Jubilee 2012 Report

Jubilee ceilidh, 1st June 2012
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The festivities began in the Village hall on the Friday evening with a Ceilidh (a sort of Celtic ‘barn dance’ which has the virtue of being age-inclusive). Dancers ranged from the very young, very small and very energetic to the considerably taller, much older and much more stately Cyril Keast. It was great fun and was organised by the Hall Committee.

We watched the weather anxiously over the week-end — it was far from the ‘flaming June’ of other years but months earlier Gill Keast had assured me the it would be fine on the Monday, and it was! By mid-afternoon there was warmth and sunshine, and in the middle of Home Field there was the lonely figure of Frank Smeeth, seated on a bar stool slowly turning the spit, Geoff’s impressive contraption with its ex-Rover steering wheel, that later in the day so fascinated the children. By 6pm the lamb was literally done to a turn, and people began to arrive — and gradually the sun retired behind clouds and the temperature dropped. However, well over a hundred adults and a large number of children appeared, there was enough food for all, including the vegetarian option, and people were clearly enjoying themselves.

Jubilee barbecue 4 June 2012
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It is not easy to cater for an unpredictable number on a small budget: the main course was covered by the £3 charge for adults, together with the help of a small grant from Cornwall Council for which we are most grateful. But all the salads and all of the desserts were brought and generously donated by members of the parish. Similarly, all the raffle prizes were donated. Without such support a small community like ours cannot thrive and we should appreciate and cherish it.

Unfortunately, the idea, so attractive a few months ago, of the parish relaxing in the evening sun-shine watching the Warleggan Superbowl (a game or two of rounders) was not realistic as skies darkened and temperatures tumbles. Nevertheless a surprising number of hardy revellers made their way up to another of the Smeeths’ fields where there was a bonfire of furze (kindly donated by Rupert Hanbury-Tenison) and built up by Geoff. At 10pm Barbara and Cyril Keast, as the only members of the parish to have celebrated their diamond wedding, and that was several years ago, lit the bonfire. As the flames rose, there was a spontaneous outburst of the National Anthem. It was actually quite moving to watch the glowing yellow dots begin to appear around us on the distant horizon and to feel part of the nationwide celebration of the Queen’s reign.

Many people contributed in many different ways to the success of Warleggan’s Jubilee and we thank you all. God save the Queen!

 Pat Phillipps

(reproduced from Mount and Warleggan Life newsletter, July 2012)

Reminder of the schedule:

• Fri 1st June 2012:

  • 7.30pm: Ceilidh, Jubilee Hall, pasties and licensed bar;  £5/head (primary age and under free)

• Mon 4th June 2012:

  • 6 – 8pm :  BBQ etc., Home Field, Mount; bring own drinks; £3/head (primary age and under free)
    –  please check newsletter if you are willing and able to bring some ‘etceteras’, e.g. salads, desserts…
  • 7 – 8.30 pm: Biggest Rounders Game, Home Field Mount – a bit of exercise after the barbecue!
  • 10 pm: Jubilee Bonfire, held on Geoff Smeeth’s field, just up from the Home Field, so a short walk away;  fuel donated by Rupert Hanbury Tenison.

Check out the photos:

• Photos Barbecue and Bonfire (4th June 2012)
• Photos Ceilidh (1st June 2012)

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