The Festival of Suffolk to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a host of maritime events

A festival covering the whole of Suffolk is set to celebrate the county's maritime links with a host of events including a boat show.

The Festival of Suffolk has a series of events to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee including a Festival of the Sea which will run across two weekends in June.

On Saturday June 11, there will be a boat race between the Royal Naval Sailing Association and pupils of the Royal Hospital School which will be held at Alton Water.

Between 1pm and 5pm on the day the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook is opening its door for a host of free events that include 815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) parachutists, and the RHS field gun display team. There will also be music from local groups including the RHS Marching Band, Clacton Sea Cadets and The Motley Crew.

At 6.15pm there will be a Sunset Ceremony by the RHS Corps of Drums, followed by a Nautical Ball.

Sunday, June 12 will see a Picnic-in-the-Park joint concert event between the Royal Marines School of Band and the Royal Hospital School of Music Band at the school in Holbrook. There will be a service at 5pm.

Other events across June 17 and 19 give individuals the chance to enjoy local maritime heritage.

Roy Clare, one of the coordinators of the festival, said: "In Suffolk and Essex, local authorities and others are already planning events.

"Enthusiasts at Felixstowe’s Landguard Fort are planning a weekend of pirate activities at the fort and museum, and the Felixstowe Coast Patrol will be displaying their boat on the beach.

"Harwich has a Maritime Trail, Brightlingsea is staging the historic Rowhedge Regatta, the Blackwater Sailing Club has a regatta, and there will be seafront activities in Southend."

Saturday, June 18 offers the chance for people to show off their boats in a Parade of Boats between Harwich, Shotley and Felixstowe. The parade will feature yachts and a variety of vessels from the Royal Navy, Trinity House,

Harwich Haven Authority, Essex Marine Police, and the RNLI.

Entry for the Parade of Boats is free and closes on April 30. More information can be found here.

For more information or too book tickets, visit the website here.