THERE may have been just one reason for the weekend's Golden Jubilee celebrations. But revellers across the south used their imagination to come up with dozens of different ways to mark the Queen's 50 years on the throne.

One mother used a Golden Jubilee street party to say a big thank you for the "fantastic" Southampton doctors and nurses who saved her young son's life.

Fit and healthy three-year-old Jamie Driver was able to throw himself into the celebrations as the residents of the closely-knit community of Symonds Close in Chandler's Ford marked the royal milestone.

At one time his parents, Gill and Jonathan Driver, feared Jamie might not have been able to take part in the street's festivities, which included an action-packed programme of activities followed by a barbecue.

Six months ago it was a very different story when the sick youngster was rushed to Southampton General Hospital by ambulance after catching a tummy bug that damaged his kidney.

When Jamie, who has a one-year-old brother, got to the hospital, consultants and nurses immediately started treatment.

He spent 24 hours in intensive care and Mrs Driver, 35, said: "It was touch and go and at one stage we thought we might lose him.

"After being in intensive care he spent a month on the ward on kidney dialysis. But the doctors and nurses were fantastic.

"It is wonderful to see Jamie so fit and healthy and able to take part in the street party."

Mrs Driver said that she wanted to hold a street party to celebrate the fact that Jamie was so well and to raise money for the children's kidney unit.

The fundraising, which included a raffle, had so far raised more than £500.

Residents of a New Forest rest home celebrated their own golden years as well as the Queen's half-century reign.

Pensioners at Hordle Cliff House near Milford-on-Sea put together a display recalling their own prime time 50 years ago.

Black and white photographs from 1952 show pretty young mums in slacks and starched blouses, soldiers with Brylcreemed hair and khaki shorts, snazzy businesswomen posing next to chunky American cars, and studio shots of 30-somethings with movie-star potential.

Kathleen Trillo, now 81, recalled her days as a glamorous member of staff serving abroad for the Foreign Office, while Ruby Hamilton-Welsh was a hairdresser in Milford in 1952.

But for 87-year-old Katie Moore, home then was in the US, where her husband David was British Consul.

Canadian Ida Pressley, 90, has never lost her accent, even though she came to England in 1937. She is proud to recall that her husband Frank received a Queen's Silver Jubilee medal 25 years ago.

Ann Barwise, who is cook and a carer at Hordle Cliff as well as craft co-ordinator, said: "Remembering the past has been marvellous for all of them. They make time each day to walk past the display. It has made them stop and think, and many want to keep adding to it with more old photos.

"The Jubilee has been another opportunity to encourage creativity here. The residents love their art class and it brought tears to my eyes to see the effort they put into making their golden wall plaques and red, white and blue bouquets."

Little Annabel Bridges helped keep memories of Jubilee celebrations from 25 years ago alive.

The three-year-old from Cerne Close, North Baddesley, dressed up in the same soldier's uniform that her dad wore in the Silver Jubilee celebrations back in 1977.

The tot was part of Battle Road's jubilee picnic, organised by residents from Highfield in Southampton.

Twins Pearl Shettle and Pamela Green didn't keep their celebrations in the family. They joined residents from five roads in East Wellow - Fielders Way, Florence Close, Chichester Close, Coopers Close and Crossfield Close - to mark the Golden Jubilee with a children's tea party and games.

It didn't end there either as the party carried on into the evening with karaoke, a music quiz and a barbecue for the adults.