PICTURES: 'Tremendous atmosphere' as Queen’s Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit at John O'Groats

Hundreds of people turned out last night as a beacon was lit at John O'Groats in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Local residents were joined by tourists to witness the symbolic moment in the glow of the setting sun around 9.45pm.

“There was a tremendous atmosphere," said Lord Thurso, Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, who took part in the ceremony. "It was a very happy, celebratory occasion."

It was organised by local community groups under the umbrella of Help for Heroes, the armed forces and military veterans charity.

The John O'Groats beacon – the most northerly on the UK mainland – is one of thousands across the UK and the Commonwealth marking the Queen's 70-year reign.

The torches were lit by Lord Thurso and retired local postmistress Nellie Manson. Her late husband Sandy, who was a veteran of the Arctic convoys during World War II, had lit previous beacons with the same torches.

They have inscriptions dating back to the 19th century and have been used for successive coronations and jubilees.

Mrs Manson's torch was carried by her daughter Fiona Harper, the current postmistress, from the end-of-the-road signpost to the jubilee beacon at the "forge" at the rear of the craft village.

Standard-bearer on the short procession was nine-year-old Hayden Davidson, from Canisbay, and the piper was Lewis MacLeod of Dunnet.

Local Help for Heroes volunteer Peter Cowin worked with Lord Thurso, Andrew Mowat (treasurer of John O’Groats Development Trust) and Mark Gibson (secretary of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council) to bring the event together.

Lord Thurso said: “There was a wonderful turnout of both locals and visitors, which was tremendous to see.

“I pointed out that whilst the beacon lighting at Windsor would be in the dark, here in the north of Scotland it was in broad daylight and there would be a short period of twilight around midnight before dawn at three in the morning.

“It was wonderful to celebrate a platinum jubilee, which is a very rare occurrence, and it is unlikely any of us will ever see it again.

“Everybody was there to say thank you to the Queen and to celebrate her jubilee. I was delighted to be asked to take part.”

Lord Thurso, who is also chairman of the national tourism body VisitScotland, added: “From a VisitScotland point of view it was great to see visitors from all over the United Kingdom, most of whom were either staying in the lodges or the camping site.”

Mr Gibson said: “Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council was very happy to work with Andrew Mowat of John O'Groats Development Trust, Lord Thurso and Peter Cowin of Help for Heroes to deliver what was a very enjoyable event.

“We were very pleased to see so many locals and visitors enjoying the event in the wonderful evening sunshine. The sun setting in the background was the icing on the cake.

“It was very fitting that Fiona and Nellie of John O'Groats Post Office carried one of the antique torches and helped light the beacon.

“It is refreshing to see such events again in the area after the long, dark days of Covid. The important thing is that everyone there got a chance to take part in probably a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle – a platinum jubilee.

"Many thanks to the people who worked on the ground to make it all happen.”

Walter Mowat, chairman of John O'Groats Development Trust, who made the introductions, said: “I was absolutely amazed at the amount of people. It was such a beautiful setting.

“Hundreds of people turned out, young and old, and everybody enjoyed the occasion.”

The John O'Groats beacon forms part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the jubilee weekend.

• A beacon made by engineering company JGC was lit on top of Ben Dorrery.

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