Care home residents in North Wales are starting the Diamond Jubilee celebrations early.
As a result, the Queen can expect a special delivery from the artistic residents of the Pendine Park care organisation.
They are producing colourful postcards to mark the monarch’s momentous 60 years on the throne.
The royal project is being masterminded by Pendine Park’s artist-in-residence, Sarah Edwards.
All the residents who want to take part will be able to hang the laminated postcards on a “jubilee tree” outside each of the organisation’s seven care homes in Wrexham.
Sixty of the postcards will be sent to the Queen in Buckingham Palace – one to represent each year of her reign.
On the day itself, there will be Diamond Jubilee parties in all of the homes.
Sarah Edwards explained: “We wanted a special Diamond Jubilee project that it could involve every single resident across the seven homes.
“The residents can make the cards themselves or the activities team can do it for them.
“It can be a collage, a drawing or a photograph on the theme of the jubilee, with a message to the Queen or memories associated with the Queen.
“The project will have a Commonwealth flavour as it is such an important institution to the Queen and will form central part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“The postcards will be laminated and we’re going to tie them in the trees at each of the seven homes on the day, June 5.
“The Jubilee Message Tree will also be festooned with the flags of the Commonwealth which is close to the Queen’s heart and a big part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“It’s a huge team effort and everybody’s going to get involved, we want all the staff to participate and family and friends.
“A total of 60 cards will be sent from Pendine Park to Buckingham Palace and one of the residents will write a letter on behalf of everybody here.
“There is a great deal of enthusiasm and I think everybody is happy to participate so we’re also utilising the art classes, the photography classes, the calligraphy classes to produce the postcards.
“We’ve already discovered some royal connections. For example, a lady at the Hillbury Care Home used to be a hospital matron and the Queen visited her ward.”
“Another resident was awarded the MBE and a member of staff vividly recalls meeting the Queen when she was in school. She and her classmates were allowed to go and see the Queen when she came to Wrexham.
Among the residents taking part is Emma Locker who thinks the Queen has done a really good job.
She said: “I am really looking forward to the Diamond Jubilee party. I love a good party.”
