WARWICKSHIRE’S Lord Lieutenant is encouraging people, businesses and community organisations in the county to begin registering to take part in a special event to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th year as Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth – an achievement no previous monarch has reached – will be marked on June 2 next year.
And to celebrate the milestone a national lighting of the beacons event is being planned.
More than 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the UK and its overseas territories, and one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries in recognition of The Queen’s long and selfless service.
The beacons will enable local communities, individuals and organisations to pay tribute to The Queen as part of the official Platinum Jubilee Weekend of celebrations running from the June 2 to 5.
There are three types of beacons being lit for this historic occasion:
* A free-standing beacon fuelled by bottle gas.
* A beacon brazier with a metal shield . This could be built by local craftsmen/women or adopted as a project by a local organisation.
*A bonfire beacon.
Communities with existing beacon braziers are also encouraged to light these on the night.
Warwickshire’s Lord Lieutenant Tim Cox said: “This is likely to be the last chain of beacons lit on this scale during The Queen’s 70-year reign, and the Warwickshire Lieutenancy are encouraging as many local organisations, community groups, businesses and individuals as possible to participate in this special tribute to Her Majesty on the June 2.
“With just a few months left of 2021, now is a great time to start spreading the word and begin registering interest to get involved in this special event.
“Let’s work towards making this the largest celebration of its kind that Warwickshire has ever seen.”
Warwickshire County Council culture spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms added: “We are delighted to be supporting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons in Warwickshire, and we will be encouraging local communities throughout the county to safely light beacons as part of the celebration in 2022.
“The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be a really special moment in our history, and so we encourage people to begin registering to get involved and be a part of this incredible occasion that we will look back on both now and in future generations.”
Choirs in local communities are encouraged to sing a specially written song to coincide with the lighting of the beacons. A competition for Commonwealth writers, composers, and choirs to create the song is currently underway by The Commonwealth Resounds. For more information visit www.commonwealthresounds.com/
Previously beacons have been lit to commemorate the Silver (1977), Golden (2002) and Diamond (2012) Jubilees of The Queen, and in 2016 for her 90th birthday.
Get Involved
For more information on how to get involved contact the Warwickshire Lieutenancy at [email protected]
Visit www.queensjubileebeacons.com/ for more information about The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons event.
