Jubilee - A season of rejoicing and exultant joy. (Oxford Dictionary)

A Golden Jubilee to celebrate and enjoy. It is good to see that various celebrations are going to be happening in our villages for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

I'm sure that many people will have been impressed as they have watched recent programs about the Queen's 50 year reign. We see how she has carried out her promises, as a young Queen, to our Country and the Commonwealth with sincerity, commitment and dignity. We hear that the Commonwealth, of which she is the Head, has been strengthened and enlarged by our Queen's dedication and now comprises 54 countries, i.e. more than a quarter of the world's countries.

My memories of the Coronation (as a little girl) are of many neighbours crowding into my parent's home to watch it on our television - a tiny black and white screen in a big piece of furniture. I don't remember a street party, but am sure we had one, but I do remember being impressed with the ceremony and awesomeness of the occasion.

The Golden Jubilee is of course a celebration of the Queen's accession to the throne and her Coronation was in 1952. I believe we are blessed as a nation to have a monarchy at this time and should enjoy the many benefits this brings to us, many people

visit the British Isles because we have a reigning monarch and enjoy the pageantry that the British do so well. We should be grateful to our Queen for being a point of surety in our changing world, and for being a wonderful ambassadress for our country to the nations of the World. So let us be proud of our heritage and our Queen and celebrate with her during her Golden Jubilee Year.

Help Wanted! We are very grateful to all the new people who are helping us with the collation, stapling and delivering of the Marlpit, however, we will need another deliverer for the July issue. We are also in need of another Editor. If you are able to help in any way please contact any of the Editors (details on the back page). The magazine is only produced by a massive team effort and all help is appreciated.

We want to thank Kate Rawson who has been delivering the Marlpit for us and also helped us organise last year's Art & Craft Fair. We very much appreciate all she has done and wish her well as she moves away from the area.

Sand & Gravel Extraction: Enclosed with this magazine you will find a flyer against the proposed local sand and gravel extraction by Tarmac. This can be used in your car, front window or put on your fence/gate post to register your objection to this development which threatens our villages.