This event was part of a national chain of beacon events to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Unfortunately, as a kiting event this was a dismal failure despite the efforts of a lot of people, the wind beat us.

The day didn't exactly start well. Again the forecast wasn't favourable, rain and strong winds. As the event started at 6pm the sun came out which was encouraging but the wind didn't ease, southwesterly force 5-6 with stronger gusts. We did try and fly but we were in danger of wrecking everything we put in the sky.

The Jubilee beacon however, part was excellent. A small group of village diehards all gathered in the shelter of cars, windbreaks and anything else that would give shelter from the wind and had a great time. A few bottles of wine and beer were drained, there was a glowing barbecue, picnic edibles and all interspersed with stories of past village events especially the Silver Jubilee, when incidentally the weather was even worse. Apparently all the festivities had to be held in a barn on that occasion.

By the time we lit the beacon we had somewhere in the region of fifty people all gathered around watching and as it was lit there was a rousing chorus of the National Anthem and cheering as the flames grew higher and patriotic pride was high.

The irony of it all is that as the crowds drifted away the wind dropped to almost nothing, just a very gentle breeze. Somebody, somewhere messed up with the weather order and got the timings all wrong! but everyone was glad to have taken part.

Some pictures of the event