RESIDENTS in Colwich and the Haywoods will be among a select group when they stage their jubilee celebrations.
The villages have been selected to take part in the lighting of 2,012 beacons simultaneously across the country.
Plans for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee began in October when the parish council was contacted by the national pageant master to ask if they wanted to take part in the nationwide beacon event.
A public meeting was held and a committee formed to arrange the celebrations for the community.
The plans are for a day of eventswhich will see the whole community gather on jubilee fields. The day, currently pencilled in for Monday, June 4, will culminate with the lighting of the beacon.
Attractions planned for the day include live music, wheelbarrow shoving, a race between Colwich and Great Haywood, a balloon release, dog training and competition, belly dancing and a zumba display.
It is hoped there will be a celebrity to light the beacon. As one of the beacon parishes their name will go into a book recording the event to be given to the Queen.
Andy Cooper, chairman of the parish council, said: “Back in October we received notification from the national pageant master asking if we wanted to take part in the scheme to light 2,012 beacons.
A public meeting was held to gauge support and a committee was formed.
“We have got a really enthusiastic bunch and more and more people and organisations are coming on board.” The committee is producing a brochure to sell to raise funds and local schoolchildren will produce the front picture.
“It’s going to be a spectacular day for the whole community to enjoy and celebrate,” said Mr Cooper.
The villages have a long and proud tradition of celebrating royal events. In 1977 there was a pageant and a day of games and partying on Jubilee Fields.
Former Girl Guide commissioner Catherine Birt was involved in the event.
She said: “It was a good day, the weather was good.There were stalls all around and children dancing in the fields.” Parish and borough councillor Amyas Stafford Northcote said: “The bridge on Meadow Lane, Colwich, was built to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
On the silver jubilee in 1977 the children were all given little medals which were bought by the residents.” Let us know your jubilee plans and what your memories are of the events in 1977 and 2002 or if you have photographs of previous celebrations.
