With his bell and scroll in hand, Alton town crier Dave Parsons declared the town’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations officially open in the Market Square at 2pm last Thursday (June 2).

Mr Parsons was one of 146 town criers throughout the UK and the Commonwealth who were ‘crying’ the Royal Proclamation for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, written by Bognor Regis town crier Jane Smith.

Getting into the Jubilee spirit with Union Jacks on their table and Union Jack hats on their heads were Janet, Christopher, Philip and Grace Dodd, and Matt Jordan, from Norfolk, who were visiting Tina and Howard Rice-Smith from Alton.

The Public Gardens hosted a royal-themed children’s creative writing competition on Saturday and The Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday.