A definitive list of events being held in Marlborough to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee has been published by Marlborough Town Council.
A summer of celebrations open with a concert of classical music on May 19 and wrap up with more classical music almost three months later. Between times there’ll be drama, talks, art and photographic exhibitions, films, fairground rides, a picnic, a ball, the lighting of a beacon and even a skateboarding festival!
Saturday, May 19
Olympic Jubilee Ball, Town Hall, 7pm for 7.30pm. Organised by the Chamber of Commerce in aid of Swift Medics. Tickets £40 from Specsavers, The Food Gallery and Joules. Black Tie.
Marlborough Choral Society Concert. St. Mary’s Church, 7.30pm, British songs and Last Night of the Proms music, so bring your flags and celebrate! Tickets £9 from Sound Knowledge and Choir members.
Sunday, May 20
Fifteen: Drama with students from St. John’s & Marlborough College, Town Hall, 2.30pm. This unique production looks at the years from 1952 to 2012 through the eyes of a fifteen year old. Music by Kaya Drums. Sponsored by Kennet Valley Arts trust. Tickets £5 from White Horse Bookshop and KVAT website, www.kvat.co.uk or 07771704253.
Wednesday, May 23
The Merchant’s House Lecture, in association with Marlborough History Society, by Sir Roy Strong, entitled 20th Century Coronations, at The Memorial Hall, Marlborough College, by kind permission of the Master. 7.30pm. Tickets £14 (Friends of MH and MHS £12) from the Merchant’s House.
Sunday, May 27
Marlborough Area young people join in the celebrations with a Skate-n-Scoot competition, which they have organised. Open to all. Recreation Ground, Marlborough. Free entry.
Monday, May 28 to Friday, June 1
An Exhibition of Self Portraits by Marlborough’s Children, some of which will have been digitised to form part of the Face Britain initiative in celebration of the Jubilee. Town Hall, 3pm to 7pm, free entry
An Exhibition of Photographs of people in Marlborough taken during the celebrations on Coronation Day. Town Hall 3pm-7pm. Free entry. From the Merchant’s House collection. It is hoped that some of the residents featured will be on hand to tell their stories.
Friday, June 1 to Tuesday, June 5
Fair on Marlborough Common. All the fun of the fair from the town’s old friends in the Showmen’s Guild who have visited Marlborough for generations for the Mop.
Saturday, June 2
Official opening of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations by the Mayor. Town Hall 10am. Hoisting of the Union Jack and a symbolic presentation by Marlborough Community Orchard of their gift of an orchard to the town.
A Queen is crowned : 1953 film of the Coronation, with narration by Sir Laurence Olivier. Town Hall. 7pm for 7.30pm. Organisers will also be showing rare footage of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Free entry. Licensed bar.
Sunday, June 3
A Civic Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. St. Mary’s Church 10am. Marlborough Churches Together invite you to this service, which, in common with churches across the country, will include prayers and readings especially composed for the occasion.
Picnic in the Priory at Priory Gardens from 11am until 5pm. Bring your own picnic and join in the fun. Bouncy castle, bucking bronco, traditional Punch and Judy, dance and fencing displays, live music. Food and Bar. Town Hall open if wet. Free entry
The Thames Pageant, Town Hall, 3pm. Live coverage of this spectacular show with the Queen’s Barge and a flotilla of a thousand boats on the Town Hall’s huge screen. Food and licensed bar. Free entry.
Monday, June 4
The Lighting of a Beacon above Barbury Racecourse, organised by the Marlborough Brandt Group.
This forms part of 2012 beacons being lit across the Commonwealth and those at Martinsell and Inkpen will be able to be viewed. Marquee, live music, dancing, bar. Tickets, to include hog roast, £15 Adults, £5 for those under 18 and £35 for a family of four. Available at the White Horse Bookshop and MBG on 01672 861116. Open from 6pm Beacon to be lit at sundown. A camping area will be provided for those who wish to stay the night at the site.
Tuesday, June 5
Presentation of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal to local emergency service personnel. Town Hall 10am. Come and pay tribute to the town’s local heroes.
Live coverage on the big screen of the Service of Thanksgiving from St. Paul’s in the presence of Her Majesty. Town Hall 10 am (Service at 11am). Free Entry
Sunday, June 10
Diamond Jubilee Open Gardens. Certificates will be given to open gardeners who display in this Jubilee year. Look out for a variety of interpretations on the Diamond Jubilee theme. Details from the Merchant’s House.
Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16
Jubilee: A Celebration in Dance: Performed by St. John’s students at the Theatre on the Hill. Tickets £5, concessions £3, family tickets £12. 7pm. Download a booking form from the St. John’s website Theatre page – www.stjohns.wilts.sch.uk/html/theatre.html
Saturday, June 23
Manton Music Festival. A wide variety of music, including London Straight Six, Mort de la Mer and Scarlet Simonis Skedaddle. Bring your own picnic or choose from a hog roast or burgers. At Manton Grange water meadows. Licensed bar. Tickets £10, £5 for concessions and £15 for a family of four. 4pm until 11pm. For tickets see www.kvat.co.uk or call 07771704253.
Saturday, July 7
MCO Diamond Jubilee Concert. Marlborough Concert Orchestra will play Handel’s Royal Fireworks Music among other pieces. An outstanding young violinist, Mathieu van Bellen, returns to Marlborough for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto at this concert. 7.30pm Tickets £8 Students £1.50. From Sound Knowledge
Friday, July 13
Priory Gardens (evening). A performance of the Queen’s Suite, composed by Duke Ellington,
and premiered this Summer in the UK by the band Echoes of Ellington. Written in her honour by the Duke after they met and performed by one of the greatest ever UK swing bands. Details from www.marlboroughjazz.com
Tuesday, August 7
Queen’s Jubilee Concert – A performance of the works featured in the Coronation, Walton, Parry, Handel and others. Marlborough College Chapel and in the Memorial Hall for the second half. Tickets £15 from Sound Knowledge. 8pm
