Exeter students voice mixed opinions on Platinum Jubilee celebrations
According to a survey conducted by Exeposé, only half of the polled students took part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the Bank Holiday.
A third of student respondents did not show interest in the Platinum Jubilee, with some expressing apathy towards Royal Family and hence feeling no need to celebrate.
Some students, though, did engage with events organised in the city centre with one remarking that it “was nice to see everyone outside celebrating”, despite their lack of interest in the monarchy. Contrastingly, another student commented that they found “the whole pomp and circumstance in poor taste while people are being told taxes must increase and it looks like we may be headed for a recession”.
The Students’ Guild hosted a Jubilee party on 1st of June, providing refreshments, activities and decorations. This was a Give it a Go event, which a Guild spokesperson stated “was designed to be very relaxed so people could drop in and out to suit them. We had good feedback from those who attended, many of whom liked the informal nature of the event”.
We were anticipating some of our student population to be engaged with the Jubilee
Students’ Guild spokesperson
Some students, however, pointed out an apparent lack of social media promotion by the Students’ Guild: a student indicated that they “[were not] aware of any events happening at university”. When asked why this was, the Guild told Exeposé that “We [do not] do a follow up post for every Give it a Go event, as it depends what else is happening that week. Most of our events are covered through Instagram stories, however, photos from the Jubilee event may feature in an event round-up post in the future”. The Guild also put in place a webpage giving students information and activity ideas, while promoting events in the local area.
Celebrations in Exeter city centre included a party on the High Street on 2nd of June, featuring multiple tables at which people sat enjoying picnics and takeaways. Exeter High Street was one of over 200 roads across Devon that closed for the Jubilee. A beacon was lit next to the maritime buoy on the Quay on 2nd of June, accompanied by music from the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Band and The Maynard School Choir.
Other events took place on Cathedral Green, in Princesshay and the Guildhall Shopping Centre. Live music was also available, boasting performances from The Liberty Sisters, The Footloose Four, Chris Pope, Exeter Railway Band and Exeter Jazz Orchestra. Family-friendly activities were available throughout the day, such as face painting on Cathedral Green, Uncle Tacko’s Imaginarium and a 1957 vintage Exeter bus. Popular student nightclub Fever also got involved, hosting a “Jubilee rave” on 1st of June.
