Lighting up the town for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Preparations are underway to light up the town to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The jubiilee celebrations will run from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June with events planned for the whole community.

At 2pm on Thursday 2 June, Darlington’s town crier, Peter Stemmer, will join hundreds of town criers and Pearly Kings and Queens across the country in announcing a specially-written proclamation heralding the lighting of the beacons later that evening.

At 9.35pm a piper will play Diu Regnare, a unique tune specially-written for the occasion by Piper Major, Stuart Liddell, the world’s leading piper. This will be followed by a cornet announcing the lighting of the beacon at 9.45pm. Our beacon, alongside those across the country and the Commonwealth, will be lit in front of the Town Hall followed by a short fireworks display.

The lighting of the beacon is just one part of our celebrations which will see a lawn laid in the Market Square with deckchairs set up for a big screen showing of Mary Poppins. During the weekend will also be live screenings from London including the Trooping of the Colour and the Party at the Palace.

Other attractions will include children’s activities, a double decker bus bar, live music and afternoon tea at the Dolphin centre.
With the help of community groups and volunteers we are have already started planting 3,500 as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy creating a lasting legacy for future generations and residents are being encouraged to host street parties on Sunday 5 June to share the celebrations with their neighbours.

Heather Scott, leader of the council, said: “I am delighted that we will be lighting one of the official beacons to mark this historic occasion.

“I hope lots of people will come down to take part in this once in a lifetime event which is simultaneously taking place in town and cites across the Commonwealth. It is a great that we can light our own beacon to kick off which will be a fantastic weekend of fun and celebrations.”