Queen's Birthday Beacon to be lit on Castle Mound, Bedford - Tonight!
Bedford will tonight join hundreds of other towns and cities across the UK in holding public celebrations of celebration of the Queen's 90th Birthday, as Mayor Dave Hodgson lights a beacon on Castle Mound in Bedford.
The Prince of Wales will invite Her Majesty The Queen to light the Principal Beacon at Windsor Castle. This will be followed by the lighting of over 1,000 beacons throughout the United Kingdom, and across the world in celebration of this landmark birthday.
Beacons will be lit at in all areas of the UK including churches, parks, village greens and country estates. In addition, members of the Army Cadet Force will take beacons to the highest points of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Bedford beacon will be lit by Mayor Dave Hodgson and local residents are invited to attend the free celebration event, which begins at 7pm, with the beacon lighting at 7.30pm.
Local group The Bedford Pipe Band will play between 7pm and 7.30pm, before the beacon is lit. Following the lighting of the beacon a quartet from the Bedford Town Band will perform.
Mayor Dave commented: "This event is intended to give local residents an opportunity to come together for these unique celebrations, in common with communities across the country.'
"I look forward to lighting the beacon and joining others to mark the occasion on April 21, and at events to be held in June."
The Queen's official birthday will be celebrated in June and marked with a mass street party on the Mall on the weekend of 11-12 June. As with the Silver Jubilee in 1977, the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the nation is expected to mark the occasion with street parties and community events reflecting the events taking place in the capital, across the country.
If you are planning a street party or other event celebrating the Queen's official birthday on 11 June, you can get in touch with the Council via Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk