Lord Lieutenant Gawn Rowan Hamilton cuts the cake with the help of Tyson Chaddock at The Big Jubilee Lunch at Killyleagh on Sunday. An idea from Eden Project Communities, made possible by The National Lottery, The Big Jubilee Lunch is an official part of Her Majesty The Queen's special Platinum Jubilee celebration.

The Big Jubilee Lunch Hailed Once in a Lifetime Success

Over 100,000 people have registered for organiser packs and the number is still climbing with The Big Jubilee Lunch events taking place in cities, towns and villages throughout the United Kingdom in honour of Her Majesty’s 70 year reign.

Thousands of people across Northern Ireland joined friends and neighbours for The Big Jubilee Lunch, the official community celebration for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Platinum Jubilee is being hailed a once in a lifetime success. Over 100,000 people have registered for organiser packs and the number is still climbing with The Big Jubilee Lunch events taking place in cities, towns and villages throughout the United Kingdom in honour of Her Majesty’s 70 year reign. Participation figures look set to be double the Diamond Jubilee.

Neighbours are loving the opportunity to get together, pulling up a chair and sharing in the spirit of the occasion. The Big Jubilee Lunch fever has been sweeping through streets, parks and gardens with people making the most of the extended bank holiday.

Eden Project Communities local representative, Kathy Black, is delighted with the success of The Big Jubilee Lunch in communities across Northern Ireland. Kathy said: “I have been the length and breadth of Northern Ireland meeting people and groups from Ballymoney to Trillick, Limavady to Downpatrick and everywhere in between this weekend. It has been so emotional to see community spirit well and truly being shared among friends old and new, families young and old, with everyone so excited to get out and enjoy The Big Jubilee Lunch in their gardens and on their streets after such a long time apart. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee has been a community celebration from start to finish and it has been a pleasure to meet people who have told me it was their first get together in years.”

The Big Lunch is an idea from the Eden Project made possible by National Lottery Community Fund and has been feeding community spirit since 2009. This year marks the biggest attendance in the event’s 13 year history as schools, youth clubs, care homes, families, friends, work colleagues and neighbours were among those celebrating community, commonality and friendship this weekend. And the community focus continues as you can take part in The Big Lunch wherever you live as this June is a Month of Community and anyone can get a free pack and join in to say thank you, fundraise for a good local cause or simply to meet in the street, celebrate local volunteers, small charities or recognise carers. Find out more at www.thebiglunch.com

The Big Jubilee Lunch is made possible by the National Lottery and is supported by PGTips, Nextdoor, Iceland and The Food Warehouse and Pears Foundation.

Facebook @edencommunities @TheBigLunchNorthernIreland, twitter @edencommunities @TheBigLunch_ni

Last updated 1 year 10 months ago