Jubilee 2022

Firstly: Many thanks to the Cooper family for allowing access over their land to get up to the beacon site above the village. And to Norman, who provided a trailer for wood collection and then towed it up to our beacon site. We could not have had such a successful beacon event without these vital and very welcome contributions. Thank you.

Torver is lucky to have a number of village members whose fire-starting skills have been finely tuned over many years of setting things (anything) on fire. The 'Beacon sub-committee (working-group)' enlisted the - Special Projects Arboreal Materials Management and Environmental Recycling Services action team ... or SPAMMERS for short. Quickly deploying to the beacon site, they expertly assembled the donated wood into a very promising looking pile of twigs.

The fuse to light the beacon had to be cunningly concealed as the SPAMMERS Team Leader advised that "This baby has a hair-trigger and could blow at any moment. In the interests of health and safety we're gonna have have to make it REALY REALLY difficult to light". Fortunately for us all, heavy rain the following evening performed that role perfectly.

Meanwhile, back in the village, another dedicated team (thank you ladies) was transforming our Schoolroom into a blaze of Red, White and Blue bunting, ready for the Thursday feast. Unofficial mascot, the Kai-crafted Rudolf of Torver, was returned to his rightfully elevated position in the Schoolroom. Red nose glowing in celebration of Her Majesty.

Festivities for the 70th anniversary of the Queen's coronation started in the Schoolroom with some excellent food (provided by Lee and his brand new super pizza-pantechnicon), good company (it's always good company), archive footage of the coronation event and an unforgettable rendition by the assembled multitude of 'Sweet Caroline'. Parishioners are still trying to forget that particular memory, but the tune and flashbacks just keep returning.

A surprisingly and gratifyingly large group made their way on foot up to the beacon. Motorised assistance was very kindly provided by Eric and Jason who whisked (very rapid whisking I hear) those who wished to arrive 'un puffed-out'. Eager onlookers held their breath as our accomplished arsonists lit the blue touch-paper. Paul played us 'Majesty' on his fine brass instrument at the appointed time of 9.40 .... And VOILA !

Seen far and wide down the Crake valley and beyond, the debris of the devastation of Storm Arwen and Pat's sitting room burst into flames in what was widely applauded as being unquestionably the "best beacon in Cumbria" and "Probably visible from space". Well done the SPAMMERS!

Light rain couldn't dampen the celebratory mood and with our very own 'Lifelong service so the community' parishioners sitting comfortably in their all-terrain thrones we captured a fleeting reflection of the more extravagant events hundreds of miles to the south.

Saturday afternoon brought out the sunshine and ... what a fantastic street party in the village centre! Many thanks to Fran and everyone at the Wilson Arms for arranging and hosting this super event for the village.

Diets were ditched as it only seemed that the right way to show our deep respect and gratitude to Her Majesty by force feeding ourselves as much quiche, sandwiches, puddings and cakes as is humanly possible. Well done Torver!