After watching the most wonderful celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee through the week, the villagers began their preparations! Firstly, Jeff & Mike collected all sorts of wood from various people and built a magnificent beacon in the Lee’s field, thank you Peter & Carrie. That same morning the flower ladies met at church and produced a spectacular display throughout in red, white & blue flowers, ladies polished, swept and hoovered. Thank you Emma for the delicious refreshments. Visitors arrived, what a feast for the senses greeted them.
Sunday 28th the Jubilee service took place at St Nicholas’, what a very special, well attended service it was. Afterwards we gathered outside for refreshments, which included a glass of bubbly, as Peter called us together as we all raised our glasses to toast the Queen.
Thursday 2nd June in the evening, villagers came together for the lighting of the beacon. At 9.45, along with the rest of the country, the beacon was lit and soon took hold amidst a great cheer. Fireworks were set off by Jeff & Mike at short intervals, what a fabulous selection, the best so far. Wonderful to see so many children, young and old! Thoroughly enjoying themselves. Weary bodies eventually making their way home as it was quite late and oh my, school in the morning!
Saturday 4th early morning, working parties erected three marquees! While separate working parties collected tables and chairs from Julian’s, Peter’s and church and brought them down into the village hall in readiness for the following morning. Everything went like clockwork, people coming and going all the time all with smiling faces and looking forward to the following day. Although cool, the forecast was good and at 8.00am on the 5th road closure signs were put outside the village hall and at the cross-roads. The three marquees were then walked up the road to their final positions, a very funny moment! Tables and chairs were very efficiently brought out from the hall and arranged in two straight lines which filled the marquees, enough seating for 150. Banqueting paper was rolled out on all the tables, decorated, bunting up, as was the village hall. Bunting fluttered outside, the flower tubs were looking splendid, as did it all up through the village, wonderful. From 12.00 noon, delicious desserts, cakes and salads started to arrive, as had the Hog Roast. Everyone had arrived and at 1.00pm we all gathered at the end of the marquee’s outside the village hall as Laurence played the bagpipes and led the way for the children’s Royal Procession around the village triangle and very regal it was too. This was followed by a toast to her Majesty and us all singing the National Anthem with gusto. We then took our seats, then began a wonderful feast. So many different salads were laid out on tables to start, all made by the villagers, then on to delicious helpings of the hog roast, cooked to perfection, back to our tables to enjoy amongst much jollity and chatter. Deserts afterwards were collected from the village hall. What a superb collection, all looking so delicious, making it difficult to choose! There in the centre taking pride of place was a fabulous full size crown cake, the decoration amazing, even down to the jewels, made by our very talented Sally. At 3.00pm games were held in the Harley’s field, thank you, Nick & Katy, much to the amusement of the ponies. Good old-fashioned egg & spoon races, sack races to name a few, all thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults, ending with the Tug of War causing lots of hilarity. Such a feeling of joy, love and community felt by all, the most wonderful of days that will never be forgotten.
It was decided, as the marquees were lovely and dry, to take everything down. Before we knew it, all had been taken down, put away, just in time as the rain started around 6.00pm! The following morning, tables and chairs were taken back to their original places, the village hall swept and cleaned, sorted. Who would have known just what had taken place the previous day, just all of us, perfect.
Singing could be heard from the village hall last night, Tuesday 21st, the longest day, wow. Coffee & Cake has been and gone, also book group. We have ‘Breakfast Together’ to look forward to on Saturday 2nd July with the guest speaker being Laura Hazel, wonderful, to talk about their “Home to Rome” Pilgrimage via Canterbury. Laura is also bringing copies of her book she has written, fully illustrated, that we may like to purchase, with all proceeds generously donated to the church. Please let Marilyn know if you are coming as we don’t want to run out of bacon butties, that would be a catastrophe!
Firstly the village Fete this Sunday, 26th fingers crossed for fine weather. In the meantime, the garden is looking good along with the veggies that are starting to take off, which at the moment means lots of watering. Those water butts are going down quickly once again! Everywhere is looking stunning, elderflowers in abundance that are just asking to be picked, cordial or champagne anyone?
Perfectly said by Tim via Cassandra
To All the organizers, beacon makers, firework starters, salad makers, bakers, pudding assemblers, hog roasters, servers, tent erectors/dismantlers, chair/table arrangers, sound engineer, bunting/flag putter uppers, people that added a colourful touch, children that paraded, piper that played and everyone who took part in some or all of the activities and festivities.
A BIG THANK YOU