The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee may be nearly six months away but plans to celebrate the event are already well underway in the Calstock parish.

The main celebration for the Platinum Jubilee will be a fete, taking place on June 4 in the King George V Recreation ground in St Ann’s Chapel. Councillors hope the event will be a resounding success; if so, they hope to make it an annual fete for the village and surrounding areas which have expanded greatly in the last decade, however, the date in future may be moved to a different time in June.

It is hoped that as an annual event, a fete could serve as a replacement for the renowned Albaston fete which has now stopped and is also intended to raise funds for local good works and organisations across the entire parish - not just Drakewalls and St Ann’s.

The fete committee plan to have: live music, Morris dancing, children’s games, pony rides, an outdoor bar facility and a tea and cakes marquee in addition to the usual stallholders. The committee are in the process of inviting local organisations and charities to have stands and a central arena for competitions such as the ‘waggiest dog’ and more traditional games such as tug of war. Stands for this first event will be very inexpensive and there should be ample parking.

Anyone interested in selling, volunteering or simply being a part of this first event is very welcome and encouraged to attend.

There is no plan to have an admission charge on the day - just donations. The committee also hopes to make a profit from the sale of raffle tickets which they will start selling at the end of the month for one of three main prizes, the first of which will be a cash prize. The organisers are also looking for local groups, companies and/or any other party to come and help make the day a success. The make up of the event remains flexible and thus subject to change as the event nears.

Councillors stressed at their most recent meeting that there is currently no commitment to street parties - this decision lies with individual wards. A proposition was also supported to give a commemorative, platinum jubilee mug to all pre and primary school children (aged 11 and under) across the parish. Councillors will be approaching a local potter to create a design which will specially mark the event.

Anyone interested in having a stall or volunteering to help should contact Cllr John Wells on 07973 358240 or at [email protected] or on the new event email: [email protected]