Platinum Jubilee Norfolk
2022 marked the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To commemorate this historic milestone a series of events and initiatives were held throughout Norfolk to celebrate the occasion and leave an enduring legacy for our county.
A Royal Salute
A musical tribute to HM The Queen Elizabeth II to mark 70 years of her reign.
Performed in the Grand Ring at the Royal Norfolk Show on Wednesday 29th June and Thursday 30th June 2022.
The music performed was chosen to remind the audience of Queen Elizabeth’s long reign, its European and international significance, and to give everyone watching a chance to show their appreciation of Her Majesty’s dignity, steadfastness and integrity over an unprecedentedly long epoch in our island history.
Creative Team
David Stowell – Director and Musical Director, A Royal Salute
Anna Mudeka – Director, African Choir of Norfolk
Marcus Patteson – Executive Director, NORCA & Sistema in Norwich
Jane Warden – Deputy County Commissioner, Norfolk Scouts
Amanda Bennett – Coordinator, A Royal Salute
Peter Wilson DL – Producer, A Royal Salute
Mike Yarde – Chorus coordinator
The Queen was pleased to receive your kind message of loyal greetings, sent on behalf of all those participating in the Big Sing at the Royal Norfolk Show which is being held on 29th and 30th June to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The Queen much appreciates your thoughtfulness in writing as you did and, in return, sends her warm good wishes to all concerned for a most enjoyable event.
Jubilee Trails
When the ideas of how to commemorate Her Majesty’s Jubilee were being considered, a recurring theme was how to incorporate many of the elements that were identified as important in the Jubilee celebrations. These included accessibility to the natural world, encouraging exercise and outdoor experience, resulting in the potential education and well-being benefits. The development of the Jubilee trails seemed a perfect way to meet all these objectives.
The aim was to try and create trails which were within reach from all over Norfolk, where possible, with improved accessibility for all and linked into the existing rights of way network. We feel this has been achieved with the four trails detailed below and hope additional trails will be added in the future. The trails are a combination of existing, and in places, improved rights of way, together with new trails which open up parts of Norfolk which previously had no public access. The trails encompass all aspects of wonderful Norfolk from coastal scenery, woodlands, arable, historic, urban and more.
The Elizabeth Way
(Heacham to King’s Lynn)
A dedicated trail linking Heacham to King’s Lynn which will incorporate elements of the existing footpath network. A key element of the trail is the utilisation and enhancement of a section of disused railway line between Dersingham and Ingoldisthorpe providing almost 2km of new Greenway Delivery. A diversion is in place while this resurfacing work is completed – keep an eye on this page for details.
The Wendling Way
(Dereham to Gressenhall)
A trail linking Dereham town centre to Gressenhall Environmental Hub to provide a safe and direct route for visitors on foot and bike. The project will include approx. 2km of route surfacing improvements with permissive cycling access, to open the trail up to a wider range of users. Gressenshall. The trail runs past or through three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): the developing Wendling Beck Exemplar Project, a regenerative landscape scale environmental scheme; Hoe Rough and Rush Meadow.
The Eastern Maritime Way
(Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft)
A dedicated cycling trail connecting Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft. This route winds through a diverse landscape, and connects these two historic hubs in an environmentally sustainable manner.
With several pleasant stopping points, route takes in many of the East Coast’s hidden treasures, including the UK’s most easterly location at Ness Point.
Chet River Circular
(Loddon to Chedgrave)
This short walk provides a different offering to the other trails, with something for everyone, especially families.
The walk starts at the stunning Loddon Staithe, with its weeping willows and beautiful views out along the River Chet. The route heads out along the village’s footpaths then follows the River Chet to Chedgrave Common where the path heads back to Chedgrave and then returns to the Staithe.
The West Acre Way
(Gayton to West Acre)
A new trail linking Gayton to West Acre, primarily using newly dedicated paths across the Westacre Estate to link elements of the existing footpath network. The trail will run through a new and cutting-edge large scale environmental scheme in the extraordinary Nar Valley.
“I have hugely enjoyed the challenge of developing these trails and been fantastically encouraged by the depth of support we have received from so many organisations and stakeholders keen to help create this wonderful legacy.”
Thomas Courtauld, Deputy Lieutenant
Challenge Awards
The Platinum Jubilee Norfolk Challenge Awards have been given to those young people (and adults) who have made a significant contribution to the Norfolk community as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and beyond. They were developed in tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh, whose own Award scheme has been so influential on the lives of generations of young people.
During the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, more than 1600 people, of ages from four to eighty-four, have successfully completed their Challenges and received their Certificates and Badges.
Each participant or group was required to complete the four challenges but decided for themselves what level of challenge they took on, thus ensuring that this really was for anyone and everyone. By setting their own challenges, participants gained self-reliance, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement while celebrating the Queen’s extraordinary life-long achievements.
Being active in Norfolk
The physical challenge
Protecting our environment
The sustainability challenge
Learning legacy
The learning challenge
Celebrating the Jubilee
The community challenge
The Challenge Awards were so successful that we wanted to continue the programme. A new Award scheme based on the principles we have established was set up and more information can be found here.