Thanks to Packington Post photographer Karn Turnbull for these dramatic images of our Bonfire Night Saturday 5th November 2022 celebration at the Recreation Ground:
Bonfire Night 2022
August Bank Holiday Monday Open Gardens 2022
Our village Open Gardens has been running for 30 years, and this year was led by High Street residents Nick and Joy Gravestock – who also provided live music for much of the afternoon at their venue, as seen below with Joy on violin and Nick on guitar:
Again this year our Open Gardens was a success, benefitting from nice weather with the tiniest hint of a few spots of very light rain ( – a shame, perhaps, because after two weeks of drought, there wasn’t enough water in the brook at Mill Street to later stage the Annual Packington Duck Race.)
Packington Post is delighted to publish these excellent photos by star village photographer Karn Turnbull – click on an image for full definition:
See you next year, on August Bank Holiday Monday 2023 ?
Platinum Jubilee Review – Saturday 4th June 2022 – Party in the Park
The evening Packington Platinum Jubilee Party in the Park on Saturday 4th June 2022 was another major village event. The wind was a little wearing, with blankets and thick coats in evidence, but a large circle of gazebos and tented windbreaks had quickly sprung up in a ring, focussed on the live music in the trailer from a very special local Ashby group of musicians. Much fancy dress was evident, and folk were seen enjoying themselves from 6pm until almost dark at ten pm.
Tap or Click on an image in the gallery below for higher-definition !
Platinum Jubilee Review – Saturday 4th June 2022 – Strawberry Cream Tea afternoon: 2 – 4pm
Platinum Jubilee Review – Friday 3rd June 2022 – Packington Tree-planting
A small gathering of thirty people saw the Platinum Jubilee Oak planted in the new North-West graveyard, together with a commemorative plaque. This marked the start of what the village hopes will be the first of many trees planted in this Jubilee year. It will form a response to the Queen’s wish for a Green Canopy.
Lesley quoted “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” (Rabindranath Tagore)
Lesley Birtwhistle presided over the proceedings while Chris Miles, the Chairman of the Parish Council, added a few words. Then with the help of Councillor Robert Martin the oak tree was in place, and we hope it will be present for many, many years.
Platinum Jubilee Review – Thursday 2nd June 2022 – Packington Rounders & Beacon Lighting
Over forty participants played a Rounders Tournament from 7 pm – and really enjoyed this typically English game. Each game lasted 30 minutes. Teams with a mixture of youth and experience played, some slogged the ball for miles, others put in massive amounts of energy but missed completely!
A sizeable crowd supported the games. Encouraging words were shouted, giving the event a real feel-good factor. “We should do more of this” was said by many. The winning team, “The Golden Oldies“ won all their matches. The team included
- Bailey Baker,
- Tom Dallow,
- Olivia Dallow,
- Samuel Sharpe,
- Joe Tebbett,
- Fin Brown,
- Lucas Brown and
- Anthony Brown, plus three or four more players shying away from media coverage.
As the daylight began to fade the tractor making final preparations to the beacon arrived. Matt, our newly crowned “Fire Master”, balanced the final sections of the beacon in place and with the aid of his “Cherry Picker” he began preparations to light the beacon.
Bang on 9.45pm, when all the beacons in the country were lit, so was Packington’s. With the aid of the Cherry Picker, the eight metre-tall wooden construction was lit at the top and within seconds it was a mass of flames, licking further upwards towards the sky:
A brilliant job; “more like a beacon than a beacon”, “wow!”, “What a sight!” said viewers. Phones were out taking pictures and in a few short minutes the whole structure was alight. Well done to Matt, Bob and Dave, who had helped with this successful project.
and – Well done everybody. A great evening!
Packington in bloom – April 2022
“Oh to be in England, now that April’s here” – our village had some spectacular blossoms on 19th April 2022..
Big Breakfast Photos 2022
Over two hundred and thirty breakfasts were served at the amazing 2022 Packington Big Charity Breakfast in our village Memorial Hall on Saturday 5th March, and Packington Post volunteer photographers recorded the scenes here and here
Big Breakfast 2022 – Saturday 5th March 9am to 1pm
Many of us think this is THE major village event, each year bringing village folk together for a memorable occasion. Many of us enjoy the breakfasts, but also enjoy helping with the event as volunteers. This year Debbie Hamilton is organising, and will be delighted if you can assist, and happy too if you can come and enjoy the breakfast, with profit going this year to local charity Hospice Hope. Here are the details:
See you there?
Book Launch and Signing – Saturday 4th December 2021 – 10 am to 1 pm, at Memorial Hall
Our Packington Village History Group PVHG is to publish a new book about life in the inter-war years in our village. Prepared from archive recordings of interviews two decades ago of village elderly residents, the new book is to be launched on Saturday 4th December 2021, at the Memorial Hall meeting room, from 10 am to 1 pm.
2021 Packington Children’s Christmas Party! (Now sold out)
UPDATE: SOLD OUT
This is the first year we have ran this event and we have been overwhelmed by the support the event has been shown. Unfortunately due to venue capacity and the need to ensure everyone gets to meet Santa, we are no longer able to accept any further registrations. If you want to be added to the cancellation list or notified of next years event please submit your details using the form below.
MEET Santa Claus | See REAL reindeer | DANCE at the Christmas Disco | PLAY Christmas party games | SHOP the Christmas Stalls | EAT and DRINK Festive Refreshments
Introducing the first annual Packington Children’s Christmas Party, organised by a satellite group of Ashby Rotary Club with all proceeds going to local charities including, “Rainbows”, “Wishes for Kids” and other Rotary charities.
The party will take place on Saturday, December 18th between 14:30 and 18:00 at Packington Memorial Hall. Children will be able to meet Santa and some of his reindeers, as well as having fun playing party games being organised by a children’s entertainer and dancing away at the disco. There will also be a range of Christmas stalls and festive refreshments for children and adults.
The event will be free of charge, with all the children receiving a small gift from Santa, but any donations made would be very much appreciated. Spaces are limited but you can reserve your tickets by clicking here.
🔥 2021 Packington Bonfire Party 🔥
We are all excited for the return of the annual Packington Bonfire Party on Friday 5th November. The bonfire will be lit as near to 7pm as possible and there will be two sessions of display fireworks. In the interval there will be a sparkler session for youngsters accompanied by an adult, this will be free of charge.
Entry will be via the top entrance to the play-area, on Vicarage Lane. If you park in the Recreation Ground car park, please walk up Vicarage Lane to this entrance, it is a safer access in the dark. The event itself is free but we shall ask you for a donation, which can be gift-aided, and will help the charity to pursue its aims.
Hot dogs, burgers, punch and drinks can be purchased, and we hope you all have an enjoyable time. Please come and support this event no matter what the weather. There will be over £750 of display fire works – the charity had to pay a hefty £400 insurance premium to stage this bonfire, so we need to see the whole of Packington on the Recreation Ground.
Please DO NOT BRING ANY OF YOUR OWN FIREWORKS to this event. This includes sparklers. It is a condition of the insurance that only authorised fireworks are displayed, in a safe and secure environment.
🎃 The Great Packington Pumpkin Hunt 2021 🎃
This Sunday 31st October sees the return of the spooktacular Great Packington Pumpkin Hunt. Pumpkins will be on display from 4pm at the locations shown below.
Download and print your map below, or collect printed copies from Daybreak Services and Poochies of Packington.
How many pumpkins will you be able to find?
Proposed Development of 11 New Homes at Ashby Road, Packington – Initial Information
The Developer’s agent, Andrew Large Surveyors of Staunton Harold, are to hold an informal drop-in display and presentation in our village Memorial Hall at 6 pm – 7:30 pm on Tuesday 12th October. David Harris-Watkins with colleagues of the Surveyors will be there to explain the proposal, and to take note of any suggestions or amendments from village residents.
Duck Races – Major Excitement on Bank Holiday Evening !
Bank Holiday Monday – 30th August 2021 – saw intense excitement at the annual Packington Duck Race, when the coulmn of leading ducks stalled at the last ten metres of Gilwiskaw Brook – slowed, then reversed by a strong breeze from the South!
Duck Steward Chris Miles had been following the leaders, and using his microphone to inform the large audience of excited children – and excited adults too – of the running order of duck numbers, but the sudden reversal caused astonishment.
Eventually a winning coterie of several huddled-together ducks crossed the finish line, and thus the Winning Numbers in Race One were: 133, then 140, third 25.
The second race saw similar heart-stopping changes in duck-leadership, with the eventual result: winner 213, then 247, third 191.