Thousands set to see the Queen in Shropshire today
Around 35,000 people are expected to attend RAF Cosford today as The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attend a special pageant as part of their Diamond Jubilee Tour.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be hosted at a reception at the RAF Museum, before being driven through the crowds to watch the spectacular ‘Reignbow’ Procession involving over 5,000 schoolchildren at 1.40pm.
The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mr Algernon Heber-Percy, said:
“We are all very excited about the day and hope everyone will have a wonderful time. A huge amount of work has gone into organising the event and the spectacular procession, so we are all praying for good weather.
“As is customary for an English summer, we are trying to be prepared for all weathers, so please remember to bring waterproofs, sun cream and drinking water depending on the weather forecast. We have been delighted that so many people have registered for tickets to come along, and naturally with thousands of people making their way to Cosford on a weekday there will be some traffic congestion.
“Gates open at 8am, activities will be taking place all day from 9am, and the pageant procession will start at 1.40pm, so we are hoping there will be a steady stream of traffic entering the site during the morning.”
Activities will run from 9am to 5pm, featuring demonstrations from Shropshire’s industrial, commercial and agricultural expertise in a “Showcase Hangar”, and musicians and singers will be performing on an outdoor stage throughout the day.
The free event was organised by a team led by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, involving Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, RAF Cosford and the RAF Cosford Museum.
Organisers say those visiting should be dressed appropriately for the wet conditions underfoot, and drivers are being advised to be prepared for the potential of difficult parking conditions depending on the weather.
A traffic management plan has been put in place for the day, based on previous experience from major events at RAF Cosford, but people are advised to be prepared for some queuing on the roads surrounding the site.
Drivers should use Junction 3 on the M54, following signs for “car parking” and ignoring the signs with coloured squares which are for school coach drivers.
