Coventry music royalty joined staff and students at Coventry College’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with special performances held to commemorate 70 years of public service and showcase emerging local talent.
The lead singer of 2-Tone band The Selecter, Pauline Black OBE DL joined hundreds of students and faculty members at a special Jubilee event at Coventry College, with public services and performing arts learners pulling out all the stops to impress with artistic showcases and parades.
The Ska revival icon was also on hand to officially unveil a Red Acer Tree and commemorative plaque, planted outside the College’s north building as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project (QGC) ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The QGC tree planting initiative was created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, inviting people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.
After enjoying displays from performing arts, acting, public services Pauline was joined by Principal and CEO of Coventry College, Carol Thomas, for the unveiling.
Pauline said: “It’s been a pleasure and an honour to spend time today with performing arts students who were absolutely fantastic and had some great voices and great dance moves, and, also, to see the parade with inspiring young students who see a future in public service.
“Both of these fields, and events like today, are character building for young people and I’ve loved seeing the desire to get involved in those disciplines from all the students who put themselves on display.
“Combined with the unveiling of the plaque and the tree for the QGC, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service, which is ultimately all for the benefit of these young people here today.”
Carol Thomas, Principal and CEO of Coventry College, said: “I’d like to thank Pauline Black and all the students who either performed or helped to generate a fantastic atmosphere in the audience for joining us for our Jubilee celebrations.
“It has been a celebration worthy of such an impressive milestone, we are so grateful to Pauline for attending and taking the time to speak to some of our public services and performing arts students about their studies and their dreams.”
Caption - Principal and CEO of Coventry College, Carol Thomas, with Pauline Black OBE DL