Published Friday 6 May 2022 at 12:49
Who will be crowned the winner of our competition to light the Jubilee beacon at Darwen Tower? There’s just days to go before the nominations close!
And, already we’ve been inundated with suggestions of who should do the honours on the evening of Thursday, June 2nd.
The beacon lighting is part of a long tradition used to celebrate Royal Jubilees, Royal Weddings and Coronations and residents will be able to see it from far-and-wide.
As well as marking the Queen’s 70-year reign, it’ll also be part of the official unveiling of ‘Jubilee Tower’ following vital restoration works funded by Darwen Town Deal, Darwen Rotary and Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Martin Eden, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Strategic Director for Environment and Operations, said:
We’ve had a tremendous response to our appeal to nominate a resident to light the Jubilee beacon at Darwen Tower.
The number of entries has far surpassed our expectations with many worthy candidates already put forward.
We’ll be reviewing the entries following the closing date next week and given the strength of the community response, we’re looking at ways to incorporate as many of those put forward as possible.
This will be a fitting event to mark both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and also the completion of the works to restore Jubilee Tower.
The Council is supporting Darwen Scouts in organising the beacon lighting event on the special Bank Holiday for the Jubilee – part of a four-day bank holiday weekend.
The competition is to find a resident to light the torch – anyone from a community hero to someone with links to the Jubilee – perhaps residents celebrating their 70th birthday this year or someone called Elizabeth.
Due to the nature of the event, nominations must be for residents over the age of 18.
Transport to the Tower on the night can be made available if needed.
Nominees must be available on the evening of June 2nd.
You can nominate now by clicking this link and filling in a short form.
Fittingly, the restoration of Darwen Tower will also be unveiled at the beacon lighting after months of specialist work.
The 124-year-old Grade II-listed Jubilee Tower was built in 1898 by public subscription to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and to mark residents’ right to roam the moors.
More than £225,000 was pledged for the works through the Darwen Town Deal with a further £70,000 raised by Darwen Rotary through resident donations and £10,000 from Blackburn with Darwen Council.
To find out more about Darwen Town Deal, please visit: www.darwentowndeal.co.uk
For a full ‘What’s On Guide’ to events across Blackburn with Darwen marking the jubilee, please click here.