We are joining others across the UK and the Commonwealth in lighting a beacon, as the country’s newest City plays its part in significant royal celebrations for the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
There are over 1,500 beacons being lit across the nation and Commonwealth on Thursday 2 June 2022, the first evening of the four-day Jubilee weekend. The lighting of the beacon will enable local communities to give tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, as part of the official programme of events.
Location
Southend Cenotaph, Southend Cliff Gardens, Clifftown Parade, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1DL
Programme
9:35pm - Solo piper performance by local musician Iain Allen, performing Diu Regnare by Stuart Liddell. The same music will be performed by every piper across the UK.
9:40pm - Bugler call by local brass player David Hurrell will perform “Majesty”, again in line with the national programme
9:45pm - Lighting of the Beacon
9:45pm - A choir of 70+ singers from local choirs will come together to form the “Southend City Chorus” performing a specially commissioned “Song for the Commonwealth, A Life lived with Grace”, Music by: Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu, Lyrics by: Lucy Kiely
Cllr Stephen George, leader of the council, said: “It is a great honour to be lighting the Queen’s Jubilee Beacon. Not only will it be a wonderful event to bring our City and its communities together, but we will be lighting one of over 1,500 simultaneously with the rest of the UK and the Commonwealth, bringing together our nation whilst we mark this historical event.
“I would like to thank those involved in the planning of this event and hope that the City’s residents and visitors will join together at the Cenotaph for the beacon lighting.”
For more information on what we have planned for the Platinum Jubilee weekend, please visit The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on the Visit Southend website