27 April 2016

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Crowds gathered at East Court on Thursday 21st April, to celebrate the special birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. The Town Council hosted a beacon lighting ceremony in the evening . East Grinstead being one of the thousand communities which joined together to mark this commemoration. Hundreds of residents gathered at the beacon as it was lit at 7.30pm by the Town Mayor after he had read out a message from HRH The Prince of Wales.

Following the lighting ceremony the crowd was treated to a performance by Choirpower, who sang a number of songs from the nine decades of the Queen’s long life, followed by a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday. Everyone stood to sing two verses of the National Anthem. Cake (of a very special regal variety) and refreshments were then served in the mansion’s main hall.
A card, prepared by the Town Promotions Team, and signed by all the town’s primary school children was on show, and a continuous stream of people queued to add their names and special messages for the Queen. The card will be sent to the palace and should a reply be received it will be on show in the library and copies will be presented to each of the schools.

Town Promotions Manager Dawn Spalding commented that “ It was a fitting way to celebrate the Queen’s long life and we were delighted that so many people chose to celebrate her birthday together at this special, memorable event”.

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