Bedales students make Petersfield's official Diamond Jubilee beacon

Bedales students make Petersfield's official Diamond Jubilee beacon

17/05/2012

Hundreds of people are expected to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a lantern festival on Petersfield Heath. At dusk on 4th June lanterns will be lit, banners will wave, samba band Bloco Fogo will strike up and flaming torches will lead the lantern-bearers along the banks of Heath Pond. The evening will end with Petersfield’s official Jubilee Beacon, a blazing tribute to the Queen, shimmering on the water.

This blazing tribute, a giant crown, represents the St Edward’s Crown, which was the crown placed on the Queen’s head at her coronation in 1953.  The base of the crown may date from Edward the Confessor (1003 – 1066) and was first used in its current form by King Charles II.  The beacon crown is made of wrought iron, worked in the forge at Bedales School.  It was designed and built by pupils under the direction of Head of Outdoor Work, Peter Coates. 

The crown will be accompanied by a representation of the Queen’s coat of arms in the form of a large lantern made of willow and paper, also built by Bedales students. The royal coat of arms is borne only by the monarch and carries symbols representing all parts of the United Kingdom.  The central shield is supported by the lion of England and the unicorn of Scotland.
 
Drifting on the water will be small, white crowns, signifying the many ways in which the monarchy is woven into the fabric of England, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Bedales students have also created two giant lantern puppets, which represent the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.  Weather permitting these will also be in attendance at the lantern festival.

Everyone is invited to make Petersfield’s Jubilee festivities a truly glittering event, by creating a simple lantern to carry in the procession or to float on the pond. Using good Somerset willow, grown in the traditional manner, individual lanterns will be constructed, a candle fitted and the whole structure covered in specialist lantern paper.  Makers will develop skills in the use of tools, dexterity in handling materials and an understanding of shape construction – not to mention the delights of liquid glue. Come along and make your own lantern at Bedales on 19 May from 1pm – 5pm. Please allow up to 2 hours to make your lantern and wear old clothes.

For further information, please email Sylvia Coates at scoates@bedales.org.uk

Back to Latest News

© Bedales Schools   site by Wickedweb