Nottinghamshire County Council will join organisations across the country in lighting a beacon to celebrate HM The Queen’s 90th birthday next Thursday (21 April).

In total, more than 1,000 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK overseas Territories and a Commonwealth Country to celebrate this landmark birthday. The Queen herself will light the Principal Beacon at Windsor Castle.

Many different organisations are taking part from all areas of the local community, including Town, Parish and Community Councils and Youth Organisations. Beacons will be lit at churches, on farms, country parks, village greens and on country estates. Lighthouses, National Trust and English Heritage properties are also taking part.

Bruno Peek, LVO, OBE, OPR, Pageantmaster, The Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacons said, “It has been a 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.”

Coun Yvonne Woodhead, Vice-Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council will light the Nottinghamshire beacon in front of County Hall, West Bridgford at 7.45pm on the evening of Thursday, 21st April.

The event will include the reading of a special message from The Prince of Wales.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Prior to the lighting of the beacon refreshments will be available at County Hall from approximately 6.30pm.

Coun Woodhead said: “This is an historic event which will bring communities across the country together and I am delighted that Nottinghamshire County Council will be taking part in marking Her Majesty’s milestone birthday.

“It will give me great pride to light the beacon for Nottinghamshire and I hope residents will join us at this event or attend other similar events taking place across the county, country and commonwealth.”

The lighting of beacons has been a traditional way in which momentous national and royal occasions have been marked over the last 40 years, including:

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee – 1977
50th Anniversary of VE Day – 1995
Beacons for the Millennium – 1999
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – 2012