Villagers come together for Olympic-themed picnic lunch and games

MORE than 50 people attended an Olympic-themed Big Lunch at Tokers Green.

With the sun beaming down on the Rokeby Drive recreation field in Chazey Heath, residents enjoyed a range of home-made food.

Catherine Haines was given a bouquet of flowers and a badge for her ginger cake, which was decorated in icing with the Olympic rings.

Dylan Scott, six, who cooked a sausage roll in the shape of the rings, was also honoured.

Children’s activities included archery, badminton and football.

Joanna Feast, a consultant for Sport in Mind, said: “Physical activity has such good benefits for the body and the mind. With this year being an Olympic year, it will hopefully encourage people to get active.”

Other attractions included a book and a plant stall.

Ian Beale, of Tokers Green Lane, who ran the book stall, said: “More than 100 friends and neighbours from the village came together on a beautiful sunny day to share food and conversation — it was fantastic.”

The Boot Boys, a 14-man band of over-60s, sang and played ukuleles and guitars under a gazebo.

Lead guitarist Tudor Taylor, 69, from Shiplake, said: “We try to get together at least once a month to play but mostly just play in our own time, so events like these are particularly fun, especially when the weather is so nice.”

Organiser Fiona Harland said: “It was a great. People who have lived here for ages came but I was pleased to see a lot of new people too. The main aim is to have a friendly, relaxed afternoon.”

The Big Lunch is a national initiative started in 2009 by the Eden Project and designed to bring neighbours and communities together to share friendship, food and fun.

More than £500 was raised, which will go towards the village’s community orchard and new batteries and pads for the defibrillator in Rokeby Drive, Tokers Green, which was installed in 2017 after a fundraising campaign with the help of the Millie’s Dream appeal.