Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2012 | Page 45

ISLAND LIFE

...and Olympic
Torch came too!

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
tour of the country came to
a fitting end when thousands
of well-wishers turned out to
welcome her to the Island.
The Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh arrived in Cowes to
be met by the Island dignitaries
including the Lord Lieutenant
Maj. Gen. Martin White, MP
Andrew Turner, IW Council
leader David Pugh and the
High Sheriff Nick Hayward.
Around 12,000 spectators

gathered on Cowes Parade to
catch a glimpse of the Royal
couple, and some were lucky
enough to hand the Queen
flowers.
During the two-hour stay, she
opened the new Cowes RNLI
station, and met crew and
staff before unveiling a plaque.
The Royals also listened to
Cowes Primary School pupils
performing music teacher Becky
Bevan’s song, The Nation’s
Crown.

The London Olympics are now well underway, but the
Island played its part in the build-up with the arrival of
the Olympic Torch. Thousands of spectators lined the
streets of Yarmouth and Newport, and also gathered at
Alum Bay as the torch made its way across the Island.
Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson and Around
the World yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur were
among those who carried the torch during its Island
procession.

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