Beacon marks 90th

Lyle Hill, Greenock
Lyle Hill, Greenock

Inverclyde will join communities across the country in lighting the Beacon which sits on one of Scotland’s most attractive vantage points.

HM The Queen will light the principle Beacon at Windsor Castle to mark the occasion which will see over 1,000 lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK overseas Territories and a Commonwealth Country to celebrate this landmark birthday.

Many different organisations are taking part from all areas of the local community by lighting Beacons, including town, parish, community & Scottish Councils as well as Youth Organisations. Beacons will be lit at churches, on farms, country parks, village greens and on country estates. Lighthouses, National Trust and English Heritage properties are also taking part.

The Army Cadet Force are taking special gas fuelled Beacons to the top of the four highest peaks in the UK:

. Ben Nevis – Scotland (1st Battalion Highlanders Army Cadet Force)
. Mount Snowdon – Wales (Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force)
. Scafell Pike – England (Cumbria Army Cadet Force)
. Slieve Donard – Northern Ireland (2nd NI Battalion Army Cadet Force)

Bruno Peek, LVO, OBE, OPR, Pageantmaster, The Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacons said, “It has been an enormous privilege to be able to organise this amazing community event to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. I am delighted to see so many different organisations playing their part.”

Inverclyde Provost, Robert Moran, said: “The Beacon on Lyle Hill will be lit to mark the occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday.  The Queen has been a constant for many generations and it is right that we recognise this hugely significant milestone.  Lyle Hill is a prominent feature in Inverclyde and I hope many people will get the chance to see the Beacon which will be lit for the first time since the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.”

The Beacon at Lyle Hill, Greenock will be lit at 7.30pm and is expected to burn for around an hour to mark the occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday.

The Beacon on Lyle Hill can be seen from various locations around Greenock and Gourock including the town centre of Gourock, Cardwell Bay in Gourock and Battery Park in Greenock.

Note to Editors:
Her Majesty The Queen has lit the Principal Beacon on all the Following Occasions:

  •  The Queen’s Silver Jubilee - 1977
  • 50th Anniversary of VE Day - 1995
  • Beacons for the Millennium – 1999
  • The Queens Golden Jubilee – 2002
  • The Trafalgar Weekend Beacons – 2005
  • The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – 2012
  • 75th Anniversary of VE Day – 2015