The Queen backs village Jubilee event
Celebration cake
RESIDENTS in Mursley have earned the thanks of The Queen for inviting her to their village celebrations to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
But the tiny village isn’t letting her absence mar the event which is set to attract thousands of people from Beds and Bucks.
On Monday June 4, Mursley – population 483 – will close its Main Street to traffic for a day of festivities that includes fire eaters, stunt horsemen and bungee jumping – and culminates in a music festival featuring opera and rock in a circus big top.
The event is the brainchild of a team of local residents and more than 75 per cent of villagers have bought tickets to fund the spectacle.
Local parish councillor Sandra Doherty, who is leading Mursley’s Diamond Jubilee Committee, said: “Mursley has a tradition of doing things in style and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a once in a lifetime event, so we wanted to do something that would be truly memorable and put our village on the map.
“The response has been fantastic and we have so much talent in such a small village that we are able to put on a really good show – and we decided it was only fair to welcome visitors who would also like to come along and enjoy the occasion with us.”
Attractions include top UK horse stunt team The Devil’s Horsemen, who are based in Mursley. The team will lead a spectacular parade through the centre of the village, which officially starts the event at 2pm.
The Horsemen will pull two royal carriages packed with local VIPs and the Mursley King and Queen – leading a host of floats, the Red Barrows formation wheelbarrow display team and a spectacular line-up of vintage and classic cars.
Mursley’s Main Street will be closed to traffic and turned into a carnival with market stalls, demonstrations, bungee trampolines and fairground rides. Ceremonies will start in front of the Green Man pub at 3pm, with a loyal toast and sharing of a giant Union Jack cake.
The communal cake, made by resident Rachael Brown, will have to be assembled in the village hall, as it is too big to carry out of the doors of her house. More than 1,000 cup cakes are being decorated in the form of the Union Jack and will be shared amongst the crowd at the loyal toast.
All the afternoon attractions are free of charge and open to everyone to come along and enjoy. Car parking is available at both ends of the village.
In the evening, starting at 6pm, the spotlight moves to an enormous big top circus tent – which will house a ticket-only event that includes a show specially created for the village by the Devil’s Horsemen. It features Joey, who is another Mursley resident and the star of Steven Spielberg’s latest film, War Horse.
The extravaganza features a display by one man and his dogs, sheep and geese – and a variety of entertainment including local musicians and “Last Night of the Proms” performed by Mursley’s own opera star Cheryl Hawkins.
At 10.15pm there will be a procession led by a fire-eater and fire stilt walker, to light the official Mursley Diamond Jubilee beacon. Afterwards back in the big top, live bands and a disco will go on stage until late.
A few tickets are still available for the evening event, but must be bought by May 23. To reserve a ticket call 01296 720609/720409 and leave a message or email doherty33@btinternet.com
All profits from the day will go to Mursley Sports Association’s new pavilion project.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Thursday 23 May 2013
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