Ascension : Message From The Administrator
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 05.01.2012 (Article Archived on 19.01.2012)

On 14 December, Buckingham Palace released details of celebrations in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the accession of Her Majesty The Queen in 1952.

Message from the Administrator

Diamond Jubilee

On 14 December, Buckingham Palace released details of celebrations in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the accession of Her Majesty The Queen in 1952. Details of the events, including a comprehensive tour of the United Kingdom, Realms and Commonwealth Countries by her Majesty and members of the Royal Family can be found on www.royal.gov.uk.

In addition, a special Diamond Jubilee Medal will be issued to members of the Armed Forces and Emergency Services who have served 5 years up to 6 February 2012 in the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories. 

In line with other Overseas Territories, Ascension Island will mark the Diamond Jubilee in Tuesday 5 June, which has also been declared as an additional public holiday. Also, Monday 4 June will be a public holiday to mark Her Majesty’s official birthday.  So, we will have a long weekend in which to celebrate the Jubilee.

I would like to see Ascension Island mark the Jubilee in a way that celebrates those aspects of life and the Island that are special and by bringing together the communities here. We could incorporate some of the planned events in London into our celebrations such as:

-          A Big Jubilee Lunch on 3 June: An Island “street party” perhaps?

-          A Jubilee Beacon on 4 June. 2012 Beacons will be lit in communities around the world. Ascension Island will be one of them.

-          A Service of Thanksgiving on 5 June.

And we can do more. We could look at celebrating our sporting, musical and environmental diversity. All ideas welcomed.

I hope to discuss these and other plans with the Island Council in the New Year with the aim of establishing a cross-community Celebrations Organising Team. I do hope volunteers will come forward to help make our celebrations a big success.

Colin Wells

30 December 2011