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Platinum Jubilee: Gravesend street party launches celebrations

BBC Children wave flags at a street partyBBC
Children from nine local schools gathered to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Community Square, Gravesend, on Thursday

A giant community street party has marked the start of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

About 500 children from nine local schools attended the celebrations in Community Square in Gravesend, Kent, on Thursday.

Among the attendees were 16 people whose 70th birthdays coincide with the Platinum Jubilee year.

The celebrations were organised jointly by Gravesham Borough Council and a local events company.

Mayor of Gravesham, Peter Scollard, said: "It's a cross between the young and old residents celebrating the jubilee with a street party.

"We've gone early this week because the children break up [from school]. We want the school children to be part of this festival and getting the local residents out and interacting with the older generation as well."

Crowds gathered for a community street party
Crowds gathered between 11:30 and 13:30 GMT in Community Square

Students from nine local schools attended the party:

  • Cecil Road Primary
  • Chantry Academy
  • Copperfield Academy
  • Holy Trinity
  • Riverview Infant School
  • Rosherville
  • St George's Primary
  • St John's Primary
  • Ifield
Alexander from St George's Primary
Alexander, 8, attended the party with school friends from St George's Primary

Alexander, eight, from St. George's Primary said: "She's been on the throne for 70 years. I'm very excited because this is the only chance, maybe in my life, that I'll get to do this."

Schoolmate Evan, also eight, added: "It makes me feel happy because it's a really special day".

Rosemary Dymond, 69, is one of the residents who will be sharing her 70th birthday with this Platinum Jubilee year.

Ms Dymond said: "I wanted to come because I've got so much admiration for the Queen. What a magnificent person who gives so much time to service. She is the real emblem of our country, the commonwealth and the world.

Rosemary Dymond
Dressed for the occasion, Rosemary Dymond, 69, shares her 70th birthday year with the Platinum Jubilee festivities

Co-organiser Gurvinder Sandher said: "The whole idea of today is to create special memories for the children.....[and] also to bring the communities together.

"Hopefully the children will go away from today having not only had a great time, but this is something they will talk about in five, 10, 15 years' time."

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