A beacon will be lit on the Castle Mound in Cambridge on June 4 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The beacon will be lit by the Chairman of Cambridgeshire County Council and the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge at 10.15pm – the time allocated for all local authorities to light their beacons.

The lighting will be a symbolic event only, to coincide with other beacon-lighting ceremonies being held in Cambridgeshire and across the country at the same time. It is organised jointly by Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.

Castle Mound – the site of the former Cambridge Castle in front of Shire Hall – will be cordoned off for safety reasons while the beacon is lit.

The Deputy Mayor of Cambridge (Councillor Paul Saunders) will also be visiting around 20 Jubilee associated events, including a civic service in Ely Cathedral on Sunday 3 June at 10.30am and a University/City service in Great St. Mary’s Church at 3pm on Sunday 3 June. Speaking about the Diamond Jubilee the Mayor (Councillor Sheila Stuart) said: “The City of Cambridge has a connection with the monarchy going back over 800 years and the people of Cambridge are delighted to celebrate this latest milestone in that long history.”

County Council Chairman John Powley said: “I am delighted the County Council and Cambridge City Council have joined forces to recognise the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in this way. Our beacon will be one of many being lit across the country, and it will re-affirm our loyalty to the Queen in this historic year of her reign.”

The lighting of the beacon is one part of a weekend of events around the county to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Other events include:

Ely – A Diamond Jubilee party in the park at Cherry Hill, Ely on Monday 4 June starting at 4pm, with local acts performing alongside bands. A beacon will also be lit at 10.15pm.

Huntingdon – The RAF will conduct a flypast on Saturday 2 June together with bands in the bandstand. On the Sunday there is the Big Lunch for pensioners at the Medway Centre and on the Monday there will be a procession to the beacon at Castle Hill, followed by fireworks.

St. Ives – A street party will take place in Market Hill and Bridge Street with street entertainment and a flypast by RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Saturday 2 June. An open-air concert and Big Lunch will take place on Sunday 3 and celebrations in All Saints Church on Monday 4 June.

Wisbech – Entertainment throughout the day at Market Place from 12noon to 8pm on Monday 4 June.

St. Neots – The climax of a weekend of entertainment in St Neots will be riverboat illuminations at 10.30pm, followed by fireworks on Sunday 3 June.

Numerous street parties/big lunches are also planned across the county and anyone wishing to hold their own street party can apply for a grant to support local celebrations for the event. Cambridge City Council has funding available via Area Committee Grants to help voluntary and community groups organise local events.