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Golden Jubilee events in SE1 - complete guide

Our comprehensive guide to the Golden Jubilee weekend in SE1 - from Southwark Jubilation in Borough Market to Killer Queens at the London Dungeon, and much more besides.

Southwark Jubilation

The rhythm of 500 African drums will reverberate as the Drum Café demonstrate their skills on the djembe drum on Sunday 2 June. They are part of Southwark Jubilation, happening throughout the day around Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral. They will run workshops for those wanting to have a go, and will also play during a Songs of Praise event in the Cathedral at 3pm.

Southwark Jubilation, a "nearly spontaneous celebration" of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, is the result of co-operation between the Cathedral, the Borough Market, the Bankside Residents Forum and the Wardens of St Saviours – who have contributed £5000.

A magician, hog roast, bouncy castle, dancing in the street, and loads of other entertainments will all be happening, with the now famous Borough Market food stalls in full swing.

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, says: "There'll be a huge ethnic mix among the performers and also in the Songs of Praise. It will reflect London as a whole. It's an event for all ages, designed to give everyone a fun day out. And after celebrating with 500 drums in the Cathedral, I think I'll be appealing for a new roof!"

Among those contributing to the 3pm service will be Richard Stilgoe, Olatokumo Bakare and Mark Rylance, Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe. Children from the Cathedral Schoolwill have a part to play, and the Gospel Choir of St Saviour's and St Olave's School will sing a medley of Gospel songs.

For anyone seeking spiritual refreshment at other times, the Cathedral will be open all day, and there will be full choral Eucharist at 11am and 6.30pm.
Click here for more on Southwark Jubilation

London Eye to be turned gold for Jubilee

The British Airways London Eye will stay open until midnight over the long weekend to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Gold-themed entertainers, such as the Gold Hat Stand Carnival Queens stiltwalkers and the Golden Knights: two friendly, interactive, fairy tale characters dressed head to toe in gold, who handed out thousands of special gold chocolate pennies will add to the celebratory atmosphere In addition, The Gandini Juggling Project presented its unique Cube: a gold structure weighing 1.5 tons with 11mm thick glass. Gold jugglers will perform in, on and around the cube juggling and bouncing balls at super speeds creating a show for visitors every half hour.

Throughout the Jubilee week the giant observation wheel is lit a shimmering gold and throughout June the Eye will donate 10p per visitor to HM The Queen's five nominated charities and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's charity with the aim of raising £50,000 (that's £1,000 for every year of the Queen's reign).

Music on the Jubilee Line

Jubilee Line passengers will be able to celebrate the Queen's 50 years on the throne as they wait for their trains. Live performances will take place at a series of stops on the line on Monday 3 June, The free performances will begin at 1pm at Westminster, Waterloo, Southwark, London Bridge, Bermondsey and North Greenwich stations with versions of The Beatles' All You Need Is Love. Then, musicians from music colleges will play a selection of poplar and classical numbers until 4pm.

Free admission to the Florence Nightingale Museum

The Florence Nightingale Museum at St Thomas' Hospital will be open free of charge on Monday 3 June (normal admission price £4.80) as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Gun Salute at the Tower

The 49th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation will be marked on Bank Holiday Monday 3 June with a 62 gun salute at the Pool of London. The Honourable Artillery Company will fire from Tower Wharf at 1pm. Royal Salutes will also be fired at the same time on Monday 10 June for Prince Philip's Birthday and on Saturday 15 June for the Queen's Official Birthday. The viewing points are Tower Bridge and Potters Fields.

Music on the Millennium Bridge

According to BBC London's website there's music at 9pm on Monday at the Millennium Bridge. Unfortunately it doesn't give any further details.

Live from the London Eye

BBC London 94.9's Tessa Dunlop will be broadcasting live from on board the London Eye between 10pm and midnight on Monday 3 June.

Music at the Globe

At Shakespeare's Globe on Bank Holiday Monday Peter Phillips is directing the Tallis Scholars in music from the Coronation of Elizabeth I. See Music.

Knighting of Francis Drake at the Golden Hinde

On Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 June the Golden Hinde in St Mary Overie Dock will be hosting The Knighting of Francis Drake: A Short Performance. Listen to tales of great adventure, of unknown countries, intrigue, bravery and great riches. Watch the spectacle in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I who will be leading the ceremony. Three performances daily starting at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, each lasting half an hour. Tickets are available on the day costing, £4.50 for adults and £2.00 for children. The price includes a self-guided tour of The Ship after the performance and Tudor snacks will be available throughout the day.

Jubilee Tea

St James's Teas in Blackfriars Road has blended a Jubilee Tea being sold in a blue tea caddy (40 teabags) for £3.50.

The Queen and SE1

The Queen has visited Southwark several times and is known to consider the cathedral to be 'beautiful'. Her Majesty distributed the Royal Maundy at the cathedral early in her reign and began Millennium evening by lighting the Southwark Millennium Candle in the cathedral before setting out from Bankside for the Dome. Dean Colin Slee has suggested to the Queen that she should drop in again to see the new building and courtyard opened since Millennium Night. Prince Philip was at the cathedral earlier this year.

Lambeth Palace

The Queen and Prince Philip will visit SE1 in the late afternoon on Thursday 6 June for a garden party at Lambeth Palace.

MBE for SE1's Jubilee Man

John Hearn, Coin Street resident and a founder of the Colombo Street Centre, has received the MBE. He was invested at Buckingham Palace by Prince Charles following his inclusion in the last Honours List. John, who was living in SE1 during the Silver Jubilee, successfully campaigned for the new playground in Jubilee Gardens.

Mass of Thanksgiving

The 11.30am Sung Mass at St George's RC Cathedral on Sunday 2 June will be a Mass of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee of Accession. The celebrant will be the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark.

Killer Queens at the London Dungeon

With typical good taste, the London Dungeon in Tooley Streeet has chosen the Golden Jubilee to launch an exhibition of Killer Queens as a special feature within its new £100,000 Wicked Women show. "There's no point denying that a lot of people are fed up of all the fuss over the Jubilee already," said Dungeon manager Julie Tandy, "and we thought this new feature would be the perfect antidote ... At the very least it should persuade the killjoys that 50 years with Elizabeth II is worth celebrating." Killer Queens focuses on 11 monarchs, from a queen of the Dark Ages – Queen Judon – who according to Geoffrey of Monmouth murdered her son Porrux after he had murdered his brother Ferrex…to Elizabeth I.

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