Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 70 years on the throne in 2022—she is the first British monarch to reach such a milestone and the second Elizabethan Age has spanned (like the first one) a time of enormous change.

To commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year we would like to include memories, anecdotes and photographs from Hickling of her reign – please contact us and we will include them, below.

www.royal.uk:

• The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
• The Platinum Jubilee Weekend
• 70 Facts to Mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

& Paddington Bear was star of the show for everyone:

On Sunday 5th June, at the close of the celebrations, the Queen made a surprise appearance at the start of the Jubilee Party at the Palace when a short film of her taking tea with Paddington Bear was played. It finished with the Queen and Paddington tapping teaspoons to the first song of the concert, ‘We Will Rock You’. It is fair to say that these two minutes summed up the whole weekend and made sure that the celebrations ended with a massive smile!

(Artist, Bill Adair perfectly captured the moment to end the weekend)

The Platinum Jubilee Tree – Walkers’ Green.

One of the most significant elements of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations is the Queen’s wish to plant trees across the country. To mark the Jubilee the Parish Council planted a copper beech tree. It is the same species of tree planted by The Queen and Prince Charles in the grounds of Balmoral last year to signal the formal beginning of the push to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Jubilee Events in Hickling (even though it rained all day on Sunday …).

The Plan:

• 2nd-5th June  Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Village Celebrations
  • Bunting goes up during the week before – please contact neighbours or members of the committee if you need help or if you can offer help.
• Thursday 2nd:            
  • 1pm Town Crier Proclamation 
  • 6pm Plough Jubilee Quiz (closing early for Beacon)
  • 9pm Beacon Lighting on Standard (all welcome)
• Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th:
  • National Celebrations
• Sunday 5th:                  
  • 9am-11am: Bucks Fizz Breakfast at the Village Hall (please book)
  • Midday: The Bellringers of St. Luke’s Parish Church ring in the Jubilee
  • 12 noon onwards: Parish Picnic, games & sports—Plough Inn
  • 12.30-1.30: Competition judging – poshest picnic, fancy dress, best-dressed pooch
  • 3.30pm: Tug of War Competition
  • Events at The Plough Inn – all weekend (check their FB page)

But on Sunday the rain came down …

• A close eye was kept on the weather forecast and, as bad weather looked more and more likely, urgent meetings were held, there was frantic messaging and a last minute leaflet drop.
• The rain began overnight on Saturday and by 8.30am on Sunday we had had half an inch of rain and it was still going strong – fortunately, no thunder and lightning, though. Although it began to dry up by mid-afternoon, everywhere was cold, drenched and soggy – no good for the outdoor games.
• Fortunately, Plan B kicked into action and the Plough Inn stepped in – excellent hosts for an indoor Parish Picnic. Everyone brought their own picnics and the bar was well-frequented; poshest picnic, best-dressed pooch and children’s fancy-dress all went beautifully, Chris hosted a Jubilee quiz and a lovely afternoon was had by all – even if it wasn’t quite what we all expected.
• It is hoped that a Parish Games day will materialise soon and we can have another go at the challenges, races and tug-of-war.

Photographs & Galleries:

• Hickling & Hickling Pastures: the Bunting & Jubilee Decorations
• Thursday: Town Crier’s Proclamation
• Thursday: The Beacon on the Hickling Standard
• Sunday: Parish Breakfast in the Village Hall
• Sunday: The Bellringers of St. Luke’s Parish Church ring in the Jubilee (at midday)
• Sunday: Parish Picnic (competitions, games & sports) at The Plough Inn

It is never too late to send us your photos and stories of the weekend – we look forward to hearing from you!

If there are photographs that you know were taken and they haven’t appeared yet, please contact us for copies and we will do what we can to send them to you.

The Queen’s Accession Day; February 6th 1952 – how the news came to Hickling.

It was a normal day for the pupils at the village school in Hickling until an unusual visitor appeared at the door asking for a word with Miss Proudman, their teacher.

The visitor was the School Inspector. He had travelled especially from Nottingham with news that brought Miss Proudman back into the classroom in tears; the King had died and the pupils should all go home. When young John Walker arrived home his father was somewhat cross to see him – why wasn’t he at school?

And this is how the news spread – messengers in cars, village schools and pupils carrying the news home.
(With thanks to Richard Collishaw for passing on this memory of John’s.)

To view our three Platinum Jubilee editions of the Hickling Standard; click on this link.

• Additional historical and parish articles about the Jubilee, the Queen, the Royal Family and Village Celebrations.

Bunting making in the Village Hall – 10th May 2022

30 metres of red, white and blue fabric and 400 metres of tape; the sewing machines have been busy. A great start was made in the very convivial surroundings of the Village Hall and continues in homes around the village. Very satisfying!