A jubilee beacon lighting ceremony was an emotional event for many of the 750 people who watched and took part.
Tears welled up as the Hurst beacon was lit and the St Nicholas Singers performed the jubilee song A Life Filled with Grace. A sliver of crescent moon looked down on the crowd in the community orchard opposite St Nicholas Church.
Among those enjoying the DJ Paul Palmer’s music afterwards were local MP Theresa May and her husband Philip – who obligingly threw some shapes to dance for a young villager’s phone videos.
The church led the evening last Thursday (June 2) with jubilee crafts for children, refreshments and red, white and blue flower arrangements on show.
A large band of 14 took turns to ring the church bells. Two new ringers were Janice Howell of Whistley Green, Hurst and Angela Vickery of Winnersh. They had answered a call, backed by Wokingham Today, for more ringers for the jubilee. They said tower captain Graham Slade was a great teacher.
Wokingham Rock Choir’s 80 singers performed. The Hurst Clangers played the national anthem with their hand bells. Reading bagpipe player Colleen Scott gave moving renditions of the jubilee bagpipe tune Diu Regnare [Latin for Long to Reign] and other tunes.
The beacon was lit by Lucy Zeal, Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire and John Jones engineer at Haines Hill Estate, Hurst. Mr Jones made the beacon which was the estate’s gift to the village. Hurst Parish Council chairman Wayne Smith told the crowd that Wokingham Today had been responsible for finding someone to make the beacon.
Councillor Smith praised the Queen, saying: “It is just such a remarkable achievement by a very special lady.”
The village’s packed four-day jubilee celebration was organised by Hurst Parish Council and many other helpers. Councillor Smith thanked the parish councillor (and DJ) who had led the effort and done so much. “None of this would have happened without Paul ‘Jubilee’ Palmer,” he said.
He also thanked Stanlake Wine Estate for their sponsorship and everyone who had taken part.
He added: “We hope this celebration will be remembered through many generations to come.”
He was pleased that MP Theresa and Philip May had attended the beacon lighting.
“Of all the places our MP could have gone, she came to Hurst,” he said.
The next day Hurst enjoyed a sports day with events at the football and cricket grounds. Hurst Bowling Club encouraged visitors to have a go. Hurst Velo Cycling Club organised a 31 Km ride for 37 riders to the Velolife coffee shop near Wargrave and back. One rider took along her pet dog who calmly enjoyed the ride sitting in her bike basket.
