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Lighting of beacon at Dover Castle and mass lunch at Pencester Gardens for Queen's Platinum Jubilee

15:01, 07 March 2022

updated: 15:34, 07 March 2022

A beacon lighting and mass community lunch are planned to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The beacon is to go on at Dover Castle on Thursday, June 2, the first day of the four-day Bank Holiday weekend to mark the occasion.

The four-day Jubilee weekend for the Queen is in June. Library picture: Martin Apps for KMG
The four-day Jubilee weekend for the Queen is in June. Library picture: Martin Apps for KMG

The lunch will be at the town's Pencester Gardens on Sunday, June 5.

At their extraordinary meeting on Thursday Dover town councillors voted to spend up to £20,000 in Jubilee events.

This confirmed a vote for that sum by the authority's civic and special projects committee on January 27.

Committee chairman, Pam Brivio, proposed live streaming the lighting ceremony via the world wide web as the event would be too late at night for small children.

It would have to fall in with beacon lightings nationally, at 9.45pm, as sunset on that weekend is not until after 9.10pm.

The beacon lighting will be at Dover Castle. Picture: KMG
The beacon lighting will be at Dover Castle. Picture: KMG

It is possible to relay it on a giant screen in the town centre but not the usual place, at Market Square, as it is being redeveloped at least until August. Big events, such as World Cup games and Prince William's wedding in 2011, have been shown there.

Cllr Brivio said in the CSPC report: "The live streaming could also be shared via various channels on the web.

"It is possible that we could measure public appetite for live streaming as part of the public consultation on the future of festive lights and Christmas events. "

The Big Jubilee Lunch would involve Pencester Gardens being decorated.

The event will provide picnic tables and chairs, stalls mainly providing food and drink and music and entertainment on the pavilion.

Leisure activities for all age groups and village fete-type activities are also planned.

Cllr Brivio's report added: "In order to minimise any anti-social behaviour DTC would also provide some low-key stewarding in the gardens,"

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