A golden weekend

Bunting, balloons and Union flags were draped across York as people came together to celebrate the Queen's 50 years on the throne.

The parties continued today as North and East Yorkshire marked the anniversary.

In an address at York Minster, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, paid tribute to the unstinting service, profound wisdom and unswerving faith of the Queen.

Remembering watching the Coronation on a new black and white television as one of his earliest childhood memories, Dr Hope said that the expectation and excitement in the nation had confounded the cynics.

He also paid tribute to the Queen's charity work with voluntary organisations.

Among the parties taking place across York this weekend were two days of celebration at Bishopthorpe, where the village was transformed into a sea of red, white and blue.

On Sunday, hundreds dressed up as kings and queens in fancy dress and period costume for a street party.

Fifty years of fashion were also unveiled in a parade set to the music of the last 50 years.

Joining the Queen and celebrating 50 golden years were East Yorkshire couple Bob and Joyce Hubbard.

The couple, from Holme-on-Spalding Moor, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Friday. On Saturday, they joined family and friends at a party at the Dean Court Hotel, in York.

Joyce, 73, who was a land girl, met Bob, 71, who was a farm worker, at a dance at Howden in 1950. They married two years later at Hull Register Office and had one daughter, Janet.

Joyce said she was really pleased to be sharing her big day with the Queen, although with all the organisation of her own party she had hardly thought about it.

Today, the celebrations continued with a Jubilee parade taking to the streets of York before four ceremonial pounders from the Army's 38 Seringapatam Battery were fired in a royal salute in the city. In a break with tradition, the salute was due to be fired at 1pm, at the request of Buckingham Palace.

Events for BBC Music Live's Jubilee celebrations were taking place in Parliament Street this afternoon, with a concert by York stalwarts Huge scheduled for 7pm.

At 10pm, a Jubilee beacon was due to be lit on Knavesmire. The National Railway Museum will host a Fabulous Fifties show all week, while a Commonwealth Market is held in Parliament Street. Fibbers, in Stonebow, hosted an all-day punk day called God Save the Queen.

Bishopthorpe Palace was open for visitors, while Jubilee parties were held in Reighton Avenue, York, Copmanthorpe recreation centre and Holgate WMC.

In the Selby area, events were held at Brayton community centre, Wistow village hall and in the car park by the Wadkin Arms in Osgodby.

Regulars at Gate Helmsley's Duke of York pub startied their Jubilee party at noon today.

Bus travellers in York got free travel as operator First let anybody using an adult FirstDay ticket bring along a friend for free.

JUBILEE celebrations in Malton and Norton started off with a float procession around the towns on Saturday.

The procession was accompanied by the Salvation Army Band, which played until the judging by Malton Mayor Anne Hopkinson and Norton Mayor Keith Mennell.

Yesterday, the celebrations continued with a Jubilee service at St Peter's Church, in Malton, which was followed by a peal of the bells in honour of the Queen's 50th year on the Throne. "Everyone really got into the spirit of things and it was an enjoyable couple of days," said Coun Mennell.

HISTORY was re-lived at Castle Howard when a royal couple returned to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Tourists were able to re-live a special moment in the North Yorkshire house's past with the recreation of the story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's stay, in August 1850.

The royal couple toured the estate for four-days before returning to their own home at Balmoral.

The visit, re-created to the last detail, saw the modern Victoria and Albert retracing the steps of their predecessors.

Visitors also enjoyed watching a special reading of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, and joining the Queen for a tea party.

At the house, flags and bunting used to decorate the streets of Malton during Queen Elizabeth's Coronation, in 1952, were on display.

CELEBRATING 100 years of village life in dramatic fashion were residents of New Earswick.

An aerial photograph captured 180 villagers spelling out the words New Earswick 2002 to celebrate the area's centenary.

Residents turned out in force on Saturday morning to take part in the historic event.

Jacquie Dale, community services manager for the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, said the aerial photograph turned out exactly as villagers had hoped.

She said: "It was absolutely brilliant. The weather was perfect as was the community spirit.

"Everyone in the village tries and wants to continue to embrace the community spirit Joseph Rowntree tried to foster."

North Yorkshire sea cadets are among those in London to take part in the Queen's Golden Jubilee military parade, which takes place tomorrow.

The seven cadets, pictured above, who are aged between 16 and 18, are from York, Scarborough, Filey, Harrogate, Whitby and Leeds.

Lieutenant Commander Roy Tanner said: "It will be a very prestigious day for them. Not many people get the chance to take part in a Golden Jubilee parade."

At the front are instructor Julie Davies, of Scarborough, with Michelle Blackburn and Charlotte Milner, both from Harrogate.

Updated: 10:16 Monday, June 03, 2002