Plans are afoot for a big village celebration to mark the Queen’s seventy years of service – the first British monarch to reach this incredible milestone.
To mark the occasion, the UK has been granted an additional Bank Holiday, with the late May bank holiday being moved to Thursday 2nd June 2022 and the new, additional bank holiday on Friday 3rd June.
A series of celebrations are being planned across the country for the new four-day bank holiday weekend, which falls at the end of the half term break. Long Wittenham will be holding its celebratory event on Sunday 5th June, to ensure that as many villagers and families can attend as possible.
The celebrations will begin with a children’s parade from St Mary’s Church, marked by our newly refurbished bells ringing out. The parade will set off from the church just after 1pm and it is hoped that as many villagers and their friends and families will line the High Street, waving flags to cheer the children on. Residents living along the route will be encouraged to decorate their houses and gardens, with a prize being awarded to the best effort. The WI have kindly offered to decorate the bus shelter.
The procession will make its way to the gardens of The Plough, where there will be maypole dancing, community singing, a swing band, traditional games, an opportunity to try out making some models with the Pendon Museum, and all finishing up with a giant Village Hokey Cokey to round off the event.
Liam, Kim and Julie and their team at The Plough will be providing a marquee which will display the entries to a “Portrait of the Queen” competition which everyone, young and old, will be encouraged to enter. The Plough will be providing tables and chairs, and villagers are also invited to bring picnic blankets or camping tables and chairs, and a picnic to enjoy in the garden. In order to support our local pub, the organisers respectfully request that any alcoholic beverages are purchased from the pub itself. In addition, the Primary School and Pre-School will be laying on teas, coffees and ice creams.
This event is brought to you by a wonderful team, represented by: Wittenham Warriors, the Parish Council, the Primary School, the Pre-School, the Rainbows and Brownies, The Pendon Museum, WI, Wittenham Singers, The Plough and St Mary’s Church.
Full details will be posted here. Anyone who would like to get involved can do so by contacting Sally Duff – our very own Queen of Fun – on 01865 407788 or 07899 097612, or email richsal2000@yahoo.co.uk.
