Getting Ready for The Queen’s Platinum  Jubilee!

It’s been an extraordinary Jubilee weekend as people up and down the British Isles joined together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Even now I can’t quite believe just how many shows I’ve performed over the last couple of weeks and I still have bookings for my “Happy and Glorious” show which will be taking me through to the 17th June.

It’s been amazing, and I’m thrilled I’ve been able to take part in so many fabulous events. It’s great to see people out celebrating especially as the weather was  good for the duration and we didn’t

On Stage in Slapton!

get any rain, although it was a little touch and go on Sunday.

My Jubilee weekend started on Thursday afternoon when I was booked to perform a private show in Northampton before I made it down to Slapton to sing just prior to the lighting of the brazier. Slapton had gone to town and had invested in a marquee and a lorry which made for a fantastic stage as I played out across the recreation ground. I’d like to say a big thank-you to Dave Mann for recommending me to sing at this event and for doing my sound so splendidly.

We’ll Meet Again with Mike’s WW2 Ambulance!

I first developed my “Happy and Glorious” show in  2016 to tie in with the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations. Since then the show has been a good seller and this year I added in a few additions and a little bit of Rock and Roll, which has been going down very well with my Jubilee audiences. It certainly did in Slapton and later in Leighton Buzzard as local dances came and joined in with my music.

On Friday I opened the Leighton Buzzard’s Jubilee Fayre in ATS uniform and performed a

Leighton Buzzard in Full Swing!

selection of songs from the 1940s before introducing the Leighton, Linslade Mayor Farzana Kharawala and Simon Marshall who is the president of the Leighton Buzzard Rotary club. Special guests also included representatives from twin towns Coulommier and Titisee-Neu-stadt in France and Germany. The Rotary club were the people behind the organizing of Friday’s event and I think they should all feel very proud as the High Street and Parsons Close Recreation Ground was packed with visitors enjoying the Jubilee festivities.

https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/people/massive-turnout-for-rotarys-platinum-jubilee-fayre-in-leighton-buzzard-3720097

The Finished 40s Hat – Phew!

I had been booked to perform 2 x 45 minute sets and I came back with my “Happy & Glorious” show later in the day wearing my new 1950s inspired Jubilee dress. We couldn’t have wished for better weather and much as I would have loved to have stayed longer, straight afterwards I had to jump in my van and drive up to Sleaford to perform for their 1940s event which was due to take place on the Saturday.

It’s been something of a military operation fitting every-thing in but it’s about being organised which I’m very good at. I never like to waist a

Opening the Show in Sleaford!

minute and even with my tight turn arounds I was able to get my show programming done between sets and finish my 1940s hat in time for Saturday’s show. As soon as I hit my B&B in Sleaford I started sewing and was able to get my Jubilee hat completed by mid-night.

I had been looking forward to Sleaford very much as it was a new event for me and I had not been to the town before.  The event was held at the William Alvery School at Eastgate and it was extremely well supported as people flooded through the gates. I had been booked to perform

Having Fun Between Sets!

3 x 45 costume shows daily and I opened up at 11am with my ATS “We’ll Meet Again” show, after introducing the mayor Linda Edwards and the town crier John Griffths. For my second 1940s glamour set I came back wearing a navy blue vintage suit and closed with my Proms show “Happy and Glorious” concluding with “Land of Hope and Glory” and the national anthem. Not forgetting my newly stitched 40s topper hat!

Many visitors came in costume and there were prizes for the best dress. There were also a

Meeting Up with The Best Dressed!

number of vintage vehicles on display and a chance to experience a 1940s war time air-raid shelter. Sleaford town Council very kindly provided me with an inflatable stage but by the end of the day it became necessary to deflate it as concerns were growing it might take off with the strength of the growing wind. In the end all was well and a great time was had by all.

You can find out more information about the event and what was going on around Lincolnshire during the Jubilee weekend by clicking the link below from Lincolnshire World.

Model railways and 1940s weekends to parades and street parties – weather fails to deter jubilee celebrations around Sleaford | LincolnshireWorld

Out and About in My New 40s Hat!

Next day I was back home and at mid-day out performing in a village not far away called Little Gaddesden. Straight afterwards I made my way over to the village of Ellesborough and met up with Paul Marsden and his little dog Poppy. We had both been booked to perform for Ellesborough’s Jubilee event which was in full swing when we arrived. Despite a drop in the temperature the rain stayed off and we closed the event with a mixture of Big Band and Swing and patriotic favorites. Paul delighted audiences with his Sinatra style vocals and Poppy enjoyed being

Meeting Up with the Mayor and Adrian!

out and about and her free complimentary sausage.

Thank-you to ever-one who worked so hard over the jubilee to make each event such a great success. It was a pleasure and an honour to perform for all of you. I shall leave you with a few of my favorite photos before I head off to my next show in Northampton.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

Paul, Poppy and I Between sets in Ellesborough!

Getting Ready to Rig at the Ellesborough Show!