A COMMUNITY day to cherish is being planned to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Okehampton this June.

There will be a day of activities and fun for all in Simmons Park, with a range of entertainment, stalls and games free of charge.

A large number of community organisations are involved in the day's activities, including Okehampton Rotary Club, Okehampton Lions, the Museum of Dartmoor Life, the Courtenay Players, OCRA, Room 13 and a number of sports clubs.

A working group with representatives from a number of those organisations and Okehampton Town Council has helped to shape the day's programme of events.

Susan Enderson has been one of the key driving forces behind organising the celebrations. She contacted the town council about organising a community day where the vast majority of activities and entertainment were free, so that everyone could be involved.

She said: 'It has been the main focus throughout organising the event, to bring together as many community organisations and as many people involved as possible. It has been important to get them on board, because they have made the day a possibility.

'The main focus of the day itself is the family picnic, and getting families into the park, enjoying the stalls and the entertainment on stage. I'm also glad that we have managed to keep the entertainment free.

'Hopefully, that will bring out as many people as possible to come and enjoy the day in the park.

'The town's beacon, which we are lighting at 10pm has also been chosen as one of the official 2,012 Queen's Jubilee beacons from across the country, and will be recorded in a book, which will then be given to the Queen. It's great our event is connected to the Jubilee on a national level.'

The Jubilee weekend's celebrations in Okehampton start on Saturday June 2 with a Jubilee prom at All Saints Church from 7pm.

Tim Matthews, musical director at the church, said: 'This event kicks off the town's Jubilee celebrations and it's free to attend.

'We have junior and senior choirs, soloists, handbells, prom-night audience singing — lots of 'Rule Britannia' and flag-waving as you'd expect at the Albert Hall in London. The church should be packed for this concert.'

The community day in the park takes place on Monday June 4, starting with a parade from St James' Chapel to the park at 2pm. The afternoon's events centre on the town's youngsters, and carry on into the night with music and entertainment for adults.

The main picnic area, where people are invited to bring along a picnic hamper, blanket, and sit and enjoy the entertainment, will be in front of the main stage.

Opened by town mayor Maureen McDonald at 2.15pm, the stage will then play host to entertainment from local groups, including a musical medley by Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band, a sketch by the Courtenay Players, modern dance by the FOOTsteps dancers, and a performance from the winners of the 2011 Okehampton Battle of the Bands, the Monkey Gland Blues Band.

If the entertainment on stage does not tickle your fancy, you can wander round the display area at the bandstand and watch a judo display, look into the past with the Museum of Dartmoor Life and Okehampton Community Archive, get lost in the maze or take part in races and games with OCRA.

Okehampton's own Matt Woodley from BBC Radio Devon will compere the event throughout the afternoon, with Roger Partridge taking over in the evening.

BBC Radio Devon's Shep and Jo will be broadcasting their drive-time programme live from the park between 3pm and 7pm.

A full list of the day's programme will appear in the Times closer to the event.