will be plenty for people to see."

Meanwhile, St Nicholas Church in Broadwey will host a similar exhibition but will reflect on Broadwey and Upwey over the past 90 years.

Organiser Judy Parson said: "We’ve collected items from parishioners and borrowed school and village photos from the Upwey and Broadwey history collection. 

"The church is dressed for a party and we even have an old gramophone and records to play.

"We look forward to seeing residents old and new."

The free exhibition will take place in the church on Saturday between 11am and 4pm and Sunday between 1pm and 4pm