A RIGHT ROYAL DO

THE phrase “rain did not dampen spirits” may be a well-worn newspaper cliché – but there is none more apt to describe the exuberance of a crowd of thousands who turned out to Melbourne Junior School grounds to enjoy the coronation concert laid on by the parish council

Skies may have been overcast but local people turned out in huge numbers, pitched up chairs and picnic blankets and took to the field to dance the night away to top-notch tribute bands Gertcha, as Chas & Dave; Tony Scarth as Tom Jones; Abba Fever and Absolute Bowie

A fireworks display sponsored by Dunnicliff Developments and Scallywags

Nursery provided a fitting end to the day

Welcoming visitors, parish council chairman Terry Summerlin said: “12 months after the platinum jubilee festivities, come rain or shine, you never let us down! Our local parish has joined the rest of the nation to mark the Coronation

“Thank you all It would not be a success without you all here I hope you really enjoy yourselves

“Putting this together has taken a lot of planning and I personally want to thank the working party for all their hard work I’d also like to thank Melbourne schools for letting us use their fields ”

Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Derbyshire, Griselda Kerr, said: “What a great occasion I don’t know about all of you but I was glued to the TV!

“It’s lovely to be asked to open this celebration because I get all the fun and none of the work! All the work has been done by lots of volunteers, Joe Ward, and by lots of other members of the parish council including Guy Crawford to all, huge thanks ”

Further thanks were paid to the immense hard work put in by parish councillors in organising the occasion, at its annual general meeting held at Melbourne Sports Park

Re-elected chair Cllr Terry Summerlin said: “I’m very, very pleased with how it went Thanks to Cllr Ward and all the councillors that were involved with it, and Guy Crawford It was an excellent event which we put on for the public so well done to all involved ”

Cllr Sheila Hicklin added: “I know just how much time and effort this takes People were jumping, they were bouncing and I think the people of Melbourne appreciate everything we did that day ”

Councillors were out in force volunteering on the day, while Cllr George Dunnicliff was thanked for the spectacular fireworks which a crowd gathered on Brown’s Field to watch later in the evening

Meanwhile, around the area, it was a sea of red, white and blue as many in local villages gathered to hold street parties commemorating the historic coronation over the weekend

Congregation members at Melbourne Parish

Church gathered in the sunshine after their Sunday service to enjoy lunch together outside, while in Weston-on-Trent, party goers went along to the village hall to enjoy a “fantastic relaxed afternoon of merriment”, said Jayne Williamson

Guests provided food and alcohol and enjoyed tea, coffee and home made cakes too

Entertainment came from the Aston Ukuleles group who got guests Googling lyrics so they could sing along too!

With donations for refreshments, the day also raised more than £100 to be divided between the Prince’s Trust and St Mary the Virgin Parish Church