Last updated at 12:56, Saturday, 26 May 2012

Getting back to how things used to be – people pulling together and celebrating together, that’s what it’s all about says Helen Fisher, manager of Botcherby community centre in Carlisle.

Helen and her team have decided to marry the Diamond Jubilee with the national Big Lunch project which aims to get communities and neighbours coming together for a meal to help them get to know one another and combat isolation.

The centre is hosting an afternoon of family activities next Sunday, to tie in with the Jubilee.

“There will be quizzes with a Royal theme and tv screens set up in the afternoon so people can watch the flotilla down the Thames,” she adds.

“If the weather’s like it is at the moment it’ll be amazing. I’m hoping we can get outdoors - we’ve got a large space outside and if it’s warm and sunny I think it’ll be great.”

The lunch - which involves people bringing their own food and the centre providing hot and cold drinks - will be held from 12pm onwards.

“We’ve got a mad science group coming in for the children - teaching them experiments such as making slime!,” Helen says.

“We’ve had a lot of interest [in the Jubilee lunch] from community groups using the centre and it’s well used generally.

“Things like this are all about the community coming together.”

She said the lunch had been planned for a few months and a crafts group which uses the centre had been busy spending their Friday morning sessions making bunting from red, white and blue fabric.

“We’ll have flags as well - it should be a good atmosphere,” Helen says.

“I’m hoping about 50 people turn out - that would make me ecstatic!”

A similar event is on the cards at neighbouring Harraby.

Manager of the community centre there, Liz Jackson, said they were also celebrating with a Big Lunch.

“It falls on the same Sunday so we’re making it a real Jubilee celebration and encouraging people to come along with a picnic and a rug,” she says.

“It will be held outside in the park next to the community centre so we’re hoping for good weather.”

Liz believes the Diamond Jubilee, together with the arrival of the Olympic torch, has sparked a real interest in patriotic celebrations.

“I think, with the Olympics this summer, there seems to be a lot of interest in both events,” she says.

“From all the posters I’ve seen for Jubilee events - and the torch in Carlisle next month - people seem to be spoilt for choice for things to do!

“This is just the start of it, I think there’s a lot on over the next month.”

The centre’s celebrations will include children’s entertainers Professor Boffin and Jelly Nelly, with face-painting, temporary tattoos and a bouncy castle.

Children will be decorating cakes in a patriotic red, white and blue theme, and sports activities will be held on the field, including cricket and rounders.

“It’s mainly focusing on family fun,” she says.

“Our community centre is always well used and there is a strong community spirit.”

In Crosby-on-Eden, gala organisers are hoping to repeat the success of a community event held last year to celebrate the Royal Wedding when 200 people packed the village hall.

They are planning a celebration day on Sunday ‘with something for everyone,’ - including a Royal themed bucket competition for under 12s.

“We tried to get people to decorate dustbins last year but they proved too big and unwieldy so we’ve downsized to buckets!,” organiser Lesley Connelly said.

“They can put plants in them, or paint them - it could be absolutely anything.”

Children can also enter handmade crowns for another competition, older children and adults will have a decorated wheelbarrow contest and events include a red, white and blue fancy dress parade, tug of war and sports events.

“We had a lovely day last year and there were people there of all ages, including teenagers, which was great to see,” Lesley adds.

“The gala used to be held every year when we moved here 30 years ago. The Royal events have helped get more people interested.”

The celebrations include an afternoon of entertainment, including a fancy dress parade, competitions, games and races, followed by an evening disco.

In Rosley, the party starts early with a street party for school children on Friday.

“They are getting quite excited about the Jubilee,” says Gill Foody, of the village Diamond Jubilee Committee.

“We’re planning a whole weekend of events.”

On Saturday, community is key with a hog roast and ceilidh in the village hall - for residents only - but they are throwing open the school doors for everyone to see Jubilee artwork by pupils on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

In the church, floral displays - some with a Jubilee theme - will be on display, but Monday is ‘the main day.’

“We’re having a traditional sports day with races for children and adults,” Gill says.

“There will be a Big Lunch on the school field and pupils have made crowns which will be judged at 12pm.

“Then it’s the sports and games, followed by cream tea in the pavilion.”

But it’s not just events which are bringing out the community spirit.

In Kingmoor, the parish council decided to give away commemorative Jubilee spoons to every young person under 18.

The idea, from chairman Rob Graham, is to give them a lasting reminder of the historic occasion.

Council secretary Ken Hind said the spoons were silver-plated and inscribed ‘Commemorating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.’

“We are going to put posters up on every notice board letting people know about them,” he says.

“They can get them by contacting their local councillor.

“We’ve got 136 spoons - we worked it out from county council figures which show 20 per cent of the electorate is under 18.”

Councillor Val Tarbitt was approached by various parish councils she covers for a contribution to funding Jubilee keepsakes, including the Kingmoor spoons, plus more than 600 medals and mugs for Longtown and Arthuret.

“I was around for the Coronation itself and I used my commemorative mug to keep my toothbrush in!,” she says.

“The medals and the spoons are rather nice and a different slant on what to keep to remember an event, and the medals fit in with the Olympic theme.”

Arthuret parish council clerk Karen Johnson said the medals and mugs were just part of a host of Jubilee celebrations planned for June 2.

“We have a full day planned,” she says.

“There will be a parade and bands, with lots of entertainment and a children’s party in the community centre and one for the over 70s in the social club.”

She said the parish council had decided to give medals to all the children aged up to 11, and mugs for the over 70s. They are to be presented at the two parties during the day’s celebrations.

“We’ve got 350 medals and 300 mugs,” she adds.

“That’s the best calculation we can give for the numbers in the parish.”

Tomorrow, a chocolate bingo session will be held for families in Longtown community centre to help with fundraising for the Jubilee celebrations, which have also been given grants by various councils.

It starts at 1pm and costs £1 for adults.

Get your free, 24 page souvenir Diamond Jubilee supplement in this week’s Cumberland News on sale from Friday.

First published at 08:55, Saturday, 26 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk