Platinum Jubilee Street Party in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Image: Kirsty Warren, Ⓒ Cuckfield Life

Over 1,200 people sat down and enjoyed the special Friday Bank Holiday for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The High Street had been closed from first thing in the morning, and an army of volunteers set up with chairs, trestle tables and decorated them with red, white and blue tablecloths and ribbons on lampposts.

The event went off without a hitch and was a huge success. Many helpers were involved but the main organisation and planning was done by a team of eight – Den Jordan, Dean Harding, Mike Schlup, Belinda Campopiano, Andrew Leask, Steve Wilcock, Sam Heynes (Parish Clerk) and Lindy Elphick – who all organised this incredible day, which truly brought together all ages and stages to eat, drink, sing and dance on the special occasion.

Partying on the streets in Cuckfield. Images Ⓒ Cuckfield Life magazine 2022

We are excited to report that Cuckfield will be having a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The date is Friday 3rd June and the plan is to close Cuckfield High Street for the afternoon and host a street party for 1000 guests, including entertainment for young and old.

People can bring their own food and drink although there will be options to purchase drinks and food at the event. More information on ticket prices and event details will follow in due course. The event is being organised by a wide range of Cuckfield locals including Cuckfield Parish Council and the Independent State of Cuckfield.

For all the latest event news keep reading Cuckfield Life or check the ISOC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/independentstateofcuckfield

If you would like to get involved please email info@ cuckfieldstate.org

UPDATE: Tickets will cost £10 for adults and £5 for children (under 16). These will go on sale on 9th April 2022 from 9.30am to 11.30am at both the Cuckfield Local Market (Rose and Crown car park) and from the The Talbot courtyard. Tickets are on a first come first served basis and payment by cash would be preferred.

Demand for the last street party was huge so we recommend you buy your tickets as soon as they go on sale to avoid disappointment.

By Caroline Young
Many of our national festivals feature special dishes – pancakes, mince pies and Christmas cakes are just a sample. Other examples are simnel cake for Mothering Sunday, hot cross buns for Good Friday – the list is almost endless. One of the most-used recipes today is coronation chicken – poulet reine Elizabeth. Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume (both from the Cordon Bleu Cookery School) are credited with inventing this dish for the Queen’s Coronation banquet in 1953. It may have been inspired by jubilee chicken, made for the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935.

It remains a very popular recipe for large-scale parties and anniversaries. Now a London store is hosting a competition for a very special dish to celebrate our next big national event. I wonder what it will be? Our family have always expected a special dessert on special days and for the Platinum Jubilee, I am planning a cake that would celebrate our Commonwealth connections and our local fruits. I am going to make a two/three layer cake. The central layers will be filled with a cream and fruity filling containing chopped fruits from the Commonwealth countries – peaches, kiwis, mango, pineapple, etc. The top will be piled with whipped cream, topped with an arrangement of whole strawberries arranged to look like our Queen’s crown!

Please let me know what you make – why not send a photo to the editor? Chatting to a Norwegian neighbour, Hedvig Bodley, about festive foods, she gave me her mother’s recipe for their special trifle, which I will also make. Traditional trifle bowls should have straight sides to show the different layers and trifles MUST be refrigerated overnight before serving.

Norwegian trifle

Start with a layer of apple puree and roughly diced cooked apricots. Top with a layer of toasted walnut pieces, toasted coarse oats and pitted dates. Add a generous layer of creamy custard, with a generous dash of your favourite sweet alcohol whisked into it. Top with a layer of honey-flavoured yogurt and a sprinkling of chopped dark chocolate. Cover and chill overnight. It sounds delicious – I will definitely make this myself.

English trifle – my version

Tip a generous layer of roughly crushed Amoretti almond biscuits into your trifle bowl and add a layer of canned apricot halves. Generously sprinkle with your favourite alcohol. Top with creamy custard (I use a top-quality supermarket brand) then a very generous layer of whipped double cream. Cover and refrigerate overnight. I then decorate the top with fresh fruits such as raspberries, flaked toasted almonds and sprigs of fresh mint.

HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Cuckfield - 3rd June 2022

Tasty treats for the Queen's Jubilee