THE last Royal Golden Jubilee to be commemorated in West Devon was for Queen Victoria in 1887.

And what celebrations they were. Dozens upon dozens of committee meetings were held up and down the district, which were reported in exhaustive detail in the Tavistock Gazette of the day.

One was headlined: 'More money required' — how things change!

It carried on: '£10 was voted to the juvenile tea committee , who it was estimated would have to provide for 1,500 children.

'Some of the collectors stated that many poor people had said they could get patties or pasties at home, and that if a public tea were provided, they should like joints. They would be willing to bring their own knives and forks and plates.

'It was decided to provide a substantial meat tea for 2,000 labouring people, including navvies living in the parish, £100 being voted for the purpose.'

The vexed cost of decorating Tavistock Town Hall and square occupied several column inches in a later edition.

Mr Hamer's offer of the loan of 100 flags for £5 was rejected as being excessive with the chairman of the committee stating that unless it could be done properly, it should not be done at all.

It wasn't just Tavistock celebrating though — villages large and small in West Devon threw themselves wholeheartedly into making the Golden Jubilee a day to remember.

At Bratton Clovelly, the schoolchildren's tea was followed by a meat tea for 460 parishioners.

The Gazette reported: 'An adjournment was then made to a large field, where races of various kinds were run for handsome prizes — an ample supply of tea and non-intoxicating drinks was provided.'

Apparently, one Dr Gabriel's contribution to the day was a glass of ale to each of the men — while Baron de Barelo sent two rounds of beef.

Lifton celebrated in 'a very energetic and satisfactory way' with 'merry peals' by the church bells.

Again, meat teas were provided, and races of various types proved popular, including marble and spoon, sack, clothes, donkey and pony, plus a climbing the greasy pole competition.

At Chillaton, the service of thanksgiving in the church was 'entered right heartily', when the choir and and congregation 'joined with earnestness the musical portion of the service'.

The 'liveliest amusement' was provided by the children's egg and spoon races, while the tug of war competition was 'severe and exciting'.

Yet another village tea was provided, when the Chillaton band 'discoursed sweet music to the assembled company'.

No-one in the village was left out, during a day in which everyone did their bit.

The Gazette reported: 'The sick, the poor, and others unable to attend the tea, were not forgotten, for in the morning Mr Eggins of Chillaton kindly took round their portions.

'The general committee and the sports committee worked so zealously and well that everything went right merrily, and a day was spent never to be forgotten.'

Many of the parishes lit bonfires and beacons from viewpoints.

The Mary Tavy bonfire was lit at the top of Gibbett Hill.

The Gazette reported: 'The materials of the bonfire were very dry and the volume of the flames was tremendous, and could be seen for many miles around.

'The scene from Gibbett Hill, between 10 and 11 o'clock, was almost indescribable, as many of the fires and fireworks in the two western counties were visible from that height, some spectators counting upwards of a hundred fires.'

Even the letters page of the Gazette was affected by Jubilee-fever.

A. Ratepayer was worried about the celebration dinner planned for the paupers at Tavistock Workhouse, at which the board of governors voted to offer residents a pint of beer.

He (or she) wrote: 'It is an established fact that a great many of the persons who find themselves compelled to seek admittance to the various workhouses in this country attribute the cause of their so doing, (if they candidly assert the truth), to having become victims to the love of intoxicating liquor.

'How can we pray "Lead us not into temptation", when by our actions we are leading someone else into temptation?

'It is sad that men in responsible position should give countenance to that evil, which Mr Gladstone has stated causes more harm in our midst than war, famine and pestilence put together.'

And A. Reader urged that in future, the governing board of Tavistock Workhouse should be made up of 'staunch teetotallers' or at least, 'men of sound common sense'!