Queen's Diamond Jubilee (2012) in Wherwell

Jubilee Party organisers - Lizzie Broadbent, Julie Dickenson, Anne-Clare Whiteside & Pam Flanagan

Pip Hughes

Street Scene

Andrew Flanagan

Street Scene

Pip Hughes

Street Scene

Andrew Flanagan

Street Scene

Pip Hughes

Street Scene

Andrew Flanagan

Street Scene - make way for cup cakes

Andrew Flanagan

Lizzie Broadbent, in charge of the bubbly

Andrew Flanagan

All smiles for the loyal toast

Pip Hughes

Richard Rowles, Master of Ceremonies

Pip Hughes

Stu Walker, musician

Pip Hughes

Pam Flanagan leading the Competition Hat parade

Andrew Flanagan

Would you like a Choc Ice?

Pip Hughes

Competition time 'feel the sock'

Andrew Flanagan

Painting Table

Andrew Flanagan

Decorated Cup Cakes

Pip Hughes

Diamond Jubilee Cakes

Pip Hughes

Lucky prize winners

Mike Gee

Lucky prize winner, Richard Henderson

Pip Hughes

Lucky prize winner, Pip Hughes

Angela Hughes

Lucky prize winner, Sue Coleman

Angela Hughes

Another happy prize winner

Mike Gee

'Want to know a secret?'

Angela Hughes

Feeding the fish at the end of the afternoon

Mike Gee

Sleepy Village

For a small village, Wherwell is an exceptionally busy place, three fetes, an 11K charity run, cricket charity day, Open Gardens, Santa’s Grotto and a Last Night of the Proms charity concert are just our regular annual fixtures.

This year ‘Wherwellians’ upped their game. The Home Guard Club reopened in June, after a year when its future was in doubt. Events such as a Barn Dance, a BBQ, live music evening and two Quiz Nights in less than three months may explain the doubling of membership and healthy bar takings! Well done to the new committee who are breathing new life into a social centre that has been at the heart of the village for over 65 years.

Wherwell celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a traditional street party which was very well attended and is pictured on our front cover. Funded by a disco and donations from the Parish Council, it reminded us that new faces may appear, but we are all still part of one community.

To complement the celebrations, a showing of the film ‘The Sound Barrier’ was organised in Wherwell Village Hall on 20th July 2012. This award-winning film of 1952 was produced by David Lean and was filmed mainly at Chilbolton Airfield, with some of the scenes showing landmarks that still exist today.

A major event this year was the Pageant at Wherwell Priory in May, which was billed as a celebration of Wherwell Abbey 984 – 2012. It was a huge production bringing together local choirs, singers, harmony groups, brass and jazz bands and children from Wherwell Primary School to make it an unforgettable night with profits going to the Wherwell Church restoration fund.

In addition to the monthly coffee mornings at the Col. Jenkins Memorial Hall, a recent addition to our social calendar is Test Valley Aviation Club at the Sports Pavilion. Here villagers and enthusiasts meet regularly to socialise and learn more about aviation over the years.

So, Wherwell may appear calm and peaceful… but looks can be deceptive!

Sean Hutton and Andrew Flanagan

Article published in the Wherwell Anthology, 2012