Every primary school child in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge could receive a free commemorative mug to mark next year’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it was revealed this week.
The Town Council confirmed on Tuesday (July 12th) that it has set aside £10,000 to help fund the celebrations in June 2012.
The free mugs were one of a number of proposals considered during a special meeting at The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre on Tuesday night where a new Jubilee Working Group was formed to oversee the four days of events.
“There’s only eleven months to go and that doesn’t give us a lot of time to plan and organise the large number of events that are being planned in Burnham and Highbridge. We want our towns’ celebrations to be the best in Somerset,” said Cllr Neville Jones.
.JUBILEE CELEBRATION IDEAS IN BURNHAM AREA
The following events have been proposed to take place over the four days of the Jubilee:
Distribution of commemorative mugs to all primary school children in Burnham and Highbridge
Unveiling of the new town clock in Highbridge (to be led by the Town Council)
Restoration of the water fountain in Burnham’s Seaview Road
Improvements to the grassed area by the water feature in Burnham’s Pier Street
A free music concert on Burnham-On-Sea beach with children’s entertainment in the day
An outdoor live music event, possibly called ‘Jubilee Jazz In the Park’, in Apex Park
Competitions for the best decorated houses and shops in Burnham and Highbridge
A special Jubilee classic car run with the vehicles ending in Burnham-On-Sea
Jubilee-themed floral displays in both Burnham and Highbridge in conjunction with the ‘bloom groups’
A street party outside Burnham’s Victoria Hotel to include a day of fundraising events
A souvenir booklet outlining all the activities and a listing of the Jubilee celebrations
The new Jubilee Working Group, to be headed by Mike Murphy from the Burnham and Highbridge Cultural Arts and Development Society, has been set up to co-ordinate a wide range of public events and avoid event clashes.
It will also take forward some of the suggestions made at Tuesday’s meeting – listed in the box on the right.
They include the long-awaited unveiling of Highbridge’s new town clock, the restoration of the water fountain in Burnham’s Seaview Road and several entertainment events, including a beach concert.
A family fireworks spectacular was also put forward, but this has been struck off the list due to the late start time that would be needed due to the late arrival of darkness in June.
Mr Murphy was appointed Chairman of the working group, while Roy Adams from the BIARS Tourist Information Centre, the BAY Centre’s Julia Elswood, Martin Lloyd from the Victoria Hotel and Burnham-On-Sea.com’s Mark Newman were also appointed alongside representatives from other key groups.
Among the organisations represented at Tuesday’s meeting were Burnham In Bloom, the Royal British Legion, Moose Lodge, Burnham Chamber of Trade, Highbridge Chamber of Trade, Rotary Club, Burnham Coastguard, BARB, Apex Park Improvements Group, Burnham Churches Together and Pubwatch.
The Jubilee Working Group’s next meeting will be held on August 18th at 7.30pm in the BAY Centre in Cassis Close when further volunteers will be welcomed.
The new working group will work alongside the Town Council’s own
Jubilee Projects Committee, headed by Cllr Jones. Many of the projects
will be taken forward by the council while the community working group
will co-ordinate events. It is expected that two members of the group
will also be co-opted onto the Town Council’s committee.
Pictured: Some of those who attended Tuesday’s meeting of the newly-formed Burnham and Highbridge Jubilee Working Group and, above, Chairman Mike Murphy with Cllr Neville Jones holding the official logo
