City celebrates the Queen's birthday

A large picture of Elizabeth II is currently hanging in front of the Guildhall in Cathedral Square and Peterborough City Council said it will remain there until her official birthday on June 11.

There is a long tradition of celebrating royal events with the lighting of beacons across the British Isles, and to play its part the council will light a beacon outside the Town Hall in Bridge Street at 2pm.

The lighting of the beacon in Peterborough will be followed by a Queen’s Birthday Tea Party within the Town Hall until 5pm. Open to all, the party will be hosted by the mayor to benefit his official charities and local voluntary organisation, Senior Stop.

Councillor John Peach, Mayor of Peterborough, said: “The Queen’s 90th birthday is a truly historical, national event.

“It’s an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the extraordinary service Her Majesty has given the country for more than six decades.”

A special party is also being organised by City College Peterborough, in partnership with the council, which will include local people also celebrating their 90th birthday this year.

To be considered or to nominate an individual celebrating their 90th birthday during 2016, call 01733 293888 or email [email protected] by April 30.

The free event will be held at the Main Hall in Brook Street from 12.30pm on June 9.

In addition, a nine-year-old Stamford girl has won a national competition to design a cake to mark the Queen’s birthday which will be sold in Waitrose stores.

Tilly Chisholm’s design, sitting atop a fruit cake, features a bejewelled gold crown, the Queen’s initials and a red balloon. The cake is finished with festive red, white and blue bunting around the base.

The winning design was chosen by a panel which included cake maker Fiona Cairns and Bake Off contestant Martha Collison. To learn more about the Queen’s visits to Peterborough, check out ‘Looking Back’ on pages 52 and 69.