31 July 2002: A Jubilee visit to Scunthorpe and Nottingham begins a tour of the East Midlands The Queen paid her first visit to a mosque in the UK during a Jubilee visit to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire on Wednesday, 31 July 2002. In accordance with Muslim practice, Her Majesty removed her shoes before stepping into the Prayer Room at the Islamic Centre in Scunthorpe. Gathered at the mosque were members of the local Islamic community, who were introduced to The Queen. After spending time talking to different groups, The Queen unveiled a plaque to mark her visit. Muslim leaders presented Her Majesty with a gift - a copy of the Holy Koran, the sacred text of Islam, and a tray of Pakistani sweets produced in the United Kingdom. The Queen had begun her day with a visit to Lindsey Lodge Hospice, a centre for the relief of illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Her Majesty was there formally to open a new wing with a 10-bed unit. Touring the wing, The Queen took time to speak to as many patients and staff as possible, including 67-year-old John Brannan (67) from Scunthorpe, the first patient to be admitted to the new 10-bedded unit when it opened in February this year. Her Majesty unveiled a plaque officially opening the unit, which had been paid for by dedicated volunteers and fundraisers supported by a local newspaper campaign. While The Queen visited the hospice and mosque, Prince Philip paid a visit to Scunthorpe Hospital radio station and the 20:21 Visual Arts Centre. In the hospital, His Royal Highness met some of the volunteers who keep the vital service running, and visited the air studio, which was broadcasting live reports on the Royal visit to Scunthorpe. Next, the Duke visited the 20:21 Visutal Arts Centre, housed in a former church. There he met young people striving to reach the Gold Award in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, viewed an exhibition on the steel industry in Scunthorpe, and met people working on the reclamation of contaminated ex-industrial sites in the area. Prince Philip rejoined The Queen in the town's market square. The Queen opened the Festival of Nations - a celebration of the different cultural communities of Lincolnshire. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness painted an eye on Chinese lions, and were presented with a textile collage put together by a local art group.  They travelled on by car to Normanby Hall, a classical Regency mansion set in 350 acres of parkland. Built in 1830 by Robert Smirke, the architect of the British Museum, the house and its grounds are today owned by the local council, and includes attractions such as a Victorian walled garden and a farming museum.  Having met some of the gardeners at work, The Queen and Prince Philip retired to the house for a lunch of local produce - Lincolnshire poacher and smoked haddock rarebit, and medallions of Lincolnshire lamb with mint and rosemary jus, and, of course, organic vegetables from the garden. After a walkabout in the grounds, the Royal party rejoined the Royal Train at Scunthorpe railway station for a quiet afternoon spent travelling towards Nottingham for evening engagements in the city. The Queen was due to open Nottingham's new National Ice Centre and watch an ice-skating spectacular created by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. On arrival at the centre, The Queen was presented with a bouquet of yellow roses by nine-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer Halima Umer. Halima was representing Barnardo's, one of the six Jubilee charities chosen by The Queen and Prince Philip. They were then shown around the Ice Centre by chief executive Geoff Huckstep, spending time watching young skaters and ice hockey players perform on the smaller rink. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made their way into the main arena where, along with 6,500 ticket-holders, they watched an ice spectacular choreographed by Olympic ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who originated from the Nottigham area. The gala included Britain's former Olympic champion Robin Cousins and current world and current Olympic title holders. After the show The Queen and Prince Philip met performers and attended a reception, before leaving to spend the night on the Royal Train on the way to Leicester.  Back to July index