A HAPPY and glorious reign by Britain’s longest-serving monarch was celebrated by Haslemere Town Council at a mass gathering of all ages and religious persuasions on the memorial green in the High Street, last Wednesday night.

Town crier Christian Ashdown introduced Haslemere Mayor Melanie Odell, who welcomed everyone present and thanked The Queen for her “dedication and duty to the country” – and for achieving the “enormous feat” of reigning for 63 years and 216 days.

In an event uniting all faiths, prayers by Haslemere rector, Rev Mary Bowden, and parish priest, Rev Chris Bergin, were followed by prayers by Jamia Ahmadiyya College teacher Attaulmoman Zahid and buddhist chants by Bhikkhu Subhaddo and Dhammarakkho.

Celebrating the Queen’s role as Patron of Girlguiding, celebration badges were presented to members of Camelsdale, 1st and 2nd Shottermill and 5th Haslemere Brownies, Marley and Camelsdale Rainbows, Haslefold Rangers and Camelsdals and 5th Haslemere Guides.

Ms Odell, who congratulated bell-ringers of St Batholomew’s Church for just finishing a quarter peal, thanked Haslemere Events for hanging out the flags from Haslemere to Hindhead and local businesses for dressing up their windows, said: “The whole town looks wonderful.”

Those present then gave a resounding three cheers to Her Majesty and the ceremony concluded with an enthusiastic rendition of the national anthem.

Down the road in Witley, Barrow Hills School pupils joined in the nationwide celebrations with a themed lunch of sausages and mash and home-made pork pie with piccalilli followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding. An assembly about the monarchy was held and all the children were presented with a commemorative coin to mark the landmark event.

Head Matthew Unsworth said: “I remember my school doing something similar for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and I still have the commemorative coin. We feel it is important to give the current generation of children something to mark and treasure this event, too.”