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Don’t Rain On Our Paper Plates
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Don’t Rain on
OUR PAPER PLATES!
With the word jubilee having prominence again this year, Lindsey Tydeman has been delving into the records at The Keep and looking back at 1977, the year of the street party, home-made decorations, planning committees, and communities coming together for the Silver Jubilee
In May 1977, Her Majesty the Queen asked that ‘Unity of the Nation’ be the theme of her Silver Jubilee celebrations. She would have been delighted with efforts made by the towns and villages of Sussex, who came together – often under trying circumstances – to demonstrate their loyalty to the Crown.
Perhaps the biggest challenge in summer 1977 was the British weather. Rain and wind feature largely in people’s memories of the Silver Jubilee. A procession of 12 floats went through
Perhaps the biggest challenge in summer 1977 was the British weather
West Hoathly village, ‘in spite of the cold wind and rain’. In Crawley, the decorated paper Jubilee tablecloths lasted only a few seconds when the rain poured down at 2pm and ‘had to be disposed of’, according to local resident Mrs Shelton. Then, ‘the children and pensioners stood in the rain to take part in, or judge, the fancy dress.’ When the food was put out, adults and children rushed to eat as much as possible before it rained again, and when it did, the plates were put under the table. In East Dean, remembers Jane BoothClibborn, ‘There was a gale blowing. It wasn’t only the alcohol!’
In Brighton’s Waldegrave Road, residents refused to be put off by grim forecasts, lack of bunting and the fact that ‘our very nice flag had disappeared from its anchorage overnight, never to
NEWICK PHOTO: CREDIT THE KEEP SxMOA3/3/15 DITCHLING PHOTO: CREDIT THE KEEP ACC11108/10/91 be seen again!’ One family provided painted and cut-out bunting from paper scraps, another put their stereo speakers as far out on the pavement as possible, while a third wheeled their piano out into the street. The sheets donated by two retired ladies for use as tablecloths had to have their corners pinned together quickly to withstand, ‘the very boisterous wind.’
Many Sussex villages had formed committees several
It would be difficult to find enough space hoppers in East Dean for a space hopper race
months earlier to plan an ambitious week or even summerlong celebrations. Absolutely fundamental to the occasion were the local children, so they enjoyed sports days, pageants, fancy dress, donkey rides and, in Newick, a gymkhana. Several villages chose a local girl to be queen for the week. West Hoathly invited girls who were having their 13th, 14th, 15th or 16th birthdays during 1977 to apply to be the ‘Jubilee Queen’. Adults had village feasts, piano recitals, concerts, football, ‘elimination dancing’ and discos. In Ditchling, Dame Vera led an evening of ‘Jubilation’; in Cuckfield you could have tea at the vicarage, and in Eastbourne you could go up to Beachy Head to watch the lighting of the beacon.
What were people’s lasting memories of the Silver Jubilee celebrations? For many it was the sight of neighbours who had lived in the same street for years, getting to know each other for the first time. For Eastbourne resident Christopher Richards, it was the local mayor being driven around in an open-topped bus in his Union Jack top-hat. ‘He visited every street party in Eastbourne.’ In Brighton it was the faces of the youngest children, ‘showing their wonder and excitement at being allowed out into the middle of the road… normally something quite forbidden.’ In East Dean it was dancers sliding over on a sloping, chalk-covered dance floor and ‘hurtling to the bottom end of the marquee.’ Fortunately, there are no records of any injuries. Celebrations in 2022 may not be quite the same as in 1977. It would be difficult to find enough space hoppers in East Dean for a space hopper race, and perhaps the demonstration of wartime marching with brooms at slope-arm position (Waldegrave Road) might not be appreciated. But most parties will probably end with the same toast: ‘The Queen’.
These reminiscences were collected by the organisation Mass Observation www.massobs.org.uk and are now held at The Keep archive in Falmer. l www.thekeep.info
THE THE
THETHE THE BLUEBELLBLUEBELL RAILWAY BLUEBELL RAILWAY BLUEBELL RAILWAY BLUEBELL RAILWAY RAILWAY MODEL RAILWAY WEEKENDMODEL RAILWAY WEEKENDMODEL RAILWAY WEEKENDMODEL RAILWAY WEEKENDMODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND 2nd - 3rd July • Sheffield Park Station & Horsted Keynes Station MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND 2nd - 3rd July • Sheffield Park Station & Horsted Keynes Station MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND 2nd - 3rd July • Sheffield Park Station & Horsted Keynes Station
Expect an array of tiny worlds, brought to life by the steam and diesel locomotives that wind their way along the tracks. We have a great selection of Model Railways featuring including N, O, double O gauge and gauge 1 layouts from across the country, displayed in the Locomotive Maintenance Shed at Sheffield Park Station and the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes Station, usually not open to the public.
Layouts in all Scales • Trade Stands • Live Steam Trains all weekend Layouts in all Scales • Trade Stands • Live Steam Trains all weekend Layouts in all Scales • Trade Stands • Live Steam Trains all weekend Expect an array of tiny worlds, brought to life by the steam and diesel locomotives that wind their way along the tracks. We have a great Expect an array of tiny worlds, brought to life by the steam and diesel locomotives that wind their way along the tracks. We have a great Expect an array of tiny worlds, brought to life by the steam and diesel locomotives that wind their way along the tracks. We have a great Alongside the displays will be trade stands offering a variety of modelling products including engines, rolling stock, and local selection of Model Railways featuring including N, O, double O gauge and gauge 1 layouts from across the country, displayed in the Locomotive Maintenance Shed at Sheffield Park Station and the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes Station, usually not open to the public. selection of Model Railways featuring including N, O, double O gauge and gauge 1 layouts from across the country, displayed in the Locomotive Maintenance Shed at Sheffield Park Station and the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes Station, usually not open to the public. selection of Model Railways featuring including N, O, double O gauge and gauge 1 layouts from across the country, displayed in the Locomotive Maintenance Shed at Sheffield Park Station and the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes Station, usually not open to the public. produce. You can also visit our railway shop at Sheffield Park where we have a great selection of models, accessories and other products available from beginners sets to full layouts. We will also be running a steam hauled service from Sheffield Alongside the displays will be trade stands offering a variety of modelling products including engines, rolling stock, and local produce. You can also visit our railway shop at Sheffield Park where we have a great selection of models, accessories and other products available from beginners sets to full layouts. Alongside the displays will be trade stands offering a variety of modelling products including engines, rolling stock, and local produce. You can also visit our railway shop at Sheffield Park where we have a great selection of models, accessories and other products available from beginners sets to full layouts. Alongside the displays will be trade stands offering a variety of modelling products including engines, rolling stock, and local produce. You can also visit our railway shop at Sheffield Park where we have a great selection of models, accessories and other products available from beginners sets to full layouts. Park to East Grinstead Stations all weekend.We will also be running a steam hauled service from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead Stations all weekend. We will also be running a steam hauled service from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead Stations all weekend. We will also be running a steam hauled service from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead Stations all weekend. WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COM WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COM WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COMBook online at:WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COMBook online at: WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COMBook online at:
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THE BIRCH HOTEL (SUSSEX ROOM) LEWES ROAD, HAYWARDS HEATH RH17 7SF WWW.BLUEBELL-RAILWAY.COM FRIDAY 1st & SATURDAY 2nd JULY and FRIDAY 9th & SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBER
Money Maker: Sell your jewellery/watches at auction
The past year of general financial uncertainty has brought a fresh legion of bidders to auction rooms.
People looking for alternative ways of investing are increasingly finding auctions a fun and affordable way of spending their money, and it’s jewellery and watches that seem to generate the most interest.
Gold prices have steadily increased recently, pushing the prices of jewellery and gold coins to an all-time high.
Burstow and Hewett Auctioneers, a family business based in Battle since 1790, found that during the lockdown it was jewellery and watches that had a massive following at their online auction sales.
Will Ellin, the fourth generation of the Ellin family to run the auction rooms, is a qualified buyers know exactly what they are bidding for and can bid with confidence. Will tests, grades and analyses diamonds and precious stones, so that they can have an accurate catalogue description.
So if you have any jewellery or watches that you’ve been thinking about selling, or would just like to find out what it might be worth, then Battle is the place to go.
The beauty of selling anything at auction is that your items are seen by a worldwide audience, but sold for you by a trusted local firm which has been in Sussex for generations. Come and say hello.
gemmologist and is enthusiastic and excited for the future. “The live online bidding has really come alive over the past year, and there’s huge demand for good wristwatches. Not just the premium names but also military watches, retro style, and pocket watches. Collectors can now bid live on our own website, so it’s much easier to get involved in an auction than ever before.”
The jewellery and watch section of the auction has quadrupled in size over the past year and the sale usually offers 600-800 lots every 4 weeks. Every lot has multiple photos and a full condition report so that
