Newenden celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a superb flower festival in St Peter’s over the whole weekend, organised by Rosie Edmonds, and a magnificent hog roast on the cricket pitch on Saturday June 4, laid on by the Parish Council. The whole village was invited and there were well over 100 villagers present, of all ages.
In addition to free food and refreshments, the crowd was entertained by a backing track of hits from the 50s and 60s, and the marvellous singing of Joe David Jones and Charlotte Juniper-Clarke, who performed live in front of the pavilion. There was a very popular coconut shy, the opportunity to splat-the-rat, a bottle stall and a “recognise-the-baby” photo competition. Our MP, Damian Green, joined us for lunch and in a short speech praised Newenden as his ideal of the quintessential Kentish village (albeit he was standing only 20 metres from East Sussex).
The hog roast was excellent and generous portions of pork came with a delicious selection of salads. The desserts were superb and everything disappeared very quickly.
Thanks to Dennis Rose, Chairman of the Parish Council, and his Jubilee committee, Ellen Hannavy-Cousen, Ingrid Nilson and Jillian Eldridge, who organised a fitting tribute to Her Majesty.
The afternoon concluded with a tumultuous performance by The Ravens, a brilliant and colourful drumming troupe from Hastings. They delighted the audience with their massed drumming, pulsating rhythms and vivid costumes.
It all made for an unforgettable village occasion. God save the Queen.
Image Credits: Anthony Dawson .