Lighting the Beacon

Haven't really been to bothered about this Jubilee malarky, but thought it worth going along to see the lighting of the beacon in Uckfield last night.

There was a large crowd gathered on the playing fields which are at a high point in the town with views to the Downs and beyond. Entertainments had been going on all evening and there were lots of picnics and people running around waving flags.

Mark had coached and put together a program for the local choirs who sang rousing "last night of the proms" numbers and a really stirring rendition of Sussex by the Sea. The crowd joined in the singing sporadically, but it struck me that probably most people don't know the words to Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

Anyway we had innumerable prayers from the various vicars, which some of the audience joined in with Amens, most of us just waited. Then one verse of the National Anthem and the beacon was lit.

At this point a huge heartfelt cheer went up and and somebody started shouting three cheers for the Queen. Everyone shouted Hip Hooray and the fireworks began.

It struck me that we all responded in a visceral way to the lighting of the beacon and the spontaneous cheering and were more connected by this than any of the other pomp.

Also, we could see other beacons in the distance, notabley the one at Lewes a few miles away, and took great satisfaction in the fact that our fireworks were better than theirs. A rare thing for anyone to better Lewes' fireworks!

Everyone then trouped off homeward, talking about the event and feeling we had done it right.

Good old Sussex by the sea!

(more photos)