Saturday, February 12, 2022

NEW BRIGG BEACON INSTALLED FOR QUEEN'S PLATINUM JUBILEE


Brigg has a new beacon installed on the Millennium Green, off Elwes Street, in good time for the town's celebrations in June 2022 to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
This area of green space will be used for some events during a four-day extended bank holiday to mark Her Majesty's 70 years as reigning monarch.
The Jubilee programme is still be arranged by a special committee, with further details expected to be revealed at Brigg Town Council's next meeting later this month.



Brigg Town Council manages the Millennium Green, close to the Old River Ancholme, and has arranged the beacon's installation.
There were other beacons (sometimes know then as braziers) either side of Station Road, near the Hewson House offices, for many years.
Brigg Blog thought these dated back to the 1980s when Glanford, through the borough council, was twinned with Gifhorn, Germany.
However, Brigg Blog checked with North Lincolnshire Council 10 years ago (February 2011) after noticing both structures had been removed.
A spokesperson for the authority checked and then informed us: “They were put up to mark the start of the EC (European Community) and lit on 1 January, 1993 along with braziers all over Europe.
“They were meant to represent the area's ties with Europe and that's why there is the coat of arms on there.
“We think they were also used for the Millennium (2000) and maybe some other events.”
Trees near the beacons grew steadily over the years, and this could well have been a major factor which contributed to their eventual removal.
Lighting beacons has long been a traditional way of marking major milestones and events, and also to give warnings to people in times of strife.
Examples are the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 when an invasion fleet was fought off by the navy, and the end of world war hostilities in 1918 and 1945.
More than 1,800 beacons were lit across Britain in 2002 to mark The Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

PICTURED: Above - views of the new beacon on the Millennium Green - sited well clear of trees; below - the old beacons (since removed) on Station Road.