‘Underwhelming’ plans for Queen’s Jubilee

QUESTIONS have been raised about how Melksham will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer.  

For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as sovereign, there will be a four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June – and whilst plans are well under way in nearby towns and villages for the celebrations, local residents have described Melksham’s plans as “underwhelming.” 

To date, Melksham Town Council has earmarked up to £4,000 on trees to plant around the town as part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ – a tree planting scheme in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – but no plans for how the community will celebrate the Jubilee together have been announced.  

The council told Melksham News in January that any future decisions relating to the celebrations and/or any town council-run events will be publicised closer to the time.

Jubilee picnic?

However, at a recent town council meeting, a local resident asked, “What’s happening on the Queen’s Jubilee? Is a picnic going to be organised in King George V park?” 

In response to the resident’s question asked at the meeting on 14th February, the town council said, “Grant funding has been applied for to deliver tiny forests in a couple of areas around the town including land to the back of Avonside. The tiny forests will be dedicated to the Queen’s Jubilee.” 

The town council added that the former dog park in the King George V playing field, next to the Waitrose supermarket car park, is also an area proposed to have a ‘tiny Forest’ dedicated to the Queen’s Jubilee. 

However, the resident’s query about hosting a picnic in the park was not acknowledged. 

Summer fete

Elsewhere, Jubilee celebration plans are well under way in nearby Shaw and Whitley. Local group CAWS (Community Action Whitley & Shaw) have announced grand plans for a village summer fete to remember, with a plethora of stalls, a dog show, children’s entertainment, a ‘craft village’ a ‘Design A Crown’ competition, and a possible flyover from the Red Arrows on Saturday 4th June, at Shaw Playing Fields.   

Beanacre trees

St Barnabas Church in Beanacre is planning to plant 240 commemorative trees in the cricket field as part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ in the cricket field next week, on Saturday 12th March.  

Melksham Without Parish Council has no plans to organise any community events. Instead they will help champion events in the villages and will explore tree planting options to join the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ – areas earmarked include the Bowerhill Sports Field and next to the new Berryfield Village Hall, currently under construction.

Readers’ ideas

Melksham News has also asked readers to share their ideas for how the community could celebrate the Jubilee. 

Local business owner, Clare Richter said, “A picnic in the park would be great!”  

“A simple one would be to name the newly-opening Melksham campus the Queen Elizabeth II Campus – could even invite the Queen to open it this year,” suggested Ryan Clarke.  

And local resident Paul Carter, who is chair of Melksham Remembers and committee member of Melksham and District Historical Society, has shared his idea with Melksham News and both Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council, for a pictorial exhibition for the Queen’s Jubilee weekend in June.  

He explained, “The Queen herself, as far as I’m aware, has not visited Melksham, but many members of the Royal Family have.  

“My idea is to display the images we do have of other royal visits and celebrations (silver jubilee street parties/ royal weddings etc) and ask members of the public if they have photos of themselves meeting the Queen that they would like to include.”  

Wiltshire Council has created guidance for anyone wanting to plan an event, such as a street party. For more information, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-platinum-jubilee-celebrations