THE Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was celebrated with fellowship and food at Holsworthy Methodist Church, whose members and friends hosted a busy royal-themed lunch and exhibition.
Two sittings of the lunch on June 1 were held in the church hall in Bodmin Street, decorated for the occasion with bunting and Union Jack serviettes, and with the kitchen and waiting teams wearing red, white and blue. The varied menu included home-made quiches, pasties, jacket potatoes, salads, and soup. Coronation Chicken was a popular choice among the many diners, along with a selection of desserts such as Victoria sponge and Jubilee Trifle.
Following lunch, visitors enjoyed an exhibition in the main chapel of royal and 1950s memorabilia, all items kindly lent by chapel members and friends.
As music by Eric Coates provided a background soundtrack, and a colour DVD of the Coronation played on a screen, people browsed among a fascinating selection of nostalgia.
There were Coronation souvenir books, mugs, spoons, glasses, farming receipts and advertising graphics from the 1950s, children’s books and toys, record sleeves, clothes, household and country-life tools and other objects, and a colourful collection of London theatre programmes from the era, featuring some big names. A 1953 Triumph TRW motorbike, once used by the Army’s White Helmets display team and now restored and in local ownership, proved a star attraction.
A comprehensive photographic display of more recent Holsworthy activities and businesses also created a lot of interest.
Cream teas were on offer in the afternoon, and on the following exhibition days on the Friday and Saturday of Jubilee week.
Mary Barfett, who co-ordinated the events, said: “We would like to thank not only all the members and friends who gave monetary and grocery donations and also their time, with lunch and stewarding duties, and those who lent exhibits, but also all the people who came to the lunch or visited the exhibition.
“Thank you for supporting us and making it a very special Jubilee occasion.”