Queens 90th Birthday Celebrations, 21 April 2016
Published: 12 April 2016
There is a long and unbroken tradition in our country of celebrating Royal jubilees, weddings, coronations and special birthdays with the lighting of beacons. The last major beacon celebration was on Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on 4 June 2012.
There will be a further opportunity to celebrate on Thursday 21 April 2016, when beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom and further afield in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday. Lichfield City Council will be hosting a free celebration, beginning with a Civic Parade from the Guildhall to Minster Pool at 6:30pm. School children will then read their own compositions - completed as part of a local competition - at Speakers Corner on Dam St from 7:00pm, followed by the dedication of a Tilia Europeae tree along Pool Walk and the lighting of a Beacon in the Memorial Gardens at 8:00pm with musical accompaniment.
Refreshments will be available from Minster Hall café on Pool Walk, a project run by people with learning difficulties along with volunteers under the umbrella of Sherratts Wood Community Interest Company. The event will end at around 8:30pm.
The Mayor of Lichfield, Councillor Andrew Smith said “The City Council is honoured to join with hundreds of other councils and communities across the country in celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday. By highlighting the contributions of local schoolchildren and the work of staff and volunteers at Minster Hall café, our celebrations will emphasise the community spirit and future potential of our City”.
The public is welcome to attend from 6:45pm on 21 April, and schoolchildren’s compositions for the event will be on display in the main corridor of the Guildhall on St George’s Day (Saturday 23 April).