A YEAR looked forward to as one of celebration has been tinged with sadness and grief for The Queen and the Royal Family.But now the country is getting ready to party like never before to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee and give Her Majesty some wonderful memories of the historic occasion.

By Amanda Cresswell

IT'S been a heartbreaking year for the Her Majesty after the deaths of both Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret but hopefully the nation will rally round to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Street parties, parades, fetes, fancy dress competitions and barbecues will be on the cards throughout the county to commemorate The Queen's milestone 50-year reign.

It brings back memories of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Celebrations where there was hardly a corner of Suffolk left out in the grand bank holiday festivities.

Torchlight processions, carnivals, craft shows, special sporting events and competitions were just some of the activities taking place across the county in 1977 as people united in celebration.

Union flags hung from windows; red, white and blue bunting strung from house to house and families put on their party hats and enjoyed get-togethers in the street.

This year will be even better with a string of events organised nationwide including two concerts – a classical and rock and pop – in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

To ensure celebrations will be just as grand and momentous in Suffolk this is your chance to make the Golden Jubilee year one to remember.

Now is the time to organise the catering and book the entertainment because The Evening Star is calling on readers to celebrate The Queen's Golden Jubilee in style.

Organising an event has never been easier as to help Suffolk party over the Jubilee period we have an incredible £5,000 to give away to ten separate street parties or events.

The competition is in association with British Gas who is renowned for work within the community.

British Gas area manager, Andrew Baxendine, was delighted the company was funding these celebrations.

"It is great to be associated with such a fantastic promotion - all of these events will take place within the local community.

"British Gas is the country's biggest energy supplier at the heart of every community so we are delighted to be helping out."

What is more the Evening Star and British Gas are printing 10,000 hats, flags and posters.

The hats and flags will be given out to all event/street party organisers who write in and nominate their celebrations to grab a share from the £5,000 pot.

We will also be printing some special Jubilee Stars to mark the occasion which will also be available over the Jubilee period.

Austen Dack, Evening Star brand manager, said: "What a way to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee!

"If you are an event organiser in Suffolk please contact us with your details and you could be in line for a £500 grant to help towards costs.

"Even if you don't win the £500, we will still help you out with hats and flags, and posters and also we will promote your event."

Here's how to apply for your event's share of £5,000.

We need you to write and tell us the following:

1. Tell us when and where your event will take place.

2. Have you/are you about to receive permission for your event?

3. How many people are expected to attend?

4. Will there be any commercial gain from your event and where will the money go to?

5.Have you received the relevant go-ahead/permission from your local council, plus public liability insurance?

Send your entry to: Evening Star £5,000 Jubilee Promotion, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN.

The Evening Star will not be liable for any events it awards money to. Winners will be decided and notified by our Jubilee panel.

Meanwhile Ipswich Borough Council has slashed the cost of holding a street party to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The council has announced it will take care of road closure orders, put up barriers and signs and arrange insurance for a total cost of £150.

The cost of each party is being subsidised to encourage people to enjoy the celebrations.

Street party organisers can arrange their own insurance but the council can do it for them as part of the package.

The council is recommending public liability insurance to the value of £5 million is in place.

A spokesman said: "We are all very excited by the Jubilee celebrations and the visit to Ipswich by the Queen.

"We are doing our best to cut through red tape and bring down the cost of the parties.

"We have held a public meeting at which some concerns were raised and we have responded with this cut-price offer."

Ipswich Borough Council will also make it easier for party organisers by arranging for the signs and barriers to be put up and taken down.

There are several regulations to ensure public safety and so party organisers are asked to talk to Ipswich Borough Council to ensure their event is safe as well as fun.

Those wanting to apply for a road closure should contact Pat Ryan, the Borough Engineer, Room 1103, Civic Centre, Ipswich IP1 2EE, tel. 01473

432816, pat.ryan@ipswich.gov.uk by the end of April.

Please box this:

The Evening Star is the paper to read for local news of the Golden Jubilee and the events surrounding it.

We will be printing a special supplement to mark the occasion.

We will also be giving our readers the chance to get hold of a free special Jubilee beer produced by Ipswich brewer Tolly Cobbold.

Also watch out for a very special edition of the Jubilee Evening Star printed over the June Bank Holiday to celebrate the Queen's 50-year reign. Go on and enjoy the celebrations.