THE Queen Mother's 100th birthday celebrations saw hundreds of talented musicians performing in York for a Party In The Park.

The Museum Gardens reverberated to the sound of the Kings Division Waterloo Band and the City of York Music Centre, which comprises young musicians from the region.

Their musical symphony provided a backdrop to the constant chime of the Queen Mother's six dedicated bells in the Minster - the chime ringing out being dubbed simply 'York'.

The Waterloo Band delighted the gathered crowds with a quirky programme ranging from Star Wars and Star Trek through to Emmerdale and The Sweeney.

The band's drum major, Keith Mowbray, said: "We're here today to play for the Queen Mother, as she's our figurehead and she has done very well throughout her life.

"We've had a wonderful morning playing in her 100th birthday at the Minster, before playing Pied Pipers and bringing the crowds down here to the Museum Gardens."

York Music Centre flautist Edward Webb, 15, a pupil at All Saints' School, York, was among the entertainers providing the soundtrack to the celebrations. He said: "It's great to get out and play in the open. We've had a really good response from the crowds today."

The musical festival came after a rousing and patriotic morning, which started with the historic dedication of six new Minster bells for the Queen Mum.

But a second momentous occasion took place at noon - a 21-gun salute by the Seringapatam Battery of the 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, from Topcliffe.

As bright sunlight broke through the clouds the bright light glinted off the polished muzzles of the four 25-pound guns pointed out across the river.

People had come from far and wide to show their pride in the Queen Mum - the former Duchess of York. Their support was a mark of the place she holds in the nation's heart.

Jean McMahon, of Lanarkshire, in Scotland, said: "I am proud that she is from Scotland and that she has never forgotten that.

"We experienced the war at its worst, and the Queen Mother showed her true colours at that time."

York's town crier, John Redpath, who was spending the day hollering about the birthday, proudly announced: "Today is a great day. The Queen Mother is just a great lady isn't she? The Duke of Edinburgh was fantastic on his visit to York last week, but the Queen Mum really takes the cake. She has an undefinable quality and she stands for dignity and respect. I can think of only her, and Dickie Bird and Hannah Hauxwell who have such qualities."

Picture - Capt Wayne Hopla leads a group of York children in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday To You

Picture: Garry Atkinson