The Beacon is one of thousands being lit in the UK and the Commonwealth, and forms part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee Weekend.
Beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth capitals and the Principal Beacon lighting will take place in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening. This will take the form of a lighting installation with The Queen’s Green Canopy ’Tree of Trees’ sculpture and projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace. This innovative new way of taking part in the beacon lighting will reflect the Royal Family’s long history championing environmental causes.
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Beacons said: “Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, thousands of beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. They will enable local communities to join together to pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.
“For the first time, town criers, pipers, buglets and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations in their own individual and special way. It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting, which will highlight both the diversity and unity of the nation and the Commonwealth. The Queen has lit up our lives for 70 years through her dedicated service and commitment. We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour.”
The Beacon will be lit at the mound at the end of the lake in Woodford Park in Woodley, by the basketball court. It will be one of over 2,022 lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the UK. Please arrive by 21.30 if you would like to be part of this historical occasion.
The beacon will be lit by Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel, at 21.45 when Bel Canto Choir, a local female singing group, will perform the Song for the Commonwealth, a new song which has been written and composed specially to mark the occasion by Lucy Keily, from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria.
The Town Crier will be making a proclamation in the Town Centre at 2pm on Thursday 2nd June.
The Council has purchased an approved gas fuelled beacon for the event.
Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel, said: “We are proud to be part of this momentous celebration. It is only appropriate that this unique milestone in history is marked with beacons and music. We are honoured to be part of this special event for Her Majesty, The Queen’s 70th year as our Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth on her Platinum Jubilee.”
