There’s plenty of celebrations planned across Purbeck to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
There’s something happening every day in Swanage and the surrounding villages over the long weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June 2022 to commemorate 70 years of the Queen’s reign.
The Lower High Street in Swanage will be closed on Friday 3rd June for the tea party for 600 guests
BBC South interviews co-chair of the Swanage Platinum Jubilee committee, Linda Welsh about all the events planned
One of the largest jubilee tea parties along the South Coast
Swanage will host one of the biggest jubilee tea parties along the South Coast of England, continuing a tradition that’s lasted over several centuries.
So ambitious are all the plans that BBC South visited Swanage on Tuesday 31st May 2022 to preview the events and chat to the co-organiser Linda Welsh. Watch the BBC report at the end of this article.
The Purbeck Flower Club, which meets 2.15 pm every third Thursday of the month at The Mowlem, has provided all the amazing floral decorations in Swanage. Pictured (right to left) Wendy Hammersley, Chair of Purbeck Flower Group Pat Cherrett and Vikki Fooks with their patriotic button holes that they are selling for £1 in Station Road
Round up of the main Purbeck Platinum Jubilee events 2022
Swanage
Thursday 2nd July
Durlston Castle beacon lighting
- From 8.15 pm – There’s an open invitation for everyone to come to Durlston Castle and have a picnic in the seating area next to the Fine Foundation Gallery, where teas and coffee will be available. A bus service will operate for the evening between Swanage town centre and Durlston
- 9.25 pm – Speeches by HM Lord-Lieutenant, chair of Dorset Council and Swanage Town Mayor
- 9.35 pm – Piper, Maximilian Yeo to play ‘Diu Regnare’
- 9.40 pm – Bugler, Elizabeth Carter of Durnovaria Silver Band to play ‘Majesty’ Loyal Toast
- 9.45 pm – Beacon will be lit on the Turret platform
St Mary’s Church
- 7.30 pm – At St Mary’s Church, a special celebration of royal music to mark the Platinum Jubilee will be given by the distinguished organist, Malcolm Archer, who was organist of Bristol, Wells and then St Paul’s Cathedral.
Swanage Railway
- Swanage Railway will operate a special steam train service with commemorative silver and red headboards between Thursday 2nd June and Sunday 5th June 2022. Trains will leave Norden and Swanage every 45 minutes between 10.30 am and 5 pm, except for a 75 minute gap at lunchtime.
Swanage Railway volunteer Malcolm Munro displays the boards that he made, that will adorn the steam trains over the long weekend
Friday 3rd June
All day street party
- From 10 am – Events across Swanage, including fancy dress competition, WI organised cake decorating competition, and artisan stalls from the Stone Quay to Prince Albert Gardens. Performances will take place at Prince Albert Gardens, the Stone Quay, Lower High Street and The Square including Swanage Town Band, Karl Lattimer, Janet Rees and the Beharah Belly Dancers.
- From 12 noon – Performances including Karen Grant, Nicole Faraday, June Ranger School of Dance, Allsort’d Choir, Kelp shanty singers and Maiden Oak.
- 3 pm – The Platinum Jubilee Tea Party in the Lower High Street. All tickets sold out but those who still want to join in can bring a picnic to Prince Albert Gardens.
- From 4 pm – Performances including The Salamanda Band, Gary Deamer Karaoke, and Steve Lowry family disco.
- 9 pm to 11 pm – The band The Reptiles at Prince Albert Gardens.
More detailed information is in the Swanage Platinum Jubilee programme, available for £3.
Prince Albert Gardens in Swanage will host music and other performances on Friday 3rd June
Saturday 4th June
Sandpit Field
- 10 am to 5 pm – The Purbeck Pirate Festival as even pirates like to party!
Out of the Deep Blue show
An outdoor show by the Autin Dance Theatre featuring a giant puppet on the theme of the sea and climate emergency
- 11 am to 12 noon – Shore Road hard standing
- 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm – Prince Albert Gardens
Swanage Bandstand
- 2 pm – Swanage Jazz Machine
Sunday 5th June
Swanage Bandstand
- 12 noon – Swanage Jazz Machine
St Mary’s Church
- 6.30 pm – A special choral Evensong with music sung at the Coronation.
Studland Village Stores
Studland
Thursday 2nd June
Beacon lighting at Ballard Down
- 2 pm – Village crier delivers the Proclamation to announce the celebrations to be held on the village green opposite the shop and Studland Village Hall
- 7.30 pm – Transport to Ballard Down from Studland Village Hall starts. Barbecue and bar at the beacon site
- 9.40 pm – Bugle Call ‘Majesty’ – played by Reuben Bennett
- 9.45 pm – Lighting of the Beacon by Doris Royal, out-going chair of the WI, accompanied by ‘A Song for the Commonwealth’ – performed by St Nicholas’ Church Choir. The National Anthem – sung by everyone
- 10 pm – Transport back down to the village.
The Old Harry Bar gets into the spirit in Studland
Sunday 5th June
St Nicholas’ Church
- 10 am – Church service
Street party
- 12 noon to 6 pm – Street party in Church Road
A beacon will be lit at Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle
Thursday 2nd June
Beacon lighting at Corfe Castle
- 2 pm – The Proclamation in the square. Join us in the village square to hear the proclamation of the lighting of the beacon by our town crier, Barry Stocks.
- 7 pm to 10 pm – Lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacon in the Corfe Castle grounds. The castle grounds will be open from 7 pm and the event will start at 9 pm culminating in the beacon lighting at 9.45 pm. Entry is free and people are invited to bring a picnic.
A piper will play a specially commissioned tune for HM The Queen and the Corfe Castle Jubilee Choir will sing the new Commonwealth Anthem and the National Anthem.
Fun events at Corfe Castle Village Hall
Saturday 4th June
A Day of Fun in the Corfe Castle Village Hall
- 10 am – A Day of Fun in the Village Hall starting with a coffee morning and a display of the entries in the children’s art competition and the poetry competition.
- 2 pm – The Great Bake-off judging
- 2 pm to 2.45 pm – Double Act perform ‘Who Rules Britannia? The Story so Far….’
- 3.30 pm – Prize giving for the Great Bake-off, children’s art competition, poetry competition, treasure hunt and best home and business frontage.
The bakery in Corfe Castle rises to the occasion
Sunday 5th June
St Edward’s Church
10.30 am to 11.30 am – Jubilee Church Service with bell ringing.
Picnic at the Millennium Sports Field in West Street
- 12 noon to 4 pm – The Big Jubilee Picnic. A traditional Jubilee gathering with family and friends. Bring your own picnic, rugs and seats and enjoy refreshments – tea, coffee, Purbeck Ice Cream and Bake-off puddings and cakes. Enjoy the U3A Ukulele Band, a circus entertainer, some very silly but very competitive games.
- 3.30 pm – Results of the grand prize draw
Flying the flag with rosettes by the Purbeck Flower Club
Wareham
Thursday 2nd June
Tea party and beacon lighting
- From 1 pm – At Howard’s Lane car park there will be children’s entertainment, competitions, games, fancy dress.
- Evening – live music
- 9.35 pm – Piper
9.45 pm – Lighting the beacon and singing the Jubilee Song
Worth Matravers
- Events planned including the lighting of a beacon at 9.45 pm on Thursday 2nd June.
Kimmeridge
- Lighting of a beacon at the main beach car park at 9.45 pm on Thursday 2nd June. There’s also a jubilee party at the village playground.
The Queen visiting The Tank Museum in Bovington in 2009
National events
Thursday 2nd June
Queen’s birthday parade and Trooping the Colour takes place – as Platinum Jubilee Beacons across in 2,000 towns and cities light up
Friday 3rd June
National Service of Thanksgiving is held at St Pauls. Ringing of Great Paul, the restored biggest church bell in the country
Saturday 4th June
The Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse – and BBC Platinum Party at the Palace
Sunday 5th June
Big Jubilee Lunch and street parties. Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a procession and performance in central London, involving 10,000 people and the Gold State Coach
Watch the BBC South report from Swanage
More photos
More decorations in Swanage by the Purbeck Flower Club
