We’re all set for a right royal celebration

JUBILEE celebrations proved a big hit at Saddleworth Children’s and Youth Centre, which was teeming with energetic tots who revelled in a sun-kissed garden party. The event also celebrated Greenfield's Churchill Playing Fields, receiving Queen Elizabeth II status as part of the Jubilee.

Ready to fly the flag for Her Majesty
FROM street parties to blazing beacons, Oldhamers are pulling out all the stops to make it an historical Diamond Jubilee to remember.

Across a bank holiday weekend that stretches into Tuesday, residents are readying the bunting to honour the Queen’s magnificent milestone with a vast array of events.

Oldham Council has received 11 notices of street parties, ranging from neighbours getting together in community-boosting gatherings to major public events where revellers will fly the flag for Her Majesty.

But there are many more activities across the borough.

They include the lighting of beacons for the Queen on Monday at 10pm. They will form a network of more than 4,000 beacons lit by communities across the UK and Commonwealth.

The locations are:

Chadderton Heights, the highest point in this district; Moorside Cricket Club; St John’s Church, Failsworth; Victoria Memorial Park, High Crompton; the Pots and Pans memorial, Greenfield, and St Thomas’s Church, Werneth.

One of the main events is a free entry, Best of British Jubilee Street Party on Yorkshire Street, Oldham town centre, on Monday, from 2pm.

It will feature stalls, displays — including classic cars — music, dance demos, games and all the fun of the fair.

Other public street parties are at Birches Parade, Holts, on Tuesday, from noon to 3pm; Walkers Road Community Centre, Hollinwood, will have a gala buffet, entertainment and a mock crowning of the Queen from 7pm tomorrow; Oldham Lions Club is holding a family fun day at the Northgate Inn, Sholver Green, from noon to 4pm on Sunday, featuring a fairground, brass band and charity stalls; and Saddleworth will go back to the 1950s with a themed vintage and handmade fair at Uppermill Civic Hall, also on Sunday.

At Coalshaw Green Park tomorrow there’s a fundraising walk between Green Flag parks and a Jubilee Celebration from noon to 4pm, followed by a Party in the Park to mark the park’s centenary.

There’s a stage for bands and acts, a marquee, fairground and mini farm at Limeside Park tomorrow from noon to 4pm. It will follow a procession from St Margaret’s Church, Chapel Road.

Competition winners will be sharing their luck with Margaret Littlewood, of Leicester Road, Failsworth, who won a street party pack from the Co-Op.

Kathy Ingham won a similar competition with Iceland and is now planning a party at Leslie Avenue, in Chadderton, on Sunday.

Schools have already hosted parties across this week to celebrate the occasion.

Libraries are also getting involved across the borough, including a Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch at Lees Library Community Hub on Sunday, from noon to 3pm, that includes dance and music, a children’s royal fancy-dress parade and much more.

To find out more about events in your area visit www.oldham.gov.uk/diamond_jubilee.



SOME Oldham Council services will by reduced over the bank holidays.
Out-of-hours services will remain available for urgent situations such as social care and other emergencies, but should only be used in “genuine cases”.

Access Oldham will be closed, the Contact Centre will be closed from 1pm on Saturday until 8am on Wednesday and the council’s switchboard will close at 5pm on Friday and reopen at 8.40am on Wednesday.

All libraries will be open as usual on Saturday and Sunday but closed on Monday and Tuesday, except for special events.

Bins and refuse will be collected as normal. For Environmental Health emergencies call 0161-770 7777.

The services affected — and details of emergency contact telephone numbers — are available by ringing:

Council housing repairs 0161-624 8286 / 770 6699

Emergency Duty Team (social care) 0161-770 6936

Sewers 0845-602 0406

Emergency regarding highways and street lighting 0161-770 7777

Alternatively visit the website www.oldham.gov.uk/out_of_hours.



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