Locations of official Platinum Jubilee Beacons across West Midlands
The Black Country and Staffordshire is set to light up to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
In Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell and across the Wyre Forest and Cannock Chase, people will be setting light to official beacons to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on Bank Holiday Thursday, June 2.
It follows a tradition started in 1897 when beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Since then, beacons were lit for Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee, 2002 for her Golden Jubilee and 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee, as well as in 2016 for the Queen's 90th birthday.
On June 2, more than 2,022 beacons will be lit throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries to mark 70 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
The list of events across the region is starting to grow as councils, community groups and scout and guide groups prepare to celebrate the jubilee.
On Thursday, June 2, the Mayor of Dudley Councillor Anne Millward will light a beacon on behalf of the borough at the top of the keep at Dudley Castle, with beams of light also being displayed from Dudley Castle and Sedgley Beacon to mark the occasion.
Councillor Millward said: "Celebrating together is a way for our communities to show their support for the Queen, but also celebrate how neighbours have pulled together to support one another over what has been a challenging couple of years."
In Sandwell, the Sandwell Beacon Monument will be lit as part of the chain of beacons across the region, using environmentally-friendly lighting to illuminate the beacon, which will also aim to be visible alongside beacons in Dudley and Walsall.
In previous years, the beacons have been lit on the Rowley Hills overlooking the borough.
In Stafford, the beacon will be lit at Victoria Park as part of an evening event featuring poetry readings, music and speeches by dignitaries including the mayor, as well as a declaration by the town crier. Peter Taunton.
Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge, Stafford Borough Council cabinet member for leisure, said: "We are proud to be part of this momentous celebration.
"It is only appropriate that this unique milestone in history is marked with beacons and music.
"We are honoured to be part of this special event for Her Majesty, The Queen’s 70th year as our Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth on her Platinum Jubilee."
More events will be announced in the coming weeks, with all parts of the region set to take part in celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.
Locations of official jubilee beacons, which are set to be lit at 9.45pm on June 2:
Ravenhill's Got Talent (including lighting of Beacon), Ravenhill Park
Market Square, Rugeley
Picnic in the Park, Cannock Stadium
Brownhills Road Playing Fields, Norton Canes
Hixon Millennium Green Trust, Hixon Millennium Green, Hixon
Brocton Parish Council, Brocton
Eccleshall Castle, Eccleshall
Millennium Green, Great Wyrley
Kings Bromley Parish Council, Kings Bromley
Springhill Cricket Club, Lower Penn, Wolverhampton
Brownhills Road Playing Fields, Norton Canes
Oxleasows Farm, Chebsey, Stafford
Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield
Victoria Park, Stafford
St Michael and St Wulfad's Church, Stone
Beaudesert Activity Centre, Cannock Wood, Rugeley
War Memorial Park, Stourport-on-Severn
Heightington Village Hall, Bewdley
Dudley Castle, Dudley
Sandwell Beacon Memorial, Rowley Hills
Barr Beacon, Walsall (invitation only)
St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton
Full details of the Beacon Lighting and participating events can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60bb599c70faee6f7ef0835c/t/6277bc4ad91c307a62fbbe06/1652014174592/Guide_To_Taking_Part_Online.pdf
