Dress up for a jubilee party in Queen’s Park (From This Is Wiltshire)

Dress up for a jubilee party in Queen’s Park

7:30pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Music By Josh Layton

SWINDON’S very own Queen’s Park is set to become the jewel in the crown of the town’s jubilee celebrations this summer.

The Adver told on Monday how a special rendition of God Save The Queen by an 18-piece jazz band will be the climax to the Queen’s diamond jubilee event in July.

But plans are well under way for the wider event, which will include inviting people to tuck into lunch together and turn up in their best royal finery.

The park’s name comes from a visit by Princess Elizabeth in 1950, two years before she came to the throne.

Coun Stan Pajack, the chairman of the Queen’s Park Community Council, said: “We hope to have a band and will attempt to encourage people to come with musical instruments, either home-made or real, to play God Save The Queen.

“It is also part of the national Big Jubilee Lunch where communities are encouraged to come together for lunch – not only picnics on the lawn but at our community cafe, which will be open selling special jubilee cakes amid its normal array of refreshments.

“Both children and adults will be encouraged to come in Royal costume with prizes for the best Royals of the day.”

The park was given its name after the Queen’s official coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953, although she came to the throne the previous year.

Footage from British Pathe News shows her stepping off the Paddington to Swindon locomotive before opening the remembrance garden during her visit.

Thousands of people lined the streets and Union Jacks were draped from buildings as her cortege made its way around the town.

The Nathan Jones Allstars Jazz Band are already booked for the event on July 22 and will mark the occasion with their own version of God Save The Queen.