Beacons to be lit in Shrewsbury and Telford for Queen's 90th birthday

Her Majesty will light the Principal Beacon at Windsor Castle which will be followed by the lighting of a number of beacons along the Long Walk, Windsor Great Park, including one at the Copper Horse, and then over 1,000 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK overseas Territories and a Commonwealth Country to celebrate the landmark birthday.

In Shrewsbury, a brass band will perform in the Square from 7.30pm until shortly before 8pm when the National Anthem will be sung. Following this the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy, will light the beacon.

Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Miles Kenny said: “Shrewsbury Town Council is delighted to have been given the opportunity to organise this event as part of the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations. Everyone is welcome to attend and I look forward to leading a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday in honour of Her Majesty.”

Sir Algernon Heber-Percy added: “Our office has received a message from HRH The Prince of Wales, expressing his delight at the very many people coming together to light beacons in celebration of The Queen’s 90th birthday. I know the people of Shropshire would wish to be associated with his message and send our warmest congratulations to Her Majesty.”

In Telford, a beacon will be lit with a ceremony taking place from 7pm on the balcony at Southwater One. Invited guests include Wing Commander Darren Thorley from RAF Cosford, Colonel Richard Mayberry, Deputy Commander of 11th Signal & West Midlands Brigade, Telford MP Lucy Allan and members of Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet. They will be welcomed by the Abraham Darby Academy Showband, who will be playing for 20 minutes as people arrive.

Councillor Leon Murray, mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin, will deliver a short address before the band plays the national anthem God Save The Queen.

Council leader Councillor Kuldip Sahota will then light the symbolic beacon before a short address by the Vice Lord Lieutenant Col Edmund Thewles DL. He will then lead the gathering in singing Happy Birthday before the band plays as the gathering disperses.

Members of the public who are interested in marking the occasion can enjoy the ceremony from the edge of Southwater Lake, as space on the balcony is limited.

Councillor Murray said: “I am delighted that so many people throughout the UK are coming together to light beacons in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

“I am also very proud to be playing a leading role in Telford’s ceremony to mark the occasion by lighting a symbolic beacon to mark this happy event.”

A beacon will also be lit on top of Grinshill to mark the Queen's 90th Birthday.

Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster for The Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacons said: “It has been an enormous privilege to be able to organise this amazing community event to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. I am delighted to see so many different organisations playing their part.”

There is a long and unbroken tradition in our country of celebrating Royal jubilees, weddings, coronations and special birthdays with the lighting of beacons - on top of mountains, churches and castle battlements, on town and village greens, farms, country parks and estates, and along the beaches surrounding our shores. The last major beacon celebration was on Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on 4 June 2012.

Beacons have previously been lit for:
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee – 1977
50th Anniversary of VE Day – 1995
Beacons for the Millennium – 1999
The Queen’s Golden Jubilee – 2002
The Trafalgar Weekend Beacons – 2005
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – 2012
75th Anniversary of VE Day – 2015