THE Queen's Golden Jubilee had a special lustre right across Teignbridge as people turned out in their thousands to join in a once-in-a-lifetime weekend of celebrations (writes RICHARD DAVIES).

Organisers of the marathon 14-hour family day out at Ipplepen's playing field came in for special praise from revellers as the village – helped by a spectacular £2,000 firework display – showed it could stand side by side with its larger neighbours when it came to waving the flag.

Also proving that small was beautiful, little Hennock would surely have won any prize for the most decorated houses with its profusion of Union flags.

With the emphasis so much on community and harmony it was a quiet four-day break.

The worst incident reported to police was two women fighting at Newton Abbot railway station on Sunday night, although three St George's flags were taken from outside a house in Lustleigh.

However at the village's parish church a huge crown of flowers, the centre piece of the flower festival, was mercifully untouched.

At Kingsteignton the Ram Roasting Fair doubled as the jubilee party, where Catherine Harris achieved a milestone of her own – 25 years as the fair's secretary.

For that was in essence what the weekend was all about – people. People coming together to celebrate, to reminisce, to look forward and to enjoy a very special golden moment in time.