3rd February 2012

SIDMOUTH: Town starts to plan jubilee celebrations

SIDMOUTH Town Council is setting up a working group to consider how the town will celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

A number of Jubilee-related matters will go before the town council’s monthly meeting on Monday.

The council has received a letter from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Eric Dancer, regarding an invitation to attend two special garden parties to be held before a special service in Exeter Cathedral on Sunday, May 27th.

Parishes in Devon have been asked to nominate someone to attend from the community who is considered to be an “unsung hero” who has shown traits of selfless service over the period of the Queen’s reign.

The garden parties will be held in the grounds of the Bishops’ Palace near the Cathedral.

The council has also received a letter from the Clinton Devon Estates giving information about a new “Devon Jubilee Woodland” they will be planting next to Harpford Woods at Newton Poppleford, which will be open to the public for access and recreation.

John Varley, the estate’s director, said: “We hope that local people and ideally schoolchildren will play a key role in planting the wood during 2012. “

The letter also informed the council that lord Clinton’s Charitable Trust would be donating £500 to each parish council on the estate to support an event or activity to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.

“The trust would prefer if the funds were used to plant individual or small groups of trees,” said Mr Varley.

“If this is not practicable then the funds may be used for other purposes as long as it is to support the Jubilee celebrations.”

Town council chairman Stuart Hughes will propose at Monday’s meeting that trees at The Three Cornered Plot be dressed in lights as part of Sidmouth’s Jubilee celebrations.

Costs and drawings will be available at the meeting and if the council gives its approval, costs will be matched on a 50-50 basis by Councillor Hughes Devon County Council Locality Budget.

Sidmouth Primary School’s PTFA has also approached the council suggesting that a gift be given to all 550 pupils to mark the Jubilee.

In response, Councillor Hughes will recommend that the council contribute £1 per child towards the gift from the Jubilee Budget with the PTFA matching this amount.

SIDMOUTH: Town starts to plan jubilee celebrations

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