Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022
The residents of the Parish of Otterhampton enjoyed a great bank holiday weekend of celebrations.
The 4th of June 2022 brought the parish together in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 70 years on the throne and still going strong, the Queen gave us a good excuse to have a party and enjoy some community feel-good fun after two years of COVID restrictions.
All over the country people were preparing for over 16,000 street parties over the extended bank holiday period and the parish of Otterhampton was no exception. More than 500 emails were exchanged, dozens of phone calls made, meetings were had, spreadsheets produced, lists made and meticulous plans had been in the making since February and a team of dedicated residents gave up hours of their time to organise what turned out to be a fantastic few days.
The celebrations began on the Thursday evening with the lighting of the beacon, courtesy of OPRA. The following day a well-attended special Jubilee lunch in the village hall was enjoyed by many, thanks to Helen Jowett and her helpers.
We also witnessed a host of children scouring the village throughout Friday, searching for the 20 hidden corgis which had been lovingly knitted by the ladies of the Wednesday Craft Club and local WI. The Corgi Trail was a great success with 19 entries.
Saturday began early for those involved in bringing it together and lots of volunteers were down at the village hall or on the green
hours before kick-off, eager to get the party started. We had all been keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast and witnessed it change from “OK” to “somewhat dire” over the previous seven days and the overcast start and heavy skies weren’t boding well for an outdoor fete.
An early decision had to be made and, given the possibility of rain, sadly the bouncy castle was cancelled and all the craft stalls were moved into the hall rather than around the edges of the Common.
Once the decision was made, the set-up crew busied themselves, (with much hilarity), erecting gazebos,
pinning up the bunting, blowing up balloons, putting up signs, setting out tables and the bar, getting the games and activity areas ready and closing the road.
Whilst all this was going on, our resident artist, Tom Jacobs proceeded around the village judging the 15 houses that had entered the Best Dressed House Competition and was delighted to later announce that the winner was Emma Bridger for her fabulous royal beautification of Walton House.
However, a mention must also be given to the fabulous efforts of everyone who adorned their property with royal regalia, in particular Jim and Nikki Jewell at Tower Cottage for their fantastic “Family of Flags” and the creative regal genius of Kate and Paul Narroway on Church Hill.
Just some of the fantastic houses throughout the village that were adorned with Jubilee decorations.
At 12 noon, a gleaming, chauffeur-driven car covered in bunting crept into view to collect our very own Queen, aka Carolyn Harris. After being presented with a beautiful handmade posy by Olivia Bridger and Isla Manupenu, a very well-groomed driver of said gleaming car, Simon Briggs, cruised off around the village with the royal passenger so that she could undertake her regal waving duties, before arriving back at the hall and officially opening the Jubilee celebrations.
Whilst the weather put pay to some of the planned activities there was something for everyone including lots of arts and crafts stalls, games for the kids, face-painting and glitter tattoos by Cannington Pantomime Society, ice cream and candy floss stall, a fantastic cake stall, BBQ and fruit kebabs, the Pets Portraits stand, the Jubilee coins distributed by OPRA and the short mat bowls room was open for people to have-a-go. The outdoor bar was renamed Ye Olde Limpy Inn, a homage to Steve Lang who, painfully determined to get the show on the road, spent all day on crutches following a recent injury.
The rain held off so we were able to run the egg and spoon and dressing up races and the tug o’ war competition, refereed by Nick Carter, needed very little coaxing to take part.
The rope was a real tug o’ war rope kindly loaned by Felton Eccles Tug 0’ War Club and previously used in the National Championships. The crowd delighted at the fact that a team of children managed to pull six strapping blokes across the line!
What fun.
By the time the picnic began the sun was out and at around 3.30pm tables and blankets were dressed in right royal regalia for the bring-your-own feast whilst Dave the magician worked his… well, magic, as he mixed and mingled with the diners.
But the day didn’t end there! Following the picnic, Cocktail Hour kicked off in Harbour View bar with the serving of Red Lizzies, Jubilee Juice and Blue Blood! The Right Royal Quiz began around 6pm, organised and hosted by Reverend Alison Waters and supported by an excellent turn out of villagers and their families. The Open Mic Music Fest ended the day with local band Apalachee Nation playing their socks off and the Jubilee celebrations finally came to a close at midnight.
A great few days was had by many and hopefully some fond memories were made. Below are some photos taken by various people, thank you for sending them in. It would be impossible to ask permission of every person in every photo but if you are keen not to be included on the website then please make the Village Hall Committee aware and we’ll ensure any image with you in it is removed.
PHOTOS ALBUMS
Tap/click any of the 8 albums below to view more images.
If you’d prefer not to have your picture on the website please email otterhamptonvh@gmail.com and ask for the image to be removed.
Thank You
We couldn’t have enjoyed such a great day without the help of our amazing community so a huge thank you goes to the 60+ volunteers who gave up their time before, during and after the event (apologies if we’ve missed anyone):
Otterhampton Village Hall for getting the ball rolling and funding the event;
Otterhampton Parish Council and Sedgemoor District Council for funding;
OPRA for funding, lighting of the beacon and the Jubilee coins;
Tina Gardener for organising the lending of various OPRA equipment;
Helen Jowett for the Jubilee lunch;
Jan Cashin for her creative marketing material (and her patience!);
Pete Cashin for organising the finances;
Nick Carter and Bruce Barton for the unenviable task of writing the Event Risk Assessment;
Our leaflet distributors Jan and Pete Cashin, Tamsin Stevens, Elizabeth Marriot, Rachel and Sue Szaruta, Angela Griffiths, Sue and Bruce Barton, Bethan Mockridge and Marcus Ford;
Postie Roger for delivering a special invitation to our Queen in style;
Robert, Jane and Peter at the Post Office for letting us have somewhere to put the entry bucket;
Barry Leathwood for allowing us not only a whole page in Otter Tales but also the prestigious front page;
Jim and Nicola Doble of Sedgemoor Tree Services for the use of their road signs;
Road marshals Tamsin and Emilia Stevens, Andy and Salli Bryan, Paul Gripton, Richard Navoy, Charlene and Steve Chinn, John and Pauline Culleton, Ruth and John Wake, Sue Francis, Simon Briggs, Sue and Rachel Szaruta, Carol and Marcus Ring, Lisa Matthews, Dawn Darr, Gwyn Griffiths, Bob Birkenhead, Peter Austin, Audrey Rowley, Louise and Mark Reynolds, Nick and Lynn Carter;
Bev Lang, Rachel and Gary Perrett, Peter Austin, Tim Bates, Charlotte Turnbull, Jim Juniper, Kirsten Preston, Mike Gardener, Lindsey Parsons, Paul Gripton, Ian Williams, Bruce Barton, Nick Carter, Sarah Kennedy, Nicky and Ian Rowland and Mel for their help setting up, taking down and running stalls;
Our Queen, the great sport that is Carolyn Harris for opening the celebrations;
Her chauffeur Simon Briggs and his gleaming car;
Olivia Bridger and Isla Manupenu for presenting Queenie with her handmade posy;
Richard Navoy and Debbie Turnbull for acting as our First Aiders;
Angie Griffiths and Mel Haycraft for organising the Pets Portraits Competition;
Sue Jacobs, Elizabeth Marriott and the Combwich Crafters for knitting all those lovely corgis and organising the corgi trail;
Christine Conlon for the beautiful handmade felt rosettes;
Jennifer Kenn, Lacey Kenn, Sally Horne and all the cake makers for the fantastic cake stall;
Steve Lang, Rachel Ingram, Steph and Robyn Juniper who kept us all plied with alcohol and Bev Lang and Ian Williams for the royal cocktails;
Lindsey Parsons for loan of and running the coconut shy;
Stallholders - Combwich Crafters, Ollie Austin (pet food), Sophie Austin (fruit kebabs), Neil Gibson (prints) and his Mum (crafts), Gwyneth Linley (jewellery), Savannah Jones (bath bombs); Charlotte Powell (Rocky Road Kitchen), Donna Rush (festival gear), Ruth Loveridge (wwwthewickerbasket.co.uk), Hannah Jones and the Cannington Pantomime Society (face painting and costumes), Helen Rees (bric-a-brac), Nick Sawyer (Chic Woodturning), Karen Coates (Happy Bee Craft);
Tom Jacobs for judging the Best Dressed House;
Ray Bollen with Pete and Connie Sanders and Trish Sperring for cooking all those burgers;
Marcus Ford for running the have-a-go-bowls;
Mike Gardener for his (often hilarious) running commentary throughout the day;
Ian Williams for commentating on the races;
Magician Dave Jones;
Reverend Alison Waters for running the quiz;
Martin Rackham for running the Open Mic and Apalachee Nation for playing;
Mike Ingram for having hay bales on standby;
Felton Eccles Tug O’ War Club for loan of their championship rope;
Combwich Boat Club for loan of marquees;
Brian Bateman for professional photos;
Greenslades for lending us their generator;
Clean Surroundings for grass cutting and line painting;
To everyone in the Parish who gloriously decorated their houses and gardens;
To all villagers, especially Jim and Nicki Jewell and residents of the cottages on the green for tolerating the road closure;
To Sue Barton, Amber Austin and Lynn Carter for organising the whole event and to everyone who came along and made it such a special day.
THANK YOU FROM TEAM JUBILEE
Team Jubilee
