Bermuda marks Queen’s 60-year reign

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It was red, white and blue all the way as Bermudians, expatriates and visitors celebrated the Diamond Jubilee over the weekend.

In London, five Bermuda Sea Cadets joined a diamond formation with 54 other cadet dinghies, in the nearly 10-mile pageant down the Thames.

As well as carrying the Rwanda flag, the cadets brought along a Bermuda flag to wave for spectators, crossing under 18 bridges from Putney to Greenwich.

“They’re cold and wet and in great spirits,” said Lieutenant Michael Frith after the cadets finished under rainy skies with their 260 UK counterparts.

“Their hard work and their participation in this historic event is something that they are rightly very proud of. Certainly, I am extremely proud of them.”

The cadets were led by coxswain Leading Cadet Morgan Outerbridge, with Leading Cadet Ani Douglas as navigator. Able Cadet Samuel Bennett took the bow, Cadet Jaeden Johnston assisted as crew, and Petty Officer Ian Frith served as the adult crew supervisor. Able Cadet Charles Marshall assisted as crew on one of the safety boats responsible for the flotilla.

Back home, a street festival in Dockyard, beacon lighting at both ends of the Island and a fair in Hamilton ensured there was a chance for everyone to help mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years of rule.

The activities began with a flotilla of around 50 boats making their way from Hamilton to Dockyard for the party organised by West End Development Corporation on Saturday morning.

Vessels ranging from large motor yachts to fitted dinghies made a colourful sight as they flew Union Flags in abundance, together with others including Bermudian and French flags and even a pirate flag.

They followed a public ferry carrying Governor George Fergusson, Acting Premier Michael Scott and former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, who made brief speeches to the dozens of people gathered by the ferry terminal.

Mr Fergusson said of the Queen: “Her reign covers a period of immense change for Bermuda and most of her territories.

“There’s a tremendous amount for us to celebrate both in change and the public service duty and honourable conduct in 60 years.”

Mr Scott said: “No one can gainsay the wonderful commitment of Queen Elizabeth’s service to Britain, to the Commonwealth and to the territories of which she has authority.”

Calypso band David Moniz and the Bermudians provided Caribbean flavour music, with elderly cruise ship passengers particularly keen to join in the fun.

“I’ve been to Bermuda before but this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this. We’ve really enjoyed it,” said Donald Ford, of Maryland.

“I’ve been to England twice, so I know all about the Queen.”

His dancing companion Betty Berardi said: “As soon as we saw what was going on, we said wow, let’s stay here for a while.”

Band leader Mr Moniz said: “This kind of thing is wonderful. It helps get a real island atmosphere with all the decorations around.”

Englishman Terry Norsworthy, who is married to a Bermudian, was on board the flotilla, dressed in a red and white England flag.

“We don’t get the chance to celebrate being British very often, so we have to make the most when we do,” said Mr Norsworthy.

“The British are too shy. It’s about celebrating the national day; the British never do that. They need to be prouder of their heritage.”

Wedco chairman Walter Lister said he was enjoying the festivities in spite of his fiercely anti-colonial views.

“It’s wonderful. I’m very happy to see so many people here and I would like to have more events like this,” said Mr Lister, the Progressive Labour Party MP for Sandys South Central.

“Everybody knows my views on Independence, but this kind of thing brings all walks of life together. And the Union Jack flags look pretty.”

In a gesture mirrored across the Commonwealth, Mr Fergusson lit beacons at Commissioner’s House, Fort Hamilton and Fort St Catherine.

He also fired cannons to mark the occasion, sharing banter with the public at Fort St Catherine before enlisting the help of five-year-old Hamilton Parish resident Willow Hartmann to pull the trigger.

In St George’s yesterday, the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Bermuda Regiment marked the Governor’s 11am arrival at St Peter’s Church, for a service of thanksgiving.

Sea Cadets stood at attention as dignitaries filed into the packed church, which was recently designated “Their Majesties Chappell” to mark its 400th anniversary.

In his sermon, rector Rev David Raths noted of the Queen: “This was the first country she visited outside the UK, after her formal coronation in June 1953.”

The cushions that she and Prince Philip knelt upon in St Peter’s remain in the church to this day, he said — and her subsequent reign had “brought continuity and connectedness” over a time when “many lost their sense of community”.

At a party afterward in the churchyard, Mr Fergusson was assisted by Mr Scott in planting a commemorative Bermuda Yellow Wood Tree.

More celebrations are planned today, including the planting of the Jubilee Bermuda Cedar in an area to be designated Jubilee Grove on Coney Island, and a charity day organised by Sandys 360.

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