Fires were lit and the national anthem played out as the Isle of Wight celebrated 70 years of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s reign last night (Thursday) – with pop star Bryan Adams making an appearance at Culver Down.
More than 500 people travelled up to the top of Culver Down, overlooking Bembridge and the mainland, for the lighting of the recently-refurbished brazier.
The event got underway with Dr Kieran Cooney playing the bagpipes ahead of a blessing from Rev Steve Daughtery. Bugler Irene Burrow played a short piece to bring in the countdown as Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Caroline Peel reached up and lit the beacon, ably assisted by Scouts Jacob and Zoe Swann.
Cheers echoed out and soon the national anthem played – all captured on Island Echo’s live stream of the event which can be found here. 3 cheers were given to Her Majesty The Queen, rounding off a well-organised event.
Among those gathered as the sun set was pop star Bryan Adams, who has family ties to the village of Bembridge. Sadly, there was no impromptu performances!
The lighting was held slightly earlier than elsewhere – on a special dispensation – to allow for footage of the lighting to be fed back to the BBC for their national coverage of the Jubilee celebrations, putting the Isle of Wight on the map.
Elsewhere on the Island, at the regular time of 21:45, a number of different beacons were lit at the same time as thousands of others in villages, towns and cities across the country.
A small crowd gathered near The Pepper Pot – between Chale and Niton – where the beacon shone bright on the hilltop. Other beacons could clearly be seen looking West.
In Shorwell, Girlguiding IW hosted 1 of the 70 Girlguiding beacons lit across the UK. Present were the IW President Gioia Minghella-Giddens and her husband Richard, Girlguiding IW Commissioner Linda Stone and assistant Commissioners Anne Watson and Donna Sanders-Steele. All members present enjoyed camp-fire singing several donning camp-fire blankets.
A number of other local towns and villages put on an effort including Ryde, East Cowes, Cowes, St Helens and Yarmouth – with braziers also at The Needles and Tennyson Down.
Breaking news: climate change put on hold for jubilee celebrations, royals insist unnecessary journeys are necessary.
Yet climate change activists travel around the U.K. in coaches. Most of them still live in campsites burning bon fires all day long. Yet they are happy to keep breathing and wasting our oxygen, just like yourself.
Marxist joy sponge.
What a load of Cods whollop.The time money and effort should have been better spent sorting out sandown and the roads.Such a waste of tax payers money..
Perhaps they should have used Sandown as a beacon. It’s cost nothing to burn some waste wood!!! So no cost to Tax Payers.