© Richardyt / The Paganhill Maypole Society

Welcome To The Web Site of The Paganhill Maypole, Gloucestershire, England.

The Paganhill Maypole is maintained wholly from donations from local people and the fund raising activities of the committee of the Paganhill Maypole Society

1977 — Silver Jubilee Maypole (Queen Elizabeth II)

In January 1977 a public meeting was called at the Maypole Hall, Paganhill, to discuss providing a new maypole. The village had been without its pole for seven years largely due to lack of local interest.

It was perhaps now felt that this might be a suitable time to set up a token of celebration for the forthcoming twenty fifth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. Of the

original committee only Mr. Ted Wheeler (Chairman) and Mr. Les Seymour (Treasurer) remained.

Mr Wheeler said that he had accepted the offer of a suitable tree from Mr. Walter Griffiths of Wick Street, and Brunsdon’s of Ryeford would be awarded the contract for the felling as they had considerable experience. Help would be needed to debark and prepare the pole and Mr Allen, landlord of the Old Crown Inn gave permission for this work to be carried out in his car park as the strip of grass alongside Field Place, opposite the Inn, had since been planted up by the owner.

The 80 foot larch tree was cut in February and delivered by Denis Brown and Sons, timber hauliers of Woodchester, and placed on nine wooden trestles. Committee members, Bill Blewitt and Reg Watkins, using tools loaned by Mr.Workman of Westrip, removed the bark and trimmed down over two hundred knots along the length of the trunk in a single two hour session.

Two weeks later Mr. Chandler and David Harmer excavated the new hole for the pole and extracted the stump of the previous maypole. A concrete footing, donated by Selby Bros. of Lightpill, was then poured in to support the base of the new pole.

Mr Ted Wheeler and Mr Bill Blewitt screwing the plaque to the pole

watched by Mr Reg Watkins

The new maypole was finally erected at 9.00 am on Saturday 4th June 1977 and the 25 year old union flag, repaired for the occasion by Miss M. Tarrant of Farmhill, was duly hoisted.

The pole was topped with the old weather vane which had been gold leafed by

Mr F. Beames of Brimscombe at a cost of £32.

Inside the vane, the signatures of all those who had been present, were concealed along with other small momentoes.

The copper plaque was refitted with the original ‘Coronation’ and ‘1952’ having been altered to ‘Jubilee’ and ‘1977’.

 In the afternoon, Messrs. Apperley, Blewitt, Chandler, Griffiths and Seymour, raised a light unit consisting of four 500 watt bulbs, up a special track supplied by Bill Coombes of Paganhill Garage, to the top of the pole.

They also hung strings of coloured lights in the trees of Upfield School and along the front of the cottages of Maypole Terrace and Alma Terrace.

Tubs of flowers, donated by Sutton’s of Stroud, were set round the foot of the pole to complete the decorations. This was a very colourful scene much appreciated by passers by.

On the Sunday a Combined Service of Dedication was held round the pole, conducted by the Rev. John Roberts assisted by Mr. Poley. The Nailsworth Silver Band played the hymns and later, because of the bad weather, retired to the Maypole Hall to perform a concert which was followed by a light supper enjoyed by members of the committee and helpers.

A collection during the day raised £20 towards funds.

On the Tuesday evening, 7th June, many attended the Barbecue & Dance held on the road junction under the lights at the top of the pole which could be seen for miles around.

During the following four years the Maypole Fund Committee met regularly to organise money raising activities such as whist drives, bingo, band concerts, fim shows, exhibitions, coffee mornings, rummage sales, etc. These, collectively, raised over £225 towards maintenance and repainting.

The unpainted pole awaiting fitting of the weather vein and plague

Mr Ted Wheeler and Mr Bill Horton with the 8ft weather vein

The modified Plaque

The 1977 unpainted Maypole stands proud

On Saturday 20th June 1981, the pole was lowered for painting to coincide with the forthcoming Royal Wedding of

H.R.H. Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. This cost was sponsored by Mr. Bill Coombes of Paganhill Garage.

At this time is was discovered that the weather vane had been peppered with lead shot by somebody using it for target practice.

A country & Western Band and a Brass Band Concert were organised.

In August 1985 the maypole was slightly re-positioned at the joint request of the Highways Authority and the Stroud District Council to allow buses easier access to and from Archway School. Bill Horton was elected to succeed as Chairman. Ken Knowles and Richard Wheeler also joined the committee.

In October 1990 a hurricane swept through southern England causing much devastation following which concerns were raised regarding the general state of the pole. The pole was taken down for a more detailed examination but its condition was found to be reasonably satisfactory.

The maypole proudly stands in view of Maypole Terrace and Alma Terrace painted in the traditional red white and blue

The newly painted pole is ready for raising

Almost up supervised by Ted Wheeler

The committee at this time was chaired by Mr. Ted Wheeler with Les Seymour (Treasurer), Mrs. Margaret Barnes (Secretary),

Messrs. Bill Blewitt, Bill Chandler, Walter Griffiths, W.J. Herrington, Clive White, Reg Watkins, Mr. Stevens and Richard White.

Bill Horton and Peter Harris were co-opted later.

Audio extracts by Mr Reg Watkins of the raising of the Jubilee pole in 1977