40,000 flock to see Queen at RAF Cosford

Up to 40,000 people flocked to Shropshire's biggest-ever royal party today for the county's long-awaited date with the Queen.

Her Majesty and Prince Philip were due to arrive at RAF Cosford for the county's Diamond Jubilee Pageant – with the sun even putting in an appearance at the airbase this morning.

The Royal visit, to watch a spectacular display featuring up to 5,000 Shropshire schoolchildren celebrating her 60-year-reign, is the biggest event of its kind ever organised in the county.

• Queen in Shropshire visit - LIVE

Organisers gave the final go-ahead last night after keeping a close eye on the weather.

Station Commander Group Captain Jamie Johnston declared himself satisfied with arrangements for parking on the grass at the base and any fears about the weather were put aside.

The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mr Algernon Heber-Percy, said: "The rain has made some of the car parks really rather wet so we will be monitoring the state of the airfield closely during the morning.

"The safety of everyone is our absolute priority, so it is possible that we will need to reduce car parking capacity to ensure the really soggy areas are not used.

"We hope the ground will dry out enough so we can accommodate all the vehicles we need to."

The RAF base has been transformed with planes in hangars making way for exhibits showcasing the very best of Shropshire and sixty years of progress, including the development of Telford and Wrekin.

Mr Heber-Percy led the organising team on a day long walkabout yesterday to ensure that today's programme would be as faultless as possible.

The royal couple were due to arrive at about 11.40am and stay for around three hours soaking up the sights and sounds of the best Shropshire has to offer.

That will include the pageant itself – a half-a-mile long procession of colour featuring 5,000 children starting at 1.40pm – and a day-long programme of music and dance.

The Queen and Duke will visit the RAF Museum which also houses the Cold War exhibitions where they will attend a reception before being driven through the crowds to watch the Reignbow procession.

Yesterday an incredible 25,000 people turned out to see the Queen and Duke in the centre of Hereford and another 35,000 have snapped up free tickets for today's event. Her Majesty was in Birmingham immediately before arriving at Cosford.

The day-long programme of music from young people across the county in many different groups, entertained early visitors.

This morning, exhibits and stands in the Showcase Hangar were pristine. The centrepiece is the magnificent crown of 2,000 silk roses created by Peony Flowers at its Ruckley Outlet near Shifnal and which ceremoniously arrived on the back of a lorry.

Owner Julie Bates said: "We are thrilled at the result and the reaction of everyone who has seen it as it was put into place."

The 8ft by 6.5ft crown features was designed by Stevie Hosell while Steve Hunter helped build the frame which took about five weeks to construct.

Julie says: "We were very privileged to have been asked to do this incredible crown for the Queen.

"Making it out of faux flowers, all endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, was the best way to do it. Stevie was very clever, using yellow roses which are the Queen's favourite flower."

The man behind the scenes who envisaged the design of the whole hangar and the structure for the crown, was Shrewsbury's Bill McCabe whose original vision has been well realised.

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