Selkirk company helps light up Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Last updated 1st Jun 2022
From Edinburgh Castle to the Eildon Hills, Berwick and beyond; communities around the Commonwealth will light beacons to signal the start of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Many of them have been made by a Selkirk-based company, which revealed the gas-fuelled design's been inspired by the Crown Jewels used at Her Majesty's Coronation in 1953.
James Maybury (pictured) established Fountain Designs in the Borders in the 1980s. He told Radio Borders News: "It's great to see that something that's made in the Borders is being seen across the world.
"Three months ago we sent our first few out because they needed to be on ships; there are some in New Zealand, Australia and Canada - but mostly across Britain."
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The Selkirk company - which was supported by local firms T & R Keddies and Cademuir Engineering - is one of two official suppliers.
It's not the first time its work has been given the Royal seal of approval, however. It stepped in last minute to make beacons to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee ten years ago, after demand outstripped supply.
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"We've ended up making over 500," James said. "Last time we made it - because it was the Diamond Jubilee - the top of it looked like the part of a ring which holds the diamond; and, although that was good, it was dark before it was lit and then, once it was lit, it was engulfed in flames; so, this time, I said: 'Let's do it so you get something silhouetted'.
"You get the Crown silhouetted against the flame, so there's something to see there. And we've got the EIIR scroll underneath which reflects the light, so it's quite nice and does something when you light it."
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The beacons will be lit simultaneously at 9.45pm on June 2nd - with Selkirk, Duns, Melrose and Berwick among the communities hosting ceremonies.