Celebrate the Jubilee Addlestyle

Anyone who's wandered down to Addlestone high street within the last few weeks (or driven through it as the more popular option remains) will have noticed the shop fronts of Station Road have been lined with Union Jacks.

What's the occasion, you ask? No, there hasn't been an overnight surge in support for the far right. The flags are in fact in preparation for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this coming Saturday 2nd June, which I'm sure is what really sprang to your mind in the first place. However, you can't help thinking they give the town an air of some futuristic distopian regime when looking towards the southern side of the hight street:

Station Road looking south, Addlestone

Then again, that side of the street does pretty well at that without the flags.

They might have struck you as a pleasant addition to the town on the whole, giving it a bit of colour and a certain buzzy vibe so often lacking in an otherwise drab and lifeless high street. They also bring a certain element of unity to the place, connecting everywhere from Kebab Land to Leighton's.

The flag may be a novel presence in Addlestone but it isn't by any means to our easterly neighbours in Weybridge, who have been waving red, white and blue since before Wills and Kate's Royal Wedding in April 2011. Although they seem to have pulled it off in a much more elegant way than Addlestone, the fact that their streets stay flagged up all year round does leave you in expectant wonder as to what in God's name the fuss is all about as you pass through.

Baker Street, Weybridge 

Baker Street, Weybridge

Baker Street, Weybridge

Perhaps it's to make visitors feel as if the people of Weybridge are celebrating their arrival that they'd been anticipating for only too long.

Station Road in Addlestone isn't the only part of town that's been tarted up. Addlestone's main focal point and fundamental core that the town depends on for activity has joined in on the festivities:

That's right, TESCO Extra hasn't only smothered its already riveting interior with Union Jacks but introduced some fabulous celebratory offers and even started blaring the likes of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory through its speakers for everyone to enjoy - including the deaf, who will see the litre bottles of coke and six-packs of strongbow rattling off the shelves. Whether TESCO are using the occasion to cash in on people's party spirits and inner patriots and condition them to think the last thing they'd want to do is let the weekend pass without having hosted a royal bash of epic proportions with comestibles sourced solely from the megastore itself - or just want to celebrate the Queen's 60 years as head of state - is unclear.

So what's going on in Addlestone to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee? Here's a few events to be aware of:

Sat 2nd - Sun 3rd June

Pimms Patio Party - TopGolf Addlestone

Moated Farm Drive, New Haw Road, KT15 2DW

Sun 3rd June

Jubilee Hog Roast - Crockford Bridge Farm

Crockford Bridge Farm Shop, New Haw Road, KT15 2BU

Sun 3rd June

Family Fun Day - Crouch Oak Pub

Station Road, KT15 2BE

Mon 18th June

Diamond Jubilations Concert - Addlestone Methodist Church

Station Road, KT15 2AW 

As you can see, when I said a few, I meant it.

For information on more events going on in the local area this bank holiday weekend, have a look here.

If you're organising a street party or know of another event, feel free to leave a comment!

I call on all Addlestonians to have a royal blast on this Diamond Jubilee bank holiday, and to celebrate in true Addlestonian style. Or do better if you feel you can.

I'll be celebrating in the land of stars and stripes, so this will be the last post for two weeks. Thanks for reading, and Rule Addlestonia. *gives royal wave*