Queen’s Jubilee Celebrated Across Lozells, Birchfield & Handsworth

Despite, the poor weather over the weekend, residents across the Lozells & East Handsworth Ward have been celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee like the rest of the country and in fact, the commonwealth world. This weekend has made me feel incredibly proud to be British.

My Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations started on Thursday evening as I accepted an invite from John Heaven to participate in a celebration taking place in Germany via Skype. I was very pleased to join the celebrations and discuss our plans for the weekend and what it feels like to be British in preparation for such an important landmark. I was also very pleased to learn that the BBC has covered this unique event that had input from New Zealand as well as Germany and the UK.

Residents on Haughton Road in Birchfield led by local activist Denise Forsight had organised a street party but unfortunately due to the rain, the street party had to cancelled. This, however, didn’t stop the residents from celebrating as they took the offer from Reverend Cannon Eve Pitts of the Holy Trinity Church on Trinity Road to move the street party into a Church Hall. The party was brilliant, incredibly enjoyable with many local residents of all ages and ethnicities attending. I was in particular impressed at how the organiser’s were able to get two bouncy castles into the church hall for the dozens of children to enjoy.

I was also impressed that Asda from Perry Barr supported the event with some kind donations. Below, I am speaking to Amanda Howe from the Asda Community Life Project and Denise.

I was also able to attend the street party organised by Lozells Methodist Community Centre and the Reverend Helen Jobling. Similar to the Haughton Road Party, they also had to move into the church hall. Again, the atmosphere was one of great celebration with the dozens of local residents watching proceedings of the Queen Jubilee River Pageant on the big screen whilst having some fantastic food.

Lozells Methodist Community Centre is a superb community resource that has rapidly become the Lozells Community Centre hosting many activities organised by many different organisations.

I feel strongly that these parties and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations across the country have supported community integration and social cohesion. The engagement of young people in the celebrations has helped in educating many of them of the role of the monarchy as well as bringing out the role of the Commonwealth World and the history around the British Empire.