Thank you to everyone who helped to deliver such a wonderful community gathering to mark the Platinum Jubilee Weekend in Cupar … it was a “right royal success” attended by hundreds of people who came along to the Haugh Park.

Launched at 11am with the tolling of the bells from Cupar Old and St John’s Churches, the picnic – held around the town’s bandstand – saw performances from the Cupar & District Pipe Band, CAMS – the town’s Amateur Musical Society, as well as sets from local music acts including Ray Kelly, Joshua Mcauley and Rebekah Lennon.

In addition, the Lord Lieutenant of Fife, Robert Balfour, received a bugler’s welcome to the town’s Corn Exchange where the local charity, The Sunshine Kitchen, delivered a celebratory afternoon tea – sponsored by Cupar Development Trust.

The Lord Lieutenant was then welcomed at the Haugh Park by piper, Lesley Thomson, who played the official Jubilee pipe tune, Dui Regnare. As representative of HM The Queen, he gave a short speech before handing out badges to Brownies, Scouts and Rainbows as well as especially printed commemorative certificates as souvenirs of the day.

Local children took part in a fancy-dress fashion show – judged by Claudine Scott of Scott’s of Cupar …

Bakers of all ages donated cakes and bakes to a competition judged by Eric Milne of Fisher & Donaldson …

As part the ongoing celebrations of the role played by Cupar in the annals of the Old Scots Language, Guthrie Hutton of Cupar’s Museum & Heritage Centre and a trustee of the SCIO, Three Estates Cupar, read the proclamation by ‘Scotland’s Shakespeare’, Sir David Lyndsay, echoing what residents would have heard across the town some 470 years ago – almost to the day – calling for people of gather for the first performance of Scotland’s oldest play, Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis.

Since the event, we have recorded Guthrie reading the proclamation and you can hear it via our Podcast by clicking on the image below …

The day’s master of ceremonies was CAMS member, Raymond Young, Secretary of Castlehill Community Association, who kept all on time against a packed running order.

The activities – run by a small army of volunteers led by Mairi Lumsden – also saw children’s arts and crafts, a raffle with dozens of prizes donated by local businesses, the sale of teas, coffees and the competition cakes and bakes as well as plants and planters donated by SRUC Elmwood.

All helped to raise just over £800.00 for a new community fund that will benefit Cupar.

CuparNow, who had helped in the planning and publicity for the day, shared content across various social media channels – all helping to promote the event. Cupar’s Camera Club snapped away helping to create an archive – many of the photos used in this Blog provided by them from their work on the day. Thank you!

Beneath the bunting, themed costumes were on display in the park (below) – all tipping a nod to the importance of fashion in the royal story. Each carried a QR code that led visitors to more, whether a quiz on the royal family or questions on recycling, sustainability and the environment. Decorations from the Queen’s father’s coronation in 1937 were also on display – kindly leant by the Pagan family.

Bill Pagan, Chair of Cupar’s Development Trust, was “absolutely delighted” by the “fantastic turnout” saying: “I think the event surpassed all of our expectations. The sun shone, every aspect that was planned was delivered – and more – and those present enjoyed a wonderful community celebration.” Bill adds: “It is impossible to thank everyone, but congratulations must go to Mairi Lumsden and her team of super supporters from the Tarvit Woodland Park group. They demonstrated just what can be done and we all owe them a huge thank you for their efforts in the planning, delivery and clean up.”

We took photos and clips through the day and compiled in a short YouTube video that you can watch by clicking on the link below … see who you can spy!

 

Roll of honour …

Initially, this event was sparkled as an idea by Alison Murray of Fife Family History Society in an online discussion at the start of the year with community groups in Cupar’s Forum. Mairi Lumsden of the Tarvit Woodland Group picked up the baton and gathered an army of helpers – from the Tarvit Woodland Park committee, her own network of friends – as well as from so many others across the town and our community.

We do not want to miss anyone out – so will happily add anyone who has slipped through the net.

In no particular order!

• Bakers! Those who made the wonderful cakes and bakes that were on display and then sold to help the day’s fund raising. And to our winners, Elliot Berghuis for the 11-17 year old category and Dorothy MacMillan for the 18+.
• Eric Milne from Fisher & Donaldson for judging the competition.
• Baynes, Asda and Farmfoods donated produce that went towards the children’s lunch bags.
• Steven Stewart Funeral Directors for the table cloths used at the cake and bake competition and sale – and for the crockery at tea & coffee sale
• Fishers Laundry for the table cloths used at the Afternoon Tea in the Corn Exchange
• CAMS for singing sections from their most recent show on the bandstand.
• Castlehill Community Centre for the loan of tables, chairs and tea urns.
• CiC (Community in Cupar) for their kind donation in support.
• Cupar & District Pipe Band for their performances – and piping in the Lord Lieutenant.
• Cupar Camera Club’s Frank Andrews who took so many wonderful photos on the day.
• Ray Kelly, Joshua Mcauley and Rebekah Lennon for their live sets … and to Cupar’s Youth Cafe.
• The Lighthouse for donating the tea, coffee and milk for the refreshments’ stall.
• Mairi Lumsden for the amazing costumes on display … and to Mairi, Fiona & Colin for the quizzes that were accessed from QR codes on each dress.
• Martin Scott for the sound – and Margaret Robertson at Cupar Arts for shining a light on the PA system!
• The brownies, scouts, rainbows … and their leaders and helpers.
• The Sunshine Kitchen and Cupar Development Trust for the celebratory Afternoon Tea at the Corn Exchange – and Patrick Wedderburn for playing the bugle from the Corn Exchange’s tower.
• SRUC Elmwood for the plants and planters.
• The Pagan family for the 1937 Coronation decorations
• The Lord Lieutenant, Robert Balfour, as well as elected representatives who came on the day.
• Fife Council for helping with power at the bandstand, opening the toilets in Fluthers as well as helping with clearing rubbish on the day.
• Police Scotland for attending.
• And all those who helped to set up, run and take down the event including …
  • Brandon, Lucy & Natasha Nelson for stepping in at the last minute to help with the raffle
  • Ali & Craig
  • Alison & Scott
  • Martha & Fiona
  • Bill
  • Raymond
  • Val the event’s First Aider
  • … plus a special vote of thanks to the litter pickers who stayed to the very end to ensure the park was left just as we’d found it!

And to the donors of the raffle prizes …

• Afternoon Tea for 2 at Fairmont Hotel
• £50 voucher for Base
• Cream tea for 2 at Balgove Larder
• 50 x £5 vouchers from Joe cool
• Deer Centre voucher
• £20 Indos voucher
• £20 Shehani voucher
• Muddy Boots voucher
• Fife Zoo Family Ticket
• £15 Debbie’s Hair Design voucher
• £10 Central Cafe voucher
• Luvians vouchers for 2L of ice cream
• Kettle Produce – 3 boxes of veg
• Sweets from Paterson’s Fruit Fayre
• Family Pool from Tesco
• Basket wax from Pretty Little Things
• Fibre Optic Lamp from Nickel & Dime
• Trivial Pursuit & Books from WH Smith
• Wine and boxes of sweets courtesy of News Plus on South Bridge and the Co-Op
• Burger King voucher
• Pat MacPherson, Moira Oldbury and Lenina McIntyre for wine, scents and candles: Pat also donated craft materials.

And finally …

It was a pleasure to be able to help support the organisation of this community event. As well as attending on the day, we helped to provide posters for Lost Children, First Aid Points, Toilet Signs, Photography Notices and more. None of the work we do would be possible without the support we receive from those businesses who pay an annual levy to fund us. Please show your thanks by supporting them.

 

Thanks for reading!