THE celebrations laid on to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee came in for high praise during a meeting in Tavistock last week.

Members of the town council's properties committee heard that despite the poor weather on the Sunday of the bank holiday, crowds attending events in the Meadows had been good, and the atmosphere had been great.

Cllr Harry Smith said: 'I think it's the appropriate time for us to offer our appreciation for all the work and effort that went into both days.

'It was an extremely well organised event — the first day was badly affected by the weather, however, we stuck with it and the second day was a lot better.

'There must have been about 700 to 1,000 people standing in the dark on Whitchurch Down by the Pimple for the lighting of the beacon, and there was spontaneous singing of the national anthem as the mayor rose to light the beacon.

'I think congratulations are due to all involved.'

Cllr Sue Bailey, chairman of the properties committee, said she would also like to pay tribute to Vicky Lloyd, of Tavistock Youth Café, and the Lions Club, who had organised the live music and the beer festival respectively.

Town mayor Cllr Anne Johnson said she had written to the deputy reeve Dwayne Carruthers and the team for their 'really hard work' — particularly when spirits sank a bit during the downpours on the Sunday.

'To see people watching Jungle Book on the big screen under sheets of plastic — how British was that? said Cllr Johnson. 'I expected to see half a dozen people and a couple of dogs on the Pimple, but I was amazed to see how many people were there, it was brilliant.'

l All the fun of the circus will be coming to Tavistock once again this summer.

Town council works superintendent Wayne Southall told last week's meeting of the council's properties committee that this year, Gerry Cottle's Circus had requested to come to the town.

Mr Southall said a site meeting with the circus was due to take place, and rents were yet to be negotiated, but it was anticipated the circus would be in the Meadows on July 13, 14 and 15.

He assured Cllr Lyn Rose that the circus would be 'animal-free'.