To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday on Thursday (April 21), a beacon will be lit on Saffron Walden Common at 8pm. Elizabeth II is now the longest-reigning and oldest serving monarch for the United Kingdom.
The fire will be lit at 8pm, around dusk, by the Mayor of Saffron Walden, Councillor Heather Asker, who said: “School children have been invited and I hope we will sing happy birthday, very loudly to the Queen.”
The event has been organised by the town council inviting the townspeople to the event saying: “We would like commemorate and recognise this momentous occasion and celebrate the longevity and achievements of our Queen by lighting a beacon on the common.
“There is a long and unbroken tradition in our country of celebrating royal jubilees, weddings, coronations and special birthdays with the lighting of a beacon and the town council wishes to uphold and maintain that tradition. This will be an occasion to remember and become part of our history.”
The day was also due to be marked this afternoon with a royal-themed tea party for elderly people in Thaxted at Cutlers’ Kitchen Day Centre, where six people aged 90 will be given medals by Uttlesford District Council. There will be another party in the town on Saturday, June 11, to mark the Queen’s official birthday celebrated annually by a Trooping of the Colour in London. The Saffron Walden June celebration will be in The Garden Room in Jubilee Gardens off George Street and mainly for senior citizens.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here