Festive Spirit in the Recreation Area
An important aspect of the village programme to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee was provision for the children during the morning of Saturday, June 2nd. Fortunately the weather was fine, even sunny at times, and just under 20 energy-charged youngsters aged from 3 years upwards turned up for the occasion.
The whole area looked very inviting, thanks to recent grass cutting by Burn Bros. and some attention to fine detail by a small working party in mid-week. A blaze of colour was added with bunting, Union flags and various other items from a ‘goodies box' provided by Queen Elizabeth 11 Fields Challenge, following 
our nomination for this award by Hambleton District Council (more details later as they emerge). Most of the programme was organised by Catherine Skinner and Carol Fenwick, with valued support from other members of the Recreation Area Committee.
The following 3 categories of challenging activities took place:
* ACTIVITY TRAIL (utilising most recently installed equipment)
This included a Shuttle Run, Rope Climb, Stepping Blocks, Swing,
Climbing over Horizontal Bars, Leapfrog over Discs, Crossing Rope
Bridge, Swinging on Monkey Bars, negotiating the Tyres Circuit and finally climbing up the Space Frame to collect a flag!
* TEAM RELAY
This proved to be more sedate but equally energetic, as 2 teams battled for supremacy running up and down the access track between the entrance gate and the MUGA.
* ROUNDERS
Intense competition was clearly in evidence as each team notched up big scores.
Particularly between 12.30 and 1.00 p.m., as some of the younger children retired, a number of adults present eagerly made up the numbers and demonstrated an equally competitive spirit with a measure of guile compensating for any lack of energy!
Throughout the morning, a continuous supply of squash and biscuits was available to re-charge everyone taking part. Clearly, judging by the looks of excitement, enjoyment and perpetual motion, a good time was had by all.
Commemorative ‘gold' medals on a red, white and blue ribbon, kindly provided by the Parish Council, were presented to all the children involved in these special celebrations . Throughout the morning, a continuous supply of squash and biscuits was available to re-charge everyone taking part. Clearly, judging by the looks of excitement, enjoyment and perpetual motion, a good time was had by all.
Finally, not to be outdone by adults for whom mini-Marathons were arranged during the afternoon, a small group of about 8 children pressed for a mini-mini-Marathon of their own! Needless to say, they all completed it in style! Commemorative ‘gold' medals on a red, white and blue ribbon, kindly provided by the Parish Council, were presented to all the children involved in these special celebrations.
Photos by Frances Skinner and Mark Kingston
Peter Davison
