A Platinum Jubilee - or indeed anniversary - is a fairly uncommon occurrence and it requires a very special token in recognition. As a Parish Council, we discussed many different ideas as a gift from us to the school, such as coins, cups, spoons, bookmarkers and pictures. However we wanted something that would be suitable not only to make an occasion for the day itself and for the children attending in 2022, but to bear fruit for the generations of children that follow them.

The idea of bearing fruit was one we were all enthusiastic about: what about a fruit tree that would grow and flourish - and provide break-time snacks for future Stapleford Academy pupils? And there was a clear winner - an apple tree called "The Queen." It was a unanimous hit with the Parish Council and with the school management team when we suggested it to them.

We discovered that this particular tree is native to Essex, having been developed here over 200 years ago - adding an overlay of proud localism to the patriotic day. These trees, naturally enough, were hugely popular with people planning garden-related events for the Platinum Jubilee - so much so that the growers only released a certain number per day on their website, leading to the parish clerk counting down the seconds to midnight when the next tranche of trees was up for sale!

The planting ceremony itself took place on May 31, just as the school broke up for their spring half-term holiday. It was attended by the school pupils, staff, ground crew and Cllr Kim Lidlow of the Parish Council, who had very kindly cared for the tree since its delivery to the village. We look forward to the tree growing along with the pupils... and beyond.