As the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday today we join with many thousands of people throughout Suffolk in wishing Her Majesty a very happy birthday.
Today, April 21, is Her Majesty’s actual birthday, but there will also be celebrations on June 11, the day recognised as her official birthday when the Trooping of the Colour takes place.
Celebrations are taking place in schools, care homes and gardens across the region and the country today as members of the public help Her Majesty the Queen mark her 90th birthday.
This evening many communities are having beacon-lighting events with more than 1,000 taking place nationwide.
The principle beacon is being lit by Her Majesty, along with Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at Windsor Castle. This will be followed by a number of beacons along the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park and others throughout the United Kingdom, including on top of its four highest peaks.
Tributes will be paid in the House of Commons today led by the Prime Minister. As Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Suffolk Coastal MP Dr Therese Coffey is due to close the debate on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.
Dr Coffey said it would be a “privilege” and added:. The Queen has been a role model of service over the last six decades and more and has provided much stability both in our nation and around the Commonwealth.
“I believe she could be considered as Britain’s greatest ever woman.
“There will be events taking place across Suffolk Coastal in the next few days, including beacons being lit in Southwold, Aldeburgh, Nacton, Orford, Friston, Dunwich and Sutton Hoo tonight. This is a fantastic opportunity for communities to get together and celebrate our remarkable Queen.”
Dan Poulter, the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP, will light a beacon in Easton and South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge will do the honours in Capel St Mary.
In Ipswich’s Christchurch Park the beacon will be lit by Edgar Wright selected after an appeal in the EADT and Ipswich Star to find someone who shares the same birthday as Her Majesty and will also be turning 90 on Thursday.
“I was born two hours after the Queen,” Mr Wright said. “I saw it in the paper that they wanted people born on the same day [as the Queen], so I just rang up.”
And on April 4 Mr Wright was surprised to receive a letter from the Mayor of Ipswich’s office inviting him to be the town’s special guest for tonight’s ceremony.
He said: “I called through to [my wife] Joy and said ‘I’ve had a letter from my twin!’ I am looking forward to it – it’s taken me 90 years to become a VIP!”
At Rendlesham Care Centre manager Ruth Halls said residents were already looking forward to the day’s festivities.
“We are really entering into the spirit of the occasion with our preparations and feeling very patriotic,” she said.
“We’ve also been taking trips down memory lane with the residents, as many of them are a similar age to Queen Elizabeth.”
The residents, along with relatives and staff members, are having a tea party today with royally-themed cakes and Union Flag decorations.
Bucklesham Grange Care Home is also getting in on the celebrations, hosting an indoor street party while at Trinity Park 1,000 children will be waving 1,000 Union Flags.
Share your celebratory photos with our readers, email us today or tweet us @EADT and @IpswichStar24
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