Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated over a four day weekend Sat 2 June to Tues 5 June.

Follow this link for the full information on Hungerford's Programme of Events.

The planning had started many months earlier. and preparations all came together in time for a splendid weekend of celebration.

The Jubilee Beacon was prepared on Dog-leg field, Folly Farm, in sight of the adjacent beacon at Combe Gibbet. 

The events began on Saturday morning with the official opening of the Diamond Jubilee Pedestrian Bridge by Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mrs Mary Bayliss.

Throughout the afternoon and evening The Croft and Croft Field were full of people enjoying the wide variety of activities available, including

- Morris Dancing
- Maypole Dancing
- Tug-of-war competition
- Jazz Bands, including the Jammy Dodgers, Wired
     Rock, and Jazz and Blues bands
- Tea and cake stalls
- Barbecue
- "Severn Bridge" building competition
- Childrens' sprint races
- Punch and Judy

The Big Tea took place at 5pm with entertainment by local card magician Guy Porlock, and music by the Hungerford Town Band.

Following the finals of the Tug-of-war and bridge building competitions, there was a rousing finale by the Hungerford Town Band.

There were several street parties. The Croft residents (and their invited guests) held a splendid luncheon for about 130 people in The Croft on Sunday 3 June.

A Grand Jubilee Tea for residents of the High Street, Canal Walk, The Forge and invited guests was held in the Corn Exchange later on Sunday 3 June. Numbers were restricted to 200 in view of the possibility of having to hold the event in the Corn Exchange because of poor weather on the day.

The singing included a memorable and wonderful solo of "Rule Brittania" by celebrated mezzo-soprano Kirsty Griffiths, who was visiting Hungerford from Geneva.

After the Jubilee Tea, a small party witnessed the planting of the Diamond Jubilee Tree in the Market Place outside the Corn Exchange. The tree was ceremonially planted by The Constable, Greg Furr, ably assisted by Hannah Hobson.

The weekend of Diamond Jubilee Celebration was completed with the lighting of the Hungerford Beacon at 10.01pm on Monday 4 June. A large crowd of about 250 people were present, some of whom had spent the evening holding a picnic during the build-up. The weather was kind - the moon shone, and the adjacent beacon at Combe Gibbet could be seen clearly.

See NWN "Hungerford shows how it's done", 31 May 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II, 2012

Building the Jubilee Beacon,
30 May 2012

The official opening of the Diamond Jubilee Pedestrian Bridge by
the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire,
Mrs Mary Bayliss, 2 Jun 2012

Morris Dancers in Croft Field, with the Bouncy Castle and Grand Slide beyond, 2 Jun 2012

The Croft Residents luncheon party, under cover because of the threat of rain, 3 Jun 2012

The Big Tea - for 200 residents of High Street, Canal Walk and The Forge, held in the Corn Exchange, 3 Jun 2012

Entertainment and patriotic singing led by Nick Lumley

The Constable, Greg Furr, planting the Diamond Jubilee Tree outside the
Corn Exchange, ably assisted by
Hannah Hobson, 3 Jun 2013

The Constable, Greg Furr, with Robert James, Tyrrell Bossom and Hannah Hobson, planting the Jubilee tree,
3 Jun 2013

The Hungerford Diamond Jubilee Beacon was lit at 10.01pm witnessed by a crowd of several hundred onlookers, 4 Jun 2012