SWINDONIANS were among the crowds who gathered to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as they visited Wiltshire as part of the jubilee tour.

Five children from Longleaze Primary School, in Royal Wootton Bassett, opened the event in the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral yesterday by letting off red, white and blue balloons.

Dozens of pupils from the school were there, as well as members of Swindon Young Musicians, Royal Wootton Bassett Mayor Paul Heaphy and Swindon Council leader Rod Bluh.

One of the Longleaze pupils who opened the event, eight-year-old Max Hopkins, said: “I saw the Queen, she was wearing bright pink. I waved at her. I think she had a nice day.

“I had seen her on television before but never in real life, it was quite cool.

“It was funny because a police motorbike came before she did and everyone thought the Queen would follow but she didn’t. Everyone was going mad for the motorbike.”

More than 200 families visited tents celebrating life in Wiltshire towns, including one about Swindon, Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited the Cathedral Close at noon and enjoyed a reception and lunch at the Wiltshire Rifles Museum before going on a walkabout of the town tents.

Freelance filmmaker Gurch Singh met the Queen when she visited the Swindon tent.

She was shown extracts from a film made by Swindon Council’s Create Studios, called A Portrait Of Swindon. She also saw a photographic exhibition.

“I got to introduce her to the film and she was shown a two-minute extract from the 20- minute production,” he said.

“It was a great privilege to show her. I told her what it was about then she watched it and said it must have been a lot of work.

“There was a moment where I was just standing with her at the front watching the film.

“It just felt like she was your gran, it just feels very normal.

“She seems very polite and very friendly, so it doesn’t seem like hard work.

“She was interested in the film which was great.”

The High Bailiff of Cricklade, Clive Smith, was in the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade tent and said the day had been a great success.

The Queen also met Royal Wootton Bassett Mayor Paul Heaphy as part of the visit.

She also watched a performance by members of Swindon Young Musicians.

Among them was saxophonist Daisy Faulkner, 14, who wrote a letter to the Queen two years ago to tell her she dreamed of playing for her.

The Kingsdown School pupil performed as part of Swindon Jazz Band.

She said: “We were playing in a gazebo and as she walked past she was listening to us and another jazz band.

“We were all so excited. I was just so happy to see her.”