A considerably large number of guests, from various stations in life in the public and private sectors, were welcomed at Government House by Governor and Mrs Alistair Harrison on Thursday, June 13, on the occasion of the Official Birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Second.
In addressing the invitees, at the sundown ceremony at which there was a drill display by a contingent of the Royal Anguilla Police (RAPF) under the command of Sergeant Brian Best, Governor Harrison said in part:
“This is the fifth and final time that we have welcomed guests to our lawn to celebrate the Official Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. It is always a highlight and it is good to see so many people here despite the gathering rain clouds. I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in putting on the ceremony in which we are participating at the moment – in particular the members of the RAPF and of their band.
“In doing so, I would ask you to think particularly of Mr Wycliffe Robinson who should have been playing the saxophone with the band this evening [but] who sadly died a few days ago. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and his friends.
“In thanking the Police Force, I would also like to present two Long Service Awards to long-serving members of the RAPF. I therefore ask Haslyn Patterson and Mark Headley to step forwards to receive their awards.” (The award for Detective Patterson was received by Acting Superintendent, Detective Inspector Emris Rogers.)
In raising a toast to the Queen, Governor Harrison said: “This event, which we celebrate each year, is of course about Her Majesty The Queen who is the Queen of Anguilla, of the United Kingdom and all the other Overseas Territories. This is now the 62nd year of her very long reign and we think of her as her birthday is celebrated throughout the world. We also think of His Royal Highness Prince Phillip who is recovering at hospital and, of course, we wish him well.
“We remember, with great pleasure, the Jubilee celebrations throughout the world, this time, last year, and in particular in Anguilla where it was our privilege to light the very last bonfire in the chain that went all around the world. So I would ask you all to raise your glasses in a toast to Her Majesty The Queen.”
It was a delightful evening, at Government House, crowned by an impressive display by the smart-bearing Police contingent. The drill included the ceremonial firing of three rounds of ammunition in salute to Her Majesty The Queen.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hubert Hughes, who was in London at the time, along with leaders from other British Overseas Territories, attended the Trooping of the Colours at Buckingham Palace grounds for the Queen’s Official Birthday. Mr Hughes occupied a very vantage position at the ceremony, standing close to Prime Minister David Cameron. The Chief Minister and his Overseas Territories’ colleagues had gone to theUnited Kingdom to attend the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland.
