UCLan duo help organise historic Three Queens event

Two UCLan Event Management students had a grandstand view of the spectacular Three Queens Festival recently held in Liverpool.

Jared Handley and Kate Gilston are currently working for organisers Culture Liverpool and in addition to helping with planning and organising the event, both acted as Zone Managers during the Festival - Jared at Princes Parade where the ships docked, and Kate at Albert Dock.

During the day and early evening the city was alive with people viewing the ships and enjoying the varied street theatre and food stalls.

The event was a big success with about 1.4 million people seeing the Three Queens live. Each evening there was a spectacular light show which projected images of Liverpool and Cunard history onto the 'Three Graces' - this was followed by a firework display to close proceedings.

Jared is undertaking a placement with Culture Liverpool and is enjoying having the chance to gain experience of such large-scale events.

"I was shattered but I loved every minute," he said. "I'll certainly remember it for a very long time and I must say I'm privileged to be involved in such an incredible event, and more so being able to work amongst such a fantastic team. I'll be working more events throughout the summer and I really think I have the taste for it now."

Jared has also worked on the International Mersey River Festival 2015 where he was given the responsibility of organising all of the vessels visiting the docks – one of the main attractions of any river festival.

Kate, who followed up her placement by securing a one-year contract with Culture Liverpool, will join Jared back at UCLan in September to complete their BA (Hons) Degrees in Event Management.