The Queen’s

Platinum Jubilee at

Reed

Reed marked the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a number of events - not all of them held in Reed itself.

THURSDAY 2

JUNE

Reed Choir visited St Albans Cathedral. The long postponed visit by Reed Choir to St Albans, where they sang for Evensong, provided a fitting opening to Reed’s jubilee celebrations. The order of service included settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis by Charles Villiers Stanford, and the anthem was Philip Wilby’s haunting Breathe on me breath of God. A sizeable congregation, including numerous people from Reed and Barkway, attended the service and the choir received huge compliments from members of the clergy afterwards: “the best choir we have heard in ages", "a depth and maturity we rarely see" and "please come back again". The Barkway-Reed Jubilee Beacon On a fine, if a little breezy, evening, several hundred people joined processions from Reed and Barkway to witness the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon on Reed Joint, at the intersection of the Meridian line. From this point there is a fantastic panoramic view across towqards Cambridge and the Fens, and it was a perfect site for a beacon lighting. After a bugle call the chairs of Reed and Barkway Parish Councils, Ken Langley and Bill Dennis, jointly lit the beacon to cheers from the assembled crowds. It was an occasion that will live long in the memory. Watch a video of the event (thanks to Philip Blenkinsop) More about Jubilee Beacons

FRIDAY 3 JUNE

Jubilee Pop-up Pub night at Reed Village Hall Organised by the Save the Cabinet Action Group, this was the first Pop-up Pub night since before the pandemic. It was a well-attended and lively event.

SUNDAY 5 JUNE

It’s fair to say the weather could have been kinder on the Sunday of the Jubilee weekend, but the drizzle did not deter Reed villagers for turning out in force for the events on the schedule. 12 Noon: Unveiling of restored Village Sign at Reed Green Our beautiful village sign had been badly damaged by the weather and was removed last year for restoration. The work has been carried out on a voluntary basis by Ben Dobson. The sign was unveiled by Parish Council chair, Ken Langley, who thanks Ben and everyone else who had been involved in the restoration. Ken reminded everyone that the sign had originally been commissioned to mark the millennium year, and made possible through the generosity of donors from the village. Village photograph at The Green Thank you to Philip Blenkinsop who took the photograph and treated everyone to an entertaining display of drone flying. Copies of the photograph will be made available - details will be announced soon. Reed Jubilee Walk Equipped with rain gear, villagers set off on a 2-mile walk across the central meadow, along Muddy Lane and the byway that leads towards Barkway, through Bush Wood and back around the fields towards the churchyard. Jubilee afternoon tea in the churchyard The walkers were glad to arrive at the churchyard where they were welcomed to the afternoon tea event organised by Reed Church. Beautiful cakes and a splendid spread of pastries and sandwiches were provided, as well as a licensed bar for those who felt the need for something stronger. 1700: Choral evensong in the Church It fell to Reed Choir to bring down the curtain on Reed’s jubilee celebrations, singing for Evensong in the church. A sizeable congregation heard them reprising the St Albans programme supplemented by hymns including the National Anthem. .