Beacons will be lit up across Oxfordshire, the country and wider world to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Beacons marking the Platinum Jubilee will be lit at 9.45 pm sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle and the Queen’s estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, along with the tops of the UK’s four highest peaks.

READ MORE: Platinum Jubilee: The events happening in Oxford

The act of lighting beacons is a long held tradition and has also been used to mark royal weddings and coronations.

What is happening?

In Oxford, there will be the Oxfordshire Lieutenancy is bringing together civic leaders from across the county in a ceremony to light Oxfordshire’s beacon in honour of the Queen.

Who will be there?

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, councillor James Fry, will be representing Oxford City Council at the beacon lighting

Mr Fry said: “The lighting of the beacon signals the start of the weekend’s jubilee celebrations in the city and beyond. It reminds us of the ancient custom of lighting beacons to spread news throughout the country. Today, it is also a fitting tribute to the light Her Majesty has given the nation during its darkest times”.

What time will the beacon be lit and where is it?

The beacon lighting is being held tonight (June 2) at 9.45pm at Castle Mound, New Road, Oxford.

A bugler will sound a call at 9.40pm, followed by the lighting of the Beacon by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Mr Brian Buchan.

Oxfordshire’s Beacon will be lit at 9.45pm alongside the Principal Beacon at Buckingham Palace and an estimated 3000 other Beacons around the country.

Where else are beacons being lit in Oxfordshire? 

  • Blenheim Palace
  • Henley on Thames Town Council
  • Westwell Parish Council
  • Croxden Parish Council
  • Brize Norton Parish Council
  • Highlands Farm Brightwell-cum-Sotwell – Highlands Farm
  • Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Wallingford
  • Brightwell Baldwin Parish Meeting – Brightwell Baldwin
  • Grove Parish Council – Village Green, Grove
  • Daylesford Estate, Kingham, Chipping Norton
  • Southmoor and Kingston Bagpuize Parish Council – Millennim Green
  • Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon
  • Shutford Parish Council – Jester's Hill, Swalcliffe Lea
  • Goring Heath Parish Council – close to Cold Harbour, Goring Heath
  • Swinbrook & Widford Parish Council – Tower of St Mary's Church, Swinbrook, Burford
  • The Hernes Estate – Church Field, Hernes Estate
  • Mollington Parish Council and Village Hall – Playing Field, Mollington
  • Rollright Parish Council – Great Rollright Village Hall, Great Rollright
  • Bucknell Jubilee – The Playing Field, Bucknell
  • Wootton Playing Fields Association – Wootton Memorial Playing Field, Wootton
  • North Hinksey Parish Council – Green Hill, North Hinksey
  • Chastleton Village – Harcomb Farm, Chastleton
  • Appleton with Eaton Parish Council – Badswell Lane, Appleton
  • Nuffield Parish Council
  • St Helen Without Parish Council & Dalton Barracks – RAF Abingdon Airfield, Abingdon
  • National Trust – White Horse Hill, Uffington. Friends of St Michaels Church Steventon – Hill Farm, Steventon
  • Village of Standlake – Oxford Downs Cricket Club, Witney
  • Parish of Farnborough – Farnborough Church, Farnborough
  • Thame Town Council, Thame
  • The Red Lion, Old Marston, Oxford
  • Fringford Parish Council – Cricket Ground, Fringford

-

Read more from this author

This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

A message from our Editor

Thank you for reading this story and supporting the Oxford Mail.

If you like what we do please consider getting a subscription for the Oxford Mail and in return we’ll give you unrestricted access with less adverts across our website from the latest news, investigations, features, and sport.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok for more. 

You can also join the conversation in our Facebook groups: stay ahead of traffic alerts here, keep up to date with the latest from court here, share your favourite memories of Oxford here, get your daily dose of celebrity news here and take some time out with news that will make you smile. 

If you’ve got a story for our reporters, send us your news here. You can also list an event for free here.