Diamond Jubilee 2012
“To start off the Glatton’s Day of Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in the morning of the 2nd June 24 of us, and 4 dogs, set out to walk some of the Parish Boundary. It was overcast and cool but a dry day, ideal for walking. We started of at 10.30 at the Village Hall, feeling a little guilty as there were many people working hard putting up bunting and flags for the afternoon, then we walked down Sawtry Road to the end of the Village, turned right up a track and past Round Hills Farm up to Sawtry Gorse where we stopped for a breather.
Then we walked on the road towards Lutton and very gratefully we turned right into High Haden Road and descended into the Village to finish at the Village Hall at 12.30.
To walk all of the Parish boundary would have been too long [19 kms] and full of hazards such as the A1[M], dykes and very thick hedges. So the walk was about 8 kms.
All along the route Terry Brignall took photographs and we would like to thank him for his work.
While we were away Andrea Mitchell and Bob Widd made certificates for those on the walk as a record of their ‘achievement’.
We are very grateful to Chris Behagg and Martin Elliot for letting us walk over their land. The walk was led by Ken Clarke who organised a similar walk for the Silver Jubilee.
Author: Ken Clarke
In preparation for the Glatton Diamond Jubilee a committee was formed being an amalgamation of other village committees. The people directly involved in the planning were: Lynette Prain (Chairman), Caroline Ashcroft, Helen Ford, Andrea Mitchell, Lisa Smith, Joyce Ward, Bob Widd and Paul Williams.
Members of St. Nicholas Church Committee – organised the ‘Fete’ element of the day, which was held in the garden of the St George’s nursing home, with villagers donating cakes, bottles, food etc. for the various stalls, plus all the additional efforts involved in hanging the bunting, laying out of stalls, organising the music, photography and generally getting it all to come together.
Other villagers quietly contributed by giving ingredients, time and manpower and for covering unexpected expenses at their own cost. Many thanks to you all for making the Diamond Jubilee such a special day.
Bob Widd was our Compere for the day and was kept very busy! John Williams came up trumps yet again with delicious roast pork carved by himself, cooked by his wife Sue and served by the Williams team of ‘willing’ helpers. Owen Williams compiled 3 hours of music for the event.
Lisa Smith baked a whopper of a cake! Beautifully decorated and tasting delicious, Tom Millington took individual photographs of everyone and Terry Brignall was the roving photographer and Emma Marshall introduced a beautifully turned out Benji to give rides to ‘Young Glats’
The classic and vintage cars and tractors parked outside the village hall received a great deal of attention, although it has to be admitted, the attention came mainly from the men folk present.
Gordon Robertson’s owls where a big hit. Snowy Owl (Mil0), European Eagle Owl (Mugsy), White Faced Scops (Homer), British Barn Owl (Titi) and Tawny Owls (Ebony and Marmite) who all behaved impeccably!
Heather Barrell brought along her marquee to keep us dry – just in case. Shirley Dewar made sure tea and coffee were on tap for everyone throughout the afternoon. Doreen Perry, Helen Ford, Lisa Nicholson and Andrea Mitchell, together with Mollie Mayston and Anna Mitchell (the two ‘cup cake’ queens) produced an amazing tea party. The Reverend Rosie Ward presented Barclay Watson with the winner’s and Maya Reed with the Runner up prize in the Fancy Dress competition.
Roy Knight had to visit the First Aid tent but I am happy to report he made a swift recovery after imbibing some medicine!! After which he and Audrey presented especially commissioned Jubilee Mugs, provided by Glatton Parish Council, to all the children of Glatton.
The London Natural History Museum returned the Glatton Meteorite for the day! It was displayed in a glass case in the Village Hall and Dr. Caroline Smith, Curator of Meteorites and Ms. Deborah-Jayne Cassey, Assistant Meteorite Curator, were happy to answer the many questions that were fired at them. Representatives of the British and Irish Meteorite Society came along with posters and pictures. They too were full of interesting information. (The Glatton Meteorite is rare, not because it has an unusual composition, or because it comes from a previously unidentified corner of the universe unvisited by the starship ‘Enterprise’, but because Arthur Pettifor saw it land. Meteorites abound but very few have actually been seen to fall to earth).
A very surprised Andrew Indellicate, who is from the USA and temporarily resides in the bungalow where the meteorite landed, kindly allowed The Natural History Staff and the team from the British & Irish Meteorite Society to visit his garden to see the exact spot where the meteorite landed, which they had never seen before. Thank you Andrew for allowing this visit – it was a bonus the members of the Museum and Meteorite Society had never expected.
In the garden of the St. George’s nursing home there was an array of tents and stalls with the usual attractions. Bottles could be won (Richard Hanwell), homemade cakes purchased (Gillian and Joan Denton) , coconuts shied at (Glenn Ford) and Ducks Shot (David Woods).
Following a very old tradition, a cat was tossed from the top of the church into the graveyard! The nearest peg to the landing site won the prize. (For those of a nervous disposition, or possibly cat lovers, I would like to explain that it was not a real cat but 3 soft-toy teddies and for their own safety were fitted with parachutes in case of a difficult landing). It took Stanley Prain and Paul Williams a great deal of encouragement before the teddies, Goldie, Sylvia and Bronzo, could be persuaded to jump but I am happy to report no injuries were sustained.
Many thanks to Mark and Lisa Nicholson for their help in getting the village hall up and running for the disco evening. I think all the helpers were in need of some liquid sustenance by the end of their long day! What a success.
The final act of our jubilee celebrations was the planting of an oak tree on the green where stands the post-box, telephone kiosk and the oak commemorating 200 years of occupation in Glatton by the Savage Family.