LASERS were beamed through the sky above Fort Regent in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Islanders enjoyed live music, food and entertainment in Glacis Field in the lead-up to the lighting of a virtual Queen’s Platinum Jubilee beacon – part of a co-ordinated national programme that involved more than 1,500 beacons being lit in Commonwealth countries around the world.
Thousands gathered to watch the proceedings on Thursday evening, which included performances by a pipe band as well as a choir of more than 90 primary school children – led by Imogen Nicholls of Musical Originals – who sang a ‘Song for the Commonwealth’.
Addressing the crowd, the Bailiff, Timothy Le Cocq – who has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the community – said: ‘This event will never be repeated and is unprecedented in the life of the nation. Unless you were born before February 1952, you are and always have been an Elizabethan.
‘Her Majesty the Queen has served as our sovereign, indeed in this place our Duke, for all of our lives.
‘She has been a constant presence for us and has been one of the stabilising factors in changing and sometimes turbulent times.’
He added: ‘She has not faltered in the promises of service that she made to the people at her Coronation and has been a model to us all of duty, of steadfastness and of promises kept.
‘It is truly marvellous that we can come together and recognise and celebrate 70 years of unbroken service.’
After the lighting of the beacon, a smoke and laser show – set to dramatic music – played for several minutes, drawing a reaction from the crowd as it lit up the sky above.
Speaking to the JEP, one Islander said: ‘The events and the lasers were absolutely brilliant and so were the children singing.
‘It’s just really nice that everyone has come here to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.’
