Dignitaries from Bracknell were among 4,000 guests invited to a garden party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The event was held on Monday on the banks of the River Thames at Henley Business School, as part of a series of regional visits by the Queen to mark her 60 years on the throne.

Among the guests were Councillor Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Forest Council, and his wife Jean; Cllr Dale Birch, mayor of Sandhurst; Cllr Shelagh Pile, mayor of Bracknell town, and Cllr Jennie McCracken, mayor of Bracknell Forest.

Other guests included Cis Allwright, of Bracknell Alzheimer’s Society, and volunteers from the Child Contact Centre at St Paul’s Church in Harmans Water.

Cllr Pile said: “The weather was great and the boat they used, Gloriana, was just fantastic.

“It was an old-fashioned Mississippi-style paddle steamer – great to see.

“I met lots of wonderful people. I was very close to the Queen, but didn’t get to speak to her.

“I didn’t see the Duke of Edinburgh though, which was disappointing.

“I did meet Terry Wogan, who was lovely.

“I got a great view of the Queen. I found myself standing behind two very tall men who kindly moved so I could see.”

The event was organised by the Lord Lieutenants of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

It featured a water pageant involving boats with a link to the Thames, which included Dunkirk Little Ships, canoes and racing boats.

A large number of the 4,000 guests were selected through a public ballot.

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