SEVENTY lucky Salisbury residents will be given the chance to "be part of history" and watch the lighting of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee beacon at Old Sarum. 

Salisbury City Council is lighting the beacon, which is part of the anchor chain - the first beacons to be lit in the UK at 9.30pm on Thursday, June 2.

More than 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend.

To have the opportunity to attend the event, residents will need to complete the application form which will then go into a ballot. The deadline for applications is tomorrow (Friday, May 20). 

Those lucky to be chosen will be contacted by Friday, May 27. 

The Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Tom Corbin, said “I am delighted that we are joining over 1000 others in lighting a beacon to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. I am looking forward to being part of this historical moment alongside Deputy Lieutenant Dr Phil Harding to light Salisbury's Beacon and encourage Salisbury residents to fill in the application form for a chance to be there too.”

Beacons have been lit at jubilees dating all the way back to 1897 and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has a long-standing involvement with them.

At each Jubilee, RICS IS asked to light the anchor chain of beacons spanning the length and breadth of all four nations.

The beacons will bring communities and charities together in tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of Platinum Jubilee events.

Richard Collins, the interim chief executive officer of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors added: “RICS is honoured to have been asked to lead the anchor chain for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons, and our members across all four nations of the United Kingdom are proud to be participating in this historic occasion, where we pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen’s historic 70 years of service.

"This is a duty we have gladly undertaken since 1977 aided by our network of professionals across the UK, who are committed to supporting their communities and their patron. We would not be able to achieve this without them.”

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said: “Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend (on Thursday 2nd June 2022). The Beacons will enable local communities to join together and pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.

"It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting which will highlight both the diversity and the unity of the nation. The Queen has lit up our lives for seventy years through her dedicated service and commitment. We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour."