On Sunday June 5th, the first Great Amwell Comedy Shindig drew a crowd of several thousand people who laughed uproariously at numerous points. Ed Byrne had his spot during the afternoon in a programme that included Milton Jones, Angela Barnes, Jason Manford, Reginald D Hunter, Phil Nicoll, Ivan Brackenbury and Lloyd Griffith. Many of these stand-ups would be familiar to TV viewers and they clearly lived up to expectations.
Angela BarnesThe crowdMilton JonesReginald D Hunter
The dead pan Milton Jones kept his audience on the alert for punchlines as his anecdotes about dozens of relations – especially grandads – included surprising and imaginative word-play as they reached their conclusions. Angela Barnes comically shared her experiences as a woman who doesn’t conform to the expectations of the norms in the more general population. In fact it was of course the recognition of her differences being very many people’s differences that made her so warmly received.
The event was well-organised, with food and drink available on site, loads of parking space and no queueing on the road. Thanks go to Just the Tonic/Church End Comedy team for their hard work organising such a fun event.
On Friday 3rd June, in the glorious sunshine, crowds of you came along to the Platinum Jubilee Party held at The Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets’ Village Club.
A fantastic time was had by all who attended – and there were a lot of you! Live music, a delicious BBQ, dance performances, tombola, cake stall, face painting and ice creams made for a brilliant afternoon of celebration.
Huge thanks go to Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council, The Village Club and the army of volunteers who made it all happen.
On Thursday June 2nd, around 150 people were present at the Easneye field – at the invitation of Nicholas and Henrietta Buxton – and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The late sun was shining on the trees with a golden glow as villagers arrived, from 8.30pm onwards, to gaze down to Hoddesdon and far beyond to the City of London and Canary Wharf. People happily picnicked and enjoyed refreshments from the bar as the late sun sank out of sight and the music became more patriotic. From his trailer, Nicholas Buxton delivered a rousing speech extolling the long reign of Her Majesty the Queen, before going over to the enormous bonfire and lighting it – dead on 9.45pm – so that it took its place in the official network of beacons across the country.
Thanks are due to the Buxton family for the welcome on to their land, for the work that went into building the beacon and providing the music. Volunteers were supervising the parking and running the bar and a committee had met several times to ensure that everything was in place. Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council very much appreciates and thanks all of those people who made the beacon happen.
On Thursday 2nd June residents of Great Amwell were able to meet on the Vicar’s Field (with the kind permission of St. John the Baptist School) and enjoy the sunshine and some fun together before the Platinum Jubilee beacon lighting at 9:45, to coincide with all other beacons across the Commonwealth. Some lively games of rounders were played, children and adults had their faces painted and the souvenir mugs were handed out to provide a memento of what was truly a unique event, all to a well-judged soundtrack of music that easily overcame the neighbouring music festival.
Image courtesy of William Brown
The beacon was lit by Tom Foy as Chair of Great Amwell Parish Council and was spectacular. Indeed, someone called the fire brigade who were obliged to attend; although on a night of national beacon-lighting, this was probably not the only place that this happened. Hopefully, the young who came will look back in years to come and be able to say, ‘I remember the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee’.
Image courtesy of William Brown
The event was organised by Suzie Nichol and supported by East Herts District Council, Great Amwell Parish Council, St. John the Baptist Church and Parish Hall, the Amwell Society, and generous private donations.
All ready for the event to start!The Beacon is litRoaring awayAll gallery images courtesy of Rev’d Sarah Forrest
Come and join the Platinum Jubilee Beacon celebrations at Easneye! This event is free to residents in Stanstead Abbotts Parish and St Margarets Parish.
Where: Easneye (access is via the entrance to All Nations College on Hollycross Road, just beyond Medivet)
When: 2nd June, 8.30pm to 10.30pm (with beacon lighting at 9.45pm)
Come along to the Great Amwell Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Event on Thursday, 2nd June from 5pm to 11pm at The Glebe Field, Hillside Lane SG12 9SG.
Beacon will be lit at 9:45pm.
Bring your own drinks and picnic. Tickets required.
CLICK HERE to book your tickets or scan the QR code on the attached poster.
Please note the following: – Bottles allowed but plastic glasses only. – Toilets available in the Parish Hall. – Event will go ahead whatever the weather. – Limited parking – please walk if you can. – Please bring a rubbish bag for your picnic litter.
Supported by: St John the Baptist Church, Generous Donation, Great Amwell Parish Council, Great Amwell Parish Hall, The Amwell Society.
We are delighted to announce the winners of our Children’s Art Competition, which ran over the Easter Holidays. The theme was The Platinum Jubilee and we encouraged the children to be creative in their artwork. We were really impressed with the entries. Thank you to our young artists!
Now to announce the winners…
CONGRATULATIONS
Holly (age 10) – WINNER
Oscar (age 9) – WINNER
Joseph (age 6) – RUNNER-UP
Our winners will all receive a certificate and prize in the coming days.
The winning artwork will appear in Issue 2 of The Three Villages Magazine, which is due out at the start of June! Be sure to get a copy.
On 6th February this year Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary there is to be a long bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.
The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service.
Within the three villages, there will private celebrations, special activities and street parties, as well as some larger events running in the community. We have put together a list of events and commemorations.
LOCALLY
Platinum Jubilee Beacons
A Platinum Jubilee Beacon will be lit on Thursday 2nd June at Easneye, Stanstead Abbotts. The event starts at 8.30pm in time for the National Lighting time of 9.45pm. Parking is available as well as hot suppers. Purchase tickets in advance of the event from The Red Lion.
Great Amwell is also holding a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Event on Thursday 2nd June from 5pm to 11pm at The Glebe Field, Hillside Lane SG12 9SG. Beacon will be lit at 9.45pm. Bring your own drinks and picnic. Tickets required and can be booked here.
Stone Valley Festival South
Stone Valley Festival South will be running from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th June at Pepper Hill Farm, Hertfordshire. This established festival offers a full line-up of live music over the three days. For more information, please visit their website: https://www.stonevalleyfestival.co.uk/stone-valley-south-home/
Platinum Jubilee Party
Stanstead Abbotts Parish Council have organized a Platinum Jubilee Party, which will take place at 12–4pm on Friday 3rd June at The Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets’ Village Club. It will include live music, a BBQ, dance performances, tombola, cake stall, face painter and ice creams.
Just the Tonic Comedy Shindig
On Sunday 5th June, Just the Tonic Comedy Club is hosting a Shindig featuring some big names in comedy, including Jason Manford, Shappi Khorsandi and Reginald D. Hunter. To check out the amazing line-up and book your tickets, visit their website: https://www.justthetonic.com/hertfordshire-comedy/shows/sunday-5-jun-2022/5195/
NATIONALLY
Alongside commemorative initiatives such as The Queen’s Green Canopy and events running throughout the year, the long bank holiday will feature the following:
Thursday 2nd June The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)
Platinum Jubilee Beacons: The Principal beacon will be lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Friday 3rd June Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Saturday 4th June The Derby at Epsom Downs.
Platinum Party at the Palace: The BBC will stage and broadcast a special live concert from Buckingham Palace.
Sunday 5th June The Big Jubilee Lunch: People are invited to share friendship, food and fun with neighbours as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: The London based Pageant will combine pomp and ceremony, street arts, theatre, music, circus, costumes as well as cutting-edge visual technology.
If you know of any other local events you would like to add to the list, please do let us know by emailing threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com.
The Three Villages Magazine is running a Children’s Art Competition in honour of The Platinum Jubilee. Open to all school-age children within the three villages.
THEME
The Platinum Jubilee You can be as imaginative as you like to create an artwork that celebrates Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
HOW TO ENTER
Create your artwork and then take a good-quality photograph of the entry.
Send your photograph entries to print.threevillagesmagazine@gmail.com
Please include your first name, age, and village where you live. [Entrants MUST live in one of the three villages.]
**DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 27th April**
PRIZE
We will select two main winners and runners-up whose artwork will appear in the print magazine.
All winners and runners-up will receive a prize and a certificate.
The Three Villages 