As we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Tameside Local Studies & Archives delve into the Tameside Reporter archive, going back to 1977, to see how Tameside celebrated the Silver Jubilee. Events took place across Tameside, and The Reporter covered it in great detail, including pictures of the celebrations.

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According to the Ashton edition of the Reporter, “more than 100 parties” were planned during the week in Ashton, Dukinfield, and Audenshaw alone, with the majority occurring on Jubilee Day itself. Weather was hit-and-miss, with many choosing to change locations last minute to stay dry. In Droylsden, several parties moved to schools and church halls.

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Nonagenarian Mary Elizabeth Harris of Dukinfield, born during the reign of Queen Victoria, was crowned Jubilee Queen of Sycamore Close. At Dukinfield’s Chapel Street, a near wash-out was avoided, when the forecast led to a huge last-minute effort to transform a disused railway shed next to Clarendon Fields, with a generator and an extremely long hose providing power and water. The party went ahead, including a disco, and everyone stayed relatively dry!

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Windsor House care home in Denton was visited by children dressed as the Queen, Prince Philip and 4 Beefeaters from Denton West Ballet Club.

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In Mossley meanwhile, over 100 people attended the jubilee party on Regents Drive, despite the changeable weather. Residents of Brunswick Street bravely sacrificed duvet covers and curtains to organise a last-minute party for the local children. The sacrificed material was used to create capes and gowns, and for this sacrifice, their efforts did at least merit them a photograph on the cover of the Mossley Reporter.

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There was fierce competition in Stalybridge on Hawthorn Drive, where around 30 children took part in a competition to find the best crown. As the weather turned, residents of Carrbrook Crescent turned to a local haulage firm, and managed to borrow a lorry in which to lay out their buffet, protecting precious sandwiches from the elements. Another nearby party centred in Coniston Drive, moved to Ridge Hill Junior School in order to beat the rain.

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In both Longdendale and Hyde, roads were closed across the towns to allow for parties to take place. Children in Godley enjoyed a “Space Walk” on a large inflatable surface, at the St Michael’s Road and St. Paul’s Hill Road party. A Rutland Street party in Flowery Field managed to attract 60 children and 30 pensioners, despite only being dreamed up the day before, thanks to the efforts of local mums and shopkeepers.

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We hope if you are planning to attend any events this year you have just as joyous a time, but hopefully it won't be as wet!

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If you want to see more photographs from similar events, you can look at our image archive or at the Smile Project’s Flickr page. Do you have photographs from past Jubilee events, or do you plan to take photographs at events happening for the Jubilee this year? If you would be interested in depositing these with the archives, you can contact us at archives@tameside.gov.uk.

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