Monday, June 4 2012, - The Diamond Jubilee

Our first full day in Pickering, our home for the next week.  Today was Market day, and it was also the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration.  An auspicious day all around.

After breakfast we wandered off to see the Market, and the Pickering shops.  Spent quite a while wandering around , looking and even buying.  Although the cheap socks from the Pickering market are not the best I have ever owned - but they did replace a pair that developed a big hole while walking in Italy.  We also did a walk up to Pickering Castle and walked around it (too mean to pay to go in).  After lunch Mike decided to have the rest of the afternoon to read the newspaper.  So the three of us went off for a jaunt to Hutton-le-Hole, Helmsley and Revieulx Abbey.  Hutton-le-Hole was the first stop.  It's a very pretty village, with some interesting arty shops, and a neat looking pub.  I was overridden so we did the shops, not the pub.  The weather had cleared from grey at this stage and the sun was shining.

'The Crown' - Hutton le-Hole

We piled back  into the car and set of for Helmsley and the Abbey.  Helmsley looked very picturesque also, but we didn't have time to stay.  On we went to the Abbey.  Manoeuvred the car into the car park and went in - paying this time.  The Abbey was quite something.  Just a ruin, but what a ruin!  We spent a couple of hours soaking it all in.

Revieulx Abbey

Finally we made our way back to Pickering and dinner.  After dinner we watched some of the Jubilee concert on TV until we heard the brass band fire up in the Marketplace - very close to the house.  So we went out and enjoyed the proceedings.  The Brass Band was pretty good, and very Yorkshire.  When they finished everybody trooped up the hill to the church for a service.  (another very pretty church by the way).  After the service we all marched back down the hill and at 9:15 the official Jubilee Beacon was lit by the Mayor.

Quite a long day, but very enjoyable.

Lighting the Beacon

Tricia's Diary put it this way:

Market day.  Small walk around Pickering Castle. Afternoon in Hutton-le-Hole - pretty.  Went to Abbey really great.  Church service and Beacon lighting.