Where to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

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THERE will be plenty going on across Bromsgrove district in the next fortnight to celebrate HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - here are a few things you and your family and friends could be part of.

♦ AT BROMSGROVE'S historic St John's Church, there will be a three-day Diamond Jubilee extravaganza.

That will take place from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday (June 2), between 1pm and 5pm on Sunday (June 3) and from 11am to 5pm on the bank holiday Monday (June 4).

Among the attractions will be a Jubilee café opening on Saturday and Monday, serving home-made light refreshments, trips up the tower on Saturday and Monday and a 'Right Royal Raffle'.

On Sunday, there will be the Celebratory Church Service at 10.45am, followed by the Grand Crown Close Diamond Picnic - those wanting to go along are urged to take a chair or picnic blanket and food to share.

There will also be face-painting and a 'Design a Crown' competition to be judged by Rev Chris Wingfield.

Children are free, with the suggested donation for adults, which includes a souvenir brochure, being £2.

All proceeds will go to the church's Landmark II appeal.

♦ BRAINY Bromsgrovians can pit their wits in a Jubilee 1950s quiz at St Godwald's Church on Friday (June 1).

The event will be held from 7.30pm at St Godwalds Church Hall on Finstall Road in Aston Fields.

Teams of four or five are sought and admission, which includes a Ploughman's Supper, is £4.50. Anyone interested is asked to bring their own drinks.

Call John Spencer 01527 832414 or Paul Wood 01527 882212 for more.

♦ THERE will be plenty of fun for all the family at a Queen's Diamond Jubilee community tea party, which is being held at The Trunk in Charford, between 4pm and 7pm on Thursday (May 31).

Among the activities will be a bouncy castle, face-painting, craft activities, a Samba band percussion workshop and music from the 1950s.

There will also be chances for those who go along to win prizes by taking part in a tombola and in guess the name of the Jubilee teddy and guess the weight of the cake competitions.

The event, which will also feature a range of refreshments, has been organised by EPIC (Empowering People in Communities).

The Trunk's lead development worker for young people Kate Higginson urged people to also bring along any royal memorabilia they had to show others.

"All of the community are welcome to come and join our traditional Diamond Jubilee tea party," she added.

For more, call Kate on 01527 878722 or e-mail kate@epic-se.co.uk

♦ THERE will be a live band, a host of stalls, a variety of games, bouncy castles, community sing-song, It's a Knockout style games and even a Jubilee quiz at Lickey End First School's Diamond Jubilee Street Party and Summer Fair.

Admission to the event, which takes place between 2pm and 6pm on Sunday (June 3), is £2 for adults and free for children under 16.

Bromsgrove District Council's Civic Head Coun Janice Boswell will officially open the event at 3pm with a mass balloon release.

Other highlights include tug of war, a bar, a barbecue and more.

Tickets are available from Lickey End First School or Vicky's newsagents in Alcester Road.

♦ A DIAMOND Jubilee garden party to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital, will be held at Stoke Prior Sports and Social Club, Weston Hall Road, a week on Monday (June 4).

The bar opens at 12midday and the event will feature snooker, pool and darts knockout tournaments, crazy golf, skittles, a tombala, a raffle, a bouncy castle and a variety of other games for children.

There will also be horsey hopper racing and a pet show which people can take their pets to.

Admission is free.

For more, call 01527 577876 or 07875 530455, e-mail info@stokepriorclub.co.uk or visit www.stokepriorclub.co.uk

♦ STAFF at Bromsgrove District Council will be transported back to the 1950s on Friday (June 1) as part of the authority's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

At the Bromsgrove Customer Service Centre, School Drive, employees will be showing off their dress and memorabilia from the 1950s and those going there on that day are urged to wear red, white and blue.

Amanda de Warr, the authority's head of customer services, said: “The Jubilee is a major event and we wanted to help brighten our customers’ day, as well as celebrate this historic occasion."

♦ A JUBILEE party will be held in the car park of the Bewell Head Club in Bromsgrove on Saturday (June 2).

Among the attractions will be a barbecue, shooting gallery, tin can alley, Jenga, bouncy castle and afternoon and evening entertainment.

The fun starts at 12midday and runs until 12midnight.

Non-members, especially families are welcome.

♦ A MUSIC and cider festival to celebrate the Jubilee will be held at Bromsgrove's Hop Pole Inn on Monday (June 4).

The pub will be decked out in red white and blue, there will be around 15 different ciders on offer and the all-day entertainment is completely free.

Local band The Quick kick the music off at 2pm, with The Dilemma Council taking to the stage at 5.30pm.

Then, world renowned reggae act The Gabbidon Band start their set at 9pm. That is fronted by Basil Gabbidon, a former member of 1970s band Steel Pulse, who has played with reggae greats over the years, including Bob Marley.

For more on Monday's event and others, visit www.hop-pole.com

♦ A BEACON will be lit in Rednal on Monday (June 4) to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and to raise funds for farming charity the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI).

It will take place at 8pm, fittingly, at Beacon Farm, Beacon Lane, and be hosted by dairy farmer Michael Oakes.

In the last 60 years, RABI has given £40million to 60,000 farming families which have faced hardship because of retirement, disability, sickness, injury, or misfortune beyond their control.

Kate Roberts, RABI regional manager for the West Midlands, said: "Those who have registered a beacon or bonfire with RABI will be part of the nationwide chain of light that will link up with the national beacon to be lit by The Queen in London."

Tickets for the event, at £10 for adults and £5 for children (including a hog roast, rodeo and adult bouncy castle), are available from Kate Roberts on 07876 492839.

♦ A DIAMOND Jubilee-themed craft fair will be held from 10am to 4pm on Sunday (June 3) at Blackwell Methodist Church hall.

Stalls will feature red, white and blue items and those youngsters who don fancy dress for the occasion will get a free cupcake.

Among the items will be local handmade goods, such as jewellery, textiles, embroidery, knitwear, novelty boxes and cards, jams and chutneys, fabric flower arrangements and plants.

Organiser Janet King said she was hoping for more of the recent sunshine so visitors could buy their cakes and bring a picnic to enjoy in the field outside.

Admission, which includes a free tea or coffee, is just 50p.

♦ ON MONDAY (June 4), there will be a 1950s-themed summer fair at Bromsgrove Rugby Club to celebrate The Diamond Jubilee.

The event, which takes place between 12midday and 4.30pm, will feature entertainment, games, stalls and optional 1950s dress.

There will also be special guests at the fair, which guarantees some good old fashioned British fun for all the family.

Admission is £1 and tickets are available from the club.

♦ FREE play sessions are being held between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday (June 5) in Catshill to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The sessions are being held on The Children's Party Bus, in the layby by Catshill Middle School.

And, in keeping with The Standard's Let's Get Bromsgrove Playing campaign, traditional favourites, such as musical statues and musical bumps will be among the games being played.

There will also be chocolate bar hunts and, if the weather is fine, a conga.

Although the event is free, any donations to the Stroke Association would be welcome.

♦ THE NATIONAL Trust venues across the region will be holding Jubilee events during the bank holiday weekend.

There will be Marvellous Monarchs family activity days at Hanbury Hall on June 5 and 7.

And the Clent Hills will be celebrating with the lighting of a beacon on June 4. That will be done in partnership with local scouts. From early in the day, visitors will be able to see the beacon being built on the top of Clent, next to the Four Stones.

Visitors, for £2 per car, will then be able to come back at 9pm, with the beacon being lit at 10.15pm.

There will also be a Jubilee Teddy Bears' Picnic, between 11am and 3pm, on June 5. Admission for that is free, but there will be other activities, including face-painting, balloon modelling and activity trails - some of which will cost 50p.

For more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlandsjubilee.

♦ THERE Will be a bouncy castle, live music, singers, games, a raffle, a fire engine and plenty more fun for all the family at the Cockhill Estate's Diamond Jubilee Party.

The fun takes place between 12midday and 4pm on Monday (June 4) at Deelands Community Hall, Deedlands Road.

There will be a free ploughman's lunch for adults and children will get their first hot dog or burger free.

For more, call Margi Reed on 0121 457 7525 or on 07847 386604.

♦ A FUN-DAY to mark the Diamond Jubilee will be held at Bromsgrove's Avoncroft Museum on Tuesday (June 5).

The event will see a traditional garden party held, with bunting, a brass band playing and children's entertainment.

Those who go along are urged to bring a picnic or, alternatively, visitors can buy one from the Edwardian Tea Room to enjoy a celebratory lunch on the Guesten Hall field.

For more, visit www.avoncroft.org.uk

♦ A HOST of events have been organised by the Droitwich Spa and District Horticultural Society and Droitwich Rotary Club to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

Tomorrow (Saturday), there will be the most unusual planter contest. All children under 14 will receive a 'First Time Gardener' certificate and be in with a chance to win a Droitwich Town Council Jubilee medal.

Entries will be on display in the marquee in Vines Park from 10am, along with the other crafts. Presentations will be at 3.30 pm. The competition is also open to the over 14s. To enter, call 01905 798980.

Shops in Droitwich will be vying for the 'Best Decorated Shop Front'.

And, on Tuesday (June 5), there will be gardens opened to the public to raise funds for St Richard's Hospice.

A donation of £5 will enable a family to visit all 13 gardens and allotments in Droitwich, including one believed to be the only red, white and blue garden in the town.

Gardens will be open from 11am to 3pm and refreshments will be available.

Tickets are available from the Gardener's Arms, the marquee tomorrow or by calling 01905 798980.

♦ A JUBILEE Quiz is being held in Rubery on June 16 to raise funds for PDSA, the charity which helps sick and injured pets.

The event, at Our Lady's Centre, Leach Green Lane, starts at 8pm.

Tickets, which include a light supper, are £5 in advance and are available from the Rubery PDSA charity shop.

People can submit teams of up to six and those who go along are urged to take along their own refreshments.

There will also be a raffle during the evening.

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