Preparations are under way for a host of fun at care homes in Winchester with residents keen to celebrate the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.

The bunting will be out and the flags will be flying during ‘street parties’ at Colten Care’s two homes in the city over the specially extended Bank Holiday weekend in June.

In the run-up to the much-anticipated occasion, residents and staff at St Catherines View and Abbotts Barton have been busy making decorations, rehearsing songs to perform and planning games.

They have also been sharing memories of the Queen’s coronation and reign.

Pat Bell, who lives at Abbotts Barton, said: “I was in Malaysia at the time of the ascension and coronation as my husband was in the military. I remember it was a happy and positive time, with everyone looking to the future, with the new Queen. There were many parties as a celebration of the coronation.”

Fellow Abbotts Barton resident Gillian Cambrook remembers it being a cold day, and how many people chose to camp out in London so that they didn’t miss anything.

Gillian said: “I remember watching it on the television in Scotland and the excellent and rousing music that was played. Prince Charles was very young and boyish and I recall how the Duke of Edinburgh bowed to the Queen, which I thought was such a lovely gesture. My children had a toy model of the state coach which got broken. It would have been worth a fortune today.”

Jill South, a resident at St Catherines View, said: “I went to watch the Queen’s coronation in London. I travelled by train with my friend and we stood at The Mall waiting. We managed to push our way to the front of the crowd and saw the Queen as she went past. We waved and cheered at her. We waited until it had all finished for her to come back again. We all cheered and waved again. The crowd was massive, there was lots of cheering and waving of hands and flags. It was just such a happy day. The Queen has done a great job after all these years and has done a lot for our country. I am a huge fan of the Queen and all she has done.”

As well as their garden parties, Colten Care residents are invited to gather for the planting of commemorative Jubilee trees at each of the operator’s 21 homes in the South.

Part of the Queen’s Green Canopy national tree-planting initiative, every Colten tree will be accompanied by a plaque made by military veterans supported through the Royal British Legion’s charity activities.

Her Majesty is the first British monarch to reign for 70 years, eclipsing Queen Victoria who, on her death in 1901, had reigned for almost 64 years.