RAIN-laden grey skies proved unable to dampen the spirits of the thousands of Suffolk and Essex residents who got out the red, white and blue in honour of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Streets across the region were bedecked with union flags and bunting while the festivities ranged from street parties to special church services.

Among the other events held was the serving of lunch in the nave of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds. The Big Diamond Jubilee Lunch was held both in honour of The Queen’s 60th year as monarch and to raise funds in support of the work of the cathedral’s choir.

The lunch was the second event held at the cathedral in honour of the jubilee. The previous Sunday saw a special choral evensong held in honour of The Queen and included music from the specially released choirbook created for her.

Canon Philip Banks, Canon precentor at the cathedral, said the events demonstrated that “the cathedral has an important role to play as a centre of the community in times of celebration.”

Nearby Thurston held a Big Jubilee Picnic Lunch which included a bar and barbecue.

During the afternoon there was a mix of music by The Travelling Rasberries, the Bury St Edmunds Concert Band and students from Thurston Community College, numerous games, a crown-making competition and an exhibition of memorabilia charting the 60 years of The Queen’s reign. The day was rounded off with a family barn dance.

In Albert Crescent in Bury St Edmunds residents donned the clothing of the 1950s to get into jubilee spirit. The street party was opened by former St Edmundsbury mayor Margaret Charlesworth, who lived in the crescent in 1952.

In Lavenham a Big Jubilee Lunch was held in Market Place and people were able to watch The Queen’s activities live on a giant screen.

Dozens of rainbows, brownies and guides teamed up for a traditional light English lunch in Mildenhall. On Saturday about 60 girls aged between five and 14 years old drawn from across the Mildenhall and Red Lodge areas ate cucumber sandwiches, scones and cake and enjoyed Royal-themed activities.

In Dedham in Essex there were a number of events planned, including a fireworks display.

The day began with a civic service and there was also a live broadcast of the Thames River Pageant in the Assembly Rooms building.