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Nottinghamshire gears up for a year to remember

Nottinghamshire is gearing up for a year of landmark celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the return of the coveted Tour of Britain cycle race and the second Nottinghamshire Day.

The showpiece events and occasions will provide residents with a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate a milestone year which will shine a light on our wonderful county as it continues its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Council leader, Councillor Ben Bradley MP, said: “It’s a big year for Nottinghamshire with a variety of events and celebrations taking place which will ultimately boost our communities and civic engagement, not least the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“The Queen is the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service, which is a fantastic achievement, and our pride in Britain and our county will be on full display as we all come together for the extended Bank Holiday weekend in early June.

“I’m also really looking forward to the second County Day on 25 August. Last year we managed to get Notts Day trending across the UK on social media – and I am sure we can do that again as we showcase why our county is a great place to live, work and visit.

“And, of course, the Tour of Britain is returning in September with routes around the Nottinghamshire, which will once again put the national and international spotlight on our towns and villages.

“The two previous occasions the race passed through Nottinghamshire were a massive success and once again we’ve got a huge opportunity to attract tourists to our area to boost our local economy as well as get more people out on their bikes.

“It’s fair to say, there’s plenty to celebrate in our fantastic county in 2022 as the feelgood factor makes a long-awaited return after a challenging and difficult two years.”

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee  

The year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Nottinghamshire begin with the Lord-Lieutenant hosting a Jubilee Concert to Celebrate the Commonwealth on 28 February, at The Playhouse in Nottingham.

It will be a spectacular night of dance and music, featuring some of Nottinghamshire's brightest talents, while several key dignitaries and ambassadors from across the Commonwealth will also be in attendance.

Other key dates for residents’ diaries include the Nottinghamshire Show, which this year will house a special Jubilee Exhibition at the Newark Showground on 14 May, as well as the lighting of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons at various locations across the city and county to celebrate Her Majesty’s reign.

Sir John Peace, the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, said he was looking forward to celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee throughout the year and has urged residents to play their part to make it a magical 12 months to remember.  

He said: “Today, I am proud to launch the Platinum Jubilee here in this great county of ours.

“This a going to be a fantastic year for us all to look forward to and will include a series of special events taking place – including beacon lightings, street parties, thanksgiving services, parades – all to say a huge thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for everything she has done for our nation.

“It hasn’t been an easy two years and what Her Majesty will be very aware of is the need for us all to celebrate and come together as a community, as a society and above all have fun.

“Here in Nottinghamshire, we have some great plans of our own on top of all the things which are going to be happening nationally.

“One of the things Her Majesty is very keen we do throughout the next 12 months is reach out to everyone, whatever their background, whatever their faith to make it feel an inclusive Jubilee.

“We will be doing things that everyone can have access to and be involved with and over the coming weeks and months we will be telling you more about the different events taking place.

“The beacon events are an opportunity to shine a light on Her Majesty’s 70 years as our Queen and, here in Nottinghamshire, I am very keen that all aspects of our communities get involved – particularly our schools

“It is important everybody has a chance to take part in the commemorations, so I’m also asking residents to share with us their special memories of Her.

“Perhaps you have met her on one of her visits to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire? If you have, we’d love to hear from you so we can document your experiences and publish them on our newly-launched, commemorative website.

“It promises to be a very special 12 months, particularly at the beginning of June when there is so much happening with celebrations and events taking place across city and county during the extended Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June.

“I hope you all have a great time and I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the year.”

As part of the celebrations, everyone in the UK is also being encouraged to plant a tree for the Jubilee to create the Queen’s Green Canopy. 

Here in Nottinghamshire, we are planning to create a new woodland in conjunction with the Woodland Trust, which hopefully will involve every school in the City and County planting a tree to remember this special year.

For more information about the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Nottinghamshire and how residents can play their part, visit Platinum Jubilee | Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire Day

Heading towards its second year, Nottinghamshire Day plans have also been unveiled today.

Thursday 25 August will once again be a chance to celebrate all things Nottinghamshire, whether it’s our heritage and world-famous legends, our well-loved tourism sites and countryside or our top-class sports grounds and teams.

Plans include a free Nottinghamshire Day festival, packed with live acts, music, entertainment, local stalls and much more at the home of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest Country Park, on Saturday 27 August, from 11am-8pm. Full line-up to be announced.

A range of on-line Nottinghamshire Day resource packs, designed for schools, businesses, and local attractions, will soon be available to help make the most of the day.

25 August marks the anniversary of the start of the Civil War in 1642, which began in Nottinghamshire, and is why a special flag raising event will also take place at Newark Castle.

The site is one of the county’s most fascinating historical landmarks after facing three sieges during the Civil War.

Visit our new Nottinghamshire Day webpages Nottinghamshire Day | Nottinghamshire County Council or follow our social media channels, using #Nottsday to find out more and how to get involved.

Tour of Britain

Cycling’s premier road event in this country returns to Nottinghamshire on Thursday 8 September for the fifth stage of this year’s race.

Once again, it will feature the world’s top teams and riders, alongside the best British-based cyclists, with a field comprising of Tour de France winners, Olympians and world champions.

It is the third time the sport’s leading names will grace the county’s roads following the staging of the Tour of Britain in 2017 and 2018 – leading to national and international interest in Nottinghamshire.

The Tour of Britain is part of the UCI ProSeries, making it one of the most prestigious sporting events in the sport’s global calendar.

Visit our Tour of Britain webpage for more information about this year’s race.