Garway Common was alive with people on the occasion of the Jubilee Picnic on Friday (June 3).

Over 40 children responded to the call to dress as kings and queens, princes and princesses, and they formed a splendid procession to the new playground, where the three of the oldest Garway citizens had the honour of opening the new playground, after which a wave of excited children streamed in to clamber on the new equipment.

This was a joyous moment for all those members of the community who had spent many months fundraising and planning for this new facility for the children of the village. Financial support for the project came from Garway Parish Council, Awards for All and Hereford Community Foundation. It was initiated by the Garway Spice Girls, a group of local women who work tirelessly for the local community, and who spearheaded the fund raising for the playground.

The afternoon was filled with Garway fun: maypole and country dancing with a small group of live players, a display of Garway Primary School’s coats of arms, shields and crowns competition, rounders matches, ice cream, a Pimms bar from Mark Farmer, fish and chips, strawberries and cream, and live music from Tony Hopkins. It was a fitting and enjoyable village celebration on the momentous occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.