Time capsule is to mark Queen’s 60th anniversary (From Ledbury Reporter)

Time capsule is to mark Queen’s 60th anniversary

2:50pm Saturday 14th April 2012 in News By Robert Hale

LEDBURY Rotarians are asking for help from local people to create a time capsule for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

They want to fill it with items which create a snapshot of life in 2012, and leave instructions that it should be opened in 40 years, the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II taking the throne.

Among the items being sought are poems and stories from local schools, essays on life now, and a variety of local papers and magazines.

Jan Long, who came up with the idea, said: “We want to provide a focus for the many organisations and agencies who carry out vital work in Ledbury, and invite people in the private and voluntary sectors, arts groups, local communities, individuals and town council to donate something to the capsule.

“We need to think of what is important to us all now, the way we use technology, networking sites, other communication media and then imagine what the world will be like in 40 years and how our artefacts, such as a computer memory stick or DVD, will be viewed by those opening the capsule.”

She has written to the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron, asking for letters to place in the capsule, Herefordshire Council has given permission for the capsule to be buried in the town, and it is hoped to hold the burial ceremony in June.

Rotary president Tony Knight said: “The time capsule is a wonderful way to reach into the future and provide a real-life picture of Ledbury, a way for us today to give the future generations a sense of who we are and what life was like for us.

“We are confident of leaving a great legacy for the people of Ledbury and we invite members of the community who wish to contribute an item to the capsule to contact Jan Long.”