Jets Magazine Jets July 2012 Back Issue

As I sit in my office at
home in Nottingham
writing these words
the nation is readying
itself for the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee celebrations.
Last weekend saw the 78
aircraft formation flying over
Windsor Castle for the
Diamond Jubilee Parade and
Muster (see page 23) and, like
millions of others, I watched
transfixed.
But it wasn’t just the
formations of aircraft and the
massed bands marching past
that caught my attention; it
was the huge crowds that lined
the streets waving flags and
wearing red, white and blue.
I have to admit it made me
proud to be British.
Eccentric
There are few nations that do
eccentricity quite as well as
us Brits. We’re happy to wear
a red, white and blue plastic
bowler hat, eat curled-up
sandwiches and drink warm
beer as we celebrate our
sovereignty at a street party
in the rain. The thought of
pitching wallpapering tables in
the street and sitting around
with neighbours on a multitude
of mismatched chairs would
not appeal to most nations,
but we revel at the prospect
of a long holiday weekend
celebrating the monarch’s
jubilee.
Perhaps it takes us back
to the ‘Blitz’ spirit of 1940
and the make-do-and-mend
mentality that saw a generation
through the two world wars
and the post-war depression?
Whatever the rationale, in
these days of ‘austerity’ the
idea of pulling together as a
community and enjoying a
cost-effective day out with
friends old and new is to be
applauded and encouraged.
Opportunity
Of course this year sees plenty
for us Brits to get excited and
patriotic about. Not only is it
Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee
but the nation is also hosting
the Olympic Games for the
first time since 1948. I have to
confess that I’m not much of
a sporting aficionado but even
I am starting to feel a sense
of anticipation and excitement
about having the Olympics in
my home country. That said,
I find the logistics of hosting
such an enormous event
and 10,500 athletes more of
interest.