This weekend will see an array of celebrations take place across Wirral to honour the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The monarch has made four official visits to Wirral over the course of her 70-year reign, with her most recent trip taking place back in December 2011. More than 500 people lined New Brighton’s promenade and gathered outside the Floral Pavilion theatre to catch a glimpse of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as they inspected the £60m regeneration scheme at Marine Point.
Her Majesty unveiled a commemorative plaque and took a tour of the rebuilt Floral Pavilion Theatre. Speaking to the ECHO at the time, local councillor Pat Hackett said that he hoped the “symbolism” of the Queen’s visit would finally silence those who harboured any doubts about the once controversial regeneration scheme.
READ MORE: Wirral marks Queen's Platinum Jubilee with centuries-old tradition
The Queen was also introduced to a number of VIPs including the late veteran comedian Ken Dodd, Wallasey MP Angela Eagle and then Mayor of Wirral Moira McLaughlin. Local choir Choral Pavilion sang Siyahamba, a South African welcome song known in English as We Are Walking In The Light.
After a performance by students from St Mary’s Catholic College, there was a lunch prepared by a team of cooks led by Masterchef winner Claire Lara who described the experience as “the biggest moment” of her career. As she left the Queen was presented with a posy by nine-year old-Lucy Burdett from New Brighton Primary School.
Prior to 2011, Her Majesty had visited the region to open two major Wirral landmarks. After five years of building works, the first tube of the 1.5 mile road tunnel between Wallasey and Liverpool was opened by the Queen on June 24, 1971.
Large crowds turned out to watch the Queen’s ceremonial opening of the tunnel, which is now used by around 45,000 vehicles per day. More than a decade later, on May 4, 1982, Queen Elizabeth returned to Wirral to open the £35m Arrowe Park Hospital.
Over 3,000 people gathered outside the hospital’s main entrance to watch as the Queen and Prince Philip toured the facility and greeted hundreds of excited staff. Last month, a message on behalf of HRH was sent to Arrowe Park to commemorate 40 years since the hospital opened.
Janelle Holmes, the Trust’s chief executive of the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust, said: “We were delighted to receive the letter from the Queen to mark our celebrations. It is an honour and a privilege to lead the team at Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust, which operates Arrowe Park Hospital.
“During the 40 years of Arrowe Park, we’ve trained thousands of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, clinical support workers, pharmacists and midwives. We have also taken part in ground-breaking research for new drugs and techniques."
The Queen made her first visit to the region in July 1957, taking in Wallasey town hall as part of her tour of Cheshire.
