Islanders have been enjoying the extended bank holiday which has provided extra income to the area and has also brought several events to the Islands.
The tourism industry is thought to be up on the usual Whitson holiday as people have been able to take advantage of the extra time off work. Festivities started on the Sunday when hundreds chose to watch the first England Football match in a local Club. Some commented that they couldn’t work out whether the ‘St. George’ flags were out for the Football or the Jubilee.
On the Monday, visitors and locals were entertained by local schoolchildren who danced on Holgates Green. The ‘official’ beacon, lit on St. Marys, was joined by impressive unofficial beacons on every other Island, highlighting the community spirit. Fireworks displays were also set off from every island at around ten o’clock and several vantage points were full of people eager to see the displays on all the Islands. Needless to say, Red White and Blue colours features prominently in the displays.
Most of the Islands celebrated in different ways, including a beer and sausage festival on Tresco.