In 2019 the Queen Street Gardens were saved by a magnificent campaign. Certain elements on the council wanted to see the land sold off, doubtless to be built on, as happened at the former tennis courts. However, an impassioned campaign saved the Queen Street Gardens from a similar fate, the Facebook page of the Save Queen Street Gardens is still available to view and is worth a little of anyone’s time.

Sadly, three years on the gardens are still closed to the public, as works are needed to rectify a landslip within the steep site.

Shut for years, the Queen Street Gardens

Surely a town like Filey should be commemorating Queen Elizabeth II in some manner? A statue would be wonderful, but expensive. But imagine a statue in a place such as Glen Gardens? Or perhaps a revamped area directly outside the railway station (and my goodness it needs improving, it’s a bad first impression for the town).

More realistically, could a renaming of the Queen Street Gardens to Queen Elizabeth Gardens finally see some urgency put behind reopening these historic and lovely gardens? They’ve been closed for far too long. It’s only an idea and an idea designed to start a debate. What do you think Filey lovers?

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After a difficult 2021, which of course, included the death of Prince Phillip, a national celebration is exactly what the country needs. A ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ is being held across Britain and the Commonwealth on Sunday 5 June. As we type there are no plans for an official event in Filey. However, Filey Town Council has announced that there will be support for community led initiatives.

Filey rightly celebrates its links to Royal holidaymakers, who were relatively regular visitors to The Crescent, particularly in the late nineteenth century. As late as the 1955 the Royal Parade promenade was opened by Princess Mary. She was perhaps the Royal with the longest association with Filey. The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary and the aunt of the Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Mary became the Countess of Harewood when she married Viscount Lascelles (later the 6th Earl of Harewood) in 1922, the future Queen Elizabeth II was a bridesmaid.

Princess Mary, a regular visitor to Filey

If anywhere in Britain is suited to a Platinum Jubilee party it would be the Crescent Gardens. The graceful white-washed houses, and the beautifully tended gardens, would make an idea backdrop. The bandstand offers a readymade focal point and surely a relatively easy way for the town to mark the Platinum Jubilee would be a band concert, with people invited to bring along their own picnics?

The current summer series of concerts commence on 19 June, an additional concert on Sunday 5 June could be the focal Platinum Jubilee event for the town. Some Union Jack bunting in the town’s streets and Filey would have an eye-catching event that might draw visitors from far and wide.

After months of lockdowns and isolation, it could be a way of bringing the people of Filey, and our visitors, together for a celebration of our Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who has led by example, and given the nation much-needed leadership throughout these difficult times. Now more than ever, we need to show our, the nation’s, appreciation.

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