Town party could flop

A GOLDEN Jubilee street party in Hailsham town centre could turn into a flop, agreed the members of the celebrations committee last week.

A big gathering of residents in the High Street is planned for the Jubilee on the evening of Monday, June 3. It is hoped that people will come from all parts of the town to this central party with their nibbles and bottles of bubbly.

However, the chairman of the Jubilee Celebrations Committee, Cllr Nick Ellwood, said reaction to this idea had not been overly positive, and that most people were planning small street parties of their own.

'I'm getting terrific feedback from people who are more focussed on their own private street parties,' he said. 'I can't see enough people being interested in carting all their stuff up to the town centre to have a street party. Maybe we are barking up the wrong tree.'

Cllr Ellwood suggested that a fun fair in the High Street might attract people to the centre, where there will be a 50s disco featuring local bands Absolute Angel and Hush. Approval has been given for the High Street to be closed to traffic for the day.

At 10.30pm, a spectacular fireworks display will light up the sky in celebration of Her Majesty's fiftieth year on the throne. The well-known band The Jazz Caverners has also been booked.

As part of the Jubilee celebrations, every primary school pupil in Hailsham will receive a limited edition mug from the town council, with the town's crest on one side and The Queen's portrait on the other.

Members of the celebrations committee heard last week about the planned Jubilee garden, which may cost in the region of 1,000, and will be given a 'golden' theme. An engraved memorial stone will be added to the garden.

In the town council's recent budget, a total of 12,000 was set aside for these historic celebrations.