Published: 8 June, 2012
by AMY SMITH and ANDREW JOHNSON

THE sky may have been grey, the rain may have tried to wash it out, but a bit of British spirit and splatterings of red, white and blue meant that dozens of street parties in Islington went ahead to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

From crown competitions to cake scoffing, posing with Her Majesty or dancing, the four-day bank holiday weekend was awash with colour and fun.

At the Mayton Street Festival on Saturday the sun shone on stalls, live music from the Hackney Colliery Band, children’s entertainers and theatrical performances including from the Claremont Disco Dancers.

Over at St Luke’s Jubilee Day Family Tea Dance on Saturday the Ragroof Theatre Company had all ages up on the dance floor to celebrate the best of British – including wartime songs and old music hall numbers – and, of course, cucumber sandwiches.

Heavy rain tried to dampen the spirits at the Big Day Out in Whittington Park on Sunday but the arts and nature workshops went ahead. The Supernovas provided the music while poetry from Nadia Khomami and an inter-generational dance performance from Instantly Theatrical added to the entertainment.

Rain also failed to stop play at the Pemberton Gardens Jubilee street party on Sunday.

A row of trestle tables bending with the weight of food and drink gave way to lots of eating and drinking.

There was a retro theme at the Exmouth Market street party, on Monday, with 1950s-style vintage dress or union jacks the required code.

The sun broke through the clouds during an egg and spoon race and a three-legged race for children all set to 1950s music.

At the Arlington Square Big Lunch on Monday there was a human fruit machine, steel pan band and a fancy dress competition.

On the Harvist Estate in Holloway the North London cares street party on Tuesday also defied the rain to see face painting, an Arsenal in the Community penalty shootout competition and bouncy castles – as well as lots of food and drink.