The New Milton Lions Club Platinum Jubilee Celebration will be staged between midday and 7pm on Friday 3rd June. It will be open for people to bring their own picnic or enjoy cuisine from across the Commonwealth on offer from stalls around the Recreation Ground

There will be live entertainment throughout the day and into the evening from a programme of acts, yet to be confirmed.

Exhibits showing New Milton through the Queen’s reign will be on display, including one on the Second World War’s impact on the town by Nick Saunders of Milton Heritage Society.

There is also set to be a host of stalls run by representatives of local community groups, including New Milton Men’s Shed.

From around 6:45 pm, uniformed organisations will parade around the Ground with their colours, accompanied by marching bands.

This will culminate on the Performance Pavilion , where New Milton Residents’ Association piper John Adams will play a piece of music specially commissioned by the Queen.

Rounding off the event will be a beacon-lighting ceremony.

One of the country’s 90 major military wives choirs is set to accompany this with its rendition of Majesty – a song also specially written for the jubilee.

Alan Watson, chair of the Lions Club activities committee, told the A&T: “The essence of the whole thing is that it’s a local event put on by local people for local people.”