A BEACON will light up over Lyme Bay for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this week.
It will be one of thousands being lit in the UK and across the Commonwealth and forms part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee Weekend.
Members of Lyme Bay National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) in conjunction with Burton Bradstock Parish Council has announced plans to light a beacon at the top of Cliff Road, where the NCI lookout is situated, on the evening of Thursday, June 2.
NCI members will also be present at the lighting of a beacon at Charmouth.
They will be among more than 2,022 lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the UK at 9.45pm. In addition, beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth capitals and the principal beacon lighting will take place at Buckingham Palace.
A beacon chain, once used as a tool for communication, has now become a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries and continents and is often the central point of focus for any outdoor gathering or celebration.
Judy Clarke, on behalf of Lyme Bay NCI, 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.
"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.
"This beacon has been arranged in conjunction with Burton Bradstock Parish Council which funded the beacon and allowed the use of their land.”
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons and Associated Activities have been conceived and organised by Pageantmaster Bruno Peek and his team.
Mr Peek 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 .
“For the first time, town criers, pipers, buglers and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations.
"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.”
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