On Sunday 12^th February 2011, at Halifax Minster, The Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe will be hosting an official service to mark the launch of Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year.

The service looks to bring the five areas of West Yorkshire together to celebrate this historic occasion by a service led by Reverend Canon Hilary Barber at Halifax Minster.  The Lord Bishop of Wakefield, The Right Reverend Stephen Platten will also give the address the at service.  The event will then conclude with fireworks!

Sixty years

The Diamond Jubilee will mark 60 years since The Queen came to the throne and will be celebrated by an extended bank holiday weekend in June 2012 (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th).  Communities are being encouraged to mark this momentous occasion with celebratory events, and Dr Roscoe is keen to promote this and encourage West Yorkshire to become involved with their own celebrations.

Halifax Minster

Dr Roscoe commented “I am delighted to be able to host this most special event at Halifax Minster to officially launch the start of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year.  Over the last year, the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy has been actively engaging and encouraging people from across the region to get involved in helping the nation to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.  The response has been overwhelming and there are many exciting plans afoot for special events to be held in Her Majesty’s honour.”

BBC

The service at the Minster will be attended by various dignitaries and special invitees from across the West Yorkshire area and will also include readings by the Lord-Lieutenant herself, BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration and Barrie Rutter, Founder and Artistic Director of Northern Broadsides theatre company.

Royal Marines

There will also be prayers led by representatives of the faith communities of West Yorkshire and performances by the Trumpeters of the Royal Marines.  The Choirs of Halifax Minster, Leeds Parish Church and Bradford Cathedral will also be performing alongside the University of Huddersfield’s Brass Band and organist Christopher Brown of the Minster. Dr Simon Lindley of Leeds Parish Church will be the conductor for the service also.

The Lord-Lieutenant continues “The Diamond Jubilee is a magnificent anniversary not only for Her Majesty, but for our Country too – it truly is a once in a life time event.  Only one other British monarch has ever celebrated a Diamond Jubilee and that was Queen Victoria in 1897.”

The 6^th February 2012 will mark exactly 60 years since the Queen came to the throne in 1952, and the official commencement of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year.