| Notable Trees in Fovant |
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Trees to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 1. Jubilee 'Diamond' Tree planted in Fovant on Sunday 24th March 2013 Sixty years ago members of Fovant Silver Band marched down Fovant High Street and along the A30 to East Farm and played at the village celebration of the Queen's Coronation held on the cricket pitch at East Farm.
Fovant Band - Sixty years of the Queen's reign Since 1953 Fovant Band has amalgamated with Shaftesbury Town Silver Band but, because of this close historical connection, the village wanted to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with the Band so they came to play once again on the cricket pitch at East Farm.
As recorded by the Fovant History Group, the weather on Coronation Day 'was bitterly cold - as cold as an average day in winter'. The weather on Sunday 24th March 2013 was said to be one of the coldest days in March for fifty years with the temperature below freezing and a strong north easterly wind. Two inches of snow had fallen in Fovant the Sunday before. The tree was delivered a few days in advance. Darren Potter, a Parish Councillor dug the hole and staked the tree with supervision from others in preparation for the ceremonial planting.
Despite the bitter cold and strong wind, the tent went up and the band arrived.
The Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Sarah Troughton, the Queen's representative in Wiltshire, duly arrived to plant the English Oak and was presented with a bouquet by Jodie Haskins aged six.
The Reverend Kate Fergusson blessed the tree, expressing the hope that generations to come would remember the day it was planted to celebrate the Queen's reign and would protect and preserve it. James Nuttall aged nine who lives in the village played the National Anthem on his trumpet.
Then the band played on stoically, while the Lord Lieutenant was introduced to as many people as possible. When introduced to Mr Peter Wyatt, who was living in Fovant at the time of the Coronation, she asked him if he remembered it. "Yes, certainly" he said,"that was the year I was married!" "Well" she replied, "that was a particularly important year for me, because that was the year I was born!"
A gathering of over sixty local people, including a few who remembered the Coronation, attended the event, and Andy Havard, Chairman of the Parish Council, welcomed everyone.
When someone remarked "What a shame about the freezing weather". The reply was "But we're British!"
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Behind the scenes... |
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Nigel Knowles Fovant Parish Councillor |
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Darren Potter Fovant Parish Councillor |
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Mary Lee Her father, her husband, her brother and her son played in the Fovant Band. Her great granddaughter presented the bouquet. |
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Ray Humphries Manager of Shaftesbury Silver Band |
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Jon McLean Our official photographer |
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Jenny Bickerton Fovant Tree Warden |
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2. Acer griseum at Clays Orchard, Fovant - Sunday 25 November
2012 The Acer is a small, spreading, deciduous tree with attractive peeling, papery chestnut-brown bark. It has leaves which turn brilliant red and orange in autumn and will eventually reach a height of 8-12 metres, spreading 4 - 8 metres in 20-50 years.
Andy Havard, Chairman of the Parish Council, made a short speech and everyone was grateful for the invitation to a cup of tea afterwards at Clays Orchard.
Eloise Gevaux, aged two, is pictured admiring the new tree. She is the daughter of Steve Gevaux, the Manager of Clays Orchard. The following people attended the planting: Bill and Kathy Gevaux
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