The Past Comes Alive
Free family event, Saturday 28 May, Bourne Hall Park, 9.30am to 5pm
A Bourne Hall Museum tribute for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
On a day where the past comes alive, learn about the local connections of past Kings and Queens and get an insight into the medieval period as Bourne Hall Museum marks the Queens Jubilee.
Performance tent:
10am and 2pm - Meet two ladies-in-waiting from the court of Elizabeth I at Nonsuch who will tell what life was like in the palace which she loved to visit. Learn of the changes she made to fit in her huge wardrobe of dresses and how the Earl of Essex burst into Elizabeth’s bedroom before she had time to put on her makeup, the blunder which was to lead to his execution!
12.30pm and 3pm: Chat to Charles II, the Merry Monarch (right), one of the most popular of English Kings, and hear about his visits to Epsom in the Spa period.
1pm and 4.30pm: Meet Queen Victoria who came to the Derby at the beginning of her reign and discover what happened... was she amused?
Meanwhile the Paladins of Chivalry will bring the medieval world to light with living history displays including cooking, music, armour repair, noble ladies sewing and doing embroidery, an apothecary preparing potions and men at arms gambling and telling tall stories. See the medieval tented encampment furnished with historically accurate furniture and equipment which you can handle.
Special story time in Bourne Hall Park, 11.30am: Please come in fancy dress.
Combat arena:
10.30am: You can witness the men at arms in their training session and in combat and a knight will be armed for battle!
1.30pm: After lunch there’s a chance for the children to take part in their own battle!
2.30pm: The Lord of Bourne Hall is charged with trying to kill a rival in front of the King, and now he must fight for his life in trial by combat.
3.30pm: In the afternoon there will be a display of how to arm a knight followed by a full tournament. Finishing with a Grand Melée when all the knights fight to the last man standing.
Timings are a guide and may change if events overrun or there are operational difficulties.
At Bourne Hall itself, don't forget to visit the Museum to see an exhibition on life in the Borough during the Coronation Year in 1953. Stop by Ewell Library, who will have tables where you can do Jubilee crafts, including making a crown and designing a Jubilee stamp. Visit the Bourne Hall café for breakfast, ice creams, sandwiches, ploughman’s, vegan boxes, kiddies’ boxes, scones and lots of lovely cakes – along with tea and coffee, soft drinks, and wine. First aiders will also be on duty all-day from the 2nd Ewell Scout Group.
Hope to see you there!
Derby Hall of Fame
Unveiling Wednesday 1 June, Market Place, Epsom
In 1780 Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, and his friend Sir Charles Bunbury spun a coin to determine whether a new horse race should be called the Derby Stakes or the Bunbury Stakes.
The Derby has been run in Epsom ever since (with a few exceptions to allow for world wars).
For many, the death of the suffragette Emily Davison at the Derby in 1913 is a defining moment. The statue of Davison added to Epsom Market Place during the recent renovations has drawn visitors from across the UK and further afield.
The Derby however is far more than one tragic event, and the council is to unveil a new feature in the Market Place celebrating the full history of quintessential horse race.
The Derby Hall of Fame was commissioned as part of the Market Place renovation to sit alongside the Davison and the Evocation of Speed statues. The installation of the Hall of Fame was parked as the council focused on the pandemic response and is now being installed as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
Showcasing iconic horses, trainers and jockeys, all of them, synonymous with racing the Derby, the Hall of Fame consists of roundels featuring artwork from graphic designer Richard Wolfstrome.
Commemorated are some of the most famous and recognisable names in horse racing history – including Alex Greaves, the first female jockey to compete in the Derby, Geoff Lewis, the first Epsom-based winner, as well as household names, such as Lester Piggott, Nijinsky, Shergar and many more.
This Hall of Fame will be a unique landmark that recognises the borough’s long-standing connection with one of the most famous horse races in the world, celebrating the borough’s rich culture and heritage.
Jubilee Family Festival
Free family event. Wednesday 1 June from 1:30pm, Market Place and Epsom Square, Epsom
A Go Epsom event featuring:
- Free Children rides and Face Painting
- Spectacular stilt walkers
- Bubble Shows by the world’s best bubbleologist
- Live music
- Living statue
- Balloon modelers
- Local charity stalls
The festival will be across two sites in the Epsom town centre; Epsom Market Place and Epsom Square. There will be performances throughout the afternoon including 2 shows from Ambition Dance
The evening will end with a concert in the marketplace from 6pm till 8pm with the amazing Blunter Brothers.
In Epsom Square 12 x Guinness World Record holders, Bubble Inc will present 2 outdoor bubble shows from their team of Bubbleologists!
Also joining us in Epsom Marketplace and Epsom square will be Angie Mack, one of the leading hula hoop artistes in the UK. She is an extremely energetic and charismatic performer and has worked at major festivals such as Glastonbury. As well as 2x 30 minute comedy hula hooping shows with audience participation. These will be followed by a 30 minute workshop in which the audience young and old can have a go.
Roaming around town will be Matthew Garrett performing his close up magic. He is one of the few magicians who is brilliant with all ages.He has also won the Magic Circle Close up magician of the year and has performed worldwide.
For more details visit: https://jubileecelebrations.co.uk/events/epsom-jubilee-family-festival/
Jubilee Beacon
Beacon Lighting, 2 June, 9.45pm, Epsom Downs
Britain has a long history of beacon lighting spanning many hundreds of years.
Beacons were originally lit to give warning to local people of the approach of an enemy. They were sited on high hills, usually as part of a defensive signal system. The signal was given by smoke during the day and light by night.
A beacon chain has now become a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries and continents and is often the central point of focus for any outdoor gathering or celebration.In 1897 beacons were lit nationally to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In 1977 and 2002 beacons were lit to celebrate The Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilees.
A new permanent beacon has now been installed on Epsom Downs and will be lit for the first time to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
The Epsom Downs Beacon will be lit as part of a coordinated beacon chain with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Anchor Chain being lit at 9.30pm and the Beacons along Hadrian’s Wall lit at 10pm. All other Beacons throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man will be lit at 9.45pm. Beacons in the Commonwealth Countries and United Kingdom Overseas Territories will also be lit at the appropriate local time.
Epsom Downs Racecourse are holding a community event on the evening of Thursday 2 June. The community event will end with the opportunity to see the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon.
At the Beacon lighting students from Laines Theatre Arts will join thousands of community choirs across all 54 commonwealth nations to sing ‘A Life filled with Grace’ which has been specially written and composed for the Jubilee by Lucy Keily from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria. The event will also have a piper, Craig Mclean in the uniform of a Commonwealth regiment, playing a South African folk song 'Sarie Marais' which he previously played for the Queen in South Africa and Penny Moss of the Epsom and Ewell Silver Band playing the fanfare 'Majesty'.
The Epsom Downs Jubilee Beacon is a joint Initiative between Go Epsom, The Epsom & Walton Downs Conservators, the Jockey Club and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.
Jubilee Cazoo Derby Launch Party
Free community event, Thursday, 2 June, from 6pm at Epsom Downs Racecourse - Please note, this event is now sold out. All free tickets have been redeemed.
There will be a free community event at the Racecourse to launch the Cazoo Derby and the lighting of the Epsom Downs Beacon.
- Featuring live entertainment and music from the Parade Ring
- Get all your racing tips for the weekend
- A range of food and drink options available
- Her Majesty The Queen Hall of Fame
A Jockey Club event for the local community. - more information via the website - https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom/events-tickets/derby-launch-party/
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Jubilee at the Playhouse
Wednesday 29 June, 2.30pm, £14.50
Come and enjoy a regal and patriotic afternoon at the Epsom Playhouse, as we celebrate in style the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Neil Sands and his wonderful West End cast are back to celebrate the 70 glorious years of Her Majesty’s record breaking rein. This uplifting afternoon will bring back golden memories with songs made famous by many of her favourite singers and stars from her Royal Command performances. From show tunes to the golden days of rock & roll and into the swinging sixties, sing along to a cockney knees up, a rousing section from Last Night of the Proms, and of course our signature flag waving finale in a tribute to the veterans of her armed forces, with those legendary Songs That Won The War.
All of this mixed with wonderful voices, spectacular costumes, a patriotic stage set and lots of good old fashioned fun, makes this the perfect nostalgic way to celebrate this historic occasion.
For more information and to book click HERE
Having a party? Share your pictures
If you and your neighbours are having any kind of celebration to mark the Jubilee - street party or any other community gathering - the team at Bourne Hall Museum would like to have copies of any photographs for the borough archives.
Image above: 2002 Golden jubilee street party in Epsom (Bourne Hall Museum archives)
Send your images to dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk or drop them off at Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, KT17 1UF
And don't forget, to take extra care with food safety if you are planning on holding a street party, read the Food Standard Agency's guidance on food safety to minimise risk, see: https://www.food.gov.uk/how-to-safely-host-a-street-party