In 1976, following a village meeting in the Church of St Mary Magdalene, a committee was formed to arrange events and raise money for a Jubilee celebration. Money raising events included coffee mornings, a fashion show, a cookery demonstration, a talk on the local climate through the ages, a less-than-serious football match, a jumble sale and dance, a skittles match, raffles and a Concert and Hobbies Exhibition. There was also a weekly collection and draw. Various donations were received from individuals, village organisations and local firms. The total raised was £1614.56. All the events were enjoyable but especially the Concert and Hobbies Exhibition which revealed an amazing amount of local talent in arts, painting and drawing, lace-making, spinning, fly-tying, needlecraft, poetry, music and drama.
The Jubilee Celebration was held on Tuesday 7th June. It began with a Children’s Fete on the School Football Field in Holeground, with sideshows, games, races and a fancy dress parade. Later in the afternoon there was a tea party in and around two marquees also in Holeground. Catering, organised by the ladies of the village, ranged from ice lollies and hot dogs to strawberries and cream. In the evening there was a Buffet Supper and Dance in the Mendip Huntsman Restaurant, (now The Galloper), with live music. Wookey Hole Caves produced a souvenir programme of the event, printed on Wookey Hole paper and fronted with an original sketch of the village by Mr A. Sealey. All the events were free of charge and everyone living in the village, together with any friends or relations staying with them, was invited to attend. All the children in the village received a Jubilee crown coin.
After all the expenses had been met a balance of £430 remained. Some of this money was spent on two commemorative wooden seats, on School Hill and Milton Lane, and the remainder was placed in a Jubilee Fund. This fund was used to help with various events and organisations. Loans were advanced to the Village Pantomimes, (1982 Dick Whittington, ’83 Cinderella, ’84 Aladdin and ’85 Jack and the Beanstalk). Funds were given to help set up a Mothers and Toddlers Group and a Youth Group. The pantomimes came to an end with the loss of the Skin House meeting room at the Mill. The other organisations were disbanded when there were insufficient numbers of children in the appropriate age groups to support them. The money in the Jubilee Fund was passed to the Wookey Hole Residents’ Association where it was used for similar purposes and then to the Wookey Hole Millennium Committee which combined it with their fund-raising to provide money for the Millennium celebrations.
E. Rennie