JUBILEE celebrations across Oxfordshire were hailed a blazing success as four days of parties drew to a close last night.
Hundreds of street parties saw neighbours come together across the county to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with cream teas, bunting and fizz.
And the celebrations continued yesterday despite more rain.
In Blackbird Leys there was a party on the area’s adventure playground with plenty of cake and a football competition.
Meanwhile the residents of Nunnery Close organised a street party to celebrate the Jubilee with a barbecue and royal games such as pin the crown on the corgi.
Nunnery Close resident Liz Brandon said: “It is very good fun but of course the rain does put a dampener on things.
“Everyone is having a good time and making the best of things. It is nice to see the community come together.”
Headington Quarry residents had hoped to deck Quarry Hollow Park in bunting yesterday to celebrate the Queen’s 60-year reign.
But the event was moved into Quarry Village Hall in Margaret Road.
There were also street parties in Hobson Road in North Oxford and Campbell Road in Florence Park.
Mick Conmy, 48, who helped organise the party in Campbell Road, said: “We were all huddled underneath the gazebos to avoid the rain but we had fun despite it.
“There has been a magnificent response.
“This is our first street party but we hope to hold more of them.”
Blenheim Palace wrapped up its four-day Jubilee celebrations with a massed brass band concert which saw Witney Town Band, Wantage Brass Band and the City of Oxford Silver Band perform.
A total of 58 beacons across the county were lit including one on the roof of Abingdon’s County Hall Museum and another at The Leys recreation ground in Witney.
Oxford Castle, Magdalen College Tower, White Horse Hill and Banbury’s Spiceball Park all also joined in by lighting beacons on Monday night.
The event began at 10pm and climaxed with the Queen lighting her beacon outside Buckingham Palace at 10.45pm.
Poppy McLean-Inglis, eight, from Henley, lit the beacon on Wittenham Clumps after winning an art competition.
Jane Cabutti, of the Earth Trust which organised the beacon on the Clumps, said: “It was a great night and everyone had a great time.
“It was quite spectacular when the beacon got lit at 10.15pm and we could also see some of the other beacons being lit in the distance.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here