A HEAVY rain storm drove everyone indoors part-way through Lapford’s village tea party and games to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, but it was a brilliant time anyway.

Commemorative mugs were given to junior school children from the parish by Clive Eginton, Mid Devon District Council member for the area. Clive also cut the cake made in the figure 90.

The afternoon began with games on the Playing Field, cut short by the heavy rain, before everyone went to the Victory Hall for tea, presentations, cake cutting, and singing Happy Birthday to Her Majesty.

The Victory Hall had been liberally decked with red, white and blue bunting, balloons, the tablecloths, napkins and much else taking up the colours.

The afternoon was organised by a committee made up of members of Lapford Parish Council and Lapford Revel Committee plus others who thought the village “should do something”.

Do something it certainly did, in style and generosity. The parish council paid for the 144 commemorative mugs, a coffee morning raised more than £200 towards the day’s costs, a cake stall at the village market raised a further £50 and then there was the excellent raffle on the afternoon with prizes donated.

So this meant a free party for everyone. Members of the committee baked more than 100 scones for the cream tea and people took food to share. Squash, tea and coffee was donated by the Tesco store at Wellparks, Credton. Many people helped.

Sue Read