Diamond Jubilee Celebrations 2012

To celebrate 60 years of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the village organised plenty of events and fun for everyone!

School Jubilee Lunch

Winsham Primary and Pre-School took part in a wonderful Jubilee Celebrations Day on 1 June 2012. All pupils enjoyed a wonderful lunch.  The community came together with the PFA and Winsham Sports and Social Club in providing all the party items.  Terri and Tony Laws-Spindler (The Bell)  kindly donated ice creams and drinks for all the pupils.  The proceedings drew to a close with lots of games including pin the crown on the Queen, pass the parcel  and culminating in all pupils receiving a Jubilee Medal to remember the day with.

Outdoor Church Service

A special inter-denominational service was held on the Lower Recreation Ground at 10.30 am on Sunday 3rd June, to mark the Diamond Jubilee. The 'Chapel Minister', Rev. John McMinn and St. Stephen's Deacon Diana Kershaw officiated. The organ was played by Janice Saunders, who sheltered from the inclement weather under the bus shelter! About eighty people attended, and the event was marked, at the end of the service by the Loyal Toast, in 'Buck's Fizz', generously provided by the Winsham Parish Church Council. The Service was preceded by a peal of bells from the Winsham Bell Ringers.

See photos from the coronation celebration outdoor service the following year.

The Time Capsule

The idea of a Time Capsule to be opened in 100 years from now was the brain-child of the Parish Council. It was agreed that Roger Beer should be invited to place the capsule in its resting place, as an acknowledgement of the fact that it was during his period as Chairman of the Winsham Parish Council that the extensive rejuvenation of the Lower Recreation Ground and the Children's Play area was carried out. The short ceremony was carried out at noon on Sunday, 3 June, before 'The Big Lunch', and was well attended.

The Big Lunch

The 'Big Lunch' was held between 12.30-2.30pm on Sunday 3rd June and celebrated by over two hundred Winsham residents and guests. All over the country thousands of similar gatherings took place at the same time to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee . Western Way was closed for the event. The weather was not good, and rain was forecast. As things turned out, all we suffered was a few spots of rain. As the pictures below demonstrate, a good time was had by all.
Photographs by Alison Barton, Annie Dent, Scott Morrison and the staff photographer!

The Beacon

The Winsham Beacon was lit at 10.00pm on Monday,4 June and was not one of the signalling Beacons that celebrated the Jubilee from Lands End to the rest of the Country. Our location was not high enough. However in spirit we were there among the big ones, and anyway it provided an excuse for a party! Hosted by the Sports and Social Club on a mild ,dry evening, a large crowd turned out for the spectacle.

Jubilee Hall Diamond Gate

The new Diamond Jubilee Hall Gate is a statement by the village about its confidence in the future. It is designed and constructed to last a long time. 

The short inauguration ceremony was carried out by Janet and Roy Smart. The invitation to do this was in recognition of the tremendous contribution that they have made over many years to the Jubilee Hall and to many other parish organisations. Roy was Parish Clerk and later Chairman of the Parish Council in the second half of the last century, and Janet spearheaded the fund-raising and construction of the Jubilee Hall's Committee Room and Kitchen in the 1980's. Roy was also Editor of the Joint Parish Magazine for five years, until last year  his health prevented him from continuing.

The event was held on Monday afternoon, 4th June. Following the inauguration ceremony, Jacqui Weller read a poem written by a Winsham School pupil, seven year old Leon Hill. The poem, the result of a competition among the children of the school, was judged by the well known poet, Jane Feaver. It is published below:

O Queen, O Queen
Your crown is so gold
It lights my eyes
With diamonds bright as the sun,
Emeralds that glisten like the stars

O Queen, O Queen
Please come to tea
Please may you wear your third best dress
And if you come there will be goose, chicken and beef.
Leon Hill (age 7)

A light tea was then served to the one hundred or so people who turned out to take part in the event. During the tea, Anne Rose organised the opportunity for people to examine the Millennium Book, some for the first time.

The Bell; 50s & 60s Night

'The Bell' staged a '50's & 60's Night' with live music by Roxy, which was very appropriate for the celebrations. Linked to the excellent buffet a good if noisy evening was enjoyed.

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party that was due to take place during the week of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, but was postponed due to bad weather, eventually took place took place in glorious sunshine on Sunday 15th July. It was worth the wait! Organised by the Winsham Horticultural Society it took place in the lovely garden of Mary & Robert Burgess, in Western Way.

Mad hats were everywhere, and there were strong doubts about some of the people wearing them, too! As might be expected, the party, that was very well attended, had a strong 'Alice in Wonderland' theme, which was delightful. It was a wonderful afternoon, and congratulations should go to everyone who had a hand in organising it.