Southwark Jubliation

"It was indeed an occasion of and for jubilation," said the Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd Colin Slee. "Without exception I had enthusiastic, congratulatory and
warm remarks from every visitor I spoke to. The market traders were very happy. I met lots of local residents everywhere I went."

Hundreds attended the regular Cathedral services at 9am, 11am and 6.30pm, and there were still substantial numbers in the nave up till 9 at night. Well before the special 3pm Songs of Praise most of the seats in the Cathedral had been taken and it is estimated that over a thousand people attended the service.

The Mayor of Southwark, the Deputy Lieutenant for Southwark, and Simon Hughes MP were in attendance. The full choir of men, boys and girls led the singing, and the gospel choir from St Saviour and St Olave's School added some exuberant items. Richard Stilgoe and Mark Rylance among others contributed readings, and the house came down for 10-year old Billie Tuthill who read A.A. Milne's 'They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace'.

A magician, a hog roast, a bouncy castle, facepainting, balloons, dancing in the street, and loads of other entertainments fizzed around the cathedral precincts, whilst back in the Cathedral over 200 people joined in playing African drums with the Drum Café group.

Southwark Jubilation was a co-operative event between the Cathedral, the Borough Market, the Bankside Residents Forum and the Wardens of St Saviours.