Diamond Jubilee Weekend - Village Party

Monday 4^th June 2012

 

The REAL Jubilee party day! 

 The children are on half term holiday, the scarecrows are looking a little bedraggled and at 4pm the party began! Music by Mike Reed (R&R), Tony King on the bagpipes, St Andrews Singers & 'High Water Mark', donkey rides, free hog roast to village residents, tea and cupcakes from the WI, cash bar, face painting by the Playgroup, games like ‘tip & run’ cricket run by Chelmondiston Primary School, Target Bowls by the Bowls club, the Rowing Machine challenge - altogether made a wonderful community spirited time.

The hog was on the roast from early morning, the marquees were successfully erected (once the instructions had been found), bunting was tied, chairs were put ready and the wooden table and chair sets (permanent school property) were cleared of all (gigantic) pigeon poo, but only after many papers, hands and bums had already had a sticky close encounter!

The weather was dry! And as the community started streaming through the gate at 4pm, the sun shone! Sorry about the Thames Pageant people yesterday, but today’s village party was dry, sunny, pleasant and fun!

“Are you a village resident?” Residents got a ticket for a free hog-roast (i.e. roll and freshly cut hog meat!), visitors were asked to pay £1.50.  This party was not a fund-raising event, it was a celebration of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.  The community put more than their pennyworth in; donations in cash, cupcakes, milk for the teas etc. all made it very much a village party. Rolls had to be constantly sourced as the party grew, and the beer tent sold all their wares!

Village children under 16 got a free ice-cream, and (pre-arranged) received a jubilee mug.  The entire afternoon was a family occasion.

Taking my turn on distributing free hog-roast & ice-cream tickets meant I met more new people, but it was most fascinating to hear long-time residents marvel at the number of people they didn’t know mingling on the school playing field! The longest residence time I heard was a man who had been in the village for 70 years! Others gave their age away with their "48 years!", "27 years!" etc!

The bowls club tried to get more members while running their ‘target bowls’ competition and the local ‘thespian leader’ didn’t miss opportunities of touting for more men and women for the stage!

As the sun set, and most of the party goers had taken their children home, the stragglers helped dismantle tents, pick up plastic cups and return chairs. Everyone agreed the Village Party had been a huge success. The sun shone and everyone had fun! 

(Not a photo event unless you were 'media' so all these photos are google sourced except the sunset - a genuine sunset a few months ago, and the ones below)