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More on KentOnline
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will celebrate her 70th anniversary on the throne next year – and Ashford Borough Council has agreed it will spend £45,000 on the occasion.
Plans for next year's event include the lighting of the beacon in Civic Park, a service at St Mary's the Virgin church and encouraging residents to hold street parties.
The celebrations will take place between Thursday, June 2 and Sunday, June 5.
Another £10,000 will also go towards celebrating Warship Week and a relic of Ashfordian history, which coincides with jubilee week.
The HMS Albacore, a minesweeper during the Second World War, was adopted by Ashford after residents raised donations for the new ship during Warship Week 1942, much like the iconic Ashford tank did during the First World War.
Built in 1942, the ship served primarily in the Mediterranean during the war, before residing in Chatham from 1947. It was finally broken up in 1963.
Celebrations for the Albacore will take place on Saturday, June 4 and will see the Ashford Sea Cadets unveiling a plaque and flag for the underappreciated piece of local history.
Council leader Gerry Clarkson said of the celebrations: “It will be quite a poignant year I think for Her Majesty, she’s not getting any younger and it’s very important to mark this occasion.
“She’s one of the longest reigning monarchs in history and has been absolutely exemplary in her commitment to the nation.
“I never knew about the Albacore until two or three years ago, in the war it was a minesweeper in the Second World War and a very special vessel which we in Ashford contributed towards.
“We need to mark that, along with our tank in the First World War, it never fails to amaze me what history we have.”
