City joins in with Jubilee pageant festivities
THE DUST had barely settled and coffee machines had hardly cooled when City workers flocked back to their desks on Sunday to get a better – and drier – view of the Jubilee river pageant.
Insurance firm Aspen were one of such group of revellers, hosting a party for more than 100 staff and family on the rooftop of their offices at Plantation Place, the iconic City building that recently went under the hammer for £500m to Brazilian banking mogul Moise Safra.
“It was a relaxed family event,” said Tim Dickenson, a spokesperson for Aspen, which occupies the top three floors. “People brought along bunting, food and champagne – it was a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile there was another party at 10 Trinity Square, the former City headquarters of the Willis insurance empire overlooking Tower Hill, which is being turned into a luxury hotel. Its Singaporean owners KOP Group held a rooftop get-together for members of the leisure and property world. Champagne sipping guests were given brass spy-glasses to squint through and a brass band from the Royal College of Music struck up on the roof to mark the Queen passing Tower Bridge.
The City of London Corporation, however, wins The Capitalist’s prize for the best view, hosting a 1,000-strong party for community groups and charitable organisations on the walkways and in the rooms above Tower Bridge.
Back at ground level, hundreds of rain-soaked people in high spirits stuck it out to the very end to watch the Queen’s 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee flotilla complete its seven-mile route to Tower Bridge.
The bridge was raised as the royal barge approached and the skies opened up with heavy rain as it moored to let the Queen watch the rest of the flotilla, which broke the record for the largest boat parade.