Diamond Jubilee celebrations

At their latest monthly meeting, last Tuesday night in The Braid, Chief Executive of Council Anne Donaghy revealed that to-date 11 applications had been received for community funding for Jubilee events which would be considered for approval subject to their meeting the established criteria.

The applications, she added, ranged from small street parties to larger scale fun days and most were scheduled to take place over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Councillors also heard of an NIO invitation for them to nominate three local people and their partners/spouses to attend a provincial church service to mark the Jubilee.

Having been advised that those nominated should represent a wide cross-section of the community and be drawn from all levels of organisations “reflecting the diversity of Northern Ireland”, they agreed the suggestion of their Chief Executive that these would be - a representative of Ballymena Inter Ethnic Board, the Chair of the Village Garden Broughshane Ltd., and the Chair of the Ballymena Community Sports Forum (plus partners/spouses).

Members heard too that among local events planned to mark the occasion would be a Tree Planting Ceremony at Ardeevin on May 30, a Tea party for couples celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 2012, a

Diamond Jubilee Parade and the Lighting of Diamond Jubilee Beacon at Slemish, on June 4.