I am heartened by the enthusiasm for celebrating the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. On Monday 4 June 2012, a network of 2,012 beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee, the Queen will light the National Beacon. Buckinghamshire County Council has surpassed their target of 60 of the 2,012 beacons.
An official site covers the big stuff www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee , and the Pageantmaster has confirmed that local beacons will be lit at Rectory Hill (Amersham), Lowndes Park (Chesham), Hawridge & Cholesbury Common, and Ley Hill Common.
Back in 1952 real ale was the Beer of Britain so it is only fitting that we celebrate these Diamond Jubilee Beacons with a glass or two of the real stuff, still available mainly due to the activities of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA). Look out for it at our community pubs; some are holding Jubilee Beer Festivals, others putting on a few more beers or just a Jubilee Ale. Visit the beer festival of the Eagle and the Kings Arms (Amersham); all weekend beer and cider festival at the Queens Head, a cider and perry festival at the George and Dragon and the Black Horse Inn Big Band Evening (Chesham); the Full Moon and the Rose & Crown (Hawridge) plus the weekend beers festival at the Crown and the Swan (Ley Hill).
Just about every local pub will have one or more of the Jubilee Ales (bottles or draught) that the brewers are lining up. I look forward to trying them all – well, a good few. For more information on CAMRA contact Dave Badminton, call 01494 581797, email hairman@midchilternscamra.org.uk.