Over 150 local school children joined Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) staff, Members and representatives from the local community in Westminster to pay a special tribute to The Queen on the pitch at Lord’s and help celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
The children from Gateway Academy who take part in MCC’s community outreach programme, came together with MCC and community representatives to form a special ’70’ message, in front of the ground’s iconic Pavilion and ahead of the LV=Insurance Test Match between England and New Zealand, which gets underway at Lord’s on Thursday, the first day of the four day national celebrations.
The tribute is part of a number activities led by MCC across the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend and Test Match to honour The Queen, who is also MCC Patron, and mark her 70 years on the throne. She has visited Lord’s 25 times during her reign; most of these as a guest for test matches with her last visit for the England v Australia Ashes Test in 2013.
The opening day of the England v New Zealand Test will be marked by the planting of a tree in the Coronation Garden in a ceremony led by MCC President Clare Connor and as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project, a nationwide tree-planting initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
On Sunday, MCC has partnered with St. John’s Wood Society on a Big Jubilee Lunch. This event, supported by MCC Community Department, will take the form of a children’s banquet hosted in neighbouring St. John’s Wood Church.
Meanwhile, the Home of Cricket is set to be transformed for the Jubilee bank holiday into a sea of red, white and blue with floral decorations, bunting, and a giant Union Jack flag sitting proudly on top of the J.P. Morgan Media Centre. Fans and staff attending the Test are being encouraged to wear red, white and blue to celebrate the occasion. They will also be able to enjoy a range of Jubilee themed food and drink at the Ground including an exclusive Hendrick’s Gin and Veuve Clicquot Jubilee cocktail, and Jubilee-themed afternoon tea.
The stunning visual tribute to The Queen at Lord’s led by the local school children is set to be seen across the world and highlight the affection felt towards her by people of all ages and generations. Others who enjoyed the day were local MCC Members, MCC and ECB staff, as well neighbouring community members from The Wellington Hospital, Abbey Road Studios, the St John’s Wood Society and Westiminster Council.
Guy Lavender, Chief Executive & Secretary, MCC said: “The Jubilee celebrations are about bringing communities together and celebrating the achievement of 70 glorious years of Her Majesty. Working with so many from our local community on creating a fitting tribute has been a great honour. From everyone at MCC, we send many congratulations to our Patron and we look forward to marking the occasion across the special long weekend.
Claire Cleary, Deputy Head, Gateway Academy, added: “It was such a wonderful opportunity for our children to take part in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Lord’s. For them to be involved in something so special and at a momentous time in our country’s history, celebrating Her Majesty becoming the first British Monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee was incredible and will be something that they will remember for years to come.”
