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Town criers have shared the news...so when are the beacons being lit in Aberdeenshire?


By Kirsty Brown

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Local beacons will be will be one of over 2022 lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the UK.

In addition, beacons will be lit in all 54 Commonwealth capitals and the Principal Beacon lighting will take place in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace this evening.

This will take the form of a lighting installation with The Queen’s Green Canopy 'Tree of Trees’ sculpture and projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace.

"This innovative new way of taking part in the beacon lighting will reflect the Royal Family’s long history championing environmental causes.

Pageantmaster of The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Beacons Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR said: “Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, thousands of beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

"They will enable local communities to join together to pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.

“For the first time, town criers, pipers, buglets and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations in their own individual and special way.

"It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting, which will highlight both the diversity and unity of the nation and the Commonwealth.

"The Queen has lit up our lives for 70 years through her dedicated service and commitment.

"We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour.”

Turriff And District Community Council Chairperson, John Smith, said: “We and our Community 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.”

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons and Associated Activities have been conceived and organised by Pageantmaster Bruno Peek and his dedicated team.

Turriff's town crier Sandy MacAskill. Picture: Kirsty Brown
Turriff's town crier Sandy MacAskill. Picture: Kirsty Brown

The timeline for Beacon lightings, although events might change at individual locations, is as follows:

· At 2pm town criers will announce a specially-written Proclamation heralding the lighting of the beacons.

· At 9.35pm local time across the UK and Commonwealth, pipers and pipe bands will play Diu Regnare, a unique tune specially written for the occasion by Piper Major, Stuart Liddell, the world’s leading piper.

· At 9.40pm buglers linked to local beacon lightings across the UK and the capital cities of the Commonwealth will officially announce the lighting of the beacons with a specially written bugle call, entitled Majesty.

· At 9.45pm exactly, to coincide with the lighting of the beacons, community choirs will sing Song For The Commonwealth, which has been written and composed by Lucy Keily, from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria.

For more information on local beacon events:


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