AN INSIGHT how the good folk of West Devon celebrated the Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee has come to light through a Times reader.

Joan Toop brought in a programme of the queen's jubilee celebrations for Walkhampton on June 22, 1897 to show how the village marked the occasion of 60 years of Victoria's rule.

Joan, whose maiden name was Hillson, comes from a family of farmers that lived in Walkhampton at that time.

The event began with a service in Walkhampton parish church at 1pm before the children's sports took place in the school fields from 2.30pm including races for boys and girls, a three legged race and long jump and high jump competitions.

Then it was off for a free tea in the vicarage for the adults or to the school for the children.

At 5pm there was a whole host of sporting events for the adults including the 100 yards flat race, egg and spoon, a two mile bicycle race, throwing a 56lb weight, the Leg O' Mutton race of 200 yards for married men aged over 40, a two mile pony race or a three-legged 150 yard race open to all comers.

The starter for the events was Henry Hillson, a relative of Joan's.

Punch and Judy exhibitions took place in the School Field, kindly lent by Mr Squires, and there was a selection of music from the Devonport Borough Band.

It all culminated with fireworks by Brock and Co of London at 9.30pm.

They certainly packed in a lot in one day in Victorian times when it came to celebrating the jubilee.