Sussex's night skies to be lit up with Platinum Jubilee Beacons
A number of events are taking place
Hundreds of beacons will be lit across the UK and the Commonwealth tonight (Thursday 2nd June) to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Each county here has been tasked with getting 70 to be lit, one for each year The Queen has sat on the throne.
It's a tradition which dates back to the 1800s, when they were lit in celebration of Queen Victoria - and have been used for major royal events ever since.
Tonight, the lighting will take place at around 9.15pm, with the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace.
Bruno Peek is the National, Pageant Master of The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Beacons:
"Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, thousands of beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom, 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.”
WHERE WE CAN WE SEE THEM?
A number of events are planned across Sussex - some of these include:
East Sussex
Battle
Bexhill on Sea - Galley Hill
Bognor Regis - Seafront (The Esplanade)
Chalvington
Crawley - Tilgate Park
Crowborough - Goldsmiths Recreation Ground
Fairlight - Battery Hill
Hartfield - Village Croft Green
Haywards Heath – Victoria Park (Twineham), Beacon Hill - Hookers Farm, (Twineham)
Heathfield - Cade Street Recreation Ground (Old Heathfield)
Horam - Horam Recreation Ground
Hove - Hove seafront
Lewes - Mount Harry, Malling Down
Ninfield - The Green
Rye - Beacon Ridge