You are in [Events] [2012 Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee]
Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated over a four day weekend Saturday 2nd June to Tuesday 5th June 2012.
Photo Gallery:
Outline of the day's events:
Follow this link for the full Programme of Events.
The planning had started many months earlier. and preparations all came together in time for a splendid weekend of celebration.
The Jubilee Beacon was prepared on Dog-leg field, Folly Farm, in sight of the adjacent beacon at Combe Gibbet.
The events began on Saturday morning with the official opening of the Diamond Jubilee Pedestrian Bridge by Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mrs Mary Bayliss.
Throughout the afternoon and evening The Croft and Croft Field were full of people enjoying the wide variety of activities available, including
- Morris Dancing
- Maypole Dancing
- Tug-of-war competition
- Jazz Bands, including the Jammy Dodgers, Wired Rock, and Jazz and Blues bands
- Tea and cake stalls
- Barbecue
- "Severn Bridge" building competition
- Childrens' sprint races
- Punch and Judy
The Big Tea took place at 5pm with entertainment by local card magician Guy Porlock, and music by the Hungerford Town Band.
Following the finals of the Tug-of-war and bridge building competitions, there was a rousing finale by the Hungerford Town Band.
There were several street parties. The Croft residents (and their invited guests) held a splendid luncheon for about 130 people in The Croft on Sunday 3 June.
A Grand Jubilee Tea for residents of the High Street, Canal Walk, The Forge and invited guests was held in the Corn Exchange later on Sunday 3 June. Numbers were restricted to 200 in view of the possibility of having to hold the event in the Corn Exchange because of poor weather on the day.
The singing included a memorable and wonderful solo of "Rule Brittania" by celebrated mezzo-soprano Kirsty Griffiths, who was visiting Hungerford from Geneva.
After the Jubilee Tea, a small party witnessed the planting of the Diamond Jubilee Tree in the Market Place outside the Corn Exchange. The tree was ceremonially planted by The Constable, Greg Furr, ably assisted by Hannah Hobson.
The weekend of Diamond Jubilee Celebration was completed with the lighting of the Hungerford Beacon at 10.01pm on Monday 4th June. A large crowd of about 250 people were present, some of whom had spent the evening holding a picnic during the build-up. The weather was kind - the moon shone, and the adjacent beacon at Combe Gibbet could be seen clearly.
See NWN "Hungerford shows how it's done", 31st May 2012.
The Hungerford Diamond Jubilee Beacon was lit at 10.01pm witnessed by a crowd of several hundred onlookers, 4 Jun 2012
See also:
- Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation, 2 Jun 1953
- Poster advertising Hungerford's Programme of Events for the Diamond Jubilee 2012
- Photographic record of Diamond Jubilee Croft Celebrations - [HHA Archive 2 CDs]
- King George III's Golden Jubilee, 1809
- Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, 1887
- Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897
- King George V's Silver Jubilee, 1935