Thatcham to light beacon for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Thatcham Town Council will be taking part in the national Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting festivities on June 2.

The commemorative beacon will be lit at the Dunstan Green Playing Fields at 9.45pm in line with the lighting of beacons across all UK and Commonwealth nations.

Thatcham primary schools will create a mass choral choir to sing a specially written and composed Song for the Commonwealth. Music teacher Pedro Santos has been commissioned to work on this.

This song, which was written and composed by Lucy Keily from Australia and Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu from Nigeria, will also be sung by many community choirs that are taking part throughout the UK.

A town crier is to declare a special written proclamation announcing the start of the celebrations in the town centre.

The evening, starting at 8.03pm, will be a change for families to “join the festivities” and make a commemorative item.

There will be dance displays, street theatre and music from Cold Ash Brass Band.

At 9.40pm a “specially written” bugle call, entitled Majesty will officially announce the lighting of the beacon.

The primary school’s choir will then sing the specially commissioned music just before 9.45pm and the lighting of over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons.

Thatcham Town Council has also said that it will not be possible to park at Dunstan Green on the day.

It has asked the public to make alternative arrangements.

Nearest parking is at Bradley-Moore Square car park or the Kingsland Centre car park in the town centre.

More information on all jubilee events can be found on the town council’s Facebook page and website.

Are you holding a Jubilee event? Please let us know or send pictures afterwards by midday on Monday, June 6 to hinna.aamani@newburynews.co.uk.

If you have memories to share of meetings with the Queen please get in touch too at newsdesk@newburynews.co.uk.