John Reid & Sons (Strucsteel) Ltd is lighting up the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations with a giant beacon.
The company has designed, manufactured and erected the steel torch at Mudeford Quay in its hometown of Christchurch, Dorset.
John Reid & Sons – known as REIDsteel – has sponsored the beacon as its way of paying tribute to the Queen for her 70 years of service.
It will be among 1,500 beacons set ablaze on the evening of Thursday June 2 to form a chain of fire around the country as a symbol of gratitude and national unity.
REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd said: “We have fostered strong links with our local community over many years as well as many others across the UK and the Commonwealth.
“We’ve had the honour of winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise on four separate occasions for our exporting excellence and truly appreciate just how greatly these accolades have helped the company.
“The Queen has always promoted British expertise, engineering and business so the least we can do is recognise the proud service she has given to this country by donating the beacon and supporting the jubilee celebrations.
“It also allows our company to give back to the community where we have been established for so many years and help the local council stage an event to remember.”
Skilled employees at REIDsteel designed and manufactured the beacon before lowering it into a secure position at Mudeford Quay.
Many of REIDsteel’s 130-strong team live locally and will be heading down to the Christchurch Town Council led party on June 2.
The fun starts at 5pm with funfair rides, food, a children’s candle-lit procession, candle-lit boats in the harbour and music.
A piper will be joined by buglers and cornet players for a musical salute before the beacon is set alight by the Christchurch mayor and local scouts at 9.45pm.
REIDsteel has designed, fabricated and erected steel structures across the UK and the Commonwealth, including Ghana, India, Sri Lanka, Belize, Dominica and many more.
