Platinum Jubilee Celebrations for Orkney

A number of community celebration events are due to take place in Orkney next week to mark Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

2022 sees the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s reign - a feat no previous monarch has achieved.

A number of events and initiatives have been taking place throughout the year, with a focus on the extra-long Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, beginning next Thursday 2 June.

A Beacon Lighting Event will take place in Kirkwall's Broad Street on Thursday night from 9.00pm to 9.30pm including a performance from Kirkwall City Pipe Band, a proclamation from a town crier and a performance by Orkney Rocks choir, who will sing 'A Life Lived with Grace' the winner of the 'A Song for the Commonwealth’ competition.

Additional events are being planned throughout the Jubilee Weekend by community councils, community associations and development trusts - check local press and social media for details.

Orkney Islands Council has been gathering a list of the events that are planned and placing these into an online calendar.  Events can be submitted to digital.comms@orkney.gov.uk

Council Convener Graham Bevan will make a speech at the event on Thursday.  He said: “Next week’s Platinum Jubilee is a major celebration for the UK and communities across the UK will play their part in this celebration.

“The Platinum Jubilee celebrates the 70 year reign of the Queen – a feat not matched elsewhere in the world and a milestone unlikely to be achieved again in our lifetimes

“I’d encourage everyone to check out details of events happening in their local areas  - and come along to celebrate this remarkable achievement.”