Well done to jubilee party organisers - lets hope the weather holds

Mike Dibble Picture: contributed (Image: Picture: contributed)

Next Thursday (June 2) the celebrations commence for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with events planned all over the country.

The Sidmouth Street Party takes place next Thursday and I hope the weather is fine as everyone enjoys their day.

Well done to the organisers and also well done to the organisers of the Sidmouth Jazz Festival which also takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend.

If ever there was an excuse for postponing a concert I think Mica Paris had a very good one as it came to light that she will be performing at Buckingham Palace on the Saturday evening before her headline concert at Kennaway House on the Sunday evening.

In addition to the main street party on the Thursday I gather they will also be a number of street parties around Sidmouth over the weekend.

Ours in Connaught Road takes place on the Sunday (June 5) which will be a good warm up before going along to the Mica Paris concert.

In other news I was walking up the High Street the other day when a man with a parrot on his shoulder came down the road. He was also walking his two dogs so it was like a mobile menagerie.

I told him what a lovely sight I thought it was. He replied by telling me it gives him so much pleasure to put a smile on people’s faces. We could do with more people like him at the present time.

On the nature front I’m noticing a lot more starlings around at the moment.

Walking past the bowling green in the evenings you can see them in good numbers.

They appear to be searching for food in the grass.

I wonder whether it is leatherjackets they are after.

Another bird I am hearing a lot at the moment are green woodpeckers.

There is a noticeable increase in numbers around the golf course.

Finally on the bird front I was delighted to hear a cuckoo whilst walking on Dartmoor last week.

Last weekend saw the Seafest Festival down on The Ham.

A good array of entertainment was laid on including Sidmouth’s very own Goronwy Thom. The outlets providing food and drink appeared to be busy and the weather was excellent.

On to the local sport. On the Sidmouth cricket front there was a fantastic innings from 17 year old Miles Lewis in the 3rd XI’s victory at North Devon.

He scored a remarkable 220 which included no less than twenty five sixes.

One poor bowler went for 41 in one over which included a no ball. The 2nd XI were also victorious at home to Exeter but unfortunately the 1st XI lost by two wickets at Cornwood.

This weekend the 1st XI are at home to Heathcoat, the 2nd XI are away in the reverse fixture and the 3rd XI are at home to Topsham St James.

In rugby Exeter Chiefs lost at Bristol and they finish their season on June 4th at home to Harlequins. Not finishing in the top four for the first time in seven years will hurt.

Finally I was pleased for Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club to hear that plans have been approved for a two storey pavilion at their soon to be new ground.

I must admit that I was slightly envious as such a pavilion with such terrific facilities would be fantastic for Sidmouth.

In modern times the need for changing rooms for both sexes, disabled toilet facilities and energy efficient premises is becoming more obvious.

A number of clubs in Devon have recently had new pavilions such as Heathcote at Tiverton, Exeter and Plymouth.

A pavilion such as that in Sidmouth would give a wonderful facility for the town and also save a huge amount of money in heating costs and insurance costs.

Whether it will happen in my lifetime though is another matter.