GESTINGTHORPE 'THEN & NOW' PHOTOGRAPHIC BOOK - COMING IN 2024!
GESTINGTHORPE 'THEN & NOW' PHOTOGRAPHIC BOOK - COMING IN 2024!
June the 2nd 2022 was the Platinum Jubilee of our Queen Elizabeth the 2nd's ascension to the throne in 1952. The nation came together over this weekend and held Tea Party's, Picnics, Street Party's and of course the lighting of a beacon. In Gestingthorpe the lighting of the beacon was the end result of many months of behind-the-scenes work by Richard the village blacksmith together with a small Parish Council committee who undertook the siting of the beacon and the necessary planning permission that this entailed.
The position of the beacon was to be on Church Green in Gestingthorpe, we felt it would balance well with the village sign that had been installed some 20 years earlier, it also gave a focus for the activities in the heart of the village with the Church and Village Hall all surrounding it. As this was to be a permanent addition, planning permission was sought as the Church is Grade 1 listed and once the county archaeologist had signed off on the project the relevant permission was given. There were official plans available online in order to build a Jubilee beacon, but these plans were for a much larger basket and post which we felt would dominate the setting and overshadow our existing village sign.
Via social media and the village website pages - a GoFundMe page was set up in order for financial contributions from the villagers to help cover the costs (all of which were covered). Richard Nice could then begin on the creation of the fire basket to a unique scaled-down version. An initial sketch was all that was required together with a location plan for the planning application. Through word-of-mouth, we were approached by a representative of Bulmer Parish Council on where we were getting our beacon manufactured, and as a result, Richard was able to add a second beacon into his making schedule. A chestnut post was locally sourced from Burtons Green and contractors from Bulmer were instructed on excavating the 2m deep hole that would be required.
Measurements were taken to ensure a balance between the existing sign and the Lytch Gate of the churchyard and a very expert excavator driver dug a hole with the minimum of disturbance to the surrounding area. Many large flints and chalk blocks came up with every bucket full of Gestup clay and we were glad we were not required to dig the hole by hand. The post was inserted and back-filled with concrete and a small amount of the topsoil that had been retained, helped to cap over the concrete (the remaining spoil was spread over the entrance to the playing field that had become somewhat slumped over the years of traffic pulling into and out).
Now the task was to guarantee a successful loading and lighting of the beacon (no mean feat when the basket is now 4m in the air!) With the help of Ashley and his tele-handler on the morning of the 2nd we were able to gain access to the basket, dried logs, kindling, firelighters and a little flammable oil supplied by the blacksmith would hopefully see us right, together with a wick that hung down from the bottom of the basket we hoped that all eventualities had been covered.
The area immediately around the beacon was to be cordoned off in case of any stray embers came down but we utilised some outdoor globe lights to help illuminate the proceedings as the official lighting time was not until 9.45pm, a PA system was also set-up as the introduction was to be given by our own History Group President Ashley Cooper, continuing a tradition (his father Harold having given the unveiling speech for the village sign some 21 years previously). All we needed now were the good people of the village to turn out, would they arrive?
Arrive they did! A steady stream of villagers began to move their way along church street, a single church bell tolled at 9.30pm rung by Richard Nice, as the daylight dwindled the lights began to glow and the breeze which had been blowing all day from the North East began to abate. Just before 9.40pm Ashley began his address (it having been timed a little over 6 minutes) - the crowd hushed. As the time approached, Richard had come down from the church ringing floor to join his brother Peter and together they lit the long lance that Richard had constructed to light the basket high atop the post.
Ashley's address began....
"Seventy years ago, my late Mother was eight months pregnant with me—so I can claim to have been in Gestingthorpe for the last 70 years—if not quite a part of it!
It is an enormous honour to be asked to say a few words at such a memorable occasion. I feel it perhaps ought to be our Parish Council Chairman who speaks—so thank you David.
How very special it is, to now have this Jubilee Beacon to complement the Village sign –which was installed 21 years ago—and records the history of the village back to Roman times—with the beautiful iron frame made right here by the late Frank Nice.
Now we have a Jubilee Beacon—the iron basket also made in Gestingthorpe by Frank’s nephew Richard—The Beacon focussing our minds on the last seventy years—and especially recognising SERVICE, DUTY AND COMMITMENT—as personified by Her Majesty the Queen—and that the Beacon might also be a symbol to inspire these virtues in the future.
Going off-script, didn’t the Queen look lovely at the Fly Past this afternoon
It is perilous to name names when acknowledging a communal achievement—in case you miss someone out—so may I thank ‘en masse’, everyone who has helped to raise funds, donated, organised, installed the beacon and arranged this evening.
Although it is perilous to name names, may I especially thank –on everyone’s behalf Andy, Clare and Penny—and invite you to give them a resounding round of applause.
I said just now that the beacon sends out a message for the future—but actually, we will all interpret it slightly differently—and I hope you will forgive my own Gestingthorpe interpretation….
So see the Platinum beacon,
Rising tall upon Church Green,
With basket made by Gestup hands,
To honour, Her Majesty, the Queen,
Her service and example,
Have with duty been instilled,
Her role of nation’s figurehead,
Been impeccably fulfilled.
And as the joyful, celebrations,
Create togetherness—and unity,
May we reflect o’er seven decades,
About this—our own community,
Of Playing Field and Village Hall,
Both, unassumingly donated,
See happy children by the swings,
And Keep Fit— inaugurated.
So may our beacon, be an emblem,
Of service—an acknowledgement of all,
Who give time and help, to the Church,
The Parish Council and Village Hall,
The Facebook page and Parish Trust,
Neighbourhood Watch and Cricket Green,
Defibrillator and Playing Field,
The History website—and parish magazine.
May it inspire us—with the duty,
Of those, from former days,
Who served to guard our freedoms,
Our democratic ways.
Tonight, may it blaze against the darkness
Of inhumanity in Ukraine,
May it be a flame of hope,
For justice and peace, again.
But forever, the beacon celebrates,
Her Majesty’s, devoted years,
And all who so enrich our lives—
Our community’s volunteers,
And all who share our reverence,
As it lights the sky above-—
For our Queen, this land, this countryside,
—And the village that we love!
Ashley Cooper
We waited... and thankfully much to the relief of those responsible, and with the final lines of Ashley's dedication fading in our ears, the paper, firelighters and kindling began to catch light. What a wonderful spectacle for the crowd (in excess of 200) that had gathered, a chance to get together to celebrate 70 glorious years of service by our Queen.