Jubilee trees for diamond celebration (From Romsey Advertiser)

Jubilee trees for diamond celebration

1:40pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 in Winchester By Joseph Curtis

JUBILEE celebrations started early in Winchester this month with a pair of commemorative tree-planting ceremonies.

Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Andrew Kent visited Littleton Recreation Ground and the March Hare Pub in Harestock to plant the English Oak trees.

He was joined at both sites by the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Barry Lipscomb, and several couples celebrating 60 years or more of marriage.

The couples were presented with flowers by 10-year-old children from the parish because they were born during the last jubilee year.

Despite rainy weather, around 50 people turned up to the March Hare at 11am for the first ceremony with three accompanied by music from buglers of the nearby Sir John Moore Barracks.

Then about 100 residents gathered at the recreation ground at noon where seven couples from Littleton were presented with flowers.

One couple who went along to both ceremonies was Ernest and Muriel Witts, who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in August.

Mrs Witts, 83, of Dale Close, Littleton, said: “Apart from the weather it went very well and it was nice to see lots of people involved, especially in Littleton where we have so many things coming up for the jubilee.

Mr Witts, also 83, added: “It was a nice idea to have the ten-year-olds present flowers. It’s nice to have our anniversary in the same year as the jubilee but I think ours is special enough as it is.”

Littleton & Harestock Parish Council chairman Derek Hickman said: “This was a very successful first event in the planned programme of activities to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in the parish, and more is to come over the weekend of June 2-5.”

Both trees were between 10 and 15-years-old and were donated by Holmes and Sons Nursery based in Littleton.