JUST months after hosting the Queen on her historic visit to north Wiltshire, Malmesbury will be without a community celebration to toast her golden jubilee.
This week, football club chairman Brian Slade confirmed it had cancelled its celebration due to lack of cash.
The football club was due to hold a party day at its ground at The Flying Monk Playing Field, on June 3.
Now, all Malmesbury has to mark the Queen's jubilee year is a party organised by Westport residents at St Mary's Hall, in Gloucester Road, and an open-air service at the Cloister Gardens on June 3, organised by Churches Together.
Andy Nurden, of Malmesbury Garden Centre, on Crudwell Road, is also organising an event.
In comparison, the High Streets of Chippenham and Marlborough will be lined with trestle tables for a party to celebrate the jubilee.
Even the villages around Malmesbury have got into the spirit, with Sherston, Crudwell and Oaksey all holding celebrations.
Mr Slade said if something is not organised soon then everyone in the town will be missing out.
"People are totally disappointed because this is a once in a lifetime event and I think we should be celebrating it," he said.
The Malmesbury Vics chairman, who sat on the town council until this year, said he shares the responsibility, but feels the town council should have taken the lead.
"I think generally that the residents of Malmesbury are disappointed that our town council didn't take a lead and budget for an event," said Mr Slade.
Coun Catherine Doody, a member of the town council, who also represents Malmesbury on North Wiltshire District Council, said the town council did its bit in organising the Queen's visit to the town on December 7.
She said there was still time to organise a central community celebration, but the onus was on others.
"The onus cannot sit on the town council, we haven't got the manpower to do it," she said.
"If groups come forward and if we get together then yes, of course we can do it, and if everybody put a bit of money in I am sure we could do it."
North Wiltshire's MP James Gray said there should still be time for a major community event to be set up in the town.
"There are celebrations elsewhere in north Wiltshire and I hope that Malmesbury can do the same," he said.
The football club missed out on Lottery funding for its event because of a discrepancy over the date when its application went in. Mr Gray said he would take the issue up with the Awards for All scheme, responsible for allocating funds.
Malmesbury Mayor John Bowen said he had been approached about helping sort out a road closure for a jubilee party near Corn Gastons.
He said people were responding and organising things in the town. "I am really, really pleased that people are taking the initiative," said Coun Bowen.
He reiterated that the town council was making open spaces, such as St Aldhelm's Mead and the Newton Grove play area, available for picnics and parties.
However, he said it would be irresponsible of the council to spend taxpayer's money organising an event that may only attract a minority of the residents.
"We didn't had a groundswell of people six months ago saying, hey, we want to do something for the jubilee," said Coun Bowen.
Meanwhile, The Suffolk Arms on Tetbury Hill, Malmesbury, has stepped in to fill the jubilee void.
Landlady Pam Marshall said it is to organise a family party in the pub's garden on June 1, between 2-6pm, followed by an adult's disco in the evening.
On June 3 The Suffolk Arms is holding a jubilee ball from 8pm-1am, with tickets priced at £6. The evening includes a champagne breakfast.
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