Third Ashton Scouts have hailed Her Majesty The Queen, who celebrates her Platinum Jubilee in what is set to be a big year for the scouting movement.

Queen Elizabeth II is Patron of the Scout Association and the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne was on Sunday 6 February. 

A full year of Jubilee celebrations lay ahead, planned throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world as communities come together to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign as she becomes the first British Monarch to celebrate 70 years of service.

Celebrations culminate in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.

Among the celebrations planned are a nationwide baking competition, Jubilee Beacons and a Big Jubilee Lunch when everyone will be encouraged to organise and hold their own street or organisational parties.

The Jubilee year will also continue to promote The Queen’s Green Canopy, with tens of thousands of trees already planted as part of the initiative.

In fact, the Scouts are being encouraged to do one - or all - of the following (the list is an acrostic for the word ‘Platinum’):

• Plant a tree for the jubilee

• Light a beacon

• Arrange a Big Jubilee Lunch

• Take part in A Million Hands

• Invite a local Queen’s Scout to speak

• Nab the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee badge (available in spring 2022)

• Unite and celebrate

• Mail a thank you letter to HM The Queen.

Writing on behalf of the Scouting movement in this month’s Tamesider scouting news magazine, Tina Howarth, 3rd Ashton Group Scout Leader, pays tribute to Her Majesty’s remarkable service, stating: “What an achievement! Our country or indeed any country in the world couldn’t have asked for a better Head of State to lead them, the Queen has set a great example of Spiritual Leadership, Patriotism, putting her duty to our country and the Commonwealth, showing fortitude in difficult times, just getting on with the job of helping to guide her subjects through difficult times and passing on her wisdom to her Ministers of State and Heads of State around the world. There is none better.

“During her reign she has also encouraged the youth of our Nation and those of the Commonwealth to come together in friendship and friendly rivalry, in events such as the Commonwealth Games being held in Birmingham this year. She is also Patron of the Scout Association, so she is one of us and we will take this opportunity to remind Scouts of a part of our Promise: ‘On My Honour, I Promise I Will Do My Best, To Do My Duty, To God And To The Queen’. We of the 3rd Ashton salute you and offer our gratitude for your guidance of our country throughout your reign. God Save The Queen.”

To find out more about the scouting groups in your area and get involved, visit https://www.tameside.gov.uk/sid/scouts

Remembering 70 years ago 

The year 1952 was a momentous one for royalty and the country.

Sunday 6 February marked the 70th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty The Queen.

Writing in this month’s edition of Tamesider for local scouts, distinguished Tameside Scouting leader Derek Casey recalls three local memories from 1952 in this, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.

Derek’s first memory was that ‘all pupils from all the senior schools in Ashton are asked to assemble on the market ground. It was a sunny day luckily and along with the public, we listened to the Mayor of Ashton, who was on the town hall steps and read the Decree that the then Princess Elizabeth was to become Queen of Great Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth. The Mayor then called for a resounding three cheers ending quite an occasion.’

Derek continues: “The second one, was that three Senior Scouts from the 3rd Ashton hiked up to Hartshead Pike and helped set up a Beacon made of wood. This Beacon was lit on the night of the Coronation of our Queen and helped to create a ring of Beacons from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland. What a sight across the moors of northern England. Two unforgettable memories.

“The third memory is of a 3rd Ashton Scout Leader, who in 1952 was a scout in Denton District, Eddie Watkin, who had the honour to stand on the Coronation route which ran from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. What an honour!

“God Save The Queen.”

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