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Hundreds celebrate Queen Elizabeth II birthday!

-11 service members receive awards
There was the usual receiving of the royal salute by His Excellency the Governor William Boyd McCleary, CMG,CVO, his inspection of the parade, the March Pass, the royal salute and as is customary there was the presentation of long service medals. Photo: VINO
Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Ninth District Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE and family were present at the parade. Photo: VINO
Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Ninth District Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE and family were present at the parade. Photo: VINO
For First clasp to the Overseas Territories Police Force Medal for Long Service (25 years); Inspector Ricaldo Noel. Photo: VINO
For First clasp to the Overseas Territories Police Force Medal for Long Service (25 years); Inspector Ricaldo Noel. Photo: VINO
A number of schools and children's clubs and organisations were present. Photo: VINO
A number of schools and children's clubs and organisations were present. Photo: VINO
Members of Her Majesty's Prison Service on parade. Photo: VINO
Members of Her Majesty's Prison Service on parade. Photo: VINO
Ouch! That grasp must have hurt. Photo: VINO
Ouch! That grasp must have hurt. Photo: VINO
An up close and personal moment with the young cadets and the Governor. Photo: VINO
An up close and personal moment with the young cadets and the Governor. Photo: VINO
Governor McClearey, accompanied by the parade commander and the Acting Commissioner of Police Alwin James, inspected all those on parade. Photo: VINO
Governor McClearey, accompanied by the parade commander and the Acting Commissioner of Police Alwin James, inspected all those on parade. Photo: VINO
Acting Premier Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering and wife arrived to a Territorial welcome at yesterday's activity. Photo: VINO
Acting Premier Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering and wife arrived to a Territorial welcome at yesterday's activity. Photo: VINO
Deputy Governor Mrs V. Inez Archibald (with hat) and husband were part of the Queen's birthday celebrations. Photo: VINO
Deputy Governor Mrs V. Inez Archibald (with hat) and husband were part of the Queen's birthday celebrations. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The parade and ceremonies which form part of the celebrations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II birthday had the usual full house turn out yesterday June 8, 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth II Park in Road Town.

It is usually a Territorial holiday, which allows residents of the Virgin Islands to join with the rest of the United Kingdom and its other Overseas Territories in officially celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday and this year the celebration was no exception as hundreds turned out to witness and cheer the sequence of events.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 87th birthday on Sunday April 21, 2013. The queen was born at 2:40 A.M. on April 21 1926, the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York.

Held normally on a second Saturday in June, her official birthday is celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade. The tradition of two birthdays for the British monarch has been explained by the fact that if they were born in winter, the weather would be unsuitable for outdoor events.

Meanwhile, some twenty uniform and discipline services, organisations, institutions and groups assembled at the Road Town Ferry Dock and Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Headquarters’ frontage in all sharply looking uniforms in the subtle heat to the full afternoon sun from where they march with pride to the nearby Queen Elizabeth II ground for the ceremonial aspect of the birthday celebrations.

Prior and after, residents and visitors alike lined the streets to witness the parade and then followed to the ground and made their presence felt as they joined the dignitaries in paying their respect via the ceremonial aspects of the celebrations.

There was the usual receiving of the royal salute by the Governor His Excellency Mr William Boyd McCleary, CMG,CVO, his inspection of the parade, the march pass, the royal salute and as is customary there was the presentation of long service medals.

Receiving medals in the category of Overseas Territories Police Force Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (18 years) were Constable Alvin Bolton and Calvert Llewellyn Romney and constable Janet Deloris Mitchell.

For First Clasp to the Overseas Territories Police Force Medal for Long Service (25 years), Inspector Ricaldo Noel, Sergeant Ivor Gladsone Antony Fraser and in his absence Sergeant Rawle Brian Gibbons were the recipients.

Awards for Second Clasp to Overseas Territories Police Force Medal for Long Service and good conduct (30 years) went to Inspectors Leonard Albert Fahie, Bewadney Alexander Howe (present) and Terrence Elvis Brown.

For Overseas Territories Prison Service Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (18 years) was acting Assistant Superintendent Officer 1 Vandol Abbey and for the Overseas Territories Fire and Rescue Brigade Medal for Long Service and good conduct (18 years) was leading Fire Service Officer A. Gaston Walters.

Yesterday’s parade was under the astute command of Superintendent St. Clair Amory.

26 Responses to “Hundreds celebrate Queen Elizabeth II birthday!”

  • AC 360 (09/06/2013, 09:50) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    They needed to honor PC Callwood for all these tickets and revenue
  • mAN uP (09/06/2013, 09:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    How come the Cuban always acting chief Minister around this event what happen this is too small for Dr. Smith and Lorna?
  • son of the soil (09/06/2013, 10:15) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    90% of them aint from here.
    • Locally made (09/06/2013, 10:28) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Son of the soil

      Whose fault is that?
      • @$$ (09/06/2013, 15:05) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply

        Son of.the soil.........Iyo too blunt to have position in Iyo own country....island people rule.

    • Regardless (09/06/2013, 11:05) Like (14) Dislike (11) Reply
      And Your Point is?? They aren't from Here but they are HERE protecting and serving. YOU are from HERE and you are NOT protecting and serving.... so whether 90% or 95% as long as you are not there serving keep quiet
    • bb (10/06/2013, 06:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i doubt u knows where you from.
    • notes (10/06/2013, 07:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Neither is the queen
  • Olivia D. (09/06/2013, 10:47) Like (8) Dislike (118) Reply
    I have few whys: Why are hundreds honoring someone who does not give 2 cents about us. McCleary is the only one who has connections to her.
    Why is this the first time I have seen Pickering with his wife and why do they both look like it is killing them to be there? Not even a smile and their heads are hanging low. Seems like a funeral to me.
    Why is O'Neal still filling the seat that a young person needs. If he steps out everyone else moves up and there will be an available opening for the next generation.
    Why instead of putting monies toward the education of our children, do we have music fest, so many days off for carnival, easter, christmas to new years, etc etc. We should be one of the top educators in the caribbean.
    Why has crime run amok and criminals not made an example of more seriously? This would make future criminals know they will not get off easily.
    Why are airplanes circling over us at night when the airport is closed and then our representatives not informing the public of what was really going on? There are too many questions to list here. Why oh why oh why. What has happened to my BVI?
    • qc (09/06/2013, 11:10) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      i agree and with this governor's history since he has come here and his disregards for the laws an the people we should not be spending a dime on this
    • hey (09/06/2013, 15:10) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      We may not be directly connected to them, however, the island is still British and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, have you taken a look at your maroon Passport, yea that's what I thought. People freak me out when they want to remain British but don't want to be British. Make up your mind and celebrate the British customs when necessary.
  • bay yute (09/06/2013, 11:47) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    but how there is no money to pay contractors and for local outstanding matters but they can find money for such a celebration...double standards yet again....i cry for my country
  • Questioner (09/06/2013, 12:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Acting Primer Pickering, Do we really need an airport?
  • ausar (09/06/2013, 13:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Regardless", always keep in mind that for many years, Virgin Islanders (British) were , by design, kept out of the force. One should always be mindful of these events before making such statements!

    "Olivia D", with regards to the Deputy Premier, I've said the same thing. Now if he's the one being groomed to succeed the current Premier, I would concur, we should be seeing a lot more of the "future" First Lady in public spaces with the Deputy.

    Good observation there, "Olivia"!
    • Marley (10/06/2013, 15:16) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Grroming to be Premier? We suck salt if that happens. We will be over ran by foreign investors.
  • Etiquette Man (09/06/2013, 13:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Was officer Callwood there? Perhaps the Queen can knight him with her tea set.
    • police officer (09/06/2013, 15:37) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply

      And where is Morris? VINO how come you na investigate that? Has his comntract end? Is James the defacto Commissioner? An island man?

    • An observer (09/06/2013, 18:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      LMBO @ Etiquette Man...you are hilarious! :D
  • PAPI (09/06/2013, 17:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This governor is not a good representation of Her Majesty….he is one of the worst we have had!!!!
  • prisoner (10/06/2013, 08:50) Like (0) Dislike (19) Reply
    why is that officer wearing pip on shoulder when he is grade one officer he need to stop be a an ass the black one
  • Ty-Rexx (10/06/2013, 11:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Police and Cadets marched VERY well. Fire and Prison need more practice.
  • lettuce tree (10/06/2013, 17:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    them people got to be crazy ,them marching for the ........... ,she dont even care bout them, ayo think she does celebrate our birthday .SHE DONT EVEN NEED US CAUSE SHE A QUEEN .HM
  • Sugar City Rebel (11/06/2013, 09:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Howe and good conduct dont mesh.


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