Two Lincolnshire soldiers ready for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee parade
Described as a “privilege”
Warrant Officer Class 2's Emma Colton (left) and Paul Jones (right) will take part in this year's Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace. | Photo: British Army
The Queen’s Birthday Parade at Buckingham Palace will see over 1,400 soldiers, including two from Lincolnshire, parade with members of the Royal Family for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Taking place on Thursday, June 2, the Trooping the Colour parade will see more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together and take part in a march near Buckingham Palace.
The parade will see members of the Royal Family take part on horseback through The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, and it will be closed by a special RAF flypast featuring plenty of Lincolnshire aircraft – including the famous Red Arrows.
The Trooping the Colour parade is steeped in tradition, and takes on extra meaning this year in line with the Platinum Jubilee. | Photo: British Army
The event will be broadcast live across the world, with British residents able to tune in on BBC One, and it will be among the biggest celebrations for the upcoming Platinum Jubilee – marking 70 years as a monarch for Queen Elizabeth II.
It will be a moment of immense pride for two Lincolnshire participants: Warrant Officer Class 2 Paul Jones, who is Master Farrier of the Household Cavalry Regiment, and Master Tailor Warrant Officer Class 2 Emma Colton.
Almost 1,500 soldiers will descend on the Buckingham Palace area for the Platinum Jubilee, as well as Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday celebrations. | Photo: British Army
Paul, 35, joined the British Army straight from school, and this Trooping the Colour parade will be his eighth and final one before heading to his next posting as Head Farrier at the Defence Animal Training Regiment in Melton Mowbray.
His story through the army ranks has been one of ups and downs, having received life changing leg injuries in Afghanistan in 2009 when he was maimed by an improvised explosive device.
This prompted him to begin training as a Farrier, and he is now responsible for a team of 14 Farriers who together will be fitting shoes on all 240 horses taking part in the parade.
Paul Jones will be responsible for shoe fitting on the 240 horses at the parade, before going on horseback himself for the actual march. | Photo: British Army
Paul, who grew up in Waddington, will be riding an 18-hand Irish Drum Horse called Quasimodo on the parade, situated at the back of the Blues and Royals Regiment, wearing a dark blue tunic with red collar and cuffs, and a red plume while carrying a silver axe.
He will be watched by his fiancé Claire and their 18-month-old son Reggie, while his parents Julie and Eric watch on with pride back home in Lincolnshire.
Paul said: “It’s a huge privilege to play a part in the Jubilee celebrations and has extra special meaning for me because it will probably be the last time I ride on the Queen’s Birthday Parade.
“I take up a new posting at the Defence Animal Training Regiment in Melton Mowbray in September which will be my last posting prior to leaving the Army after 22 years’ service.”
Emma Colston, from Gautby near Horncastle, will also be playing a big part in the parade. | Photo: British Army
Paul will be joined on the parade by fellow Lincolnshire soldier Emma Colton, 34, who also joined the army immediately after school.
Emma, originally from Gautby, is the British Army’s first ever female Master Tailor and she serves in the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. This leaves her in charge of a small team of tailors, responsible for making sure uniforms are in perfect order.
This will be her 16th Queen’s Birthday Parade, having also met the Queen on several occasions at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and taking part in the gun salute ceremony to mark the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
WO2 Emma Colton has met the Queen on multiple occasions. | Photo: British Army
Speaking about meeting Queen Elizabeth II and also taking part in this special parade, Emma said: “She has dedicated her life to the country, it was an honour to be introduced to her.
“The parade is an annual event that has marked the official birthday of the monarch for more than 260 years. It will be a spectacular day filled with all the pomp and ceremony the watching public have come to expect and will be an historical event that may never happen again.”
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The annual Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival takes place this weekend to celebrate life on the Home Front with a variety of themed events across the village.
The 2022 festival, which is run by a volunteer team of local residents, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10 and entrance to the event is free.
Although entry to the main event and a lot of the entertainment and displays will be free, there are various ticketed concerts and dances that do incur a cost – see more information here.
Thousands usually gather at the Woodhall Spa 1940s festival. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Among the highlights at the festival will be flypasts from The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), including a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane – see more information here.
Temporary Traffic Measures will be in place During the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival on July 9 and 10, 2022.
There will be numerous road closures and traffic management measures put in place over the festival weekend – see more information here.
There will also be a Festival market and charity stands, including at Jubilee Park, and people can bring dogs but their pets are not permitted on the ‘Park and Ride’ buses.
It is expected to be a sunny weekend, with temperatures reaching as high as 25°C in the picturesque Lincolnshire village.
Skegness and Boston are to welcome the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay on Monday, July 11 2022.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games.
Travelling via land, air and sea, more than 180 communities in England are experiencing the Queen’s Baton on a route spanning 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) which started earlier this week in the South West on a 25-day tour of the region.
The baton will arrive in Lincoln on Sunday, July 10 before making its way to Skegness on Monday, July 11. After leaving Skegness, the baton will travel to Boston and then to Grantham before leaving the county.
Skegness will kick off the relay with the baton expected to be at Compass Gardens at 8am. The baton will then be taken on Magna Vitae’s Altitude44 high ropes before leaving Skegness at around 8.16am.
The Boston leg of the relay is expected to commence at 9.21am and end at 9.26am. The route starts in the Market Place, onto Church Street taking in the backdrop of the Stump and returning to the Market Place via Church Street.
The baton bearers for Skegness are Paul Dixon and Geoffrey Wilson. For Boston they are Peter Ward and Linda Baxter.
Paul Dixon, who was medically discharged from the Army in 2004, is a familiar face in the town. He is chairman of a local business chamber, chairman of the Skegness branch of The Royal British Legion, and a Lincolnshire Committee member. He is also the County Community Support Coordinator for Lincolnshire on behalf of the RBL.
Geoffrey Wilson is one of Magna Vitae’s longest serving members. He served in the RAF for 31 years and since 1989 he has been attending the area’s leisure facilities, including the old popular outdoor swimming pool at Skegness. He is possibly Magna Vitae’s oldest climber on Altitude 44 when he visited last year.
Peter Ward from Boston gives time to the local triathlon club to coach young children to improve swimming to enable them to take part in triathlons. At the age of 69 he qualified for the GB Age Group World and European Duathlon Age Group Championships and at the age of 71 finished for a couple of years.
Linda Baxter is the head coach of Evolution Martial Arts in Boston. Her main aim over the past 14 years has been to give youngsters and adults a positive goal in life. In that time, she has also produced Kickboxing World, European and British champions.
Cllr Steve Kirk, Portfolio holder for the Coastal Economy at East Lindsey District Council said: “It is a great honour for Skegness to be chosen to host the Queen’s Baton Relay. This will be an exciting time for the resort and a memorable day, particularly for the baton bearers who are well known in the community.
“It is great Skegness is playing its part in this national event in the run up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and I look forward to welcoming the baton on Monday.”
Cllr Nigel Welton, Deputy Leader for Boston Borough Council said: “It is a privilege to welcome the Queen’s Baton relay into Boston and to showcase it around the iconic landmark of Boston Stump.
“The baton bearers both work hard to help the young people of the town achieve sporting and personal success. I would like to thank them for their commitment to helping young people and hope they enjoy their special day.”
Following the England tour, the baton relay will conclude at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022.
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