Beacons Lighted As Royal Greenwich Celebrated Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday [PHOTOS)

by Benson Agoha | Greenwich

Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday was celebrated in style with the lighting of three beacons on the 21 April at locations across the Royal Borough.

Crowds gathered at General Gordon Square, Woolwich, Cutty Sark Gardens and Oxleas Meadow Café in Shooters Hill to see the beacons lighted and mark the occasion, which was celebrated across the length and breadth of the country.

Attending the beacon lighting ceremony at Cutty Sark Gardens was the Mayor of the Royal Borough, Councillor Norman Adams, who gave a speech praising the Queen’s decades of service to the county. Deputy Mayor, Councillor Olu Babatola was also in attendance.

 

Councillor Denise Scott McDonald, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Creative Industries and Community Wellbeing was present in Woolwich, and read out a letter sent to the Royal Borough by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, thanking the communities that turned out to light beacons and celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

* Mayor of Royal Borough of Greenwich, Cllr Norman Adams, is assisted
by a Council official to light the beacon at the Cutty Sark grounds,
Greenwich. (Credit: RBG)

Youth organisations from across the Royal Borough assisted in the celebrations. At the Curry Sark Gardens, the job fell to The Army’s 94 Cadet Attachment and the Sea Cadets, the Air Cadets did the honours at Woolwich and the Oxleas Scouts took on the responsibility at Oxleas Café.

Those watching the celebrations were also treated to entertainment including performances from the Air Cadets Band at Woolwich, and folk music duo Sound Refuge at Greenwich. The festivities continued until dusk, with musicians leading the crowd in singing ‘happy birthday’ as the beacons were lit.

Councillor Denise Hyland (top right), Leader of The Royal Borough said: “I am delighted that residents, local groups and members of our community were able to take part in lighting these beacons across the Royal Borough and play a proud and prominent role in celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

“Our borough has a long and unique connection to the Royal Family and we were honoured in 2011 when the Queen herself visited to bestow Royal Borough status on Greenwich - and we aim to strengthen this connection even more in the future. We offer our congratulations and best wishes to the Queen as a Royal Borough during her birthday celebrations.”

See more photos below:

* Deputy Mayor of Royal Greenwich, Cllr Olu Babatola,
lighting the Beacon in Oxleas. (Credit: RBG).

 

* Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald lighting the beacon in front
of the Big Screen, Woolwich. (Credit: RBG)