Fly the flags: Jack Wales, centre, with tea drinkers get into Jubilee mood

JUBILEEexcitement is growing in Whaley Bridge.  With days to go to the big community celebrations – see details below –  local boy Jack Wales, 11, has given 100 Union Jack flags to the Footsteps drop-in centre.  Jack was presented with the flags by Notcutts garden centre at Woodford, after responding to their challenge for boys named Jack to come forward and help share the fun.  He said on his entry form that he would hand over the flags to the drop-in centre. In the picture, above, he celebrates with a number of visitors who were enjoying a tea break in Footsteps.  A few minutes later he got a reward: a Jubilee cup cake, made by staff at Gascoines estate agents on Market Street.  They were taking part in a bake-off to raise money for the Manchester Royal Children’s Hospital.

Reward for Jack: Jubilee cupcake from Gascoines

Beacon and barbecue: Anyone interested can either make their own way their or  assemble near Whaley Bridge train station at about 7.30pm on Monday 4 June to walk up in groups to the cricket club, using the path known locally as Giggle Gaggle. The council’s new chair Anne Winter will be among the ‘giggle walkers’. There is no parking near the cricket ground, so people are urged to wear comfortable shoes for the walk. The beacon will be lit around 10.15pm, and a barbecue,bar,soft drinks and music will be there from 7.30pm onwards.