IT was a right royal knee's up across the South Hams last weekend with residents and visitors spoilt for choice over which diamond jubilee celebrations to attend.

Kingsbridge Primary School pupils celebrated with a jubilee lunch where the school came together to mark the occasion and enjoy lots of food.

On Saturday evening, Kingsbridge mayor Irene Jeeninga held a jubilee reception at Quay House which was attended by eight couples who got married in the years of the Queen's Coronation.

Cllr Jeeninga said: 'The couples were all presented with commemorative mugs and they really enjoyed themselves, many knew each other from childhood.'

On Monday the town celebrated in style with a street party on the Quay.

Tickets sold out two weeks before the event and 300 people donned in their finest red, white and blue outfits to enjoy lunch together.

Amanda Bloomer, who helped organise the event, said: 'It was a wonderful, wonderful atmosphere and people really entered into the spirit, it was fantastic.

'We could have sold another 100 tickets on the day.'

Families and friends decorated their tables, there was community singing, karaoke, a strolling minstrel and plenty of children's entertainers keeping the younger members of the party happy.

Cllr Jeeninga said: 'The street party was really great, thanks to the organisers.

'It was good to see how patriotic everyone was.

'It was a great day for Kingsbridge.'

In the evening the tables were cleared away and the Quay was cleared for a concert on the bandstand which was enjoyed by young and old.

Salcombe had a host of activities taking place across weekend starting with a royal roast party on Saturday evening.

On Sunday people enjoyed the river pageant on a big screen in Cliff House, stalls on Whitestrand and there were some very creative royal fancy dress costumes.

Thankfully the wea-ther held and in the evening there was a spectacular fireworks display and the beacon was lit on Snapes Point.

Town Councillor Rob Wheeler said: 'The Jubilee celebrations held in Salcombe went brilliantly and attracted a large number of visitors, with events taking place at Cliff House, the church and a party held on Whitestrand during Monday.

'The town council wishes to extend their gratitude to the organisers of the weekends celebrations for a job well done.'

In Malborough Monday, afternoon was spent under questionable skies, but those who gathered around the village hall made the most of it enjoying the bouncy castles and tug of war.

The village was inundated with interesting characters from children's stories and nursery rhymes with over 60 entries for the scarecrow competition.

Highly commended entries included Sing a Song of Sixpence, Old Macdonald's Farm, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Mary quite contrary, Old King Cole and his Fiddlers three and Hey Diddle Diddle.

The Winner was The Wizard of Oz by Sue Sharp, Derek Jarvis and the Williams family of Higher Town.

The Most Imaginative Scarecrow was Old King Cole by the Pearse's of Collaton Road.

In the evening the hog roast started up and all ages joined the country dancing in the village hall before venturing out onto the field to watch the jubilee beacon being lit.

In South Milton the threat of rain failed to dampen the spirits of the family groups who attended a bring-your-own picnic lunch on Sunday.

The happy atmosphere was made more the merrier by a group of villagers performing the Floral Dance and other country dances under the direction of Phil Worth. Later, it was standing room only in the village hall to watch the river pageant on the big screen.

There was an exciting finish to Monday afternoon's cricket match before a large crowd attended a barbecue at the village hall, where the jubilee concert was shown on the big screen. The celebrations were rounded off by community singing, lighting the beacon and the cutting of a jubilee cake.

Other events over the weekend included a two-day exhibition staged by the local history group, short mat bowls and a church service, with an 11-voice village choir specially formed for the occasion, in All Saints' Church, which was decorated with jubilee flower arrangements.

Stokenham Primary School started their celebrations early with a jubilee party in the school hall.

Children gathered to enjoy sandwiches and scones that they had made in a week of jubilee themed activities. Susie Gerrard, 10, said: 'I have really enjoyed jubilee week and the scones we made have gone down very well'.

In Stokenham, the jubilee celebrations got underway on Monday afternoon with an old time sing-a-long, games, quizzes and at one point a couple looking remarkably like the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were seen serving behind the bar.

Many of those who attended had made special efforts with their wardrobes as the village green was turned red white and blue. 1st Stokenham Brownies and Guides entertained with some songs and the fun went on into the evening with the Red Bullets playing.

South Pool celebrated in a truly regal way. On Sunday, June 3, the village was woken by a jubilee peal by the South Pool Ringers calling everybody to a Service of Celebration at St Nicholas and St Cyriac Church.

The South Pool team had spent many hours decorating a new marquee for the jubilee luncheon in which nearly 150 guests attended a reception with live music.

Despite the distinctly cold and wet weather, around 30 boats 'dressed overall' with many colourful characters both on land and at sea took part in a Royal Water Pageant.

The marquee rocked from early in the evening until midnight to live music and a packed audience jubilantly and enthusiastically danced the night away.

On Monday evening to continue the celebrations – the Lighting of the Beacon took place at Jubilee Field.

Standing proud was the most magnificent brazier which had been designed and made by resident David Boon.

In Aveton Gifford around 35 vessels of all shapes and sizes joined in the village's river pageant. The event was joined by 'Audrey Hepburn' (Penny Schroeter) who joined the decorated floatilla in the African Queen.

Modbury marked the jubilee on Monday with games, BMX and skateboard ramps and a jubilee hat competition.

There was also a bicycle parade with prizes for the best decorated push-bike. The evening was spent in the recreation ground enjoying live music and barbecues as well as sharing an impressive array of puddings before lighting the town's jubilee beacon.

Mount Folly Farm played host to the Bigbury Jubilee celebrations as the village held its 'Keep calm and reign on' party. Farmer John Tucker provided the venue and hog roast as over 500 people turned out to watch the lighting of the Bigbury beacon.

Rising star Holly Keates entertained the crowds with her first live solo performance, followed by a disco from Iain Couper and a set of songs from the Bigbury hand bell players, the Belfonics.

The lighting of the beacon took place at 10.01pm and was followed by a firework display and celebrations that went on well into the night.