Platinum Jubilee: Shropshire pupils welcome visit from royal special guest
It was a day of celebration as children and staff at a primary school dressed the part to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee – with a special visit from 'The Queen' herself.
Each class at Ellesmere Primary School dressed in the fashion of the decades from the 50s onwards as a way of marking the occasion and the 70 years of the Queen's reign.
They also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the opening of the school.
As part of the event a former teaching assistant took on the role of The Queen, and was given a ceremonial welcome from some of the youngsters at the school.
The 380 pupils, aged from four to 11, had made Union Jack flags and kites to fly on the school field and were excited and thrilled by all the fun and activities involved.
Vicki Jordan, deputy headteacher, dressed in red, white and blue, said: "Everyone in the school including the children and members of staff joined in the celebrations by dressing up.
"Some of the costumes were really amazing.
"The children got to decorate their own biscuits and kitchen staff put on a special Jubilee lunch.
"This was in the form of a picnic which included traditional sandwiches, a savoury platter and cup-cakes.
"The Queen, in the form of a former teaching assistant, also arrived and we rolled out the red carpet for her and had a throne prepared.
"Kaye Garbett, retired at Christmas, and decided to take on the role.
"She enjoys dressing up and on her arrival the children sang the national anthem.
"It was a really brilliant occasion and we just asked for good weather but had contingency plans in case it rained and were prepared to take the picnic inside and have tables along the corridors."
Meanwhile two Shrewsbury schools teamed up on the last day of term for a pre-party to make the Queen's forthcoming platinum jubilee.
St Georges Junior School welcomed pupils from Woodfield Infant School and Shrewsbury Town Crier Martin Wood and his wife Sue also attended.
He rang out a special message to mark the occasion and for over 500 pupils and teachers combined who turned out.
They enjoyed a typically British celebration with bunting and flags, cups of tea and sandwiches the order of the day.
And at Lawley Village Primary in Lawley, children on the last day of term enjoyed a circus themed workshop.
An entertainer from Circus Sensible came in to teach them skills such as plate spinning, juggling with balls, scarves and clubs and beginners' stilts. They also took part in a bake off where they brought in creations from home and displayed them before a judging panel, with prizes on offer for the best ones.
