Jubilee Weekend

Jubilee Flags

Westerham Jubilee Celebrations

The weather was as kind as it could be during the Jubilee celebrations in Westerham, with the rain holding off more or less during the Big Lunch on Sunday. Westerham’s Restaurants set up up The Green and townsfolk enjoyed the music from The General Wolfe Sunday night regulars, father and son Geiger, accompanied by Richard Woolnough on the drums. There was a dance display from Jam, and Punch and Judy, but sadly Kiddies’ sports was cancelled due to slippery grass. The skies cleared for the AbbaMagic concert on Monday, which attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd, the Scouts provided a BBQ and the evening was topped off with Fireworks and the Lighting of the Beacon by the Sea Cadets on the North Downs. Pubs in Westerham hosted a variety of events, all with music, and various streets held parties. The whole weekend was filmed by a TV crew from France3, who wanted to broadcast a snapshot of a small town’s celebrations.  

[div class=”iframe-wrapper-jubilee”]
[/div]

Queen's JubileeFor the This is Kent Westerham Jubilee report go to This is Kent story.

Click for the main programme.

Click for the Coronation memories of Westerham.


Traders Treasure Hunt

CrownMonday 27th May to Monday 4th June

Retailers throughout the town will display items fit for a Queen in their shop windows. Collect an entry form from the Westerham Flower Shop and see how many items you can discover. Family fun, prizes to be won.


Churchill CE Primary School

Friday 1st June

All children will be involved in creating a giant time-line which will show the 60 years of the Queen’s reign. Each year group will focus on one particular decade and this will be available for all to see as part of our annual school celebration event in July.

We will be holding a school Diamond Jubilee picnic on Friday 1st June and all the children will be invited to dress as Kings or Queens for the day.

It’s going to be a lot of fun and something that the children will always remember. Every child will receive a commemorative gift.


Royal British Legion – Live Music, Free Buffet

Saturday 2nd June 7.30pm

Join us in The Royal British Legion to celebrate our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s, Diamond Jubilee! Everyone is welcome, it’s Open House with a free buffet. Live music by ‘Shades of Green‘ a four man instrumental and vocal Group.


Jubilee Big Lunch

Sunday 3rd June 11.30am – 3.30pm

As part of the celebrations throughout the nation. Westerham restaurateurs will set up stalls around The Green to sell meals of various specialisations from 11.30am to 3.30pm. A BBQ, Indian, Italian, Thai and Chinese fare will be available, as well as ice creams and scones. Tables and chairs will be provided. There will be plenty of entertainment for the children including fairground rides, Punch and Judy and a variety of musical and other entertainers will all be there for your enjoyment. Children’s sports start at 2.30pm. The Green will be decorated for this historic occasion, so come along, celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in style and good company and bring your friends and neighbours too!

Report on the Jubilee Big Lunch

Periods of drizzly rain did not prevent hundreds of Westerham folk enjoying the Town’s Jubilee Big Lunch on The Green on 3rd June. Eight of the Town’s restaurateurs set up stalls and did brisk business selling dishes of their particular varieties ensuring that there was something to satisfy all tastes. The day lived up to its billing as a Fun Day for Families. Fairground rides and Punch and Judy kept the children entertained whilst all ages enjoyed musical and other performers including an esoteric group from Applause Outdoors with their interactive performance. Although wet weather caused cancellation of the children’s sports, some of the musicians gave additional sessions to keep the programme running. The organisers (Westerham Society) remain grateful to Aqualisa Limited for their generous financial support


River Pageant on HD TV – Westerham Club

Sunday 3rd June 2pm – 6pm

Over 1000 boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty to take part in The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river, and the formal procession will take place between 2 – 6pm. Westerham Club will show the event on their 55″ and 58″ HD screens, and this will be followed by Live Music from Jason Melville from 7 – 9pm. Cheapest beer in town – the Club is open to the Public for the whole weekend.


George and Dragon Street Party

Sunday 3rd June from 11am

Live Music featuring The Licks, BBQ, Market Stalls, Lots of Children’s Games.


St Mary’s Church: Jubilee Flowers, Bell Ringing and Service

St Mary’s will be open all weekend!

Everyone is welcome to visit the wonderful Jubilee themed display by the Flower Guild. There will be a veritable multitude of flowers in every corner of the Church, all adorned with diamonds and crowns to celebrate Her Majesty’s weekend!

Westerham and Sundridge Bell Ringers are intending to complete a Quarter Peal of Grandsire Doubles on Saturday 1st June

St Mary’s, St John’s RC Church and the Congregational Church will be holding a joint Songs of Praise service at St Mary’s at 6.30pm on Sunday 3rd June.


Hog Roast and Live Music – The King’s Arms Garden

Monday 4th June 12 noon – 4pm

Hog Roast and Live music from ‘Blondee’ in the garden of The King’s Arms. Tickets from Reception.


AbbaMagic Concert

Monday 4th June Gates open 6.30pm

Abba Tribute Band, AbbaMagic, will be a free entry concert in King George’s Field. A running BBQ, hot dogs, tea, coffee and cakes will be provided by the Scouts and the Westerham Sports Association will be open for drinks. Gates open 6.30pm – come and make a night of it, and stay to watch the Beacon and Firework display afterwards! 


Beacon and Fireworks

Monday 4th June

Westerham Scouts lit the massive beacon above Westerham on Monday, 4 June, as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Arranged by Tim Saunders, John Warde of Squerryes came along too to watch the event! Click for report, pictures and more information.

Squerryes Estate will light a Beacon soon after 10pm, as the Concert ends, as part of a chain of thousands throughout the world to commemorate Her Majesty The Queen’s 60 year reign over the UK and as head of the Commonwealth. It will be on high ground to the north of the town, clearly visible from King Georges’ Field. A spectacular show of Fireworks will round off the evening.


 
French film crew discussing the lighting of the Beacon with John Warde and his French daughter-in-law.


Chartwell Celebrations

“Come to Chartwell and join our Jubilee celebrations throughout June. With local food producers showcasing their wares every weekend, traditional British food in our restaurant, a fabulous red white and blue colour scheme and our Jubilee trails there is something for everyone. Discover the special relationship between Churchill and the Queen with our self-guided family trails, explore the fascinating stories behind objects in our collection, and there’s even a children’s trail too – we provide the compasses as you turn explorer in the house and the garden!! So for a fun-filled family day out – we hope to see you soon.”


Quebec House Celebrations

There is great tradition of decorating buildings to mark jubilee celebrations. Quebec House was decorated by the tenants on many occasions during the 20th century. We’re reviving this tradition this year as we decorate the outside of the house with bunting, flags and lights to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The house is open (12-5) throughout the Jubilee Celebrations with extra open days on bank holiday Monday and Tuesday. Although we’re closed evenings come and marvel at night to see the lights at their best from the road.


Jubilee Champagne Breakfast – Grasshopper on The Green

Tuesday 5th June 9.30am

A Jubilee Champagne Breakfast will be served, at The Grasshopper on The Green. The menu will include full English Breakfast, and other luxury choices fit for a Queen! Indulge in Smoked Haddock and Spinach, Smoked Salmon, Scrambled Eggs ..even Strawberries and Cream – the choice is yours – all topped off with a glass of Champagne to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee!

£20 per head booking essential.
Tel: 01959 562926


Jubilee Tree Planting

To celebrate the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s historic 2012 Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people across the UK to come together to plant 6 million trees. The Royal Record to mark King George V1’s Coronation mentions  Westerham’s contribution, and a Diamond Jubilee Record is planned.     

Valence School, which is also celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, has signed up to plant 61 trees. 


Gourmet Jubilee Bridge Lunch

Thursday 7th June 10.30am

Bridge Gourmet Lunch raised £1580 for the Westerham Town Partnership to donate equally between the Christmas Lights and Hanging Basket funds. A very big thank you to Alison Burt and her team who laid on a superb three course lunch, and Tony Price who directed the afternoon’s play.


National Youth Ballet and Dinner

Sunday 10th June from 6.30pm

Report: NATIONAL YOUTH BALLET WOWS WESTERHAM

The St Mary’s Heritage Trust Westerham celebrated Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a dinner at Squerryes Court on Sunday 10th June. The talented National Youth Ballet Company, whose dancers hail from all over the country, wowed Westerham with a very professional  programme directed by Founder and Artistic Director, Jill Tookey, a local resident. With not a tutu in sight, the spirited young dancers performed a sophisticated vignette, inspired by Noel Coward and an exciting premiere of the appropriately entitled Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes, choreographed by renowned choreographer, Antony Dowson.

NYB’s own Silver Jubilee season takes place at the E M Forster theatre, Tonbridge 23rd – 25th  August and their Gala at Sadler’s Wells on 2th September with a programme to delight all ages. Further details on the NYB website.


As part of the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the St Mary’s Westerham Heritage Trust hosted a dinner and ballet at Squerryes on Sunday June 10th.

The event opened at 6.30 p.m. with a champagne reception followed by a black tie dinner in a marquee in the wonderful setting of Squerryes Garden. As dinner progresses the lights dimmmed and the young dancers of the National Youth Ballet took to the stage. The Premiere of a new programme, “Diamonds on the soles of her shoes” choreographed by Antony Dowson was performed.

Grand Dinner and Entertainment by the National Youth Ballet at Squerryes Court: ‘Diamonds in the soles of her shoes’ in Celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was a superb evening. Huge thanks to John and Anthea Warde for their hospitality, Pauline Green for the wonderful food, and all those associated with the sparkling NYB performance. Not only was it a great evening, but it raised £4700 for Westerham Heritage Trust.

Photo Courtesy of the National Youth Ballet