MORE than 180 children marched through the streets of Kirkwall armed with Union flags to greet a cruise liner sailing round the UK to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Primary pupils from Glaitness School were kitted out with Union flag bowler hats, Union flag party horns and Union flag lunch boxes as they walked alongside the Kirkwall City Pipe Band to greet day-trippers from Ambassador’s Ambience ship as they came ashore.
The 12-night expedition sees travellers taken on a tour around Britain’s coast, stopping off at London, Rosyth, Aberdeen, Holyhead among other locations, marking Elizabeth's 70th year on the throne.
Company Ship2Shore arranged a meet and greet service for the ship arriving in Orkney.
The children helped put up 70 Union flags around the pier for the event – one for each year of the Queen’s reign.
Ingrid Rendall, the head teacher at Glaitness School, said the event was “extra special” as it was the first whole-school trip since the pandemic started.
“We were all delighted to see so many folks lining the main street and down at the harbour,” she said.
“It was great to see all the community members who were involved in handing Union Jacks on as we passed by the local businesses.
Rendall went on: “I feel honoured that we were part of this important event to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and hope many people, especially the children will remember it for a long time ahead.”
Meanwhile Lord-Lieutenant Elaine Grieve – the Queen’s representative in Orkney – said it had been an emotional experience seeing the children with their “wonderful flags”.
“The spectacle of all these bairns coming down the street fronted by two pipers, it’s the sort of thing that brings a lump to your throat,” she told BBC Radio Orkney.
“To see them all with their 70 wonderful flags was just so special and I’m so proud of those kids, they did so, so well.”
