A SINGER who will join a 150-strong choir to entertain The Queen on the opening day of her Diamond Jubilee tour has spoken of her excitement of the once in a lifetime opportunity.

Jill Davis, of College Hill Road, Harrow Weald, was selected to feature in the ensemble to perform a specially-commission celebratory piece at showcase of local talent to be held at Krishna-Avanti Primary School in Camrose Avenue, Edgware, on Thursday March 29, for Her Majesty and Prince Philip.

Ms Davis, a press officer for Parkinson’s UK and a member of the Tonic 2 Choir since it started two years ago, said: “It’s just very exciting and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“It’s a great coup for Harrow to be chosen for the first day and to be part of the community event in this way.”

The Diamond Jubilee choir comprises of some 10 choristers drawn from vocal groups resident in Harrow who will sing a Diamond Jubilee Choral Fanfare written by composer Brian Kesselman, co-founder and musical director of the Tonic Choirs, part of the same family of choirs as Tonic 2 Choir.

The lyrics have been lifted from the ‘Never had man more joyful day’ passage from 16th Century poet Edmund Spenser’s work Epithalamion and the ‘When the Sun Shineth’ extract from 15th Century writer George Pettie’s A Petite Pallace of Pettie his Pleasure.

Ms Davis said: “I’m not really able to give away much at all as it’s best that it remains a surprise, but what we are singing will be inspirational music that will appeal to anyone with a strong history of British heritage.”

To mark the visit from Her Majesty and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Harrow, we have teamed up with Harrow Council to hold a design a card competition for children.

The theme of the competition is Harrow and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and one lucky winner will have the chance to present their creation to The Queen on the special day.

Deputy editor of the Observer, Suzy Talbot, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so we urge as many children as possible to enter a design.”