Jubilee News

Awards for All Success

Rolleston on Dove Special Events Committee were given an "Awards for All" grant of £4,518 towards the Golden Jubilee Village Festival. Together with sponsorship by the Parish Council, this enabled them to allow free admission to the Exhibition of Pastimes and Royal Memorabilia.  This took place from Friday 31 May to Tuesday 4 June in St Mary's Church, the Church Room and in marquees on the Croft.  The Exhibition was opened at 12 noon - by the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor John and Mrs. Valerie Galbraith.  It included royal memorabilia from many reigns, a display of wedding dresses through the 20th Century, craft displays and collections, craft demonstrations, and items loaned by many village organisations and individuals.  Each day started with the firing of maroons and there were peals of bells at intervals with CCTV cameras in the bell chamber.

Duck Race 2002
Saturday 25 May, Rolleston Brook (by Spread Eagle), 1 pm.

The Alderbrook in Rolleston on Dove was alive to cries of "Ey up me duck!" when de Ferrers PSFA held their annual Duck Race, the first event of the Golden Jubilee Village Festival. For Mrs Verity Conner, this was her swan song, as she is retiring after six years' hard work as Chairman, when her daughter Leah leaves the Specialist Technology College, so Verity was especially pleased to announce that this year's race had raised over £1,000.

Mr Brian Heather was entering the water for the last time, as he is retiring from the College, but Mr John Phillips will no doubt continue to enliven the occasion with his witty commentary. The bright yellow bath ducks, launched by Mr Bill Wright, intrigued the native mallard population as well as the large crowd of enthusiastic punters. The first prize of £75 was won by Mr Mick Large, and the second prize of £50 by a Year 7 pupil, Andrew Mee. The Armstrong family won the tickets for the American Adventure Theme Park. The weather stayed fine - almost.

The photographs of the event were taken by the webmaster on his first official engagement since he acquired a digital camera. Place the mouse pointer on a picture to see an enlarged version (Do not click it). For those with a high speed 'broadband' internet connection a short QuickTime movie of the duck race can be downloaded here.

Read here about more local jubilee news:

• The Rolleston Scout Group Silver Jubilee Parade and Carnival

• Open Art Exhibition

• Mary Queen of Scots

• Rolleston Campus End of Year Art Exhibition

• The Mellstock Band Comes to Rolleston

• Exhibition of Pastimes and Royal Memorabilia

• Jazz in the Church

• Golden Jubilee Service Uniform Parade

• Model Railway Display

• Jubilee Party

Please let the know if you have any pictures or news relating to the village jubilee celebrations you would like to have included on the site.