Boost for Windsor's diamond jubilee statue

A surprise £1,000 donation added the final touch to an evening of celebration as supporters of Windsor's planned diamond jubilee sculpture gathered at the Guildhall.

The spiral sculpture designed by Windsor schoolgirl Caroline Basra and made up of 60 spheres is due to be unveiled in October at King Edward Court.

On Thursday the Royal Borough's mayor Cllr Asghar Majeed hosted a reception for supporters who have worked to make the sculpture a reality.

The proprietor of the Viceroy restaurant in St Leonard's Road Shamsul Shelim was among the supporters and his surprise £1,000 donation towards the sculpture was the icing on the cake. He said: "The Viceroy is celebrating its own anniversary having been in the town 25 years so it seemed a good time to make a donation to the the sculpture."

Andrew Melville, who is chairman of the Windsor and Eton Society's Diamond Jubilee committee said that although it had originally been planned to unveil the sculpture in June, October might turn out to be better as the unveiling would not be overshadowed by the summer celebrations.

He met the Queen after her recent walkabout and said: "She asked about the sculpture and I was happy to be able to tell her it was going ahead."

The £50,000 has now been raised for the sculpture.

Donations are still welcome and can be anything from £1 upwards. Visit the website on www.diamond-jubilee.org.uk to contribute.