Queen for the day - Sheila King plants an oak tree on Hethersett Memorial Playing Field.

Hethersett celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a special fete on the Memorial Playing Field on Sunday.

Hundreds of people turned up despite appalling weather conditions which brought rain for most of the day with only the occasional break in the clouds.

Hethersett had its own royalty for the day in local resident Sheila King who stood in for the Queen and undertook a number of official duties that included planting a special Jubilee tree provided by the Hethersett Environmental Action Team and Hethersett and District Horticultural Society and judging the Best Dressed Teddy Bear competition.

Sheila also officially opened the event following the singing of the National Anthem and this was followed by a special Jubilee prayer from the Rector of Hethersett, the Rev Di Lammas.

The event featured children’s entertainer Charlie, circus tricks, school bands, a string quartet, community singing led by the Hethersett Pantomime Group, displays of Zumba, stalls galore, face painting, cake decorating, a scavenger hunt, bouncy castles, Sumo Wrestling, arts and crafts, refreshment tents and many other attractions for all ages.

Residents from the Woodside Sheltered Housing complex, which runs alongside the park, entered into the spirit of the day by holding their own open house event which included serving strawberries and cream and chip butties!

The day was rounded off by an evening of music by which time the rain had finally gone away. Entertainment was provided by country duo David Wyatt and Carole Lea, funk and soul combo The Empire Band and singer-songwriter Jon Christophers.

Over 100 photographs of the day are available on the Hethersett village web site at www.hethersett.org.uk