LIGHTING a beacon for the Queen, Holsworthy and the surrounding parishes enthusiastically celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday last Thursday, April 21, writes Christine Williams.

There has been a long and unbroken tradition in Britain of celebrating special Royal occasions with the lighting of beacons and all councils in England, including Holsworthy Town Council and Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council, were invited to join in by lighting their own beacon at the same time.

In the evening the focus moved to the agri-business centre where Holsworthy hamlets parish council were organising a beacon lighting event.

As the crowd assembled, entertainment was provided by the Ashwater Community Steel Band, and refreshments were available from a barbecue supplied by the Lions, and a bar.

At 7.30pm Roger Dunstan, the town crier, invited everyone to ‘move westwards’ to the site of an enormous bonfire, made of wood donated by local suppliers and constructed by a local builder.

He then introduced the guest of honour, Betty Oke, the ‘Queen of Holsworthy’ and two years older than Her Majesty, and two children, nine-year-old Charlie Davey from Black Torrington Primary School and 10-year-old Freya Laming from Bridgerule Primary School.

They were both holding the paintings they created for an art competition, which they won.

Freya’s winning picture was of Buckingham Palace, and Charlie’s depicted the Queen watched by two corgis in a basket, uttering the words, ‘Oh, I love a nice cuppa tea’.

After three cheers from the crowd, a rendition of Happy Birthday was followed by the National Anthem, and the children, with some assistance, set about the task of lighting the bonfire — an honour they had won as a result of the art competition.

Many stayed to enjoy the warmth of the huge blaze and later for the entertainment by local band ‘180 degrees’.

Back at the church at 8pm the rose beacon was lit, it had been specially manufactured for this unique occasion and purchased by the town council.

Compared with the blazing beacon at the agri-business centre this was a more modest one but as dark descended it could be seen all over the town.

All the children’s paintings from the art competition are now displayed in Holsworthy Library.

Thanks have been extended to the two councils and the many volunteers who helped organise these two memorable events.