Plans underway for huge party to celebrate Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Dereham

Plans are under way to close off the Market Place on Sunday, June 3 and to have a range of entertainment and a mass singing of the National Anthem.

The event is being organised by a partnership of groups including Dereham Churches Together and Dereham Town Council with backing from the police.

It is hoped a wide range of local organisations will join in, and they are being urged to come forward.

The event is being based on the tradition of the ever-popular Christmas lights switch-on, when the community comes together for its biggest gathering of the year,

Jon Beardon, who is chairing a planning group for the event, said: 'We want to invite as many groups and organisations local to Dereham to come together in a great collaboration and host Dereham's biggest-ever BBQ.'

The plan is to have a flat-bed trailer in the Market Place for the entertainment, including the Dereham Town Singers. They aim to lead the biggest singing of the National Anthem the town has seen in most people's living memory.

Organisers want groups to have stalls around the town square with the emphasis on traditional games and keeping the cost down to local people.

There would be tables set out around the Market Place where people can eat their burgers, which will be cooked on barbecues; these will be set up and the food sold as cheaply as possible.

Bunting would be put up around the town centre to add to the occasion.

Mr Beardon said: 'The aim is not to make money. The main aim is for local people to organise fun times for local people.'

The organisers want organisations to respond with an expression of interest and they can then be sent a form with more information.

Letters will be sent out to local organisations, but there is an open invitation for groups to take part.

For more information email derehamjubilee@gmail.com or ring Mr Beardon at the Wellspring Family Centre on 01362 854581.