JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press= LONDON (AP) — More than 1,000 boats were to sail down the Thames on Sunday in a flotilla tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne that organizers are calling the biggest gathering on the river for 350 years.
Despite cool, drizzly weather, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the riverbanks in London, feting the British monarch whose longevity has given her the status of the nation's favorite grandmother.
The queen and members of her family will lead the river pageant aboard a flower-bedecked royal barge, accompanied by skiffs, barges, narrowboats, motor launches, row boats and sailing vessels from around the world.
The spectacle is a tribute to Britain's past — monarchs used the river as their main highway for centuries, and naval power built the island nation's once-great empire — as well as its abiding love of boats and the sea.
Among the flotilla vessels will be several of the "Dunkirk Little Ships," private boats that rescued thousands of British soldiers from the beaches of France after the German invasion in 1940 — a defeat that became a major victory for wartime morale.
The four-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations also include thousands of street parties across the country on Sunday and a Monday pop concert in front of Buckingham Palace featuring Elton John and Paul McCartney — though not everyone in Britain will be celebrating. The anti-monarchist group Republic plans a riverbank protest as the flotilla goes by on Sunday, followed by a pub night where royal refuseniks can drown their sorrows.
The celebration kicked off Saturday with a royal day at the races, as the queen watched a horse with the courtly name of Camelot win the Epsom Derby. Jubilee festivities officially began with a 41-gun salute fired by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
The 86-year-old monarch and her husband, Prince Philip, visited Epsom racecourse south of the capital for the Derby, one of the year's biggest horse-racing meetings. The queen waved to the 130,000-strong crowd as she was driven down the racecourse in a Bentley bearing the Royal Standard — the car's sun roof kept shut under gray skies — before settling down to watch the races from the royal box.
Dressed in a royal blue coat and matching hat over a blue-and-white floral dress, the queen was accompanied by members of the royal family including her sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and Andrew's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The monarch is a racing fan and horse breeder who has attended the Derby for decades and reads the Racing Post each day over breakfast, although unlike many of her subjects she does not gamble.
The queen presented prizes to some of the race winners and spoke intently to jockeys and trainers
"She's incredibly knowledgeable. Her knowledge of thoroughbreds and breeding goes way back," said Anthony Cane, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse.
The queen took the throne in 1952 on the death of her father, King George VI, and most Britons have known no other monarch.
Jubilee events end Tuesday with a religious service at St. Paul's Cathedral, a carriage procession through the streets of London and the queen's appearance with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on the palace balcony.
Prime Minister David Cameron — the 12th British leader of the queen's reign — paid tribute to the monarch's "extraordinary level of physical energy, mental energy, and above all devotion to her people, to the institutions of this country, to the way our democracy works."
With pictures of the monarch splashed across newspaper front pages, the left-leaning Guardian provided a button on its website that removed all jubilee stories. But many Britons embraced the jubilee spirit — a tribute to a monarch whose popularity cuts across all ages, social classes and political affiliations.
In a jubilee gift from Britain's politicians, lawmakers from the three main parties have backed a motion calling for the tower housing Big Ben — the beloved London bell that chimes the quarter hour — to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in the queen's honor. It's currently called the Clock Tower.
While many Britons used the long weekend to relax — and an estimated 2 million left the country on vacation — writers and religious leaders used the occasion to reflect on how Britain has changed over the queen's reign, from a war-scarred imperial power to a middle-sized power with oversized cultural clout.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the Anglican Church, expressed a widely held view when he said Britain had been lucky to have Elizabeth as monarch throughout a period of rapid change.
"It seems to me that what her importance has been for most people in this country has been as a sign of stability, a sign of some kind of security," Williams said in a jubilee video message.
Some have speculated that as she ages the queen might abdicate in favor of her 63-year-old son, Prince Charles — or even her wildly popular grandson, Prince William.
Those who know her say that is unlikely.
"I think it's an absolutely absurd notion," former Prime Minister John Major told Sky News. "I have not a shadow of a doubt that given her health she will remain monarch for the rest of her life."
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Online: http://www.thediamondjubilee.org
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
West Herts College - The Independent
Age: 64
History: The origins of West Herts College can be traced back to 1947 with the foundation of Watford Technical College. Since then it has joined forces with various other local educational establishments, such as Cassio College and George Stephenson College. The present day West Herts College was founded in 1991.
Address: Four sites at Watford, Dacorum and Kings Langley.
Ambience: Fresh and modern at the Watford campus, which was finished last year. Situated two minutes' walk from the town centre, the building is based around a central square where students can socialise and relax. Other sites have their own character and unique set of facilities, with Dacorum due for the next refurbishment.
Vital statistics: In 2008-09, the college enrolled more than 11,000 students, of whom nearly three quarters were adult learners and a similar proportion were part-time. HE courses include HNDs, HNCs, foundation degrees and a PGCE, and are validated by the University of Hertfordshire.
Added value: Active in the community, providing support and specialist training for personal and professional development. The college is particularly proud of its provision in early years, business, IT, and creative industries. Foundation degree students receive a Consortium Award of £1,000 cash upfront to help make studying more affordable.
Easy to get into? Yes - keen on widening participation. Typical offer is 120 UCAS points for a foundation degree or HND.
Glittering alumni: Spice Girl Geri Halliwell; TV presenter Gail Porter.
Transport links: Watford and Hemel Hempstead have direct access to national road, rail and air links. The M25 and M1 are only a few miles from the town centres. The London-Scotland rail network runs through the towns (InterCity trains stop at Watford and go direct to Euston, which can be reached in 20 minutes) and major airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are within easy reach. Watford is also connected to the underground rail network through the Metropolitan line.
Who's the boss? Gill Worgan, principal and chief executive.
Teaching: Was graded as 'outstanding' overall in a 2010 Ofsted inspection, with praise for the "high-quality of education and training", the levels of "care and support learners receive" and the college's commitment to "meeting the needs and intersts of learners" in particular.
Foundation degrees: Business (on its own or with advertising, marketing, finance, HRM, law or IT); fashion and textiles; graphic design; illustration; advanced practices in beauty therapy; early years; IT for the internet; media production; photography; performing arts; sports studies.
Nightlife: There are two main nightclubs and lots of local bars, pubs and restaurants.
Any accommodation? None provided by the college.
Cheap to live there? Nope. This is near enough to London, so expect to pay up to £100 per week for a room in a shared flat.
Fees: FE fees vary by course. Full-time undergrads starting in 2011 will pay £3,375 per year, and part-timers will pay £425 per 15-credit module. Fees for 2012 are yet to be confirmed, but will be below £6,000 per year for full-time courses.
Bursaries: The Consortium Award gives £1,000 to full-time undergrads as long as they meet attendance criteria, and part-time students get a discount of £125 at enrollment.
Prospectus: 01923 812 345; www.westherts.ac.uk
UCAS code: W40
Source: www.independent.co.uk
London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - The Independent
Age: 116
History: LSE was founded in 1895 by four Fabians: Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas and George Bernard Shaw, for 'the betterment of society' through the study of poverty and inequality. In 1902 the school moved formally to its present site, and in May 1920 King George V laid the foundation stone of the Old Building.
Address: In the heart of London, between the Strand and the beginning of Fleet Street.
Ambience: Forget the cramped site, feel the intellectual buzz. LSE is an international powerhouse. Where there were cruddy buildings, you will now find a fantastic new Foster-designed £30m library, a new research laboratory, a student services centre and the new Plaza café. LSE's eco-friendly £71m academic building was opened by The Queen in 2008. It provides state-of-the-art teaching facilities, including four lecture theatres, classrooms and academic offices spread over eight floors.
Vital statistics: Around 4,000 full-time undergrads and 4,400 postgraduates. Nearly half come from outside Europe.
Added value: Academics interact with the worlds of politics, business and industry. Houses more than 30 research centres and institutes, including the Grantham Research Institute on climate change economics and policy headed by Lord Nicholas Stern, and the new International Growth Centre which helps developing countries strengthen their economies.
Easy to get into? No: LSE does not use the UCAS points system but only the top grades will be accepted, and it is very particular about which subjects are studied at A-level. Particularly difficult for law, economics, accounting and finance, government, international relations and management. but new effort is being made to recruit disadvantaged youths from state schools in London through Saturday, winter and summer school schemes with help from external funds.
Glittering alumni: 31 members of today's House of Commons and 42 members of the House of Lords; 34 current or former heads of state, including John F. Kennedy; 16 Nobel Prize winners; Lord Saatchi, advertising baron; Mick Jagger; DJ Judge Jules.
Transport links: Excellent. London is an international hub, and LSE is right in the centre.
Who's the boss? Professor Judith Rees CBE is director.
Teaching: 78th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.
Research: 3rd out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.
Overall ranking: Came 4th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.
Nightlife: Has the Peacock theatre, a cinema and several clubs. Pubs include the Underground for its Friday night discos and the popular Three Tuns, which does a weekly comedy night.
How green is it? Good – joint 22nd out of 138 universities graded by People and Planet for their 'Green League 2011'.
Any accommodation? Yes, in a big way. More than 3,400 students can be housed but weekly costs start at £110 for a single room.
Cheap to live there? Nope – it's London. Private rents start from around £100 per week.
Sports Ranking: 63rd in the BUCS league table.
Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home udnergrads starting in 2011. LSE plans on charging the maximum tuition fee of £8,500 as of 2012.
Bursaries: A bursary of up to £2,500 per year is available to students from low-income families.
Prospectus: 020 7955 6613; www.lse.ac.uk
UCAS code: L72
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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