THE nation is busy getting set for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations – but do you remember the Silver Jubilee year?
It seems like only yesterday that we were all wearing maxi or midi dresses or flares and letting our hair down at Silver Jubilee street parties.
But incredibly, it really was 35 years ago.
The memories flooded back with just a glance at my Silver Jubilee tea towel (a Union Jack design with a crown) and the jubilee-design tumblers given away free by stores to shoppers that year.
It also helped that I’d found a Gazette report to share with you, about jubilee fever back in 1977.
Apparently, there were incredible scenes in Dunstable.
An estimated 30,000 people flocked to Dunstable Downs to see the lighting of the jubilee bonfire, part of a nationwide chain.
Up to 20,000 people had been expected, but far more flocked to the scene by car and on foot.
Enormous traffic jams built up, starting about an hour before the event, and lasted until the early morning.
But drivers were praised by police for being “patient and tolerant”.
There was one casualty. What happened? A man passed out because he suffered an allergic reaction – to grass.
Luckily, he quickly recovered. Can’t wait for this year’s anniversary antics.
I HAD to smile when I heard about one of the winners of a raffle at a fundraising disco in aid of Keech Hospice Care.
The disco at the United Services Club, in Dunstable, raised an amazing £1,670 for the charity.
Sid Hudson, who runs the popular Cali-R events, was the DJ who took care of the music.
He also kindly donated a raffle prize of two tickets to his Cali-R open air night, featuring Hitsville, at The Fancott, near Toddington, on June 29.
Later in the evening, he heard that he’d won a prize in the raffle himself.
What was it? You guessed it.
Two tickets to his Cali-R night at The Fancott...
Needless to say, the tickets went back into the hat.
That must have been music to the ears of the next lucky winner!
THE rumour mill says that someone from the Dunstable area struck it lucky with a £100,000 win in a Halifax savers’ prize draw.
I thought I’d ask the Halifax team about this.
What did they say?
A statement confirmed that there was a £100,000 winner from Bedfordshire in the Savers Prize Draw in April.
But it went on: “However, because the winner has requested anonymity, we unfortunately can’t supply their details or the location of the branch at which they claimed.”
Hmm. I’ll let you into one secret – it wasn’t me.
DO you know the bus-loving character pictured here?
I’m talking about Alfie, the mascot for Arriva Buses.
Young bus fans are being urged to tell tales about him.
Adventure tales, that is. Arriva is looking for storylines from children for Alfie’s new online comic book adventures.
His adventures have to involve buses, of course.
The best stories will be brought to life on Arriva’s website each month and the winners will also earn prizes including book tokens and art materials.
Children (aged 12 or under) who’d like to jump on board can submit their stories via www.arrivabus.co.uk/alfie-adventure.
But don’t delay – you don’t want to ‘miss the bus’...