On the 15th February 2012, I was contacted by the Diocese of Leicester...
Hi, we are the Diocese of Leicester and are looking for someone who could do a calligraphy card (A2 size, maybe 30 words max) for a commemorative visit to one of our buildings. We would be looking for a nice standard card to be provided and would need this asap. Is this something your Company could do? Do you know anyone you could recommend to us?
Many thanks.
Well you can imagine my excitement when I finally put two and two together and spoke with the Canon of Leicester, David Montieth. The Queen was coming to Leicester on the 8th March for the first part of her tour of the United Kingdom to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee year.
The brief was simple enough, but when I thought that this was going to be a commemorative certificate that The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cambridge were going to be signing... well the pressure was on to say the least! So with dip pen in hand and ink on the table, I got to work...
The design shows sixty diamonds representing sixty years reign on the throne and is based on the official Diamond Jubilee logo from the BBC TV series Blue Peter competition, with the words from the Diocese of Leicester.
The gallery below shows what happened on the day, but can't explain the excitement and pride we felt when we finally knew that we would be in the presence of Royalty and were going to be witness to the actual signing of my calligraphic artwork.
The commemorative certificate (or guest book) is now on permanent display in Leicester Cathedral.
You can own a Diamond Jubilee Souvenir copy of the Royal Certificate with all the signatures. Available in three sizes. See below for more details of how to purchase your special Royal Souvenir.
Diamond Jubilee
The finished artwork just before handing it over to the Canon of Leicester
Nick and I met Sam from the local ITV news outside St Martin's House.
We couldn't resist having our picture taken by The Queen's Bently
Jane and the unsigned picture in the Foyer of St Martin's House. (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
My unsigned work waiting for The Queen. The pen was previously used by Prince Philip on a visit to Ulster in 2003 (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
Group photo of everyone that contributed to the Diocese of Leicester for the Royal visit. (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
In the foyer of St Martins House for the signing of the guest book. (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
In the foyer of St Martins House for the signing of the guest book. (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
In the foyer of St Martins House for the signing of the guest book. (Picture by Matt Short)
In the foyer of St Martins House for the signing of the guest book. (Picture by Matt Short)
In the foyer of St Martins House for the signing of the guest book. (Picture by Matt Short)
The Queen and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge sign the guest book. (Picture by Paul Edwards - The Sun)
The Queen and The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev. Tim Stevens. (Picture by Glenn Huckerby)
The Queen leaves St Martin's House foyer to a cheering crowd
A great honour - not a lot of people get to hold the Royally signed guest book
Jane and the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, Dean of Leicester
The signed artwork just after the last signature was placed.
A close up of all the signatures.
The Royal signatures
Everyone wants a picture!!
My signed artwork, now on permanent display in Leicester Cathedral
My thank you letter to Rvd. Canon Montieth
While you're here, you can listen to the two radio interviews that Jane participated in...
